SLAVERY PROBATE, DEED & Court records
Finding enslaved ancestors in slavery records can be very difficult because generally only first names are given in slaveowner wills, estate inventories, deed and court records. Reading every handwritten document for mention of a perhaps common first name is time-consuming and emotionally fraught.
They Had Names is designed to make this process easier by providing searchable abstracts of transcripts of every Liberty County will, estate inventory, and deed record that named enslaved people.
Old handwriting is hard to read! This site provides the abstracts and transcripts so you don’t have to browse all those old documents BUT each record has a link to the original record on FamilySearch.org or Ancestry.com. Please check it, as mistakes can be made.
this slavery database includes...
– Wills with more than 1220 names of enslaved people (1790-1865)
-670+ estate inventories and divisions with more than 17,300 names (1786-1865)
-35 colonial-era estate inventories (541 names) and wills (177 names) (1762-1775)
– Superior Court deed records (bills of sale, mortgages, marriage contracts, gift deeds) with 12,700+ names (1777-1783, 1785-1865)
-Superior Court court cases naming enslaved people
search the database
Lists
Looking for a particular slaveowner’s will and estate inventory?
Proceed below if you don’t know the slaveowner’s name and/or want to search all the slavery records. All words in these abstracts and transcripts are searchable, so search for a name, place, plantation name, etc. You can narrow the search by category or leave it general.
Lists are also useful because they provide context.
- A list of 1151 African Americans – enslaved and free – who attended churches in Liberty County’s 15th District in 1846
- African American members of antebellum churchs, including 3889 references to African American members of the Midway Church, 1756-1864
- 1850 mortality schedule
- A list of free persons of color, 1852-1865
The categories listed in the Category Filter above include:
–Deed Records: Bills of Sale, Deeds of Gift, Chattel Mortgages (enslaved people used as collateral), Marriage Settlements/Contracts
–Court Records: Legal cases involving enslaved people
–Probate: Wills, Estate Inventories, Estate Divisions, Estate Accounting, Estate Settlements
This seach is not able to distinguish between the names of enslaved people and the enslavers at the moment (stay tuned!). So if you search for “Charles,” you will find every mention of the name Charles. You can use the categories below to filter the query so it’s not so overwhelming or leave all unchecked to search all antebellum records. The number in parentheses beside each record type will show you how many results there were.
search results
Liberty County Will — John Foster
African-Americans Mentioned: Amey, possibly Cuter, Dinah, possibly Letof, Stephen Slaveholder: John Foster Year: 1790 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — William Woodward
African-Americans Mentioned: Cuffee, Dick, Gosport, Isaac, Judy, Lirby, Lucy, Phebus, Pheby, Sally Slaveholder: William Woodward Year: 1791 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Artemas Baker
African-Americans Mentioned: Andrew, Bess, little Bob, Cain, Charlot, Cooter, Dick, old Elsy, Harry, Lilly [alt: Lily], Sam, Sandy, ? Vilot ? Slaveholder: Artemas Baker Year: 1792 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Elizabeth Bennet
African-Americans Mentioned: Affey, Mary, Nanney, Willoby Slaveholder: Elizabeth Bennet Year: 1802 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Hugh McCullough (or McCollough)
African-Americans Mentioned: Anthony Slaveholder: Hugh McCullough Year: 1808 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Kerenhappuch James
African-Americans Mentioned: Charlotte, Cracker, ? Creamen ?, Cudjoe [alt: Cudjo], Cuffee, Delia, Diana, Flora, George, John, Jupiter, Lilly, Nanney [alt: Nanny], Plenty, ?Tub, or? Toby, Violet Slaveholder: Kerenhappuch James Year: 1808 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Thomas H. Smith
African-Americans Mentioned: Anthony, Betty, Bob, Elcy [or Elsy], Johney [alt: Jonny or Johnny], Nancy, Ned Slaveholder: Thomas H. Smith Year: 1806 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Edward Sumner
African-Americans Mentioned: Arandan, Jack, Lucy, Mariam, possibly Prime Slaveholder: Edward Sumner Year: 1789 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Gideon Dowse
African-Americans Mentioned: Dick, Jemima, Joe, Maria, Nanny, Yellow Mag Slaveholder: Gideon Dowse Year: 1789 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Samuel Burnley
African-Americans Mentioned: Dick, Hannah, Rachel Slaveholder: Samuel Burnley Year: 1790 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Robert Sallett
African-Americans Mentioned: Willy, Mary Slaveholder: Robert Sallett Year: 1790 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — John Lawson, Sr.
