They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Deeds Involving Enslaved Persons
in Liberty County Georgia

Estate Settlement (Smith/Shave)

Enslaved Persons Named: BettieType: Estate On December 18, 1858, John R. Shave documented his receipt from John S. Andrews, trustee of the children of Elisha Smith, “the negro woman Bettie,” plus $43.33 1/3 cents “in full of all the claim

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Property of Lafayette Delegal, 1869

State of Georgia, Liberty County } To the Honorable the Court of Ordinary for said County The petition of Lafayette DeLegal colored of Liberty County respectfully sheweth that he desires to avail himself of the benefit of an act of

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Guardianship (Varnedoe/Cozby)

[Transcriber’s Note: M.E. Varnedoe was Mary Ellen Varnedoe, the daughter of Nathaniel Varnedoe. James S. Cozby was her half-brother through her mother, Hannah Cozby Varnedoe.] [Begin Transcript]Received of S.M. Varnedoe former Guardian of M.E. Varnedoe all the Negroes, lands, money

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Lease (Alexander/Ward)

On January 7, 1818, Louisa F. Alexander, widow of Sunbury, Liberty County, Georgia, leased to William Ward, planter of the same place, for four years “the following negroes, viz, Harry, Rose, Redriff, August, Jim, Hezzy, Barrack [alt: Barack], Lucinda, Julia,

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Bill of Sale (Molyneux/Hutcherson)

[Begin transcript] Robert Hutcherson from Mr. Edward Moleneux [alt: Molyneux] Jn’r the plantation in Liberty County, lately the property of Joseph Hargraves [alt: Hargreaves] deceased, with all its appurtenances stock etc one hundred & twenty seven negro slaves for the

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Bill of Sale for land (Hargreaves/Way)

[Begin Transcript]State of GeorgiaLiberty County This Indenture, made this the fifth day of Feby [February] in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five, between William N. Way, of the County and State aforesaid, of the

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Bill of Sale (Irvine/Wilkins)

Enslaved People Named: None On July 6, 1811, Paul Hamilton Wilkins, planter of Liberty County, used two unnamed “negroes,” valued at $700 to pay a piece of land previously owned by Robert Carnibe Baillie. According to the deed of conveyance,

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Lease (Will Bacon)

In August 1868, J.Q. Spencer leased to Will Bacon, identified as “col’d” (colored), for five years starting September 1, 1867, a 30-acre lot in Walthourville, adjoining land of Major E.H. Bacon, owned jointly by Mrs. M.B. Spencer, J.E. Way, J.Q.

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Bill of Sale (Holden/Holmes)

Enslaved People Named: Robin, Phebe, Sophia On December 21, 1796, Liberty County Sheriff Daniel Stewart sold to James Holmes, merchant, for $246 “the following Negroe slaves to wit, Robin, Phebe [alt: Phoebe], and Sophia.” Sheriff Stewart had sold them based

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Bill of Sale (Weatherly/Evans)

Enslaved People Named: Pender On May 1, 1797, at Darling Hall, Robert Weatherly sold to John Evans for $200 “a negroe wench named Pender,” described as “formerly…of David Rees.” Witnessed by Joshua Allston, John Ashmore. Recorded in Liberty County Superior

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Bill of Sale (Sullivan/Jones)

Enslaved People Named: Dick On April 24, 1797, Daniel Sullivan, Liberty County, sold for $300 to Samuel Jones, Liberty County, “one certain negroe man by name Dick.” Witnessed by Moses Way, Thomas Lanchester. Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on

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Bill of Sale (McLean/Unidentified)

Enslaved People Named: Hannah, Phillis On August 23, 1796, in McIntosh County, Sarah Sarah Burgess, administratrix of Joseph McLean’s estate, stated that she had pointed out to the sheriff property of McLean’s to be sold to satisfy a demand by

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Estate Settlement (Wilkinson/Oswald)

Enslaved People Named: Flora, Ben On February 17, 1794, James Wilkinson, Liberty County, relinquished his rights to any part of the estate of Joseph Oswald in return for “one Negroe boy by name Ben, given up to me by Mrs.

