Non-payment of a promissory note for the hire of Henry

This post is part of an ongoing project to record names of enslaved people of Greene County, Georgia I find in historical records. 

Proceedings of Greene Superior Court – September Term 1858

No. 40 Greene Superior Court – March Term 1858.

H. H. King vs. John W. Jackson and James M. Lankford, Principals, and A. L. Willis, Security – Complaint. $125.00.

On the twenty-fifth day of December next, we promise to pay H. H. King or bearer one hundred and twenty-five dollars for the hire of negro fellow Henry. We also agree to furnish said negro with two good suits of summer clothes and a good winter suit, hat, blanket, and shoes.

Greenesboro, March 11th, 1857
J. W. Jackson, James M. Lankford, A. L. Willis (Security)

Georgia, Greene County. To the Superior Court of said County. The petition of Henry H. King showeth that John W. Jackson and James M. Lankford of said county as Principals and Alfred L. Willis also of said county as Security are indebted to him in the sum of one hundred and twenty five dollars besides interest on a note dated the eleventh day of March eighteen hundred and fifty seven and due on the twenty fifth day of December next thereafter which said note they the said John W. and James M. as principals and the said Alfred L. as Security refuses to pay. Wherefore your petitioner prays process may issue requiring the said John W. Jackson and James M. Lankford, as principals and the said Alfred L. Willis as Security to be and appear at the net Superior Court for said county to answer your petitioners complaint.

Yelverton P. King, Plaintiff’s Attorney

Georgia, to the Sheriff of Greene County—Greeting: H. H. King vs. John W. Jackson and James M. Lankford, Principals and Alfred L. Willis, Security – Complaint

The defendants are hereby required, personally or by attorney, to be and appear at the Superior Court to be held in and for the County of Greene on the second Monday in March next, then and there to answer the plaintiff’s demand in an action of complaint. As in default thereof, said Court will proceed as to justice shall appertain.

Witness The Honorable Robert V. Hardeman, Judge of said Court this 15th of February 1858.

Vincent Sanford, Clerk

Personally served A. L. Willis with a copy of the within Writ February 17th, 1858. – C. C. Norton, D. Sheriff

Personally served James M. Lankford with a copy of the within Writ February 19th, 1858. – C. C. Norton, D. S.

Served a copy of the within Writ on John W. Jackson by leaving it at his residence, his most notorious place of abode. February 20th, 1858. – C. C. Norton, D. Shff. March Term 1858 Default

September Term1858 Judgment Confessed. We confess judgment to the Plff. for the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars with interest and costs with liberty of appeal. – Cone and Fuller, Defts. Atty’s. Principal $125.00, interest $6.29

Whereupon it is considered and adjudged by the Court that the plaintiff do recover of John W. Jackson and James M. Lankford as principals and Alford L. Willis as Security the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars for his principal sum due and the further sum of six dollars and twenty-nine cents. Interest and the further sum of [blank] for costs. 13th September 1858. – Yelverton P. King, Plff’s. Attorney

Recorded the 4th day of November 1858. – Vincent Sanford, Clerk

Reference

Greene County, Georgia, Special Proceedings Records 1856–1860, images 91–92, FamilySearch. 

Matthias A. Jones

Matthias A. Jones, born around 1836 in Walton County, Georgia, was the son of Henry Jones and Sarah Lightfoot Vickers. He was one of 10 children: Abraham Benjamin, Martha Adaline, Elizabeth “Eliza,” Henry Clayborn, Mary Elizabeth, Lydia Ann, John U., Sarah S., and James D. Jones.

Matthias is my 3rd great-uncle; our nearest common ancestors are his parents, Henry and Sarah.

On September 18, 1850, the Jones family was enumerated in Division 88 of Walton County. Matthias, listed as “Mathew,” was 15 years old and living with his parents. His father Henry was a farmer with real estate valued at $1,900, assisted by eldest son Abraham. Also in the household were siblings Martha, Mary, and Lydia, along with a 15-year-old named James Young. They lived next door to the Silas Patton family, whose son George would marry Matthias’s sister Martha two years later.

Although the exact date is unknown, Matthias married Mary E. Rowe, likely in Walton County. Together they had at least five children:

• Sarah Matilda Jones (born about 1858)
• James William Jones (born about 1859)
• Susan Adaline Jones (born about 1862)
• Mary Elizabeth Jones (born about 1868)
• Otis M. Jones (born 1872)

Despite extensive searching, Matthias and his family do not appear in the 1860 census—a frustrating gap during the early years of his marriage.

In 1864, Matthias, then 27, was recorded as a farmer in the 27th Senatorial District, 419th Militia District of Walton County. He was exempted from military service due to disability.

On February 13, 1866, his father Henry made a significant legal gesture: he conveyed 75 acres of land to Matthias—not for Matthias’ benefit, but in trust for his wife Mary. The deed ensured Mary’s right to use the land during Matthias’ lifetime and, if she survived him, throughout her widowhood. Upon her remarriage or death, the land would pass to her surviving children. If none survived, it would revert to Henry or his estate. This arrangement protected Mary’s financial security and preserved the land within the family.

Matthias’ mother, Sarah, died on June 8, 1866, and was buried in the Jones family burial ground in Between, Walton County. His father Henry died on June 22, 1867, though his tombstone incorrectly lists June 13, 1865. Probate records confirm the 1867 date. Henry’s will left cash and personal property to several daughters but no direct inheritance to sons Henry, Abraham, or Matthias. Instead, he directed that approximately 50 acres be divided among their children.

On August 19, 1867, Matthias signed the Reconstruction Oath, swearing allegiance to the United States, which enabled him to vote.

 

Reconstruction Oath signed by Matthias Jones

By 1869, Matthias and Mary were living in the Brooks District of Monroe. He was listed as “in trust for Mrs. Mary Jones,” managing the 85-acre property gifted by his father. The tax digest noted three children—Sarah, James, and Susan—and valued the land at $200.

