They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Bryan County Chattel Mortgage (Penny/Miller)

Enslaved People Named: Nelly, Bess

On September 8, 1831, Beecroft Penny, Bryan County, used as collateral on a promissory note of $366 to John Miller, Chatham County, “two negro women slaves the one named Nelly aged about seventeen years old and the other named Bess aged about thirty years old.” Witnessed by Robert M. Charlton. Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on November 28, 1831.

Bryan County, Georgia, Deeds & Mortgages, v. E-G 1830-1853, Book E (1830-40), page 60-1; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-VSKQ-N : 8 Jul 2024), image 37-8 of 682; microfilm #007899047, citing original records of Bryan County Superior Court.