Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Month: October, 2012

October 17, 2012

Jacob Ing’s children.

In the name of God I Jacob Ing of the County of Nash and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory do this 8th day of April A.D. Eighteen Hundred and Sixty Seven, make this my last Will and Testament as follows (viz)

I will and direct that my Executor hereinafter named Sell my real and perishable Estate either private or publick at his discretion, and the proceed therefrom together with all species of Property of every discription be disposed of as follows (to wit)

I give and bequeath to Mary Reynolds, wife of Benjamin Reynolds, Elizabeth Boon wife of Jesse Boon, Selah White, wife of James White, Sally Reynolds, wife of William H. Reynolds, William C. Jones, Matthew Jones, also old Chaney Freed woman (formally my house servant) also Lucinda Artist (dead) to her Children if any surviving (all colored) to be Equally divided in Nine parts, and distributed as above directed.  In case any of the above named persons dies before the execution of this will, leaving Children, in that event their child or children will take the parents intended shear to them and their heirs for ever. (carried forward)

I do hereby nominate and appoint my friend Jesse H. Drake the sale executor of this my last will and Testament ratifying this and no other to be my last.  In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

Jacob Ing

April 30th 1869.  I Jacob Ing of the County of Edgecombe and State of North Carolina do make this my Codicial to my last will and Testament, bearing date the 8th day of April 1867.  I will and direct that said will be so amended that altered that the said old woman Chaney therein provided for I loan her the lot and improvements whereon I now live (in Battleboro) during her natural life and at her death the same be sold and proceeds Equally divided amongst the surviving Legatees there mentioned.  In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal the day and date above written.

Jacob Ing

Easter Jones, also known as Hester, was the mother of Jacob Ing’s children.  The family appear together in the 1850 census of Nash County: Jacob Ing (64, white, farmer) and Easter Jones (55), John Jones (20) (and his wife Dolly, 21), Matthew Jones (18) and Lucy Jones (16), all mulatto.  

Lucinda “Lucy” Jones married Adam T. Artist on 10 October 1855 in Nash County.  Their children Noah, Mary Jane and Augustus Kerney Artis inherited her share of her father’s estate.

Wills, Nash County Records, North Carolina State Archives; Estates Records, Wayne County Records, North Carolina State Archives; Marriage Records, Register of Deeds, Wayne County Courthouse, Goldsboro NC; 1850 federal census schedule.

An earlier post shows Ing’s application for a marriage license for his daughter Elizabeth and Jesse Boon.

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October 17, 2012

Free-issue Death Certificates: HAGANS.

Charles Hagans.  Died 26 Mar 1939 in Wilson.  Resided at 210 Manchester Street, Wilson.  Colored.  Widower of Clara Hagans. Age 80 years, 1 month, 1 day.  Preacher.  Born Wilson County to Richard Hagans and Allie Faithful.  Informant, Richard Hagans.

Infant Charles Hagans is listed in the household of his parents, Richard and Alley Hagans, in the 1860 census of Edgecombe County.

Geo. Hagans.  Died 24 June 1925, Nahunta township, Wayne County. Negro. Married to Ann Hagans. Age 75.  Farmer. Born Pikeville, Wayne County, to William Henry Hagans and Matilda [no last name], both of Wayne County. Buried in Pikeville cemetery.  Informant, Raeford Hagans.

Polly Hagans.  Died 10 Feb 1927, New Hope township, Wayne County.  Colored.  Widow.  Age about 85. Born in NC.  Father, Gary Rowe.  Buried Lenoir County.  Informant, Jack Rowe. 

Gary Rowe is listed as a head of household in the 1840 census of Davis District, Wayne County, and the 1860 census of Stoney Creek township, Wayne County.

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October 17, 2012

Grandfathered in.

The following Wayne County free men of color registered to vote, naming Absalom Artis, as their qualifying ancestor under the Grandfather Clause: A.B. Artis, age 29; Mack Artis, age 52; Joseph Artis, age 21; Nathan Artis, age 42; and Donnie Artis, age 21.  Albert Artis, age 58, named Absalom’s son Edwin Artis.  All the voters lived in Nahunta township except Nathan, who lived in Saulston.

With an express design to disenfranchise black voters, in 1900, North Carolina passed a constitutional amendment requiring that voters be able to read and write a section of the state constitution and pay a poll tax.  To avoid disenfranchising illiterate whites, the amendment contained a “grandfather clause,” which exempted a registrant from the literary requirement if he or a lineal ancestor was eligible vote on 1 Jan 1867.  A number of free men of color were thus able to thwart the law’s intent.

 
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October 16, 2012

Went a-hunting with white folks.

