ENOS JACOBS (1842-1925) and ALMIRA MATILDA GOODMAN JACOBS (1847-1927) of Sampson County. Enos was the son of Archibald Jacobs and Temperance Manuel Jacobs. Matilda was the daughter of Timothy Goodman and Nancy Maynor Goodman.
Cater Bryant, Fayetteville, 33, mulatto, cooper, died February, drowned.
John Bryant, Fayetteville, 4, mulatto, died December, fever.
Calvin Burnet, Northern Division, 20, mulatto, died December, barber, unknown causes.
Elizabeth Burnet, Northern Division, 1 month, mulatto, died April, unknown causes.
Curtis Demry, Northern Division, 13, black, died August, dropsy.
Obediah Hagans, Northern Division, 80, mulatto, laborer, died May, unknown causes.
Ephraim Holly, Northern Division, 10, mulatto, died September, measles.
Patsy Holly, Northern Division, 2, mulatto, died September, “Infl. throat.”
Nelly Will Kings, Fayetteville, 90, mulatto, died July, old age.
Sarah J. Lucas, Northern Division, 2, mulatto, died July, diarrhoea.
Virginia Lucas, Eastover, 1 month, mulatto, died April, pneumonia.
Rose Mainer, Northern Division, 50, black, died July, consumption.
Elsey Parker, Northern Division, 20, mulatto, died September, unknown causes.
Sophia Scott, Northern Division, 1 month, mulatto, died October, unknown causes.
James Stewart, Northern Division, 1, mulatto, died June, consumption.
Infant, Northern Division, 1 month, mulatto, died July, colick.
All deaths in 1849. US Federal Mortality Schedule, 1850.
State v. Lawrence Davis, 52 NC 52 (1859).
This indictment for assault and battery arose in Craven Superior Court. Lawrence Davis was a free negro living in New Bern. Edward Hart was a regularly appointed and qualified constable for the town. Hart had a notice directing David to show cause why he should not work on the streets as the penalty for not having paid his taxes. (A New Bern ordinance: “Ordered that all free negroes, who have not paid their taxes, shall be made to work on the streets two days for each and every dollar of tax due the town by them, and if he refuses to do the same, upon due notice being given him, he shall pay a fine, at the discretion of the Mayor, not exceeding $10.” Hart arrested Davis and, while he attempted to tie him, Davis struck him.
The lower court found Davis guilty, and he appealed.
The Supreme Court suggested that Davis’ conviction may have rested on the proposition that a free negro is not justified, under any circumstances, in striking a white man. “To this, we cannot yield our assent. Self-defense is a natural right, and, although the social relation of this third class of our population, and a regard for its proper subordination requires that the right should be restricted, yet, nothing short of manifest public necessity can furnish a ground for taking it away absolutely; because a free negro, however lowly his condition, is in the “peace of the State,” and to deprive him of this right, would be to put him on the footing of an outlaw.” So, though a free negro ordinarily was not to return blow for blow or fight with a white man, “as one white man may do with another, or one free negro with another, he is not deprived, absolutely, of the right of self-defense.” Rather, to justify a battery on a white man, the free negro is required to prove that it was necessary for him to strike in order to protect himself from “great bodily harm or grievous oppression.” In other words, if there is cruelty or unusual circumstances of oppression, a blow is excusable.
In this case, a constable serving a notice on the defendant, without any authority whatever, arrested him and attempted to tie him. “Is not this gross oppression? For what purpose was he to be tied? What degree of cruelty might not the defendant reasonably apprehend after he should be entirely in the power of one who had set upon him in so highhanded and lawless a manner? Was he to submit tamely? Or, was he not excusable for resorting to the natural right of self-defense?”
Under these circumstances, the judge committed error, and a new trial was ordered.
