Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Free-Issue Death Certificates: MISCELLANEOUS, no. 12.

Jane Nixon. Died 25 October 1921, Wilmington, New Hanover County. Resided 707 Brunswick. Negro. Widow of John Owen Nixon. Born 3 September 1866 in Wilmington to Elvin Artis and Lizzie Green, both of NC. Buried Pine Forest. Informant, Eliza Nixon.

In the 1850 census of Wilmington, New Hanover County: Elvin Artis, 37, “carpt,” wife Eliza, 22, and children E.A., 8, Champion, 6, Silvester, 4, twins Hildred and Eldred, 9 months, and John Henry, 17.

Geo. Freeman. Died 29 August 1931, Leland, North West, Brunswick County. Colored. Widower of Nancy Vernon Freeman. Age 87. Born NC to Sam Freeman and Mary Jane Freeman. Informant, Drussilla Brown, Leland.

In the 1860 census of North West District, Brunswick County: Saml. Freeman, 35, laborer, wife Mary, 30, and children Melvina, 13, George, 10, John, 6, and Madaline, 3.

Duncan T. Mitchell. Died 16 July 1915, Fayetteville, Cumberland County. Resided 522 Russell, Ward 2. Black. Married. Born 15 October 1860. Minister. “Good” educational attainment. Born NC to Duncan Mitchell and Mary C. Mitchell. Buried Pettiford cemetery, Fayetteville. Informant, J.W. Mitchell, Fayetteville.

In the 1860 census of North West District, Brunswick County: Duncan Mitchell, 48, farmer; wife Catharine, 48, and children Thomas, 17, Everett, 14, Joanna, 13, William C., 10, Martha J., 5, James M., 6, Mary E., 3, and Duncan T., 11 months.

Joe Webb. Died 2 February 1823, North West, Brunswick County. Resident of Delco. Negro. Married to Mary Lizzie Webb. About 74 years old. Born NC to John Webb and Lizzie Phillips. Buried Evergreen cemetery. Informant, Bucky Brown, Delco.

In the 1860 census of North West District, Brunswick County: Joe Webb, 11, in the household of Jordan Holland, farmer.

Caroline Cromartie. Died 15 September 1935, Lagoon, Colly, Bladen County. Colored. Widow of Dave Cromartie. Born 1840 in Bladen County to Charles Hayes and Edie Hayes, both of Bladen. Buried at Big Sugar Loaf. Informant, Gus Johnson.

In the 1860 census of Cypress Creek, Bladen County: Edy Hayse, 54, with Rebecca, 36, Mary J., 24, Caroline, 18, Peggy, 15, Owen, 22, and Wm. Hayse, 16, and Francenia King, 5.

David and Louisa Jane Mills give all.

State of North Carolina, Nash County  }

I, David Mills of the County of the State and County aforesaid, being of sound mind and memory, but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence do make this my last Will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say –

I give, devise and bequeath to my eldest son Mingo Mills forty six and one half acres of land in said State and County. Known as the Piece of land I bought of Parsons Rackley.

I give, devise and bequeath to my son Munro Mills The Joshua Mills tract of land on the north side of the Joshua Mills Spring branch containing about seventy acres.

I give, devise and bequeath to my son Henderson Thomas Mills One tract of land containing about Seventy acres and known as the land I bought from John R. Sutton.

I give, devise and bequeath to my youngest son David More Mills One tract of land containing one hundred acres more or less and known as my home tract where I now live. My will and desire is that my son David More Mills Pay to the balance of my heirs not above mentioned the Just a& full sum of fifty dollars out of the Piece of land that I give him above mentioned. The balance of my land which is the Thomas Mills Piece containing about fourteen and one half. And a part of the Joshua Mills tract lying on the South side of the Joshua Mills Spring branch containing about ten acres more or less is to be sold and the money equally divided among the following named heirs my son Joshua Mills lawfully children which is Wm. N. Mills & Arnal Mills one share. Frances Toney wife of Joseph Toney. Julie Ann Cordel, Manda Lucust, Lahara Wilkins wife of Eevin Wilkins. Nancy King, wife of Willie King Sevarine Jones, wife of Wm. Jones Lutora Hagans, wife of Frank Hagans.

