They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Slaveowner Series – William Ward

William Ward was a major land- and slave-owner in Liberty County before his death in 1830. He appears to have been largely forgotten, yet there were a number of formerly enslaved people who had his surname in the 1870 U.S. Federal census for Liberty County. An exploration of his life and land/slave transactions may help descendants of the African American Liberty County Wards find their ancestors. See the case of Jacob Dryer for an example of this.

William Ward first appeared in Liberty County records in the 1808 tax digest for the town of Sunbury.[1] In February 1810, Ward married Mrs. Eliza Dryer, the widow of Dr. Nathan Dryer.[2] Nathan Dryer had died in 1807 or 1808;[3] he and Eliza Hext had married in 1801.

Ward and Dryer entered into a marriage contract, with a trust being created for Dryer to contain all the property she either brought into the marriage or might obtain afterward.[4] The trustees were John Elliott and James E. Morris. (Ward would later name a son John Elliott Ward, indicating a close relationship, and James Morris was the husband of Eliza (Hext) Dryer’s sister, Mariah Mann Hext.)

What property did Eliza Hext Dryer bring into the marriage? Named in the marriage contract were enslaved people Jacob, Jim, Billy, and Phillis. She had inherited them from her father, John Hext,[5] whose mid-to-late 1790s estate inventory named them.[6]

In 1810, William Ward bought the Belle-Ville plantation, 150 acres, in Liberty County from John Lawson. It was bounded north by the Midway River, west by Hesters Bluff, east by the Distillery Tract and south by land belonging to William Peacock.[7] This was near the town of Sunbury in Liberty County.

William Ward became the guardian for Eliza Dryer’s children, Edmund Dryer and Elizabeth Dryer, on January 28, 1811,[8] which likely indicates Eliza Dryer’s death, as Ward remarried the next year.

On February 13, 1812, William Ward, identified as a planter of Liberty County, entered into a marriage contract with Miss Euphemia Semor McIver, “spinster,” with John Stevens, Alexander McIver and James Dunwody as her trustees.[9] To safeguard the property she was bringing into the marriage, William Ward put into trust for her “the following negroes, to wit, Nanny and child Martha, Cate, Sandy, Maria, Nero child, Little Toney, Sambo, Clem and Tamar, Nicholas, Nancy, Saul, George, Little Nancy, Celey [alt: Celie], and the future issue and increase of the female slaves.”

Ward also put into the trust a 330-acre tract of land in Liberty County that was formerly part of the “estate of McIver.” The estate’s land had been comprised of three adjoining tracts amounting to 722 acres, bounded south and southeast by John Kell’s land, east by land formerly owned by James Anderson, north and north east by lands of Richard Baker and Hargreaves, northwest by Hargreaves, west and southwest by Anderson’s land and Alexander McIver, known as Briery Bay. A division of the land between Euphemia McIver and Alexander McIver had been agreed to on June 26, 1811, and was marked by yellow paint.

Ward also agreed that any property Euphemia were to come into possession of in the future would also be put into the trust.

Appended to this indenture was one dated March 28, 1812 in which William Ward stated that by marrying Miss. Euphemia Semor McIver, heir of the estate of Mrs. Elizabeth McIver (late Elizabeth Bettis), he had become legal heir to the portion of the estate which she had inherited. He quit-claimed this right to James Smith, who had been Euphemia McIver’s guardian.

In 1812, it appears that Benjamin Mell purchased a 361-acre tract from William Ward via a mortgage. It was near Alexander McIver’s land, the Briery Bay Tract, and John Kell. It was probably the tract Euphemia McIver brought into their marriage.[10]

Euphemia McIver Ward evidently died before 1813, as in June of that year, William Ward married Ann McIntosh,[11] daughter of Lachlan McIntosh. No marriage settlement was found. They had at least two children. Louisa Vanyeverine Ward married Abiel Winn. John Elliott Ward was United States Attorney for Georgia, mayor of Savannah, speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives, president of the Georgia State Senate, and U.S. Minister to China.

In 1813, William Ward bought four lots in the town of Sunbury from John Alexander Cuthbert: 89, 90, 91, and 92.[12]

On May 1, 1815, William Ward used as collateral on a promissory note of $1200 to Charles W. Rogers, physician of the town of Sunbury, Georgia, “the following negro slaves, named Sambo, & Nancy [or could be Nanny] his wife, Pinda [alt: Penda, Pender] and Clarissa their children, Boson & Nancy [or Naney] his wife, Dick her child, Nicholas and his two children, Clem and Tamar…”[13] Ward did pay off the note, so no people changed hands.