State of North Carolina Wayne County June 2nd 1853 Charity Bryant after Duly Sworn Deposith and Says as follows (viz) that She has Been acquainted with Fareby Simmons a free woman of Colour for the last Sixty years or theirabout and She lived with a certain William Burnham as an apprentice and after her time was Expired with Burnham She Still Remaind their with Burnham untwell he Sold out to Emigrate to the State of Georgia and wanted to Stip Said Fariby Simons off and hir children off with him and John Beck Thomas Wright William Gully Sollomon Rouse and Others and Established hir freedom and Burnham went of to the State of Georgia with his own Slaves and left fariby Simons and hir children to enjoy their freedom that was proven Hannah Simons a Daughter of Said Fariby was Bound as an apprintice to Betsey Burnham who afterwords intermarried with Thomas Simpson they Give up Said hanah as a free Girl and they have Remaind and past as free coulerd people ever since further the Deponant Sayeth Not Charity X Bryant June the 2nd Sworn to and Subscribed to Before me the Day & date first Written George Flowers JP
Records of Slaves and Free Persons of Color, Wayne County Records, North Carolina State Archives.
Nearly forty years after this statement was made, Charity Bryant’s granddaughter Minta Bryant Brown, a woman of color, sued one of Fereby Simmons’ descendants to take possession of a parcel of land.
BISHOP, BRADDICK, CONNER, CUMMINGS, DAVIS, DORTY, DUFF, FENDERSON, HAZEL, HEATH, HOOFMAN, HOPE, IPOC, JEFFERSON, JONES, KELLUM, KOONCE, LITTLE, MOORE, MORGAIN/MORGAN, PETTER, PORTER, STANLY, STRINGER, WHITE and WILLIS.
In the 1850 census, South Side of the Neuse, Wayne County: John Stafford, 48, hireling; Hannah Stafford, 45; and Caroline, 9, Boswell, 3, and Betsey Stafford, 6 months.
But in the 1860 census, Indian Springs, Wayne County: Annis Brooks, 51; children Caroline, 20, Basil, 14, and Elizabeth Brooks, 10; and grandson Hatch Brooks, 2 months.
That Caroline and Basil Brooks were apprenticed in Wayne County in 1853 suggests that their parents were unmarried. W.H. (Willon Hatch) Brooks’ death certificate, filed in Bertie County after his 12 May 1925 death, lists his parents as Wright Casey and Caline Brooks. However, the death certificates of Roland Greenfield, Harriett Ann Greenfield and Mary Susan Greenfield list their mother’s maiden name as Elizabeth (or Lillie) Stafford and only her son Joe Ingram Greenfield’s lists her as Elizabeth Brooks.
Death Certificates, Register of Deeds Office, Wayne County Courthouse. Federal Population Schedules.
Public Laws of North Carolina, 1899, chapter 218.
(Sec. 4.) Every person presenting himself for registration shall be able to read and write any section of the constitution in the English language and before he shall be entitled to vote he shall have paid on or before the first day of March of the year in which he proposes to vote his poll tax as prescribed by law for the previous year. Poll taxes shall be a lien only on assessed property and no process shall issue to enforce the collection of the same except against assessed property.
(Sec. 5.) No male person who was on January one, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, or at any time prior thereto entitled to vote under the laws of any states in the United States wherein he then resided, and no lineal descendant of any such person, shall be denied the right to register and vote at any election in this state by reason of his failure to possess the educational qualification prescribed in section four of this article….
The following colored men registered to vote in Sampson County in 1902-06. In accordance with Section 5, each was required to name the ancestor who “grandfathered” him in:
C.H. Brewington, 63, Dismal township, Johnson Brewington.
In 1850 Northern District, Sampson, Johnson Brewington, 45, house carpenter; wife Nancy, 23; and children Charles, 6, John, 4, Johnson, 2, and James, 2 months; all mulatto. In 1860, Northern Division: Johnson Bruington, 50, cooper; wife Nancy, 45; and children Young, 12, Charles, 13, Johnson, 12, Andrew, 9, Mary, 8, Elizabeth, 7, William, 6, Alexandria, 5, Matilda, 3, and Adolphus, 1; all mulatto.
