Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Category: Emancipation

February 16, 2013

A reward.

To the Worshipful the Justices of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County of Chowan at June Term 1807.

The petition of William T. Muse Sheweth, That your petitioner was a negro slave by the name of George, commonly called George Bonner, by trade a house carpenter and aged fifty five years or thereabouts; that the said negro slave from the time that he became the property of your petitioner, and always before that time as your petitioner has reason to believe has distinguished himself by his willing & faithful discharge of his duty to his master as well as by his honesty & orderly conduct. Your petitioner is therefore desirous to give the said negro slave George his freedom considering it as a reward due to his long and meritorious services and prays this worshipful Court to authorize and aid him in so doing.  And your petitioner &c, Wm. A. Littlejohn Sol’r for Pet’r.

[On the reverse: Prayer granted.]

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

In the 1810 census of Edenton, Chowan County, George Bonner appears as the head of a household of two free people of color.

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February 15, 2013

A useful citizen.

State of N Carolina, Craven County   } December Term 1799.

The Worshipful the County Court of Craven The Petition of Nancy Handy a free person of Color humbly sheweth to this Worshipful Court, that during the Time she was a Slave and the property of Wm. T. Howe She conceived and did bear Two children to wit Louisa and Betsy and that she by certain allowance and indulgences granted to her by her said Master did gather together & accumulate cash in sufficient quantity to purchase her self and said children and that the aforesaid Nancy did purchase from her aforesaid master her aforesaid Children, and your Petitioner states that she has always endeavourd to conduct herself as a peaceable citizen, and an useful one to the community by encreasing the number of good & valuable Citizens of the State, and your Petitioner therefore prays that the worshipful Court would grant the freedom of the said Children according to act of Assembly is such case made and provided.   Benj’n Martin atty for the Children

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

[Sidenote: For a detailed account of Nancy Handy’s purchase and emancipation of her children, see Bill Hand, Remembering Craven County: Tales of Tarheel History (2006), p. 79-81. — LYH]

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February 12, 2013

A woman and boy child, said to be manumitted.

Rec’d September 12th 1788 from William John Skinner one negroe woman named Pations & a Boy Child with her Said to be Manumited by John Sanders Which Negroes Ware Taken by Said William J. Skinner agreable to the act of Assembly previen Domestick Insurrections   /s/ Hen. Bont

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

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February 8, 2013

To prevent him from becoming the property of his own children or sold off from them.

Craven County, June Term 1797,

To the Justices of the Court of Sd. County, The Petition of Margaret Moore, a free negro woman, Humbly sheweth, that your petitioner has been possessed for seven years past of a negro man slave named Jack Fennel, with whom she has lived several years as a wife, & by whom she has had a number of children.

That she has acquired, chiefly thro’ the industry, labour & economy of said slave, a plantation containing two hundred acres of land, on which he has built her a good house & grow many valuable improvements; that the said farm is stocked with cattle, hogs &c.

That the said Slave has otherwise rendered her several meritorious services;

That her duty prompts her not to detain her said husband in bondage, & to endeavour if she can  do it to prevent him from becoming on her death the property of his own children, or, being otherwise sold off from them.

She therefore prays that Your Worships would grant her a license authorising her to emancipate & set free the said negro Jack Fennell & as in duty bound &c.    T.N. Martin att: Pet.

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

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February 2, 2013

The freed man frees. Maybe.

M.N. Leary, Executor, v. S.W. Nash and others, 56 NC 356 (1857)

This case the Court of Equity of Cumberland County and involved the interpretation of a Solomon W. Nash‘s will.  The clause at issue:

Item 6. “I further leave my negro slave woman Venice, to serve my daughters ten years from the time of my death, and after the expiration of that time, I desire her to be freed; and if she wishes to remove to any free State, I wish her to be permitted to do so; and if she may be permitted to remain in North Carolina, that she may enjoy all the privileges that can be, or may be, allowed by law to slaves left by their masters or mistresses to be freed. The way I desire Venice to serve my daughters is, for her to be hired out for the term of ten years, and the proceeds of the same to be equally divided amongst them.”

Venice had no children at the time the will was made, but later had two, Jack and Festus. Executor Matthew N. Leary asked the court (1) if Venice was entitled to freedom and, if so, under what terms and (2) if Jack and Festus were entitled to freedom. The court was also asked if John Nash, born after his father made his will, was entitled to any of the estate.

