Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color
June 13, 2013

They asked him if he had that gun to shoot Ku-Klux.

Question. I would be glad if you would give us many names as you can recollect of those who have been outraged.

Answer. I have left my best memorandum at the hotel. I will state from memory what I can now recollect. Did I state about Mr. Gillespie being taken out and abused by them and threatened? He is a white man; a gang of disguised men seized him, either the last of March or the first of April, pulled him out of his house, and said that they thought two hundred lashes would make a good conservative of him; that he had been a radical, and had been unpunished for a ling time. There was a colored man we call old issue free negro; that is, he has always been a free negro; he was born free. His name was Jonas Watts; he was whipped by them, and had his gun taken away. They asked if he had that gun to shoot Ku-Klux; he said, No. They took the gun away from him, and said it was a damned good piece they had captured; that is what he says. They told him that it was the way he had been voting that they visited. They visited the house of a colored named T.P. Bradley, committed some insolence about his house and threatened him, but did not whip him.

Testimony of James M. Justice, July 5, 1871, Report of the Joint Select Committee to inquire into the condition of Affairs in the Late Insurrectionary States, North Carolina (1872).

[Sidenote: Justice testified that he had lived in Rutherfordton since 1865 and was born and raised in neighboring Henderson County. He worked as a mechanic and was elected to the NC legislature in 1868. During that time, he was admitted to the North Carolina Bar and worked as an attorney. — LYH]

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June 13, 2013

She’s old and useless, but a good midwife: rejected.

To the Worshipfull Court of Pleas & Quarter sessions to be Held in Hertford on the Second Monday in Febry 1777. I Thomas Newby of the County of Perquimans and State of North Carolina Humbly prayeth that Your Worships Will take this my petition into Consideration & Grant the Said petition. — (to wit.) The Liberateing of A Certain Negro Woman belonging to me Your Humble petitioner by the name of Hannah, for this my Reasons. In the first place, She being grown ould, And Can be Very little Service to me as to any Hard Work or Drudgery. She being an Excellent Midwife Called on Every Land turn to Both White Women & Black and from account has performed her Duty With as much Scill as any of that profession Moreover She being A peaceable Negro Woman haveing Lived in this place for the Space of forty Years with one Certain Husband & Raised a Number of Children Which are at present Divided amongst the Heirs to whom they fell. And I your Humble petitioner from being Satisfyed and Contented With the Services Which I have rec’d from her the sd. Hannah, Humbly I prayeth that your Worships may take in Consideration & Set the Sd. Negro free by your order & further your Petitioner prayeth not.   /s/ Thomas Newby

[On reverse: Thos. Newby Petition to Liberate Negroe Hannah Rejected]

Slave Records, Perquimans County, North Carolina State Archives.

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June 13, 2013

Free papers.

This is to certify that Urias Morris of col. is a free Man & Resides in Pasquotank county N. Carolina  January 13th 1829    Edm. C. Blount JP

Slave Records, Pasquotank County Records, North Carolina States Archives.

In the 1860 census of Pasquotank County: Uriah Morris, 56, caulker, wife Livey, 50, and children Matilda, 14, and Laura, 13. Uriah reported owning $400 in real property.

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June 13, 2013

Her condition will be better than at the present time.

North Carolina, Pasquotank Co.  } January 31st AD 1861

To the Honorable: the Senate and House of representatives of the State of North Carolina in General Assembly convened,

The petition of Kissiah Trueblood most respectfully showeth unto your Honorable body, That she is a free woman of color now a resident of State and County aforesaid, and has been during her life, being at this time about 23 years of age; that during minority she was Apprentised to the late William Charles and served her time faithfully with him, since his death she has exercised the privilege of a free woman of color, being borned of free parents. For the space of two years just passed, she has lived with one Dr. W.P. Ritter in the capacity of a servant, receiving wages for services rendered.  Your Petitioner further showeth unto your Honorable body, that after mature deliberation, upon her part, uninfluenced by any person, it being her own free will and accord, she desires to become the slave of the said Dr. Ritter, believing as she truly does after past experienced, that her condition in this life, will be for better, then, than at the present time. That in her present condition she is destitute and without protection, and in the condition of a slave, she would be cared for and have the protection of her Master, and to that end she prays your Honorable body, to enact such laws so as to enable said Dr. Ritter, to hold and possess your petitioner, in fee simple as his slave for all time to come, bothe your petitioner and children should she have any; governed only by such laws as have been enacted to regulate and govern the relations between Master and Slave. And your petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray.  Kissiah X Trueblood

Signed in presence of W.W. Grandy Jr.

