Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Category: Apprentices

January 11, 2013

He had no free papers in his possession.

NOTICE. TAKEN UP AND COMMITTED TO JAIL IN PITTSBORO’, Chatham county, N.C., a Negro Boy, about 23 years old, who says his name is RUFUS ROCHELL, and that he is free boy, and was a bound boy to Robert Jones, of Wake County; but he had no free papers in his possession, and was taken up under suspicion of being a runaway.  Said boy is about 5 feet 8 inches high, heavy set, and very black.  If said boy should be a free boy, and has any friends, they would do well to come forward and let it be known; and if a slave, the owner will come forward and take him away according to law, otherwise said boy will be dealt with as the law directs.  R.B. PASCHAL, Sh’ff.  April 29, 1850.

Weekly Standard, Raleigh, 4 May 1850.

The 1850 census of Saint Matthews, Wake County, shows: (1) white farmer Hillary Thompson, 43, wife Nancy, 43, and children Mary A., 13, and Robert, 6, plus Rufus Rochell, 19, black; and (2) Mary Ivy, 67, Temperance Ivy, 42, Rufus Ivy, 26, Reuben Mitchell, 10, William Terry, 21, all white; and Rufus Rochelle, 16, mulatto.

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January 11, 2013

Bright mulatto says he is free.

COMMITTED TO THE JAIL OF WAKE COUNTY, a negro man who says his name is WASHINGTON, and that he belongs to Capt. William Smith, of the 6th regiment N.C.T., and he now resides in Petersburg, Va.  Said boy says that he was put on the cars at Salisbury, N.C., by his master, and by some accident they became separated, and he, the said boy, was taken up and committed as a runaway.

Also, another negro, calling himself HENRY BROOKS; says is free, and that he is from Wayne County, N.C., and was bound to Benj. Herring, of said county, now dead.  Said boy is a bright mulatto, about 27 years old.

Notice is hereby given that the owner or owners come forward, prove property, pay charges, and take them away, or they will be dealt with as the law directs.  W.H. HIGH, Sheriff.  Oct. 14, 1862.

Weekly Standard, Raleigh, 15 October 1862.

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January 8, 2013

Despite their family’s care.

Nancy Midgett v. Willoughby McBryde, 48 NC 21 (1855).

“Nancy Midgett, is a white woman, but her two children are mulattoes begotten by a negro father.”  The Currituck County Court ordered that children be bound to Willoughby McBryde.  Midgett presented evidence that for the last three years she had been living near her father in a house he built for her; that he had taken charge of her children and kept them diligently and industriously employed; that he was himself an honest, respectable and industrious man, well able to take care of her and her children and willing to do so; and that she herself had, during the last three years, behaved orderly and industriously.  Accordingly, contended Midgett’s counsel, the children did not fall within the category of those liable to be bound out by the County Court.  The trial judge disagreed, upheld the County Court’s action, and Midgett appealed.

The North Carolina Supreme Court held that the County Court had power to bind out all free base-born children of color, without reference to the occupation or condition of the mother. The provision of the statute that refers to the occupation or employment of the parents is confined to cases of free negroes and mulattoes whose children are”legitimate.” “In such cases, if the parents have no honest or industrious occupation, the children may be bound out.  These considerations do not arise when the child is a bastard.” Judgment affirmed.

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January 6, 2013

Onslow County Apprentices, 1817-1818.

Ann Whitehurst, Bill Whitehurst and Edward Whitehurst were bound to Whitehead Humphrey in 1817.

Elisha Boon and Sarah Boon were bound to Jesse Orrell in 1817.

Abe Barrow was bound to Jesse Humphrey in 1818 to learn the trade of shoemaker.

Nancy Whitus and Elijah Whitus were bound to Whitehead Humphrey in 1818.

Elisha Boon and Sarah Boon, children of Betty Boon, were bound to Turner Ellis in 1818.

Peter Calton Boon and Betsey Boon were bound to James Johnston in 1818.

Mary Hammonds were bound to James Barrow in 1818.

Durant Henderson and Willis Henderson were bound to John Jones in 1818.

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

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January 4, 2013

Runaway bound boy, no. 3.

FIVE CENTS REWARD. – Ranaway from the subscriber, on or about the 10th October, 1850, a mulatto boy named Wm. Bird, who was bound to Henry S. Hicks and by him transferred to Dr. Cameron, and the last named to me.  Said boy has been engaged in the carriage painting business – is intelligent, and well spoken – he is a bright mulatto, about 20 years of age, and about five feet ten inches high.  The above reward will be paid for his apprehension and delivery to me; and all persons are cautioned against harboring him.  ABNER M’COY.  January 4.

Lincoln Courier, Lincolnton, 1 February 1851.

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December 27, 2012

Craven County Apprentices, 1797-1799.

On 14 June 1797, Ann Maria, free person of color aged 3 years in September next, was bound to Euphamia Tinker, Widow, as a spinster.

On 16 June 1797, Lucy, a free person of color aged 7 years, was bound to Patsy Gaynor [Gainer], widow of New Bern, as a spinster.