[NOTE: Later in the deed, the names of the enslaved people were repeated: “Sambo & Nancy his wife, Penda & Clarissa his children, Boson & Nancy his wife, Dick her child, Nicholas and his two children, Clem & Tamar.” Note the change in the second reference between “Pinda and Clarissa their children” to “Penda & Clarissa his children”.]

On December 8, 1816, John Broughton, planter of Liberty County, Georgia, sold to William Ward for $800 a 200-acre tract of land near Sunbury, bounded north by lands of James Holmes, northwest by land of the estate of Bacon, south by Alfred Cuthbert, northeast by Mrs. Harris, southeast by John A. Cuthbert, the Reverend Charles O. Screven and Jeremiah Baker.[14] The land was originally granted to Francis Brown and was still in the same form as the original plat.

On January 17, 1815, Jedidiah Field, of Sunbury, sold to Jeremiah Baker, of Liberty County, for $50 a 50-acre tract bounded south by the public road leading to the North Newport ferry, west by lands of Jedidiah Field, northwest by lands of John Broughton, east by lands of Dr. Charles West.[15] On the same day, Jeremiah Baker sold the land for $150 to William Ward.

On February 18, 1817, Nathaniel Bacon, of Liberty County, Georgia, sold to William Ward, planter of Sunbury, Liberty County, for $900 a 300-acre tract of land bounded west by lands of Alfred Cuthbert, south by lands of William Ward, north by lands of Samuel Law, and east by lands of James Holmes.[16]

On November 26, 1816, William Ward, planter of Liberty County, Georgia, sold to Joseph Jones, same place, for $2000 a 350-acre plantation known as Carlawater [alt: Carlawter], in Liberty County, bounded by the North Newport River on the north, west by a tract of land belonging to Matthew McAllister (“now said to be owned by Morgan Mara”), south by lands “lately belonging to the estate of John Jones deceased, and east by the estates of Moses Way, James Carter, and Lambright.[17] This later became part of the Jones family’s Montevideo Plantation.[18]

On January 7, 1818,[19] Louisa F. Alexander, widow of Sunbury, Liberty County, Georgia, leased to William Ward, planter of the same place, for four years “the following negroes, viz, Harry, Rose, Redriff, August, Jim, Hezzy, Barrack [alt: Barack], Lucinda, Julia, Dick, Beck, Sally, Sandy, Gabo, Mentor, Fanny, Sambo, Jack, Hector, Jemima, Jacob, Jack, Luck [or Suck], Lina [or Sina], Derry, Rina [alt: Rhina], Rachel, DIck, Cuffee [alt: Cuffy], Phoebe [alt: Phebe], Adam, Holly, Harry, Ben, Jim, Dinah, August, Cupid, Leah and Rose; “together with the following house-servants:” Charles, Backey [Becky?], Kate, Jenny, Nancy and China. She was planning to be absent from Sunbury and also lead to him her plantation near Riceborough, where she said the mentioned enslaved people lived. He was to pay annually $2000 on the first Monday in March, starting in 1819. He was also to return the same amount of provisions as he was to find on the plantation whne he took possession, and all the plantation tools in the same condition as when he took possession of them. He was to feed and clothe “the said negroes,” and pay for their medical care, outside of the $2000 rent.

In 1819, there was a revealing glimpse into William Ward’s beliefs and practices regarding enslaved people, when his neighbor Paul H. Wilkins Sr sued him for slander.[20] Ward had allegedly called out Wilkins for his cruel treatment of his enslaved people in front of a crowd, and Wilkins said Ward had damaged his reputation among his neighbors. Ward said that one of Wilkins’ slaves had stolen from him, and when Wilkins delivered the enslaved man to Ward to whip, Ward discovered him to have already been so badly beaten that Ward felt he could only give him a “light whipping.” Ward also claimed that Wilkins half-clothed and half-starved the people he was holding in slavery, and that one man had lost part of his foot to frostbite after being confined in the stocks during bitterly cold weather. Wilkins lost the case, but won on appeal. It is noteworthy that Ward, although objecting to blatant cruelty, was willing to whip a badly beaten man.

