Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Category: Apprentices

October 14, 2012

A coloured apprentice.

State of No Carolina }     Court of Pleas & Quarter

Wayne County        }            Sessions — Nov Term 1837 —

Mr Henry Best Sir You are hereby notified to produce on Monday of Feby term of this court next a coloured apprentice named Vincey Seabery on penalty of forfeiting your bond given for the forthcoming of said negro.

Nov 28th 1837          Jno A Green clk

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

[Sidenote: Melvina Seaberry was seven years old in 1824 when apprenticed to Best, who had indentured her brothers Rufus and James Madison Seaberry in 1820.  Best bound another sibling (or cousin), Raleigh Seaberry, in 1837, and yet another, Harriet Seaberry, in 1837.  Melvina was closing in on 21 years of age in 1837, and her indenture was expiring, which may be the reason for Best’s summons. — LYH]

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October 14, 2012

A small boy of Culler.

March the 29th 1831

Beet known to the onerable Cort of Wayne County that I had a small boy of Culler Bound to me Two or three years ago I am going to the Westan Contry and I have Left the boy with Stephen Woodard and I Wish the Cort to Binde the Same to sd Woodard and releas me and my Secureety     — Woodard Daniel

Only one indenture involving Woodard Daniel survives, that for 12 year-old Lewis Artis in 1824.  However, records show that Stephen Woodard bound 9 year-old Willie Hagans in 1831, and we can assume that this was the child that Daniel gave up.  Woodard bound 8 free children of color between 1820 and 1831.

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

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October 14, 2012

Artis was borned.

Mary Artis was borned 24 day of April in the year 1846

Penninah Artis was borned the 3rd day of August 1848

Lewis Artis was borned the 12th day of December in the year 1850

William G. Artis was borned the 10th July in the year 1853

Benajy C. Artis was borned the 22nd January 1859

make indentures                James Scott surety

These children appear in the household of their parents, Asa and Pherebe Artis, in the 1860 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County.  When were they indentured?  Why?  Were they suddenly orphaned?

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

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October 14, 2012

Children Ages

Elizzey Jones Children Ages

Saram Jones was Born on the 12 of August 1845

Penny Jones was Born on the 5 of Apirul 1847

Wiley Jones was Born on the 1 Day of January 1849

This undated note is found among apprenticeship records for Wayne County at the North Carolina State Archives.  Eliza Jones’ children were bound to blacksmith Barden Jones at August Term, 1849 of the Wayne County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions.  The 1850 census of Wayne County shows that the children’s mother, Eliza Jane Jones, lived with them in Barden Jones’ household.  In 1857, they were re-apprenticed to Joseph M. Caho.  The 1860 census shows Sarah and Wiley with steam miller Caho, but Penny with a neighboring farmer, Bryant Minshew.  “Elizabeth” Jones and her younger children, Terence, Nancy and Eliza, are listed in a household adjacent to Caho’s.

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October 13, 2012

Sons.

James Seeberry son of Manse Seeberry was born August the 12 1857

Joseph Seeberry son of the above was born May the 12 1859

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

Amancy Seaberry, age 17, and 1 year-old son Green are listed in the 1850 census of Wayne County living north of the Neuse River in the household of Nancy Williams.  Manse, James and Joseph Seaberry appear in farmer David Barden’s household in the 1860 census of Saulston township, Wayne County.  Manse worked as Barden’s cook.  Next door, the household of Tho. [Theophilus] Seaberry, his wife Rachel, and their children Eliza, Eltha, Becca, Henry, Theo. Jnr., Milly, Jack, and Rufus.

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October 12, 2012

Bring all your children.

State of North Carolina   }     Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions

Onslow County                }      June Term 1858

On motion is is Ordered that a Notice issue from this Court to Margary and Auphine Free women of color living in the White Oak district to bring all their Children Subject to apprenticeship to the next term of this Court to be bound out

Jasper Etheridge

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October 10, 2012

Base-born children.

“Patsey Henderson a free woman of color in Onslow County came into court and desired her two sons (viz) James Henderson and Bryan Henderson be bound to Jesse Gregory agreeable to law and give Jason Gregory and Hezekiah Williams for securities in the sum of $1000 each.”  [February Term, 1821]

Gatsey and William Henderson, “colour’d children the reputed children of Simon Dove dec’d,”  apprenticed to James Glenn Sr.  [August Term, 1822]

Bryan (14) and James Henderson (9), “the baseborn children of Patsey Henderson,” apprenticed to James Glenn sr.  Betsy and Gatsy Henderson, children of Nancy Henderson, apprenticed to Lewis Mills.  Miranda Henderson apprenticed to Elizabeth Williams.  [August Term, 1824]

Minutes, Onslow County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions.

[Sidenote: Patsey Henderson was my great-great-great-great-great-grandmother; her son James, my great-great-great-great-grandfather. — LYH]

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October 9, 2012

Ordered.

Indenture.  Ordered that Sarah Rouse a free girl of color be bound as an apprentice to John D. Abernathy, which is done, bond filed.

Minutes, January Term 1853, Duplin County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions.

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October 9, 2012

Learn him the business of a planter.

13 Nov 1771. Ordered that Dick a base born child born of the body of Lucy Jones a negro be bound to Joseph Norris untill he attain to a Lawful Age being born the 15th of June Last his said master to learn him the business of a planter.

Minutes, November Term 1771, Bute County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions.

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Image | October 7, 2012
HAGANS -- Eliza Hagans Children

Bring in the bodies.

On motion it is ordered that the sheriff of this county be directed to bring into Court at the next term the bodies of Lavinia Hagans & Rebecca Hagans coloured children of Eliza Hagans and notify said Eliza Hagans to show cause, if any she has, why the said children should not be bound out to service.

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