General Assembly Session Records, November 1860-February 1861, Petitions Box 8, North Carolina State Archives. 

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June 13, 2013

140 acres on the waters of Island Creek.

Zachariah Robinson to Tabitha May

This Indenture made this 21st day of February in the year of our lord 1818, Between Zachariah Robinson of the State of North Carolina & county of Anson of the one part, and Tabitha May of the same county and State of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Zachariah Robinson hath for and in consideration of the sum of twenty four dollars to him in hand paid by the said Tabitha May, before the sealing and delivery of these presents the Receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath bargained sold & conveyed and doth by these presents bargain sell and convey unto the said Tabitha May a certain tract or parcel of land situate lying & being in the State of No Carolina and Anson County on the waters of Island Creek. Bounded as follows Beginning in Hamers line at a small pine one pine pointer and runs with Hamers line So 86 E 25 chains to Hamers second corner there So 15 chains to three pines & two black jacks pointers then East 10 chains to a stake one hickory & two pines pointers then So. 15 chains to a stake, two black jacks & one Spanish pointer then So 30 E. 2 chains and 50 links to a stake and two black jacks pointers then E. 19 chains to a large pine then So 24 chains to a hickory then  East to the Miry Branch then down said  Branch to a white oak in Phillips line then No. 30. W. 44 chains to a large pine one black jack and white oak pointers then No. 32 wt. 15 chains to a black jack one pine and post oak pointers then No. 87 W. 25 chains to a pine then North 5 East 20 chains to the first station with all and singular the appurtenances there unto belonging and I the Zachariah Robinson do for myself and my heairs disannul disclaim and disown any right or title to the said tract land, containing one hundred and forty acres more or less, and will warrant and defend the same unto the s’d Tabitha May against the lawful claim or claims of me and my heirs forever. But no others. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day and date above written.    Zach. Robinson {seal}

Signed Sealed and delivered In the presence of Wm. Davis, Benjamin Moorman }

Anson January Term 1819: — Then the within Deed was duly proved in open court by the oath of Benjamin Moorman and ordered to be Registered.   Tod Robinson Clk.

Will Book 5, page 268, Register of Deeds Office, Anson County Courthouse, Wadesboro.

[Sidenote: Island Creek is a waterway between a large island in the Pee Dee River and the shoreline on the Anson County side. It is located south of present-day Interstate I-74 and between the towns of Morven in Anson County and East Rockingham in Richmond County.  — LYH]

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June 13, 2013

BOLO: muscular, broad-shouldered, narrow-hipped murderer with cleft chin.

$100 Reward.

A PROCLAMATION.

By His Excellency, WM. A. GRAHAM, Governor of North Carolina.

HAVING been officially informed, that John Brown, a free mulatto, late of the County of Halifax, did on the 11th, instant, in said County, commit murder, by killing one James Smith, of said County, and hath fled from Justice , and escaped probably beyond the limits of this State.

Now to the end that the said John Brown may be arrested and brought to trial, for said offence, I do hereby issue this my Proclamation, offering a reward of One Hundred Dollars, for his apprehension and delivery to the Sheriff of Halifax County, or for his commitment to any Jail in the United States, to answer for the crime aforesaid, provided the same be more than a hundred miles distant from the Court House of Halifax aforesaid.

The said John Brown is represented to be a bright Mulatto, a Blacksmith by trade, about 35 years of age, about, (probably above) 6 feet high, with broad shoulders, but narrow hips, large limbs, particularly his arms and hands, weighs 175 or 180 lbs., has a considerable dent, more than a dimple, in his chin, very free and bold in his speech, has free papers from Northampton County Court, had on when last seen, and usually wears, brown homespun clothes, a green Blanket overcoat, much worn, and a high bell crowned hat. He had recently sold off his property, intending to remove to Indiana or Illinois, has relatives in Danville, Va., and will probably attempt to pass that place in his flight.

Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina, at the City of Raleigh, this 14th of March, 1848.   WILL: A. GRAHAM

By the Governor: W.W. MORRISON, Private Secretary.

Raleigh Register, 15 March 1848.

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