Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Month: February, 2013

February 15, 2013

A useful citizen.

State of N Carolina, Craven County   } December Term 1799.

The Worshipful the County Court of Craven The Petition of Nancy Handy a free person of Color humbly sheweth to this Worshipful Court, that during the Time she was a Slave and the property of Wm. T. Howe She conceived and did bear Two children to wit Louisa and Betsy and that she by certain allowance and indulgences granted to her by her said Master did gather together & accumulate cash in sufficient quantity to purchase her self and said children and that the aforesaid Nancy did purchase from her aforesaid master her aforesaid Children, and your Petitioner states that she has always endeavourd to conduct herself as a peaceable citizen, and an useful one to the community by encreasing the number of good & valuable Citizens of the State, and your Petitioner therefore prays that the worshipful Court would grant the freedom of the said Children according to act of Assembly is such case made and provided.   Benj’n Martin atty for the Children

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

[Sidenote: For a detailed account of Nancy Handy’s purchase and emancipation of her children, see Bill Hand, Remembering Craven County: Tales of Tarheel History (2006), p. 79-81. — LYH]

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February 13, 2013

Free Colored Inhabitants of the Town of Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County, 1860.

#2. M. Hester, 30, domestic, in the household of Albert White, miller.

#4. David Sample, 40, mariner; wife Lucretia, 26; and children Fanney, 12, Samuel, 7, Margaret, 3, and Patsey, 1.

#5. George Blunt, 65, farmer.

#9. Rachel Smith, 38, in the household of Mary Scarboro.

#11. Fanney Sawyer, 45, domestic, in the household of Samuel M. Rodes, mariner.

#23. Lucy Ehringhaus, 17, domestic, in the household of Ella E. Green.

#24. Albert Sawyer, 28, blacksmith, in the household of Samuel Williams, merchant.

#29. Emily Paling, 24, washerwoman.

#30. Thomas Roberts, 27, blacksmith; wife Easter, 22; and children Rebeca, 3, and John, 1.

#31. Eliza Harvey, 25, washerwoman, with Henretta, 6, and Margaret Harvey, 4.

#32. Amanda Sawyer, 40, washerwoman; John James, 19, house carpenter; Sarah James, 16; Charles Sawyer, 18, mariner; and Margaret Sawyer, 10.

#35. Merfey Mickens, 33, farm hand; wife Ellen, 28; and Sarah, 11, Ann, 5, and Allice Spelman, 2.

#43. George Overton, 12, in the household of Sarah A. Tubbs, grocerist.

#46. Alfred Bow, 30, farmer; wife Rachel, 24; and children Sarah, 4, and Nathan, 1.

#49. Martha Bow, 35, and Elizabeth Bow, 8, in the household of T.R.G. Pool, grocerist.

#52. Mary Jane Dozier, 16, in the household of Samuel Weisel, merchant.

#53. Jane Roberts, 13, in the household of William Stager, baker.

#59. Mary Small, 23, house servant, in the household of T.J. Miskell, tinner.

#61. Martha Harvey, 33, washerwoman, and Robert Harvey, 19, farm laborer.

#63. Milley, 25, servant, with children, Indianona, 2, and Manuel, 1, no surnames, in the household of B.B. Ballance, merchant.

#65. Patsey Bow, 35, washerwoman, and Peneloppy Bow, seamstress.

#66. Sarah Thompson, 17, servant, in the household of Wm. Rutter.

#68. Martha Mitchel, 50, servant, in the household of Thomas A. Commander.

#70. Nancy Guirkin, 17, servant, in the household of Elizabeth Guirkin, mantua maker.

#71. Priscilla Lane, 16, servant, in the household of Isaih Fearing, merchant.

#74. Mariah Jackson, 60, in the household of Sarah Flanagin, seamstress.

#82. Georgeanna Morris, 13, and William Reid, 25, cook, in the household of T.W. Butt, bar keeper.

#87. Charles Spelman, 10, servant, in the household of John M. Woodard, com. school teacher.

#91. Mary Spelman, 30, servant, in the household of Joseph R. McCabe, printer.

#93. John Brown, 12, and Henry Brown, 10, in the household of Wm. Shannon, merchant.

#95. Jordon Thomas, 43, carpenter, and Alfred Thomas, 32, carpenter, in the household of W.H. Clark, machinist.

#100. George, 9, James, 10, and Jacob Smith, 12, in the household of Henry Culpepper, grocer.

