These records were taken from the accounting done by James Hamilton Couper as executor of James Hamilton's estate during the years 1837 to 1852.

James Hamilton owned a vast amount of land on St. Simons, in Brunswick, and other counties and states as well. The plantations Hamilton, Village, and Hopeton are most mentioned in the accounting located in the Glynn Co. Probate Court.

To get a feeling of how vast his land holding were, I have extracted one item in particular that showed up yearly, that was the purchase of shoes for the slaves. In the year 1838 James Hamilton Couper, acting as executor of the estate, purchased:

427 pairs of shoes in 1838
411 pairs of shoes for Hopeton in 1842
449 pairs of shoes in 1844
443 pairs of shoes in 1845

According to the inventories below, James Hamilton was in possession of 653 slaves at the time of his death, that amounted to $119,425, the total estate value was appraised at $154,477.07 in 1828 when the first inventories were conducted.  This does not seem like much in today's standards, but for 1828 it would be like having almost $3 million, more or less, today.  Mr. Hamilton was a VERY wealthy man in property, it almost seems as if it would have been easier to sell everything before he died, and just live off the proceeds.

12 Feb. 1842: 7 Negroes sold to R. Hazlehurst from James Hamilton estate viz. Daniel, Daphne, Abraham, Abby, Abigail, Harry, and Bulami--$2800. (Image 3i & 3j)

7 Mar. 1842: L. Harris, Jailer, fees at Brunswick for Negro Philip--$4.28. (Image 31 & 3b)

2 Mar. 1843: Amt. paid Rev. E.T. Walker for religious instruction of Negroes at Hamilton--$50. 
(Image 4f & 4g)

9 Apr. 1843: Amt. paid Rev. M McIntosh for the religious instruction of the Negroes at Hopeton--$50.
(Image 4f & 4g)

26 Jan. 1844: Paid M. Poncell for a hog stolen by Negro Jim--$5. (Image 5d & 5e)

1 June 1844: Paid Rev. M. McIntosh for religious instruction of Negroes at Hopeton--$50.  (Image 5j & 5k)

14 Nov. 1844: S. Lee for 20 hogs, 2920 [unreadable] @ 3 cents per pound for Christmas [unreadable] for Negroes--$87.60. (Image 5j & 5k)

22 Feb. 1845: Cash paid Coroner in Darien for inquest over negro man Adam (apoplexy)--$16. (Image 6d & 6e)

5 Dec. 1845: S. Palmer, Treasurer for subscription on the part of the estate to suppress illegal trafficking with Negroes--$50. (Image 6l & 6m)

30 Jan. 1846: Rev. J.B. Bartow for religious instruction of Negroes--$50. (Image 7b & 7c)

16 Nov. 1846: To F. Seaman (not sure of name) for cow killed by Negro at Hopeton--$4. (Image 7j & 7k)