They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Bill of Sale (Girardeau/Walthour)

Enslaved People Named: Betty, Affee, Bess, Judy, Will, Tom, July, August, September

On April 8, 1809, Liberty County Sheriff Josiah Wilson sold to Andrew Walthour for $725 “nine certain negroes the property of the said William Girardeau, viz. Betty, Affee, Bess, Judy, Will, Tom, July, August & September.” Wilson had seized them from Girardeau based on a writ of fieri facias obtained after a lawsuit against Girardeau by John Couper, who was executor of Thomas Lanchester, William Baker, the administrator of George Law, and others. He then put them up for public auction at the Liberty County Courthouse on March 7, 1809, and Andrew Walthour was the highest bidder. Witnessed by Wm. Willson. 

On May 4, 1812, Andrew Walthour relinquished his claim to the nine enslaved people to have them put into trust with trustees William Girardeau, Josiah WIlson and Thomas Mallard, for the benefit of William Girardeau’s three children, Mary Ann, John and Pinkney. The trust was to be managed for the children until they came of age, and was at the same time to allow the trustees to pay William Girardeau’s debts, which were due, and to allow him “a support from the crops made by said hands, as they may be able to do so, after schooling and maintaining said children: that is to say, whenever the same can be spared from the above purpose.” Witnessed by Elizabeth Walthour, James Moore. 

Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on March 19, 1813. 

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 G (1809-1816), p. 222. Image #416 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QL-J98F-7?i=415)