They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Bill of Sale (Jones/Law)

Enslaved People Named: Sandy, Portious, Rosetta, Phillis, Augustus, Prince, Paul, Willoughby, Annett, Jupiter, blind Sylvia, Theresa, Rose, Mag, Kate, Siner [alt: Sina], Peggy

On April 5, 1808, Liberty County Sheriff Josiah Wilson sold to Joseph Law for $1774.25 “seventeen Negroes named Sandy, Portious, Rosetta, Phillis, Augustus, Prince, Paul, Willoughby, Annett, Jupiter, blind Sylvia, Theresa, Rose, Mag, Kate, Siner [alt: Sina] & Peggy.” Wilson had seized these people held in slavery from the estate of John Jones based on a writ of fieri facias obtained as a result of suits by M & J Johnston, Edward Swarbrick, Lewis Prudehome, James Johnston Jr and others against John Jones, deceased. He put them up for public auction on the first Tuesday in April 1808, and Joseph Law was the highest bidder. 

On the same day, Joseph Law, identifying himself as a planter of Liberty County, sold these same people to Joseph Jones for $1774. 

Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on June 6, 1808. 

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. 208. Image #271 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QL-J963-4?i=270)