They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Liberty County Estate Inventory – William Spencer

Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Deceased: William Spencer
Date Sworn: 1843-10-26
Appraisers: Jos. Quarterman, James S. McCollough, Rich. S. Baker
Estate Administrator: Mrs. Mary Spencer
Court Officer: not listed
Date Recorded: 1843-12-16
Recording Official: J.S. Bradwell, Clerk
Total Value of Property Appraised: $11268.00 + $750.28 in bonds and cash on hand
Value of enslaved persons: $10,105.00
Comments: None.

Enslaved Person Named Value Desc.
Robert 400
Jim 375
Peter 400
Bob 375
Bob 400 Little
July 400
Cudjo 300
Joe 400
Cuffee 400
Isaac 300
Jack 75
Dick 250
Dick 220 Little
Jacob 250
Judy 5 Old
Venus 75
Tenah 150
Maria 375
Kate 350
Kate 350 Big
Phoebe 250 Big
Phoebe 350 Little
Celia 350
Miley 350
May 300
Judy 350
Charles 325
Billy 220
Eliza 200
Tom 150
Toney 150
Nanny 150
Rose 135
Matilda 75
Scipio 50
Venus 50 Little
Nancy 275
Stephen 175
Augustus 125
Derry 125 or Deny
Caroline 50
William 50

Find the digitized original at: “Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93L-GC7D?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 615 of 689.

These antebellum estate inventories and appraisals generally included all the deceased person’s “property,” including enslaved persons. Only those names are documented here for historical and genealogical purposes. Anyone interested in the actual property owned by the deceased may find it at the link at the bottom of the page. Names are listed in the original order, as this often gives very valuable information about family groupings or the age of children (who may be listed in age order).