Free people of color have lived in Liberty County, Georgia, at least since the 1700s. In 1819, Georgia law required them to register with the Clerk of the Inferior Court and have a guardian. This had nothing to do with the age of the free person of color. The Clerk of the Inferior Court was supposed to publish the list in the local newspaper of record and to maintain a book with the list. These newspaper publications have not yet been found for Liberty County, and the court list for 1819 to 1852 has not been found. Below you will find the court list for 1852-1864 and also an article about an unusual cluster of free people of color living near each other in the 1850 census. Below that you will see “Search Results For,” which has individual records found referring to free people of color.
In the 1850 U.S. Federal Census for Liberty County, Georgia, 15th District, there was an unusual cluster of women of color listed with last names, both with and without children, living on or near the plantation of white planter Thomas Mallard. While it is not clear if they were officially “free,” several are included in a previously transcribed list of free people of color, 1852-1864 (see here for that list).
Free people of color were required to register themselves and have a white sponsor in Georgia after 1818. This list of free people of color from 1852-1864 was recorded in Liberty County court. It lists their ages, residence, and their sponsor.
Liberty County Inferior Court June Term 1854 … “Upon the application and petition of Bella and her five children William, Virginia, James, Dianna, and Christopher
Liberty County Inferior Court January Term 1853January 10, 1853 … “Upon the application and petition of William Anderson a free person of colour living and
[Begin Transcript] Inferior Court 14th June 1852… On the application and petition of Bella, Catherine and Catherine Ann free persons of colour, living & residing
Liberty County Inferior Court Chambers January 3, 1825 … “Upon the application of Abram, a free person of color, or claiming to be free, that
Liberty County Inferior Court December Term 1824Monday, December 20th … “Upon the petition of William Spencer, a free person of color, (which petition has been
Liberty County Inferior Court Chambers October 4, 1819 … The following notice from Peter J. Goulding Esquire was exhibited to the Court. To the Clk
Liberty County Inferior Court June Term 1819Monday, June 28… “It having appeared to this Court, that the time appointed by law for the purpose of
Free People of Color Named: William (Billy) Maxwell, Harry, Tyrone The following notices were found in antebellum records of the Liberty County Inferior Court. Free
Toney Axson was born as a free man of color in Liberty County because his mother had been freed by her enslaver, Joseph Hargreaves, when she had a child with him. Axson became a well regarded carpenter with his own shop in Riceboro.
In 1818, a white planter married a woman of color in Liberty County, Georgia, in a legal marriage recorded in court. They lived in Liberty County for 10 years and had four children. After his death, she relocated to Massachusetts and sued his estate.
In the 1850 U.S. Federal Census for Liberty County, Georgia, 15th District, there was an unusual cluster of women of color listed with last names, both with and without children, living on or near the plantation of white planter Thomas Mallard. While it is not clear if they were officially “free,” several are included in a previously transcribed list of free people of color, 1852-1864 (see here for that list).
Free people of color were required to register themselves and have a white sponsor in Georgia after 1818. This list of free people of color from 1852-1864 was recorded in Liberty County court. It lists their ages, residence, and their sponsor.