#104. Sarah Griffin, 40, washerwoman, and children Tamer, 15, and William Griffin, 8.

#106. Mary A. Turner, 35, in the household of Louisa Ashcraft, grocerist.

#108. Louvina Spiars, 45, washerwoman, Frank Roberts, 28, house carpenter, Ann R. Spiars, 13, and Isaac Briant, 35, mariner.

#111. Depsy Eley, 35; William Morris, 22; Watson Jones, 23; and Mary Spelman, 11; all mariners. (Mary’s designation is probably in error.) Eley was born in Virginia and Jones in Delaware.

#112. Edward Smith, 26, house servant, in the household of Wm. A. Harney, hotel keeper.

#113. Ezekiel, 12, and Lamb White, 11, plus Henry Ash, 45, painter, born Virginia, in the household of the sheriff, William E. Mann.  These notes appear beside Ash’s name: “1860,” “carrying fire arms;” presumably, he was in jail.

#116. Axem Tann, 50, farmhand; Ann Tann, 27, washerwoman; Willis Spelman, 6, Wilson Spelman, 5, and Rebecca Griffin, 24, washerwoman.

#118. Thamer Bowser, 31, washerwoman; William Bow, 12, and Nancy Bowser, 7.

#123. Benj. Small, 27, house carpenter; wife Jane, 21; and children Lila, 3, and Sarah, 8 months.

#133. Roan White, 35, farmhand, wife Sarah, 25, washerwoman, and Mary White, 1.

#136. Isaac Cidney, 12, in the household of David J. Beach, teamster.

#139. Jesse Bryant, 28, seaman, listed in the marine hospital.

#140. Elizabeth Highter, 40, cook, and Tresls Rane, 30, house servant.

#143. Henry Wheaton, 34, bar keeper, Ann Wheaton, 38, seamstress, and Fanny Allen, 59.

#144. Jane Highter, 32, washerwoman.

#145. Elizabeth Hall, 30, and Sarah Hall, 6.

#147. Clanda Sampson, 23, house servant.

#148. Miley Spelman, 35, cook, in the household of Wm. C. Pool, Meth P. Clergyman.

#151. John Sandlin, 16, house servant; Henry Overton, 21, farm hand; and Lydia Barrington, 17, servant, in the household of James Nichols, hotel keeper.

#152. Henry Sampson, 18, servant, and Francis James, 14, in the household of Arther L. Jones, livery.

#153. Charley Gordon, 16, house servant, in the household of John B. Lyon, “teacher of clasi school.”

#156. Eliza Berk, 38, seamstress.

#159. Melind Cobb, 35, servant, and Amelia Cobb, 18, servant, in the household of P.H. Dozier.

#164. Abner Harvey, 55, waiter in store; Catharine Harvey, 55, washerwoman, and Jane Harvey, 7; and Victoria Harvey, 6.

#165. Rachel Blanchet, 50, washerwoman; Stephen Blanchett, 20, ostler; and Margaret Bedgood, 8.

#166. Robert Hall, 28; Elizabeth Hall, 30; and Bettie Hall, 60.

#171. Joseph Paling, 32, mechanic; Hester Paling, 28, washerwoman; Rebecca Griffin, 25.

#174. Bashabe Baily, 74.

#175. Jane Wilroy, 53, washerwoman, and Martha Knox, 11.

#176. Jacob Spelman, 49, sexton, and Mariah Spelman, 43, washerwoman.

#178. Martha Gordon, 32, washerwoman; Benonly James, 40, house carpenter; and Ann James, 16.

#179. Timothy Perry, 35, house carpenter, and Mary Perry, 30, washerwoman.

#180. David Morris, 35, drayman; Louvina Morris, 24, washerwoman; Elizabeth Thompson, 7.

#181. Rebecca Whitehurst, 27, washerwoman; and children John, 8, Stephen, 5, Mary, 2, and Fanny Whitehurst, 12, plus Isaac Turner, 24, house carpenter.

#187. Lucy Harvey, 16, in the household of Blucher Ehringhaus.

#192. Mary Sawyer, 13, servant, in the household of George Popindick, butcher.

#195. John Mitchel, 27, mariner; wife Louisa, 24; and James, 3, and John, 1.

#196. William Pailin, 38, ship carpenter, and Harriet Morris, 35.

#197. Milley Spelman, 35, cook, and children George, 8, and Stephen, 3, in the household of John O’Kelly, grocer.