Matthew Burnett, 24, Dismal, Matthew Burnett.
In the 1850 census of Fayetteville, Cumberland County: Arch’d Burnet, 55, laborer, wife Lucinda, 39, and children Matthew, 9, Alex’d, 6, Susan, 2, and Henrietta, 14; all mulatto.
Enoch Manuel, Dismal, Michel Manuel.
Jonah Manuel, Dismal, Michel Manuel.
Enoch Manuel Jr., Dismal, Michel Manuel.
In the 1850 census of Northern District, Sampson County: Michael Manuel, 63, cooper; wife Fereby, 49; and children Gideon, 19, Cintilla, 16, Drusilla, 15, Michael, 13, Eden, 11, John, 9, William, 7, Enoch, 4, and Nancy, 1; all described as mulatto.
Hardy Brewington, 56, Herrings, himself.
Matthew L. Brewington, 30, Herrings, Hardy Brewington.
John A. Brewington, 25, Honeycutts, Hardy A. Brewington.
C.D. Brewington, 21, Herrings, Raiford Brewington.
George B. Brewington, 22, Herrings, Raiford Brewington.
James A. Brewington, 37, Honeycutts, unnamed.
In the 1850 census of Northern District, Sampson County: Raiford Brewington, 38, cooper; wife Barsheba, 33; and children Nancy, 13, Thomas, 10, Lucy, 9, Ann, 7, James, 5, Hardy, 3, Joshua, 2, and Raiford, 2 months; plus Hardy Manuel, 17; all mulatto.
Lofton Goodman, 71, Herrings, himself.
James Goodman, 24, Herrings, Lofton Goodman.
John R. Goodman, 36, Herrings, Lofton Goodman.
Rubin Goodman, 56, Herrings, Timothy Goodman.
Jonathan Goodman, 64, Honeycutts, Timothy Goodman.
In the 1850 census of the Northern District of Sampson County: Timothy Goodman, 43, “turpentine”; wife Nancy, 37; and children John, 17, laborer, Lofton, 16, laborer, Jonathan, 10, Anna, 9, Reuben, 6, Timothy, 3, Matilda, 6 months; all mulatto.
Henry Hardin, 53, Herrings, Amos Hardin.
In the 1850 census of the Northern District of Sampson County: Amos Hardin, 36, cooper; wife Cassey, 33; and children John, 10, Abel, 6, Mary, 5, Martha, 4, and Frances, 2; all mulatto. In 1860, Honeycutts, Sampson: Amos Hardin, 47, wheelright; wife Cassia, 40; and children John, 22, day laborer, Abel, 17, day laborer, Mary, 12, Patsey, 10, Francis, 8, Henry, 7, and Sarah, 5; all mulatto.
Owen H. Jacob, 58, Herrings, John Jacob.
Jno. R. Jacobs, 23, Herrings, Owen H. Jacobs.
William A. Jacobs, 21, Herrings, Ewens Jacobs.
Alvin Jacob, 23, Herrings, Tull Jacob.
Jno. Robert Jacobs, 23, Herrings, John Tull Jacobs.
Albert Jacobs, 29, Herrings, Tull Jacobs.
Robert H. Jacob, 51, Herrings, Robert Jacob.
In the 1850 census of New Hanover County: Betsey Jacobs, 47, and Tull, 12, Rachell, 10, and Owen H. Jacobs, 7; all mulatto.
Enous Jacob, 57, Herrings, himself.
Enos Jacobs. Died 5 October 1925, Honeycutts, Sampson County. Indian. Married to Miltildia Jacobs. Age about 83. Farmer. Born Sampson County to Archie Jacobs of Pender County and Tempie Manuel. Buried New Bethel cemetery. Informant, C.O. Jacobs.
Charley G. Jacob, 21, Herrings, Enous Jacob.