State v. John Harris, 51 NC 448 (1858)

An indictment against John Harris, a free man of color, for carrying firearms.  Harris had obtained a license from the Craven County court “to keep about his person, and carry on his own land a shot-gun.”  At the time of the alleged offense, Harris, “in company with certain white persons, went a hunting” and carried his gun off his property.  The trial judge found that Craven County had no power to limit Harris’ gun license and judged him not guilty.  On appeal, the Supreme Court disagreed.

Two free black men named John Harris appear in the 1850 census of Craven County, one born in 1785, the other in 1828.

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October 16, 2012

My mother was an Indian woman came from Guadaloupe.

Lewis W. Levy Sr.‘s claim (#16083) with the Southern Claims Commission was submitted to Congress on 4 December 1876.  Levy lived in Cumberland County, 3 miles southeast of Fayetteville; was a free-born colored man; and owned 109 acres, of which 40 were under cultivation.  He worked as a saddle and harness maker.  During the war, he was forced to work in his trade at Fayetteville arsenal, where he was “insulted, abused and molested by the rebels.” He fed 6 Union soldiers on their way to federal lines after escaping from Florence SC, and his son Lewis Levy Jr. and Alexander Jackson, another colored man, piloted them over the Cape Fear River.

The Commissioners noted: “He was unusually well off in property for a colored man, much above the average of colored people.  He was nearly white, so much so that the confederates arrested him and tried to force him into their Army, but the surgeon discharged him on the ground of physical inability.”

“A large force of Genl. Sherman’s Army camped near him for 2 or 3 days in March 1865; & we have no doubt from the nature of the case that they stripped him of all he had. … We allow $723.00.”

“I was free born.  My mother was an Indian woman came from Guadeloupe France to this country in 1794.”

Alexander Jackson, age 60, testified that he was a colored man and that he resided in Rockfish township, Cumberland County and worked as a saddle and harness maker.  He was not related to Lewis Levy, but had known him 30 years and lived about 2 1/2 miles from him.  They sometimes worked in the same shop.

Edinboro Scurlock, age 48, testified that he was colored, lived in Cumberland County near Fayetteville and was a wagon maker.  He was not related to Lewis Levy, but knew him all his life and lived about 1/2 mile from him.

Lewis’ son Robert W. Levy was a 21 year-old farmer who lived in Rockfish township.  His testimony mentioned his mother, brothers Lewis Jr. and Matthew N. Levy, sister Ann Eliza Levy, and Wright Lambert.  Matthew N. Levy, age 23, and Lewis W. Levy Jr., 24, also testified. They lived in Fayetteville and worked as coopers.

George D. Simmons, age 39, lived in Fayetteville and worked as a barber and grocer. He had known Levy for 22 years and lived about 5 miles from him.

In the 1850 census of Fayetteville, Cumberland County: Lewis Levy, 30, saddle and harnessmaker; wife Sarah C., 25; children Robt., 6, Eliza, 8, Lewis, 4, and Matthew, 6 months; plus Abel  G. Stuart, 20, apprentice saddlemaker; Paul Jones, 23, painter; and Wm. Dunstan, 34, painter.  All were described as mulatto.

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October 15, 2012

Where are they now? No. 1.

L.H. was born in the mid-1960s in Wilson NC.  She is descended from:

(1) Robert Aldridge [1819-ca1899, Duplin/Sampson/Wayne County] via John W. Aldridge [1851-1910, Wayne County]

(2) Vicey Artis [ca1810-ca1868, Greene/Wayne County] via Adam T. Artis [1831-1919, Greene/Wayne County]

(3) Margaret Balkcum [1836-195, Sampson/Wayne County]

(4) Leasy Hagans [ca1800-ca1865] via Louisa Hagans [1824-ca1875, Nash/Wayne County]

(5) Patsey Henderson [ca1795-??, Onslow County] via James Henderson [1815-ca1890, Onslow/Sampson/Wayne County] via Lewis Henderson [1836-1912, Onslow/Sampson/Wayne County]

(6) Aaron Seaberry [1818-ca1905, Wayne County] via Frances Seaberry [1845-1878, Wayne County]

and (7) an unknown Skipp of Onslow County.

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October 14, 2012

Free-Issue Death Certificates: POWELL.

Elijah Powell.  Died 5 Apr 1914, Wilson township, Wilson County.  Black. Married.  Farmer.  Age 84.  Born in Nash County to Elijah Powell and Seathie Powell.  Buried Wilson County.  Informant, T.A. Jones.

Nineteen year-old farmer Eligah Powell is listed with his parents, Eligah and Selah Powell, in the 1850 census of Nash County.

Dolison Powell.  Died 23 Dec 1915, Wilson township, Wilson County.  Colored.  Married.  Farmer.  Born 5 Apr 1840 in Wilson County to Steven Powell and Sintha Powell, both of Edgecombe County.  Buried Wilson County.  Informant, Howard Powell.

