bryan county deed records
The They Had Names website is normally dedicated to Liberty County records. However, Bryan County neighbors Liberty County and throughout its history, there has been overlap in the population. Some people enslaved in Bryan County wound up in Liberty County, and vice versa. While Liberty County is rich in antebellum records, most antebellum records for Bryan County no longer exist.
The shining exception is the Bryan County Superior Court deed records, which name enslaved people in bills of sale, deeds of gift, marriage settlements, chattel mortgages, and occasionally estate inventories and wills. These records can be found on both Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. I have read through all these deed records starting from 1795 through 1865 (Deed Books A-G), and added abstracts of any deeds that name enslaved people. Y
If you are researching Bryan County, you may also be interested in other deed records, which are mostly about land. In 1929, Caroline P. Wilson created abstracts for Deed Books A-D for the Lachlan McIntosh Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Savannah. These abstracts are now on the Genealogy Trails page for Bryan County. Unfortunately, they do not give page numbers (and mostly do not name enslaved people) but are very useful for identifying that a deed of interest to you does exist.
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Bryan County Will – Mary Ann Mell
Marriage Contract (Ward/Maxwell)
[Begin Transcript]State of Georgia This Indenture tripartite made this second day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty six, and the fiftieth of American Independence between William Ward of Sunbury in the County of Liberty, planter of the first part, Sarah Constant Maxwell of Bryan County eldest daughter […]
1812 Bryan County Court Case (Stillwell/Cubbedge)
Enslaved People Named: Hannah, Lucinda and IsaacLocation: Bryan County, Georgia [Begin Transcript]May 5th 1812George Cubbedge Esq’rSir,I demand of you the Negroes Hannah, Lucinda and Isaac the said Negroes being illegally detained by you.Your Ob[edien]t S[ervan]tJoseph Stillwell I do certify I have this day served this notice on Mr. George Cubbedge Sheriff of Bryan CountySamuel W. […]
1799 Bryan County Bill of Sale (Butler/Clark & Jones)
Enslaved People Named: BenLocation: Bryan County, Georgia On April 3, 1799, in Savannah, Ben. [Benjamin] Butler sold to William Clark and James Jones, executors for the estate of Robert Holms, for $600 “a negro man Slave named Ben a cooper by trade valued by Robert Holm at one hundred guineas which will appear by the […]
1798 Bryan County Bill of Sale (Maxwell/Jones)
Enslaved People Named: JohnLocation: Bryan County, Georgia On April 10, 1798, “a certain negro boy named John about sixteen years of age the property of the said Mrs. Mary Maxwell” was sold at auction at the Court House at White Oak, Bryan County, “for the payment of her taxes for the years [1795, 6 & […]
1799 Bryan County Sale (Harden/Pray)
Enslaved People Named: Tim, Joe, Simon, James, Nancy, Will, Peter, Nelly, July, Peter, Romia, Elsey, John, Boatwill, Jones, Rachel, Tenah, Doll, Old Tom, Old BeckLocation: Bryan County, Georgia [Begin Transcript]To be sold agreeable to advertisement.20 Negroes belonging to estate of William Harden Jun’r. The conditions, half cash, the remainder on a credit to the 1st […]
1799 Bryan County Deed of Gift (Clark/Fyffe)
Enslaved People Named: Murfy, Simon, Jack, Suckey, Hester, Sam, Joe, Cook, Tom, TenorLocation: Bryan County, Georgia On December 31, 1799, William Clark, of Bryan County, Georgia, gifted to his niece Catharine Fyffe [alt: Fife] “five Negroes named ? Murfy ?, Simon, Jack, Suckey [alt: Sucky] and Hester and their future issue..” He added that he […]
1800 Bryan County Deed of Gift (White/White)
Enslaved People Named: HannahLocation: Bryan County, Georgia On April 19, 1800, Rebecca White of Bryan County, Georgia, gifted to her daughter Sarah White, same place, “one negro wench named Hannah about eighteen years of age with all of her future issue & increase of which before the signing of these presents, I have delivered; her […]
