20 | January | 2013 | Fourth Generation Inclusive

Please free our sister.

To the Worshipfull, The Justices of the County Court held for the County of Craven of the term of June AD 1798 –

The Petition of Ann G. Daly Administratrix of the Goods & Chattels &c of John Daly esq’r dec’d & Guardian of Ann G. Daly & Sidney Maria Daly, children of the said John Daly dec’d, Robert Donnell & Eliz., his wife & Guardian of John Daly, son of sd. John Daly dec’d & John Sears, humbly Sheweth to your worships that the said Administratrix has at present in her possession a certain female mulattoe slave named Mary about the age of twenty years, which Slave in strictness of law makes a part of the personal estate of the said John Daly dec’d. Your Petitioners further shew that the said Mary has always been reputed to be the child of the said John Daly dec’d, and in that light treated & regarded by the said John in his life time.

Your Petitioners further state that it was the full determined and avowed intention & desire of the said John to give or procure for the said Mary her freedom, and that to the effect the said John hath repeatedly & uniformly expressed himself during his life and at the hour of his death.

Your Petitioners further state that the said Mary is a Girl of excellent Character, that she is industrious Sober & honest & has always behaved dutifully and affectionately towards the whole family. Your Petitioners feel themselves bound to state that, (John Daly, Ann G. Daly & Sidney M. Daly, three of the children of John Daly dec’d are under age & that to remove all objections that may arise an amount of the interest they have in the said Mary your Petitioners, Robert Donnell & Jno. Sears, are ready to give any security the Court may require either for their or the indemnification of the said Administratrix. Your petitioners therefore pray that taking the promises into consideration your worships would pass an order granting the said Ann G. Daly Administratrix as aforesaid a license to make free & emancipate said Mulattoe female slave named Mary. And your Petitioners in duty bound Shall ever pray, /s/ Ann G. Daly, Robert Donnells, and Jno. Sears.

Granted.

Miscellaneous Records, Craven County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

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January 20, 2013

Register of (NC-born) Negroes & Mulattoes: Bartholomew County, Indiana, no. 1.

Enoch Jones, age 13, born Robeson County NC, registered 22 Aug 1853. He was described as “rather a light negro”; small scar one-half inch long on back of left hand near wrist; son of William Riley Jones Esq. Witness: George B. Gaines.

Irvin Jones, age 14, born Robeson County NC, registered 22 Aug 1853. He was described as “rather a light negro”; four feet eleven and one-half inches and growing; with no scars or marks; son of William Riley Jones Esq. Witness: George B. Gaines.

Lucinda Jones, age 5, born Scott County VA, registered 22 Aug 1853. She was described as a black girl, “lively and of a light complexion,” with a burn scar on the right side of her neck; daughter of William Riley Jones Esquire. Witness: George B. Gaines.

Lucy Ann Jones, age 40, born Halifax County NC, registered 22 Aug 1853. She was described as rather a dark mulatto woman; five feet two inches; “right arm very much crooked having been broken”; married with eight children. Witness: George B. Gaines.

Mary H. Jones, age 3, born Bartholomew County VA. “A plump little darkie” with a light unblemished complexion; daughter of William Riley Jones Esquire.” Witness: George B. Gaines.

Oliver Jones, age 7, born Richmond County NC, registered 22 Aug 1853. He was described as a black boy three and a half feet high, “but will get higher fast;” a “rather light” negro; no remarkable scars; son of William R. Jones. Witness: George B. Gaines.

Thomas Jones, age 9, born Richmond County NC, registered 22 Aug 1853. He was described as a black boy three feet eleven inches high, a “rather light” negro who “seems to be growing;” son of William Riley Jones Esquire. Witness: George B. Gaines.

William Riley Jones, age 40, born Robeson County NC, registered 22 Aug 1853. He was described as a rather dark mulatto man; five feet three inches; with a scar about ¾ inch long on the right hand; rather square built; with round features. Witness: George B. Gaines.

William R. Jones Jr., age 1, born Bartholomew County IN, “plump little nigger baby,” fair-skinned, no scars; son of William R. Jones Sen. Registered 22 Aug 1853. Witness: George B. Gaines.

Willis Jones, age 12, born Robeson County NC, light negro boy, four and a half feet and growing, no scars, son of William Riley Jones. Registered 23 Aug 1853. Witness: George B. Gaines.

