Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Category: Apprentices

Caswell County Will Books: D

In Book D, at October Court, 1800, Alsey Hudson, an orphaned female child of colour, aged 2 years, bound to Zephaniah Tait.

In Book D, at October Court, 1801, Armsted Phillips, a mulatto boy, age 5 years and 6 months, bound to Epp’s Stone.

In Book D, at October Court, 1801, Nancy Phillips, a mulatto girl aged 8 years old on 15 March next, bound to Eppophroditus Stone.

In Book D, at April Court, 1802, Allen Caswell, a mulatto boy aged 19 years old January last, bound to Henry Atkinson.

 

Freedom/unfreedom, part 2.

On 13 February 1788, Mary Crooms, a mulatto orphan approximately 2 years old, bound to Curtis Ivey until age 21 to learn to spin and sew.

On 9 February 1789, the Court ordered that Stephen Stanley, to whom a certain child sworn by a certain Mary Blackwell, be discharged from his recognizance and fine, it appearing to the satisfaction of the court that the child is mulatto.

On 10 November 1789, Negro Robin freed by Michael King for sundry and meritorious services, agreeable to an Act of Assembly.

On 14 November 1792, Shadrack Clements, mulatto boy formally bound as apprentice to James Spiller, has served his time and is now freed.

On 10 November 1795, Leavy Heathcock, mulatto boy about 5 years old, bound to Jesse Lee until age 21 to learn to be a cooper.

On 9 August 1796, the children of Hannah Williams, a free mulatto, who are base-born, named Charlotte, Olin and John, bound out to Felix Hines, Claborn Ivey and Patrick Carr, respectively, each child to get one year of schooling and bound till age 21.

On 14 February 1797, Jacob Williams, free negro child about 8 years old, son of Lucrita Williams, base begotten, bound to Thomas Sowell until 21.

On 9 May 1797, John Williams, free negro boy about 5 years old, bound to Robert Butler.

Minutes, Sampson County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions.

Caswell County Will Books: A & B

Book A, September Court Session, 1781.  Sarah George binds unto Richard Moore a mulatto child named Harbert, aged 2 years, 8 months on 20 Aug 1781.  Wit: L. Johnston, Richd. Smith, James Douglas.

Book A, June Court Session, 1782.  Rebecca Cousins, a free-born Negro, is apprenticed to Robert Daney.

Book B, September Court Session, 1782.  Edward Upton and Jane, his wife, bound her son William Long, a mulatto, to Samuel Bracken.  Wit: Thomas Brooks, Thomas Rice.

Book B, October Court Session, 1790.  Mournin, a mulatto orphan aged 3 years next March, was bound to Andrew Haddock.

Caswell County Will Books, North Carolina State Archives.

 

Person binds five.

Ordered that Bitha Reed now of the age of Ten years, Vinia Reed now of the age of Eight years, Sion Reed now of the age of Six years, Washington Reed now of the age of Three years, and also William Hagans not of the age of Six Years, all of Colour be bound unto Thomas Person untill they arrive at Lawful age

November Term, 1821, Wayne County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions

Her mother took her away.

THREE DOLLARS REWARD.  Ranaway from the subscriber on Friday night the 14th inst., an indented bright mulatto girl about 15 years old, slender made, with straight black hair, by the name of MARY ANN BOWEN.  It is supposed that she is in the neighborhood of Goodwin Bowen, a free man of color in Bladen county, on the Wilmington road, about 6 miles below the Westbrook Post Office, as her mother, Polly Bowen, who took her away, declared when she was hiring a horse and Carryall for that purpose, that she was going to Goodwin Bowen’s, in Bladen county.  The above reward and all reasonable charges will be paid for returning said girl to me, or putting her into any Jail in this State and giving information through the Post Office, so that I can get her again.  All persons are cautioned against employing, harboring, or entertaining said girl in any way, as I shall prosecute them rigorously according to law.     JOSEPH AREY     March 22, 1845

Fayetteville The North Carolinian, 3 May 1845.

Freedom/unfreedom.

21 Dec 1784.  Petition of James Sampson and Richard Clinton, executors for John Sampson deceased, praying negro wench Moll and mulatto wench Hannah to be manumitted and set free agreeable to all; read in, convened with and ordered to be filed.

15 Aug 1786.  Ordered that Miles Hammonds a mulatto orphan boy about 14 to be bound to Jonathan Fryer until 21, to learn the art and mystery of a saddler and shoemaker and to read and write and cypher as far as the rule of 3

16 Aug 1786.  Ordered that mulatto boy George, son of Clarinda, property of James Spiller, be set free and emancipated for sufficient reasons shown to the Court, to be bound til 21 to Spiller

Minutes, Sampson County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions

Onslow County apprentices, 1801-1809.

