They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Liberty County Will – Robert Laing

Testator: Robert Laing, Liberty County, State of Georgia

[Begin Transcript]

Know all men by these presents, that I Robert Laing have drawn this indenture as my last will and testament, made on the 11 day of December 1829, believing that I have not long to live in this world. Here I bequeath to my wife Lydia my riding gig, and horse Washington. I also bequeath to her ten head of milch cows. I also bequeath to her all my household furniture during her lifetime and at her death I wish it to go to my brother David’s daughter Elizabeth. I also bequeath to my wife Lydia, her lifetime, my plantation on which I live. I wish her to have as much of the cleared land as her own hands can cultivate, and the balance to be rented out, and the money given to brother David to help school his children; and at the death of my wife I want my plantation to be sold, and the money to be equally divided between brother Cornelius’s son Robert A. Laing, and brother William’s son William H. Laing. I have bequeath to my brother David Laing my negro woman Nancy and her child Mag. I have bequeath to my brother David’s son, Robert Q. Laing, my negro boy Sambo. And here I bequeath to my brother Cornelius my negro man Peter. And I here bequeath one half of the remaining cattle to brother David Laing, and the other half to my brother William. Here I bequeath to my brother James Laing my Gravel Hill tract of land. I here bequeath to my brother David my sorrel horse Shirk. I wish my wife to have her pick of the cattle. I wish this property to be divided as soon as convenient after my death.

[End Transcript]

Executor: Brother David and brother James

Probated by Thomas J. Walsh and Rowland S. Leonard on ? May 1830.

Recorded 8 May 1830

See original will at: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93L-GCZC?i=481&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901&cc=1999178