They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Bryan County Marriage Contract (Harden/Maxwell)

Enslaved People Named: George, Lucy, Grace, Penda, Mary, Hardtimes, Israel, Albert, Lucy, Emma

On March 15, 1832, Charles A. Harden, Bryan County, entered into a marriage settlement with Miss Eliza M. Maxwell, via her trustees Thomas B. Baker and John F. Maxwell, also of Bryan County. “The following negroes viz George, Lucy, Grace, Penda, Mary, Hardtimes, Israel, Albert, Lucy, and Emma” were put into a trust for her “to be and continue the property of the said Eliza M. Maxwell,” as well as any other property she owned or would own in the future. Harden and Maxwell were to share the joint use of all the profit during their lifetimes, and when she died, they were to be inherited by her children. If she were to die without children, and be survived by Harden, he was to inherit. Witnessed by Geo. [George] M. Waters, Thomas G. Charlton. Probated by Charlton on December 12, 1833. Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on March 5, 1833.

Bryan County, Georgia, Deeds & Mortgages, v. E-G 1830-1853, Book E (1830-40), page 101-2; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4K-VSGB-1 : 9 Jul 2024), image 58 of 682; microfilm #007899047, citing original records of Bryan County Superior Court.