Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Month: December, 2012

December 13, 2012

United States Colored Troops, no. 6.

27 U.S.C.T. Herbert Chavous. Co. A, 27th U.S. Col’d Inf. appears on Company Descriptive Book of the organization named above. Description: age, 18 years; height, 5 feet 8 1/2 inches; complexion, dark; eyes, black; hair, black; where born, Granville Co., NC; occupation, labourer. Enlistment: when, 15 Jan 1864; where, Union County, Oh.; by whom, George St. Clair; term, 3 years.

In the 1860 census of Ledge of Rock, Granville County: Howard Chvis, 38, farmer, Harriet, 50, Luetta, 17, Herbert, 13, Ann, 11, and Ellen, 8.

9 H. Art’y U.S.C.T. Jaret Chavous. Co. D, 9th Reg’t U.S. Col’d H. Art’y. appears on Company Descriptive Book of the organization named above. Description: age, 43 years; height, 5 feet 3 inches; complexion, dark; eyes, black; hair, black; where born, Chatham Co., NC; occupation, farmer. Enlistment: when, 3 September 1864; where, Columbus, O.; by whom, Capt. Wilcox; term, 1 years.

5 U.S.C.T. Asberry Toney. Co. F, 5 Reg’t U.S. Col’d H. Art’y. appears on Company Descriptive Book of the organization named above. Description: age, 44 years; height, 5 feet 8 inches; complexion, dark mulatto; eyes, black; hair, black; where born, Halifax Co., NC; occupation, farmer. Enlistment: when, 30 January 1865; where, Columbus, O.; by whom, Capt. Nesbit; term, 1 years.

In the 1860 census of Marion, Fayette County, Ohio: Abury Toney, 37, laborer, wife Martha, 30, and children J.O., 12, Narely, 4, J. Tilia, 1,  and Emma A., 1.  ALl but the youngest three children were born in NC.

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December 13, 2012

Free People of Color Listed in Mortality Schedule: 1860.

Emily Reed, 11, female, mulatto, Indian Springs, born NC, died July, worms, Wayne County.

Oma Whiter, 13, female, black, New Hope, born NC, died August, unknown causes, Wayne County.

Sarah Lasiter, 2 months, female, black, born NC, died November, smothered accident, Wilson County.

Jesse Ratley, 75, male, black, widower, born NC, died January, ditcher, f[illegible] intemperance, Franklin County.

Wesley Wilkins, 21, male, black, single, born NC, died April, farm laborer, pneumonia, Nash County.

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December 13, 2012

A case of kidnapping.

A CASE OF KIDNAPPING. – A few weeks ago there came to Smithville, in Brunswick county, from Moore county, three white men, whose names are Alex. McLeod, Joseph Crawley, and _____ Crawley, bringing with them a free, bright mulatto woman, named Katy Chavers, and her three children, the oldest not being over five years of age.  The woman was brought there, as she said, for the pretended purpose of keeping house for the man.  Shortly after their arrival, the men managed to get the woman drunk, and whilst she was in that state, they took the three children and put off with them for Charleston, on board one of the Steamers.  At Charleston they were arrested, having remained there until the Steamer hence of the next day carried on the intelligence of their villainy.  They got clear from the arrest, however (in what way we never understood.) when Joseph Crawley took the children and went on by the way of the Rail Road to Augusta.  Arriving there, he was confronted with a hand-bill of particulars which had been dispatched South by a gentleman of Smithville immediately upon the men’s leaving there with the children.  He was placed in jail at Augusta, and now awaits the requisition of the Governor of this State, which will be made doubtless as soon as the Grand Jury of Brunswick shall return a bill of indictment.  There will be no Court in Brunswick until the first Monday in June. The woman was sent from Smithville to Augusta, to rejoin her children, who had been kindly taken care of there. Wil. Chronicle

Carolina Watchman, 14 May 1847. NC Newspaper Digitization Project, North Carolina State Archives Historic Newspaper Archive.

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December 12, 2012

Navy deserter.

DESERTED, from the U.S. Gun boat No. 150 ELIJAH BRENT, alias WILLIAMS a dark mulatto man about 5 feet, 5 or 6 inches high much pitted with the small pock, walks erect about 22 or 23 years of age slow of speech –  hails from Charleston where he says his mother and relations reside.  Ten dollars Reward will be given to any person who will take up said deserter and deliver him to any Officer of the U.S. or place him in jail.  T.N. GAUTIER, commanding Naval Officer.  July 24 – tf. 

Wilmington Gazette, 2 Oct 1813, NC Newspaper Digitation Project, North Carolina State Archives Historic Newspaper Archive.

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December 10, 2012

Surnames: Bertie County, 1850.