1799 Bryan County Estate Account (Jane Gray)
Enslaved People Named: Frank, HarryLocation: Bryan County, Georgia In a 1799-1800 estate account for the estate of Jane Gray of Bryan County, presented by Dr. William Maxwell, reference was made to the appraised value of “negroes Frank & Harry” as being $700.00, as well as $150 for the “amt. of hire of negroes for one […]
1800 Bryan County Bill of Sale (Butler/Butler)
Enslaved People Named: NedLocation: Bryan County, Georgia On May 31, 1800, Joseph Butler, Bryan County, Georgia, sold to Thomas Butler for $330 “one negro fellow named Ned.” Witnessed by Henry Harn. Probated by Henry Harn on June 2, 1800. Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on June 5, 1800. On the same day, Henry Harn […]
1801 Bryan County Deed of Gift (Goldsmith/Bond)
Enslaved People Named: Hannah, MyrbellaLocation: Bryan County, Georgia On April 25, 1801, Hannah Goldsmith of Bryan County, Georgia, gifted to Sarah Rebecca Bond, “eldest daughter of Venables Bond esquire and Ann Bond, also of Bryan County,” “one negro girl named Hannah.” Witnessed by Henry Manly, who also probated Hannah Goldsmith’s signature on April 24, 1802. […]
1801 Bryan County Estate Settlement (Mann)
Enslaved People Named: Frank, PegLocation: Bryan County, Georgia [Begin Transcript]State of Georgia, Bryan County } Whereas my grandfather John Mann left me by will two negroes, viz. Frank and Peg his wife and their increase as also a tract of land in the County of Washington containing two hundred and eighty seven & 1/2 acres, […]
1801 Bryan County Marriage Settlement (Mann/Dunham)
Enslaved People Named: NoneLocation: Bryan County, Georgia On June 1, 1801, Martha Mann, a “spinster” of Bryan County, made a marriage settlement with William A. Dunham, a merchant of McIntosh County, with John Pray and Thomas R.C. Hamilton, both of Georgia, as her trustees. The settlement put certain “real and personal estate” to which she […]
1803 Bryan County Marriage Settlement (Stephens/Ross)
Enslaved People Named: Toney, Peggy, Tom, HerculesLocation: Bryan County, Georgia On January 3, 1803, Harriet Stephens, “spinster” of Bryan County, entered into a marriage settlement with Hugh Ross, merchant of Savannah, with William Page of Bryan County as her trustee. They set up a trust, and into they put “several negro slaves” who belonged to […]
1803 Bryan County Collateral Mortgage (Bond/Holms)
Enslaved People Named: Ned, Sam, Jacob, ?Pamouin?Location: Bryan County, Georgia On January 1, 1803, Venable Bond, planter of Bryan County, used as collateral on a promissory note to James Holms, merchant of Liberty County, for $2834.71 “all those four negros to wit, Ned, Sam, Jacob and ?Pamouin?, African negroes and purchased by me of Mr. […]
1805 Bryan County Collateral Mortgage (Keating/Young)
Enslaved People Named: Judy, Gabo, Toby, Sharlott, AbrahamLocation: Bryan County, Georgia On January 2, 1805, Richard Keating, planter of Bryan County, used as collateral on several promissory notes for $1000 to Thomas Young Senior, of Chatham County, “the following negro slaves, to wit, Judy [or July], about thirty years of age, Gabo [or Yabo] about […]
1804 Bryan County Collateral Mortgage (Holms/Pray)
1803 Bryan County Collateral Mortgage (Maxwell/Stebbins)
Enslaved People Named: Josey, Elsey [alt: Elsy], Sharlot [Sharlot?], Affy [alt: Affey, Affee]Location: Bryan County, Georgia On February 1, 1803, Simon Maxwell, of Bryan County, used as collateral on a promissory note for $1360.19 to Edward Stebbins of Savannah, Chatham County, “the following negro slaves viz Josey, Elsey [alt: Elsy], Sharlot [Sharlot?], Affy [alt: Affey, […]
1805 Bryan County Collateral Mortgage (Miller/Lawson)
Enslaved People Named: Cudgo, HagerLocation: Bryan County, Georgia On February 23, 1805, Morris Miller, attorney in Savannah, used as collateral on a promissory note of $468 to John Lawson, also an attorney of Savannah, “two certain negro slaves called Cudgo [alt: Cudjo] and Hager [alt: Hagar] (which said slaves were purchased some time ago as […]