“Dolly” Powell, age 7, is listed in the household of his parents, Stephen and Synthia Powell, in the 1850 Nash County census.

Mary Ann Powell.  Died 5 Apr 1921, Jackson township, Nash County.  Widow of Ickibuck Powell.  Colored.  Age 74.  Born in Wilson County to Silas Lassiter & Orpie Lassiter, both of Wilson County.  Buried Powell gtaveyard.  Informant, Henry Powell.

Mary Lassiter, age 11, is listed in the household of her parents, Silas and Orpie Lassiter, in the 1860 census of Wilson township, Wilson County. 

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October 14, 2012

Show cause why the indentures of apprenticeship should not be rescinded.

North Carolina

To the Shiriff of Wayne County Greeting

You are hereby commanded to make known to Nathan Edgerton to produce into court at the next term to be held for said County at the Court House in Goldsboro on the third Monday of May next, Mary, Raeford, Louisa, Amelia, Devereux, Narcissa, Olif & Sarah Carroll, Children of Margaret Carroll, then & there to Show cause if any he has why the Indentures of Apprenticeship to him should not be recinded — herein fail not, & have you then & there this writ

Witness Benj Aycock clerk of said court at office the third Monday of Feby A.D. 1856

Issued 23rd April 1856                  Benj. Aycock  Clk.

Nathan Edgerton indentured nine Carroll children, aged 1 to 15, in 1855.  Their mother Margaret Carroll, who lived in Johnston County, protested the indentures without apparent success: Sarah, Louisa, Amelia, Olivia and Narcissa Carroll appear in Nathan Edgerton’s household in the 1860 census of Wayne County.

Apprenticeship Records, Wayne County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

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October 14, 2012

Give and grant all my right over said children.

This indenture this 16th day of August 1823 between Celia Artis of the County of Wayne and state of North Carolina of the one part, and Elias and Jesse Coleman of the other part (witnesseth) that I the said Celia Artis have for an in consideration of having four of my children raised in a becoming [illegible], by these presence indenture the said four children (to viz) Eliza, Ceatha, Zilpha, and Simon Artis to the said Elias and Jesse Coleman to be their own right and property until the said four children arives at the age of twenty one years old and I do by virtue of these presents give and grant all my right and power over said children the above term of time, unto the said Elias and Jesse Coleman their heirs and assigns, until the above-named children arives to the aforementioned etc., and I do further give unto the said Elias and Jesse Coleman all power of recovering from any person or persons all my right to said children — the [illegible] of time whatsoever in whereof I the said Celia Artis have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written,    Celia X Artis.

Deeds, Register of Deeds Office, Wayne County Courthouse, Goldsboro.

[Sidenote: Celia Artis (1800-1879) was a prosperous free woman of color whose husband, Simon Pig, was a slave.  (She purchased and eventually freed him, and he adopted her surname.)  Because Celia was not legally married, her children were subject to involuntary apprenticeship.  This deed records her determination to guard her children from uncertain fates by placing them under the control of men she trusted.  Despite the wording of the deed, it is likely that the children continued to live with their mother after their indenture.  By mid-century, Celia Artis was one of the wealthiest free women of color in Wayne County, having amassed 750 acres of land in northern Wayne County. — LYH]

 

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October 14, 2012

When the upstir was about the Negro rising I readily delivered my gun.

State of North Carolina     }  To the worshipful — the Court of pleas and

Wayne County                }       quarters sessions August Term 1841

From the observance of an act of Assembly Ratified 11th Jany, 1841 prohibiting Negroes &c from Carrying fire Arms at Page 61 and Chapter 30.

Free Willis Petitions your worships that he be allowed to keep and use a shot-gun and Ammunition at his home as usual

As it may pleas your worships I have ever been permitted to Keep a shot-gun and ammunition and no charge has Ever been against me for any injury done thereby — And when the upstir was about the Negro rising I readily delivered my gun to Mr Henry Sasser who Kept it Untill the stir was all over and then gave it to me again   August 17th 1841   Willis

Willis lives at one End of my plantation and as I apprehend no danger in his Keeping his gun and ammunition and as he does me some benefit by destroying the Vermin around my fields I would rather he could retain his gun     Benajah Herring

Benajah Herring’s petition to Wayne County Superior Court secured Free Willis’ freedom in the 1830s.  The “Negro rising” referred to probably was Nat Turner’s Rebellion in Southampton County, Virginia, and/or an aborted slave revolt in Duplin and Sampson Counties, NC, both with took place in the late summer of 1831.  Willis Herring appears, immediately adjacent to Benajah Herring, as a head of household in the 1840 census of Wayne County.  He lived alone.

Records of Slaves and Free People of Color, Wayne County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

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