Description:

Women in Colonial Georgia
various, ca. 1772-1775
Women In Pre-Rev. War Georgia: A Slave-Owning Widow Tallies Property & A Spinster Sells 50 Acres
MDS
A fascinating pair of manuscript documents signed relating to the legal status and economic condition of women in pre-Revolutionary War Georgia. The first document dated April 8, 1772 pertains to a probate inventory of a widow named Elizabeth Hazzard, who inherited six enslaved persons in St. James Parish; and the second document dated January 12, 1775 relates to an unmarried woman named Sybella Shaley who sold 50 acres of land to Clement Martin, Jr. of St. Matthew Parish. Both documents thus have strong associations to Savannah, Georgia and its immediate environs. Condition issues will be enumerated below but are generally good. The largest document unfolded measures 10.325" x 16.325."

The lot is comprised of, in chronological order:

1. A 2pp manuscript document secretarially signed by James Habersham (1712-1775), President of the Georgia Assembly's Upper House after 1767, and Lieutenant Governor of Georgia from 1771-1772. April 8, 1772. Savannah, Georgia. Countersigned by Thomas Moodie, Secretary, recto along the bottom; and the memorandum verso is countersigned by James Spaulding, Justice of the Peace of St. James Parish, as well as three witnesses, including one with his mark. Expected wear including moderate uneven toning, scattered stains, and ink bleed through. Flattened paper folds, with splits ranging from minor to severe. Else good. 10.325" x 16.325."

The legal document relates to Elizabeth Hazzard, widow of planter Richard Hazzard. It granted the widow more time to complete the court-ordered probate inventory of "All and Singular the goods rights and Credits of the said Richard Hazzard deceased." Elizabeth Hazzard cited difficulties in traveling to some of the property as a reason to defer the inventory. The court dispatched three men named James Bruce, Jacob Witter, and Samuel Adams to appraise Hazzard's property in St. James Parish, located in present day Liberty County, in the Hinesville metropolitan area south of Savannah. The men's report was certified five weeks later, on May 12, 1772, recording Hazzard's property as six enslaved persons: "Wench Phebe + her Children Vz Rachell Sarah James Absolam / fellow Cutty Cut alias Samson." The enslaved persons, probably rice field workers, were appraised at £180 total.

2. A 1p manuscript document signed by Secretary Thomas Moodie near the lower edge. January 12, 1775. N.p. The land grant is countersigned by seller Sybella Shaley with her mark at lower right; as well as by two witnesses, Justice of the Peace William Ewen and Edward Jones, at lower left. On laid watermarked paper with a scalloped top edge. Bearing a small paper seal near Sybella Shaley's mark. Docketed near the left edge verso. Expected wear including toning and uneven staining. Flattened paper folds, some with small breaks or areas of ink erosion loss. A former collector has pencil-inscribed a genealogical note verso at lower right. Else good. 14.125" x 11.5."

This legal contract outlined the terms of sale between "Sybella Shaley Spinster of the Parish of St. Mathew [sic] in the Province of Georgia" and Clement Martin, Jr. Under the terms, Shaley agreed to sell Martin a tract of 50 acres of land for five shillings, to be paid within six months. St. Matthew Parish is found in present day Effingham County and is located to the northwest of Savannah.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: largest document unfolded measures 10.325" x 16.325"
  • Medium: MDS

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