January | 2013 | Fourth Generation Inclusive

Jail break, no. 2.

BROKE JAIL. – The Daily Carolinian of Thursday last says:

Bob Revels, a free negro confined in Jail for burglary, made good his escape on last night. It appears that by means of some blankets and other things which he had in his room, he made a rope sufficient to carry himself through the scuttle on the top of the Jail, and thereby get away.

Bob is an old offender, and is not likely to be caught. He took another free negro confined for some minor offence away with him.

Newbern Daily Progress, 13 June 1859.

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$50 REWARD.

Broke jail on the night of the 8^th inst., TWO MULATTO BOYS named BOB REVILS and JOHN BREWER. Revils is a bright Mulatto, a Painter by trade, about six feet high, and is well known about Fayetteville. Brewer is also a bright Mulatto, with straight and very long black hair, with front teeth decayed and is about five feet seven inches high.

The above reward of $25 will be given for their delivery to me here, or their safe confinement in any jail in the State; or $25 for either. GEO. L. McKAY, Jailor. June 8, 1859.

Fayetteville Observer, June 20, 1859.

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PRISONERS RECAPTURED. – The two negroes who escaped from Jail in this place in the night of the 8^th inst. have been arrested and securely lodged in their old quarters. John Brewer was captured after a severe fight on Thursday night last, by a free man named Cato Potts, whose clothes were cut in the reencounter; and Bob Revels was taken the next morning by a posse, who fired at without injuring him. They had been prowling about town since their escape, living by theft. Their arrest, particularly of Revels, who bears a desperately bad character, is a relief from apprehension of robbery and violence.

Fayetteville Semi-Weekly Observer, 20 June 1859.

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January 6, 2013

Surnames: Currituck County, 1850.

ARCHY, AYDELOTT, BARCOW, BASS, BOUDER, BOWSER, BRABBLE, BRIAN, BURGESS, CAPS, CASE, DOWDY, DOXEY, FULFORD, GARRETT, GORDON, GREGORY, HARRIS, HITER, HUNT, JONES, McBRIDE, MERCER, PATERSON, PEAR, ROBERT, SANDERS, SANDLING, SAWYER, STONE, THOMAS, WALKER, WILLIAMS, WILSON, and WOODHOUSE.

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January 6, 2013

Onslow County Apprentices, 1817-1818.

Ann Whitehurst, Bill Whitehurst and Edward Whitehurst were bound to Whitehead Humphrey in 1817.

Elisha Boon and Sarah Boon were bound to Jesse Orrell in 1817.

Abe Barrow was bound to Jesse Humphrey in 1818 to learn the trade of shoemaker.

Nancy Whitus and Elijah Whitus were bound to Whitehead Humphrey in 1818.

Elisha Boon and Sarah Boon, children of Betty Boon, were bound to Turner Ellis in 1818.

Peter Calton Boon and Betsey Boon were bound to James Johnston in 1818.

Mary Hammonds were bound to James Barrow in 1818.

Durant Henderson and Willis Henderson were bound to John Jones in 1818.

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

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January 6, 2013

E.E. Smith.

This North Carolina Highway Historical Marker, located northeast of Faison in Duplin County, commemorates Ezekiel Ezra Smith, educator, minister of the gospel, and United States minister to Liberia. Smith’s first wife was William Ann Burnett. For more on his life, see History of the American Negro and his Institutions, Volume 4, Arthur Bunyan Caldwell, ed.; and Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, Volume 5, William S. Powell.

In the 1860 census of North Division, Duplin County: Cassy Smith, 45; her children Charlott, 25, Dorcas, 19, Rebecca, 16, Richard, 14, Mary G., 12, Ezekiel, 8, Theus, 4, and an infant, 2 months; plus Calvin Brock, 10, and Samuel Perlie, 35.

In the 1860 census of Goldsboro, Wayne County, Wm Burnett, 49, barber, and wife Cuzzy, 50. Next door: Dolly Burnett with daughters Polly, 12, Betsy, 5, and William An, 3. Next door to them: Solomon Finch, 28, barkeeper, wife Eliza [née Burnett], 27, seamstress, and children Georgianna, 10, and Thomas Russell Finch, 2.

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January 5, 2013

He was well acquainted with Genl. Washington.

