Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Category: Free Status

February 2, 2013

Free? Yes. Clothes? No.

State of North Carolina, Edgecombe County   } August Term 1783

Personally appeared before me Col’o James Armstrong and being duly sworn deposeth and saith That on or about the first day of August In the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty one this deponent being at Martinborough in Pitt County and State aforesaid being appointed to Superintend the receiving of draughts deserters and Substitutes for the Continental service from the districts of Halifax and Newbern a certain William Kitchen who was then a deserter from the Continental Service having brought a certain Ned Griffin a molattoe or Mustee to this deponent as a Substitute in the room of the said Kitchen to serve for the term of Eighteen Months in the Continental Service the said Kitchen upon his delivering the said Griffin to this deponent (who ever mindful of his duty and determined strictly to adhere to the laws of the State particularly to the directions there enjoined respecting the receptions of Draught Substitutes &c) objected to the said Griffin upon this principle that he was not perfectly satisfied of his being a free man and the said Kitchen thereupon with the strongest of assurances declared that he the said Griffin was a free-man and as such delivered him to the deponent declaring and positively affirming at the same time that he had purchased the services of the said Griffin and upon his serving the said tour faithfully he the said Kitchen manumitted and totally discharged him from every species of further services whatsoever. That upon those terms and solemn assurances of Kitchen only he this deponent received and enrolled him the said Griffin in the Continental service accordingly. And farther this deponent saith that some time after the enrollment he met with William Griffin the person from whom Kitchen had purchased the services of the said Griffin he this deponent addressed himself to the said William Griffin in these words “So says this deponent Kitchen has purchased of you a certain Ned Griffin (meaning the said Ned Griffin that he had received as a free man of Kitchen) for a substitute for him the said Kitchen upon which the said William Griffin answered yes this deponent then demanded of him Clothing for the said Ned Griffin upon which he the said William Griffin replied that he made no contract with Kitchen when he disposed of the services of the said Ned Griffin to the said Kitchen therefore was no obligation to comply with his requisition. /s/ James Armstrong  Sworn to before me this 6th August 1783 in open Court J Sessums

Slave Records, Edgecombe County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

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January 30, 2013

He is a free man & not a slave.

State of North Carolina, Chowan County  } February 17th, 1844. Personally appeared before me, Thomas V. Hathaway, Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Q Sessions, in and for said County, John Buchannon, a yellow man aged about thirty seven years; about five feet, six inches in height; & proved before me, by Duncan McDonald, of Edenton, that he was free born; that he was bound to said McDonald, until he arrived to the age of twenty one years, which time he served out; wherefore I do hereby certify that the said John Buchannon hath made it, satisfactorily appear, that he is a freeman & not a slave; (Over) & in testimony of his being a free man & no slave, as proved, on oath, by said Duncan McDonald of Edenton, North Carolina.  I have hereto set my hand, & seal of office, at Edenton, the day & year aforesaid.

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

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January 26, 2013

These persons, though free, were sold and enslaved.

November Sup. Court, Edenton District 1778 }  State of No. Carolina

On motion that a Writ of Certiorari should Issue to the Justices of Pasquotank County, to remove all the Orders and Proceedings of the Court of the said County relating to the Sale and enslaving of the following Persons, either of them, vizs. Hannah, David, Charles, Toby, Pritchard, Nero, Prissilla, Rose, Judith, Jane, Albertson, Samuel, Hagai, Ann and Sarah, on a Suggestion that the said Persons, ‘tho free subjects of the state, were Sold and enslaved by Order of said Court, in express Violation of the Constitution of this State, and contrary to Natural Justice, and that there are Manifest Errors and Irregularities in the said Proceedings.

Ordered that a Certiorari Issue accordingly, unless Sufficient  Cause to the Contrary be shewn within the three first days of the next insuing Term.    /s/ Will Righton for Cha. Bondfield C.S.C.

Records of Slaves and Free Persons of Color, Pasquotank 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 21, 2013

It gets worse.

