They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Colonial Georgia Estate Inventory – Nathaniel Clark

Parish: Not stated, but probably St John Parish (based on John Stewart’s having been an appraiser on this inventory and also a witness to the will of Nathaniel Clark of St. Johns Parish [see below])
Deceased: Clark, Nathaniel
Inventory Date: 1763-03-16
Appraisers: John Stewart, Joseph Way, Daniel Sullivant
Estate Administrator: Not named
Total Value of Property Appraised: 51.04.17
Value of enslaved persons: 40.00.00
Comments: All value amounts are in pounds. Only the enslaved people in the inventory are listed below. Please see the original for other parts of the inventory.

On August 20, 1761, Nathaniel Clark “of St. John Parish in the province aforesaid Planter being infirm in body but of perfect mind and memory” wrote his will, leaving to “the children of my loving brother Stephen Clark one half of real & personal estate,” when they came of age, and the other half of “my real and personal estate for the support of the Gospel minding of which the Reve’nd Mr. John Osgood at present is Minister and to be paid by my Executors unto the hands of the select men of the above Gospel Ministry.” He also cancelled the debt owed him by “my brother Joshua Clark.” He named his brother Stephen Clark and John Winn as executors. The witnesses were John Stewart, Elizabeth Sumner, and George Fitzgerald (the last signed by mark). The will was probated by John Stewart. [See sourcing below]

Enslaved Person NamedValueDescription
Cuffey30“One Negro fellow named Cuffey” [alt: Cuffee, Cuffy]
Cloe10“One Negro Wench named Cloe” [alt: Chloe]

Source: Ancestry.com, “Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992,” -> “All Counties” -> “Inventories of Estates, Vol F, 1754-1770.” Pages 135, Image #85 of 292. Accessed on 5/15/2021 at https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8635/images/007701186_00085

Source: Ancestry.com, “Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992,” -> “All Counties” -> “Wills, Vol A, 1754-1772.” Pages 92, Image #74 of 257. Accessed on 5/15/2021 at
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8635/images/007701184_00074.