Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Category: Court Actions

April 11, 2013

44 acres on Calf Pasture branch.

Know all men by these presents that we Lovett Reaves & Milly Reaves of the State of Georgia & County of Hancock Know ye that we Lovett Reaves & Milly Reaves for & in consideration of the sum of One hundred and ten dollars to us in hand paid by Jane Winn of the State of North Carolina & County of Duplin before this executing and delivering of these presents, the receipt whereof we hereby acknowledge & confess that we are therewith fully satisfied contended and paid & for these same considerations have given granted sold & assigned & set [illegible] to the said Jane Wynn her heirs and assigns forever a certain tract or parcel of land [illegible] lying & being in the County of Duplin & State of North Carolina on or near the head of the Calf Pasture branch, it being part of a tract of land belonging to the late Reuben Johnston &c and it also being the part of land that fell to the said Milly Reaves in the division of the said land by heirship, beginning at a stake in the old line & runs north with the old line N 45 poles to a stake Felix Johnson’s corner, then with his line W 158 poles to a stake his corner over the road then S 45 poles along the old line to a stake then W 158 poles to the first station including the house & field on the Road containing Forty four acres more or less together with all do privileges rights [illegible] and appurtenances to the said parcel of land & premises of the same to the use benefit & behoof of the said Jane Wynn her heirs & assigns to have & to hold forever & the said Lovett & Milly Reaves doth for themselves their [illegible] said parcel of land forever & the said said Jane Wynn shall & will warrant & forever defend from themselves their heirs executors adm’r & assigns & all other persons whatsoever. In witness whereof we the said Lovell and said Reaves [sic] hereunto set our hands and seals this twenty second day of February in the year of Our Lord Eighteen hundred & eighteen.   Lovett Reaves    Molly X Reaves

Signed sealed & del’d in the presence of Asher Flowers, Thomas X Gray

State of No Carolina, Duplin County. October Term 1818. The within deed was proved [illegible] by the oath of Asher Flowers & order to be registered. Test Wm. Dickson C.C.

Grantor Book DTFU, page 415. Register of Deeds Office, Duplin County Courthouse.

[Sidenote: Jane (or Jinny) Winn was a sister or mother or cousin of the male Winns, farmers and mechanics, who amassed property in the thousands of acres in Duplin, Wayne and Cumberland Counties. Much of it was lost in the decade before the Civil War. More later…. — LYH]

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April 9, 2013

Not guilty.

The Superior Court for this county, his honour Judge DONNELL, presiding, commenced its session on Monday last.

…

On Wednesday, Nancy Quinn, a free woman of colour, upon whose case the jury, at the last term, were unable to render a verdict, was tried for the murder of her infant child. She was found “Not Guilty.”

Newbern Sentinel, 28 October 1826.

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April 9, 2013

Wayne County Apprentices, 1836-37.

Calvin Artis, 15, was bound to Erastus Ham in 1836.

Rufus Lane, 9, was bound to Joel Lane in 1836.

Bryan and Lucy [no last names or ages] were bound to John Barfield in 1836.

Sip Read was bound to Sherard Barden in 1837.

Washington Read, 18, was bound to Burket Barnes in 1837.

Rufus Lane, 7, was bound to John Exum in 1837.

Sint Hagans, 16, Hilory Hagans, 20, and Betsey Hagans, 18, were bound to Exum Pike in 1837.

John Hays, 16, was bound to Ephraim Grant in 1837.

Dorcas Hall, 18, was bound to Martin Sauls in 1837.

Churchill Herring, 13, and Charles Herring, 9, were bound to William Wilkins in 1837. Churchill was to learn to be a “gig or wagon maker;” Charles, a mechanic.

Benja Ann Hall, 2, Winnie Hall, 4, Sam Hall, 5, and Mozana Hall, 6, were bound to Starling Daniel in 1837.

Edy Burnett, 10, and Barna Burnett, 5, were bound to Everett Joyner in 1837.

Ephraim Hagans, 10, was bound to Zachariah Davis in 1837.

Susan Artis was bound to Edwin Bryan in 1837.

Harriet Seaberry was bound to Henry Best in 1837.

Minerva Artis, 4, Rufus Artis, Benajah Artis, and Julia Artis were bound to Edwin Bryan in 1837.

