Liberty County, Georgia Genealogy
Guide to Liberty County, Georgia ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
The county was named for the American ideal of liberty. The county is located in the southeast area of the state. [2]
County Courthouse
Liberty County Courthouse
Courthouse Square
PO Box 829
Hinesville, GA 31313-3240
Phone: 912-876-2164
Liberty County Website
Probate Judge has marriage and probate records from late 1700s, birth records from 1919 and death records from 1927.
Clerk of Court has divorce, court and land records from 1756 (some early records were lost).[3]
Liberty County, Georgia Record Dates
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1919 | 1700s | 1927 | 1756 | 1756 | 1700s | 1820 |
Record Loss
|
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.[5] |
Boundary Changes
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Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[7]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
- Liberty County Bible Records at Georgia Genealogy Trails History Group
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- Georgia, State Employees at MyHeritage — index ($)
Cemeteries
- Liberty County Genealogy, Wills, Estates, Cemeteries, Maps ($)
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1790 | 5,355 | — |
| 1800 | 5,313 | −0.8% |
| 1810 | 6,228 | 17.2% |
| 1820 | 6,695 | 7.5% |
| 1830 | 7,233 | 8.0% |
| 1840 | 7,241 | 0.1% |
| 1850 | 7,926 | 9.5% |
| 1860 | 8,367 | 5.6% |
| 1870 | 7,688 | −8.1% |
| 1880 | 10,649 | 38.5% |
| 1890 | 12,887 | 21.0% |
| 1900 | 13,093 | 1.6% |
| 1910 | 12,924 | −1.3% |
| 1920 | 12,707 | −1.7% |
| 1930 | 8,153 | −35.8% |
| 1940 | 8,595 | 5.4% |
| 1950 | 8,444 | −1.8% |
| 1960 | 14,487 | 71.6% |
| 1970 | 17,569 | 21.3% |
| 1980 | 37,583 | 113.9% |
| 1990 | 52,745 | 40.3% |
| 2000 | 61,610 | 16.8% |
| 2010 | 63,453 | 3.0% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Georgia denominations, see the Georgia Church Records wiki page.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Congregational
The TheyHadNames.net project has created a spreadsheet containing the names of all African Americans from the Midway Congregational Church's quarterly session records from 1752-1867.
- Midway Congregational Church Records, Liberty County, Georgia. Digital version at Ancestry ($)
- Stacy, James. History of the Midway Congregational Church, Liberty County, Georgia. 1951. Digital version at Ancestry ($)
- 1746-1828 Congregational Church, Midway, Baptism Index 1746-1828. Batch C505921 at FamilySearch
- 1748-1788 Congregational Church, Midway, Baptism Index 1748-1788. Batch C505923 at FamilySearch
- 1754-1898 Congregational Church, Midway, Baptism Index 1754-1898. Batch C505924 at FamilySearch
- 1844-1863 Congregational Church, Midway, Baptism Index 1844-1863. Batch C505921 at FamilySearch
- 1864-1867 Congregational Church, Midway, Baptism Index 1864-1867. Batch C505922 at FamilySearch
- 1753-1858 Congregational Church, Midway, Marriage Index 1753-1858. Batch M505921 at FamilySearch
- 1753-1785 Congregational Church, Midway, Marriage Index 1753-1785. Batch M505923 at FamilySearch
- 1754-1898 Congregational Church, Midway, Marriage Index 1754-1898. Batch M505924 at FamilySearch
- 1859-1867 Congregational Church, Midway, Marriage Index 1859-1867. Batch M505922 at FamilySearch
Congregational/Methodist
Transcription of early records of Pleasant Grove Church, an offshoot of the Midway Congregational Church. Includes names of both white and black members.