The decision:

1. John, who was born after Nash made the will, but before his death, was entitled to a filial portion.

2. Venice can elect either to leave the State and be emancipated, or to remain here as a slave.

3. Venice’s two children, born after the will was made, are slaves. “There is no ground upon which they are entitled to their freedom” because Nash did not include Venice’s future increase in his bequest.

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January 27, 2013

Donum Montford.

“Donum Montford (Mumford) (1771-1838), New Bern brickmason, plasterer, and brickmaker, was prominent among the city’s early 19th century builders and became one of the wealthiest of the city’s free people of color. Memoirist Stephen Miller recalled that he was ‘copper-colored, and carried on the bricklaying and plastering business with slaves, a number of whom he owned. Whenever a job was to be done expeditiously, he was apt to be employed, as he could always throw upon it a force sufficient for its rapid execution.’

“Born a slave, Montford was owned by the prominent Richard Cogdell family until 1804. During his more than 30 years as a slave, he mastered the related trades of bricklaying, plastering, and brickmaking. He gained his freedom in 1804, when the widow Lydia Cogdell and her daughter Lydia Cogdell Badger sold him to the wealthy free man of color John C. Stanly, who emancipated him the next day, doubtless carrying out a strategy planned by all parties. As a free man, Montford promptly established his shop and began acquiring property. Although he was illiterate, signing documents with his mark, he was successful in his business. In 1806 his former owner, Lydia Cogdell, gave him a young slave, Abram Moody Russell, to train as an apprentice, then to emancipate upon his maturity; Abram Moody Russell Allen, as he was later known, was identified by Montford as his nephew and also became his heir and executor. In 1807 Montford took the first of many free apprentices to his trade. In 1809 he married Hannah Bowers. By 1811 he was purchasing real estate, and he eventually owned several town lots and houses, plus a farm. By 1820, according to the United States Census, Montford was head of a large household of free people of color, and had twenty-two slaves in his employ; whether he owned all of these is not certain. In 1827 Montford petitioned to emancipate his only child, Nelson, a plasterer who had worked with Montford until he attained his majority.

“Both Hannah and Donum Montford were members of Christ Episcopal Church in New Bern, and their burial services were recorded in the parish register noting them each as a ‘colored communicant.’ Montford’s stature in the community was indicated by his appointment to a committee, along with the leading white brickmasons in town, Bennett Flanner and Joshua Mitchell, to inspect repairs to Christ Church in 1832. He was regularly employed to work on public buildings. Along with taking free apprentices to his trade, he also trained slave artisans, such as Ulysses, ‘a plasterer by trade, who served his time with Donum Mumford, in the town of New Bern afterwards worked at his business upwards of four years, in Hyde County,’ and who could ‘read and write tolerably well.’ Ulysses had run away from William S. Sparrow, who advertised for his return in 1818.

“Despite his long and active career, few of Montford’s projects have been identified. For the Craven County Jail (1821-1825), a handsome and formal civic building, detailed construction records show his versatility. Montford supplied 100,000 of the roughly 400,000 bricks, at $5 per thousand, and he and his workers accomplished the lathing and plastering, including laborers (probably slaves) Charles, Edmond, and Romey at 5 shillings a day, and skilled workers Tony and Lawson at $1 a day. He typically charged 12 shillings and sixpence per day for his own work and a few other skilled men in his shop. Montford also supplied many of the bricks for the John R. Donnell House (1816-1818), which was among the finest of the city’s Federal style, brick townhouses, where Wallace Moore was the chief brickmason and Asa King was the lead carpenter. Montford also did some work beyond New Bern, including an unnamed project for Tyrrell County planter Ebenezer Pettigrew, who paid him in 1819 for delivering bricks and lime, building the foundation for a smokehouse, and mending plaster.

“At his death in 1838 Montford had a considerable estate in land, slaves, and personal possessions. Illustrating accounts of the prosperity and gentility of New Bern’s leading people of color, he left to his wife, Hannah, such household furnishings as a secretary, a sofa, a mahogany candle stand, a dining table, and a breakfast table; numerous serving pieces, including two dozen plates of Liverpool ware, silver teaspoons and tablespoons, decanters and wine glasses, and two oyster dishes; and two pictures, one of Napoleon, and one of Christ on the Cross. Among the many items sold from his estate were a musket and a shotgun, window sash, brick moulds, shad nets, and farm implements. His estate also included slaves Bob, Dick, Jim Carney, Dinah, Alexander, and plasterer-bricklayer Isaac Rue (Rew). Montford stated in his will that Isaac was to be freed after Hannah’s death; Isaac Rue continued to practice his trade for many years as a free man and a property owner.”

