They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Bryan County Trust (Maxwell/Maxwell)

Enslaved People Named: Eve, Sullivan, Phoebe

On February 2, 1844, Benjamin C. Maxwell, Liberty County, sold to John S. Maxwell, Bryan County, for $400 “the following named slaves with the future issue and increase of the females to wit Eve and her children Sullivan and Phoebe.” John S. Maxwell was to hold them in trust and for the use of Benjamin C. Maxwell’s living children or any that would be born to him by his present wife, Rebecca. They were not to be subject to division during the lifetime of his present wife, Henrietta [SIC*] and the children who married or reached the age of 21 in the future would not be entitled to the net proceeds, which were to be used for the maintenance and education of the unmarried and minor children. John S. Maxwell was to have the power to sell and dispose of Eve, Sullivan and Phoebe if he thought best, as long as the proceeds of the sale was reinvested in the trust. Witnessed by John P. Maxwell, Charles A. Harden J.P. Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on March 11, 1844.

  • Referred to here as Henrietta but elsewhere as Rebecca.

Bryan County, Georgia, Deeds & Mortgages, v. E-G 1830-1853, Book F (1840-46), page 247-9; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-VSL3-6 : 15 Sep 2024), image 379-80 of 682; microfilm #007899047, citing original records of Bryan County Superior Court.