Free People Named: Rebecca Savage Fleming, John Minot Savage, Elizabeth Savage
[Transcriber’s note: William Savage owned the Silk Hope Plantation in Bryan County, Georgia. In 1835 he apparently emancipated a number of people he was holding in slavery and sent them to Liberia. Among them was Rebecca Savage, age 45, John Savage, age 25, and Elizabeth Savage, age 13. They were sent on the ship Indiana to Edina, Grand Bassa County, Liberia, in 1835 by the American Colonization Society. The deed record below indicates that John and Elizabeth were William Savage’s children by Rebecca. For more information, see https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Silk_Hope_Plantation%2C_Bryan_County%2C_Georgia.]
[Begin Transcript]
Africa, Edina } Know all men by these presents that whereas William Savage, late of the County of Bryan in the State of Georgia, United States of America, deceased, did in and by his last will and testament bequeath to us the undersigned by the description and designation of his children and their mother, certain pecuniary bequests from the sale of his Estate, and legacies from money on hand, which we are advised by Robert Habersham Esqr. His Executor, will speedily be ready to be paid over to us, according to the provisions of said Will.
Now know ye that we Rebecca Savage, the mother, and John Minot Savage, and Elizabeth Savage, the children mentioned in said will, who reside in Edina in Africa aforesaid, have made, nominated, constituted and appointed and by these presents do make, nominate, constitute and appoint William N. Habersham of the City of Savannah in the State of Georgia aforesaid our and each of our true and lawful attorney, for us and each of us to ask demand and receive from the said Robert Habersham Executor as aforesaid the said bequests and legacies and the respective portions of each one of us, or any part thereof, and for whatever may be received for us and each of us, and in our names, respectively, proper acquitances, releases and discharges and receipts for the same, or any aprt thereof to make sign and execute, giving and granting to our said attorney full power and authority in the premises and an attorney or attorneys under him to substitute and appoint, and again at pleasure to revoke and generally to do every other act, matter or thing as shall be requisite and necessary to be done for the better and more effectual obtaining and receiving the said bequests and legacies of us the said constituents in the premises in as full and ample a manner as we could or might do if personally present. Hereby ratifying, confirming and holding for valid whatsoever and said Attorney or his substitute or substitutes shall or may legally do in the premises.
In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our hands and affixed our Seals the twenty second day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine.
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of
David Lawrence, Justice of the Peace
[Signed]
Rebecca Fleming formerly Rebecca Savage [signed by mark]
John M Savage
Elizabeth Savage
John M Savage guardian of Elizabeth Savage
I hereby certify that David Lawrence is a regularly appointed and authorised Justice of the Peace for the Commonwealth of Liberia.
Bassa Cove in Liberty 22nd April 1839
Thos. [Thomas] Buchanan
Governor of Liberia
[End Transcript]
Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on October 24, 1839.
Bryan County, Georgia, Deeds & Mortgages, v. E-G 1830-1853, Book E (1830-40), page 370-1; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-VSGS-Q : 3 Aug 2024), image 205-6 of 682; microfilm #007899047, citing original records of Bryan County Superior Court.