Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Category: Births Deaths Marriages

June 9, 2018

R.I.P. Ira Berlin.

Ira Berlin died this week. His Slaves Without Masters: The Free Negro in the Antebellum South (1974) helped me make sense of the status of many of my North Carolina ancestors, whose free status I had never suspected — or perhaps even heard of — when I began family research. When I veered toward a Ph.D. in American History after law school, Professor Berlin tried to convince me to come to the University of Maryland. I chose Columbia University instead, though it pained me to miss an opportunity to study under him.

He is eulogized here and here.

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September 15, 2016

She had been ailing for some years.

FOUND DEAD.

Coroner Jones held an inquest on yesterday, over the body of a free negro woman, named Betsey Hagan, aged about 60 years, found dead on the lot of Mr. J.W. Potter, in the Eastern portion of the town. It appears that the woman lived in a small house on Mr. P’s lot, and that early in the morning, as himself and brother came out of his house, they found the woman lying dead in the yard. She had been “ailing” for some years, and it is supposed, that in going out that morning to attend to some duty, she fell dead. The verdict of the Jury was that she came to her death from natural causes.

Wilmington Daily Journal, 9 September 1860

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September 15, 2016

Particulars for the funeral.

a-simmons-kroeger

Funeral bill for Anna Henderson Simmons, who died in Logansport, Cass County, Indiana, on 16 June 1906.

Anna H. Simmons was a native of Wayne County, North Carolina. Contrary to information shown in this document, her parents were James Henderson and Eliza Armwood Henderson. Anna’s husband Montraville Simmons was born in Duplin or Wayne County, North Carolina, in 1839 to John Calvin Simmons and Hepsie Whitley Simmons. The family migrated to Ontario, Canada, in the 1850s.

In the 1850 census of South Side of Neuse, Wayne County, North Carolina: farmer Calvin Simmons, 42, wife Hepsey, 46, and children Harriet, 13, Susan, 11, Montrival, 9, Jno. R., 7, Margaret, 5, Dixon, 3, and Geo. W., 1, plus Robt. Aldridge, 26, who worked as a hireling. 

In the 1860 census of Westbrooks, Sampson County, North Carolina: James Henderson, mulatto carpenter; wife Eliza; and four children, Anna J., Susan, Hepsie, and Alexander. 

Copy of funeral bill courtesy of Kroeger Funeral Home, Logansport, Indiana.

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February 8, 2016

She had been ailing for some years.

Found Dead.

Coroner Jones held an inquest on yesterday, over the body of a free negro woman, named Betsey Hagan, aged about 60 years, found dead on the lot of Mr. J.W. Potter, in the Eastern portion of the town. It appears that the woman livef in a small house on Mr. P’s lot, and that early in the morning , as himself and his brother came out of his house o, they found the woman lying dead in the yard. She had been “ailing” for some years, and it is supposed, that in going out that she came to her death from natural causes.

Wilmington Daily Journal, 9 September 1860.

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January 5, 2016

Nathan Blackwell’s will and desire.

this the 24th of January 1845 }   this my desire and will that I give to Josiah and Nathan Axum Andrew & all my property to be Equally divided and I want Asberry Blackwell to take Andrew and see to his labor for my children to the best advantage also take my children and take care of them and satisfy himself for his troble out of my property this my Last will and testament whereunto I now set my han and Seal to        Nathan (X) Blackwell {seal}

Test  James F. Mercer, Thomas Mercer

Nathan Blackwell received a marriage license to marry Jincey Powell on 15 December 1838 in Nash County, North Carolina. Elijah Powell and Henry Bount were bondsmen, and B.H. Blount, a witness.

In the 1840 census of Nash County, North Carolina, Nathan Blackwell headed a household comprised of one free colored male, aged 10-23; one free colored female, aged 10-23; and two free colored males under 10. In the 1850 census of Nash County, Asberry Blackwell [likely Nathan’s brother] lived alone.

Nathan’s children are not found in the 1850 census. In 1860, Josiah Blackwell, 21, was listed as a steam mill laborer in the household of engineer John Valentine. On 27 March 1861, Josiah married Becky Mitchell at Wiley Lamm’s steam mill. In 1860, Nathan E. Blackwell, 20, is listed as a wagoner living in the household of farmer Robinson Baker in Wilson County.

North Carolina Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 [database on-line], ancestry.com.

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December 6, 2015

Give her of the fruit of her hands.

Lydia, daughter of Theopolis Miller Winslow, was born March 7, 1846, and died Oct. 27, 1913. When she was but a child her mother died and she was raised in a family of Friends, living with them until she was united in marriage to Parker Jones. To them were born four children, George, Mattie, William and Daniel. Three are still living, George, Mattie and Daniel, with several grandchildren and many relatives and friends to mourn their loss. William died when a child. Her husband died twelve years ago. She belonged to the A.M.E. church at Dublin, and while not a constant attendant, she carried within her breast that hidden treasure, that quiet peace, which the world knoweth not of. She was strictly honest and truthful in all her dealings. It was her greatest pleasure to make her home happy. Her children rise up and call her blessed, and her husband did praise her. Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Funeral services at the home Wednesday afternoon by the Rev. Baker, of Muncie, and Rev. Hill, the local pastor. Burial in Capital Hill.

Cambridge (Indiana) City Tribune, 30 October 1913.

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December 5, 2015

Did unlawfully live as man and wife.

State of North Carolina, Wilson County to wit:

Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions January Term AD 1859

The Jurors for the State on their oath present that Benjamin Price a free negro late of the County of Wilson on the 1st day of December AD 1858 and divers other days and times both before and after that day at and in the county aforesaid did unlawfully cohabit & live as man & wife with Easter a slave the property of Dempsey Barnes contrary to the form of the statute in such cases made & provided and against the peace & dignity of the state.    /s/ B.B. Barnes Sol

[Reverse: State vs Ben Price A Slave for Wife / Gov Pros Wit Dempsey Barnes  / Not a true Bill W.E.J. Shallington For’n Grand Jury]

Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

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October 13, 2015

Poet and minister’s father.

“Islay Walden, black poet and Congregational minister, was born in Randolph County, the son of a slave named Ruth belonging to James Gardner. At Gardner’s death in 1843 Ruth and her two children were sold to Dolphin Gardner. Islay was at that time a babe in arms while his sister, Sarah, was two. How many times he was sold after that is unknown. His father was William D. Walden, a free black who was highly respected in his community. …”

— From http://ncpedia.org/biography/walden-islay

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July 29, 2015

Drowned in the river.

A CORONER’S INQUEST

Was held yesterday, by JOHN C. WOOD, Esq., Coroner, over the body of a free colored boy named THOMAS ALLEN, who was drowned on Thursday, whilst bathing in the river. The verdict of the jury was “accidental drowning.”

The Tri-Weekly Commercial (Wilmington), 5 August 1848.

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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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