All of the above mentioned heirs shall hold the above mentioned property in fee simple at my death. Provided that they maintain my wife Luizer Jane Mills, out of said property her life time or her widowhood. The balance of my property except my household and kitchen furniture, which I hereby give to my wife Luizer Jane Mills Is to be sold and equally divide among all my lawful heirs. And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my trusty son Munro Mills my lawful executor to all intents and purposes to execute this my last will and testament according to the true intent and meaning of the same and every part and clause thereof hereby revoking and declaring utterly void all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I the said David Mills do hereunto set my hand and seal this 7th day of August A.D. 1889.    David X Mills {seal}

Witnesses Jas. W. Floyd, W.W. Manning

Proved 18 May 1891. Will Book 5, page 351, Office of Clerk of Superior Court, Nash County Courthouse, Nashville. 

[Sidenote: David Mills was his brother Thomas Mills’ sole heir. See Will Book 5, page 225. Joshua Mills was their father. – LYH]

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North Carolina, Nash County   }

I Luiza J. Mills of the State and County aforesaid, being of sound mind and memory but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence do make this my last Will and testament in manner and form following — That is to say

(1)  That my executor hereinafter named shall provide for my body a decent burial, and pay all funeral expenses together with my just debts howsoever and to whomsoever owing out of the moneys that may first come into his hands as a part or parcel of my estate —

(2)  I give and bequeath to my son D.M. Mills at my death the following personal property, one bed now in his possession, one under & upper sheet one bed quilt, one blanket one pillow one bolster now in his possession one double barrel shot gun, known as his fathers gun. The balance of my household & kitchen furniture at my death is to be sold at highest bidder & money divided among the following named persons, Nick and Arnel Mills one share Amanda Lucas, one share – Lutora Hagans, one share – Lahara Wilkins, one share, Isaman S. Jones, one share – Nancy Ellen King, one share – Endy F. Toney, one share – July Ann Cordell one share.

I give & devise to my son D.M. Mills one a[illegible] named Ben now in his possession. The balance of my property if any at my death, including all notes & papers & land if any, is to be sold or collected as the case may be, and the money equally divided among my four sons which is Mingo Mills, Munro Mulls H.T. Mills and D.M. Mills.

And lastly I do hereby constitute & appoint my trusty son, Munro Mills my lawful Executor to all intents & purposes to execute this my last will and testament according to the true intent and meaning of the same and every part and clause thereof hereby revoking and declaring utterly void all other wills and testiments by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I the said Luizer J. Mills do hereunto set my hand and seal, This 28th day of Feby. A.D. 1898    Luiza J. X Mills

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Luiza J. Mills to be her last will & testament in the presence of us who at her request and in her presence do subscribe our names as witnesses thereto.  J.W. Floyd, J.L. Floyd

Proved 27 October 1900, Will Book 6, page 121. Office of Clerk of Superior Court, Nash County Courthouse, Nashville. 

David Mills married Jane Spears on 12 August 1847 in Nash County.  In the 1860 census of Mannings, Nash County: David Mills, 57, farmer, wife Jane, 34, and children William J., 12, Frances, 10, Julia, 8, Amanda, 6, Lahary, 3, and Minger, 2. [Sidenote: Louisa Jane Spears was a daughter of Silvia Spears. In summary, David and Louisa Jane’s children were William Joshua Mills, Frances Mills Toney, Julia Ann Mills Cordell, Amanda Mills Locust, Laharia Mills Wilkins, Mingo Mills, Isaman Sevarine Mills Jones, Munro W. Mills, Henderson Thomas Mills, Nancy E. Mills King, Lutora F. Mills Hagans, and David More Mills. – LYH]

The manumission of Dick and his wife Sally.

State of North Carolina, Chatham County   } I William Brantley of the State of North Carolina and County aforesaid, owner & possessor of a Negro man Dick and Saley his Wife for and consideration of his meritorious services and the further consideration of two hundred dollars to me in hand paid by the said Dick, the receipt whereof I hereby acknowledge, I do for myself my heirs Executors & administrators Manumit set free, and forever Quit claim to the said negro man Dick and Saley his Wife and I do hereby recommend them to the honorable General Assembly for their manumission legaly. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 13 day of October in the Year of our Lord 1800.  /s/ William Brantley

Signed Sealed & delivered in presence of William Guthrie, Thomas Harrington, Blake Brantley

The Howe family.

The Howe Family of Wilmington, North Carolina, encompassed at least four generations of men of color active in the city’s building trades. As traced in William Reaves’ Strength Through Struggle: The Chronological and Historical Record of the African-American Community in Wilmington, North Carolina 1865-1950, they included Anthony Howe (d. 1837) and his sons Anthony (ca. 1807-after 1870), Pompey (d. by 1869), and Alfred Augustus (1817-1892); Anthony’s sons Anthony Jr. (dates unknown), Washington (b. ca. 1827-after 1870), John Harriss (ca. 1841-1902), and Valentine Howe (ca. 1842-1904); and at least four of John H. Howe’s sons who followed their father and uncles into the building business. Although these men erected many buildings, thus far relatively few have been identified as their work.