ASH/ASHE, BAILEY, BAKER, BARTLET, BARTLEY, BEELLE, BELL, BIRD, BOON, BRABOY, CANDA, CHURCH, COMER, DEMPSY, EARLEY, FLOOD, FREEMAN, GOOLD, GREEN, HARRIS, HASSEL, HOGGARD, JAMES, JEANES, KENNAHORN, LANE, LOVE, MANLY, MCDANIEL, MELTON, MITCHAM, MOBLIN, MORGAN, OVINGTON, PETERSON, POLK, POWELL, PRICE, PUGH, REID, ROBBINS, RUNNELS, SANDERLINE, SANDERS, SANDY, THOMPSON, WARD, WATERMAN, WEAVER, WIGGINS, WILDER, WIMBURN/WINBURN and WYATT.

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December 10, 2012

Free-Issue Death Certificates: NC-Born Michiganders, no. 2.

Mary Allen.  Died 26 Nov 1876, Calvin, Cass County, Michigan. Black. Married. Born about 1791 in NC to John and Mary Oxyndine.

Alexander Bass. Died 26 July 1900, Calvin, Cass County, Michigan. Mulatto. Married at age 17.  Parent of 11 children.  Born 14 Dec 1819 in NC to Joseph Bass and Temperance Chavous, both of NC. Buried Bethel cemetery.  Informant, M. Bass, Day, Michigan.

Irena Higgins.  Died 20 Oct 1919, Calvin, Cass County, Michigan. Colored. Widow. Age 75 years, 11 months. Born in NC to Alexander Bass and Clarkey Wilson, both of NC. Buried Mount Zion cemetery.  Informant, Augusta Aurelia Higgins, Cassopolis.

In the 1850 census of Salt Creek, Franklin County, Indiana: Alexander Bass, 25, born NC; wife Clica, 27; and children Lucinda, 12; Delilah, 10; Aurora, 6; Smith, 4; and Ezekiel, 5 mos.  Clica and the children were born in SC, except the baby, born in Indiana.

Zipporah Boone.  Died 9 Dec 1908, Niles, Berrien, Michigan. Widowed.  Black. Born about 1844 in NC to Wyatt Manuel.

In the 1850 census of Northern District of Sampson County: Wiat Manuel, 40; wife Charlotte, 33; children Marshal, 16, Martha, 13, Thomas, 12, Alman, 10, Mary, 8, Sophoy, 6, Kilby, 3, and Efferson, 2 months.  In the 1860 census of Linton, Vigo County, Indiana:  Wyatt Manuel, 50, wife Charlotte, 43, and children Allman, 20, Zilphaah, 16, Kilby, 14, Efferson, 10, Silvany, 8, Oskin, 5, Whitfield, 2, and Statford, 2 months. The last four children were born in Indiana; the others in NC.

Clarenda Goens. Died 4 March 1908, Covert, Van Buren County, Michigan. Mulatto. Married first at age 22. Parents of 7 children; 5 living. Born 5 May 1835, in Vigo County IN to Wiley  Walden and Sarah Wilson, both of NC. Buried in Covert.  Informant, W.S. Walden.

In the 1850 census of Otter Creek, Vigo County, Indiana: Wiley Walden, 40, Sarah, 36, Milton, 17, Carolina, 14, Clarkson, 12, Thomas E., 10, Ann, 9, Nancy A., 9, Fanny, 7, John F., 3, Winfield, 1.

Clarenda Walden married Stephen Goins, 30 Dec 1858, Vigo County Indiana.

Jordon P. Hunt.  Died 15 July 1911, Buchanan. Berrier County, Michigan.  Colored.  Widower. Laborer. Born July 1840, North Carolina to Daniel Hunt and unknown mother.  Buried Miles, Michigan. Informant, Victor Prophet.

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December 10, 2012

John and Sarah Simmons Henderson.

ImageJOHN HENRY HENDERSON and wife SARAH ELIZABETH SIMMONS HENDERSON.  John was born in 1860 in Sampson County to James and Eliza Armwood Henderson.  Sarah was born about 1868 to Bryant and Elizabeth Wynn Simmons. Both died near Dudley, Wayne County.

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December 8, 2012

Register of (NC-born) Negroes & Mulattoes: Vigo County, Indiana.

Jethro Bass registered 2 July 1853.  Age 70. Mulatto. Born Granville County NC. Resided Lost Creek township.

Jethro Bass and Polly Mitchell married in Granville County NC on 3 Apr 1809.  In 1830, Jethro Bass headed a household of 13 free people of color in Vigo County, Indiana.  In the 1850 census of Harrison township, Vigo County, Indiana: Jathro Bass, 70, wife Polly, 60, Emily, 17, and Alfred Bass, 6.