In the 1870 census, the family lived in the 421st District of Brooks. Matthias, a farmer, had real estate worth $250 and personal property worth $100. Mary maintained the home, assisted by Sarah and James. Matthias, Sarah, and James were unable to read or write. They lived next to his brother Abraham and his large family.

A tax digest from between 1871 and 1876 shows Matthias as trustee for his wife and children, managing 88 acres valued at $300. By then, daughter Mary had been born, and Otis would arrive in 1872.

Matthias remained in the Brooks District into the late 1870s. A property tax digest from between 1877 and 1882 lists his household and kitchen furniture at $15, livestock at $30, and other property totaling $64.

Later property tax records show Matthias acting as agent for:

• Mary E. Jones (deceased): 87 acres valued at $300
• His children: 87½ acres valued at $350, with household goods and livestock totaling $435

These records suggest Mary died before 1880, though her exact death and burial details remain unknown.

In the 1880 census, Matthias—listed as “Mias Jones”—was widowed and living with daughters Susan and Mary. He was still farming. Next door lived a young family headed by William Jones (20), likely his son James W. Jones, though no marriage record has been found. Matthias’s sister Lydia, age 40 and unmarried, lived next door to William.

1880 Brooks, Monroe, Walton County, Georgia census

Based on court and land records, Matthias died between June 1880 and September 1883. He was likely buried in Walton County, though no grave has been located.

On September 22, 1883, Matthias’ children began transferring ownership of the family homestead. The 85-acre tract, originally gifted by Henry Jones Sr., was sold in parts:

• Sarah Matilda Annison and Susan Adaline Jones sold their combined two-fifths interest to James W. Jones for $160.
• On January 14, 1885, James, Mary, Sarah, and Susan sold their combined four-fifths interest to Sheats & Ray for $348. The deed was recorded on January 21, 1885.
• Sheats & Ray quickly sold the land to H. S. Walker, likely acting as agents.

In January 1888, 14-year-old Otis petitioned the court to have his brother James appointed as his guardian. James accepted the role and posted a $200 bond.

On May 7, 1888, James petitioned to sell Otis’ one-fifth interest in the remaining land, citing low income and the need to fund Otis’ education. The court approved, and in June 1888, James sold Otis’ share to Jasper M. Turner for $60.

These transactions marked the complete divestment of the Jones family’s ancestral homestead, which had passed from Henry Jones Sr. to Matthias, and then to his children. The land was sold for a combined total of $310.

Nearly two decades later, the property was still known as the “Mathias Jones place.” In 1897, Jasper Turner sold the 87-acre tract to Mrs. A. L. Vauthorn for $700, a testament to the enduring legacy of the Jones family in Walton County.

References

• Artis M. Jones, Certificate of Death no. 23955, Georgia Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1935.
• Estate Papers: Walton County, Georgia, Probate Estate Case Files 1820–1900, images 8 and 1208, FamilySearch.
• Mathias Jones, Georgia, Returns of Qualified Voters and Reconstruction Oath Books, 1867–1869.
• Mathias Jones, U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560–1900.
• Matthias A Jones, 1864 Census for Re-Organizing the Georgia Militia.
• Mary E. Jones, Georgia, U.S., Property Tax Digests, 1793–1892.
• Sarah Jones tombstone, Jones Family Cemetery, Walton County, Georgia.
• U.S. Federal Census, Brook, Walton County, Georgia, 1870.
• U.S. Federal Census, Division 88, Walton County, Georgia, 1850.
• Walton County, Georgia, Court Records 1885–1893, images 199 and 213, FamilySearch.
• Walton County, Georgia, Deeds 1860–1869, image 262, FamilySearch.
• Walton County, Georgia, Deeds 1882–1885, 1885–1887, images 225 and 299, FamilySearch.
• Walton County, Georgia, Deeds 1892–1896, image 215, FamilySearch.
• Walton County, Georgia, Deeds 1896–1901, image 184, FamilySearch.
• Walton County, Georgia, Probate Administrator Bonds 1857–1878, 1879–1891, Guardianship Bonds 1879–1891, 1857–1878, image 486, FamilySearch. 

Sale of Hecktor, Ransome, Charles, Nelley, Nathan, and Nelson

This post is part of an ongoing project to record names of enslaved people of Greene County, Georgia I find in historical records. 

Account of the Sales of the Negroes belonging to the Estate of Arthur Lovins, Decd. Sold by an Order of the honorable Inferior Courts of Green County on first Tuesday in February 1827. On credit untill the first day of January 1828.

William Buck Warker - Hecktor = $600.00

John Bird - Ransome = $591.00

Jonathan Kanneday - Charles = $200.00

Martha Lovins - Nelley & Nathan = $405.00

Martha Lovins – Nelson = $226.00

Total = $2022.00

Reference

Estate Records: Greene County, Georgia, Probate Estate Case Files 1790–1943, image 244, FamilySearch.

Esther Marie Davis

Esther Marie Davis, daughter of John Grant Davis and Jennie F. Church, was born on August 13, 1913, likely in Clarksburg, Harrison County, West Virginia. John and Jennie had four children: Chester Leo Davis, Lavester Otto “Vester” or “Speck” Davis, Esther Marie Davis, and an unnamed daughter.

Esther is my husband’s 1st cousin 1x removed. Their nearest common ancestors are Robert Church and Lucinda Murphy—Esther’s grandparents and my husband’s great-grandparents.

In 1911, the Davis family lived in Clarksburg, where Lavester was born. By August 2, 1915, they had moved to Smithfield in Wetzel County, where five-year-old Chester died of diphtheria. A daughter was born in Smithfield on August 18, 1917. The Wetzel County General Index and Register of Births lists a female child born alive to John G. and Jennie Davis, identified only by the surname “Davis.” She apparently did not survive.

By September 1918, the family was living in Littleton, Wetzel County, when John registered for the World War I draft. He worked as a driller for the South Penn Oil Company in Mannington, Marion County. He was described as medium height and slender, with grey eyes and brown hair.

