They Had Names

African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia

Making Connections

Following Emancipation, enslaved African Americans in Liberty County, Georgia, were able to take surnames for the first time, just like in other places. Thanks to the hard work of Dr. Peggy Hargis, then associate professor at Georgia Southern University (now retired), we have a list of formerly enslaved individuals with their post-Emancipation names and the names of their last enslaver. Dr. Hargis compiled the list based on the Southern Claims Commission petitions, in which formerly enslaved people made claims for property confiscated by Union soldiers during the Civil War and in the process had to give a great deal of information, including their enslaver’s name. [NOTE: Dr. Hargis kindly gave her permission to use this list on TheyHadNames.net in an email dated April 22, 2019. Please credit her work if you use it!]

This list represents your key to finding information on your ancestor from prior to the Civil War. However, remember that these enslavers would have been alive during the Civil War. Since most of the documents on this site are from probate documents involving deceased slaveowners, this means that having the name of the last enslaver may not help  much with searching this site. What you need to do is research that last enslaver. It is very likely that he or she inherited the enslaved person you are researching.  If you find your enslaved ancestor on this list, enter the last name of the enslaver and the first name of the enslaved person in the search bar of this site. This very well may find you a will or other estate document. If this does not work, research the enslaver to find his or her parents’ and grandparents’ names and look for probate documents involving them. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for help