Author: Catherine W. Bishir.  Published 2009.

As published in North Carolina Architects and Builders: A Biographical Dictionary,  http://ncarchitects.lib.ncsu.edu  (All rights retained.) This web site is a growing reference work that contains brief biographical accounts, building lists, and bibliographical information about architects, builders, and other artisans who planned and built North Carolina’s architecture.  

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January 26, 2013

He might have saved his own had he not tried to save his master’s instead.

Peter Thomejeux of the town of Newbern merchant Maketh oath that his Servant Martial a mustee or person of mixed blood has during a period of years served him with uncommon faithfulness.  That he has during that time been entrusted with the care of a Store in which were large quantities of goods & often Sums of money & has even withstood the temptation such trust gave rise to. That he has attended him with care & affection during many long journies of sickness. That having been Suffered to have under his master’s eyes; he had hoarded up a sum almost sufficient to reimburse his master his purchase money. Which property was destroyed by the late fire, altho’ he might have saved it had he not endeavoured to save his master’s goods in preference to his own. That for these services this deponent pray a license to reward his said slave’s fidelity by setting him free. /s/ Thomezuen

Sworn to in open court this 16 Dec 1791

Miscellaneous Records, Craven County, North Carolina State Archives.

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January 24, 2013

Having the desier to travel to Virginia to seek better imployment.

North Carolina Perq’s County }  This may Cartefy that the Bearer Hereof a Negro man named Ben is a free Negro who formerly belonged to Mr. Jonathan Sharrod Deceased who having Many Slaves & no Children alive not Desiering his Slaves Should Serve another Master Did in his will Generously give them freedom Which if Disputed may be found on Record in the Court of the Said County aforsaid & the aforenamed Negro Man having a Desier to travel to Virginia to Seek better imployment we the Subscriber Do Cartefy that the Said Negro is a free man has Ever Sence his working for himself behaved Very honest ther fore we the Subscribers Do Recommend The Said to Such Gentlemen as Shall imploy him.

Witnes our hands this 21 Januy 1774   /s/ Richard Ratlieff

[On reverse] Benj’a Sanders’ man Taffeys Certificate

Records of Slaves and Free Persons of Color, Miscellaneous Records, Perquimans County, North Carolina State Archives.

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January 23, 2013

Free-Issue Death Certificates: SPAULDING.

Emaline Blanks.  Died 21 January 1929, Whites Creek, Bladen County. Colored. Widow of Sam Blanks. Born 1838 in NC to Iver Spaulding and unknown mother. Buried Whites Creek. Informant, John Blanks, Clarkton NC.

Angeline Campbell.  Died 31 December 1921, Whites Creek, Clarkton, Columbus County. Colored. Widow of Dan Campbell. Born about 1848, Columbus County, to Iver Spaulding and Mary [illegible]. Buried Mitchell graveyard.  Informant, Israel Campbell.

Delila Spaulding.  Died 4 Jul 1920, Whites Creek, Bladen County. Colored. Married to Henry W. Spaulding. Born 1860 to Ben J. Moore and Mary C. Moore. Buried Mitchell Graveyard. Informant, U. Steph. Moore, Clarkton NC.

In the 1850 census of Cape Fear South West Side, Bladen County: Iver Spaulding, 28, farmer; wife Mary, 23; children Henry W., 6, Emeline, 5, and John W., 3, and Angeline Spaulding, 1; William, 17, and Daniel Jacobs, 20; and John Freeman, 15.

Lucy J. Blanks.  Died 6 May 1915, Welchs Creek, Columbus County.  Black.  Widow. Day laborer. Born about 1860, Columbus County to David Spaulding and Mary J. Ransome.  Buried Welchs Creek.  Informant, R.O. Spaulding.

Henry Spaulding. Died 4 October 1924, Whiteville, Welch Creek, Columbus County. Colored. Widower of Deliah Spaulding. Farmer. Age 72. Born Welch Creek to David Spaulding and unknown mother.  Buried Mitchell Cemetery.  Informant, Stephen More.

