Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Category: Court Actions

Caswell County Will Books: D

In Book D, at October Court, 1800, Alsey Hudson, an orphaned female child of colour, aged 2 years, bound to Zephaniah Tait.

In Book D, at October Court, 1801, Armsted Phillips, a mulatto boy, age 5 years and 6 months, bound to Epp’s Stone.

In Book D, at October Court, 1801, Nancy Phillips, a mulatto girl aged 8 years old on 15 March next, bound to Eppophroditus Stone.

In Book D, at April Court, 1802, Allen Caswell, a mulatto boy aged 19 years old January last, bound to Henry Atkinson.

 

Caswell County Will Books: A & B

Book A, September Court Session, 1781.  Sarah George binds unto Richard Moore a mulatto child named Harbert, aged 2 years, 8 months on 20 Aug 1781.  Wit: L. Johnston, Richd. Smith, James Douglas.

Book A, June Court Session, 1782.  Rebecca Cousins, a free-born Negro, is apprenticed to Robert Daney.

Book B, September Court Session, 1782.  Edward Upton and Jane, his wife, bound her son William Long, a mulatto, to Samuel Bracken.  Wit: Thomas Brooks, Thomas Rice.

Book B, October Court Session, 1790.  Mournin, a mulatto orphan aged 3 years next March, was bound to Andrew Haddock.

Caswell County Will Books, North Carolina State Archives.

 

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.

Person binds five.

Ordered that Bitha Reed now of the age of Ten years, Vinia Reed now of the age of Eight years, Sion Reed now of the age of Six years, Washington Reed now of the age of Three years, and also William Hagans not of the age of Six Years, all of Colour be bound unto Thomas Person untill they arrive at Lawful age

November Term, 1821, Wayne County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions

Onslow County apprentices, 1801-1809.

The following free children of color were apprenticed in Onslow County during the period 1801 through 1809:

Salona Hammons to John Willey, 1801.

Asa Hammonds to John Willey, 1801.

Henry Mashburn to Hach James, 1804.

Omy Whiters to Henry Horn, 1806.

Joshua Whiters to Henry Horn, 1806.

Rose Boon to James Thompson, 1807.

Hardy Jarman to Frances Willey, 1808.

Sucky Henderson to Richard Trott, 1809.

Polly Henderson to Isaac Barber, 1809.

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

Show cause why the indentures of apprenticeship should not be rescinded.

North Carolina

To the Shiriff of Wayne County Greeting

You are hereby commanded to make known to Nathan Edgerton to produce into court at the next term to be held for said County at the Court House in Goldsboro on the third Monday of May next, Mary, Raeford, Louisa, Amelia, Devereux, Narcissa, Olif & Sarah Carroll, Children of Margaret Carroll, then & there to Show cause if any he has why the Indentures of Apprenticeship to him should not be recinded — herein fail not, & have you then & there this writ

Witness Benj Aycock clerk of said court at office the third Monday of Feby A.D. 1856

Issued 23rd April 1856                  Benj. Aycock  Clk.

Nathan Edgerton indentured nine Carroll children, aged 1 to 15, in 1855.  Their mother Margaret Carroll, who lived in Johnston County, protested the indentures without apparent success: Sarah, Louisa, Amelia, Olivia and Narcissa Carroll appear in Nathan Edgerton’s household in the 1860 census of Wayne County.

Apprenticeship Records, Wayne County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

A coloured apprentice.

State of No Carolina }     Court of Pleas & Quarter

Wayne County        }            Sessions — Nov Term 1837 —

Mr Henry Best Sir You are hereby notified to produce on Monday of Feby term of this court next a coloured apprentice named Vincey Seabery on penalty of forfeiting your bond given for the forthcoming of said negro.

Nov 28th 1837          Jno A Green clk

Apprenticeship Records, Wayne County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

[Sidenote: Melvina Seaberry was seven years old in 1824 when apprenticed to Best, who had indentured her brothers Rufus and James Madison Seaberry in 1820.  Best bound another sibling (or cousin), Raleigh Seaberry, in 1837, and yet another, Harriet Seaberry, in 1837.  Melvina was closing in on 21 years of age in 1837, and her indenture was expiring, which may be the reason for Best’s summons. — LYH]

A small boy of Culler.

March the 29th 1831

Beet known to the onerable Cort of Wayne County that I had a small boy of Culler Bound to me Two or three years ago I am going to the Westan Contry and I have Left the boy with Stephen Woodard and I Wish the Cort to Binde the Same to sd Woodard and releas me and my Secureety     — Woodard Daniel

Only one indenture involving Woodard Daniel survives, that for 12 year-old Lewis Artis in 1824.  However, records show that Stephen Woodard bound 9 year-old Willie Hagans in 1831, and we can assume that this was the child that Daniel gave up.  Woodard bound 8 free children of color between 1820 and 1831.

Apprenticeship Records, Wayne County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

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.