Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Month: May, 2014

May 29, 2014

Runaway bound boy, no. 14.

FIVE DOLLARS REWARD.

RANAWAY from the Subscriber on the 17th of October last, a colored Boy named THOMAS WALDEN, about eight years old. I understand said boy is about Donald Street’s, in Moore county. I will give the above reward for his delivery to me at Emerson’s Tan Yard, Chatham county. Said boy was bound to me by the County Court, I therefore forewarn all persons from harboring him, as I intend to enforce the law against the aggressor.  DANIEL CAMPBELL.  October 23rd, 1841.

Fayetteville Weekly Observer, 3 November 1841.

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May 29, 2014

Runaway bound boy, no. 13.

RUNAWAY

From the Subscriber on the 5th inst., an indentured colored boy named JIM WESLEY, about 15 years old. He is a bright mulatto, and has a downcast look when spoken to. Persons are cautioned against harboring or employing him. Anyone arresting the boy and returning him to me at Fayetteville will be liberally rewarded.   DAVID McDUFFIE. July 28th, 1855.

The North-Carolinian (Fayetteville), 4 August 1855.

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May 29, 2014

The new firm.

NOTICE.

The Subscriber having associated himself in business with his son Matthew, the business will hereafter be conducted under the name and style of M.N. Leary & Son.

The undersigned, thankful for the liberal patronage hitherto extended to him, respectfully solicits a continuation of the same in behalf of the new Firm.

All those indebted to the undersigned, either by debt or account, are earnestly requested to settle the same as early as possible.  M.N. LEARY, Fayetteville, June 2, 1852.

Fayetteville Semi-Weekly Observer, 22 July 1852.

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May 28, 2014

Perhaps not that old.

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Wilson Advance, 13 August 1880.

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Probably, in the 1850 census, Nash County: Berry Locust, 50, wife Beedy, 45, and children Arthur, 25, Eliza, 18, Hepsy A., 16, Ivah, 15, Alsey, 12, Henry, 10, and Seymore, 8.

In the 1860 census, Coopers, Nash County: Berry Locus, 65, wife Beaddy, 60, and daughter Hepsey, 23.

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May 26, 2014

Sold for the crime of immigration.

On Monday last, we witnessed the novel spectacle of selling a free negro, Howell Thomas, who was condemned at our last Court, to be sold for ten years, for the “crime” of emigrating to this State from “old Figinny,” was put up to the highest bidder, according to law, and was knocked down at the moderate price of fifty-two dollars – “dog cheap!” – Oxford Exam.

North Carolina Free Press (Halifax), 19 June 1832.

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May 26, 2014

Not guilty!

A Coroner’s Inquest was held on Sunday last, on the dead body of a new born colored infant, found half-buried in a ditch, in a frequented part of the City. The verdict of the Jury was, that the child was born alive, and inhumanely killed by its unnatural mother, a free woman of color, named MARTHA DICKINSON.

The North Carolina Star (Raleigh), 29 January 1845.

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SUPERIOR COURT.

…

No case involving life was taken up before Wednesday, when MARTHA DICKINSON (a free woman of color) was tried for the murder of her new-born child. The Prosecution was conducted by the Attorney General, and the Defence by C.C. BATTLE, Esq. There was no doubt, from the evidence, whether the child died from violence or neglect, and the Jury, after remaining out several hours, returned a Verdict of Not Guilty!

Weekly Raleigh Register, 4 April 1845.

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May 26, 2014

He sold me a free man as a slave.

$50 REWARD,

WILL be paid for the apprehension and confinement, so that he may be brought to justice, of WRIGHT ALLEN, who commonly calls himself Wm. Allen, who sold to me as a slave, a free mulatto boy named DENNIS. Said Allen is a very stout man, dark complexion, about 40 years of age, has an uncommon large hand and nose, the hand very covered with hair. I will give $200 reward for the recovery of the $500 which I paid Allen for the negro, or in proportion for any part of it. He carried with him from Fayetteville about ten days ago, a tall bright mulatto free woman named Mary, and it has been ascertained that they went North together by way of the Wilmington Rail Road. He wore a grey coatee with outside pockets without flaps, a black silk hat, made by J.R. & D. Gee, of Fayetteville, whose names are in the hat; his own name also is worked in the hat with yellow silk. Any information addressed to the Subscriber will be promptly attended to. DANIEL McKINNON. Stewartsville, Richmond County, N.C., November 27, 1838.

Fayetteville Weekly Observer, 28 November 1838.

 

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May 26, 2014

Runaway bound boy, no. 12.

RANAWAY

FROM me, in October last, HENRY MARTIN, a free boy of color, about 18 years of age. The said Martin is a bound apprentice to me. All persons are hereby forbid harboring or trusting him on my account. Any person so doing will be prosecuted to the extent of the law. J.G. SMITH Fayetteville, Dec’r 6, 1856.

Fayetteville Weekly Observer, 8 December 1856.

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May 26, 2014

The Carroll brothers hang.

Raleigh, April 1. – We understand that a free boy of color, named Ned Carroll, was tried at Johnston Superior Court last week, for an assault upon a white female, with an intent to commit a rape. The case was clearly made out to the Jury, who bro’t in a verdict of Guilty. He is sentenced to be hung on the 25th instant. – Register.

North-Carolina Free Press (Halifax), 11 April 1828.

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Supreme Court. – On Thursday, the case of HENRY CARROLL, a free boy of color, indicted for an attempt to commit a rape upon a young woman, in the county of Johnston, was taken up, having been removed here for trial. The charge was made out on behalf of the State, with great clearness, by the Attorney General SAUNDERS. The Prisoner was defended by Messrs. MANLY and GEO. W. HAYWOOD, with great ingenuity, considering the utter hopelessness of the task assigned them by the Court. The Jury remained out but a few minutes, before they returned with a verdict of GUILTY, on Friday, after a suitable address to the pronounce sentence of DEATH against him, to be carried into execution, on Friday the 6th of May next. It is a singular and melancholy coincidence, which ought to be stated, that a brother of this boy’s was hung in Johnston county, only a year or two ago, for a like offence! This startling fact illustrates more forcibly the uselessness of Public Executions, than whole columns of argument. Ral. Reg.

Roanoke Advocate (Halifax), 21 April 1831.

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May 24, 2014

They were sold for his debts.

SALE OF NEGROES.

A public sale of negroes took place in this town at the Court House steps on Saturday last, of which the following is an account.

Negro woman, aged 25 with two young children brought 883.

Negro girl, aged, 16, brought $711

Negro girl, aged 22,   “             808

Negro boy, aged 22, “              817

The first three were purchased by Dr. Dortch of Stantonsburg, the fourth by Mr. John Davis, of Lenoir and the fifth by Mr. Fourney Jernigan of Wayne. They were the children of a free negro by the name of Adam Wynne, who had purchased their mother, his wife, previous to their birth. – They were consequently his slaves and he having become involved, they were sold for his debts. – Goldsboro Tel.

The North-Carolina State (Raleigh), 17 March 1852.

[Sidenote: These four were not the first or last of Adam Wynn’s children to be sold to pay off his debts. — LYH]

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