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African Americans in Early Records of Liberty and Bryan Counties, Georgia

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Year: 2024

Bryan County Chattel Mortgage (Hines/Perry)

September 14, 2024

On May 12, 1842, John P. Hines, Bryan County, used as collateral on a promissory note to Elias Perry, Bryan County, for $1000 “the following named nine negro slaves, to wit, Toney, Paul, Charlotte, Isaac, Edward, Harry, Jane, Lavina and Isaac.” Witnessed by Joseph W. Jackson. Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on May 24, 1842. Bryan County, Georgia, Deeds & Mortgages, v. E-G 1830-1853, Book F (1840-46), page 135-7; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-VSL6-P : 14 Sep 2024), image 318-9 of 682; microfilm #007899047, citing original records of Bryan County Superior Court.

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Bryan County Bill of Sale (Stiles/Stiles)

September 14, 2024

Enslaved People Named: Silvia, Susan, Judy On April 2, 1842, Benjamin Stiles, Bryan County, sold to Benjamin E. Stiles, guardian of Mary A.E. Donaldson, to hold in trust for her, for $900 the following negro slaves to wit Silvia, Susan, and Judy.” Witnessed by William Roser, N. Duncan. Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on May 16, 1842. Bryan County, Georgia, Deeds & Mortgages, v. E-G 1830-1853, Book F (1840-46), page 132; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-VSLD-L : 14 Sep 2024), image 317 of 682; microfilm #007899047, citing original records of Bryan County Superior Court.

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Bryan County Chattel Mortgage (Stiles/Clark)

September 14, 2024

Enslaved People Named: Florinda, Glascow On April 30, 1842, Benjamin Stiles, Bryan County, used as collateral on a promissory note to John Clark for $404 “the following negro slaves to wit, Florinda, and Glascow [alt: Glasgow].” Witnessed by William H. Stiles, N.P. Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on May 16, 1842. Bryan County, Georgia, Deeds & Mortgages, v. E-G 1830-1853, Book F (1840-46), page 130-1; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-VSL4-F : 14 Sep 2024), image 316 of 682; microfilm #007899047, citing original records of Bryan County Superior Court.

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Flanders Pray – A Community Leader

September 13, 2024

As the Civil War ground to an end, Liberty County, Georgia, was in disarray. It had been raided by Sherman’s Army, white families had fled their homes, and people held in slavery had been moved to other locations or left to fend for themselves. Many had scattered to follow the Army or find their own ways. Leaders — like young Flanders Pray, a formerly enslaved man — stepped up into the chaotic post-war environment to provide the most important requirement for moving forward into a new life: education. Freed people throughout the South had an overwhelming hunger to gain the knowledge that had been denied them by law. Older people, like Windsor Stevens, sat in classrooms with children without shame. Others who had managed to gain the ability to read and write during slavery, like Flanders Pray, became their teachers. At the end of the war, Flanders Pray was being held in slavery by Charlton Hines, for whom Liberty County’s county seat, Hinesville, is named. In 1867, now a free man, he registered to vote for the first time in his life at the age of 30. Two years later, when educator and politician William A. Golding opened schools for

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Bryan County Court Order (Stiles & Penny)

September 12, 2024

Enslaved People Named: None [Begin Transcript] State of Georgia, Bryan County } Whereas Zachariah M. Winkler of Savannah in said State obtained a judgement in Bryan Superior Court against Benjamin Stiles and Alexander W. Stephen, who are the trustees of Mrs. Jane Penny, for the sum of thirteen hundred and eight dollars and thirty three cents exclusive of interest and costs, and also an execution in foreclosure of mortgage upon Frugality Hall held by the said Benjamin Stiles and Alexander W. Stephen in trust for said Jane Penny and whereas the said Benjamin Stiles and Alexander W. Stephen are desirous of obtaining indulgence from the said Zachariah M. Winkler on said judgement and foreclosure, which the said Zachariah M. Winkler has agreed to grant upon one half of said debt and interest until the first day of January 1845 and on the other half till the first day of January 1846, in consideration of which, the said Jane Penny and Beacroft Penny her husband, do hereby consent and agree and do also hereby request and authorise the said Benjamin Stiles and Alexander W. Stephen, trustees under a certain deed bearing date the fifth day of May 1829 or either of

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Bryan County Deed of Gift (Harn/Harn)

September 12, 2024

Enslaved People Named: Daphney, Jane, Peggy, Rose, Becka On November 27, 1843, John Harn, Bryan County gifted to his son John Harn Junior, Bryan County, “one negro woman named Daphney and her four children viz Jane, Peggy, Rose and Becka [alt: Becca], as well as two tracts of land (one 50 acres originally granted to Sarah McKinly and one 200 acres originally granted to Elizabeth Harn, both in Bryan County), 30 head of stock cattle, 30 stock hogs and one sorrel mare about twelve years old.” Witnessed by Wm. [William] Harn. Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on January 12, 1844. Bryan County, Georgia, Deeds & Mortgages, v. E-G 1830-1853, Book F (1840-46), page 235-6; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-VSL9-B : 11 Sep 2024), image 373-4 of 682; microfilm #007899047, citing original records of Bryan County Superior Court.

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Bryan County Deed of Gift (Harn/Harrison)

September 12, 2024

Enslaved People Named: Clary, Hannah, Rina On September 5, 1843, John Harn, Bryan County gifted to William Harn, Bryan County, in trust for Abigail Elizabeth Harrison, John Harn’s daughter, during her lifetime “a certain negro woman slave named Clary and her two children, Hannah and Rina [alt: Rhina], as well as a tract of land in Bryan County on the road from Canouchie River to Bryan County Courthouse.” The land was bounded north by William Harn, southeast by Thomas S. Clay, and west by John Wells. Also included were 30 head of stock cattle, 30 stock hogs and one sorrel mare. The property was to pass to Abigail’s heirs upon her death and was not to be subject to the debts of her present or any future husband. Witnessed by Z. Smith. Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on September 8, 1843. Bryan County, Georgia, Deeds & Mortgages, v. E-G 1830-1853, Book F (1840-46), page 225-6; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-VSLR-3 : 10 Sep 2024), image 367-8 of 682; microfilm #007899047, citing original records of Bryan County Superior Court.

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Bryan County Bill of Sale (Shuman/Bird)

September 12, 2024

Enslaved People Named: Marcus On May 16, 1843, Samuel G. Shuman, Bryan County, sold to Israel Bird, Bryan County, for $400 “a certain negro man or mulatto, named Marcus.” Witnessed by John A. Hendry, Jackson Bird. Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on August 21, 1843. Bryan County, Georgia, Deeds & Mortgages, v. E-G 1830-1853, Book F (1840-46), page 220-1; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-VSL8-L : 10 Sep 2024), image 365 of 682; microfilm #007899047, citing original records of Bryan County Superior Court.

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Bryan County Sheriff’s Sale (English/Grace)

September 12, 2024

Enslaved People Named: Sandy On July 4, 1843, Robt [Robert] C. Grace purchased one grey mare and “negro man Sandy” at a Sheriff’s Sale at the Bryan County courthouse for $17. They had originally been seized from Reuben English based on a court order. Witnessed by Wm. [William] H. Vanbrackel, J.I.C.B.C. Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on July 7, 1843. Bryan County, Georgia, Deeds & Mortgages, v. E-G 1830-1853, Book F (1840-46), page 215-6; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-VSLH-X : 10 Sep 2024), image 362-3 of 682; microfilm #007899047, citing original records of Bryan County Superior Court.

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Bryan County Chattel Mortgage (Harden/Habersham)

September 12, 2024

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.

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