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Bill of Sale (Fox/Stewart)

Enslaved People Named: Leah, Peggy, Robbin, Bella On April 3, 1795, Liberty County Sheriff Henry Wood sold to Colonel Daniel Steuart [alt: Stewart] for 34 pounds “the following Negroe Slaves, to wit Leah a wench, Peggy a Girl, Robbin a

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Bill of Sale (Oswald/Stewart)

Enslaved People Named: Molly, Peggy, Lucy, Bristol, Cupid, Bristol, Bob, Jacob, Plymouth, Judy On November 7, 1794, Liberty County Sheriff Henry Wood sold to Daniel Steuart [alt: Stewart] for $150 pounds  “the following Negroes to wit, wench Molly, do. [ditto]

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Bill of Sale (Oswald/Stewart)

Enslaved People Named: Charles, George, Will, Cyrus, Sylvia, Will, Sam, Adam, Sarah, Aberdeen, Craker, Sally, Rose, Diana, Pamella, Flora On November 7, 1794, Liberty County Sheriff Henry Wood sold to Daniel Stewart for $205 pounds  “the following Negroe Slaves to

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Bill of Sale (Brownson/Brownson)

Enslaved People Named: Abraham, Nanney On March 20, 1797, Galen Brownson, Liberty County, sold for $600 to Betsey Brownson, Liberty County, “the following negroe Slaves to wit Abraham a middle aged fellow, and Nanney a young wench sister to Abraham.”

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Bill of Sale (Sandiford/Corker)

Enslaved People Named: Nancy, Caesar, Tenah, Billy On March 1, 1797, Audley Sandiford and his wife Jemima Sandiford sold for $300 to Stephen Corker, planter of Liberty County, “a certain Negro woman named Nancy.” Witnessed by Edward Corker, Susannah Taylor.

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Used as Collateral (Andrew/Corker)

Enslaved People Named: Charlotte, Sam On April 1, 1796, Saunders [alt: Sanders] Andrew, planter of Liberty County, used as collateral on a promissory note of $200 to Stephen Corker, same place, a “negro wench Charlotte & her son Sam now

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Deed of Gift (Brown/Brown)

Enslaved People Named: Toby, Joe, Clarice, Jane, Middy On December 26, 1788, Francis Brown, Georgia, gifted to his daughter Margaret Brown “the following property (that is to say) my two young Negroe fellows Toby and Joe, together with my three

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Bill of Sale (Stone/Stone)

Enslaved People Named: Charles On March 23, 1796, in McIntosh County, Thomas Stone warranted that he had received “five shillings stg [sterling] money of State of Georgia” from Henry Dassex Stone “for a negro named Charles abt eighteen years of

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Bill of Sale (Winn/Stuart)

Enslaved People Named: None On November 10, 1796, Joseph Winn, planter of McIntosh County, sold to James M. Stuart, planter of Liberty County, for $500 his share in the estate of Samuel Burnely, deceased. Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court

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Bill of Sale (Shepherd/Shepherd)

Enslaved People Named: Primus, Phoebe, Silvia, Peter On July 25, 1791, Liberty County Sheriff Lachlan McIntosh sold to Mary Shepherd for 179 pounds “four Negro Slaves, named Primus, Phoebe, Silvia, and Peter.” The deed specified that 30 pounds were paid

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Deed of Gift (Munro/Bettis)

Enslaved People Named: Venus On August 4, 1796, Elizabeth Munro, Liberty County, gifted to her daughter Elizabeth Bettis, same place, “one negro girl named Venus.” Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on October 21, 1796.  Source: Family Search.org. Liberty County

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Marriage Contract (Hinson/Austen)

Enslaved People Named: Chloe, Lucy, Titus, Venus, Billy, March, Leah, Phillis, Sally, Rosella, Pompey, Simon, Lanchester, Jim, Jemimah, Ned, Andrew, Jinny, Silvia, Jacob, Amia, Tom, Chloe On October 15, 1795, Sarah Ann Hinson entered into a marriage contract with Joseph

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Deed of Gift (Munro/Smith)

Enslaved People Named: Melia, Peggy, Mariah, Simon On September 15, 1796, Elizabeth Munro, widow of Liberty County, gifted to her daughter Semor Smith, same place, “one negro wench, named Melia and her three children /named/ Peggy, Mariah, & Simon.” At

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Used as Collateral (Stuart/Stuart)

Enslaved People Named: Big Dick, Tom, Little Dick, Samson, Little Peter, Frank, old Peter, Syke, Jeffrey, Toney, Joe, Dembo, Jack, Dick, Mingo, Big Peter, Sam, Batteace [alt: Battice], Dye, little Dye, little Hannah, Mariah, Judy, Helena, Milly, Phoebe, Rachel, Rose,

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Bill of Sale (Baker/Baker)

