Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Category: Births Deaths Marriages

Halifax County Marriages: A

Allen, Gideon H. and Nancy M. Mabry, 4 Mar 1829.  Jas. G. Jones, bondsman.

Allen, Gideon H. and Mary Goin, 23 April 1833. John H. Harwell, bondsman.

Archer, David and Jinsey Newsom, 2 Jul 1827. John Wilkins, bondsman.

Archer, Henry and Permelia Scott, 5 Mar 1853.  Joseph Archer, bondsman.

Artis, Alford and Emeline Scott, 9 Dec 1857. Nick Richardson, bondsman.

Artis, John and Polly Artis, 10 Sep 1825. John Smith, bondsman.

Artis, Joseph and Martha Ann Dangerfield, 21 Jun 1856. Geo. G. Gary, bondsman.

Artis, Nicholas and Eliza Green, 13 Jun 1859.

Artist, Isaac and Maria Collins, 15 Oct 1850.

Artist, Wm. Henry and Mary Eliza Cumbo, 7 May 1855. Lewis Conner, bondsman.

Ash, Edmund and Middy Mills, 3 Nov 1826.  Robin Cooley, bondsman.

Ash, Edwin and Jane Ash, 27 May 1831. Noah Underdew, bondsman.

Ash, Gabriel and Melissa Ash, 13 Jul 1831. James Shaw, bondsman.

Ash, Gabriel and Martha Harwell, 13 Apr 1835.  Wm. G. Smith, bondsman.

Ash, James and Mary James, 20 October 1847, B.W. Cotton, bondsman.

Ash, James and Louisa Mitchell, 7 September 1856.  B.W. Cotton, bondsman.

Ash, James and Jane Ash, 12 November 1863.

Ash, Littleberry and Sally Ann James, 1 February 1830.  Britton Mourning, bondsman.

Ash, Nicholas and Elizabeth Banks, 29 October 1834.  Thos. C. Willis, bondsman.

Ash, Sandy and Frankey Shine, 5 January 1832.  James Shaw, bondsman.

Ash, Warren J. and Viney Manley, 30 June 1832. Saml. Locklear, bondsman.

Ash, Weldon and Maria Toney, 25 April 1832.  Silas Banks, bondsman.

Ash, William and Harriet Toney, 1 Nov 1826. Jas. Bouser, bondsman.

Ash, Wilson and Eliza Bowser, 17 Nov 1831.  Silas Banks, bondsman.

Ashe, Emanuel and Jane Mills, 19 Aug 1859.

Ashe, Moses and Aderline Jones, 23 Sep 1852.

Marriage Registers, Register of Deeds, Halifax County.

 

Free-Issue Death Certificates: REID.

Zannie Reid.  Died 21 May 1914, Fremont, Wayne County. Negro.  Widow.  Born 28 Aug 1829 to [blank] Hagans and Nancy Hagans, both of NC.  Buried Reid graveyard.  Informant, John G. Reid, Fremont.

Edwin Hall.  Died 22 Jan 1915, Fremont, Wayne County.  Negro.  Married.  Farmer.  Age 66.  Born to Dempsey Hall and Patsy Reid.  Buried “in country.”

Christian Coley.  Died 6 Sep 1915, Pikeville, Wayne County.  Married.  About 66 years old.  Born in NC to Washington Reid and Pennie Reid.  Buried Reid graveyard.  Informant, Henry Coley, Pikeville.

David Reid.  Died 27 Oct 1915, Great Swamp, Wayne County.  Colored. Married.  About 70 years old.  Born in NC to Jacob Coley and Bitha Reid, both of NC. Buried Fremont cemetery. Informant, Isler Reid.

Winnie Reid.  Died 15 Aug 1918, Pikeville, Wayne County NC.  Colored.  Widow.  80 years old.  Born Wayne County to Bill Hall and Nancy Hagans, both of Wayne County.  Informant, Burrell Reid, Pikeville.

William Reid.  Died 27 Jan 1926, Black Creek, Wilson County.  Colored.  Married to Bettie Reid.  76 years old.  Born in Wayne County to John Reid and Zannie Reid, both of Wayne. Buried in the Wilson graveyard.  Informant, Pinkney Reid, Fremont.

Henry Reid.  Died 28 Sep 1930, Goldsboro NC.  Colored.  Widower of Georgeana Reid.  70 years old.  Born in Wayne County to John Reid and Zania Hall.  Informant, Frances Newsome.

Auther Reid.  Died 23 Feb 1929, Township #9, Edgecombe County.  Negro.  Single.  Born 18 Nov 1842 in Edgecombe to Miles Reid and Martha Febury Reid.  Buried near Macclesfield.

