They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Colonial Will – William Norman

Parish: St. John Enslaved Persons Mentioned: Plymoth [alt: Plymouth] Slaveholder: Norman, William Date: 1773-03-03 [Begin transcription] In the name of God Amen. I William Norman of Saint John’s Parish, in the Province of Georgia, being infirm in Body, but of Sound Mind and Memory, Do make, ordain and rattifie [sic] this my last Will and […]

Colonial Will – George Cubbadge

Parish: Unstated and may not have been in what became Liberty County Enslaved Persons Mentioned: Munday [alt: Monday], Smbo [alt: Sambo], Debborer [alt: Deborah], Jemey [alt: Jemmy], Grace, Drymis, Cato, Tom Slaveholder: Cubbadge, George [alt: Cubbedge, Cubbage] Date: 1758-12-08 [NOTE: Archaic spellings and misspellings retained as seen] [Begin transcription] In the Name of God Amen […]

Colonial Will – Robert Nichols

Parish: St. John Enslaved Persons Mentioned: Tom, Harriet, Pegey [Alt: Peggy], Sam, Hectter [Alt: Hector], Primas [alt: Primus], Nancy, old Jeffery, Terrefer, Jeffery, Sirus [alt: Cyrus?], Jupiter, Silvia [alt: Sylvia], Bess, Chrismas [Alt: Christmas], Dick, Darckis [alt: Darcas], Betsey, old Bess [NOTE: not all names mentioned in the will could be read — see the […]

Colonial Will – Audley Maxwell

Parish: St. John Enslaved Persons Mentioned: Patty, Betty, Siby [Alt: Sibby], Beck Slaveholder: Maxwell, Audley Date: 1769-05-22 [Begin transcription] In the Name of God Amen. I Audley Maxwell of St Johns parish in the province aforesaid Planter being weak of Body but of sound mind and memory blessed be God do this day May the […]

Colonial Will – John Martin

Parish: St. John Enslaved Persons Mentioned: Boson, Glasgow, Abram, July, Andrew, Nanny, Dye Mariah, Jenny, Mary, Little Dye, Billy Slaveholder: Martin, John Date: 1772-02-01 [NOTE: This will was torn in half, and appeared to be put back together backward at the Georgia Archives link. The parts have been re-ordered here as seems to make sense. […]

Colonial Will – Charles Maran

Parish: St. John Enslaved Persons Mentioned: Dinor [alt: possibly Dinah] Slaveholder: Maran [Alt: Moron, Moren, Maren], Charles Date: 1772-03-30 [Begin transcription] In the Name of God Amen. I Charles Moron [alt: Maran, Moren] of the Parish of St Johns and Province of Georgia Being very Sick and weak in Body but of perfect Mind And […]

Colonial Will – Isaac Lines

Parish: St. John (St. Andrews) Enslaved Persons Mentioned: Ceasar [Alt: Caesar], Fibby [alt: Phoebe], Cilly [alt: possibly Celie], Limbrick, Jenny Slaveholder: Lines, Isaac Date: 1766-02-05 [Begin transcription] In the Name of God Amen. The fifth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Sixty Six I Isaac Lines of […]

Colonial Will – Jacob Lewis

Parish: St. Andrew Enslaved Persons Mentioned: Jenny, Tom, Dick, Mariah Slaveholder: Lewis, Jacob Date: 1774-02-09 [Begin transcription] In the Name of God Amen. I Jacob Lewis of St. Andrews Parish in the Province of Georgia, Planter. Tho weak in body yet perfect in minde [sic] and memory, do constitute and appoint this as my last […]

Colonial Will – William Jones

Parish: St. Andrew Enslaved Persons Mentioned: [Name starting with Mo, possibly Moses or Monday], Frank, Ceasar [Alt: Caesar], Tom, Bess, Prince, Jemmy, Bob, Primus [or Primos] Slaveholder: Jones, William Date: 1768-02-18 [NOTE: There are holes in the original document, as noted below.] [Begin transcription] In the Name of God Amen. I William Jones of the […]

Colonial Will – John Elliott

Parish: St. John Enslaved Persons Mentioned: Diannah, Cicero, Nanney [Alt: Nanny], March, Affey [alt: Affee] Slaveholder: Elliott, John Date: 1765-04-29 [Begin transcription] In the Name of God Amen. Twenty Ninth day of April Seventeen hundred and sixty five I John Elliott of Midway in Georgia being of sound mind and memory but [calling] to mind […]