They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Liberty County Estate Inventory – James Smylie, Sen [Senior]

Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Deceased: Smylie, James Sen [Senior]
Date Sworn: 1835-03-06
Appraisers: David Allen, Simon Fraser, Jun [Junior], Fashaw Long
Estate Executor: James Smylie, Jun [Junior]
Court Officer: W.G. Robinson, J.P.
Date Recorded: 1835-04-20
Recording Official: E. Baker, Clk
Total Value of Property Appraised: $1948.37 1/2
Value of enslaved persons: $1250.00
Comments: Unusually, this estate inventory includes one 200-acre tract of land ($500) and one 200-acre tract of pine land ($50).

Enslaved Person NamedValueDescription
Rachel450“Woman”
Mourn350“Woman”
Sarah450“Woman”

Find the digitized original at: “Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93L-GCCM?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 528 of 689

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).