JULIUS HAGANS and BISCO HAGANS were sons of Richard Hagans and Alice Ann Faithful Hagans, who married in 1849 in Edgecombe County. They are buried in a family plot in Elm City’s black cemetery.
Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, May 2013.
In the 1860 census of Edgecombe County: Rich’d Hagans, 33, wife Alley, 31, and children Laurence, 10, Laura, 8, Margaret, 6, Richard, 5, Neely, 3, and Charles H., 3 months.
State of North Carolina, Guilford County } Superior Court of Law In Fall Term 1866
To the Honorable the Judge of said County
Zilpha Ann Goings of the county and state aforesaid by her petition respectfully showeth unto your Honor, that she was born free, that she intermarried in the county of Alamance on 7th of August 1858 with one Barrister Goings, a free man of color, that the said Barrister obtained a license from the clerk of the County Court for said County of Alamance, and the rites of matrimony were solemnized between them by a Justice of the Peace according to Law that the said Barrister lived [with] her about eighteen months, that for the first three months their life was peaceful and happy, that about that time, for some reason unknown to your Petitioner but wholly without Just cause, the said Barrister became Jealous of her, and began to curse, whip, illtreat, and threaten your Petitioner, that this course of conduct was kept up until some time in June 1860, when the said Barrister without cause and against the will of your Petitioner, left her and went to the county of Chatham, that in the autumn of that year, he returned to her, staid three weeks, quarreled with her, abused her threatened to take her life and again abandoned her, that she strove to make him happy and induce him to live with her, but it was all in vain, that he hath never returned to her house since that time, and has wholly and cruelly abandoned her, that he hath never since then helped her, in furnishing her in any thing to subsist, or paid any the least attention to her, whatever, that she is advised and believes that he has led a lewd life, since he quited her, that she is informed and believes, that he after leaving her, visited one Ruth Bass, a free woman of color, had illicit intercourse with her, and that afterwards the said Ruth was delivered [page missing] ly him, that she good reasons to believe and does believe that he has had illicit and adulterous intercourse with persons to her unknown, in the county of Chatham where he lived for some time after he left her, that she has not heard of him for about two years, and does not know now where he lives, or in what manner he is conducting himself, that she has resided in Guilford county over seven years, that the course of action has existed for nearly eight years, that she hath born herself, as a wife should, hath observed her vows, of chasity and fidelity, and regretted no little that she could not induce her husband to continue with her, and observe his own vows of chastity and fidelity, help her to make a livelyhood, and lead with her a correct and upright life, that she hath never given him any cause for the course he has since stronly pursured, your Petitioner therefore prays your Honor that she may be dissolved from the bonds of matrimony with her said husband, the said Barrister Goings, and for further and such other relief, as the nature of her case may require and to your Honor may seem meet. May it please your Honor to grant unto her [illegible] writ of supoena directed to the said Barrister Goings, commanding him to appear at the next Term of the Superior Court of Law to be held for the county of Guilford at the Court in Greensboro on 4th Monday after 4th Monday in September 1866 then and there to plead, or answer the Libel of your Petitioner and stand to, abide by, and perform such orders and Judgments as shall lie made in this case, And as in duty bound will pray Scott & Scott Atty
Divorce Records, Guilford County Records, North Carolina State Archives.
In the 1850 census of Southern Division: Barister Goans, 13, in the household of William Workman, 32. In the 1860 census of Eastern Division, Chatham County: Barrister Goings, 30, and Emeline Goings, 28. In the 1870 census of Pittsboro Road North Side, Chatham County: Barrister Goens, 40, wife Nancy, 35, and children John, 11, George, 7, and Nathan, 5.
In the 1860 census of Alamance County: Stephen Bass, 60, with Ruth, 16, Sarah, 12, Jonathan, 10, and Eliza Bass, 6, and Maria, 23, M.J., 6, and John Dunnan, 2.
WILLIAM H. HALL, SR. was the son of Eliza Hall and James B. Woodard, a white man. He is buried in Red Hill cemetery, near Stantonsburg, Wilson County. Beloved father farewell.
Photo taken by Lisa Y. Henderson, May 2013.
[Sidenote: The birthdate on William Hall’s headstone is completely different from that reported in the Lewis Ellis Bible. Of course, neither he nor his family had access to this Bible, and he may not have known his actual birthdate. — LYH]
Suicide.
In the Southeastern part of Lincoln county, on the 2d ultimo, a free mulatto named Thos. Taylor, committed suicide by shooting himself in the throat with a pistol. It took place at the house of Mr. Wm. Hunt. T. was a distiller by trade, and had the fever and ague some three or four weeks, for the cure of which he used spirits, without regard to the time of the fever, This, it is thought, deranged him, and during one of those deranged spells, he committed the act in Mr. Hunt’s yard, and in presence of one of Mr. Hunt’s sons. — Charlotte Democrat.
Iredell Express, Statesville, 3 February 1860.
Sad Death.
Tuesday, February the 19th., Jackson Tabourn an old colored man was found dead in the woods in Ferrell’s Township, two miles above Stanhope. He had been from home and was returning at the time of his death. The cause of his sudden demise is unknown, but it thought that he died a natural death. He was a respected colored citizen and his death is to be deplored.
The Wilson Advance, 20 February 1880.
In the 1850 census of Nash County: Jackson Tayborne, 28, wife Mary, 26, and children Margie A., 9, Emily A., 7, Dossey, 4, and Mardecie, 2.