According to family tradition, Anthony Walker Howe was born in Africa, sold into slavery and transported to the Lower Cape Fear area in the 18th century, where he was bought by a man named Walker and then sold by Walker’s widow to Col. Robert Howe. On Howe’s plantation, Anthony employed building skills learned in his native land and was soon involved in plantation construction projects. Family tradition also relates that local Native Americans had left a baby girl known as Tenah at the Howe plantation, and in time she wed Anthony Walker. They and their children took the name Howe. (It is said that Col. Howe freed Anthony, Tenah, and their children, but the first members of the family to appear in census lists of free people of color are sons Anthony and Alfred in 1860.) Anthony Walker Howe died in 1837 and Tenah survived him until 1852.  they were buried in a family cemetery, and their remains were moved subsequently to Pine Forest Cemetery, where many of their family members would be buried as well.

In the 1860 census of Wilmington, free black carpenters Anthony and Alfred Howe were listed as next-door neighbors. Anthony Howe, aged 53, was married to a woman named Betsy and had two small children at home. Alfred Howe, aged 46, was married to a woman named Mary, and their children included Mary, Isabella, Alfred, and John. Anthony and Alfred each owned personal property valued at $300. Only a few doors away lived carpenter Israel Howe, aged 60, probably a kinsman. John D. Bellamy, Jr., who was a boy during construction of his family’s Bellamy Mansion in Wilmington, recalled that “the Howes” were involved in its construction. Other antebellum Howe projects have yet to be identified, though it is likely that they worked with leading architect-builder James F. Post projects other than Bellamy Mansion.

More is known of the Howes’ postwar activities, for they thrived as leading citizens and builders in an era of strong black community and economic life in Wilmington. Having been free artisans before the war, and having established relationships with men such as James F. Post, they were well situated to practice their trades after the war.

Adapted from North Carolina Architects and Builders: A Biographical Dictionary,  http://ncarchitects.lib.ncsu.edu  (All rights retained.) This web site is a growing reference work that contains brief biographical accounts, building lists, and bibliographical information about architects, builders, and other artisans who planned and built North Carolina’s architecture. 

Her freedom has never been disputed.

State of North Carolina Onslow County

To all persons whom it may concern we the under Signed being called on to State what we Know concernning the Freedom of Nancy dove formerly Nancy Henderson do certify that Nancy Ann Henderson the Mother of the said Nancy Dove was a Free born white Woman and that the Freedom of the said Nancy Dove never has been disputed given under our hands this 3rd March 1860  /s/ John Mills {seal} Nancy Parker {seal}

Test J.W. Thompson X

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March Term 1860

Then was the above certificate proven in open Court by J.W. Thompson  /s/ Harvey(?) Cox

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State of North Carolina Onslow County   } Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions March Term 1860

Then was the foregoing Certificate of John Mills and Nancy Parker duly proved in open Court by the Oath of Jonathan W. Thompson and Ordered to be registered  /s/ Jasper Etheridge

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State of North Carolina, Onslow County   } Registered in due form of law, April 14th 1860 – Book No 29, Folio 48.  /s/ Z.M. Coston Regr

Slave Records, Onslow County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

[Sidenote: Nancy Henderson, also known as Nancy Dove, was the sister of my great-great-great-great-grandmother, Patsey Henderson.  –LYH]

Freedman’s Bank depositor, no. 4.

No. 7110. Record for Jno. Artis. Date July 14, 1873. Where born: Wilmington. Where brought up: ditto. Residence: Corner Brunswic & 7th Sts. Age: 21. Complexion: dark. Occupation: carpenter for self. Wife: none. Children: None. Father: Elvin, dead. Mother: Lizzie. Brothers and sisters: Hildred, Eldred, Champ, Sylvester, Jane, Lizzie. /s/ John Artis.

Freedman’s Bank Records, National Archives and Records Administration.

“Elvin Artis, a free man of color, was the carpentry contractor for the [Bellamy Mansion] project [in Wilmington].” See http://teachingamericanhistorync.org/pages/BellamyMansionVirtualTour/BellamyMansion.html

In the 1850 census of Wilmington, New Hanover County: Elvin Artis, 37, “carpt,” wife Eliza, 22, and children E.A., 8, Champion, 6, Silvester, 4, twins Hildred and Eldred, 9 months, and John Henry, 17.