Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Category: Free Status

May 2, 2013

He binds himself as a slave. For 99 years.

This Indenture of a Slave made the 27 day of July in the year of Lord one thousand seven Hundred & ninty three between Howell Combow of the county of wayne in the State of No Carolina of the one part & Burwell Morring of the Same place of the other part Witnesseth that the Said Howell Combow of or in consideration of the Sum of fifty Pounds Spicie to him In hand paid hath and Do by these pressents Enter & Bind him Self as a Slave to the said Burwell Morring for the Tirm & Space of Ninety nine years the said Howell is to Serve him as a True & faithfull Slave & is from time to time & at all times During of the Tirm to fullfill & Charfully obey all his said Masters commands and orders the said Slave is not Induring of the Said tirm to obcond him self from his Masters Servis he is not to wast imbezzell or cearlessly Destroy his masters goods or other property nor caus or willingly suffer the Same to be Done by others he is not to Sale or lighter a way his time Practisis he is not During of his said tirm to obsent him self from his sd. masters servis without this leave In witness whereof I hear set my hand and fix my seal this Day and date above mentioned Assigned Sealed and Delivered In pressents of  Thomas Stephenson and Jacob Sauls.   Howell X Cumbow {seal}

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

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May 2, 2013

His manner is contradictory.

TAKEN UP.

And committed to the Jail of Craven County, on the 14th inst. A Negro Man, who says his name is John Carpenter, alias Abraham, that he is free, and a native of Fairfield County, Connecticut. He is about 5 feet 10 inches high; 21 or 22 years of age, of light complexion, and had on when taken, light domestic clothing. From the contradictory manner in which he accounts for himself, there is little doubt but he is a runaway slave. He has no free papers, but exhibits a paper professing to be a pass, which is believed to be a forgery. The owner, if any, is requested to come forward, prove property, pay charges, and take said Negro away. JORDAN S. CARROW, Jailor. Newbern August 22, 1829.

North Carolina Sentinel, New Bern, 19 December 1829.

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May 2, 2013

I gave him a copy of his indentures.

Haywood Chatham cty. N.C.

I do hereby certify that a coloured Boy, by the name of Banks Evans; that was bound to Col John Farrar of this county, has lived in my employ; for the last three years up to February last; about which time he became Twenty one years of age & in a short time afterward left my employ & hired himself; to a man in my neighborhood in Rutherford county NC. with whom at the time I left in June last he was living as a free man; & receiving pay for his services as a free man; after he became free I gave him a copy of his indentures with the certificate of the clerk of the county court  of Chatham Cty with the county seal thereto attached believing that was sufficient evidence of his freedom.  /s/ Jno. Smith

Sworn & subscribed to before me this 10th July 1837 J.H. Shull J.P.

[On reverse: John Smith affidavit in the case of Banks Evans a free boy of colour — 1837 — August Term]

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April 29, 2013

From Philadelphia?

Jailor’s Notice.

Taken up on the 25th of June, 1827, and committed to the Jail of New Hanover county, North Carolina, a negro man, named JAMES ARCHEY, 5 feet 8 inches high, 27 years old, two of his upper front teeth out, and a scar over his right eye. This fellow says that he is free, and that he was born in Philadelphia, and his parents live there. There is but very little doubt that he is a slave, as he can tell but little about Philadelphia, or any part of the North. The owner is requested to come forward, prove property, pay charges, and take him away.  CHARLES R. MORRIS, Jailor. Wilmington, N.C., Nov. 27, 1827.

Star, Raleigh, 5 February 1829.

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April 27, 2013

On his way to Petersburg.

COMMITTED to the jail in this city, on the 16th inst. A Negro man who says his name is John Mumford, and that he is free, and was travelling from Kershaw District, S.C. to Petersburg, Va. He is about 23 years of age, and is yellow complected. The said negro has a pass, signed by Wm. Alexander, Rob’t Lane, & Charles House, all appear to be signed by the same person. The owner, if any, is requested to come forward, prove property, pay charges and take him away.  CHARLES JOHNSON, Jailor.  Raleigh, May 4, 1815.

