The Liberty County Superior Court, in chambers and sitting in equity, was petitioned by Emma A. Harris, wife of Columbus S. Harris, of Liberty County; Raymond B. Harris, her next friend; and the minor children of Emma A. Harris and her late husband Stephen N. Harris: Mary Louisa Harris, Emma Adelaide Harris, Elizabeth Evelyn Harris, and Stephen Raymond Harris.
The heirs of Stephen N. Harris, who died intestate in 1854, requested the sale of a city lot in Savannah, Chatham County, at the corner of Harris and Whitaker Streets, known as lot #10 in Jasper Ward. This lot was subject to annual ground rent, they said, and also was mortgaged to John Stoddard, based on a decree by the Chatham County Superior Court in Chancery Court on February 4, 1856 according to a petition by Mary Louisa, Emma Adelaide, Elizabeth Evelyn, and Stephen Raymond Harris, as well as Emma A. Harris. At that time Emma A. Harris was administrator of the estate, but upon her marriage to Columbus S. Harris of Liberty County, her letters of administration were “abated.” The estate being thus unrepresented, the Chatham County Ordinary granted letter of administration de bonis non on March 7, 1859, to Columbus S. Harris.
The petitioners stated that “the whole property of said estate consists in the tract of land aforesaid, with the appurentances, and a negro man named Primus.” Due to the need for payment of ground rent, and repairs needed from time to time on the premises, the petitioners stated it would be to the benefit of the estate to sell the lot, and that an offer of $5500 in case had been received, which they believed was a fair price; however, that Columbus S. Harris was refusing to make the sale, and they asked that he be summoned to speak to this. Columbus S. Harris did attend the court on March 29, 1860, and stated he was ready to abide by its decree. Recorded on May 30, 1860.
Source: Superior Court proceedings, Vol. 6, 1855-1864, Liberty County, Georgia, pp 401-5; database with images, “Liberty County Superior Court Proceedings, Vols 6-7 1855-1885,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H3-79C4 : accessed 13 Oct 2022), Family History Library Film 175262 (DGS 008628086), images 230-2 of 702.