#200. Isaha Spelman, 17, servant, in the household of W.W. Burgess, 43, merchant.

#207. Nancy Mitchel, 27, washerwoman, and Emiline White, 24.

#212. William Highter, 50, laborer, and wife Nancy Highter, 59; Levi Price, 28, farm hand; Dempsy Highter, 18, laborer, William Highter, 15, and Martha Highter, 13.

#213. Wilson Bow, 30, house carpenter; wife Louisa, 29, washerwoman; and children William, 14, Lovey, 11, George, 10, Martha, 6, Nancy, 4, and Benjamin, 1.

#214. Jane White, 25, washerwoman, and children Elizabeth, 3, George, 2, and Fanny, 3 months.

#216. Allen Dozier, 59, blacksmith; wife Milley, 55, washerwoman; and children Allen, 21, blacksmith, Milley, 11, and Sarah, 10; plus Elisha Turner, 24, house carpenter, and William Weaver, 29, mason.

#217. Fanny Robins, 39, washerwoman; children Ashbery, 16, farmhand, and John, 15, farmhand, Jane, 12, Jacob, 10, and Plater Robins, 6, plus Nelson Bass, 27, mason.

#218. Tamer Jordon, 38, washerwoman; and Nelson Turner, 8, and Mary Turner, 2, in the household of Matilda Tatum.

#220. William Thomas, 30, house carpenter; and Elizabeth, 34, Mary, 33, Penina, 32, and Eliza Thomas, 27, all washerwomen; and children Ann, 12, Francis, 10, Charles, 6, Plesant, 5, Sarah, 4, Lucinda, 3, Permeade, 5, Charles, 4, and Mary Thomas, 2.

#221. Eliza Cerfon, 44, washerwoman.

#224. Walter Eldridge, 13, in the household of Thomas Allen, merchant.

#226. Margaret Boon, 30, servant, in the household of William Laboyteaux.

#239. William Michel, 28, servant, in the household of R.K. Speed, “M.D.”

#299. John Harvey, 59, farmer, with James, 19, and Charles Harvey, 16, farmhands, plus Betsy Spelman, 60.

#304. Samuel Sandlin, 44, blacksmith, wife Elizabeth, 37, washerwoman, and children Mary, 22, Leacy, 20, John, 18, Kingleton, 2, and Susan Sandlin, 2.

#305. Whit Lane, 37, house carpenter, wife Mary, 28, washerwoman, and children John, 8, Wiley, 8, Munroe, 4, Calvin, 2, Emma, 12, George, 9, and William Lane, 6.

#306. Dorcus James, 30, seamstress, and George, 9.

#307. Isaac Briant, 40, mariner,  and Caroline, 39, and children John, 12, Adline, 10, Louisa, 7, and Isaac, 5.

US Federal Population Schedule.

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February 13, 2013

United States Colored Troops, no. 7.

36 U.S.C.T. Nathan Dempsey. Co. C, 36 Reg’t U.S. Col’d Inf. appears on Company Descriptive Book of the organization named above. Description: age, 25 years; height, 5 feet 6 inches; complexion, black; eyes, black; hair, black; where born, Elizabeth City, NC; occupation, farmer. Enlistment: when, 10 November 1863; where, Norfolk VA.; by whom, Capt. Crofts; term, 3 years. Remarks: mustered 28 Dec 1863 at Fort Monroe VA by Lt. Horton.

36 U.S.C.T. Willis Dempsey. Co. C, 36 Reg’t U.S. Col’d Inf. appears on Company Descriptive Book of the organization named above. Description: age, 22 years; height, 5 feet 5 inches; complexion, black; eyes, black; hair, black; where born, Elizabeth City, NC; occupation, farmer. Enlistment: when, 11 December 1863; where, Portsmouth VA.; by whom, Lt. Gaskill; term, 3 years. Remarks: mustered 28 Dec 1863 at Fort Monroe VA by Lt. Horton; wounded in Deep Bottom Charge 29 Sept 1864; discharged the U.S. Service at Balfour Genl Hospl Portsmouth VA, 4 June 1865 on Smgs Cert of Dis; final statement given him by J.H. Frantz Asst Surg U.S.A. in charge.

In the 1850 census of Up River, Perquimans County: Willis Dempsey, 50, Martha, 35, Nathan, 9, and Willis Dempsey, 7.