In the 1860 census of North Western District, Wake County: Jackson Taborn, 45, farm laborer, wife Mary, 46, and children Emily, 17, Mardesia, 13, Dawson, 15, While, 9, Dane, 6, and Joseph, 3.
In the 1880 mortality schedule of Nash County: Jackson Tayborn, 56, colored, died February, apoplexy.
FRANCES ARTIS DIGGS was born about 1842 near present-day Eureka, Wayne County, to Eliza Artis and James Yelverton, a white man. She is buried in a small family plot on Watery Branch Road just south of Highway 222 in Wayne County.
Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, May 2013.
The marriage license of Josiah Hagans and Anna Lomack of Cumberland County.
Marriage Bonds, Cumbelrand County Records, North Carolina State Archives.
In the 1840 census of Cumberland County: Josiah Hagans heads a household consisting of 1 male aged 36-55, 1 male aged 55-100, 5 females under age 10, and 1 female aged 24-36; all free people of color.
In the Name God Amen
I Tamsey Gandy of the County Wayne and State of North Carolina being in slow State of Health but of Sound mind and memory blessed be god for the Same Calling to mind the certainty of death, I make & publish this my last will and Testament in manner and form following Viz I give and bequeath unto my Son Henderson Gandy my bed bedstead and necessary furniture, and Red chest and all my clothes and Spun Cotton. I leave the rest of my property to be Sold by my Executor and money arising there from I leave to my Son Anderson Gandy.
I leave my Worthy friend Robert Williams my Executor to this my last will and Testament revoaking all other Wills by me made. April 28th in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty two whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal Tansey X Gandy
Signed sealed and published in the presence of William Lewis
The will was proved at May Term 1842. Recording Docket Book 8, p. 309. Office of Clerk of Superior Court, Wayne County Courthouse, Goldsboro.
Tamsey Gandy’s estate was sold on 15 August 1842 and brought in $41.33 ¼. Purchasers included Theo. Seaberry and Offie Seaberry (probably the same man, Theophilus Seaberry), but were primarily white neighbors. Though she could not write (or, presumably, read), Tamsey’s estate included “1 Lot Books.” Recording Docket Book 8, p. 355-356. Office of Clerk of Superior Court, Wayne County Courthouse, Goldsboro.
Edward Gandy named his daughter Tamsey Gandy as a beneficiary in his 23 July 1823 will filed in Nash County. Will Book 1, page 291, Office of the Clerk of Superior Court, Nash County Courthouse, Nashville. In 1809, the surname of Tamsey Whiddon and her siblings Griffin, Brinkley and Elizabeth was changed to Gandy, and they were “legitimated.” North Carolina General Assembly, 1809 Session Laws, Chapter CXXVIII, page 40.
Jennings Larter and Alfred Larter were sons of Arthur and Mary Larter, who migrated from Surry County NC to Owen and Lawrence Counties, Indiana, in the early 1850s. The Twenty-eighth U. S. Colored Troops were recruited in Indiana. Six companies were organized at Indianapolis in April, 1864, and turned over to the United States as a battalion of the 28th U. S. Colored infantry.
Compiled Military Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers in the 26th through 30th Infantry Units, and the 29th Connecticut Infantry (Colored). National Archives and Records Administration.
Inventory of the Estate of Dempsey Read dec’d taken 21st May 1850
Cash on hand at the time of his death Twenty five 85/100 dollars $25.85. One Note on Council Best for four 80/100 due the 4th April 1849. Bad debts – one note on James Mathews for $2.00 due 6th October 1847, on d’o on Stephen Pettiford for $5.00 due 18th November 1848, One account on James Pettiford for $1.50 Aug Co 1850 /s/ Jesse Coleman adm’r.
Jesse Coleman filed an account of the sale of Dempsey Reed’s property. The buyers included Tabitha Read, John Read, Wash. Read, Rhody Read, Benj. Read, Absalom Artis, Zion Read, Nelson Row, Jane Read, Dave, Dempsy Hall, Waty Locus, and a smattering of white neighbors. The sale netted $98.50. Recording Docket Book 10, pages 434-435, Office of Clerk of Superior Court, Wayne County Courthouse, Goldsboro.
In the settlement of Dempsey Read’s estate, Jesse Coleman paid Pearcy Read $2.50, plus 38 cents interest, on 16 July 1850; and $9.50, plus 57 cents interest, each to Patsey Read, Lila Read and Barna Read on 19 November 1850. Recording Docket Book 11, pp. 163-164, Office of Clerk of Superior Court, Wayne County Courthouse, Goldsboro.
In the 1850 mortality schedule of Wayne County: Dempsey Read, age 70, black, free, hatter, died in March of unknown causes.
[Sidenote: The relationships among the Reids are not clear. As reported in the 1840 census of Wayne County, Dempsey Reid lived alone. He may not have had a wife or children. Other Reid heads of household were Allen Reed, Barna Reed (the one above?), Bytha Reed, Bytha Reed and Rhoda Reed. Pearcy Reid, above, born about 1825, was the daughter of Allen and Sarah “Sally” Reid. Tabitha “Bitha” Reid was married to an enslaved man named Raiford. They had no known children Rhoda Reid’s husband, David — “Dave,” above — was also enslaved. Their children were Tabitha Reid (one of the Bythas, above, born ca. 1811), Melvina Reid Artis (ca. 1813), Zion Reid (ca. 1815), Washington Reid (ca. 1818), John Reid (ca. 1822), Martha “Patsey” Reid Hall (married to Dempsey Hall above, ca. 1824), Isaac Reid (ca. 1828) and Benjamin Reid (ca. 1831). — LYH]
Fourth Generation Inclusive 