Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color
April 11, 2013

Police report.

Reported for the Sentinel.

Office of Police, August 7th, 8th & 9th.

A vigilant police is essential to the execution of laws. The execution of the laws is essential to our security. The wicked and disorderly must be opposed, and if not done by the police, it will have to be done with our muskets. It is not expected that the violent and disorderly are to be exterminated, but they can be kept in check; and with the assistance of the posse comitatus, we are determined to do it.

…

The third case was that of Bob Hazle, a free negro. Bob was met at 10 o’clock at night, in a public street, by one of the patrol, and on enquiring who he was, and where going, said he “was as free a man as any body – that he had a right to travel when and where he pleased,” and added some abusive language, as a sauce to his discourse. But Bob had made a wrong estimate of his franchise, as also of his consequence; for, without much ceremony, he was arrested, conducted to the police office, tried, and found guilty of disorderly conduct, and was compelled to enter into a recognizance to the state, with security for his good behavior for twelve months.

…

The fifth case was that of Nancy Brown, a free mulatto woman: She had taken up a notion that she ought to parade the streets and abuse the police officer, for arresting the fellow Ned [a slave], on Sunday. To alter her singular ideas, and to set her at ease on the subject, she was arrested and tried for disorderly conduct, was found guilty, and compelled to enter into a recognizance with security for her good behavior for twelve months.

… The seventh case was of Jordon S. Carrow, the police officer. A free mulatto, whose name is not remembered, was arrested by Mr. Carrow for riotous conduct in the street. The man resisted Mr. Carrow, who inflicted on him one or two slight blows with his cane – one, about his head, which cut the skin and caused the blood to flow. The court was of the opinion that as the officer was resisted, he had a right to subdue the prisoner.

We cannot close our report without saying that the public have in Mr. Carrow, a deserving and vigilant officer.

Newbern Sentinel, 18 August 1827.

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April 11, 2013

He passed for a free man for fifteen months.

RAN-AWAY.

From the Subscriber on the 10th day of September, a bright mulatto fellow by the name of Ralph. He is about 35 years old – a number of his fore teeth are missing – several before, so as to disqualify him from chawing any thing hard. He has a very down look. He had on when he left me cotton clothes, except his coat, which was cotton cambrick, of a brown colour, made in the present fashion. The coat had a pocket on the inside of the left lappell. – He is about five feet, eight or ten inches high – thick built. I expect he will attempt to pass for a free man, and perhaps aim for Richmond, in Virginia, where he was raised.  He left his former master, whose name was Jeffery, (lived in South Carolina,) and passed for a free man about fifteen months in the counties of Duplin, Bladen, and Jones, where he was at length taken up and committed to Wilmington Jail, where his master got him. Any person who will confine said Negro in any Jail in this state so I get him again, shall receive a reward of ten dollars, and if delivered to me in Wadesborough, 25 dollars. JOHN JENNINGS. Wadesborough, Sept. 25, 1809.

Star, Raleigh, 19 October 1809.

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April 11, 2013

44 acres on Calf Pasture branch.

Know all men by these presents that we Lovett Reaves & Milly Reaves of the State of Georgia & County of Hancock Know ye that we Lovett Reaves & Milly Reaves for & in consideration of the sum of One hundred and ten dollars to us in hand paid by Jane Winn of the State of North Carolina & County of Duplin before this executing and delivering of these presents, the receipt whereof we hereby acknowledge & confess that we are therewith fully satisfied contended and paid & for these same considerations have given granted sold & assigned & set [illegible] to the said Jane Wynn her heirs and assigns forever a certain tract or parcel of land [illegible] lying & being in the County of Duplin & State of North Carolina on or near the head of the Calf Pasture branch, it being part of a tract of land belonging to the late Reuben Johnston &c and it also being the part of land that fell to the said Milly Reaves in the division of the said land by heirship, beginning at a stake in the old line & runs north with the old line N 45 poles to a stake Felix Johnson’s corner, then with his line W 158 poles to a stake his corner over the road then S 45 poles along the old line to a stake then W 158 poles to the first station including the house & field on the Road containing Forty four acres more or less together with all do privileges rights [illegible] and appurtenances to the said parcel of land & premises of the same to the use benefit & behoof of the said Jane Wynn her heirs & assigns to have & to hold forever & the said Lovett & Milly Reaves doth for themselves their [illegible] said parcel of land forever & the said said Jane Wynn shall & will warrant & forever defend from themselves their heirs executors adm’r & assigns & all other persons whatsoever. In witness whereof we the said Lovell and said Reaves [sic] hereunto set our hands and seals this twenty second day of February in the year of Our Lord Eighteen hundred & eighteen.   Lovett Reaves    Molly X Reaves