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January 20, 2013

A free mulatto child for sale!

Kidnapping. – We learn from the Greensborough Patriot that a gentleman from Patrick county, Va. lately offered for sale, in Salisbury, a free mulatto child! On discovering an acquaintance, as he was parading the streets in the notable character of a speculator, he made his bow, retired, so fast as not to be heard from when looked after. – Ral. Reg.

Tarboro’ Press, 13 June 1835.

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January 20, 2013

The wench made threats.

Thirty Dollars Reward.

RANAWAY from the Subscriber, on Sunday night, the 12th of March last, a negro woman, named POLLY, about 28 years old, nearly five feet high, yellow complexion, spare made, has a mild look and genteel appearance, (for a negro,) when well dressed, and is well calculated to deceive unless tightly and closely examined. She was seduced away by a black free negro, Carter Newsom by name, a shoemaker by trade, who is about 30 years of age, 5 feet 6 or 8 inches high, thick set, has a pleasant countenance and very white teeth, which he shews very much when speaking and laughing: he is strongly suspected of being a runaway slave. In my fomer advertisement, I stated that from threats which the wench made prior to her elopement, they would, by changing their names, and getting forged free papers, endeavor to make their escape to some free state: since that time, they have been lurking about Halifax town, in the vicinity of which, they probably are at this time. All persons are forwarned from harboring or carrying off said negro under the penalty of the law. The above reward, will reasonable charges, will be paid for securing said woman in any jail, so that I get her again, or for her delivery to me. Lunsford W. Scott, Halifax co N.C. August 15, 1826.

Tarboro Free Press, 26 Sept 1826.

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January 20, 2013

Onslow County Apprentices, 1819.

Mary Hammond was bound to Joseph Hawkins, 1819.

George [no last name] age 12, son of Hannah, was bound to Henry Thompson, 1819.

Rachel [no last name], daughter of Hannah, was bound to Charles Thompson, 1819.

James Jarman, son of Charlotte Jarman alias Hammonds, was bound to James Glenn, 1819.

Meriah Boon was bound to Buckner B. Berry, 1819.

Omy White was bound to Daniel Marshburn, 1819.

Mary Hammond was bound to James Barrow, 1819.

Apprentice Records, Onslow County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

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January 20, 2013

Free-Issue Death Certificates: MISCELLANEOUS, no. 5.

Henry Artis. Died 7 Dec 1925, Mount Olive, Duplin County. Colored. Married. Age 73. Farmer. Born Wayne County to Abson Artis and Liza Artis, both of Wayne County. Buried Dudley NC. Informant, Anna Artis.

Smitha McNeill. Died 22 Nov 1924, Averasboro, Harnett County. “Burned to death in burning building.” Colored. Widowed. About 69 years old. Born in NC to Raleigh Seaberry and Emmaline [last name unknown.] Buried Dunn cemetery. Informant, Alex Cagle.

Madison Seaberry. Died 7 Apr 1923, Averasboro, Harnett County. Indian. Married to Frances Seaberry. Born 29 July 1846 to Raleigh Seaberry and Emily Emmanuel. Buried Carter Cemetery. Informant, Raleigh Seaberry, Linden NC.

Dred Hagins. Died 6 June 1927, Speights Bridge, Greene County. Colored. Widow of Martha Hagins. Farmer. Born 1854, Wilson County to Wilson Hagins and unknown mother. Informant, Louis Hagins, Walstonburg.

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January 20, 2013

A trial here would be a mere mockery.

State vs Furnifold Jurnigan } Selling a person of mixed blood.

The Solicitor maketh oath that he does not believe the State can have a fair trial in this County; this matter has been the subject of conversation in the County, and the defendant by the influence of several men of standing has made it much the matter of general discussion, and has as the Solicitor is informed, so many on the Court yard, in his favour, that it would be a mere mockery to enter upon this trial in Wayne. Edw. Stanly Solicitor Sworn to before me in Open Court this 6th of April 1837. N. Washington Clk.

In 1837, Furnifold Jernigan was indicted for selling Betsy Dinkins, a free woman of color. In the three years prior Jernigan and at least four co-defendants appeared on the Wayne County docket ten times on charges of selling free negroes, but never went to trial. As a result of the state’s solicitor’s complaint to the judge, the case was ordered removed to Greene County, but never appeared on the docket there. Records Concerning Slaves and Free Persons of Color, Records of Wayne County, North Carolina State Archives.

