Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

A wealthy and worthy colored citizen.

Napoleon Hagans, a wealthy and worthy colored citizen, died Monday night.  He will be greatly missed by the entire community.

Headlight, Goldsboro, 27 Aug 1896.

To emancipate certain negroes.

LIST OF ACTS Passed by the General Assembly of North-Carolina, at their late Session.

PRIVATE ACTS.

14. An act to confirm the claims to freedom of Kitty, the wife of John Carruthers Stanly, and of Eunice Carruthers Stanly, Kitty Green Stanly, and Alexander Stewart Stanly.

16. An act to emancipate and set free certain negroes formerly the property of Alexander Worke, late of Iredell county.

33. An act to emancipate David, the property of Thomas Trotter, of Washington county.

54. To emancipate Ben, a man of colour of Hertford county.

Star, Raleigh, 28 December 1809.

Surnames: Davie County, 1850.

The following surnames are found among free people of color in Davie County in the 1850 federal census: ANTONY, BASS, BENSON, BOWERS, BRINTLE, BROWN, BURROW, CHAMPLIN, CUPER, ELVERSON, FRY, GRIMES, HOSTLER, JOHNSON, JONES, KEMP, KENT, KING, LIVERMAN, KEPLER, MUMFORD, NICHOLS, RUSSEL, SCOTT, SEARS, SOUTHERLAND, SPARKS and VALENTINE.

I do not find many colored men engaged as chiropodists.

ImageDr. Jared Carey, Chiropodist and Manicure, is a very interesting character. My attention was called to him while lecturing in Cincinnati. He is a native of North Carolina, but left his native State before the war, coming to Ohio with some Quakers and free colored people. In his early life he worked on a farm and engaged in all kinds of hard work, and many a month got as pay only $6.00, which in those days was considered large wages for a farm hand.

Dr. Carey had a great desire to travel and took up the profession of Chiropody in order that he might better his own condition and in his profession visit some of the larger cities, which he did in both the United States and Canada. I do not find many colored men engaged as Chiropodists, and none that I have met are as well prepared to do the work as Dr. Carey. He has several rooms handsomely fitted up for his work at 43 Arcade, up-stairs, Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Carey gives employment to at least six people all the time. His patrons are among the best people in Cincinnati. In addition to his regular work he has written a book on Chiropody and Manicure. For quite a number of years he has, in connection with his profession, conducted a school of Chiropody, and quite a number of his pupils are engaged in their profession in other large cities. Dr. Carey is assisted in his work by his wife, who is quite an expert at both Chiropody and Manicure. She is a very refined and pleasant lady, who is much thought of by their patrons. Dr. Carey has by good management been able to purchase some valuable property. He has been an active and useful member of the M. E. Church. Any young person, either lady or gentleman, desiring to learn Chiropody or Manicure would do well to write Dr. J. Carey at 43 Arcade, Cincinnati, for full particulars as to terms. I am confident that in most any large town a good Chiropodist could do well, and I should like to see more of the colored people thus engaged.

From G.F. Richings, Evidence of Progress Among Colored People (1902).

To be allowed to enslave herself. (For love.)

LEGISLATURE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Mr. Walser, a bill, accompanied with a memorial from the party, to allow Percy Ann Morton, a free woman of color, to enslave herself.

Weekly Standard, Raleigh, 28 January 1863.

———-

LEGISLATURE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Mr. Logan presented a memorial from Queen Victoria, a free woman of color, praying that she be allowed to enslave herself. (The object of Queen Victoria in seeking to become a slave, was matrimonial, she being desirous of marrying a slave, which is contrary to the Statute in that case made and provided.)

Weekly Standard, Raleigh, 12 December 1860.

Mainor applies for Confederate pension.

SOLDIER’S APPLICATION FOR PENSION

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF HARNETT  }                 

On this 15th day of June, A.D. 1924, personally appeared before me L.M. Chaffin, C.S.C. in and for the State and County aforesaid, Geo. W. Mainor, age 85 years, and a resident at Linden post-office, in said County and State, and who, being duly sworn, makes the following declaration in order to obtain the pension under the provisions of an act entitled “An act to amend and consolidate the pension laws of the State of North Carolina,“ ratified March 8, 1921: That he is the identical Geo. W. Mainor who served as laborer on Breastworks at Fort Fisher & Fort Caswell on or about [blank] day of September, 1863 & 1864, to serve in the armies of the late Confederate States, and that while in service at [blank] in the State of [blank], on or about [blank] day of [blank], [blank], he received a wound or wounds, etc. [description] This applicant is an old issue free Negro and served as a workman on the fortifications at Fort Caswell and Fort Fisher.

He further states: That he is, and has been for twelve months immediately preceding this Application for Pension, a bona fide resident of North Carolina;

That he holds no office under the United States, or any State or County, from which he is receiving the sum of three hundred dollars as fees or as salary annually;

That he is not worth in his own right, or the right of his wife, property at its assessed value for taxation to the amount of two thousand dollars ($2,000), nor has he disposed of property of such value by gift or voluntary conveyance since the 11th of March, 1885;

That he is not receiving any aid from the State of North Carolina or under any other statue providing for the relief of the maimed and blind soldiers of the State.   /s/ Geo. X W. Mainor

Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 15 day of June, 1929.  /s/ L.M. Chaffin

Also personally appeared before me W.P. Byrd, who resides at Lillington postoffice, in said County and State, a person whom I know to be respectable and entitled to credit, and being by me duly sworn, says he acquainted with Geo. W. Mainor, the applicant for pension, and has every reason to believe that he is the identical person he represents himself to be, and that the facts set forth in this affidavit are correct to the best of his knowledge and belief, and that he has no interest, direct or indirect, in this claim. /s/ W.P. Byrd

Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 15 day of June, 1929.  /s/ L.M. Chaffin

[Approved 3 September 1929]

From the file of George Mainor, North Carolina, Confederate Soldiers and Widows Pension Applications, 1885-1953, http://FamilySearch.org. Original, North Carolina State Archives.