Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color
May 13, 2015

He may be aiming to go to his father.

Twenty Dollars Reward.

RAN away from the Subscriber, in February last, a slave named HAMLET, belonging to the estate of ISAAC W. GRICE, dec’d. on the 11th inst. one of my own, named WILLIAM.

Hamlet is about five feet three inches high, a dark mulatto, about 35 years of age, and is supposed to be in Duplin County, on Goshen, lurking about the plantation of John C. Wilson, where he has a wife. William is a bright mulato, about five feet, five or six inches high, wide cheek bones, narrow chin, smiling countenance when spoken to, about 27 years of age, and may be aiming to go to his father, Jim Philips, a free man of color, & a shoemaker, who was in Lumberton the last I heard of him. I will pay the above reward for the delivery of said slaves to me, or lodged in any Jail so I can get them again, or TEN DOLLARS for either of them. PATRICK MURPHY, for self, and as Adm’r. of I.W. Grice. Near Taylor’s Bridge, Sampson County, N.C., August 22d, 1839.

The North-Carolinian, 31 August 1839.

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May 13, 2015

Very industrious, good morals … however.

A Valuable Negro Man for Sale.

ON the 4th day of June next, in the Town of Fayetteville, at public Auction, I shall offer for sale, a negro man of middle age, very industrious and of good morals, a painter by Trade. He is known by the name of WILEY P. LASSITER, a free man of color; he has been free all his life till recently, when he made himself a Slave to me, by Indenture, for the consideration of my endorsing a considerable amount of debt for him, and having it to pay. I have allowed him free privileges, as he formerly had, for more than two years, that he might redeem himself, but finding this course unavailing, I shall necessarily resort to the above. Terms will be made known on day of sale.   EMSLEY LASSITER.  May 5, 1858.

Fayetteville Weekly Observer, 17 May 1858.

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May 13, 2015

Smith goes above and beyond.

Felix Smith, a free man of color of this County, generously stepped forward and contributed Twenty dollars towards equipping and uniforming the Yanceyville Grays, at a late meeting held for that purpose. It was suggested that Smith was too liberal for his means, but he insisted that the whole amoung should be taken, and was willing to give more and fight for Southern rights too, if necessary.  Most of the free people of color in the Southern States are acting with a patriotic loyalty that some of the whites would do to imitate. With regard to the slaves we could raise several companies in Caswell who would esteem it a pleasure to fight old Abe and his minions to the death. Our Cook would whip him out of his shirt and then hang him for a dog as high as his brother old John Brown danced in the air. We’ll stand a wager that she can lick Abe and Scott thrown in, in a fair fight.

The Milton Chronicle, 24 May 1861.

In the 1850 census of Caswell County: Mary Coile, 102, white; Felix Smith, 38, black, farm laborer, born in Caswell County.

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May 13, 2015

Surly when spoken to.

$10 REWARD.

RANAWAY from the subscriber, on the night of the 7th instant, a bound mulatto girl, aged between 15 and 17, named ELIZA LUNCE. Said girl is a dark mulatto, tolerably well grown for her age, and is surly when spoken to. She will no doubt take some other name than her real one. She was enticed away by her mother, Nancy Lunce, and Rowland Jones, a free man of color.

I will give ten dollars to any one who will deliver said girl to me, or five dollars for her confinement in any jail in the State so that I get her again. The subscriber resides six miles North of Raleigh, N.C.   EDWARD CHAPPELL.

February 12, 1853.

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May 13, 2015

Killed by a blast in a mine.

Harris Milton, a free man of color was killed by a blast in a mine at Gold Hill on Thursday the 15th ult.

The Charlotte Democrat, 2 March 1855.

In the 1850 census of Gold Hill, Rowan County: Ann Bird, 28; Harris Milton, 28, laborer.

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May 13, 2015

Invented and exhibited.

FROM THE RALEIGH STANDARD.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR.