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April 8, 2013

Babies’ daddies, no. 2.

At August term, 1800, Allen Mann ordered to pay Sarah Boon $15 for first year and $10 annually for next six years for support of her child of which he is the reputed father.

At August term, 1820, Benjamin Reynolds ordered to pay Lurany Hagans $15 for first year and $10 annually for next six years for support of her child of which he is the reputed father. Jesse Pridgen was bondsman.

At February term, 1821, Ben Reynolds ordered to pay Milly Locas $15 for first year and $10 annually for next six years for support of her child of which he is the reputed father.

In the 1850 census of Nash County: Milly Locust, 47, and Albert Locust, 6.

At August term, 1830, Moses Hagans ordered to pay Thena Locus $15 for first year and $10 annually for next six years for support of her child of which he is the reputed father.

In the 1850 census of Nash County: Mosis Hagans, 48, farmer, wife Pitty, 38, and Gray B. Hagans, 19.

At November term, 1830, Allen Brantley ordered to pay Patsey Bird $15 for first year and $10 annually for next six years for support of her child Lecy of which he is the reputed father.

At May term, 1831, Solomon Tabourn ordered to pay Elizabeth Howard $15 for first year and $10 annually for next six years for support of her child of which he is the reputed father.

Minutes of Pleas & Quarters Sessions, Court Records, Nash County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

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April 8, 2013

A slave for eight years.

A PECULIARLY HARD CASE. – Frank Johnson, a free man of colour, has just returned to Newcastle, Pa., after having been a slave in the South for eight years. He was decoyed to Lynchburg, Va., about 1850; since which time he has been a kind of circulating evidence through out the whole region extending from Virginia to South Carolina. He has been sold twelve times, at priced ranging from $500 to $1,000. At length, being identified, his case came up for trial in the court of Moore county, N.C., by which time was set at liberty.

Frederick Douglass’ Paper, 17 September 1858.

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April 6, 2013

An acquittal. A conviction.

Raleigh, Oct. 10 – The Superior Court for this County adjourned on Saturday. On Friday, Trueman Goode, a free man of colour, was tried for the murder of Jacob, slave, the property of Wm. Daniel; but it appearing from the testimony, that he killed the deceased in self-defence, he was acquitted.

On the same day, Frederick Matthews, a free man of colour, indicted for an assault on John Gragson, a white man, with intent to kill, was tried and convicted of the charge. He was sentenced to remain in Jail until our next County Court, on the first two days of which he is to stand in the public Stocks for one hour; to be recommitted until the 15th of January, to pay the costs of the prosecution, and to give security for the preservation of the peace for eighteen months.

Free Press, Tarboro, 17 October 1826.

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April 6, 2013

License to carry a shotgun.

Ordered by the Court that the following Free Persons of Colour be granted license to carry a shotgun for twelve months next ensuing viz:  Jordan Locklayer, Fed Wilkins, Willie Jones, Jesse Richardson, William Jones, Gideon Richardson, John Smith, Reasa Richardson, Frederick Haithcock, Lem’l Morgan, Aaron Locklayer, Simon Purner, Nicholas Richardson, Richard Conn, Julius Flood, David Reynolds, Robert Mitchum, Ellick Jones, Hardy Richardson, Herrod Scott, Norman Scott. 

Docket, August Term 1848, Court Records, Halifax County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

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April 5, 2013

Nash County Apprentices, 1778-1806.

At April Court 1778, Jesse Booth, Sylvia Booth, Henry Tayborn, the first two “base begotten” children of Priscilla Booth, the last the orphan of Henry Tayburn deceased, fees pd. Indenture to be prepared again next ct.

At July Court 1779, ordered that Isham Locas, 3, Martha Locas, 4, and Burwell Locas, 2 months, base-begotten children, were bound to Lazarus Pope to learn the art and mystery of planters for the boys and carding & spinning for the girl.

At October Court 1779, ordered that Lucy Locust, 3, Henry Locust, 6, and Joshua Locust, 2, base born children of Mary Locust, were bound to George Jackson, the boys to learn the “art and mystery” of planters and the girl, carding and spinning.

At August Court 1792, Chany Locus, 4, base-born child of Sarah Locus, was bound to Jacob Barnes until 18 to learn to card and spin.