Star, Raleigh, 19 May 1815.

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April 26, 2013

He says he comes from Hanover County.

Notice.

Taken up and committed to the Jail of Lenoir county, on the 24th day of August, 1828, a negro name who calls himself LEME DEEN, and says he is a free man, and that he came from Hanover county, in Virginia. He is very black complected, is about 5 feet seven or eight inches high, his left eye squinted. The owner is requested to come forward and prove his property, pay charges and take him away, or he will be dealt with as the law directs. JEREMIAH HAWKINS, Jailor. Kinston, Sept, 27, 1828.

Star, Raleigh, 5 February 1829.

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April 26, 2013

Never guilty of any action to forfeit his freedom.

State of North Carolina, Craven County } To the Worshipfull, the Justices of Craven County

The Petition of James Manly an Indian humbly represents to your Honor that he was free born at Edenton and that he never has been Guilty of any Action by which his Freedom can be forfeited by any of the Laws of this or any other of the United States.

Your Petitioner further begs leave to inform your Worships that he has lived some Time past at Broad Creek and that on or about the [blank] Day of [blank] a Certain John Garland came to the dwelling House of the said James Manly and forcibly drove him away and sold him as a Slave to Colonel Levi Dawson for the Consideration of one hundred pounds Specie. Wherefore as your Petitioner is a Subject of this States; and under the present happy Constitution humbly moves that this worshipfull Court will pass an Order for liberating or Setting him free from the service of Colonel Levi Dawson aforesaid and restore him to his Freedom And as in Duty bound your Petitioner will ever pray.    Jas. Cooke Atty. For the Petitioner.

[On back.] James Manlys Petition  December Term 1782. James Gatlin & Levi Dawson  Read and Granted The Petitioner set Free   Chrisr. Neales C.C.

Miscellaneous Records 1757-1929, Craven County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

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April 26, 2013

Between an African and a mulatto.

Alfred Nichols v. William F. Bell, 46 NC 32 (1853).

The first issue in the case involved a question of parol evidence.  The second involved Alfred Nichols himself.  Nichols was “neither black nor white, but … he was of a brown color, between that of an African and a mulatto, and … neither of his parents could have been a white person.” Further, “in Onslow, where the contract he was made, he was reputed to be a free person, was called and known as free Alfred Nichols.”  Defendant Bell requested that the court instruct the jury that any person darker than a mulatto was presumptively a slave. The court declined.  Affirmed, as the principle is incontroverted that only “black” skin carries the presumption. “Let the presumption rest upon the African color; that is a decided mark: but to carry it into shades, would lead us into darkness, doubt and uncertainty, for they are as various as the admixture of blood between the races, and against the rule that presumptions are always in favor of liberty.”

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April 25, 2013

He seems to know these places, but …

Notice. Was committed to jail of this county, on Thursday the 14th inst. a negro man who says his name is John Wilson, and that he is free man; that he has a wife and family in Baltimore, Md.; that he has lived in Baltimore and Philadelphia; that a man by the name of John Wilson carried him to the state of Tennessee as a waiting-man, and there sold him to a man by the name Wilson, from whom he shortly afterwards ran-away. On being examined the fellow seems to have knowledge of those places but is thought to be a slave.  He appears to be about 30 years of age, 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, light complexion. The owner, if any may, or any other person, if he is free a requested to come forward and release him from confinement according to law.  GEO SWEARENGEN, Jailor. Randolph County, Oct 31 1816.

Star, Raleigh, 15 November 1816.

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April 24, 2013

He has a pass, but …

COMMITTED To the Jail of Rockingham County, North-Carolina, on the 5th inst. a mulatto fellow, who calls his name George Petteford, jr. about 24 years old, five feet high; and has in his possession a pass signed by William M. Sneed, Esq. from Granville county, dated 11th November, 1817. If the said George belongs to any person, the owner is requested to come forward, prove his property, pay charges and take him away.    SAM’L MOXLY Jailor.  Sept. 15, 1820.

Star, Raleigh, 6 October 1820.

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