They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Marriage Contract (Baker/Hatch)

Enslaved People Named: Eve, Will, Sally, Sambo, Smart, Patty, Geoffry, Ben, Moses, Leah, Jane

On August 3, 1819, James Fibbin Baker, Liberty County, entered into a marriage contract with Sarah J. Hatch, McIntosh County, naming William John King, Richard Philip Wickham, and Thomas King as her trustees. Put into trust for her was “the following property; viz Eve, Will, Sally, Sambo, Smart, Patty, Geoffry, Ben, Moses, Leah and Jane, and an undivided half of thirteen lots of land in the town of Sunbury in the County of Liberty above named, late the property of Wm. [William] Cundiff dec’d; also an undivided half of five tracts of land, lying in said county of Liberty and late the property of the aforesaid W. Cundiff.” This was described as having been her property in her own right, and any property she might obtain in the future was also to be put into the trust. Witnessed by James Harris, Wm. Maxwell, Thomas B. Baker. Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on February 3, 1820. 

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. H-I 1816-1831,” Record Book H (1816-1822), p. 294-5. Image #180 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-SSTW-L?i=179&cat=292358)