First NameSurnameEnslaver's Name
TitusAlvinHarden, unknown
BenAndersonPorter, Major Anthony
HenryAndersonMallard, John Boyd
JamesAndersonAnderson, Joseph Andrew
JamesAndersonPorter, Major Anthony
JulyAnderson (Driver)Mallard, Thomas Samuel
JulyAnderson JrMallard, John Boyd
Robert Q.AndrewQuaterman, Bradley
SandyAustinLeConte, Joseph
NellyAxonDelegal, Edward J.
ThomasAxonWay, Samuel (Dr)
BenBaconFleming, Thomas Winn
BillyBaconAllen, Benjamin Washington
HenryBaconFrazier, Simon Alexander
JoeBaconWinn, Edward Lawrence
Nancy (or Nanny)BaconBaker, John Elijah (claim says she was on prop of L. Winn?)
NewtonBaconHines, Robert Charlton
RichardBaconWinn, Edward Lawrence
WashingtonBaconFrazier, Samuel
William (Billy)BaconBacon, Joseph Madison
EdmundBacon (Driver)Winn, Edward Lawrence
PompeyBacon (Driver)Mallard, Thomas
SampsonBacon (Driver)Bacon, Joseph Richard
JnoBacon JrWinn, Edward Lawrence
JnoBacon Sr (Driver)Frazier, Simon Alexander
JosephBacon Sr (Driver)Mallard, Thomas
LouisaBakerFrazier, Simon Alexander
LydiaBakerBaker, William Quarterman
MaryBakerWay, E.B.
PulaskiBakerMaxwell, John Jackson
PulaskiBakerWinn, William Wilson
SamBakerColeman, William J.
SandyBakerAlexander, Charles Atwood
Silvy (or Silvia)BakerCay, Raymond Sr.
WashingtonBakerBaker, John
SusanBennetKing, William John
ScipioBennettThompson, William Goulding
DemboBirdFleming, Thomas Winn
ThomasBradwellBarnard, John Bradley
ElizaBrazwellLaw, Judge
DoddyBrownDeLegal, Edward J.
FrancisBrownMartin, William Graham
HamiltonBrown (Bacon)LeConte, John
DanielBryantScreven, Benjamin Smith
SpencerBryantScreven, Benjamin Smith
BenButlerScreven, Benjamin Smith
Charlotte ButlerButtolph, David Lyman Rev.
ElcyButlerScreven, Benjamin Smith
ShadrackButlerButtolph, David Lyman Rev.
WilliamButler (Driver)Buttolph, David Lyman Rev.
PatsyCampbellAllen, Benjamin Washington
PulaskiCarter (Driver)Quarterman, Alexander S.
CephusCasselsNorman, William S.
JoshuaCasselsBusby, Bartholomew Austin
JoshuaCasselsBarnard, John Bradley
SimonCasselsMallard, Thomas
SophyCasselsWinn, Abial
WilliamCasselsMallard, Cyrus Stevens
SmartChipScreven, Benjamin Smith
Cyrus and IssacColemanColeman, William J.
ThomasConnellJones, Joseph Maybank
JohnCrawfordStevens, William Crawford
RichardCumming (Driver)Thompson, William Goulding
JamesCusbertMaxwell, James Audley
JohnCuthbertQuarterman, Joseph Col.
MarshallCuthbertQuarterman, Joseph Col.
StephenDanielsWilkens, unknown
StephenDanielsWinn, James W.
HamletDeLegal (Driver)DeLegal, Henry Harkley
LafayetteDeLegal (Driver)DeLegal, Henry Harkley
JacobDryerWalthour, George Washington
NedDryerDeLegal, Edward J.
SimonDryerMallard, Thomas
SamuelElliot (Driver)Jones, Joseph Maybank
BristerFlemingBacon, Joseph Richard
James C. FlemingFleming, Thomas Winn
LazarusFlemingFleming, John S. Dr.
RhesaFloydBoggs, David
JnoFraserQuarterman, Joseph Col.
SimonFraserMallard, Thomas
NedgerFrazerJones, Charles Colcock
PlimothFrazer JrMallard, Thomas Samuel
PlimothFrazer Sr (Driver)Mallard, John Boyd
Wm.GilmoreCay, Raymond Sr
RachelGirardeauQuarterman, Nathaniel Pratt
RoseGoldenQuarterman, Samuel Jones
JacobGoldingQuarterman, Joseph Col
MackGoldingMallard, Thomas
MajorGoldingMallard, John L.
Wm.GoldingMallard, Thomas
Wm. AnthonyGoldingMallard, John Boyd
GeorgeGouldMallard, Thomas
SamlGoulden JrHines, Charlton
JaneGreenButtolph, David Lyman Rev.
JuneHardenGrest, Valentine
PhoebeHardenGrest, Valentine
RichardHardenLeConte, John
RichardHardenMallard, John L.
PrimeHargravesHines, Edward (Ned)
TroneHargravesQuarterman, Joseph Col.
AmosHarrisJones, Randall Fleming
AmosHarrisLeConte, Joseph
AmosHarrisLeConte, Joseph
HenryHarrisWinn, James W.
JohnHarrisCay, Raymond Sr.
SamHarrisBacon, Joseph Madison
SamlHarrisDeLegal, Edward J.
SimonHarrisTrask, William
StephenHendersonHines, Charlton
EphrahamHillHines, Charlton
DavidHolmesBaker, John
HagarHolmesBaker, John
JaneHolmesBacon, Joseph Richard
LucyHolmesScreven, Benjamin Smith
BoobyHoustonMallard, John Boyd
CeasarHoustonVarnedoe, Leander L.
LouisaHoustonHines, Charlton
PompyHoustonMallard, Thomas
BenHowardLeConte, Joseph
ThomasIrving (or Irvine)Hines, Charlton
GideonJacksonDean, J.B.
ElizaJamesBusby, Bartholomew Austin
FortuneJamesJones, William L.
FrankJamesThompson, William Goulding
JosephJamesQuarterman, Joseph Col.
JupiterJamesVarnedoe, Samuel McWhir
PlentyJames (Driver)Varnedoe, Samuel McWhir
ParisJames (Driver)Walthour, George Washington
Wm. James (Midway Church)Jones, William L.
Wm.James (Reedeon Plantation)Varnedoe, Samuel McWhir
IsaacJenkinsLeConte, Joseph
BosonJohnsonBoggs, David
NancyJohnsonBoggs, David
WallaceJohnsonBoggs, David