On 17 June 1797, Samuel McKinnin, a “certain lad of colour” aged 4 years the 25th of December last, was bound to Isaac Markel, mariner of New Bern, as a mariner.

On 16 March 1798, Reading Moore, a base born free Negro boy, was bound to Francis Lowthorp, Esq., of New Bern, as a tobacconist.

On 10 December 1798, Sampson Wilson, free black boy aged 7 years, was bound to William Tignor of New Bern as a block maker, and Amy Wilson, a free black girl aged 11 years, was bound to Tignor as a spinster.

On 10 June 1799, Polly Harris, a free black girl aged 16 years, was bound to William Laurence, merchant of New Bern, as a spinster, and Thomas Harris, a free black boy aged 11 years, was bound to Laurence as a cooper.

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December 24, 2012

Runaway bound boys, no, 2.

Ten Cents Reward.

Ranaway from the subscriber on the 17th ultimo, mulatto apprentice boy, bound to me by the County Court of Haywood, named STEPHEN GIPSON, about 18 years old.  Said boy has a down look when spoken to.  I hereby forewarn all persons from trading with or harboring said boy under the penalty of law.  I will give the above reward for said boy if delivered to me in Waynesville, Haywood county, N.C.  S. FITZGERALD.  July 5, 1844.

Highland Messenger, Asheville, 4 Oct 1844.

In the 1850 census of Tennessee Valley, Macon County: John Gipson, 46, white farmer; wife Mourning, 38, Indian; children Lavina, 16, Carton, 12, Solomon, 10, and Elias, 8, all Indian; and Stephen Gipson, 25, mulatto.  John was born in Buncombe County; the others in Haywood.  NB: Other adult male Gipsons listed nearby are described as “mulatto,” as is John Gipson in the 1880 census of Dutch Bottom, Cocke County, Tennessee.

 

On the 21st November last, from James Wallace, an indented apprentice by the name WILLIAM SYDNEY McLEAN.  And from R.L. De Armond, in July, 1844, an indented apprentice, (a mulatto) by the name of JACK HARRIS.  – The subscribers, their owners, will give a reward of five cents each for the apprehension of said boys; and they forbid any person employing or harboring them, at the peril of the law.  R.L. DE ARMOND.  Feb. 28, 1845.

Mecklenburg Jeffersonian, Charlotte, 7 March 1845.

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December 23, 2012

Craven County Apprentices, 1793-95.

On 20 July 1793, Susannah Dove, a free Negro woman, binds her sons Isaac Dove, an orphan aged 6 years old the 4th of April last, and Thomas Dove, an orphan aged three years the 4th of May last to John Brown.  Witnessed by Richard Triglith and William Orme and proved in court in December 1793.

On 13 December 1793, James Ruff, free Negro boy aged 18 years, was bound to William Bartlett, mariner, as a mariner.

On 10 March 1794, Jacob Carter, free Negro boy aged 10 years or thereabouts, was bound to William Jones as a cooper.

On 9 December 1794, George Carter, free Negro boy aged 17 years last September, was bound to Harding Ives as a turner.

On 9 March 1795, Betty Copes, free mulatto girl aged 9 years next 2 May, was bound to James Houston, Sr., as a spinster.

On 14 [March] 1795, Ned Lewis, a free Negro boy aged 10 years, was bound to Amos Wade as a mariner.

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December 22, 2012

Runaway bound boys.

FIVE CENTS REWARD – Ranaway from the subscriber, living in the county of Wilkes, a bright mulatto boy, named James Carter.  Said boy was bound to the subscriber by the county court of Wilkes.  I will give the above reward for the delivery of said boy to me, but no other charges paid.  J.E. SAINTCLAIR.  Wilkes county, May 2d, 1844

Carolina Watchman, Salisbury, 11 May 1844.

$5 REWARD.  Ranaway from the subscriber in the 12th ultimo, James C. Russel, a bound mulatto Boy, about 17 years old.  Said boy is spare built and about 5 feet 6 or 8 inches high.  The above reward will be given to any person that will bring him to me, or confine him in some jail so that I get him again.  ISAAC N. RICH.  Davie County, Feb. 20, 1850

Carolina Watchman, Salisbury, 6 Mar 1851.

In the 1850 census of Davie County: James C. Russel, 17, laborer, mulatto, in the household of white farmer Isaac N. Rich.  In 1860 Mocksville, Davie County: Jas. Russel, 26, wagoner, wife Caroline, 20, and son John C., 7, plus Sam Kent, 14.

 

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December 21, 2012

Craven County Apprentices, 1788.

On 14 March 1788, John, a Negro boy son of Negro Phillis, aged about 14 years, was bound to James Carney as a cooper.

On 15 June 1788, Isaac Dove, Negro boy aged 17 years the 5th of May last, and Simon Dove, aged 14 years the 21st of January last, were bound to Bazel Smith as a shoemaker.

On 13 September 1788, George Carter, free Negro boy aged 11 years or thereabouts, was bound to Thomas Ives as a turner.

On 18 December 1789, Sue Powers, a Negro girl aged 10 years next June, was bound to John Bryan of New Bern as a spinster.

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