Gray Reid.  Died 8 Jan 1936, Township #10, Edgecombe County.  Resided “Hal Farm.” Colored. Widower of Lucy Reid.  Born 1844 in Edgecombe to unknown parents.  Informant, Jonah Reid. Macclesfield.

 

 

It is the misfortune of their children.

Frances Howard v. Sarah Howard, 51 NC 235 (1858).

In about 1818, Miles Howard, then a slave, “without other ceremony, took for his wife, by consent of his master” a slave named Matilda, who belonged to a Mr. Burt.  Miles was immediately thereafter emancipated, bought Matilda, and had a daughter named Frances.  Miles freed Matilda, and they had seven more children, Robert, Eliza, Miles, Charles, Lucy, Ann and Thomas, before Matilda died.  A few years later, Miles married a free woman of color “with due ceremony” and had four children, Sarah, John, Nancy and Andrew. In 1836, Frances was emancipated by an Act of the State Legislature.  After Miles’ death, his children by Matilda claimed their share of Miles’ estate, but his children by the free woman of color claimed to be Miles’ sole heirs.  Halifax County Superior Court found for the defendants, and plaintiffs appealed.  After an exegesis on slave marriage, the state Supreme Court held that, because thet did not marry legally once freed, neither Frances nor the rest of Matilda’s children were legitimate.  “It is the misfortune of their children that they neglected or refused [to marry lawfully], for no court can avert the consequences.” Judgment for Sarah and her full siblings.

The 1850 census of Halifax County shows Miles Howard (51), who was a barber, wife Caroline (25) and children Frances (25), Charles (17), Lucy (11), Thos. (8), Sarah (4), John (2) and Nancy (5 mos.)  Son Miles Jr. (23), also a barber, lived nearby.

Mortality Schedule: Caswell County, 1850.

William Chavis, mulatto, 5 mos., born Caswell County, sudden.

Susan Bowers, mulatto, 75, widow, born Va., old age.

Mahala Hathcock, black, born Caswell Co., unknown.

William Wood, black, 24, born Caswell Co., unknown.

Frances Wood, black, 20, born Caswell Co., consumption.

Edmund F. Hood, black, 18, born Caswell Co., rhumatism.

Babies’ daddies.

The following bastardy bonds involving free people of color were entered in Wayne County during the period 1852-1860:

In 1852, Zilpha Artis named William Artis as the father of her child.  Artis and Daniel Aycock posted security for the child’s support.

In the 1860 census of Davis, Wayne County: Simon Pig Artis, 70, farmer, wife Celia, 70, son Thos., 23, daughter Zilpha, 30, and grandchildren Lumiza, 17, and Penninah, 11. [Sidenote: Penninah may be the child above. – LYH] 

In 1852, Rachel Munday named Henderson Mitchell as the father of her child.

In the 1860 census of Indian Springs, Wayne County: Henderson Mitch, 30, wife Margrett J., 30, and children Virginia, 11, Elizabeth, 8, Silvany, 6, Wm., 4, and John, 1.

In 1853, Sally Burnett named David Proctor as the father of her child.  Proctor and J.J. Bradbury posted security.

In the 1850 census of North Side of Neuse, Wayne County: Sarah Burnett, 27, her children Delity, 9, Micagah, 6, and David, 1 month; Zilpha Wilkins, 45, David Proctor, 26, brickmason; and James Turnage, 28, brickmason, his wife Ann, 20, and their children Henry, 5, and Allis, 4. [Sidenote: it seems likely that one-month-old David Burnett is the child above.]

In 1854, Polly Newel named David Simmons as the father of her child.  Simmons, Harris Barfield and Calvin Dail posted security.

In the 1850 census of South of Neuse, Wayne County: Ity Simmons, 40, and sons David, 22, and George, 20.  Also, Celia Newell, 60, daughters Peggy, 30, Polly, 24, Ann, 19, and Margarett, 1; all white. In the 1860 census of Buck Swamp, Wayne County: Celia Newell, 50, Margarett, 25, Polly, 30, and Margarett A. Newell, 13, all white.  Next door: Jesse Brinson, 65, farmer, wife Ita, 50, and Mary Newell, 7; all mulatto. [Sidenote: Ita Brinson was formerly Ita Simmons. Mary Newell is her son David’s child. Also, per her marriage application, the father of Polly Newell’s daughter Margaret was Quin Young, a free man of color. – – LYH]

In 1854, Jane Artis named Bryan Capps as the father of her child.  Tabitha Mitchell and Kenan W. Langston provided security.