In 1823, Eliza Hext Dryer Ward’s estate was finally inventoried, probably because one or more of her children came of age.[21] It was divided between William Ward, her son Edmund Dryer, and her daughter, now Elizabeth Broadmax. The estate was comprised of 10 enslaved people: Jim, Jacob, Billy, Phillis, Lanchester [alt: Lancaster], Stephen, Affy, Eliza, Charles, June. Unfortunately, the estate inventory document did not specify how exactly these individuals were divided up.

In February 1824, Joseph Law, Sr, as executor of James Lambright’s estate, rented to William Ward, planter of Liberty County, the estate’s farm “in the neighborhood of Sunbury” and hired out to him “the negroes belonging to the estate of James Lambright,” consisting of eight workers, for which said Ward agreed to “pay five hundred dollars for one year, and to feed & clothe the said eight negroes, and five small ones for one year, to end second of February 1825.”[22]

On March 6, 1826, William Ward, Liberty County, sold to James Shannon for $300 “the following property, viz. A negro girl named Tamar (said Tamar is about fourteen years of age, and American born).”[23]

In May 1826, William Ward married Sarah Constant Maxwell of Bryan County and signed a marriage settlement with her to cover the property she was bringing into the marriage, which consisted of nine enslaved people — Linder [or Sinder/Cinder], March, Sam, William, Dick, Phillis & her three children — plus Waterford Plantation in Bryan County.[24]

On December 3, 1829, William Ward, Liberty County, gifted to his daughter Louisa Vanyeverin Ward, via her trustees, Henry Stevens and Joseph Austin, both of Liberty County, “the following negro slaves; namely, Venus, Diana, Annetta, and her infant child named [left blank], together with the future issue of the said female slaves.”[25]

William Ward evidently died between December, 1829, and July, 1830, when his estate was inventoried.[26] The inventory listed 46 enslaved people. The estate was re-inventoried in February 1833 for Mrs. Sarch C. Ward to take her share, which was comprised of seven enslaved people, apparently one family: Jacob, Celia, Linda, Delia, Adam, Chloe, and Jacob, an infant.[27]

It was re-inventoried again in March 1833[28] and divided into two lots. One lot was comprised of 19 enslaved people and was drawn by William Maxwell, who was the guardian of John and Louisa Ward, the children of Eliza Dryer and William Ward. The other was comprised of 18 people and was drawn by John S. Maxwell, guardian for William Wallace and Elizabeth Ward, children of Sarah Maxwell and William Ward.

On February 3, 1837,[29] Sarah C. Ward, Liberty County, sold to George W. Walthour, Liberty County, for $9000 “the following negroes viz. Jacob, Lindy, Delia, Hannah, Chloe, Jacob, Mariah, Lourens [?, maybe Laurens or Laurence, Lawrence?], Billy, George, Linda, March, William, Sam & Dick, fifteen in number…”

On July 2, 1842,[30] Wm. [William] J. Way and Joseph Way, planters of Liberty County, used enslaved people as collateral on a promissory note of $700 to Sarah C. Ward, Chatham County, showing that she was living there.

However, on May 6, 1846,[31] Harriet S. Handley, Liberty County, used enslaved people as collateral on a promissory note of $800 to Sarah C. Ward of New Haven, Connecticut, so Sarah Ward had moved there sometime between 1842 and then.

In July, 1847, Sarah Ward, acting as guardian for Wallace and Georgia Ward, sold 29 enslaved people to George W. Walthour for $8700. She executed the deed in New Haven, Connecticut, after petitioning the Liberty County Superior Court for permission to put the enslaved people up for an auction at the Hinesville courthouse that April 6th.[32] Walthour was the highest bidder.

George W. Walthour, a prominent land- and slave-owner in Liberty County, died around 1859, leaving a large estate. His enslaved people were appraised at $158, 335, spread across three plantations: Homestead, Richland and Westfield. His estate inventory listed more than 290 enslaved people. A number of these trace back to John Hext, Eliza Hext, Nathan Dryer, William Ward and his wives, but George Walthour was their last enslaver, it might not be apparent to their descendants why they chose the surnames they did. In fact, they were probably known informally by those surnames throughout their lives as a way of indicating family lineage and distinguishing people with the same first name.

In the 1870 U.S. Federal Census for Liberty County, the following freedpeople had the surname Ward. There were no slaveowners with that surname in the 1860 slave schedule for Liberty County. It is very likely that many or most of the African American Wards’ family lineages can be traced back to ownership at some point by William Ward.