In November 1919, John had Jennie institutionalized at Weston State Hospital in Weston, Lewis County, West Virginia, for reasons unknown to the family. She remained there for the rest of her life, leaving Esther without her mother’s care. By December, John and the children had relocated to Hood County, Texas, where he enlisted Sarah Isabelle “Belle” (Black) Mitchell to raise Esther and Lavester. Initially, I was unsure of Belle’s connection to the family, but I have since confirmed she was the wife of Charles Marion Mitchell. More on her family ties will follow.

On January 14, 1920, Esther and Lavester were living with Belle in Justice Precinct 6 of Hood County. Both were listed as adopted daughters (an error in Lavester’s case), recorded as “Vesta” (8) and “Esta” (6). Belle, age 63, owned her home and worked as a washwoman. She was literate and shared the household with Uria C. Hidd (or Kidd), his wife Anna E., stepson William M. Davis, and mother-in-law Ellen Johnson.

At some point, John moved to Ranger in Eastland County. The Granbury News reported in July 1928 that Esther and “Vester” were visited by their father. Granbury is about 90 miles from Ranger.

In February 1930, Esther and Belle traveled to Dallas to visit relatives. By April 10, 1930, Esther and Lavester were still living with Belle (enumerated as Sara Mitchell), now a 74-year-old widow, in Hood County. The census listed Esther as 16 and Lavester as 17. Esther was not attending school and was unable to read or write; Lavester was in school and literate. No one in the household was employed. Belle’s home appeared on the census sheet just after the household of William “Will” N. Mitchell, Belle’s son, whose family included Thail Mitchell—later Lavester’s wife. Thail essentially grew up alongside Esther and Lavester.

Esther was 17 or 18 when she was institutionalized at Abilene State Hospital in Taylor County, Texas, a facility originally founded to treat epileptic patients. The Abilene State Hospital was later renamed the Abilene State School. According to the Granbury News on April 17, 1930, “Vester and Ester left Thursday to go to Abilene where they will be near their father.” While her exact admission date is unknown, it likely occurred shortly after their arrival. The hospital, later renamed Abilene State School, operated as an epileptic colony until the late 1940s.

In October 1930, John and Lavester returned to Granbury to visit Belle, who then accompanied them to Abilene to see Esther. Ranger is about 55 miles east of Abilene and 90 miles west of Granbury.

With Esther institutionalized and Lavester now an adult, Belle moved in with her son Will in Thorp Spring in July 1935. She died there on April 5, 1936.

The 1940 census showed Esther, age 27, still a patient at Abilene State Hospital. A sidebar noted that the 40 women listed were all inmates of the hospital for epileptics. Esther had never attended school and had worked three hours the previous week.

On October 23, 1944, Lavester married Era “Thail” (Mitchell) Long in Fort Worth, Johnson County. Their father John lived with them for much of their second year of marriage before eventually relocating to California.

Esther remained a patient at the hospital as of April 22, 1950. She was 37 and had never married. In 1957, the facility was renamed Abilene State School and transitioned into a residential center for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Jennie (Church) Davis, Esther’s mother, died from a cerebral hemorrhage and arteriosclerosis at Weston State Hospital on February 26, 1963, following more than four decades of institutionalization. It is likely that Esther never saw her mother again after Jennie’s commitment in 1919—a separation that spanned nearly Esther’s entire life. Jennie was laid to rest at Thomas Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Littleton, West Virginia.

Around 1965, Thail was notified that Esther was her responsibility, as she was her only living relative. In a 1966 letter to Esther’s uncle Ralph Murphy, Thail explained that John had informed the hospital before becoming too ill to continue caring for Esther. He believed Thail would love Esther enough to ensure her well-being—a commitment she and her father had upheld for most of Esther’s life. Thail wrote that her father treated Esther as one of his own children.

Esther became seriously ill in March 1969 and was visited by her sister-in-law Thail in Abilene. 

She passed away on October 7, 1973, at the Abilene State School, where she had lived for 43 years. Her death was attributed to bronchopneumonia caused by aspiration of vomit, a complication of a congenital brain disorder—the exact nature of which was never identified. Before entering the institution, Esther had lived in Granbury, Hood County. She was buried on October 9 in Colony Cemetery on the school grounds, following a service led by Rev. Don Cauble, the school chaplain. Esther was survived by her brother Lavester and several nieces and nephews. She was 60 years old and had never married. Her mother’s name was listed as “Unknown” on her death certificate. Like her mother Jennie, who spent over four decades at Weston State Hospital, Esther lived most of her life within the walls of an institution.

Photo by HuntCoTx, Find A Grave member 46918649

Esther’s life was shaped by early separation from her mother, years of institutional care, and the absence of meaningful support from her father. She spent more than four decades at the Abilene State School, largely isolated from her family. Her passing in 1973 marked the close of a long and often solitary journey—one that unfolded quietly, far from the attention of those who might have offered comfort. Though much of her life was lived in silence, Esther’s story deserves to be remembered.

References

• Abilene State School: History and Services for the Intellectually Disabled, Texas State Historical Association, Handbook of Texas Online; https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/abilene-state-school. 
• Abilene State School; https://www.asylumprojects.org/index.php/Abilene_State_School. 
• Chester Leo Davis, General Index and Register of Deaths—Wetzel County, West Virginia.
• Esther M. Davis Services Tuesday, Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas, October 8, 1973.
• Esther Marie Davis, State of Texas, Certificate of Death 80995, Taylor County, 1973.
• Jennie F. Davis, Register of Deaths—Lewis County, W. Va., 1963.
• John Grant Davis, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007.
• John Grant Davis, United States, Military Records 1917–1918, FamilySearch.
• Lavester Otto Davis, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• Letter from Era Thail (Mitchell) Long Davis to Ralph Junior Murphy, October 26, 1966.
• Obituaries, L. O. "Speck" Davis, Hood County News, Granbury, Texas, November 25, 1984.
• Personal memories of Murphy family members.
• September 4, 1944 letter to L. S. Hall of New Martinsville, West Virginia from Thail Long of Thorp Springs, Texas. 
• Thorp Spring News, Hood County News-Tablet, Granbury, Texas, March 6, 1969, July 20, 1928, and April 10, 1930.
• Thorp Spring, The Granbury News, Granbury, Hood County, Texas, February 21, 1930, April 17, 1930, October 30, 1930, and July 19, 1935.
• U.S. Federal Census, Abilene State Hospital, Abilene, Taylor County, Texas, 1940, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Justice Precinct 6, Hood County, Texas, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Precinct 6, Hood County, Texas, 1930. 