1804 Bryan County Collateral Mortgage (Maxwell/Stebbins)
1805 Bryan County Collateral Mortgage (Maxwell/Stebbins)
Enslaved People Named: Adam, Flora, Affy, Cato, Rachael [alt: Rachel], Tom [or Sam], Bristol, Amey [alt: Amy]Location: Bryan County, Georgia On February 1, 1805, Simon Maxwell, Bryan County, used as collateral on a promissory note of 1577.82 to Edward Stebbins, Savannah, “the following negro slaves that is to say Adam, Flora, Affy, Cato, Rachael [alt: […]
1804 Bryan County Bill of Sale (Stoops/Robinson)
Enslaved People Named: NoneLocation: Bryan County, Georgia On April 21, 1804, John Stoops sold to Jonathan Robinson for $400 “my negro Slave named [left blank] aged about twenty one years.” [NOTE: Unfortunately, the name of this enslaved individual was left blank in four separate places.] Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on April 21, 1805. […]
1804 Bryan County Bill of Sale (Denmark/Robinson)
Enslaved People Named: SmartLocation: Bryan County, Georgia On June 18th 1804, Stephen Denmark noted the receipt from Jonathan Robinson of #325 “in full for a negro man named Smart.” Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on April 20, 1805. Bryan County, Georgia, Deeds & Mortgages, v. A-D 1796-1829, Book B (1799-1807), page 182; digitized microfilm […]
1805 Bryan County Collateral Mortgage (Manly/Young)
Enslaved People Named: WillyLocation: Bryan County, Georgia On May 1, 1805, Henry Manly, Bryan County, used as collateral on two promissory notes totaling $103.12 to Thomas Young, Senior, Chatham County, “a certain male negro slave called Willy about twenty years of age.” Witnessed by John Lawson and probated by him in Chatham County on May […]
1805 Bryan County Marriage Settlement (Mann/Lewis)
Enslaved People Named: None On August 22, 1805, Susanna Mann, “daughter of Luke Mann esquire formerly of Bryan County spinster” and Samuel Lewis, “gentleman” of Liberty County, entered into a marriage settlement with John Pray of Bryan County and Joseph Jones as her trustees. As Susannah was “seized and possessed or of interested in or […]
1805 Bryan County Deed of Gift (Maxwell/Maxwell)
Enslaved People Named: Peter, Rachel, Clarasa, Kate, Jupiter On August 16, 1805, William Maxwell, Bryan County, gifted to Sarah P. Maxwell, widow of his deceased son William Maxwell, “the following negros and their future increase viz Peter, Rachel, Clarasa [alt: Clarissa], Kate & Jupiter.” Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on October 10, 1805. Bryan […]
1805 Bryan County Marriage Settlement (Gindrat/Clark)
Enslaved People Named: Nero, Phillis [alt: Phyllis], Nero, Tamar, Sampson, Jemmy [or Jimmy], Jenny, Morris, George, Delia, Elsey [alt: Elsy], Abraham, Phillis, Jacob, Fanny, Abigail, Neptune, Grace, Mary, Wally, Mary, John, Kenty, Kate, Hannah, Harrington, Scipio, William, Pate, Phobe [alt: Phoebe, Phebe], Peter, Phillis, Nancy, Quallity [alt: Quality], Cretia, Major, Fanny, Aran, Harriot [alt: Harriet], […]
Bill of Sale (Ward/Ward)
Enslaved People Named: March, Affe On August 1, 1799, in Charleston, South Carolina, Benj. [Benjamin] Ward sold to Elizabeth S. Ward for $600 “two negros named March and Affe [alt: Affey, Affy] together with their future issue and increase.” Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on November 19, 1805. Bryan County, Georgia, Deeds & Mortgages, […]
1805 Bryan County Chattel Mortgage (Maxwell/Bolton)
Enslaved People Named: Toney, Dick, Sharlott On January 29, 1806, Richard M. Maxwell, Bryan County, used as collateral on promissory notes for $1074.15 to John Bolton and the heirs of Robert Bolton “the following negros with their increase viz Toney Dick & Sharlott.” Witnessed by Charles Dicks. Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on February […]
1806 Bryan County Bill of Sale (Putnam/Keating)