Robt. O. Spaulding. Died 12 December 1936, Clarkton, Columbus County. Colored. Widower of Jane Tucker Spaulding. Preacher and farmer. Born 11 December 1849, Columbus County to David Spaulding and Mary Ransom. Buried Mitchel cemetery. Informant, Al Spaulding.

In the 1850 census of Columbus County: David Spaulding, 21, wife Mary, 20, and son Robt. O., 6 months, plus Lydia Webb, 9.

Caldonia Freeman.  Died 12 June 1922, Bogue, Columbus County. Black. Widow of James O. Freeman. Born 1 June 1842, Elkton NC, to John Spaulding and Penelope Moore, both of Elkton. Buried Mitchell cemetery.  Informant, Jonathan Spaulding.

Jonathan Spaulding. Died 10 November 1926, Whiteville, Columbus County.  Colored. Married to “Bettie Ann.” Age 70.  Born Bladen County to John Spaulding and unknown mother.  Buried Mitchell cemetery.

Delila Spauldwin.  Died 18 August 1921, Clarkton, Columbus County. Colored. Married to Henry D. Spauldwin. Born 10 May 1850 to Jno. Spauldwin and Penny Smith.  Buried Mitchels Cem. Informant, A.D. Carter, uncle.

In the 1850 census of Cape Fear South West Side, Bladen County: John Spaulding, 33, farmer; wife Penelopy, 26; and children Caledonia, 8, Delphia, 6, Elvy, 5, and Edith, 2.  In the 1860 census of Bladen County: John Spaulding, 43, farmer; wife Penelope, 35; and children Caladonia, 18, Delphia, 17, Elvy, 14, E.M., 13, Delila, 9, and Penny, 2; plus Mariah More, 9.

J.A. Spaulding.  Died 10 April 1911, Salisbury, Rowan County. Resided 309 S. Vanderford. Negro. Married. Baptist minister. Born 12 Oct 1856, Columbus County, to Benjamin Spaulding and unknown mother. Buried Oaksdale cemetery, Salisbury. Informant, Mrs. Lulu Spaulding Kelsey, Salisbury.

Annie J.T. Spaulding. Died 17 April 1927, Welches Creek, Columbus County. Colored. Married to Robt. O. Spaulding. Born 29 August 1857, Columbus County, to Benj. Spaulding of Columbus County and Maria Spaulding of Bladen County. Informant, Robt. O. Spaulding.

Henry Ivan Spaulding.  Died 21 March 1929, Welches Creek, Columbus County. Colored. Married to Fannie Spaulding. Age 65 years, 5 months, 20 days. Farmer. Born Columbus County to Benj. Spaulding of Columbus County and Maria Lowry of Robeson County. Buried Mitchel cemetery.  Informant, Jack Spaulding.

In the 1850 census of Columbus County: Benj. Spaulding Jr., 23, wife Maria, 20, and daughter Frances, 2, plus Daniel Webb, 5, and George Freeman, 6. In the 1860 census of Columbus County, Benj. Spaulding, 35, farmer; wife Mariah, 34 (born Cumberland County); and children F.E., 12, M., 10, B., 7, John, 5, A.J.L., 3, and Rhoda, 1; plus Daniel Webb, 16 (born Brunswick County.)

Amanda Moore.  Died 14 November 1914, Welches Creek, Columbus County. Negro. Widow. Born 7 April 1849 to Amanuel Spaulding and Amanda Spaulding. Informant, Maggie Armstrong, Clarkton.

Andrew Thomas Spaulding. Died 17 July 1934, Whiteville, Welches Creek, Columbus County. Colored. Widower of Mariah Spaulding.  Age 75 years, 11 months. Farmer.  Born NC to Emmenel Spaulding and Susa Spries.  Buried Mitchell cemetery. Informant, Anna Dora Carter.

B.M. Spaulding. Died 5 Mar 1921, W. Creek, Columbus County. Colored. Widower. Farmer. Born 7 January 1845 to Emanuel Spaulding and Susan Spaulding. Buried Mitchel cemetery.

Evrit Freeman. Died 2 June 1942, Welchs Creek, Columbus County. Colored. Widower. Born Oct 1860, Columbus County, to John R.  Freeman and Sarah Jane Spauldin. Buried Mitchel Field.  Informant, Hanes Freeman.

