Marriage Contract (Foster/Groves)

On May 4, 1808, Sarah M. Foster, widow of George Foster, entered into a marriage contract with R. Nicholson Groves, merchant, naming John Pray of Bryan County, and William A. Dunham of McIntosh County as her trustees. Sarah Foster had, as part of her dower, title to a third of lots and buildings in Sunbury, Graves End and Riceborough, a plantation called Bellmont or other land known as belonging to the estate of Luke Mann, her late father, as well as a plantation known as Orange Grove near the Ogeechee ferry or other land known as belonging to the estate of Mrs. Rebecca Pray, her late sister, and certain personal estate consisting “of Negroes.” She also had inherited a legacy from Abner Porter, deceased physician late of Liberty County, whose will was recorded in Book A. Once her property was fully defined, it was to be put in trust for her with the trustees. Named were “the following slaves named Binah, her two children, Shem and Sarah, fellow Fortune and Billy; Tenah and Rose wenches…” The property was to be used for her and her husband’s benefit during their natural life, and after Sarah’s death, to continue in trust for Sarah M. Foster’s child, Elizabeth Stewart, the daughter of Josiah Stewart to whom Sarah M. Foster had first been married. Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on June 11, 1808.