Marriage Contract (Jones/Maxwell)

On June 13, 1807, Elizabeth Jones, daughter of John Jones, late of Liberty County, entered into a marriage contract with William Maxwell, same place, with Joseph Law and Joseph Jones, also of Liberty County, as her trustees. In addition to land and other property, “one Negro slave named [difficult to read but looks like Murriah]” was put into trust for her. Also put into the trust were “her proportion, part or parcel of Twenty six Negroes …as named in and by a certain dededof gift or Instrument in writing made by Joseph Jones to Susannah Jones, the widow and relict of his deceased brother John Jones, and the children of the said John Jones, namely Elizabeth Jones, party here to, John Jones, Susannah Mary Jones and Charles C. Jones.” The deed of gift was said to be recorded in the Liberty County Superior Court clerk’s office on June 16, 1808, Book F, page 212*. Another deed, recorded in Book G, page 1*, was said to show that Susannah Jones, widow of John Jones, had received during her lifetime her 1/5 portion of “said Slaves.” It was agreed in the marriage contract that when “the remaining slaves” were to be divided and apportioned, and Elizabeth received her share, this share should go into the trust. Witnessed by Thomas McL Stone, Jos. W. Oneal. 

*For an abstract of these two deed records, and the names of the 26 enslaved people, see https://theyhadnames.net/2022/02/17/deed-of-gift-jones-jones-9/.