36 U.S.C.T. Charles Spellman. Co. G, 36th Reg’t U.S. Col’d Inf. appears on Company Descriptive Book of the organization named above. Description: age, 18 years; height, 5 feet 1 ½  inches; complexion, dark; eyes, dark; hair, dark; where born, Camden Co., NC; occupation, farmer. Enlistment: when, 5 October 1863; where, Yorktown VA (mustered 28 October 1863, Portsmouth VA); by whom, Lt. J.N. North and Lt. Horton; term, 3 years.  Remarks: mustered out at New Orleans LA, 5 October 1866.

In the 1850 census of Pasquotank County: Millie Spellman, 50, with Jane, 16, Nixon, 8, and Charles Spellman, 6.

14 H. Art’y U.S.C.T. Morris White. Co. D, 14 Reg’t U.S. Col’d H. Art’y. U.S.C.T. appears on Company Descriptive Book of the organization named above. Description: age, 45 years; height, 6 feet 2 inches; complexion, light; eyes, grey; hair, black; where born, Onslow Co., NC; occupation, laborer. Enlistment: when, 1 June 1864; where, New Berne; by whom, Lt. Wheaton and Maj. Kennedy; term, 3 years.

14 H. Art’y U.S.C.T. Edward White. Co. D, 14 Reg’t U.S. Col’d H. Art’y. U.S.C.T. appears on COmpany Descriptive Book of the organizaton named above. Description: age, 45 years; height, 5 feet 5 inches; complexion, light; eyes, grey; hair, black; where born, Onslow Co., NC; occupation, laborer. Enlistment: when, 1 June 1864; where, New Berne; by whom, Lt. Wheaton and Maj. Kennedy; term, 3 years.

In the 1850 census of Cypress Creek, Jones County: Morris White, 32, with children John, 6, and Mary, 3. In the 1860 census of Lower South West, Onslow: Morris White 38, wife Penelope, 30, and children Mary E., 13, and Edward White, 9, plus Charity Morgan, 58.

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February 12, 2013

A woman and boy child, said to be manumitted.

Rec’d September 12th 1788 from William John Skinner one negroe woman named Pations & a Boy Child with her Said to be Manumited by John Sanders Which Negroes Ware Taken by Said William J. Skinner agreable to the act of Assembly previen Domestick Insurrections   /s/ Hen. Bont

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

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February 12, 2013

Free-Issue Death Certificates: JACOBS.

James Edward Jacobs. Died 17 January 1926, Fayetteville, Cross Creek Cumberland County. Indian. Married to Mrs. Margaret Jacobs. Cooper. Age 76. Born in NC to Jessie Jacobs and Abbie Jacobs. Buried Brookside. Informant, Mrs. J.E. Colston.

John Jacobs.  Died 16 June 1922, Dudley, Brogden, Wayne County.  Colored.  Married.  Age about 67. Miller (corn mill.) Born Sampson County to Jesse Jacobs and Abbie (no last name), both of Sampson County. Buried Dudley NC.  Informant, Willie Carter.

Francis Carter.  Died 26 September 1937, Brogden, Wayne County. Colored. Widow of Marshall Carter.  Age 78.  Born Sampson County to Jesse Jacobs and Abbie Strickland, both of Sampson County. Informant, Granger S. Carter.

Abbie Jane Brewington.  Died 16 Jan 1933, Dunn, Harnett County. Colored. Widow of Nathan Brewington. Age 71. Born Sampson County to Jesse Jacobs and Abbie Jane Jacobs, both of Sampson County.  Buried Wilkins cemetery.  Informant, Rena Goodman (daughter), Dunn NC.

Jessie Adam Jacobs. Died 6 July 1926, Wilson, Wilson County at “Col Hospital.”  Colored.  Married to Sarah Jacobs.  Resided 303 Elba Street.  Day laborer, janitor, city schools.  Born 25 December 1863, Sampson County, to Jessie A. Jacobs and Abbie Jacobs, both of Sampson County. Buried Dudley NC. Informant, Sarah Jacobs.

In the 1860 census of Honeycutts, Sampson County: Jesse Jacobs, 43, farmer; wife Abba, 41, and children Edward J., 14, Betsey A., 13, John R., 11, Martha, 8, Solomon, 6, Jesse, 4, and Abba J. Jacobs, 6, plus William, 10, Eliza, 8, and John Jacobs, 6; all mulatto. Jesse reported owning $2884 real property and $816 personal property, making him the wealthiest free person of color in the county.