Enslaved People Named: Sampson, Venus, Jack, Charles, Nanny, Jeffry, Harriot, Dick, Cuffee, Sarah, Charlotte, January, Sue, Molly, Clarinda, Lydia, Sarah, Emily, Peggy, Ceaser [alt: Caesar], Diana, Frank, Lucy, Charles, Milley, Rinah, Toby, Abram, Hagar, Lizzey, Hannah, Tenah, Nanny, Bob, Maurice,

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Bill of Sale (Cater/Baker)

Enslaved People Named: Mary, Bram, Joe, Mary, Venus, Diana, Scipio, Peter On March 5, 1796, Thomas Cater, planter of Liberty County, sold to William J. Baker and Doctor Adam Alexander, planter and “fesion” [physician?] respectively of Liberty County, as trustees

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Marriage Contract (Parker/Gough)

Enslaved People Named: Kate On March 22, 1796, in South Carolina, Ferguson Parker put up a bond of $7000 pounds sterling to John Gough in trust for his sister Jane Caroline Gough, whom he was shortly planning to marry. Jane

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Bill of Sale (Andrew/Dickson)

Enslaved People Named: Doll, Cressey, Billy, Elsey, Nancy On April 8, 1795, Sanders Andrew, planter of Liberty County, sold to John Dickson, Liberty County, for 130 pounds sterling “the following Negro Slaves that is to say a wench by the

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Bill of Sale (Montfort/Dickson)

Enslaved People Named: Bob On May 21, 1796, James Montfort sold to John Dickson, Liberty County, for $275 “a negro lad by the name of Bob.” Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on June 7, 1796.  Source: Family Search.org. Liberty

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Manumission (Sue)

Enslaved People Named: Sue On May 23, 1796, John Dollar, a Liberty County Justice of the Peace, recorded that Mrs. Cathrine Collins of Sunday, Liberty County, appeared before him to swear that Mrs. Mary Wells, late of Sunbury and deceased,

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Bill of Sale (Bradwell/West)

Enslaved People Named: Simon, Charlotte, Abram, Aron, Harry, Adam, Simon, Dinah, Beck On May 18, 1795, Thomas Bradwell, planter of Liberty County, sold for 398 pounds sterling to John Jones and Joel Walker in trust for Hannah West, wife of

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Bill of Sale (Stone/Walker)

Enslaved People Named: Charles On March 12, 1796, Henry D. Stone, planter of McIntosh County, sold for $200 to Joel Walker, planter of Liberty County, “a Negro boy about 17 years of age named Charles, being the joint property of

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Bill of Sale (Schmid/Molich)

Enslaved People Named: Billy On January 22, 1796, Christiana Dorothea Schmid, widow and relict of Philip Jacob Schmid, and administrator of his estate, authorized John Molich, who had paid her 43 pounds sterling, to take  “said negro” into his possession.

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Liberty County Estate Inventory and Division – Isham Clay

Location: Liberty County, GeorgiaDeceased: Clay, IshamDate Sworn: N/AAppraisers: Josiah Wilson, John B. Maxwell, William WardEstate Administrators: John Broughton, administrator of the estate of Robert SallensCourt Officer: N/ADate Recorded: 1822-05-23Recording Official: John StevensTotal Value of Property Appraised: $1250Value of enslaved persons:

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Bill of Sale (Butler/Wilkins)

Enslaved People Named: July On March 16, 1821, Shem Butler sold to Samuel Wilkins for $350 “a negro man named July.” Witnessed by Furman R. Whitwell. Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on May 23, 1822.  Source: Family Search.org. Liberty

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Bill of Sale (Baker/Robarts)

Enslaved People Named: Stephen On May 7, 1822, Liberty County Sheriff John Stewart sold to William Robarts for $550 “a certain negro named Stephen.” Liberty County Constable Daniel Simmons had seized Stewart from the estate of Thomas Baker based on

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Bill of Sale (Baker/Robarts)

Enslaved People Named: Celia On March 19, 1822, at Riceboro, Richard S. Baker, Liberty County, sold to William Robarts for $450 “one negro slave, Celia.” Witnessed by Joseph Baisden, Samuel Manly. Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on May 16,

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Bill of Sale (Ladson/Robarts)

Enslaved People Named: Frank On March 5, 1822, William F. Ladson sold to William Robarts for $550 “a negro boy Frank.” Witnessed by Joseph Baisden, Samuel H. Manly. Recorded in Liberty County Superior Court on May 16, 1822.  Source: Family

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Bill of Sale (Jones/Jones)

Enslaved People Named: Mary, Miley, Jenny On May 7, 1822, Nathaniel Varnedoe, executor of the Samuel Jones estate, sold to Joseph Jones for $500 “the following negroes, to wit, Mary & her child Miley, together” and also for $169 to

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