They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Manumission (Peter Gilbert)

Enslaved Persons Named: Peter Gilbert On November 30, 1788, Peter Augustus Bishop, merchant of Sunbury, “in consideration of the Good will and Regard which I have and do bear towards a Sambo Boy named Peter Gilbert of the Town of Sunbury and State aforesaid aged Ten years or thereabouts have given and granted and by […]

Manumission (Felicity)

Enslaved Persons Named: Felicity On November 30, 1788, Peter Augustus Bishop, merchant of Sunbury, “out of the good-will, and Regard which I have and do bear towards a negroe woman named Felicity of the town of Sunbury and State aforesaid, aged about Twenty Two years, have given and granted and by these presents do give […]

Manumission (Mingo)

Enslaved Persons Named: Mingo On 21 April 1788, Thomas Baker of Liberty County signed his name to the following deed: “Whereas Mr. John Linus late of this County deceased in his last Will allowed his Negroes the priviledge [SIC] of choosing any to be their Master who would pay to the Executor of his Estate […]

Manumission (Nanny)

Enslaved Persons Named: Nanny On November 25, 1793, James Wilson and Andrew Walthour signed a notification certifying that “the bearer Nanny, lately the property of John Anderson of said county, planter, deceased, was left free by the said John Anderson, her  late Master, in his last Will and Testament, and that the said Wench named […]

Manumission (Turone)

Enslaved Persons Named: Turone On November 25, 1793, James Wilson and Andrew Walthour signed a notification certifying that “the bearer Turone, lately the property of John Anderson of said county, planter, deceased, was left free by the said John Anderson, his late Master, in his last Will and Testament, and that the said fellow named […]

Manumission (Phillis)

Enslaved Persons Named: Phillis On December 16, 1793, Joseph Gibbons, son of William Gibbons, late of “Sharon of the County of Chatham,” freed “a Negroe woman Phillis [alt: Phyllis].” Gibbons noted that he had inherited some real estate and personal estate from his father’s will and “whereas among the personal estate divided off to me […]

Manumission (Tom)

Enslaved Persons Named: Tom The following deeds were recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on February 9, 1793: “I do hereby certify that the bearer Tom is a free man having been freed by his Master Simon [see note] Before his Death several years ago Given under my hand at Savannah first March Seventeen hundred […]

Manumission (Boston)

Transcribed from “Acts and Resolutions of the General Assembly”: “(No. 534.)An Act to manumit a negro man slave, named Boston, the property of E.B. Way, Catharine P. Wheeler, Thomas B. Wheeler, H.R. Wheeler and Eugene Bacon of the State of Georgia and county of Liberty, and John Savage of the county of Chatham, and State […]