Jonah Williams.
Jonah Williams, son of free woman of color Vicey Artis and her enslaved husband Solomon Williams, is buried in a now-overgrown cemetery near Eureka, Wayne County.
Fourth Generation Inclusive
Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color
Category: Births Deaths Marriages
May 31, 2014
A centenarian.
A CENTENARIAN. – A free colored man named William Lomack died in this vicinity on Saturday last: He served as a regular soldier throughout the whole Revolutionary War, and drew a pension up to the time of his death. He is said to have been 104 years of age! – Fay. Observer.
The North-Carolinian (Fayetteville), 21 September 1850.
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In the 1850 census of Cumberland County, William Lomac, 95, born in New Jersey, with Patsey Canaday, 26, and William, 7, and Sarah, 2, born in NC.
May 30, 2014
Barnes, or Burns, or Copage, or Farmer.
$125 REWARD
will be paid for the delivery of the said HARRY to me at Tossnot Depot, Edgecombe county, or for his confinement in any Jail in the State so that I can get home, or One Hundred and Fifty Dollars will be given for his head.
He was lately heard from in New-Bern where he called himself Henry Barnes (or Burns), and will likely continue the same name, or assume that of Copage or Farmer. He has a free mulatto woman for a wife, by the name of Sally Bozeman, who has lately removed to Wilmington, and lives in that part of the town called Texas, where he will likely be lurking.
Master of vessels are particularly cautioned against harboring, employing, or concealing the said negro on board their vessels, as the full penalty of the law will be rigorously enforced. GUILFORD HORN. June 29th, 1850
Eastern Carolina Republican (New Bern), 20 November 1850.
May 30, 2014
Puking, purging, pains.
From the Washington (N.C.) Whig.
HEALTH OF THE TOWN.
Several cases of malignant cholera have occurred in our town. We deem it unnecessary to say much on the subject ourselves, as our readers will find below the detailed report of the Board of Health. This report was handed to us yesterday at noon, and we have heard of no case since. It is now four days since the last case occurred: our citizens are therefore recovering from the panic with which they were at first struck; and several families who then thought of withdrawing from the town, now deem that step quite unnecessary.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
The undersigned, Commissioners and Physicians, constituting a Board of Health for the Town of Washington, under a sense of what they deem their duty to the community, make publick the following cases and facts and occurrences, relative to the health of this town: —
October 8th. Case 1. – A child of a coloured man, living in a low and wet, though central part of the town, and taken in the night with the following symptoms: – puking, purging, pains in the stomach and bowels. When seen by a physician, there was universal coldness of surface, and no perceptible pulse at the wrist. Died at 12 o’clock, A.M. on the 9th.
9th. Case 2. – Winney Pilgreen, a free coloured woman, age not known, but supposed to be about 50 years. When seen by a physician, she was vomiting a glareous fluid, which she said was hot and acid; purging frequent, but small, of a fluid slightly tinged with bile; had pains in the stomach and intestines; spasms of the fingers and in the muscles of the legs and feet; surface of the head, chest and abdomen, below natural temperature; and at the extremities, very cold, shriveled, and inelastic; excessive thirst; complaining of great internal heat; pulse very indistinguishable, being full, soft and feeble; tongue with a thick brown coat upon it. Died on the morning of the 16th.
9th. Case 3. – Philis Brown, mother of the former, sick in an adjoining room. When seen by a physician, had every symptom of preceding case, except that of the pulse; here it was with difficulty perceived, being very small and frequent. Died on the night of the 11th.
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10th. Case 6. Jackson, a free mulatto. Habits not known; in appearance, having a strong healthy constitution; previous health not known; taken at 10 o’clock, P.M. Was seen by a physician in an hour after attack, and found with spasms in stomach and intestines; puking and purging colourless matter; cold tongue; pulseless. Died at 5 A.M., on the 11th.
