ADAM TOUSSAINT ARTIS died 94 years ago today. His tombstone tilts, wedged between trees, in a tiny family plot on land still owned by his descendants near Eureka, Wayne County.
[Sidenote: He was my great-great-great-grandfather. — LYH]
Photograph by Lisa Y. Henderson, 2011.
North Carolina, Craven County } The humble Petition of Ailce Williams a free born Mollatto of the Age of Twenty-three Years to the Worshipfull Court of Craven County non-Sitting
In most humble Shew Whereas your Petitioner has long been detain’d as a Servant to Peter Conway and whereas your Pett’r never has Signed any Indenture or any other Instrument of Writing as may well known plainly appear Therefore may it please your Worships to take it into your Mature Considerations that your Pettitioner may be Released from a cruel Servitude and your Pettitioner as in duty bound Shall Pray.
[No date.] Miscellaneous Records, Craven County Records, North Carolina State Archives.
State of N Carolina, Chowan County } Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions Aug’ts term 1859
The Jurors for the State upon there oath present that on the first day of January 1859 a free negro named Peter Cain did migrate & move from the State of Virginia into the County of Chowan in the State of North Carolina and from that time up to the time of taking this inquisition has continuously resided in the said County of Chowan State aforesaid Contrary to the form of the Statute in such case made & provided & against the peace & dignity of the State. /s/ Ms. S. Hawks Sol.
Records of Slaves and Free Persons of Color, Chowan County Records, North Carolina State Archives.
Fourth Generation Inclusive 