At May Court 1806, Rich’d Shay, age 1 year, 9 months, a base-born child of color, was bound to Reuben Whitfield until 21.

At May Court 1806, Fanny Jones, 4, base-born child of color, was bound to Zadock Sneed.

Minutes, Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions, Nash County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

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April 2, 2013

Craven County apprentices, 1811.

On 11 March 1811, James Culley, 8, and William Culley, 5, boys of color, were bound to William Dove as coopers.

On 11 March 1811, Hetty Carter, William Carter, Sarah Carter and Isaac [no last name] were bound to William Physioc , the girls as spinsters, the boys as coopers.

On 11 March 1811, Peggy Ives, a girl of color aged 12 years, was bound to Michael Guillet as a trunk maker.

On 12 March 1811, John Herman, 7, and Jacob Herman, 10, were bound to John C. Stanly as shoemakers.

On 10 June 1811, Simon Clark, a free boy of color aged 13 years, was bound to Shadrack Gatlin as a cooper.

On 11 June 1811, [no name], a free boy of color aged 8 years, was bound to Gideon Jones as a cooper.

On 11 June 1811, Rachel Mosely, 11,and Charles Moseley, 15, were bound to William Gooding as a spinster and blacksmith, respectively.

On 11 June 1811, Daniel Mosely, a free boy of color aged 8 years, was bound to John Gooding as a cooper.

On 11 June 1811, Mary Mosely, a free girl of color aged 13 years, was bound to Ephraim Standland as a spinster.

On 9 September 1811, Charles Mosely, 16, and John Mosely, 2, free boys of color, were bound to Donum Montford as plasterers.

On 9 September 1811, Betsey Mosely, 6, Mary Ann Mosely, 16, and Rachel Mosley, 14, free girls of color, were bound to Lydia Mosely as spinsters.

On 9 September 1811, Daniel Mosely, a free boy of color aged 10 years, was bound to John Dewey as a carpenter and joiner.

On 10 December 1811, Jim Moore, an orphan aged 17 years, was bound to John C. Stanly as a carpenter.

On 13 December 1811, Nathan Chapman, a free boy of color aged 14 years the 16th day of May next, was bound to William Green as a carpenter.

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April 2, 2013

Register of (NC-Born) Negroes and Mulattos: Bartholomew County, Indiana, no. 5.

Catharine Hill, age 32, born Perquimans County NC; mulatto woman; 5’3”; small scar over each eye; resided Johnson County IN; witness Joshua A. Horn; registered 20 Mar 1854.

Abraham Augustus Hill, age 2, born Bartholomew County IN; negro boy; “a plump little darkie, and, if nothing happens to prevent will make a big one some day”; resided Johnson County IN; witness Joshua A. Horn; registered 20 Mar 1854.

Andrew Jackson Hill, age 8, born Bartholomew County IN; negro boy; appears sprightly; small scars over left eye and on left cheek; resided Johnson County IN; witness Joshua A. Horn; registered 20 Mar 1854.

Susan Henrietta Hill, age 4, born Bartholomew County IN; negro girl; “a rightly sprightly little girl”; resided Johnson County IN; witness Joshua A. Horn; registered 20 Mar 1854.

Alexander Leevy, age 6, born Robeson County NC; mulatto boy; bright, active and intelligent; no marks; father’s name Louis Leevy; Edward A. Herod; registered 21 Sep 1853.

In the 1860 census of Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana: John Blanks, 60, farmer, Milly Blanks, 75, and Eli Blanks, 21, plus Alexander Levy, 14, all born in NC except Milly, who was born in Maryland.

Priscilla Mitchell, age 45, born Halifax County NC; negro woman; hair slightly gray; widow, no children; witness William H.H. Terrell; registered 10 Nov 1853.

Jemima Newby, age 15; born Jackson County IN; negro girl; 5’5”; witness Joshua V. Horn; registered 20 Mar 1854.

Penina Newby; age 50-60; born Perquimans County NC;  5’3”; witness Joshua V. Horn; registered 20 Mar 1854.

John Newby, age 21; born Jackson County IN; negro’ 5’5”; small scar on right forehead and on knuckle of right little finger; witness Joshua V. Horn; registered 20 Mar 1854.

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