In the 1850 census of Columbus County: Manual Spaulding, 37, farmer; wife Susan, 30, and children Sarah J., 12, Mary A., 10, Anna E., 8, Benj., 6, Madalaine, 4, Amanda, 1; plus Wm. Chavas, 2, and Wm. Skipper, 30.  In the 1860 census of Columbus County, Emanuel Spaulding, 48, farmer; wife Susan, 35; and children A.E., 18, Benj., 16, M., 14, Amanda, 11, Lany, 9, and A. T., 1.

Isabella Spaulding. Died 7 November 1932, Welches Creek, Columbus County. Colored. Widow of Iver Spaulding. Age 82. Born Columbus County to unknown father and Tierce Moore.  Buried Mitchell cemetery. “Casket shipped here from Ga.” Informant, L.L. Spaulding.

In the 1850 census of Columbus County: Benj. J. Moore, 64, farmer; wife Martha, 60; and children and grandchildren Thursey, 30, Owen, 17, James and John, 15, Benj., 12, Aaron, 8, Hardy, 12, Lucy A., 7, Isbel, 5, Sarah J., 3, and Maria, 4 months.

John W. White. Died 11 December 1920, Welches Creek, Columbus County.  Colored. Married to Etta White. Born 8 August 1848.  Farmer.  Born to Wiley White and Mary Spaulding.  Buried Mitchel Sem.

In the 1860 census of Columbus County: Willey F. White, 39, farmer (born Pitt County) with M.A., 20, John W., 14, and W.F. White, 7, plus W.S. Freeman, 7.

Benjamin Spaulding (1773-1862) was born into slavery in Duplin County. He married Edith Delphi Jacobs (1786-1871), who bore him ten children: William (1810-1883), Emmanuel (1813-1872), Armistead (1814-1890), Armstrong, John (1817-1894), Iver (1819-1886), Anna Eliza (1822-1906), Benjamin Jr. (1824-1864), David (1829-1864) and Henry (1831-1906).

Though Benjamin Spaulding was not formally freed by Samuel Swindale, Jr. until 1835, he lived essentially as a free man for many years before, as evidenced in census records and deed records.  He and Edith had several prominent descendants, including Dr. Aaron Moore (1863-1923), co-founder of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, Mechanics and Farmers Bank, and Lincoln Hospital in Durham, and Charles C. Spaulding (1874-1952), who led North Carolina Mutual’s expansion in the first half of the 20th century.

The Benjamin and Edith Spaulding Descendants Association maintains a website at www.spauldingfamily.com.

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January 20, 2013

Please free our sister.

To the Worshipfull, The Justices of the County Court held for the County of Craven of the term of June AD 1798 –

The Petition of Ann G. Daly Administratrix of the Goods & Chattels &c of John Daly esq’r dec’d & Guardian of Ann G. Daly & Sidney Maria Daly, children of the said John Daly dec’d, Robert Donnell & Eliz., his wife & Guardian of John Daly, son of sd. John Daly dec’d & John Sears, humbly Sheweth to your worships that the said Administratrix has at present in her possession a certain female mulattoe slave named Mary about the age of twenty years, which Slave in strictness of law makes a part of the personal estate of the said John Daly dec’d.  Your Petitioners further shew that the said Mary has always been reputed to be the child of the said John Daly dec’d, and in that light treated & regarded by the said John in his life time.

Your Petitioners further state that it was the full determined and avowed intention & desire of the said John to give or procure for the said Mary her freedom, and that to the effect the said John hath repeatedly & uniformly expressed himself during his life and at the hour of his death.

Your Petitioners further state that the said Mary is a Girl of excellent Character, that she is industrious Sober & honest & has always behaved dutifully and affectionately towards the whole family.  Your Petitioners feel themselves bound to state that, (John Daly, Ann G. Daly & Sidney M. Daly, three of the children of John Daly dec’d are under age & that to remove all objections that may arise an amount of the interest they have in the said Mary your Petitioners, Robert Donnell & Jno. Sears, are ready to give any security the Court may require either for their or the indemnification of the said Administratrix.  Your petitioners therefore pray that taking the promises into consideration your worships would pass an order granting the said Ann G. Daly Administratrix as aforesaid a license to make free & emancipate said Mulattoe female slave named Mary.  And your Petitioners in duty bound Shall ever pray, /s/ Ann G. Daly, Robert Donnells, and Jno. Sears.

Granted.

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

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