To the worshipful the Justices of the County Court of Edgcombe. The Petition of your Petitioner Harry McClennan humbly sheweth that your Petitioner is a freeman that for some time past he hath been held and claimed as a slave by William Leigh late of this County that a suit if now depending in this Court before your Worships against George Brownriggs wherein the said George at the instance of your Petitioner hath pleaded that your Petitioner is a freeman & not a slave your Petitioner further sheweth that he hath been informed that the said William Leigh, apprehensive that the said issue will turn out against him designs to seize upon the body of your Petitioner & remove him to some foreign Country beyond the jurisdiction of this Worshipful Court by which means your Petitioner would be utterly deprived of the benefit of the law and of those natural & Civil Rights to which the Citizens of this Country are entitled.

Your Petitioner further shews that impressed with the truth of the above design of the William [sic] he is hampered and impeded in preparing himself in his defence and without the interposition of your Worships to take his Care into consideration & give such Relief as to you in your Wisdom may seem proper.

Miscellaneous Slave Records, Edgecombe County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

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January 21, 2013

“It was always my intention to free the child.” — the road to hell.

The worshipfull the County Court of Edgecombe May Term 1796: Approving me to take the Deposition of George Ogg in a matter Depending in our said County wherein William Leigh is Plaintiff and George Brownrigg is Defend’t. In Obedience thereto I have attended at the house of Solomon Sessums and taken said Ogg’s Deposition.  It is as follows – The Deponant after being Duly Sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God Deposeth and sayeth that he had oftimes heard Mr. Robert Bignall sens Dec’d say that a Certain Yellow or Mulatto Boy Named Harry now in the Possession of George Brownrigg was the son of William McClellin formerly a merchant in Tarborough and was at a certain Age (Twenty one years he Believ’d) Intitled to his Freedom and Further this Deponant sayeth not.  Given under my hand and seal this 30th day of May 1796.  /s/ Exum Philips JP

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

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January 20, 2013

Register of (NC-born) Negroes & Mulattoes: Bartholomew County, Indiana, no. 1.

Enoch Jones, age 13, born Robeson County NC, registered 22 Aug 1853.  He was described as “rather a light negro”; small scar one-half inch long on back of left hand near wrist; son of William Riley Jones Esq. Witness: George B. Gaines.

Irvin Jones, age 14, born Robeson County NC, registered 22 Aug 1853.  He was described as “rather a light negro”; four feet eleven and one-half inches and growing; with no scars or marks; son of William Riley Jones Esq. Witness: George B. Gaines.

Lucinda Jones, age 5, born Scott County VA, registered 22 Aug 1853.  She was described as a black girl, “lively and of a light complexion,” with a burn scar on the right side of her neck; daughter of William Riley Jones Esquire. Witness: George B. Gaines.

Lucy Ann Jones, age 40, born Halifax County NC, registered 22 Aug 1853.  She was described as rather a dark mulatto woman; five feet two inches; “right arm very much crooked having been broken”; married with eight children.  Witness: George B. Gaines.

Mary H. Jones, age 3, born Bartholomew County VA. “A plump little darkie” with a light unblemished complexion; daughter of William Riley Jones Esquire.” Witness: George B. Gaines.

Oliver Jones, age 7, born Richmond County NC, registered 22 Aug 1853.  He was described as a black boy three and a half feet high, “but will get higher fast;” a “rather light” negro; no remarkable scars; son of William R. Jones. Witness: George B. Gaines.

Thomas Jones, age 9, born Richmond County NC, registered 22 Aug 1853.  He was described as a black boy three feet eleven inches high, a “rather light” negro who “seems to be growing;” son of William Riley Jones Esquire. Witness: George B. Gaines.

William Riley Jones, age 40, born Robeson County NC, registered 22 Aug 1853.  He was described as a rather dark mulatto man; five feet three inches; with a scar about ¾ inch long on the right hand; rather square built; with round features.  Witness: George B. Gaines.

William R. Jones Jr., age 1, born Bartholomew County IN, “plump little nigger baby,” fair-skinned, no scars; son of William R. Jones Sen. Registered 22 Aug 1853.  Witness: George B. Gaines.

Willis Jones, age 12, born Robeson County NC, light negro boy, four and a half feet and growing, no scars, son of William Riley Jones. Registered 23 Aug 1853.  Witness: George B. Gaines.

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January 20, 2013

The wench made threats.

Thirty Dollars Reward.