Court Records
- 1784-1935 Superior Court Minutes, 1784-1935 [Liberty County, Georgia](*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1799-1871 Inferior Court and Court of Ordinary Minutes 1799-1871,(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1820-1940 Minutes, 1820-1940(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1826-1922 Proceedings, 1826-1922(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1850-1934 Miscellaneous Probate Records, 1850-1934(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1877-1889 Equity Proceedings 1877-1889, Liberty County, Georgia(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1879-1902 Officer Bonds 1879-1902, Liberty County, Georgia(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1882-1891 County Court Minutes 1882-1891, Liberty County, Georgia(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1904-1949 Corporation Charters, 1904-1949(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1915-1951 Petition of Writ of Habeas Corpus, 1915-1951(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- Liberty County Court Documents at Genealogy Trails
- Liberty County Genealogy, Wills, Estates, Cemeteries, Maps, etc at Georgia Pioneers ($)
- Register of Licenses Issued to Druggists, Vendors, Dealers in Explosives, Medicines, Gasoline, etc. (Liberty County, Georgia)(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African Americans
- They Had Names - Documentation of names of African Americans mentioned in the 1790-1865 wills, estate inventories, bills of sale, collateral mortgages, deeds of gift, marriage settlements, and estate settlements of white slaveholders in Liberty County, Georgia. Also contains transcription of 1846 census of all African American church members in Liberty County's 15th District, church records of Midway Congregational Church and Pleasant Grove Methodist Church, list of free persons of color, colored orphan bonds, etc.
- Liberty County Superior Court's deeds and mortgages (including bills of sale for enslaved people) are digitized online in FamilySearch.org's catalog under the title "Deeds and mortgages 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages 1777-1958" at this link. (If the link does not work, search the catalog for the title.) They are not yet searchable but there are several types of printed indexes (overall direct and reverse and for each record book) that can be paged through. The researcher will need to know the name of the slaveholder to find a particular record in the indexes, but the record books are identified by date ranges and can be paged through. Each entry will give the record book letter and page number. Use that to find the record in the digitized record books at this same link.
Funeral Homes
- Carter Funeral Home Oglethorpe Chapel in Hinesville
- Miller Funeral Home in Hinesville
- The Dorchester Funeral Home in Midway
- Thomas L. Carter Funeral Home in Hinesville
Genealogies
- Liberty County Historical Society website contains references to many prominent local families.
- The Midway Museum has books of genealogies/lineages contributed by local families. Call 912-884-5837 for more information. Midway Museum website
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Georgia Land and Property for additional information about early Georgia land grants from the government. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions (generally buying and selling deeds) were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1735-1866 Georgian Colonial and Headright Plat Index, 1735-1866 at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - alpha index
- 1783-1909 Headright and Bounty Plats, 1783-1909 at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images with alpha index
- 1805-1833 District Plats of Survey at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images organized by county and district
- Colonial Plats and Warrants at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images with alpha index
- English Crown Grants in St. Andrew Parish in Georgia 1755-1775 by Pat Bryant - a digital copy.
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
The They Had Names site has searchable abstracts of deeds naming enslaved people in Liberty County Superior Court Deed including Books A-P (1777-1865). This includes bills of sale, mortgages, deeds of gift, marriage contracts, estate settlements, etc, with the names of the enslaved people and their slaveowners. These deeds often included identifying data such as ages and family relationships.
Liberty County Superior Court's deeds and mortgages (including bills of sale for enslaved people) are digitized online in FamilySearch.org's catalog under the title Deeds and mortgages 1777-1920; general index to deeds and mortgages 1777-1958. (If the link does not work, search the catalog for the titles.) They are not yet searchable but there are several types of printed indexes (overall direct and reverse and for each record book) that can be paged through. Each entry will give the record book letter and page number. Use that to find the record in the digitized record books at this same link.
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Liberty County, Georgia Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see the wiki page section Georgia Local Histories.