State of North Carolina, Franklin County }

On this the 18^th day of June AD 1841 personally appeared before me one of the Justices of the Peace for the County aforesaid & one of the Justices of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions of the same, Solomon Bibbie, a free man of colour a resident of the County of Franklin & State aforesaid, aged ninety years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 AD 1832, that he joined the Army under Genl Sumner and served under Capts Pell, Armstrong, & Brickle and others (whose names he cannot now recall) he entered the service in the Spring of the year but what year he does not now recollect, he remained in the service three years from the time he entered as aforesaid as a volunteer, he was at the battles of Eutaw Springs, Camden & Guilford Court House, and attended most of his time to the care of the horses & as protector & guard to the baggage wagons, he was not engaged in any of the said battles, he was a volunteer, & joined & continued as such whilst he was connected with the Army. He was well acquainted with Genl Gates, Greene, and also with Genl Washington & Malbry (he thinks the name was). He has in his possession no documentary evidence & knows of no one who can testify, except one Pope who lives in the western part of the State somewhere, but at what place he does not know. He does not know what year he was born in but he was born in this County (which was then called Bute) & State. He has no record of his age. He was living near Sandy Creek in the County when he volunteered & has lived ever since. He received his discharge from service from Genl Sumner through his aid Capt but he has lost it, or it has been destroyed by age. He states the following as persons living in his neighbourhood who can testify to his character for truth, viz: Presley Parsons, William Ransom, T. Patterson, B. Jones, Jeremiah Perry, Arch’ld Yarbrough, Philemon Hawkins & Nathan Patterson & who can testify also to his good behaviour & most of whom can testify from information received from others of his Revolutionary services, and he hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever, and he makes oath that he served faithfully through his whole time & that he is now very needy & dependent & unable to work.

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year above before me

Thomas Howerton J.P. Solomon X Bibbie

From the file of Solomon Bibbie, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, National Archives and Records Administration.

Solomon Bibby was head of a household of five free people of color listed in the 1830 census of Gills district, Franklin County.

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January 5, 2013

Like all his race, a true union man.

James C. Skinner, Administrator, filed claim #477 on behalf of the estate of Isaac Towlson. Skinner, age 62, lived in Hertford, Perquimans County. Elizabeth Towlson, age 62, widow, testified that she lived near Woodville, Perquimans County. Her husband died in December 1867 and left four children, all born free before the war. She stated that in July 1864, United States cavalry soldiers took a horse and saddle from her husband. “My husband was like all his race a true union man.”

Allowed: $140.00.

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January 4, 2013

Runaway bound boy, no. 3.

FIVE CENTS REWARD. – Ranaway from the subscriber, on or about the 10^th October, 1850, a mulatto boy named Wm. Bird, who was bound to Henry S. Hicks and by him transferred to Dr. Cameron, and the last named to me. Said boy has been engaged in the carriage painting business – is intelligent, and well spoken – he is a bright mulatto, about 20 years of age, and about five feet ten inches high. The above reward will be paid for his apprehension and delivery to me; and all persons are cautioned against harboring him. ABNER M’COY. January 4.

Lincoln Courier, Lincolnton, 1 February 1851.

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January 4, 2013

He lurks about Fayetteville.

Horse Thief. Stolen out of my lot, one MARE. Also out of my house one Silver Watch, one fine Cloth Coat, one Overcoat, on the night of the 26^th of December 1864. From all the information that I can get the thief is a free mulatto by the name of Nathan Holder. He stole a new brown comfort, with blue ends, which he no doubt wears around his neck. He lurks about Fayetteville and in the adjoining neighborhood of C.C. Barbee in Harnett county. I will give a reward of one hundred dollars for stolen property and the confinement of the thief in jail. JAMES GUY. Dec’r 28.

Fayetteville Observer, 9 January 1865.

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January 4, 2013

God’s will for the colored race.

Nancy Brewer filed claim #11545 with the Southern Claims Commission. She was about 50 years old, lived in Chapel Hill, Orange County, and kept house for her husband during the war. Her husband was arrested during the war “to work on embankments at Fort Macon, I think, but Mr. J.W. Carr interfered and informed them that he was my property, I having bought him a few years before the war.” Her husband belonged to the Union League of America and was appointed a magistrate after the War.

The Brewers rented land to work on shares from Mr. Weaver and others about one mile from town. Nancy Brewer owned a house and lot in Chapel Hill. “I gave about four hundred dollars for it before the Surrender. I paid for it in gold & silver some old Bank money and some Confederate money.” Federal soldiers took a pile of lumber — about a thousand board feet — with which her husband had intended to build a stable. They also took a horse (a sorrel named Henry) and some bacon. “I asked them please not to take my horse, that it was all our dependence to make a crop.” (Confederate soldiers took some leather from her husband’s shoe shop.)

Nancy Brewer testified: “At the beginning of the war I felt troubled about it. I know my husband did not do anything to favor bringing it on, nor after it was brought on. Of course, he wanted the North to whip the South that was the way he talked and I agreed with him. I believed it was God’s will for it to become as it is now. If it was God’s will for the colored race to be free let it be so. And if not I was willing to submit to his will. I knew we were all in his hands. I believe God brought it out as it is, and I know he will do right.”

