Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Category: Crime

January 20, 2013

Examination of the Negroes charged with insurrection.

Memorandum of the examination of the Negroes charged with insurrection — 1831

At the Methodist meeting house in Onslow County in the neighbourhood of the Rich lands Col Daniel M Dulany, Returned to Jesse Sandlin, Wm H Thompson, John B Thompson, Thomas Battle, James Thompson, Lewis T Oliver, James Glenn, and William Humphrey Esq’rs the following negros, whose names will be hereafter mentioned charged with conspiracy or insurrection, Sept 20th 1831

Jacob charged with conspiracy by the testimony of Aron (who pleads not Guilty)

Aron Sworn – so he says that Jacob was talking of the negroes rising on  the whites about 3 weeks ago on Friday night, that if they rose he had a pretty Good sword, that he would be amongst them, that Ben Rhodes had a gun and sword and Dudley’s Ben had a gun, and since that time at Mr. Hawkins he Jacob wished that the Camp Meeting was nearer than it was, so that he might aid in destroying the whites, that he Jacob, Ben Rhodes & Ben Dudley and Charles were to be the head leaders, and that they wishes to get as many to assist them as they could.

Upon the evidence let Jacob be committed

Tony charged with conspiracy and insurrections –

Aron witness swears that he heard Tony say that he expected that at a Camp Meeting to be held at this place the negroes would rise upon the whites, and that he intended to go to Newbern, when he could get guns swords and other armes, as he had none here

Upon the evidence let Tony be committed

Nathan, the Property of Edw’d Williams, who pleads not Guilty, as an insurgent

Aron Sworn – At Mr Hawkins on Sunday he saw Nathan, who spoke of being at a camp meeting, and expected that at that time the negroes would rise, but did not say anything about his joining them Upon the evidence let him be committed

Jim the property of Edw’d Koonce charged with conspiracy & insurrection

Nathan House Swears that in a conversation between him and Jim, who sayd to Nathan that the Negroes might take the whites who replied and said how was that possible when the negroes had no guns or weapons.

Upon the evidence let him have 39 lashes

Abram charged with Conspiracy &c, who pleads not Guilty, let him be acquitted.

Simon charged with Conspiracy &c, who pleads not Guilty, let him be acquitted.

Jerry Murray charged with Conspiracy &c, who pleads not Guilty, let him be acquitted.

David Tragel charged with Conspiracy &c, who pleads not Guilty, let him be acquitted.

Bill Trasel charged with Conspiracy &c, who pleads not Guilty, let him be acquitted.

Anthony Rowe charged with Conspiracy &c, who pleads not Guilty, let him be acquitted.

Mariah charged and acquitted.

Ward Humphrey charged as above, pleads not guilty, let him be acquitted.

Joshua Whitehurst charged as before pleads not guilty, let him be dismissed.

John Phillips Charged as before pleads not guilty, let him be acquitted.

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

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January 18, 2013

Beat, wound and ill treat.

State of North Carolina, Warren County    } Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions August Term 1852.  The Jurors for the State upon their oath present that James Reed a freeperson of Color at and in the said County of Warren on the first day of August in the AD 1852 with force and arms did assault one John Harris and him the said John Harris did then and there beat wound and illtreat against the peace and dignity of the State.    Ransom Sol.

Miscellaneous Records, Warren County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

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January 18, 2013

Convicted.

The Superior Court for this county is in session – Judge Ellis presiding.  We are happy to be able to say, that there is no capital case before it.

At Sampson Court, last week, Wm. Boon, alias Wm. Hussey, a free mulatto, was convicted of Burglary with intent to commit a Rape.  Solicitor Strange and Hon. J.C. Dobbin for the State; C.G. Wright, Esq. for the prisoner.

Fayetteville Observer, 4 May 1852.

In the 1850 census of Southern Division, Sampson County: Comfort Boon, 50, with Kadar, 22, Ann, 24, Beckey, 23, Elizabeth, 20, Caty, 19, Evaline, 18, William, 15, and Almira Boon, 10; all described as black.

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January 17, 2013

Unlawfully did migrate.

State vs William Mayhoe, Sophy Mayhoe, Theophilus Cyprus, Armen Cyprus, Mary Cyprus and Anthony Seward.  Indictment Missdemeanor.  Witnesses Stephen H. Turner, Austin Newman, H.R. Moss

State of North Carolina, Warren County    } Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions August Term 1858.  The jurors for the State upon their oaths present that William Mayhoe, Sophy Mayhoe, Theophilus Cyprus, Armen Cyprus, Mary Cyprus and Anthony Seward, all free negroes late of the county of Warren, on the first day of June AD 1856, at and in the county aforesaid, unlawfully did migrate into the State of North Carolina and that the said William Mayhoe, Sophy Mayhoe, Theophilus Cyprus, Armen Cyprus, Mary Cyprus and Anthony Seward, from that day up to the day of the finding of this inquisition have continued to remain in the county and State aforesaid Contrary to the form of the Statute in such case made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the State.

Miscellaneous Records, Warren County Records, North Carolina State Archives. 

In the 1850 census of Nutbush, Warren County, Sophia Mayho, 30, is listed in the household of Edward Harris, 38, blacksmith; wife Mary, 35; and children Francis, 9, James, 7, Mary, 5, and John, 2; plus Jesse Gains, 65, blacksmith.

In the 1850 census of Nutbush, Granville County: Theodore Cypress, 36, ditcher, headed a household that included Arma Cypress, 40, and Ann, 19, Robert, 16, William, 15, and Mary Kearsey, 12.

