They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Liberty County Will — John Lawson, Sr.


Will Summary (published 1964):

John Lawson, Sr., of Liberty County. Last Will and Testament dated June 28, 1790; probated June 9, 1791. Devises to wife Elizabeth and to son John Lawson, Jr., and testator’s grandchildren, the children of said John Lawson, Jr., viz: Elizabeth, John, William and Francis Lawson. Devises also to grandsons, George Chalmers Somarsall and John Somarsall [amended name from Somerrsall] when 21; to daughter, Hannah Peacock, and grandchildren Ann, Jane and John Thomas Peacock; to daughter, Esther Alexander, and to Elizabeth and John Nelms. Executors: John Lawson, Jr., Adam Alexander. Witnesses: John Graves, James James, Jr., Stephen Baker.

Slave names left out of the original summary:

To wife Elizabeth: “…Also one negroe girl named Suckey [or Sukey]…”

To grandson John Somarsall: “One hundred and fifty pounds, to be put out at interest or payed out in negroes, as shall seem most for his interest…”

Find the original (complete) will online at:

Ancestry.com:

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8635/005759431_00001?backurl=https%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fdbid%3d8635%26path%3d&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnBrowsing#?imageId=005759431_00032

FamilySearch.org:

“Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93L-P95D?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 32 of 689; county probate courthouses, Georgia.

1964 Summaries From: “Georgia Court-House Records – Liberty County,” 1964 quarterly issues of The Georgia Genealogical Magazine, Folks Huxford, Editor. Published Under the Auspices of The Wiregrass Georgia Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.