Subdivision 178

Myley Ward (18) (f)
China Ward (21) (F)
Jim Ward (1)
Sam Ward (5)
Rose Ward (1)

Subdivision 180

William Ward (60)
Harriet Ward (40)
Catherine Ward (12)
Die Ward (8)
William Ward (5)

Robert Ward (41)
Ann Ward (40)
Robert Ward (17)
Jacob Ward (10)
Patty Ward 8)
James Ward (10 mons)

In household of Hester Pertite (33)
James Ward (13)

Adam Ward (36)
Phillis Ward (31)
Rose Ward (16)
Celia Ward (13)
Adam Ward (11)
Caroline Ward (4)
Hannah Ward (1)
(with Linda Hargraves, 80, in household)

Subdivision 181

In household of Elsy Levy (60)
Daniel Ward (21)
James Ward (17)

Cyrus Ward (40)
Rose Ward (35)
Martha Ward (19)

In household of Abram and Hannah Golding (65/56)
Katy Ward (3)

Sources

  1. Sheftall, John MacKay, Sunbury on the Medway, page 170, published by the Georgia State Society of the National Society Daughters of the American Colonists, 2022.

  2. Liberty County, Georgia, Court of Ordinary Marriages White & Colored, Book A, 1819-1896, indexed by men’s names, entry for William Ward to Mrs. Eliza Dryer, February 4, 1810, Liberty County, Georgia, by Rev. Charles O. Screven; database images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/553218:4766: accessed 25 May 2023) “Georgia, Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978” > “Marriages (White and Colored), Book B, 1897-1909,” image 119 of 139.

  3. Dr. Nathan Dryer’s estate inventory was performed in March 1808. “Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893L-PR5?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 291 of 689.

  4. 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. 103-4. Image #352-3 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QL-J9ZR-9?i=351&cat=292358). For an abstracted version, see https://theyhadnames.net/2022/04/17/marriage-contract-ward-dryer/.

  5. John Hext’s will: “Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93L-P9L5?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 59 of 689; county probate courthouses, Georgia.

  6. ”Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93L-P931 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 221 of 689. See a transcribed version at: https://theyhadnames.net/2019/05/31/liberty-county-estate-inventory-john-hext/.

  7. Liberty County, Georgia, Deeds and Mortgages, 1809-1816, Book G, page 165, land bill of sale from John Lawson to William Ward; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QL-J98C-B : accessed 15 Nov 2023), Family History Library microfilm 008560359, image 384 of 520, item 3 of 3; citing original records of Liberty County Superior Court, Georgia.

  8. “Liberty County Court of Ordinary Letters of Administration, 1801-1955, Georgia, date of court session January 28, 1811; digitized, indexed database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8635/images/005759433_00030 : accessed 25 May 2023), “Georgia Probate Records, 1743-1990” > Liberty County > “Letters of Administration, 1801-1955; Temporary Letters of Administration, 1883-1956,” image 30 of 744; citing original records of Liberty County, Georgia.

  9. 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. 187-91. Image #398-400 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QL-J9DX-1?i=397&cat=292358)

  10. Liberty County, Georgia, Deeds and Mortgages, 1809-1816, Book G, pages 203 & 209; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QL-J9DD-C : accessed 25 May 2023), Family History Library microfilm 008560359, images 406 of 520; citing original records of Liberty County Superior Court, Georgia.

  11. Liberty County, Georgia, Court of Ordinary Marriages White & Colored, Book A, 1819-1896, indexed by men’s names, entry for William Ward to Miss Ann McIntosh, June 15, 1813, Liberty County, Georgia, by Rev. Charles O. Screven; database images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/4766/images/40660_307901-00152: accessed 25 May 2023) “Georgia, Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978” > “Marriages (White and Colored), Book B, 1897-1909,” image 119 of 139.

  12. Liberty County, Georgia, Deeds and Mortgages, 1809-1816, Book G, pages 255; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QL-J98L-G : accessed 25 May 2023), Family History Library microfilm 008560359, images 432 of 520; citing original records of Liberty County Superior Court, Georgia.

  13. 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. 350. Image #480 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QL-J9DM-8?i=479). For an abstract of the original, see: https://theyhadnames.net/2022/04/21/used-as-collateral-ward-rogers/.

  14. Liberty County, Georgia, Deeds and Mortgages, 1816-1822, Book H, page 62; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-SSB8-4 : accessed 25 May 2023), Family History Library microfilm 007899015, image 52 of 548; citing original records of Liberty County Superior Court, Georgia.

