They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Marriage Contract

Enslaved People Named: None

On March 1795, Mary Dawson, spinster of the City of Savannah, entered into a marriage contract with Stephen Timmons, mariner of Savannah, naming Joseph Welscher, attorney at law of Savannah, as her trustee. Mary Dawson, being entitled to “a certain distributive share or proportion of the Estate of her late Father William Dawson late of the County of Liberty planter deceased,” directed that “all those Negroe slaves and other property of what Nature or kind soever the same may be to which the said Mary Dawson is intitled [SIC] as her share or proportion of her said Father’s estate…” be put into trust with Joseph Welscher for her use and benefit during her natural life, and to any child or children she might have with Timmons after her death. Witnessed by David Gilford Pugh, ? W. McKirkley ?. Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on April 3, 1805. 

Source: Family Search.org. Liberty County Superior Court “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” Film: Deeds & Mortgages, v. E-G 1801-1816,” Record Book F (1804-1809), p. 53-5. Image #192-3 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QL-J9DM-3)