They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Bryan County Chattel Mortgage (Harden/Habersham)

Enslaved People Named: Jack, Samuel, Ovid, William, Jonas, Leah, Rose, Jenney

On March 3, 1843, Charles A. Harden, Bryan County, used as collateral on a promissory note to Robert Habersham and Son, merchants of Savannah, for $856.71 “the following eight negro slaves to wit, Jack, Samuel, Ovid, William, Jonas, Leah, Rose and Jenney [alt: Jenny].” Witnessed by Edward J. Harden, N.P., Chatham County. Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on May 10, 1843.

Harden had used Robert Habersham and Sons to write notes to various individuals without having to put up cash and used the collateral to secure them against his default: John Boston, E.F. Wood & Co, Robert M. Charlton as administrator of T.J. Charlton, Charlton & Ward, Messrs Millen & Pollack.

Bryan County, Georgia, Deeds & Mortgages, v. E-G 1830-1853, Book F (1840-46), page 200-2; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-VSLV-Q : 10 Sep 2024), image 355-6 of 682; microfilm #007899047, citing original records of Bryan County Superior Court.