  15. Liberty County, Georgia, Deeds and Mortgages, 1816-1822, Book H, page 63-4; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch ( https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-SSB8-4 : accessed 25 May 2023), Family History Library microfilm 007899015, image 52 of 548; citing original records of Liberty County Superior Court, Georgia.

  16. Liberty County, Georgia, Deeds and Mortgages, 1816-1822, Book H, page 65; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch ( https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-SSYY-Z : accessed 25 May 2023), Family History Library microfilm 007899015, image 52 of 548; citing original records of Liberty County Superior Court, Georgia.

  17. Liberty County, Georgia, Deeds and Mortgages, 1816-1822, Book H, page 65-6; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch ( https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-SSYY-Z : accessed 25 May 2023), Family History Library microfilm 007899015, image 52 of 548; citing original records of Liberty County Superior Court, Georgia.

  18. Clarke, Erskine, Dwelling Place: A Plantation Epic, pages 44-45, published by Yale University Press, 2005.

  19. Source: Liberty County, Georgia, Deeds and Mortgages, 1816-1822, Book H, page 135-6; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-SSY7-D : accessed 15 May 2023), Family History Library microfilm 007899015, images 97-8 of 548, item 1 of 2; citing original records of Liberty County Superior Court, Georgia.

  20. Superior Court minutes, 1804-1820, Liberty County, Georgia, page #775-778; database with images, “Liberty County Superior Court Minutes 1804-1821,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H3-W9F8 : accessed 18 May 2023), Family History Library Film 008628963, image 419-421 of 653. For a transcription of the case, see https://theyhadnames.net/2023/05/18/court-case-paul-h-wilkins-against-william-ward-for-slander-1819/.

  21. 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 I, p. 35. Image #319 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-SSRC-Y?i=319&cat=292358). For an abstract of the inventory, see https://theyhadnames.net/2020/03/13/liberty-county-estate-inventory-mrs-e-dryer-late-mrs-ward/.

  22. 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 I, 1822-1831, p. 73 & 78. Images #338, 341 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-SSRQ-N?i=337&cat=292358 & https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-SSRW-C?i=340&cat=292358

  23. 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 I, 1822-1831, p. 172. Image #387 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-SSBH-1?i=386&cat=292358)

  24. Bryan County Superior Court, Deed Book D, pp. 257-9; digital images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-KSMC : accessed 16 May 2023), “Deeds and mortgages, 1796-1922; general index to deeds and mortgages, 17 93-1937” -> “Deeds & Mortgages, v. A-D 1796-1829,” images #541-2 of 600; citing FamilySearch Library film #007899046. For a transcription of this document, see https://theyhadnames.net/2023/05/16/marriage-contract-ward-maxwell/.

  25. 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 I, 1822-1831, p. 372. Image #494 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-SSTT-S?i=493&cat=292358)

  26. “Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93L-PV?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 485 of 689.

  27. Liberty County Superior Court “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” Film: Deeds & Mortgages, v. K-L 1831-1842,” Record Book K, p. 69-70. Image #71-2 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-T9VR-L?i=70&cat=292358)

  28. Family Search.org. Liberty County Superior Court “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” Film: Deeds & Mortgages, v. K-L 1831-1842,” Record Book K, p. 73-4. Image #74-5 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-T9K8-C?i=73&cat=292358). For an abstract of the inventory, see https://theyhadnames.net/2020/03/14/liberty-county-estate-inventory-division-william-ward-2/.

  29. Family Search.org. Liberty County Superior Court “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” Film: Deeds & Mortgages, v. K-L 1831-1842,” Record Book K, 1831-1838, pp. 364-5. Image #233-4 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-T9K8-K?i=232&cat=292358)

  30. 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. K-L 1831-1842,” Record Book L, 1838-1842, pp. 385. Image #523 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-T92D-X?i=522&cat=292358)

  31. Family Search.org. Liberty County Superior Court “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” Film: Deeds & Mortgages, v. M-N 1842-1854,” Record Book M, pp. 464-5. Image #280 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-5HCG?i=279&cat=292358)

  32. Liberty County Superior Court “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” Film: Deeds & Mortgages, v. M-N 1842-1854,” Record Book M, pp. 644-5. Image #373 (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QP-5ZM5?i=372&cat=292358). For an abstract of this record, see https://theyhadnames.net/2019/12/05/bill-of-sale-ward-walthour/.