Thomas Harris bequeaths Quawguar, Ephraim, Suke, and Jenny

This post is part of an ongoing project to record names of enslaved people of Greene County, Georgia I find in historical records. 

Last Will and Testament of Thomas Harris

In the name of God Amen, I, Thomas Harris of the County of Greene and State of Georgia, being sick in body but of perfect mind and memory do constitute and order this my last will and testament.

And first of all, I commend my soul to God who gave it, and my body to the dust to be buried in a decent Christian manner of the discretion of my friends. And as lacking such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to give me, I bequeath in the following manner is to say …..

I bequeath in the following manner that is to say to my beloved wife Jeney Harris, I give and bequeath one negro man named Quawguar together with all the property which I have received as dower with her and all that may be coming to her as her share of her father’s estate.

To my beloved son John W. Harris, I give and bequeath one negro man named Ephraim.

To the child with which my wife is now pregnant, I give and bequeath one negro woman named Suke and one negro girl named Jenny, the remainder of my property including all that is or may become due me from my father’s estate to be equally divided between my two children after all my just debts are paid. Lastly, I ordain and appoint James Harris and John Bethune executors of this my last will and testament.

Tho. Harris
Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presents of this 5th day of November 1807.
Test.
Price Bird, John McGuire

Note: Quawguar is a best guess of the transcription.

Reference

Thomas Harris, Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742–1992. 

Reuben McDaniel Tuck

In the spirit of Halloween, I searched for a family member born on October 31. What I found was a remarkable man who led a full and distinguished life—highly educated, a veteran of World War I, and a pillar of his community.

Reuben McDaniel Tuck, son of James William Tuck Jr. and Ida Cynthia Watson, was born on Halloween in 1887 on his father’s plantation in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia. James and Ida were among the early settlers of Walton County, and Reuben was the eldest of 10 children: Reuben McDaniel Tuck, Troy Chester Tuck, Benjamin Luther Tuck, Clara “Alice” Tuck, Eula Mae Tuck, Mary Lou Tuck, James “Jim” Robert Tuck, John Almand Tuck, Maggie Ruth Tuck, and an unknown child.

Reuben is my 2nd cousin 2x removed. Our nearest common ancestors are Claiborne Tuck and Frances Moore, married in 1827—his great-grandparents and my third great-grandparents.

Although I have not been able to locate the Tuck family in the 1900 U.S. Census, records show that by April 23, 1910, they were residing in the Buncombe District of Walton County, Georgia. James and Ida had been married for 23 years, and Ida had given birth to 10 children, 9 of whom were still living. James owned and operated a general farm. Troy, age 21, worked as a farmer, and Benjamin, age 20, was a laborer on the home farm. Reuben’s widowed grandmother, Lavina Watson, also lived with the family. She had given birth to eight children, five of whom were still living, and her father had been born at sea. Everyone in the household except James, John, and Maggie could read and write. Reuben, age 22, was a full-time college student. Troy, Clara, Mary, and James were attending school, while Benjamin and Eula were not.

Reuben’s early education took place in Monroe, but his academic ambitions led him to the University of Georgia in Athens, Clarke County. There, he joined the Demosthenian Literary Society, a student organization devoted to public speaking and debate. He also played on the university’s football team, though it was later said he did so “more from a sense of duty, perhaps, than desire.” At the time, he was living in Loganville, Walton County. He graduated in 1912 with a Bachelor of Laws degree.

Reuben “Reub” McDaniel Tuck (1912)

After graduation, Reuben briefly practiced law in Winder, Georgia, before moving to Washington, D.C., where he served as secretary to Congressman Samuel J. Tribble from January 1, 1913, to September 14, 1914. Tribble, a fellow Demosthenian and University of Georgia alumnus, had earned his law degree in 1891 and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1910. Their shared academic and rhetorical background likely fostered a natural mentorship between the two men.

Upon completing his work in Washington, Reuben returned to Monroe and joined the law firm Dean & Tuck in 1916, working as the junior partner alongside the Hon. William O. Dean. Their office was located in the Star Building in Monroe.

On June 5, 1917, Reuben registered for the World War I draft in Walton County. He was a single attorney of medium build and height, with blue eyes and dark sandy hair. He listed prior military experience as a private and musician during his three years at the University of Georgia.

 

World War I draft registration card

Reuben was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army after being accepted into the second officers’ training camp at Fort Oglethorpe, which began on August 27, 1917. He was officially called to active duty on November 27 and assigned to the Supply Company of the 52nd Infantry Regiment, part of the 6th Infantry Division. At the time, newly commissioned officers like Reuben were often referred to in newspapers as “embryo officers”—a term that captured their recent transition from trainees to active-duty leaders. A December 1917 report noted his assignment to Chickamauga Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he served alongside other young officers from Georgia and South Carolina. On July 6, 1918, Reuben boarded the White Star Liner SS Belgic at the Port of New York with 43 fellow officers bound for Europe. After arriving in Liverpool on July 17, the group traveled by train to Winchester, a known staging area for American forces. Reuben was listed as a Second Lieutenant IRC—likely indicating an Infantry Replacement Center—and named his father as his emergency contact.

Reuben on the S.S. Belgic passenger list (July 1918)

Reuben’s military service took him to several key locations, including Chickamauga Park and Camp Gordon in Georgia, Camp Upton in New York, and staging areas in Hoboken and Camp Merritt, New Jersey. From July 6, 1918, to June 5, 1919, he served overseas in France and Germany. He returned to the United States aboard the USS Leviathan, arriving in Hoboken, New Jersey, on June 12. Reuben was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on July 8, 1919.