Enslaved People Named: Pompey, Polydore, Ponso, Dick, Sambo, Jack, Biner [alt: Binah], Yankey, Sally, Dealyce [or Dealyer] and Pinder On January 24, 1806, Henry Putnam, Chatham County, sold to Richard Thorp Keating, Bryan County, for $4666 “the following negro slaves to wit Pompey, Polydore, Ponso, Dick, Sambo, Jack, Biner [alt: Binah], Yankey, Sally, Dealyce [or […]
1806 Bryan County Chattel Mortgage (Maxwell/Stebbins)
Enslaved People Named: Judy, Moses, Jack, Nanny, Louisa, Jack, Stephen, Lucy, Sarah, David, Sandy On March 1, 1806, Richard M. Maxwell, Bryan County, used as collateral on a promissory note of $2235.64 to Edward Stebbins, merchant of Savannah, “the following negro slaves to wit Judy & her four children Moses, Jack, Nanny & Louisa, and […]
1806 Bryan County Estate Settlement (Charlton/Pray)
Enslaved People Named: None On March 10, 1806, Arthur M. Charlton, of Wilkes County, sold to John Pray, of Bryan County, for $500 his 1/9th undivided share in “all the negros and their increase as also the one ninth part of all the stock & other personal estate of Luke Mann, deceased,” to which he […]
1806 Bryan County Chattel Mortgage (Maxwell/Williamson)
Enslaved People Named: Sandy, Sullivan On February 25, 1806, Richard Moultrie Maxwell, of Bryan County, used as collateral on a promissory note of $683.78 to Williamson & Cowling, merchants, and John P. Williamson, factor, in Savannah, “the following negro Slaves namely Sandy and Sullivan two males.” Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on Benjamon Story, […]
1806 Bryan County Bill of Sale (Miller/Harris)
Enslaved People Named: Marlick, Violet, July, Green, Lucy, Louisa, Norridge, Dembo, Jim, Hercules, Syke [alt: Psyche], Tenah, Jeffrey, Petty, Hester, Harrington, Hannah, Cork, Patty, Cotia, Rosetta, Mary, Paul, Violet, Sarah, Noble, Romia, Little Green Due to a lawsuit against the estate of Samuel Miller in the federal circuit court for the District of Georgia and […]
1807 Bryan County Chattel Mortgage (Maxwell/Bolton & Co)
Enslaved People Named: David, Christmas, Bess, Mary, Sary, Pee, Well, Isabella, Mary, Sary On February 24, 1807, in Chatham County John Jackson Maxwell, attorney for William Maxwell, Bryan County, used as collateral on a promissory note for $1761.22 to Carter Bolton & Company, merchant of Savannah, “all those six negro slaves herein after named & […]
1806 Bryan County Sheriff’s Sale (Miller/Miller)
Enslaved People Named: Buck, Stout, Elsey [alt: Elsy], Will [or Well], Manly, Boston, Charles, Cato, Hagar, Clarissa, Charlotte, Billy, Betty, Ben, Matty, Rose, Jack, Paris, Franklin, Lancaster, Abraham, Skip Due to a lawsuit against the estate of Samuel Miller in the federal circuit court for the District of Georgia and a judgment for $2334 pounds […]
1806 Bryan County Chattel Mortgage (Miller/Brailsford)
Enslaved People Named: Buck, Stout, Elsey [alt: Elsy], Will, Manly, Boston, Charles, Cato, Hagar, Clarissa, Billy, Charlotte, Betty, Ben, Matty, Rose, Jack, Paris, Franklin, Lancaster, Abraham, Skip On July 1, 1806, Morris Miller, planter of Bryan County, used as collateral on a promissory notes totalling $2646.60 to Mrs. Elizabeth Brailsford, widow of Samuel Brailsford, “all […]
1807 Bryan County Chattel Mortgage (Butler/Bolton & Co)
Enslaved People Named: Graci, David, Charles, Luke, Mary, Dye, Present, Little Tom, Big Tom, Jeny [or Jerry], Smart On March 27, 1807, James Butler, Bryan County, used as collateral on a promissory note of $1726.79 to Robert & John Bolton, merchants of Savannah, “the following negros to wit Graci aged about thirty years David about […]
1807 Bryan County Sheriff’s Sale (Maxwell/Waters)
Enslaved People Named: Thomas, Dinah, Clarissa, Elsey, Dina, Mary, Brutus, Medy, John, Mingo, Joe, Carpenter Morris, Silvey, Clarinda, Judy, Flora, little Morris, Rose, Satyra, Girl Flora, Tom, Fatimou, Phoby, Natt, Adam, Jupiter, Hector, Toby, yellow Dinah, Cupit, Nancy [or Naney], Isaac, New Mary, Sally, Jackson, Conny, Rose, Paris, Tom, George, Jack, Louisa, Martha, Elsey, Delia, […]
1808 Bryan County Estate Settlement (Maxwell)