…

The Annual Fair of the North Carolina State Agricultural Society commenced, at the grounds near this City, on Tuesday last; and will close to-day, Friday.

The weather since Monday has been unpropicious; but notwithstanding this, the attendance has been large, and the exhibition of articles of all kinds better than on any former occasion.

We give below, as far and as fully as it could be obtained, a list of the various articles on exhibition in Floral Hall, in Planter’s Hall, in Mechanic’s Hall, and on the grounds. No doubt many articles, as well as stock, deserving of particular notice have been overlooked; but this — though this press has had three Reporters on the grounds — could not be avoided. It is impossible, amid the press of the crowd and the excitement of the occasion, to do exact and equal justice to all. And so we trust no one will conclude that their articles have been slighted, or intentionally overlooked. — The premium list will, after all, show who is entitled to praise for superior enterprise, industry, patience and skill.

…

MECHANICS’ HALL.

…

A new patent invalid chair, invented and exhibited by J.T. Alston, a free man of color.

…

Lexington and Yadkin Flag, 7 November 1856.

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May 13, 2015

Says he became dissatisfied and ran away.

NOTICE.

WAS COMMITTED TO THE JAIL OF DUPLIN County, about the 15th inst., a negro man who says his name is JACOB WARREN. Said negro was taken up and committed as a runaway slave, but says that he is a free man of color. He says that he was hired to Isaac P. Lee and John Kittrel, in Brunswick County, and became dissatisfied and ranaway. Said negro is about 5 feet 6 inches high, thick set, and a tolerably bright mulatto. Any one claiming said negro will come forward, prove property, pay charges and take him away, or he will be dealt with according to law. PATRICK MERRITT, Jailor.

July 2d 1858.

Wilmington Journal, 27 August 1858.

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May 13, 2015

His half-brother — and owner — are free men of color.

FIFTY DOLLARS REWARD.

RANAWAY from the Subscriber, on the 19th inst., a Negro man named LUKE, about five feet six or eight inches high, dark complected, has a scar on the side of one of his eyes, (which one not recollected, but believed to be the right eye,) stout built, weighs about 175 or 180 pounds.

He was purchased in 1846 from Mr. Josiah E. Bryan of this town. He has relatives in the County of Sampson, among them a half-brother named Sam Boon, — a free man of color, — and may possibly be lurking in that neighborhood, as I am informed he was seen about there a short time since. Possibly he may have obtained free papers, and is endevouring to escape to a free State, as I understand some free persons of color removed from Sampson county last week to Indiana.

A reward of Ten Dollars will be given for his apprehension and delivery to me, if taken in this county; Fifteen Dollars if taken in any other county in this State and lodged in a safe Jail; or Fifty Dollars if taken out of state — so that I get him again.  M.N. LEARY.

Fayetteville, March 29, 1853.

Fayetteville Observer, 7 April 1853.

 

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May 13, 2015

Can the preacher preach?

Friday, 30th.

Mr. Morris presented the petition of sundry citizens of Anson, praying the passage of an act to permit Ralph Freeman, a free man of color, to exercise the functions of a Preacher. Referred.

North-Carolina Free Press (Halifax), 11 December 1832.

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May 13, 2015

The question is now put.

CITY BAKE-HOUSE.

THE new Bakery in this City, which was announced a few weeks since in such flaming style and recommended to the public patronage by the Register, having gone down, or rather passed into the hands of a free man of color, the subscriber takes occasion to state that he is still in business at his old stand, where he is prepared to furnish all kinds of BREAD in his line of business. The people here know the subscriber — he is not in the habit of disappointing them; and he now assures them that he will spare no pains to please them and merit their patronage. The question is now put to the Mechanics and citizens of Raleigh, whether they will patronize his establishment or a free man of color.   GEORGE H. TONNOFFSKE.

Raleigh, October 1st, 1845.

Weekly Standard (Raleigh), 15 October 1845.

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