Nancy Stroud lived in Chapel Hill, Orange County. She did not know her age, but “I reckon I am away yonder in fifty.” She worked as a washerwoman and had been living with Nancy Brewer for two weeks when the “Yankee Soldiers” came to Chapel Hill around the time “corn was coming up.” She saw two “pure Yankees” that she believed were from the Ninth Ohio bridle Brewer’s horse and lead him away. She also saw them take three “big large hams”. She was afraid of the soldiers because they said “if Johnson did not surrender in a few days they would show me the devil and I did not want to see him.” She was no judge of horses, but estimated that Brewer’s was worth about $100. The soldiers also took the planking from Brewer’s fence. “I think the property was taken for the use of the Army, but to come to the truth of it, I just believe the Devil made them do it.” She never heard Brewer or her husband talk about the war as “It would not do for colored people to talk here. ‘A still tongue made a wise head.’”

Thomas M. Kirkland, a merchant, testified that he knew Brewer’s husband, Green Brewer, who had been dead about two years next August. “I was not intimate with colored people during the war as to be acquainted with his sentiments…,” but believed him to be loyal. “I am in no wise related to claimant he being a colored man and I a white man.”

The Commissioners remarked: “The claimant is a colored woman & a widow, her husband having died since the war. He was formerly a slave, but she had bought him & he belonged to her! – or rather was free during the war. He was a rather superior colored man. After the war Gov. Holden appointed him Magistrate. The property belonged to her, & it was taken by our soldiers about the 1^st April ’65 & taken to camp, the lumber for barracks.”

Allowed: $130.00

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January 3, 2013

For the prevention of thefts and robberies.

At a General Assembly, begun and held at Tarborough on the eighteenth Day of November, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-seven, and in the Twelfth Year of the Independence of the said State, being the first session of the Assembly. Richard Caswell, Esq., Governor.

…

CHAPTER VI.

An Act to Prevent Thefts and Robberies by Slaves, Free Negroes and Mulattoes.

Whereas it is represented that slaves and free negroes are encouraged to rob or steal from the inhabitants all kinds of produce, by the facility with which they may conceal and dispose of such produce to the masters of trading vessels in the several bays, harbours, creeks and rivers within this State:

I. Be it therefore Enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and it is hereby Enacted by the authority of the same, That from and after the passing of this Act, it shall not be permitted for the master or commander of any vessel to entertain any slave, negro or mulatto on board such vessel at any time between sun-set and sun-rise, nor during the Sabbath day, unless such slave, negro or mulatto as shall belong to the vessel, or shall have a pass from his, her or their master or mistress, or from some justice of the peace, expressing the time when and the business for which they go on board: And if any slave, negro or mulatto who has not such pass, or is not statedly employed on board the vessel as one of the hands, shall be found on board any vessel in any bay, harbour, creek or river within this State, on the Sabbath day, or in the night between sunset and sun-rise, he shall be presumed to have been disposing of stolen goods; and the master or commander of such vessel on complaint and conviction before any two justices of the peace, shall be subject to a fine for entertainment of such slave, negro or mulatto of five pounds for the first offence, and ten pounds for every succeeding offence, to be applied to the use of the poor of the county in which such conviction shall be had: But any person dissatisfied with the judgment of the said two justices, shall have the right of appealing to the court of the county, the determination whereof shall be final; the person appealing to be subject to the same regulations as in the cases of other persons appealing from the judgment of a justice.

And whereas the property of many of the citizens of this State may be greatly affected by permitting a private intercourse between slaves and free negroes and mulattoes:

II. Be it Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any free negro or mulatto shall entertain any slave in his or her house during the Sabbath, or in the night between sun-set and sun-rise, he or she shall for entertaining such slave be subject to a fine of twenty shillings for the first offence, and forty shillings for every subsequent offence, to be recovered on conviction before any one justice of the peace, and applied to the use of the poor of the county in which the offence shall be committed, saving to the party the same right of appealing as aforesaid. And in case the said free negro or mulatto shall not be able to pay the fine aforesaid, the constable who shall have attended at such conviction shall hire out said free negro or mulatto to the person who shall take him or her for the shortest space of time in payment of the said fine with costs, the said constable having previously advertised at least ten days at the door of the court house and other public places of the said county, that such negro or mulatto would be hired out for the purpose aforesaid; and the person who shall hire such free negro or mulatto, shall be bound to pay at the time and place of such hiring the amount of the fine with costs as aforesaid.

III. And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That in case any free negro or mulatto shall from and after the passing this Act, intermarry or cohabit with any slave, without the consent of his or her master had in writing, and attested by two justices of the peace, such free negro or mulatto shall be liable and held to pay to the master or mistress of such slave the sum of ten pounds; and on failing to pay such sum, shall be held to service to the master or mistress of such slave for and during the term of one year.

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Month: January, 2013