- Taylors Creek: Story of the Community and Her People Through 200 years. Pearson, Ga.: Press of the Atkinson County Citizen, 1963. Digital version at Ancestry ($)
- List of published histories for the Liberty County area
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
- 1740s-? Historic Map File at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images
- 1866 - 1935 County Map File at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images
- Maps of Georgia (1758-1932)
Migration
Military Records
- Georgia USGenWeb Archives Project
Civil War
Online Records
- 1861-1865 Georgia Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
- 1861-1865 Georgia Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch — index
- 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
- 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
- 1861-1865 Confederate Enlistment Oaths and Discharges at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault- images and alphabetical index
- 1861-1865 Confederate Muster Rolls at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault- images; filter by commanding officer, service branch and regiment
- 1861-1865 Confederate Pension Application Supplements - images and alphabetical index; filter by county
- 1864 Militia Enrollment Lists, 1864 - images; filter by county
- 1867-1868 Georgia, Reconstruction Registration Oath Books, 1867-1868 at FamilySearch — index
- 1879-1920 Georgia, Confederate Pension Rolls, 1879-1920 at FamilySearch — index
- 1879-1960 Confederate Pension Applications - images and alphabetical index; filter by county
Regiments. Service men in Liberty County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Liberty County:
- - 14th Battalion, Georgia Infantry (State Guards) (Confederate),
- - 20th Battalion, Georgia Cavalry (Confederate)
- - 25th Regiment, Georgia Infantry (Confederate), Companies E and F
Spanish-American War
- 1898 Spanish-American War Service Summary Cards - images and alphabetical index; filter by residence, muster location and unit
World War I
- 1914-1918 World War I Casualties Scrapbooks - images and alphabetical index
- 1920-1929 Georgia, World War I, Statement of Service Cards, 1920-1929 at FamilySearch — index & images
World War II
- 1940-1942 Georgia World War II Draft Registration Cards 1940-1942 at findmypast - index ($))
Naturalization and Citizenship
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Georgia, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- Georgia Historic Newspapers at Digital Library of Georgia
Obituaries
Other Records
Southern Claims Commission case files
The TheyHadNames.net project is transcribing Southern Claims Commission case files from Liberty County, and has an index of all the Liberty County cases with links to the completed transcriptions. Some transcriptions also include genealogical research on the claimant.
Voting Records
- 1867-1868 Georgia, Reconstruction Registration Oath Books, 1867-1868 at FamilySearch — index
- 1856-1909 Georgia, County Voter Registrations, 1856-1909 at FamilySearch — index & images
Periodicals
Probate Records
Colonial courts kept some early probate records. From 1777 to 1798 and since 1852, the court of ordinary or register of probates has kept probate and guardianship records. The inferior court handled probate and guardianship matters from 1798 to 1852.
Many probate records to the 1930s and 1940s are at the Georgia Department of Archives and History and the FamilySearch Library on microfilm.
Content: Probate Records may give the decedent's date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
Record types: Wills, estates, guardianships, naturalizations, marriage, adoption, and birth and death records (not all years).
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1733-1753 Colonial Wills at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images with alpha index
- 1742-1990 Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990(*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1742-1992 Georgia Wills and Probate Records 1742-1992 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1754-1776 Colonial Will Books at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images with alpha index
- 1759-1776 Georgia Abstracts of Wills, St. John's Parish, Christ Church Parish and St. Paul's Parish, 1759-1776(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1763-1873 Names of Families in Liberty County Genealogy, Wills, Estates, Cemeteries, Maps at Georgia Pioneers ($)
- 1772-1887 Abstracts of Wills of Liberty County, Georgia, 1772-1887(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1775-1892 Estate Records, 1775-1892(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1784-1912 Probate and Guardian Records, 1784-1912 Liberty County, Georgia(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1789-1957 Temporary Administrator Bonds, 1789-1802, 1909-1957 (Liberty County, Georgia)(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1790-1823 Liberty County Estate Inventory Index - 1790 to 1823 at Genealogy Trails
- 1790-1823 Liberty County Will Book "A" (1790-1823) at Genealogy Trails
- 1790-1865 African Americans in Early Records of Liberty County, Georgia at They Had Names
- 1790-1942 Wills and Appraisements, 1790-1942(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1791-1915 Administrator Bonds, 1791-1811, 1859-1915(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1801-1967 Letters of Administration, 1801-1820, 1856-1955; Temporary Letters of Administration, 1883-1956; Administrations, 1869-1967(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1814-1923 Annual Returns, 1814-1923(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1818-1874 Estate Accounts, 1818-1874(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1823-1848 Liberty County Will Book B -- 1823 to 1848 at Genealogy Trails
- 1824-1850 Liberty County Estate Inventory Index - 1824 to 1850 at Genealogy Trails
- 1848-1865 Liberty County Wills: 1848-1865 at Genealogy Trails
- 1848-1966 Liberty County Probate Document Index: A to Da (1848-1966) at Genealogy Trails
- 1848-1966 Liberty County Probate Document Index: De to Mi (1848-1966) at Genealogy Trails
- 1848-1966 Liberty County Probate Document Index: Mi to Z (1848-1966) at Genealogy Trails
- 1850-1934 Miscellaneous Probate Records, 1850-1934(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1853-1957 Letters Testamentary, 1853-1873, 1877-1957 Liberty County, Georgia(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1864-1957 Wills, 1864-1957(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1866-1948 Letters of Dismission, 1866-1868, 1870-1948 (Liberty County, Georgia)(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1874-1927 Widows' Twelve Months Support Liberty County, Georgia 1874-1927(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1874-1955 Appraisements and Distributions of Estate Properties, 1874-1955 Liberty County, Georgia(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1875-1913 Returns of Sales of Estates 1875-1913, Liberty County, Georgia(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1897-1932 Inventories and Appraisements of Estates 1897-1932, Liberty County, Georgia(*); Court of Ordinary at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Taxes were levied on free white males over 21 and all slaves up to age 60. These persons are referred to as "polls." Tax listings, or digests, of a county generally list the taxable landowners and other polls and the amount of tax. The records for each county are divided by militia district.
