MARY BYNE 1757-unknown
Birthplace: Burke County, GA
Spouse: General William Byne married abt 1777
Mary Walker was born December 10, 1757. She married General William Byne and they had five children. The Byne and Walker families were very close knit. 2 Walker daughters and 2 Walker sons married into the Byne family. They were all living in close proximity. It is believed that both Mary and General William Byne are buried in Burke County. Very little documentation on the enslaved communities exists other than Runaway advertisements. In 1820, William Byne is found on the tax digest with 29 enslaved people. By 1830, Mary Byne has assumed head of household after her husbands death and there are 35 enslaved people. Burke County court records were burned and most of all the evidence lost.
Martha Byne (b. 1777-unknown)-no information
Margaret Byne (b. 1780-unknown)-no information
Elijah Byne (b. 1782-1860)-in 1830 census, 18 enslaved, 1840 28 enslaved. It is unknown if he married. He was a Capt in the US war against the Creek Nation.
Mary Byne (b. 1786-unknown) no information
Enoch Byne (b 1793-1862)- married Mary Hughes. in 1830 census, 36 enslaved people, 1840 census 77 enslaved, 1850, 7 enslaved. He relocated sometime between 1840-1850 to Fort Bend, TX and married his 2nd wife Carolina Hurst.
In 1815, William Byne is referenced in a newspaper article,“Friend and Monitor”, as being a “Senator from Burke”. We can assume that he and the Byne family accumulated wealth and prominence through the free labor of those they enslaved.
In March 1804 advertisement for a Runaway Slave (Self-Liberated), Ben is described as being born in Virginia and living only 3 years in Georgia. $20 was a pricey reward back then. That is the equivalent of $450 today.
In 1816, another Runaway Slave (Self-Liberated) advertisement was located in the Savannah Republican. This time $50 reward for a man named Sam who just wanted to go back to be with his wife in Savannah. Maybe he wanted to go home for Christmas. By May of 1817, the advertisements were still going, so we know he at least had 6 months of escapement. (See image below)
We can ascertain from these adverts that life on the Byne property for the enslaved populations in Burke County was bad enough to risk death, disfigurement, whipping or other forms of punishment in order to escape.
The Augusta chronicle and gazette of the state. (Augusta [Ga.]) 1789-1806, March 03, 1804, Image 1
Sam-Self Liberated from William Byne’s labor camp December 10th, 1816.
Savannah republican. (Savannah, Ga.) 1816-1818, May 20, 1817, Image 3
US Census Records
In 1820 Mary and William were living in Burke County, GA. Their son, Enoch was living next door and a few doors down William’s brother Henry. Henry also married into the Walker family through Mary’s sister Rebecca. It appears that although the census pages are challenging to read, the Byne family enslaved at least 29 people at that time.
General William Byne died in Burke County, GA in 1824. It is believed he is buried on his plantation of the name Liberty Grove in said county.
6 years after his death, Mary Byne was living in Burke County on the 1830 US Census Record and the owner of 24 enslaved people. Further research is needed to identify the enslaved populations. We know she outlived her husband however, her death date is still unknown. No probate records have been located.
Year: 1830; Census Place: Company District 65, Burke, Georgia; Series: M19; Roll: 16; Page: 136; Family History Library Film: 0007036
Augusta chronicle and Georgia advertiser. (Augusta, Ga.) 1822-1831, October 02, 1824, Image 4