Enslaved People Named: Betty, Harriot [alt: Harriet] [Begin Transcript] Georgia, Chatham } To all whom it may concern, be it known that I Ann Maria Maxwell widow and relict of Major James B. Maxwell late of Bryan County deceased do acknowledge and declare that I have this day received from John Pray one of the […]
1800 Bryan County Marriage Contract (Stephen/Stiles)
Enslaved People Named: None In June 1800, Jane Stephen, formerly Jane Stiles, and Benjamin Stiles signed a marriage settlement, with Samuel and Joseph Stiles as her trustees. In the agreement it was noted that Jane (as Jane Stiles) had previously had a marriage settlement dated March 29, 1792, with Alexander Stephen, and with Samuel and […]
1808 Bryan County Sheriff’s Sale (Maxwell/Pray)
Enslaved People Named: Lonnon [alt: London], Cloe [alt: Chloe], Peter, Bob, Charles, Flander, Clarinder [alt: Clarinda], Harriot, Peggy, blind Jimmy, Sharlo [alt: Sharlott], Allick Based on a writ of fieri facias obtained through a lawsuit by Joseph Davis against the executors of James B. Maxwell’s estate in Bryan County Superior Court in the April term […]
Bryan County Sale of Orange Grove Plantation
Enslaved People Named: None On January 13, 1808, Arthur M. Charlton, Wilkes County, Georgia, sold to John Pray, Bryan County, for $600 his wife Frances’ 9th part of the estate of Luke Mann Senior, Bryan County, consisting of her share in “several tracts or parcels of land adjoining each other, situate, lying and being in […]
1808 Bryan County Deed of Gift (Netherclift)
Enslaved People Named: Pender, Venus, Dinah, Maria, Harry, Minty, Chloe, Mars, Tom, Lewis, William On October 3, 1808, Alexander Netherclift, Bryan County, created a trust for the maintenance of his wife Mary and any children she would have by him in the future. George M. Waters, Bryan County, was named as trustee, and the trust […]
1808 Bryan County Sheriff’s Sale (Stillwell)
Enslaved People Named: Affy On September 19, 1808, Alexander Dicks and John Wells, both of Bryan County, confirmed that on September 6, 1808, they had witnessed an auction at the Bryan County Court House in which “a certain negro woman named Affy [alt: Affee]” was sold to Joseph Stillwell as the highest bidder at $90. […]
1805 Bryan County Bill of Sale (Maxwell/Lawson)
Enslaved People Named: Clarissa, James On November 9, 1805, in Bryan County, William Maxwell Senior, Bryan County, sold to John Lawson, attorney in Savannah, for $550 “a certain mulatto female slave called Clarissa and her infant child about two years of age called James together with the future issue and increase of the said Clarissa.” […]
1802 Bryan County Marriage Contract (Ward/Miller)
Enslaved People Named: January, Jamaica, Paris, Couper, Casar [alt: Casear, Ceasar], Jack, Cretia, Moll, Cake Hagar, Affy, Bella, Nancy [or Naney], Lizzy On November 29, 1802, Elizabeth Ward, “spinster” of Savannah, and Morris Miller, attorney of Savannah, entered into a marriage settlement, with John Peter Ward, Benjamin Ward, planters, and Dr. Peter Ward, as her […]
1809 Bryan County Sheriff’s Sale (Camp/Pray)
Enslaved People Named: Sandy On April 4, 1809, John Pray purchased for $371 “a certain negro man or fellow known by the name of Sandy,” being sold at a Sheriff’s Sale after being seized from William Camp based on a writ of fieri facias issued from the Bryan County Superior Court in its March term […]
1809 Bryan County Sheriff’s Sale (Maxwell/Wilkins)
Enslaved People Named: Jack, Judy, Moses, Nanny, Jack, Louisa On April 4, 1809, Paul H. Wilkins purchased for $1300 “Jack, Judy, Moses, Nanny, Jack & Louisa,” who were being sold at a Bryan County Sheriff’s sale at the Bryan County Courthouse after a Bryan County court had issued a writ of fieri facias authorizing their […]
1809 Bryan County Chattel Mortgage (Keating/Young)
Enslaved People Named: Judy, Yabo, Toby, Charlott [alt: Sharlott], Abraham, Polydore, Sally On June 20, 1809, Richard Thorp Keating, planter of Bryan County, used as collateral on a promissory note of 678.54 to Thomas Young, Chatham County, “the following negro slaves to wit Judy about thirty years of age, Yabo about twenty years of age, […]