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January 17, 2013

Counterfeiters for good.

STOP THE RUNAWAY. $75 REWARD. – Runaway from the subscriber on the 17th day of September last, a negro fellow by the name of JOLLY. He is about 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high; broad shouldered, speaks a little slow, dish faced, and has a trembling in his hands when holding any thing; rather bow legged.  I think he can read print. I had another fellow who started off Jolly to Ohio with free passes. Jolly’s was a pass belonging to a free negro by the name of Wilson Smith, who had a genuine certificate signed W. Dismukes, clerk county court of Anson county, and certified by Wm. Johnson, Chairman of said County, certified by the then Governor Edward B. Dudley.  Said pass was found on Jolly in Moore county, and the man thought he was a free negro, and let him go on. About the 18th March last, a friend of mine knowing all about my negroes, pursued Jolly, and came up with him within three miles of Greensboro’, in company with three Virginia Wagoners, and took him. On his way back, Jolly made his escape, and no doubt he will try and get another free pass from the same scoundrel that furnished this with the first.

The other negro was committed to Moore county jail, and I have since got him. His free pass was written, and signed C.Q. Cooley, clerk county court of Montgomery, O. Willie, Chairman – a old paper, entirely counterfeit, though it bore the impress of something resembling a County Seal.  No doubt now remains but Simeon D. Pemberton, of Anson County, is the rascal who procured these passes for my negroes. It may be that the counterfeiter, Geasling, of Rockingham County, who was whipped and imprisoned at Wadesborough, wrote one of the passes.  When he was discharged, he visited his particular friend, Simeon D. Pemberton, and laid at his house for more than a week, fixing a plan to get my negroes off into the hands of this counterfeiting gang.

I will give $25 for the confinement of Jolly and $50 for proof to convict the rascal who took him off.  Simeon D. Pemberton is about the Height of Jolly, (not higher,) large white eyes, black beard, and will weigh from 140 to 150 pounds, a whining voice, very dark complected, and a very ingenuous and cunning fellow. I would warn the public to keep an eye upon him.  THOMAS TOMLINSON, Norwood’s P.O., Stanly Co., N.C.

Carolina Watchman, 18 April 1850.

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January 17, 2013

Jail break, no. 5.

Broke Jail. – We learn that Jesse Holley, the yellow fellow convicted at our last Superior Court, of murder and arson, and sentenced to be hung, but in whose case an appeal was taken to the Supreme Court, broke out of the jail of this town last night, and made his escape.  Holley is a most villainous-looking fellow, about 35 years of age, some five feet eight inches high, and rather stout built.  He is rather a light mulatto, with a kind of reddish or sandy hair, as if burned, and a muddy, freckled face.

We believe that a white man, awaiting trial on some charge of felony, made his escape at the same time.  We have not learned any of the particulars. Wilmington Journal.

Fayetteville Observer, 3 June 1852.

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January 16, 2013

Wearing & carrying & keeping a shotgun.

State of North Carolina, Warren County    } Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions November Term 1857.  The Jurors for the State on their oath presents that Albert Carr a free man of Color late of the County of Warren, at and in the said County on the first day of April in the year 1857 and did on other times & days between that day & the taking this inquisition, with force & arms, did wear & carry about his person a shot gun – not having obtained a license therefor from the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County of Warren within one year preceding the wearing & carrying & keeping thereof – against the form of the Statute in such case made & provided and against the peace & dignity of the State.    Renfrow

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January 16, 2013

A severe punishment.

 

A free boy of color, named Ned Carroll, was convicted at superior court for Johnson [sic] county, in this state, two weeks since, of an attempt to commit a rape on a white girl; and sentenced to be hung on the 25th inst.  A severe punishment, but a just one.

Western Carolinian, 8 April 1828.

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January 15, 2013

Bad company.

Highway Robbery. – On Saturday morning last, Mr. Richard H. Blount, merchant of Kinston, Lenoir county, started from home for Newbern, with 4,860 in his possession in Bank bills, with the intention of procuring Northern funds.  About 1 o’clock of the day, when passing through a lonely place called Dover Swamp, 15 or 16 miles from Newbern, four men, three whites and a mulatto, rushed out of a thicket by the roadside, seized Mr. Blount, hauled him from the buggy in which he was riding, beat him until he was senseless, and then robbed him of all his money.  Mr. B. remained in an insensible condition for an hour or two, when a negro travelling the road discovered him.  He was taken back to Kinston, and so soon as the fact of the robbery became known, a large number of the citizens of that place started out in various directions in pursuit of the villains. – Wilmington Chronicle of 13th inst.

Carolina Watchman, 21 Sep 1848.

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January 12, 2013

Jail break, no. 4.

50 Dollars Reward. Broke the jail of Orange county, on the night of 30th November, 1821, two prisoners, Archibald Brown and Meredith Chavers. – Said Brown was charged with murder, and was sent to said jail from Chatham county.  He resided on Rocky River, in Chatham county, where his family now lives.  He is about 5 feet 9 or 10 inches high, fair complexion, has pimples upon his face and nose, and is addicted to intoxication.  Chavers is a free mulatto, about 6 feet high, and formerly lived on the waters of Back Creek, in Orange county.  The above reward will be paid to any person who will arrest the said Brown in this state, so that I get him again; and a reward of five dollars for the arrest and delivery of the said Chavers to me.  JAMES CLANCY, Jailor.  December 1st, 1821.

Western Carolinian, 25 Dec 1821.

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