Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Deceased: Nelms, Elizabeth [NOTE: Surname was very clearly written in several places as Nelme, but is seen in many other records as Nelms and Nelmes]
Date Sworn: 1858-11-01
Appraisers: Charlton Hines, S. A. Fraser, D. Zoucks
Estate Administrator: John E. Girardeau
Court Officer: Benjamin Darsey, J.P.
Date Recorded: not listed
Recording Official: not listed
Total Value of Property Appraised: $6840.00
Value of enslaved persons: $6750.00
Comments:
“Lot No 1 drawn by Rebecca A. Girardeau.”
“Lot No 2 drawn by Laura F. Girardeau. Included 15 head of stock cattle valued at $90.”
“Lot No 3 drawn by Mrs. Mary Fennell.”
“Lot No 4 drawn by J. A. Girardeau.”
“Lot No 5 drawn by John E. Girardeau.”
“Lot No 6 drawn by Wm [William] O. Girardeau.”
“Lot No 7 drawn by Charles G. Girardeau.”
[NOTE: In an 1849 will by Mrs. Elizabeth Nelmes, she names her daughter as Jane Girardeau and leaves her estate to be divided among Jane’s children. Also names William O. Girardeau as her grandson (and an executor of the will). She names “six negro slaves (viz) Lucy an old woman & Chloe & her four children, Becca, Smart, Madelaine and Ben and their increase.” See the original will at: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93L-GHF2?i=673&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901&cc=1999178]
| Enslaved Person Named | Value | Description | Lot # |
| Chloe | 550 | 1 | |
| Smart | 1000 | 3 | |
| Becky | 800 | [alt: Becca] | 2 |
| Maddy | 800 | [alt: Madelaine] | 4 |
| Ben | 800 | 5 | |
| Abram | 700 | 6 | |
| Alphus | 700 | [alt: Alphews, possibly Alphonse?] | 7 |
| Robert | 500 | 6 | |
| Lizzy | 400 | 1 | |
| Juna | 300 | [alt: June?] | 7 |
| Hannah | 100 | 4 | |
| Virginia | 100 | 2 |
Find the digitized original at:”Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893T-XTK4?cc=1999178&wc=9SB7-6T5%3A267679901%2C268014801 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Miscellaneous probate records 1850-1863 vol C and L > image 202 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).