Free people of color have lived in Liberty County, Georgia, at least since the 1700s. In 1819, Georgia law required them to register with the Clerk of the Inferior Court and have a guardian. This had nothing to do with the age of the free person of color. The Clerk of the Inferior Court was supposed to publish the list in the local newspaper of record and to maintain a book with the list. These newspaper publications have not yet been found for Liberty County, and the court list for 1819 to 1852 has not been found. Below you will find the court list for 1852-1864 and also an article about an unusual cluster of free people of color living near each other in the 1850 census. Below that you will see “Search Results For,” which has individual records found referring to free people of color.
In the 1850 U.S. Federal Census for Liberty County, Georgia, 15th District, there was an unusual cluster of women of color listed with last names, both with and without children, living on or near the plantation of white planter Thomas Mallard. While it is not clear if they were officially “free,” several are included in a previously transcribed list of free people of color, 1852-1864 (see here for that list).
Free people of color were required to register themselves and have a white sponsor in Georgia after 1818. This list of free people of color from 1852-1864 was recorded in Liberty County court. It lists their ages, residence, and their sponsor.