- 1787-1900 Georgia, Tax Digests, 1787-1900 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection, index & images
Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Georgia State Department of Health , the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred or order electronically online.
For some online statewide indexes, see the FamilySearch Historical Record Collections for Georgia.
Birth
- 1870-1960 Georgia, County Delayed Birth and Death Records, 1870-1960 at FamilySearch — index, and some images
Marriage
- 1560-1993 Georgia, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
- 1699-1944 Georgia Marriages 1699-1944 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1754-1960 Georgia Church Marriages, 1754-1960 at FamilySearch — index & images
- 1785-1895 Liberty County, Georgia, U.S., Marriages, 1785-1895 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1785-1950 Georgia County Marriages 1785-1950 at FamilySearch — index & images
- 1808-1967 Georgia Marriages 1808-1967 at FamilySearch — index
- 1828-1978 Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
- 1867-1895 Liberty County Marriage Index 1867-1895. Batch M713191 at FamilySearch
Death
- 1870-1960 Georgia, County Delayed Birth and Death Records, 1870-1960 at FamilySearch — index, and some images
- 1914-1927 Georgia Deaths 1914-1927 at FamilySearch — index & images
- 1919-1998 Georgia Deaths 1919-1998 at Ancestry — index ($)
- 1919-1930 Georgia Death Certificates at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - index & images
- 1928-1930 Georgia Non-Indexed Death Certificates at Georgia Archives Virtual Vault - images
- 1928-1942 Georgia Deaths, 1928-1942 at FamilySearch — index & images
- 1933-1998 Georgia Death Index 1933-1998 at FamilySearch — index
Divorce
Voting Records
- 1856-1941 Georgia, County Voter Registrations, 1856-1941 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection, index & images
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Liberty County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Georgia Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Liberty County. For state-wide library facilities, see Georgia Archives and Libraries.
Hinesville Library
236 West Memorial Drive
Hinesville, GA 31313
912-368-4003
Email: fortnere@liveoakpl.org
Website
Facebook
- The Hinesville branch of the Live Oak Public Libraries has the Wyman May Genealogy Room, open during library operating hours.
Museums
Midway Museum
491 N Coastal Hwy
PO Box 195
Midway, Georgia 31320
912-884-5837
Email: midwaymuseum@yahoo.com
Website
Facebook
- Has a library and can do look-ups.
Societies
Listed below are societies in Liberty County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Georgia Societies.
Liberty County Historical Society
101 North Commerce St
PO Box 982
Hinesville, GA 31310
Website
Facebook
Midway Heritage Association
Highway 17
Midway, GA 31320
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Brig Gen Robert H Anderson Camp #1919
South East Brigade, Georgia Division, Army of Tennessee Department
Lawrenceville, Georgia
Email: scv1919@egroups.com
Website
Websites
- Georgia Genealogy Trails Liberty County
- They Had Names: African Americans in Early Liberty County Ga Records
- Liberty County Historical Society
- Georgia Genealogy Network Group on Facebook
- USGenWeb Liberty County, Georgia project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
- Liberty County, Georgia Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Georgia Pioneers Georgia Pioneers ($)
- FamilySearch Catalog - The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records
Research Guides
References
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Georgia.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Liberty County, Georgia" in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_County,_Georgia accessed 1 Nov 2018
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Georgia.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Liberty County, Georgia. Page 151-163 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 155-160.
- ↑ Paul K. Graham, Georgia Courthouse Disasters (Decatur, Georgia: Genealogy Co., 2013), 38-39. At various libraries (WorldCat).
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Georgia.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Liberty County, Georgia," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_County,_Georgia, accessed 1 September 2019.