They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Bryan County Deed of Gift (Martin/Martin)

Enslaved People Named: None

On May 29, 1841, Mary Martin, due to age and disability making her incapable of managing the estate left her by James Martin for her lifetime, gifted it to his and their children, trusting in their good will to care for her and to give her a child’s portion of the estate. She named the heirs as Tabitha Ball, John Strickland (husband of her daughter Mercy), James Martin, Emanuel U. Martin, James Hayman (husband of her daughter Delila), Daniel E. Martin, John Martin, Daniel Darby (who married her daughter Mary), Levi Martin, Bryan Welsh (who married her daughter Sabry), Jesse Gieger (who married her daughter Tabitha), Deborah Baxter (widow of Israel Baxter).

She authorized the executors to divide the estate as though her life estate in it had never existed.

Witnessed by Eli Futch, David Gieger. Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on June 28, 1841.

Bryan County, Georgia, Deeds & Mortgages, v. E-G 1830-1853, Book F (1840-46), page 46-7; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-VSL5-D : 8 Sep 2024), image 271 of 682; microfilm #007899047, citing original records of Bryan County Superior Court.