Enslaved People Named: Clarissa, Jack, Cyrus, Elizabeth
On October 29, 1857, May Wells, Bryan County gifted to her daughter Emely E. Dacosta of Collington District, South Carolina, Bryan County, “all those four slaves now owned by the said Mary Wells to wit Clarissa a black coloured female aged about twenty four years Jack a male of yellow complexion aged about eight years old Cyrus a male boy of yellow complexion aged about six years of age Elizabeth of black colour female girl aged about three years of age.” They were to be held in trust for her by Gordon J. Goodson, Bryan County, during her natural life, and she (Emely) was to be able to will them as she chose at her death, free from any control by her husband John B. Dacosta. May noted that, due to the trust Gordon Goodson had in May and John B. Dacosta, he was going to allow them to control and manage “said slaves during the life of May Wells & John B. Dacosta” for the use and benefit of Emely and her children. John B. Dacosta was to be given a sufficient allowance for his “trouble in management” of the enslaved people. Witnessed by E.A. Daniel. Recorded in Bryan County Superior Court on December 4, 1857.
[NOTE: It appears that John B. And Emilie Dacosta were living in Duval County, Florida, as of 1860. (U.S. Federal Census, 1860, Duval County, Florida, (outside Jacksonville), page 78 (handwritten), 319 (stamped).]
Bryan County, Georgia, Deeds & Mortgages, v. H-J 1853-1874, Book H (1853-1860), page 388-9; digitized microfilm accessed through catalog, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLZ-197Y-S : 16 Apr 2025), image 206-7 of 682; microfilm #007899047, citing original records of Bryan County Superior Court.