CeasarJonesMartin, William Graham
CeasarJonesHardee, William J.
FortuneJonesWilliam Jones
JosephJonesHarris, Raymond B. Dr.
LindaJonesMartin, William Graham
MarlboroughJonesJones, Moses Liberty
MaryJonesHarris, Raymond B. Dr.
PeggyJonesMartin, William Graham
SaulJonesAshmore, James Sumner
SterlingJonesLeConte, Joseph
ScipioKingWinn, Edward Lawrence
JohnLambertWinn, Edward Lawrence
PeterLambrightJones, William L.
Wm.LawBaker, Robert Quarterman
AberdeenLeConteHardin, John S.
AdamLeConteLeConte, Joseph
HenryLeConteLeConte, Joseph
HerculesLeConteLeConte, John
JoeLeConteLeConte, Joseph
JoshuaLeConteLeConte, Joseph
MorrisLeConteLeConte, Joseph
PaulLeConteHardin, John S.
PrimusLeConteLeConte, Joseph
RichardLeConteLeConte, John
WilliamLeConteLeConte, Joseph
RichardLivingstoneWalthour, William
ClarindaLoweAnderson, Joseph Andrew
ClarindaLoweAnderson, Joseph Andrew
AndrewMarshallMallard, John Boy
JamesMaxwellThompson, William Goulding
SamuelMaxwellWalthour, George Washington
GeorgeMcConnellHines, Robert Charlton
JosephMcDanielBaker, Robert Quarterman
MatildaMcIntoshWalthour, George Washington
LucyMcIverMallard, John L.
Samuel A.McIverRussel, Phillip M.
Wm. M. McIverDeLegal, Edward J.
DublinMillerBaker, W.S.
EdwardMillerMallard, Thomas
JamesMillerMallard, Thomas
Lawrence E.MillerMallard, Thomas
ThomasMillerHines, Edward (Ned)
JamesMonroeHart, Odingsell Witherspoon
Thomas H.MonroeDeLegal, Edward J.
MaryMorrisonQuarterman, Alexander S.
Phebe AnnMorrisonQuarterman, Alexander S.
SamlMunroeHart, Odingsell Witherspoon
CharlesMurrayJones, Joseph Maybank
Phoebe AnnNormanMallard, John L.
SamuelOsgoodBaker, John Elijah
MorrisOwensDeLegal, Edward J.
TobyPinkneyWinn, Abial
BostonPoliteLeConte, John
ClarindaPorterBaker, John
PlentyPorterPorter, Major Anthony
IsraelPowelBaker, William Quarterman
SandyPowelFrazer, Simon Alexander
GeorgePowellQuarterman, Edward William
GeorgePowellWinn, Edward Lawrence
EdwardQuartermanBaker, William Quarterman
EdwardQuartermanMallard, Thomas
GusQuartermanQuarterman, Bodley
JacobQuartermanBacon, Harriet Newell Mallard
JosephQuartermanWay, William John
MarlboroQuartermanQuarterman, Joseph Col.
MingoQuartermanBarnard, John Bradley
MosesQuartermanMallard, Thomas
NedQuartermanBaker, John
Rosa JaneQuartermanAllen, Benjamin Washington
SamuelQuartermanQuarterman, Augustua Stevens (Gus)
WalberryQuartermanQuarterman, Joseph Col.
JacobQuarterman (Driver)Baker, William Quarterman
AmyRobertsWay, E.B.
AndrewRobertsCassels, Thomas
JulyRobertsJones, Charles Colcock
LindaRobertsHowe, George Sr.
SamRobertsJones, Charles Colcock
TitusRobertsJones, William L.
Wm.RobertsQuarterman, Joseph Col.
Wm.Roberts (Riceboro)Cay, Raymond Sr.
AugustusSmithJones, Rev. John
MadisonSmithJones, Henry Hart
JohnSpencerCay, Raymond Sr.
StephenSpencerFleming, Sidney
AndersonStacyBaker, John Elijah
AndrewStacyBaker, John
JamesStacyWinn, Edward Lawrence
JohnStacyBaker, John Elijah
StephenStencil (Driver)Maxwell, William
PrinceStephensWay, Samuel (Dr)
SolomonStephensWalthour, unknown
HenryStephens (Midway Church)Baker, John
CupidStevensFleming, John S. Dr
HenryStevensMallard, Thomas
JohnStevensCay, Raymond Sr
MosesStevensScreven, Benjamin Smith
PrinceStevensWay, Henry
PriscellaStevensKing, William John
RobertStevensBaker, John
XenxisStevensBaker, William Quarterman
YorkStevensWinn, Abial
DavidStevens (Driver)Winn, Abial
AbrahamStewartSloan, John
MosesStewartScreven, Benjamin Smith
RachelStewartButtolph, David Lyman Rev.
SomersetStewartLeConte, John
HarrietSykesQuarterman, Nathaniel Pratt
JackWalkerBoggs, David
AbrahamWalthourCay, Raymond Sr.
CharlesWalthourWalthour, George Washington
LydiaWalthourMallard, John L.
MargaretWalthourQuarterman, Joseph Col.
MaryWalthourBusby, Bartholomew Austin
ShadrackWalthourQuarterman, Edward William
SimonWalthourCay, Raymond Sr.
SylviaWalthourCay, Raymond Sr.
CharlesWarnerJones, William L.
JohnWayVarnedoe, Samuel McWhir
LondonWayMallard, John Boyd
PeterWayCay, Raymond Sr.
SharperWayVarnedoe, Samuel McWhir
JohnWay (Driver)Varnedoe, Leander L.
Benj.WestHowe, George Sr.
LucyWestAnderson, Joseph Andrew
LucyWestJones, Charles Colcock
StepneyWest (Driver only)Jones, Charles Colcock
ThomasWilderHines, Charlton
AugustusWilliamsHines, Robert Charlton
EdwinWilliamsLeConte, John
IsaacWilliamsDean, J.B.
JackWilliamsJones, Joseph Maybank
JacksonWilliamsHines, Charlton
JacksonWilliamsHines, Edward (Ned)
IssacWilsonDean, J.B.
JackWilsonWalthour, George Washington
SandyWilsonHart, Odingsell Witherspoon
PaulWilson (Driver)Winn, James W.
RachelWingThompson, William Goulding
PeterWinnWinn, Abial
SamWinnDean, J.B.
TomWrightLeConte, John