Licensed to carry.

by Lisa Y. Henderson

Free Negroes licensed to carry guns 12 months

Date of license June 1852 – Loftin Chance, Richard Morris, George Lewis, Ezekiel Chance, Theophilus George, William Cully

September 1852 – Israel Pettiford, John Gaudet, John A. Wiggins, James Gaudet, Wright Pettiford, Will. Gaudet, George Roberson, Ben. Banton

Dec’r 1852 – Kelso Davis, Rufus Chance

March 1853 – Sylvester Gaskins, John Fenner, Thomas Fenner, Elijah George

Records of Slaves and Free Persons of Color, Craven County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

In the 1850 census of Craven County, the following households:

  • Israel Pettiford, 25, farmer, wife Lucretia, 29, and children Caroline, 14, Willis, 3, and Francis, 2.
  • Loftin Chance, 57, farmer, wife Betsy, 55, and Ezekiel, 20, Rufus, 18, Betsy, 12, and [illegible] Chance, 11.  Also, Rufus Chance, 45, cooper, wife Hannah, Samuel Carter, 10, and Amos Fenner, 9. 
  • Richd. Moore Jnr., 35, laborer, wife Elennor, 25, and Mary, 4.
  • George Lewis, 33, boatman, wife Rebecca, 29, and Amos, 7 months.
  • Thepolus George, 22, boatman, wife Lucinda, 21, and Levery Godett, 55. Also Theop. George Jnr., 46, farmer, Susan, 24, Merinda, 18, Elijah, 16, Deborah, 12, Betsy, 9, James, 6, and Martha, 1.
  • James Godett, 70, farmer, wife Hepsy, 41, and James, 10, Jeremiah, 9, and William Godett, 6.
  • Right Pettiford, 38, farmer.
  • John Godett Jnr., 28, laborer, wife Mary, 24, and Francis, 6, Susan, 2, Nancy, 1 month, and Nancy Harkley, 17.
  • William Cully, 50, farmer, Mary, 40, William, 17, Hepsy, 16, Phebe, 14, and Mary, 3.
  • John R. Wiggins, 64, farmer, wife Julia, 50, and children George,14, Philip,12, Julia,10, Unis, 8, Nelly, 73, and John, 3.
  • John Fenner, 55, wife Ann, 45, and Philip Moore, 12.
  • Thomas Fenner, 50, Penelope, 55, and Thomas Carter, 9.
  • Elijah George, 35, boatman, Sarah, 21, Theopilus, 13, Matthew, 7, and Nancy, 1.
  • Benjamin Banton, 30, farmer, Celia, 70, Elizabeth, 25, Cornelia, 5, and Hepsy, 3.
  • George Roberson, 50, farmer, Betsy, 50, and Sidney Mahonis, 50.
  • George Godett Jnr., 66, farmer, wife Julia, 50, and William, 18, Andrew, 15, Sally, 15, Betsy, 32, and Jesse Ransom, 55.