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: 1855-09-03
Appraisers: David S. Baggs, James Stone, N. Martin, William B. Darsey, W. A. Baggs
Estate Executor: James Smylie
Court Officer: W. P. Girardeau, Ordinary Liberty County & Lewis Smith, J.P.
Date Recorded: 1855-10-03
Recording Official: W. P. Girardeau, O.L.C.
Total Value of Property Appraised: $3737.50
Value of enslaved persons: $2650.00
Comments: Inventory also included one tract of land containing 200 acres valued at $500, plus 200 acres valued at $500.

Enslaved Person NamedValueDescription
Mourn200“Woman” [note: previously mistranscribed as Maura – corrected on 9-18-2023]
Rachel400“Woman
Sarah700“Woman”
Leonard750“Boy”
Georgiaann600“Girl” [alt: Georgia Ann or Georgiann]

Find the digitized original at:”Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893T-XTYL?cc=1999178&wc=9SB7-6T5%3A267679901%2C268014801 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Miscellaneous probate records 1850-1863 vol C and L > image 136 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).