Lucy Brooks registered 9 July 1853.  Age 35. Mulatto. Born Northampton County NC. Resided Harrison township.

John Brooks registered 9 July 1853. Age 45. Mulatto. Born Halifax County NC. Resided Harrison township.

In the 1850 census of Harrison, Vigo County, Indiana: John Brooks, 42, Lucinda, 32, Kinchen, 12, Benjamin, 10, Amanda, 8, William, 6, and Augustes, 7 months.  John and Lucinda were born in NC; the children, in Indiana.

George Evans registered 2 July 1853. Age 49. Mulatto. Born Randolph County NC. Resided Lost Creek township.

Solomon Jackson. Registered 16 June 1853. Age 45. Negro. Born Richmond County NC. Resided Terre Haute.

John Mathews. Registered 18 June 1853. Age 36. Mulatto. Born NC. Resided Terre Haute.

In the 185o census of Harrison, Vigo County: John Mathews, 35, wife Lucretia, 23, and Lucy D., 1, plus Amy Halaran, 21, born in Ireland, and George Beard, 26, born in Kentucky. 

George Mitchell. Registered 17 June 1853. Age 25. Negro. Born Rawlegh Way [Wake] County NC. Resided Terre Haute.

Jeremiah Mitchell. Registered 25 June 1853. Age 61. Negro.  Born Rawlegh Way [Wake] County NC. Resided Terre Haute.

Samuel Mitchel. Registered 25 June 1853. Age 50. Mulatto. Born Orange County NC. Resided Lost Creek township.

William Morgan. Registered 8 Aug 1853. Age 28. Mulatto. Born Louisburg NC. Resided Otter Creek township.

Henry A. Newsom. Registered 6 Aug 1853. Age 35. Negro. Born Greene County NC. Resided Harrison township.

In 1851, when the Indiana General Assembly enacted its second state constitution, it included a provision, Article XIII, prohibiting any Negro or mulatto from entering or settling in the state. To enforce this provision, county clerks were ordered to register Negroes and mulattos already living in Indiana. This post abstracts Vigo County registrants reported born in North Carolina. 

Vigo County Register of Negroes and Mulattoes, Indiana State Archives.

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December 7, 2012

They are bound to support their bastard children.

State v. John L. Lee, 29 NC 265 (1847).

On appeal from Craven County Superior Court, the issue in this case was whether John Lee, after having been tried and convicted of bastardy, could move to quash the proceedings against him on the grounds that Catharine Curtis, the mother of the child, was a woman of color and therefore incompetent to testify against a white man.  The verdict: too late.

State v.  Thomas Long, 31 NC 488 (1849).

On appeal from Martin County.  In May 1848, Lucinda Simpson, then pregnant, swore that the father of her child was Thomas Long. Long moved to dismiss proceedings against him on the grounds that Simpson was a woman of mixed blood within the fourth degree and therefore incompetent to give testimony against him.  The Court was satisfied that in fact she was of mixed blood and dismissed the case.  In October 1848, on Simpson’s oath, another warrant for the same pregnancy issued for Long.  These proceedings were dismissed based upon the earlier finding.  The Supreme Court held that the prior judgment was binding and the second case rightfully quashed and noted that the better course would have been an appeal. 

State v. Williamson Haithcock, 33 NC 32 (1850).

On appeal from Orange County.  Williamson Haithcock, an admitted free negro, was charged with bastardy by a white woman.  Haithcock’s counsel moved to quash on the grounds that bastardy laws did apply to such a case. The Supreme Court: “We are at a loss to conceive of any reason why the defendant should be exempted from the operation of the bastardy laws, merely because he is a free negro.  Free negroes are capable of holding property, they can sue and be sued, and are bound to support their bastard children, whether begotten a free white woman or free black woman.  They can set up no ‘exclusive privilege’ in this behalf.”

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December 7, 2012

Surnames: Pitt County, 1850.

ALBERTSON, ALLEN, BRADLEY, BRINSON, BROOKS, BUTTS, CONNER, DAVENPORT, DEEL, EDWARDS, EVENS, GOFF, HARDY, HARRIS, HAZLE, HOLLAND, HOLLINGSWORTH, HUTSON, JAMES, JARRELL, JONES, KEEL, KINSAUL, KNOX, LAUGHINGHOUSE, LEROY, LOCAS, LYNCH, McGLAWHERN, MECKS, MERRITT, MILLS, MOBLEY, MOORE, NORRIS, PAGE, POLLARD, PORTER, POWERS, SMITH, TAYLOR, TEEL, TITUS, WIGGINS, WILLIAMS and WOMBLE.

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