Signed sealed & del’d in the presence of Asher Flowers, Thomas X Gray

State of No Carolina, Duplin County. October Term 1818. The within deed was proved [illegible] by the oath of Asher Flowers & order to be registered. Test Wm. Dickson C.C.

Grantor Book DTFU, page 415. Register of Deeds Office, Duplin County Courthouse.

[Sidenote: Jane (or Jinny) Winn was a sister or mother or cousin of the male Winns, farmers and mechanics, who amassed property in the thousands of acres in Duplin, Wayne and Cumberland Counties. Much of it was lost in the decade before the Civil War. More later…. — LYH]

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April 11, 2013

Beaten, bruised and mangled.

Disgraceful Outrage. – An occurrence took place in this City, on Friday night last, which has excited a great deal of feeling, and will do much towards destroying the deservedly high reputation, which our City has always enjoyed, until recently, as a law loving and law-abiding community. A free man of colour, named Allen Jones, a Blacksmith by trade, who has rendered himself somewhat obnoxious, was forcibly taken from his own house, in the dead of night by a mob, and so beaten, bruised and mangled, that doubts are entertained of his recovery.  – Ral. Reg.

Tarboro’ Press, 22 October 1842.

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April 11, 2013

Marshall A. Carter.

ImageMARSHALL ARCHIE CARTER (or, perhaps, Archie or Archibald Marshall Carter, though his initials are shown as “M.C.” above) was born in 1860 to William Carter (1833-ca1875) and Mary Cox Carter (ca1830-??) of Sampson County. His father William was the son of Michael Carter (1805-ca1875) and his wife Patience.  Marshall Carter married Margaret Frances Jacobs.  They are buried in the First Congregational Church, Dudley, Wayne County.

Photo taken by Lisa Y. Henderson, March 2013.

In the 1860 census of Clinton, Sampson County: Wm. Carter, 26, farmer; wife Mary, 34; and children Cornelia, 12, Francenia, 6, Thos. G., 5, Sarah J., 2, and Archibald, 7 months.  Next door: Michael Carter, 57, and wife Patience, 47. All mulatto. [A duplicate listing in Piney Grove, Sampson County: William Carter, 27, turpentine laborer; wife Mary, 27; and children Cornelia, 12, Francenia, 6, Isaaih T., 4, Sarah J., 2, and Archy M., 6 months.]

This death certificate was filed in Wayne County: Marshall Carter. Died 11 July 1922, Dudley, Brogden, Wayne County. Colored. Farmer. Married to Frances Carter. Born 7 July 1860, Duplin County, to William Carter and Mary [last name unknown.] Buried in Dudley. Informant, Milford Carter, Mount Olive NC.

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April 11, 2013

An act to emancipate Louis.

An Act to emancipate Louis, a slave, the property of James Dunn

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That Louis, a slave, the property of James Dunn, of Cumberland county, be and he is hereby, with the consent and at the request of the said owner, emancipated and set fee, and by the name of Louis Dunn shall hereafter possess and excercise all the rights and privileges which are enjoyed by other free persons of color in this State: Provided, nevertheless, That before said slave shall be emancipated, his said owner shall give bond with good sureties in the sum of five hundred dollars, payable to the Governor of the State and his successors in office, that the said slave shall honestly and correctly demean himself while he remains in this State, and not become a county charge; which bond shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the court of pleas and quarter sessions of Cumberland county, and may be sued upon in the name of the governor for the time being, to the use of the county or persons injured by a breach thereof. [Ratified 16th day of February, 1855]

Chapter 113, Public and Private Laws of North Carolina Passed by the General Assembly 1854-55, North Carolina State Archives.

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