Jessie Jacobs.  Died 4 March 1914, N. Clinton, Sampson County.  Indian.  (Colored marked through.) Married.  Farmer. Born 9 February 1854, Sampson County, to Arch Jacobs and Tempie Manuel. Buried Honeycutts township.

Enos Jacobs.  Died 5 October, 1925, Honeycutts, Sampson County. Indian Married to Miltildia Jacobs. About 83. Farmer. Born Sampson County to Archie Jacobs of Pender County and Tempie Manuel. Buried New Bethel cemetery. Informant, C.O. Jacobs, Honeycutts.

In the 1860 census of Dismal, Sampson County: Archibal Jacobs, 40; wife Temperance J. Jacobs, 32; and children Enos, 13, Mary J., 11, Jesse, 6, Cathrine, 4, and Sarah C., 8 months.

Lizzie Jacobs Collier. Died 27 Nov 1922, Dudley, Brogden, Wayne County. Colored. Widow of William Collier.  About 59 years old. Born Sampson County to Gabriel Jacobs and Kitsy Manuel, both of Sampson County. Buried Dudley NC. Informant Mrs. Jessie Simmons.

Mary Jacobs.  Died 17 January 1926, Honeycutts, Sampson County. Indian. Widow.  About 91. Born Sampson County to unknown father and Clarkie Barefoot. Buried Brewington graveyard. Informant, Hardie Goodwin.

Fransis Emaline Williams. Born 12 May 1919, Dismal, Sampson County. Croatan Indian. Married. Born 21 December 1861. Farming.  Born Sampson County to Samuel Jacobs of Pender County and Mary Barefoot of Sampson County. Informant, Ransom Williams, Delway NC.

In the 1860 census of Dismal, Sampson County: Samuel Jacobs, 35, turpentine laborer, mulatto. In the 1870 census of Dismal, Sampson County: Samuel Jacob, 50; wife Mary, 35; and children James C., 10, Francis, 7, Martha, 4, and George A., 1.

Mathew J. Jacobs. Died 9 March 1924, N. Clinton, Sampson County. Negro. Married. Farmer. About 70 years old. Born Sampson County to Lewis Jacobs and Marah Jacobs. Buried Goodman cemetery. Informant, Jim Jacobs.

James Jacobs. Died 19 June 1935, Franches Creek, Kelly, Bladen County. Colored. Married to Josephine Royal. Age 75. Farmer. Born Sampson County to Louis Jacobs and unknown mother. Informant, Alfred Fenner, Kelly NC.

Henry Jacobs.  Died 20 March 1927, Halls, Sampson County. Colored. Married to Chillie Ann Goodman. About 65 years old. Farmer. Born Sampson County to Louis Jacobs and unnamed mother. Buried Bradshaw cemetery. Informant, Bill Jacobs.

Martin Jacobs.  Died 24 November 1933, Halls, Sampson County. Colored. Widowed. Age 69. Farmer. Born Sampson County to Lewis Jacobs of Pender County and Maria Jacobs of Sampson County. Informant, Mr. A.C. West, Clinton NC.

In the 1860 census of Dismal, Sampson County: Lewis Jacobs, 33, turpentine laborer; wife Maria, 35; and children Marthew J., 5, Martha A., 3, Athy A., 12, and Celia C., 7; all mulatto.

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February 11, 2013

Adam Toussaint Artis.

ImageADAM 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.

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February 11, 2013

A prayer for release from cruel servitude.

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.

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February 11, 2013

Unlawfully did migrate, no. 2.

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.

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February 10, 2013

I worked for it.

TESTIMONY OF NAPOLEON HIGGINS.

NAPOLEON HIGGINS, colored, sworn and examined. By Senator Vance:

Question: Where do you reside? – Answer. Near Goldsborough. I don’t stay in Goldsborough, but it is my county seat. I live fifteen miles from town.

Q. What is your occupation? – A. I am farming.

Q. Do you farm your own land? – A. Yes, sir.

Q. How much do you own? – A. Four hundred and eighty-five acres.

Q. How did you get it? – A. I worked for it.

Q. Were you formerly a slave? – A. No, sir; I was a free man before the war.

…

Q. What did you pay for it? – A. I believe I paid $5,500; and then I have got a little town lot there that I don’t count; but I think it is worth about $500.