Reuben’s World War I service card

Shortly thereafter, Reuben entered into a law partnership with Colonel James R. Rogers, forming the firm Rogers & Tuck. Their office, located in the Covington courthouse, placed them at the center of the local legal community. Reuben was in distinguished company—Col. Rogers was widely respected for his sharp intellect, disciplined work ethic, and professional success. As a practicing attorney, Reuben frequently appeared in local newspaper announcements related to his legal career.

The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, April 7, 1921

The 1920 census was unreadable in available records. However, a transcription on Ancestry.com suggests that Reuben, listed as “Rublin Luck,” was living in Covington, Newton County, Georgia, as a boarder in the home of W. W. Childs. Despite the transcription error, the details align closely with his known whereabouts and age at the time.

The engagement of Reuben to Louise Littleton Gheesling of Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia was announced by her mother in The Atlanta Constitution on August 15, 1920. Louise was the daughter of Joshua Hillman Gheesling and Emma D. Goodwin. Their wedding took place on October 21 in Greene County, officiated by Charles C. Davison—a minister who was married to Louise’s sister, Elizabeth May Gheesling.

Marriage license

Reuben and Louise had two children: Goodwin “Tuck” Gheesling Tuck, born in 1923, and Reuben McDaniel Tuck Jr., born in 1930. Goodwin was born in Greensboro, Greene County, and his middle name honored both his maternal grandmother’s maiden name and his uncle, Goodwin H. Gheesling. Sometime after Goodwin’s birth, the family relocated to Covington in Newton County, Georgia, where Reuben Jr. was born. Covington, located just under 50 miles from Greensboro, became the family’s long-term home. The Tuck boys attended school in Covington and joined the Covington First Baptist Church.

In early November 1922, Reuben attended a Masonic Convention in Macon, Georgia. That same month, his law partner, Colonel James R. Rogers, passed away at his Floyd Street home. Reuben assumed full responsibility for the firm Rogers & Tuck.

Reuben was an active member of the Newton County Democratic Executive Committee, serving as chairman from June 1924 until at least January 1940. In June 1925, Covington hosted what was described as its biggest and best Chautauqua yet—an educational and cultural event featuring lectures, music, drama, and civic programming. Reuben was among the prominent citizens who pledged financial support to bring the program to town.

On December 16, 1926, Reuben spoke on the future of the Golden Fleece Lodge during the Masonic Lodge’s Centennial Celebration in Covington. He served as secretary of Golden Fleece Lodge No. 6, a position he held until at least July 1958.

In August 1927, Reuben, Louise, and their son visited his mother, Ida, who was gravely ill. She passed away at age 60 on December 13 at a private sanitarium in Atlanta and was laid to rest at Bay Creek Cemetery in Loganville two days later.

In October 1928, the Tuck home on Floyd Street hosted a lively gathering in honor of Louise’s sister, Samuella Gheesling McGibony of Greensboro. The Night Bridge Club and other guests enjoyed an evening of cards and camaraderie, with the home adorned in vibrant garden flowers and refreshments served after play.

By April 20, 1930, Reuben, Louise, and their son Goodwin were still living on Floyd Street. Reuben owned the home, valued at $10,000, and continued practicing general law. Goodwin, age 6, was attending school.

In January 1931, Reuben was elected to replace Senator R. P. Lester on the Covington Board of Education. By September 1932, he was practicing law independently out of the N. S. Turner Memorial Building.

The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, September 2, 1932

In January 1933, Reuben attended a possum dinner hosted by Dr. S. L. Waites. Out of respect for two preacher friends, the host served sparkling ginger ale instead of the customary highball. Guests exchanged jokes and stories of days gone by.

Reuben was a charter member of Covington’s Civitan Club, organized in September 1933. The club focused on community service and civic improvement, especially in response to the Great Depression. Dr. Waites was elected president.

On January 30, 1935, Reuben joined a group of citizens from Covington and Newton County in signing a telegram to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in honor of his birthday. The initiative raised funds for the Warm Springs Foundation, which supported the fight against infantile paralysis—a cause closely associated with the President. The telegram read:

Jan. 30, 1935

The President

Whitehouse, Washington, D.C.

Happy birthday, Mr. President, I am proud to participate in the sending of this personal greeting to you and thereby help in the fight against infantile paralysis to which you have given such notable leadership.

Just two years later, on March 10, 1937, Reuben’s father, James, passed away at Reuben’s home in Covington following a brief illness. He was 74 years old and was laid to rest beside his wife at Bay Creek Cemetery in Loganville after a funeral service held at his church near the Youth community.

By April 3, 1940, the Tuck family—Reuben, Louise, and their two sons, Goodwin and Reuben Jr.—continued to reside in their Floyd Street home. In June 1942, Goodwin registered for the World War II draft, and by June 1943, he was stationed at the Medical Replacement Training Center at Camp Barkley in Texas.

Goodwin served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in the Philippines during World War II. After his military service, he pursued a medical degree, eventually becoming a doctor and completing his internship in Louisiana. He spent Christmas 1943 at home with his parents before returning to Fort Sam Houston in Texas.

In December 1944, Reuben was elected to the Covington City School Board. The election was quiet, with only 21 ballots cast, as all candidates ran unopposed. Despite the low turnout, the elected officials were respected civic leaders, and their contributions were expected to be significant. Reuben went on to serve as secretary and treasurer of the School Board for 20 years.

In June 1945, Goodwin—now a Staff Sergeant—was awarded a bronze service star for his role in a mandated island campaign, where he performed specialized laboratory work on Saipan.