The following free children of color were apprenticed in Onslow County during the period 1801 through 1809:

Salona Hammons to John Willey, 1801.

Asa Hammonds to John Willey, 1801.

Henry Mashburn to Hach James, 1804.

Omy Whiters to Henry Horn, 1806.

Joshua Whiters to Henry Horn, 1806.

Rose Boon to James Thompson, 1807.

Hardy Jarman to Frances Willey, 1808.

Sucky Henderson to Richard Trott, 1809.

Polly Henderson to Isaac Barber, 1809.

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

She was always cold a free woman.

State of North Carolina Wayne County June 15 1853 Winney Huff after being Duly Sworn Deposith and says as follows (viz) that she has seen Fareby Simmons Mother a Colord Woman living in the County of Birtie and State aforsaid and it was stated to her in the neighborhood that she was a free person and said hir Daughter Fariby Simmons was indentured to one Sertain William Burnham and Said Burnham Emigrated from the County of Birtie to the County of Wayne and said fariby Simons lived with Burnham as an apprentice and fariby Simmons in the time of her apprenticeship had a child Bornd Named Hannah which was Bound to Betsey Burnham a Daughter of Said William Burnham and that Fariby Simons was always cold a free woman and has pased for a free woman Ever since my Recollection which would be Seventy or Seventy five years furthe the Deponant sayeth Not June the 1st 1853 then was the above Written certificate of Winney Huff sworn to Before me George Flowers J.P.  Winney X Huff

This is one of three sworn statements by whites attesting to Fereby Simmons’ freedom.  Their purpose is not clear.  It seems likely that Fereby and Hannah Simmons were the matriarchs of the sprawling free colored Simmons clan — with branches by mid-19th century from southeast North Carolina to Canada — but relationships between the various lines remain undetermined.

Records of Slaves and Free People of Color, Wayne County Miscellaneous Records, North Carolina State Archives.

Show cause why the indentures of apprenticeship should not be rescinded.

North Carolina

To the Shiriff of Wayne County Greeting

You are hereby commanded to make known to Nathan Edgerton to produce into court at the next term to be held for said County at the Court House in Goldsboro on the third Monday of May next, Mary, Raeford, Louisa, Amelia, Devereux, Narcissa, Olif & Sarah Carroll, Children of Margaret Carroll, then & there to Show cause if any he has why the Indentures of Apprenticeship to him should not be recinded — herein fail not, & have you then & there this writ

Witness Benj Aycock clerk of said court at office the third Monday of Feby A.D. 1856

Issued 23rd April 1856                  Benj. Aycock  Clk.

Nathan Edgerton indentured nine Carroll children, aged 1 to 15, in 1855.  Their mother Margaret Carroll, who lived in Johnston County, protested the indentures without apparent success: Sarah, Louisa, Amelia, Olivia and Narcissa Carroll appear in Nathan Edgerton’s household in the 1860 census of Wayne County.

Apprenticeship Records, Wayne County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

Give and grant all my right over said children.

This indenture this 16th day of August 1823 between Celia Artis of the County of Wayne and state of North Carolina of the one part, and Elias and Jesse Coleman of the other part (witnesseth) that I the said Celia Artis have for an in consideration of having four of my children raised in a becoming [illegible], by these presence indenture the said four children (to viz) Eliza, Ceatha, Zilpha, and Simon Artis to the said Elias and Jesse Coleman to be their own right and property until the said four children arives at the age of twenty one years old and I do by virtue of these presents give and grant all my right and power over said children the above term of time, unto the said Elias and Jesse Coleman their heirs and assigns, until the above-named children arives to the aforementioned etc., and I do further give unto the said Elias and Jesse Coleman all power of recovering from any person or persons all my right to said children — the [illegible] of time whatsoever in whereof I the said Celia Artis have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written,    Celia X Artis.

Deeds, Register of Deeds Office, Wayne County Courthouse, Goldsboro.

[Sidenote: Celia Artis (1800-1879) was a prosperous free woman of color whose husband, Simon Pig, was a slave.  (She purchased and eventually freed him, and he adopted her surname.)  Because Celia was not legally married, her children were subject to involuntary apprenticeship.  This deed records her determination to guard her children from uncertain fates by placing them under the control of men she trusted.  Despite the wording of the deed, it is likely that the children continued to live with their mother after their indenture.  By mid-century, Celia Artis was one of the wealthiest free women of color in Wayne County, having amassed 750 acres of land in northern Wayne County. — LYH]