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January 20, 2013

Eliza Simmons Bryant.

ELIZA SIMMONS BRYANT (1827–1907) founded a home in Cleveland, Ohio, for elderly African-Americans, many, freed slaves. The Cleveland Home for Aged Colored People, now known as Eliza Bryant Village, continues to serve some of Cleveland’s most vulnerable residents.

Eliza Bryant’s official biography asserts that she “was born in North Carolina to Polly Simmons, a slave, and her master. She was raised on a plantation in Wayne County. In 1848, Polly Simmons was freed, and moved with her family to Cleveland, Ohio, where she purchased a home, with funds from her master.” In fact, Eliza was born free to Polly Simmons, who was part of a large family whose freedom dated from at least the mid-18^th century. Her father may have been white, and may have employed her mother, but was not her master. (Eliza turned 21 in about 1848 — was a release from an indenture the “freedom” attributed to her mother in her bio?) The 1850 census of the South Side of the Neuse, Wayne County, shows: Polly Simmons, 47, her children Eliza, 23, Buckner, 21, and George, 18; plus Nancy A., 17, and Willie Grice, 15, and Rufus Daniel, 14; all described as mulatto. They are listed among a cluster of Simmonses, including 84 year-old Phereby Simmons, who may have been Polly’s mother.

Photo courtesy of http://www.elizabryant.org. Wikipedia; US Federal Population Schedule.

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January 20, 2013

Examination of the Negroes charged with insurrection.

Memorandum of the examination of the Negroes charged with insurrection — 1831

At the Methodist meeting house in Onslow County in the neighbourhood of the Rich lands Col Daniel M Dulany, Returned to Jesse Sandlin, Wm H Thompson, John B Thompson, Thomas Battle, James Thompson, Lewis T Oliver, James Glenn, and William Humphrey Esq’rs the following negros, whose names will be hereafter mentioned charged with conspiracy or insurrection, Sept 20^th 1831

Jacob charged with conspiracy by the testimony of Aron (who pleads not Guilty)

Aron Sworn – so he says that Jacob was talking of the negroes rising on the whites about 3 weeks ago on Friday night, that if they rose he had a pretty Good sword, that he would be amongst them, that Ben Rhodes had a gun and sword and Dudley’s Ben had a gun, and since that time at Mr. Hawkins he Jacob wished that the Camp Meeting was nearer than it was, so that he might aid in destroying the whites, that he Jacob, Ben Rhodes & Ben Dudley and Charles were to be the head leaders, and that they wishes to get as many to assist them as they could.

Upon the evidence let Jacob be committed

Tony charged with conspiracy and insurrections –

Aron witness swears that he heard Tony say that he expected that at a Camp Meeting to be held at this place the negroes would rise upon the whites, and that he intended to go to Newbern, when he could get guns swords and other armes, as he had none here

Upon the evidence let Tony be committed

Nathan, the Property of Edw’d Williams, who pleads not Guilty, as an insurgent

Aron Sworn – At Mr Hawkins on Sunday he saw Nathan, who spoke of being at a camp meeting, and expected that at that time the negroes would rise, but did not say anything about his joining them Upon the evidence let him be committed

Jim the property of Edw’d Koonce charged with conspiracy & insurrection

Nathan House Swears that in a conversation between him and Jim, who sayd to Nathan that the Negroes might take the whites who replied and said how was that possible when the negroes had no guns or weapons.

Upon the evidence let him have 39 lashes

Abram charged with Conspiracy &c, who pleads not Guilty, let him be acquitted.

Simon charged with Conspiracy &c, who pleads not Guilty, let him be acquitted.

Jerry Murray charged with Conspiracy &c, who pleads not Guilty, let him be acquitted.

David Tragel charged with Conspiracy &c, who pleads not Guilty, let him be acquitted.

Bill Trasel charged with Conspiracy &c, who pleads not Guilty, let him be acquitted.

Anthony Rowe charged with Conspiracy &c, who pleads not Guilty, let him be acquitted.

Mariah charged and acquitted.

Ward Humphrey charged as above, pleads not guilty, let him be acquitted.

Joshua Whitehurst charged as before pleads not guilty, let him be dismissed.

John Phillips Charged as before pleads not guilty, let him be acquitted.

Slaves Records, Onslow County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

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