Reuben remained active in the Masonic community. At a convention of the Eighth District Masonic Lodges held in Covington in August 1946, he was elected deputy warden. In October 1949, he attended a Golden Fleece Lodge meeting that featured a festive program following a picnic-style supper. The evening included music, remarks (including some by Reuben), a roll call, and the presentation of silver pins to members with 25 or more years of service. Reuben was one of 33 members honored. Over the years, he had served as secretary of the Lodge for at least 18 years and held the position of Worshipful Master for five terms—a role similar to that of a president.

By March 31, 1950, Reuben and Louise were still living on Floyd Street in Covington. Reuben continued practicing law, while Louise maintained the home. In June 1951, they attended their son Goodwin’s graduation from the University of Georgia Medical College in Augusta. Following graduation, Goodwin returned to Newton County, where he became a founding physician at Newton County Hospital. That same summer, Reuben Jr. attended the University of Georgia’s summer session in Athens.

The family experienced a series of losses in the years that followed. Reuben’s brother James passed away at an Atlanta hospital on May 15, 1952, and was laid to rest at Melwood Cemetery in Stone Mountain. After the death of his wife Annie in December 1953, Reuben’s brother John moved in with Reuben and Louise. Then, in January 1954, Reuben’s sister Eula passed away and was buried at Corinth Christian Church Cemetery in Loganville. 

That February, Reuben Jr. returned home for a weekend after completing paratrooper training at Fort Benning. He was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg and visited again in October and during the Christmas holidays.

In late August 1956, Reuben was hospitalized at Newton County Hospital but recovered in time to attend a family reunion in Loganville. On May 12, 1958, Reuben Jr. married Penelope “Penny” Pegues Irby at Winder Presbyterian Church. The newlyweds settled in Covington, where Reuben Jr. joined his father’s law practice.

Reuben’s brother Troy died at age 70 on January 7, 1959, at his home in Almon, Newton County. He was buried at Lawnwood Memorial Park in Covington following a service at Shiloh Methodist Church.

In April 1960, Reuben spoke at a supper meeting of American Legion Post 32, which he had helped found decades earlier. He reflected on the Post’s early days, recalling the challenges of operating without a permanent meeting place and the determined three-year effort to build the Legion hall. He reminded younger members that the legacy of the older Legionnaires was now theirs to carry forward. Reuben had served as Post Commander from 1927 to 1930 and advised the Newton County Selective Service Board for at least 15 years.

Reuben was honored by the Covington First Baptist Church congregation following his retirement in January 1962 from his long-held position as church treasurer. A member of the church for 42 years, he had served as treasurer for 35 of them. The celebration was a surprise, arranged so that Reuben himself would unknowingly begin the event. As a member of the choir, he opened the ceremony with a solo performance of “How Great Thou Art,” inviting the congregation to join him in the chorus. After the hymn concluded, he was welcomed to the dais alongside his successor and other church leaders, where a formal resolution was read in recognition of his decades of service.

A former Board Chairman then offered remarks, reflecting on Reuben’s unwavering loyalty and contributions to the church. In addition to his role as treasurer, Reuben had served as a deacon since around 1919, taught Sunday School, acted as superintendent, and participated in numerous committees. As a token of appreciation, the church presented him with a silver serving tray. Near the end of the celebration, someone was overheard saying, “To us, you two are Mr. and Mrs. Covington Baptist Church”—a tribute to both Reuben and Louise’s enduring presence and impact. 

Louise and Reuben Tuck (photo from The Covington News,
January 18, 1962)

Reuben’s brother Benjamin passed away in Boynton Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, on January 24, 1964. He was laid to rest at Palm Beach Memorial Park in Lantana.

In April 1964, Reuben was elected president of the Covington Bar Association, which had recently been reactivated after a decade of inactivity. He was re-elected in 1966, continuing to serve as a respected leader in the local legal community.

Photo used with permission of Royce Patch Smith

On January 30, 1965, Reuben’s wife Louise passed away at age 71 in Newton County, following a stroke she had suffered 10 days earlier. A native of Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia, Louise was a graduate of the Georgia Normal and Industrial College—now Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville. A gifted musician, she taught music in both Greensboro and Covington schools, was a member of the Covington Music Club, and served as pianist and organist at Covington First Baptist Church for nearly 30 years. Her funeral was held at the church and officiated by Rev. Edgar Callaway. She was laid to rest at Southview Cemetery, also known as Covington Cemetery, on February 1.

For Reuben’s 80th birthday in 1967, the First Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir hosted a surprise celebration with coffee and cake. The entire congregation was invited to gather in the church’s educational building following a Sunday evening service, just ahead of his October 31 birthday.

Reuben was a patient at Newton County Hospital during the week of February 12–18, 1968. That summer, the Tuck family gathered for a reunion at the Lions Club Pavilion in July—an occasion captured in a photograph published in The Covington News on July 18, 1968.

Tuck family (left to right): Dr. Goodwin Tuck, Reuben M. Tuck Jr.,
Joanne Ruth (Tuck) Wasdin, John A. Tuck, Clara Alice (Tuck) Gower,
Col. Reuben M. Tuck, Mary Lou (Tuck) Smith, Charlotte (Tuck) Branham,
James Taylor Tuck, Holland Briscoe Tuck, and Harold Gower
(photo from The Covington News, July 18, 968)

On March 2, 1968, Reuben was honored for his 25 years of service as secretary and 7 years as Master of Golden Fleece Lodge No. 6 at a Family Night supper at the Masonic Hall. He was also informed that an annual $500 scholarship for a qualified student from Newton County High School had been established and would be called “The Reuben M. Tuck Scholarship Fund.” Scholarship eligibility was not limited to students attending college, but was also open to those for any training beyond high school, such as nurses training or technical school. 

Less than a year later, on February 5, 1969, Reuben’s brother John passed away at Reuben’s home in Covington. He was laid to rest on February 7 at Melwood Cemetery in Stone Mountain, following a funeral service officiated by Rev. Edward Callaway at Ward’s Glenwood Chapel in Decatur.

