Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Deceased: Chapman, Francis J.
Date Sworn: 1860-01-07
Appraisers: John Shaw, Hendley F. Horne, and James M. Smith
Estate Executor: John Chapman
Submitted: 1860-04-20
Court Officer: H.C. Parker J.P.L.C.
Date Recorded: 1860-07-24
Recording Official: not listed
Total Value of Property Appraised: only enslaved people appraised
Value of enslaved persons: $8775.00
Comments: There were 10 distributees, so estate was divided into 10 lots. Names were written on pieces of paper and placed in a hat; numbers were written on pieces of paper and put in another hat; then a name would be drawn, followed by a number. Lots were drawn as follows:
- John Chapman 2. Daniel F. Sullivan 3. Nathaniel F. Chapman 4. George Rentz 5. Allen Strickland, trustee for his children by Eleanor Strickland 6. David Delk 7. James M. Owens 8. James F. Chapman 9. Sheldon M. Chapman 10. Abram Hines. NOTE: Cattle were also divided and distributed separately.
| Enslaved Person Named | Value | Comments | Lot # |
| Patsey | $850 | value with her child Victoria | 1 |
| Victoria | $850 | value with her mother Patsey | 1 |
| Boston | 1200 | boy | 2 |
| Washington | $725 | price is for Little Washington & Josephine | 3 |
| Josephine | $725 | price is for Little Washington & Josephine | 3 |
| Nancy | $950 | price is for Nancy & Snow | 4 |
| Snow | $950 | price is for Nancy & Snow | 4 |
| Ellick | $800 | price is for Ellick (boy) & Jane (girl) | 5 |
| Jane | $800 | price is for Ellick (boy) & Jane (girl) | 5 |
| Cornelius | 700 | boy | 6 |
| Nunuver (?) | 600 | boy | 7 |
| Doll | 700 | girl | 8 |
| Washington | 1400 | old man | 9 |
| Edward | 850 | price for boy Edward + Baker + Almira | 10 |
| Baker | 850 | price for boy Edward + Baker + Almira | 10 |
| Almira | 850 | price for boy Edward + Baker + Almira | 10 |
Find the digitized original at: “Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-993T-XTCJ?cc=1999178&wc=9SB7-6T5%3A267679901%2C268014801 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Miscellaneous probate records 1850-1863 vol C and L > image 319 of 703.
These antebellum estate inventories and appraisals generally included all the deceased person’s “property,” including enslaved persons. Only those names are documented here for historical and genealogical purposes. Anyone interested in the actual property owned by the deceased may find it at the link at the bottom of the page. Names are listed in the original order, as this often gives very valuable information about family groupings or the age of children (who may be listed in age order).