…

Q. How much cotton do you raise? – A. I don’t raise as much as I ought to. I only raised fifty-eight bales last year.

Q. What is that worth? – A. I think I got $55 a bale.

Q. How many hands do you work yourself? – A. I generally rent my land. I only worked four last year, and paid the best hand, who fed the mules and tended around the house, ten dollars; and the others I paid ten, and eight, and seven. … I gave them rations; and to a man with a family I gave a garden patch and a house, and a place to raise potatoes.

…

Q. How did you start [your farm]? – A. I rented a farm and started on two government horses. I went to the tightest man I know and got him to help me. I rented from Mr. Exam out there.

Senate Report 693, 2nd Session, 46th Congress: Proceedings of the Select Committee of the United States Senate to Investigate the Causes of the Removal of the Negroes from the Southern States to the Northern States, Washington DC, beginning Tuesday, 9 March 1880.

Napoleon Hagans (not Higgins) testified before a Senate Select Committee investigating the migration of hundreds of “colored people” from the South to Indiana in the late 1870s.  Hagans testified about the source of his relative wealth (above), as well his opinion of the political climate for colored men in his part of North Carolina.

Napoleon Hagans, 6, was apprenticed in 1845 to William Thompson.  Apprenticeship Records, Wayne County Records, North Carolina State Archives. In the 1850 census of  North of Neuse, Wayne County, Aaron Seaberry, 32 year-old black farmhand, with wife Louisa, [stepson] Napoleon [Hagans], daughter Frances, and 17 year-old Celia Seaberry. In a duplicate listing, also North of the Neuse: Leacy Hagans, 55, with probable grandson Napoleon Hagans, 10.  

 

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February 10, 2013

Hiram Rhodes Revels.

Image

Hiram Rhodes Revels was the first person of color to serve in the United States Congress.

Revels was born free in 1827 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. In 1838 he moved to Lincolnton, North Carolina to apprentice in his brother Elias B. Revels’ barber shop. After attending seminary in Indiana and Ohio, Revels was ordained as a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1845 and served as a preacher and religious teacher throughout the Midwest.

Revels served as a chaplain in the United States Army during the Civil War and helped recruit and organize black Union regiments in Maryland and Missouri. He took part at the battle of Vicksburg in Mississippi. In 1865, Revels left the AME Church and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1866, he was given a permanent pastorship in Natchez, Mississippi, where he settled with his wife and five daughters, became an elder in the Mississippi District, continued his ministerial work, and founded schools for black children.

In 1869, Revels was elected to represent Adams County in the Mississippi State Senate. In 1870 he was elected to finish the term of one of the state’s two United States Senators, vacant since Mississippi seceded from the Union.

When Revels arrived in Washington, Southern Democrats opposed seating him in the Senate, basing their arguments on the Dred Scott decision, which ruled that people of African ancestry were not and could not be citizens. Because no black man was a citizen before the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868, they argued, Revels could not satisfy the requirement for nine years’ prior citizenship.

Revels’ supporters of Revels made a number of arguments, including: (1)  that Revels was of mixed black and white ancestry (an “octoroon”) and the Dred Scott decision applied only to blacks who were of purely African ancestry; (2) that Revels had been  considered a citizen (and indeed had voted in Ohio) before Dred Scott; and (3) that the Civil War and the Reconstruction Amendments had voided Dred Scott. On February 25, 1870, Revels, on a strict party-line vote of 48 to 8, became the first black man to be seated in the United States Senate.

Revels resigned two months before his term expired to accept appointment as the first president of Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Alcorn State University). In 1873, Revels took a leave of absence from Alcorn to serve as Mississippi’s secretary of state ad interim.  He died on January 16, 1901.

Adapted from Wikipedia. 

In the 1850 census of Cambridge City, Wayne County, Indiana: Robert Freeman, 34, laborer, born Virginia; Jane Freeman, 30, born Virginia; Malinda Freeman, 14, born Ohio; Hannah, 13, William H., 10, Robert, 4, and Margaret Freeman, 3, all born in Indiana; Charles Guinea, 18, born Virginia; and Hiram Revels, 25, and wife Phebe Revels, 17, both born in NC.

In the 1860 census of Ward 11, Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland: Hiram Revels, 35, Prest’n clergyman O.S., born North Carolina; wife Phoebe, 25, born Ohio; Elizabeth, 5, and Emma Revels, 3 months, born in Maryland; and Mary Brooks, 16, born in Maryland.

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