12th. Case 7. – Isaac Pilgreen, a free coloured man. Habits intemperate; by trade a mason; had been intoxicated for the last week, and exposed day and night in attendance on Nancy, his wife. This patient, when taken, was in a state of inebriety. When seen by a physician, which was in less than an hour, the patient was spasmed in stomach and intestines; cramped in the extremities; had puking and purging of this fluid rice-colored matter; cold surface and tongue; pulse nearly extinct. Survived 5 ½ hours.
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Newbern Spectator, 24 October 1834.
May 30, 2014
Knocked off the locomotive.
FATAL ACCIDENT.
A free negro man named Shadrack Manly, employed as a fireman on board of the Rail Road train for 8 or 10 years, was knocked off from the Locomotive, on Saturday afternoon, by striking against a post of the county bridge that runs across the Road, about 200 yards above the Depot. He was standing with one foot on the brake, and leaning over, when the accident happened. He fell under the wheels, which run over his face and killed him instantly. – The Coroners’ jury brought in a verdict in accordance with the above facts.
Weekly Commercial (Wilmington), 20 July 1849.
May 29, 2014
Recommended to the mercy.
SENTENCED TO BE HANGED. — At Wake Superior Court last week, John Locklear, a free negro, convicted of burglary, was sentenced to be hanged on the 16th of May, but was recommended to the mercy of the Governor by the Jury and the members of the Bar.
Asheville News, 1 May 1856.
May 29, 2014
The wheel had passed upon his neck.
Inquest. — On Friday last, Mr. Frederick Moore, Coroner, held an inquest on the body of a free colored man named William Blalock, of Robeson County, who was found dead on the evening previous, about four miles from town on the Rockfish Factory Road. It appeared that he had fallen from his cart in a state of intoxication, and that the wheel had passed upon his neck, and whilst in that position the ox stopped, leaving the wheel resting on his neck. Verdict accordingly. — Fayetteville Obs.
The Greensboro Patriot, 9 December 1843.
May 28, 2014
Perhaps not that old.
Wilson Advance, 13 August 1880.
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Probably, in the 1850 census, Nash County: Berry Locust, 50, wife Beedy, 45, and children Arthur, 25, Eliza, 18, Hepsy A., 16, Ivah, 15, Alsey, 12, Henry, 10, and Seymore, 8.
In the 1860 census, Coopers, Nash County: Berry Locus, 65, wife Beaddy, 60, and daughter Hepsey, 23.
May 26, 2014
Not guilty!
A Coroner’s Inquest was held on Sunday last, on the dead body of a new born colored infant, found half-buried in a ditch, in a frequented part of the City. The verdict of the Jury was, that the child was born alive, and inhumanely killed by its unnatural mother, a free woman of color, named MARTHA DICKINSON.
The North Carolina Star (Raleigh), 29 January 1845.
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SUPERIOR COURT.
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No case involving life was taken up before Wednesday, when MARTHA DICKINSON (a free woman of color) was tried for the murder of her new-born child. The Prosecution was conducted by the Attorney General, and the Defence by C.C. BATTLE, Esq. There was no doubt, from the evidence, whether the child died from violence or neglect, and the Jury, after remaining out several hours, returned a Verdict of Not Guilty!
Weekly Raleigh Register, 4 April 1845.
May 22, 2014
He complained of being unwell.
Law. – …
We understand that Joel Mitchell, a free negro, who was arraigned at the last Halifax Superior Court for the murder of Miles Ralph another free negro, and who had his cause removed to Warren county, was attempted to be brought to trial at the Superior Court held for that county last week. On his way to the Court-house Mitchell complained of being unwell, and was suffered to take a seat in the Court-house yard – medical aid was immediately procured, but it was ineffectual, the prisoner breathing his last in a few minutes – he was much debilitated, having been severely indisposed during his confinement; and it is supposed that the alarm attendant upon the situation in which he was unhappily placed, hastened his dissolution.
North Carolina Free Press (Halifax), 27 October 1827.
Fourth Generation Inclusive 