Just three months later, on May 20, 1969, Reuben himself passed away peacefully at home. His funeral was held the following day at Covington First Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Edgar Callaway, with the Masons serving as honorary escort. He was laid to rest at Southview Cemetery. Reuben was survived by his sons, Goodwin and Reuben Jr.; sisters Maggie, Mary, and Alice; and sisters-in-law Vecilia (Webb) Tuck Cowan, Rubye (Tanner) Tuck, and Mrs. Gene Amos—whose exact relation remains uncertain.

Photo from Larry Carter, Find A Grave ID 47629977

Throughout his life, Reuben was deeply committed to civic service. He was the first president of Covington Little League, serving for 15 years, and also led the city’s Board of Parks and Recreation. He served as Covington’s city attorney for approximately 25 years. In addition to his involvement with the American Legion and the Masonic Lodge, he was a member of the Knights of Pythias.

Reuben was known for his love of walking and never owned a car. He was often seen taking three-mile strolls around Covington, using the time to reflect, enjoy nature, and connect with neighbors. His quiet presence and steady leadership left a lasting imprint on the community he served so faithfully.

References

• Assignments for Embryo Officers, The Augusta Herald, Augusta, Georgia, November 28, 1917.
• Bar Association Turns Down Jury Recommendation, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, December 15, 1966.
• Benjamin L. Tuck, The Palm Beach Post, West Palm Beach, Florida, January 24, 1964.
• Call Meeting Democratic Executive Committee of Newton County, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, June 12, 1924.
• Charter Members Honored by Legion: Past Commanders Share Plaudits at Supper Meeting, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, April 7, 1960.
• Choir Honors Col. R. M. Tuck, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, November 2, 1967.
• Christopher Pegues Irby III, U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1898–1929.
• Citizens Cooperate in Sending Telegram, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, February 1, 1935.
• Civitan Club is Organized in Covington, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, September 29, 1933.
• Col. and Mrs. Tuck Entertain in Honor House Guest, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, October 5, 1928.
• Col. J. F. Rogers Died Monday Night, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, November 30, 1922.
• Col. Reuben M. Tuck, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, May 20, 1969.
• Col. Reuben Tuck Honored at First Baptist Ceremony: Served Local Church as Treasurer for 35 Years, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 18, 1962.
• Col. Reuben Tuck in 43rd Year as City Attorney, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, October 28, 1965.
• Col. Tuck Heads Reactivated Bar Assn. in City, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, April 9, 1964.
• Committee Sets Regulations for Coming Primary, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 25, 1940.
• Compton, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, January 11, 1954.
• Covington Lodge Observed Family Night as Tuck, Dearing Honored, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, March 7, 1968.
• Covington Lodge Observed Family Night as Tuck, Dearing Honored, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, March 7, 1968.
• Covington to Have Chautauqua in June, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, December 25, 1924.
• Demosthenian Literary Society, About Us; https://www.dlsuga.com/about. 
• Demosthenian Literary Society; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demosthenian_Literary_Society. 
• Dr. S. L. Waites is Host to a Number of Friends at Possum Dinner on Thursday, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 27, 1933.
• Final Tribute Was Paid Mrs. R. M. Tuck Monday, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, February 4, 1965.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/249982370/rubye_lucille-tuck: accessed October 1, 2025), memorial page for Rubye Lucille Tanner Tuck (16 Sep 1892–14 Jan 1975), Find a Grave Memorial ID 249982370, citing Palm Beach Memorial Park, Lantana, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA; maintained by George S. Ellington (contributor 15672281).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/249982307/benjamin_luther-tuck: accessed September 30, 2025), memorial page for Benjamin Luther Tuck (16 Dec 1889–24 Jan 1964), Find a Grave Memorial ID 249982307, citing Palm Beach Memorial Park, Lantana, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA; maintained by George S. Ellington (contributor 15672281).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110382235/james_robert-tuck: accessed September 30, 2025), memorial page for James Robert “Jim” Tuck (23 Dec 1901–15 May 1952), Find a Grave Memorial ID 110382235, citing Melwood Cemetery, Stone Mountain, DeKalb County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Linda Davis (contributor 46609907).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/96704224/troy_chester-tuck: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for Troy Chester Tuck (30 Oct 1888–1959), Find a Grave Memorial ID 96704224, citing Lawnwood Memorial Park, Covington, Newton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Larry Carter (contributor 47629977).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44902155/alice_clara-gower: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for Alice Clara Tuck Gower (21 Oct 1891–12 Feb 1983), Find a Grave Memorial ID 44902155, citing Bay Creek Cemetery, Loganville, Walton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by TangerineTree (contributor 50855436).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21478289/eula_t-compton: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for Eula T Tuck Compton (8 Jul 1894–10 Jan 1954), Find a Grave Memorial ID 21478289, citing Corinth Memorial Gardens, Loganville, Walton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Sarah Locklin Taylor (contributor 46921363).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/112315911/mary_lou-smith: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for Mary Lou Tuck Smith (12 Sep 1899–10 Jun 1988), Find a Grave Memorial ID 112315911, citing Melwood Cemetery, Stone Mountain, DeKalb County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Family Finder (contributor 47978310).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110382235/james_robert-tuck: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for James Robert “Jim” Tuck (23 Dec 1901–15 May 1952), Find a Grave Memorial ID 110382235, citing Melwood Cemetery, Stone Mountain, DeKalb County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Linda Davis (contributor 46609907).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/249979982/maggie_ruth-hawkins: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for Maggie Ruth Tuck Hawkins (8 Oct 1908–10 Sep 1984), Find a Grave Memorial ID 249979982, citing Resthaven Cemetery, Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia, USA; maintained by George S. Ellington (contributor 15672281).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72962885/james_william-tuck: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for James William Tuck (1864–10 Mar 1937), Find a Grave Memorial ID 72962885, citing Bay Creek Cemetery, Loganville, Walton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by SDG (contributor 46878874).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/148970656/reuben_mcdaniel-tuck: accessed September 29, 2025), memorial page for Reuben McDaniel Tuck Jr. (14 Nov 1930–4 Dec 2011), Find a Grave Memorial ID 148970656, citing Lake Eunice Seventh-Day Adventist Cemetery, Detroit Lakes, Becker County, Minnesota, USA; Maintained by Annette (contributor 48158744).
• Gheesling-Tuck, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, August 15, 1920.
• Golden Fleece Names Officers Next Tuesday, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, December 21, 1944.
• Goodwin Gheesling Tuck, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• Graduating Class, University of Georgia, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, June 9, 1912.
• Here is List of Georgians Who Have Been Accepted for Second Training Camp, The Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, August 12, 1917.
• Hospital Notes, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, February 22, 1968.
• J. R. Tuck, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, May 16, 1952.
• James W. Tuck Dies at Covington, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, March 11, 1937.
• James W. Tuck, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, March 12, 1937.
• James W. Tuck, U.S., Army Transport Service Arriving and Departing Passenger Lists, 1910–1939.
• John A. Tuck, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, February 13, 1969.
• Knight, Lucian Lamar, A Standard History of Georgia and Georgians, vol. 4, pp. 2205–2206, Lewis Publishing Company, 1917.
• Legion to Cite Selective Service Officials Tuesday, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, April 2, 1964.
• Local News Items, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, July 31, 1919, September 4, 1919, November 2, 1922.
• Masonic Convention Attracts 300, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, September 5, 1946.
• Masonic Members Given Pins for 25-Years Service, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, October 27, 1949.
• Miss Irby’s Marriage to Mr. Tuck Announced, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, June 25, 1958.
• Miss Irby’s Marriage to Mr. Tuck Announced, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, June 25, 1958.
• Mrs. Jas. W. Tuck, of Logansville, Dies, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, December 14, 1927.
• N. S. Turner Memorial Building, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, September 2, 1932.
• News Notes from Newton County Hospital, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, August 30, 1956.
• Obituary for Dr Goodwin G. Tuck, Wheeler Funeral Home, Covington, Georgia, 2018; https://wheelerfuneralhome.store.helloflowers.com/obituaries/goodwin-tuck/#!/Obituary. 
• Personals, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, June 3, 1943, December 30, 1943, May 31, 1951, June 14, 1951, February 25, 1954, October 21, 1954, December 16, 1954, and August 30, 1956.
• Professional Cards, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, July 7, 1921.
• Programme, Centennial Celebration Golden Fleece Lodge (December 16, 1926), The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, December 17, 1926.
• R. M. Tuck, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, May 21, 1969.
• Reuben M. Tuck, Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Reuben McDaniel Tuck and Troy Chester Tuck, U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918.
• Reuben McDaniel Tuck, Georgia, U.S., World War I Service Cards, 1917–1919.
• Reuben McDaniel Tuck, U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 1912.
• Roll Call Feature of Masonic Meet, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, July 24, 1958.
• Samuel J. Tribble; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_J._Tribble. 
• Senator Lester Resigns from School Board, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 9, 1931.
• Sergeant Goodwin Tuck Awarded Service Star, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, June 28, 1945.
• Smith is Elected Masonic Lodge WM, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 10, 1946.
• Social and Personal Mention, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, August 19, 1927.
• Storied Windows, Yearbook, Westminster School, Atlanta, Georgia, 1954.
• Three Councilmen, 3 Board Members Named in Election, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, December 7, 1944.
• Troy C. Tuck Dies at His Home, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 8, 1959.
• Tuck Family Reunion Held Sunday, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, July 18, 1968.
• Tuck Funeral Held at Almon Church, Friday, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 15, 1959.
• Tuck, Col. Reuben M. Tuck, Sr., The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, May 21, 1969.
• Tuck, Mrs. R. M., The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, February 1, 1965.
• Tuck, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, February 6, 1969.
• U.S. Federal Census, Buncombe, Walton County, Georgia, 1910.
• U.S. Federal Census, Covington, Newton County, Georgia, 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia, 1920.