In 1855, Jane Artis named Wilson Hagans as the father of her child.  Hagans was not found in the county and could not be served with the action.

In 1855, Jane Artis named Bryant Capps as father of her child.  Capps and Willie Roe provided security.

In 1855, Elizabeth Burnett named Henderson Ganzy as father of her child.  Ganzy was not to be found in the county.

In 1856, Anna Newell named William Winn as father of her child.  Winn, Washington Winn and David Simmons provided security.

In 1857, Wayte Locus named Calvin Hagans as father of her child.  Hagans, H. Woodard Lewis and William Thompson provided security.

In the 1870 census of Nahunta, Wayne County: Raiford Coley, 70, Waity Locus, 55, Dewitt, 15, Candus, 12, and Wiley, 10. [Sidenote: The child was Candis Locust. – LYH]

In 1858, Sallie Simmons named Washington Winn as father of her child.  Winn, William Vernon and Wait G. Martin provided security.

In 1860, Eliza Winn named John Newell as father of her child.  Newell, Jesse Brinson and Charles Winn provided security.

Bastardy Bonds, Wayne County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

Children born to free mulatress.

These are names of slaves born to free mulatress ages of the children of Eliza Hall

William Henry Hall was born Feb the 11th 1844

Patrick Hall was born October the 6th 1845

Margaret Ann Hall was born Feb the 12th 1847

Louiser Hall was born April the 9th 1849

Balam Hall was born Feb 7th 1851

These entries (the first sentence in a different hand) were inscribed in the Bible of Lewis Ellis (1794-1854) of Wilson County.  Ellis’ good friend, James Bullock Woodard (1793-1863), was the father of Eliza Hall’s five children.  (Who were, of course, as free as their mother.)  The 1850 census of Edgecombe County lists Eliza Hall, age 26, with her children Wm. (6), Patrick (4), Martha [sic] (3), and “girl” (1).  In 1860, they are in Saratoga district, Wilson County.  The Bible remains in the Ellis family.  

Free-issue Death Certificates: HAGANS.

Charles Hagans.  Died 26 Mar 1939 in Wilson.  Resided at 210 Manchester Street, Wilson.  Colored.  Widower of Clara Hagans. Age 80 years, 1 month, 1 day.  Preacher.  Born Wilson County to Richard Hagans and Allie Faithful.  Informant, Richard Hagans.

Infant Charles Hagans is listed in the household of his parents, Richard and Alley Hagans, in the 1860 census of Edgecombe County.

Geo. Hagans.  Died 24 June 1925, Nahunta township, Wayne County. Negro. Married to Ann Hagans. Age 75.  Farmer. Born Pikeville, Wayne County, to William Henry Hagans and Matilda [no last name], both of Wayne County. Buried in Pikeville cemetery.  Informant, Raeford Hagans.

Polly Hagans.  Died 10 Feb 1927, New Hope township, Wayne County.  Colored.  Widow.  Age about 85. Born in NC.  Father, Gary Rowe.  Buried Lenoir County.  Informant, Jack Rowe. 

Gary Rowe is listed as a head of household in the 1840 census of Davis District, Wayne County, and the 1860 census of Stoney Creek township, Wayne County.

Free-Issue Death Certificates: POWELL.

Elijah Powell.  Died 5 Apr 1914, Wilson township, Wilson County.  Black. Married.  Farmer.  Age 84.  Born in Nash County to Elijah Powell and Seathie Powell.  Buried Wilson County.  Informant, T.A. Jones.

Nineteen year-old farmer Eligah Powell is listed with his parents, Eligah and Selah Powell, in the 1850 census of Nash County.

Dolison Powell.  Died 23 Dec 1915, Wilson township, Wilson County.  Colored.  Married.  Farmer.  Born 5 Apr 1840 in Wilson County to Steven Powell and Sintha Powell, both of Edgecombe County.  Buried Wilson County.  Informant, Howard Powell.

“Dolly” Powell, age 7, is listed in the household of his parents, Stephen and Synthia Powell, in the 1850 Nash County census.

Mary Ann Powell.  Died 5 Apr 1921, Jackson township, Nash County.  Widow of Ickibuck Powell.  Colored.  Age 74.  Born in Wilson County to Silas Lassiter & Orpie Lassiter, both of Wilson County.  Buried Powell gtaveyard.  Informant, Henry Powell.

Mary Lassiter, age 11, is listed in the household of her parents, Silas and Orpie Lassiter, in the 1860 census of Wilson township, Wilson County. 

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.

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.