The. O. Jacob, 34, Herrings, Enous Jacob.
D.O. Jacob, 28, Herrings, Enous Jacob.
Henry Jacobs, 28, Herrings, Archie Jacobs.
Jessie A.B. Jacobs, 54, Herrings, Archie Jacobs.
In the 1860 census of Dismal, Sampson County: Archibal Jacobs, 40, cooper; wife Temperance J., 32; and children Enos, 13, Mary J., 11, Jesse, 6, Cathrine, 4, and Sarah C., 8 months; all mulatto.
John R. Jones, 35, Herrings, Jim Winn.
Thomas Jones, 27, Herrings, Jim Winn.
In the 1850 census of the Northern District of Sampson County: James Winn, 33, farmer, Buckner L. Bryan, 14, Zachariah Bryan, 13, and Owen Armwood, 24, laborer; all mulatto.
Jas. S. Strickland, 67, Herrings, himself.
In the 1860 census of Honeycutts, Sampson County: Raiford Brewington, 48; wife Basheba, 45; and children Thomas, 21, Ann E., 17, James, 15, Hardy, 13, Joshua, 11, Raiford, 9, Simon P., 8, Polla A., 6, Allen B., 4, and Nathan Brewington, 1; with James S. Stricklands, 21, and Lucy A. Stricklands, 20; all mulatto.
Elections Records, Sampson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.
#374. Martha McCann, 23, in the household of Edmund Wade, stage driver.
#392. Rachel Valentine, 25, and Fanny Valentine, 27.
#394. Alpheus Seers, 20, laborer, in the household of George Vogler, gunsmith.
#404. Henry Porter, 22, in the household of Samuel Reeves, farmer.
#406. Sophia Rimer, 35, and daughter Elisabeth Rimer, 5.
#419. James Benson, 22, in the household of Ezekiel Segraves, brickmason.
#430. Amy Porter, 50.
#444. Betsy Freeman, 30, in the household of Archabald Baker, 37, clergyman.
#447. Samuel Holtshouser, 19, laborer, in the household of William Overman, carriage trimmer.
#461. Ann Valentine, 29, and Randal Twopence, 41, in the household of Samuel W. James, printer.
#462. Frank Doland, 8, in the household of Farby Ellis.
#476. Steven Steel, 25, waiter, in the household of William J. Polmer, stage contractor.
#481. William Jarett, 13, in the household of Lorenzo D. Beneni.
#487. James Smith, 30, carpenter; Sophia Smith, 24; and Wesley Smith, 26.
#489. Henry Mitchel, 22, mattress maker; Lucinda A. Smith, 18; and Sarah A. Valentine, 15.
#506. Evander Calvin, 28, housepainter, born in South Carolina; wife Maria Calvin, 26; and daughter Mary E. Calvin, 2; Eliza Canada, 48, Henry Canada, 19, painter, Solomon Canada, house painter, and Henderson Evans, 30, housepainter.
#529. James T. Kinder, 19; Sarah S. Kinder, 20; and John C.P. Kinder, 6 months.
#539. David Porter, 28; Peggy Porter, 24; and William Valentine, 38.
#540. Eliza Dustan, 25; Joseph Dustan, 4; Lenora Dustan, 2; Sally Mitchell, 70; James M. Mitchell, 23, housepainter; and Margaret Hickman, 6.
#543. Moses Hodgens, 80.
#544. Susanna Steel, 80, in the household of Archibald Henderson, farmer.
#554. Ishmael McDaniel, 70, in the household of David Watson.
FRANCES C. “Fannie” ALDRIDGE RANDALL, born 1872 in Wayne County, married Robert H. Locust (1859-after 1930, later known as George Randall) in 1890, and died in Washington DC in 1917. She was the daughter of Robert and Mary Eliza Balkcum Aldridge, and sister of, among others, Mathew W. Aldridge and George W. Aldridge.
Photo courtesy of F.R. Randall.
Fourth Generation Inclusive 