Thomas Ligon sells Uriah and Milly to Thomas Cartwright

This post is part of an ongoing project to record names of enslaved people of Greene County, Georgia I find in historical records.

Proceedings of Greene Superior Court, September Term 1816

Thomas Ligon of the County and State aforesaid on the twenty-fifth day of December in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eleven, two negro slaves, the one a man named Uriah and a woman named Milly for and in consideration of the sum of nine hundred dollars and on the sale and delivery aforesaid the said Thomas Ligon made his certain bill of sale in writing signed with his own hand being date the day and year aforesaid therewith shown to the Court, by which he acknowledges to have received of your Petitioner nine hundred dollars for which sum he had sold two negroes (viz), one a yellow fellow by the name of Uriah and one negroe woman named Milly – which negroes he warranted to be sound and healthy and also warrants and defended the right and title unto your Petitioner against all and every person. And your petitioner avers and charges that the aforesaid negroe woman named Milly was at the sale and delivery aforesaid and for a long time before and has ever since been deemed unhealthy, unsound and grievously afflicted with fits so as to be entirely useless and a charge to your petitioner, all of which was well known to said Thomas Ligon at the sale and delivery aforesaid by which fraudulent, illicit and deceitful conduct of said Thomas Ligon. Your petitioner has been injured and sustained damage nine hundred dollars wherefore he prays process may issue.

Archibald Martin, Plffs. Atty.

Georgia, Greene County. Thomas Cartwright vs. Thomas Ligon.
To the Sheriff of said County, greeting.
Case in Nature of Deceit
The Defendant is hereby required in person by attorney to be and appear at the next Superior Court to be held in and for said County on the first Monday in September next then and there to answer the plaintiffs demand in an action on the case in nature of deceit to his damage nine hundred dollars as in default thereof said Court will proceed thereon as to Justice shall appertain.

Witness the Honorable Peter Early, Judge of said Court this 11th July 1812.
John Bethune, Clk.

27th July 1812 Served a copy of this personally on the Defendant.
A. Rogers D.S.G.C.

Reference

Greene County, Georgia, Court Records 1815–1817, image 158, FamilySearch.