They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Marriage Contract (Irvine/McIver)

Enslaved Persons Named: Clarinda, Jonas

On February 10, 1831, Isabella Jane Irvine, of Sunbury, Liberty County, spinster, and Alexander Munro McIver, planter of the same county, entered into a marriage contract, with John Dunwody as her trustee. With the intent that the “the said Isabella Jane should continue vested with the power of disposing of her estate by will, as fully and completely as she would be if she were to remain unmarried,” the following property owned by her was put into a trust: “a certain negro woman slave named Clarinda, and her infant child named Jonas,” with a tract of land in Lee County, Georgia, in its 21st District, known as  Number thirteen, first section, and another tract of land in Muscogee County, Georgia’s 19th District, known as #245, second section. Witnessed by Louisa E. Stevens, Sarah E. Wilson, M.A. Herb. Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on March 30, 1831. 

Source: Family Search.org. Liberty County Superior Court “Deeds and mortgages, 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages, 1777-1958,” Film: Deeds & Mortgages, v. H-I 1816-1831,” Record Book  I, 1822-1831, p. 447-8. Image #531-2  (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-SSTX-D?i=530&cat=292358)