RANAWAY from the Subscriber, on Sunday night, the 12th of March last, a negro woman, named POLLY, about 28 years old, nearly five feet high, yellow complexion, spare made, has a mild look and genteel appearance, (for a negro,) when well dressed, and is well calculated to deceive unless tightly and closely examined.  She was seduced away by a black free negro, Carter Newsom by name, a shoemaker by trade, who is about 30 years of age, 5 feet 6 or 8 inches high, thick set, has a pleasant countenance and very white teeth, which he shews very much when speaking and laughing: he is strongly suspected of being a runaway slave.  In my fomer advertisement, I stated that from threats which the wench made prior to her elopement, they would, by changing their names, and getting forged free papers, endeavor to make their escape to some free state: since that time, they have been lurking about Halifax town, in the vicinity of which, they probably are at this time.  All persons are forwarned from harboring or carrying off said negro under the penalty of the law.  The above reward, will reasonable charges, will be paid for securing said woman in any jail, so that I get her again, or for her delivery to me.  Lunsford W. Scott, Halifax co N.C. August 15, 1826.

Tarboro Free Press, 26 Sept 1826.

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January 19, 2013

He may have procured free papers.

$25 REWARD. RANAWAY from the subscriber, residing near Concord, North Carolina, about the 1st of December last, a negro boy by the name of JOHN.  John is a very bright colored mulatto, is about five feet 10 inches in height, straight and well built – has long dark hair and wears it combed over in front and straight down over his ears and the back part of his head – and when excited or heated by exercise his face assumes a flush and ruddy complexion. He has a scar on his left hand and one upon his right wrist. – He has an axe scar on his left foot, as well as recollected, extending from the end of his big toe near to the middle of the foot.  He took with him when he left me a good pair of cassinette pantaloons, and a good brown overcoat and a pair of boots.  He may have procured free papers and attempted to make his way to a free State, as a free man of color, or he may have attempted to pass for a white man, which his color would well justify.  But I am rather inclined to believe he is lurking about Charlotte, as he was raised in that town and has numerous relations and acquaintances in and around that place – or he may be about Asheville, N.C., having a brother living there.  Any information respecting him, given to me at Concord, N.C., will be thankfully received.  And the above reward will be given to any person who will deliver him to me, or confine him in any jail so that I can get him.  WM. C. MEANS.  Concord, N.C. March 22, 1848.

Carolina Watchman, 1 June 1848.

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January 17, 2013

Her complexion is an act of the Almighty, not her crime.

Pasquotank County   } To the Worshipfull the Justices of the Inferior Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the County of Pasquotank County now in Court sitting.  The humble Petition of Ruth Tillet a free born, coloured Woman, Humbly sheweth unto Your Worships, that she was born of a Free woman named Ann Tillet, The daughter of the Wife of one [blank space] Tillet of Powel’s Point, supposed by a Black Man; That your Petitioner’s mother moved from Currituck to a Neighborhood on Little River, and was delivered of your Petitioner at the House of one Timothy Mead, where she remained until the Death of her Mother and the said Timothy, at whose [illegible] she was sold to one Blackstock who she verily believes was not ignorant of her Condition and Rights to Liberty, and sold her to a distant Merchant called Barny Coffoo of Newbern.  At which place, she had eight, Several Masters, each getting rid of her, as soon as thgey could, on hearing of her Story, and her Resolution to regain her Liberty.  That in the lifetime of her last Master John Bishop, she made her escape, and came to her native County, to which Place the said Bishop followed her and sold her to one Zachariah Jordon, (and he, as she has been informed gave no Purchase Money for her, and that the said Bishop enjoin’d the said Zachariah to inquire into her Rights and if true, to let her enjoy them, and if otherwise to send him payment, which was like the common Honest behaviour of his Life) who she believes, noways ignorant of the Premisses, still detains her in Slavery and Duress.  Your Petitioner humbly begs to inform Your Worships, That she has been so happy to find reputable and honest Evidence alive, although at the Distance of forty Years, of her Birth and of her Civil and Social Rights.

Whereupon your Poor and Distressed Petitioner humbly prays (Altho’ her Complection, which is an Act of the Almighty Not her Crime) Your Worships will, of your Mercy, take her Case under your Guidance and Consideration, and to render her such Redress as to Your Worships in your great Wisdom and Justice you shall seem Meet.    And Your Poor Petitioner as in Duty bound and ever Pray &c, Ruth Tillet by Will Cumming her Att’y

Ruth Tillet vs Zachariah Jordon}   Petition

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

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