African-Americans Mentioned: Suckey [or Sukey] Slaveholder: John Lawson, Senior Year: 1790 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Thomas Quarterman
African-Americans Mentioned: Bellar, Bess, Nanny [2] Slaveholder: Thomas Quarterman Year: 1790 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Richard Box
African-Americans Mentioned: Nancy [or Nanny], Melley [or Milley or Milly] Slaveholder: Richard Box Year: 1791 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — John Baker
African-Americans Mentioned: Abraham, Ameritta, Baron [or Boron], Bob, Bruto, Cudjo, Cumba, Flora, George, Grippa, Guinea, little Hannah, Hannah [2], Harry, Isaac, old Isaac, [Kifee or Kissee], Murriah [2], Nanny, November, Patty, Peggy, Phebe, Prince, Rachel, Sam, Scipio, Subina, Sue, Tenah, Tira, Toney, Will Slaveholder: John Baker Year: 1789 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Ann Way
African-Americans Mentioned: Rose Slaveholder: Ann Way Year: 1792 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — John Lambright
African-Americans Mentioned: Binah, Charles, Chloe, Culy, Cyrus, Frank, Hary [or Harry], Jenny, Lily [or Sily], Lucy, Miley [or Wiley], Rose, Sary Slaveholder: John Lambright Year: 1791 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will – Thomas Shepard
African-Americans Mentioned: Abram, Cuffy, Gritta, Peter, Phebe, Primos, Silvia, Yellow Rose Slaveholder: Thomas Shepard Year: 1792 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Rebecca Bennet
African-Americans Mentioned: Elcy [or Elsy], July Slaveholder: Rebecca Bennet Year: 1791 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — John Graves
African-Americans Mentioned: Hannah Slaveholder: John Graves Year: 1794 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — James A. Cole
African-Americans Mentioned: Chessor [or Chessos], Eady, Ginney, Hester, Rachel, Saul Slaveholder: James A. Cole Year: 1794 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — John N. Wood
African-Americans Mentioned: Jack, Phoebe [alt: Phebe], Sylva [or Sylvia, Sylvea] Slaveholder: Year: Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — William Quarterman
African-Americans Mentioned: Harriet, ? Minervah ?, Nero, Sativa Slaveholder: William Quarterman Year: 1794 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — John Hext
African-Americans Mentioned: George, Nanny, Phillis, Sarah, Venice Slaveholder: John Hext Year: 1787 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — William Baker
African-Americans Mentioned: Matilda Slaveholder: William Baker Year: 1798 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Joseph Stevens
African-Americans Mentioned: Jean Slaveholder: Joseph Stevens Year: 1800 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — John Lambert
African-Americans Mentioned: Toney Slaveholder: John Lambert Year: 1785 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Richard Cooper
African-Americans Mentioned: Betty, Bram, Cain, Lucy, Phebee, Phillis Slaveholder: Richard Cooper Year: 1802 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Josiah Osgood
African-Americans Mentioned: Dorcas, Flora, Isaac, July, Nancy, Peggy [or Peg], Rachel, Sucky Slaveholder: Josiah Osgood Year: 1802 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — John Bohun Girardeau
African-Americans Mentioned: Abram, Alphonso, Clarra, Dick, Fanny, old Florah, Frank, Harry, Jain [Jane?], July, Nancy, Paul, Rose, Sary, Sinah, Solomon, Tenah, Tom Slaveholder: John Bohun Girardeau Year: 1800 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Elizabeth Fickling
African-Americans Mentioned: Chloe, London, Luck, little Nancy, Nancy, Nat, Winter Slaveholder: Elizabeth Fickling Year: undated, probably early 1800's Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — John Spears
African-Americans Mentioned: Bunch, Cato, Cyrus, Deliah, Jane, Scippio Slaveholder: John Spears Year: 1804 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Mary E. Law
African-Americans Mentioned: Amy, Beck, Betty, Cate, Champion, Diner, Moses, Nimrood, Rose, Sillah Slaveholder: Mary E. Law Year: 1803 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Ann Norman
African-Americans Mentioned: Hagar, Nanny, Stephen Slaveholder: Ann Norman Year: 1804 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Samuel Spencer
African-Americans Mentioned: Venus Slaveholder: Samuel Spencer Year: 18105 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Thomas Singleton
African-Americans Mentioned: Abraham, Affee, Balinda [alt: Belinda], Billy, Caron, Ceasar [alt: Caesar], Celia, Chloe, Clara, Elcy [or Elsy], Hagar, Isaac, young Hannah, Hannah, Lucey [or Lucy], Mariah, Martia Young, Martia, Mary, Morris, Peggy, Sam, Stephen, Suckey, Tom Slaveholder: Thomas Singleton Year: 1803 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Richard Pritchard
African-Americans Mentioned: Gamboe Slaveholder: Richard Pritchard Year: 1805 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Alexander Daniel Cuthbert
African-Americans Mentioned: William, Betsy, Will, Maria, Binah Slaveholder: Alexander Daniel Cuthbert Year: 1804 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — John Osgood Senior
African-Americans Mentioned: Binah, Dafney, Flora, little Nanny, Big Nanny, Neddy, PhillisRose, Salenah, Will Slaveholder: John Osgood, Sen. Year: 1806 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Sarah Ann Austin
African-Americans Mentioned: Ben, Billy, Fillis [alt: Phillis or Phyllis], Jacob, Jane, Jenny, Jim, big Lanchester, Louiser [alt: Louisa], Ned, Sylvey, Titus, Willy [alt: Willie, Wiley] Slaveholder: Sarah Ann Austin Year: 1806 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Elizabeth Munroe
African-Americans Mentioned: Rinah, Tena Slaveholder: Elizabeth Munroe Year: 1807 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — William Way
African-Americans Mentioned: Adam, Billy, Delia, old Delia, Dublin, Isaac, Jim, Judith, Julia or Juba, Maria, Rachel, ? Roxanna ?, Sam, Sophia, Tenah, Will [2] Slaveholder: William Way Year: 1806 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Elijah Lewis
African-Americans Mentioned: Toby, Phebe, Sofey Slaveholder: Elijah Lewis Year: 1804 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — John Goulding
African-Americans Mentioned: Joe, Pegg [alt: Peg or Peggy], Sally, Jammy [or Jamey], Satira Slaveholder: John Goulding Year: 1789 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Daniel Robert Elliott
African-Americans Mentioned: Ben, Will, Bess Slaveholder: Daniel Elliott Year: 1810 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Sarah Persiana Maxwell
African-Americans Mentioned: December, Christina, Betty, Peggy, Nancy, Flora, Stephen, Dorcas Slaveholder: Sarah Maxwell Year: 1809 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — James McCollough
African-Americans Mentioned: Simon Slaveholder: James McCollough Year: 1802 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Isaac Cuthbert
African-Americans Mentioned: Chloe, Halbrook [or Dalbrook], Jesse, Mary, Molly, Sapho [alt: Sappho]; ? Tora ? Slaveholder: Isaac Cuthbert Year: 1809 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Thomas Shepard
African-Americans Mentioned: Bess, Nancy Slaveholder: Thomas Shepard Year: 1810 Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Liberty County Will — Thomas Bacon
African-Americans Mentioned: Joe, Catharena, Charlotte, Letty, Jack, Primos, Joe, Caesar, Will, Rosa, Tena, Affy, Abram, Peggy, Cloe, Rose, Sarah, Betty, Nanny, Lizzie, Charles, Malbis, Bartos, Toby, Hetty, Phebe, Tom Slaveholder: Thomas Bacon Year: 1811 Location: Liberty County, Georgia