Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Category: Free Status

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 3, 2013

Find her mother and send her Wilmington!

Fayetteville, No. Carolina, Aug. 21st, 1792

Sir:

On my way to Charleston, I came across a free girl in this place, by the name of Sally Valentine. Her mother lives, I believe, in Norfolk by the name of Amy Valentine; she was stolen from that place about eight years ago by Jacob Abraham, a Butcher, and one James Bishop, and brought to this place and sold as a slave. I am well acquainted with the girl – having lived with my mother about three years. I apply’d to a Magistrate to get her liberated by my testimony and the testimony of a Lady in this place, who has known the girl ever since her birth, and is also well acquainted with her mother, but the magistrate informed me he could do nothing before Court, which is next October; and as it will not be in my power to be hear then, beg the favour of you to find out her mother if possible, and send her to Wilmington by water – from whence she can easily get to this place, and it will be necessary she should bring credentials of her freedom, and by which means she may recover her child. These people brought of some other young negroes at the same time, which in all probability are either free or stolen from their masters.

The people that have this girl in possession treat her in the most barbarous manner. If you will write to Mr. John Nevison or Doct’r Taylor at Norfolk to this effect, I make no doubt they will interest themselves in the affair, as they know the mother, and I believe the Daughter, and it will, I hope, be a means of bringing the villains to Justice. As soon as you can get any information respecting the matter, please write to Mr. Lee DeKeyson, of this place, who has promised me to see the Girl Justice done. Knowing your humanity and desire to do Justice, makes me trouble you on this occasion.

I am, sir, with Respect, Y’r ob’t Servant, DAVID MILLER

Col. Champion Travis, W’msburg, Va.

From Sherwin McRae, ed., Calendar of Virginia State Papers … from August 11, 1792, to December 31, 1793, v. 6 (1886).

For more on this crime, see http://www.norfolkhistory.com/Abrahams

 

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April 1, 2013

They are very well known.

$200 Reward. Ranaway from the subscriber, on the 22nd inst., FOUR NEGRO BOYS, named as follows: CHARLES WINN, aged about 24; WILLIAM, aged about 17 years; JOHN, aged 14 years; JIM, aged about 12 years.

The above boys are very well known as the children of Adam Winn. I think they intend trying to get to some free state. The above reward will be given for their delivery, or for their confinement in any jail in the State.   THOMAS BENNETT. Mt. Olive, Wayne co., July 25, 1854.

Fayetteville Observer, 3 August 1854.

[Sidenote: Adam Winn was a free man. Several of his sons were slaves. — LYH]

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April 1, 2013

To prevent him being sold into slavery.

Chap. 486.

AN ACT to remunerate James Bennett for expenses incurred and services rendered in procuring the release of Anthony Adams, a colored citizen of this State, from imprisonment in the jail of Edenton, North Carolina, to prevent him being sold into slavery.

Passed April 15, 1857, three-fifths being present.

The People of the State of New-York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

SECTION 1. The treasurer shall pay on the warrant of the comptroller, out of any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to James Bennett, the sum of two hundred and sixty-eight dollars, being four dollars per diem for eighteen days service, and for moneys expended in procuring the release of Anthony Adams, a free colored citizen of the town of Deerpark, county of Orange, state of New-York, from the jail of Edenton, state of North Carolina, where he was confined.

Sec.2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Laws of the State of New-York Passed at the Eightieth Session of the Legislature, Vol. II (1857).

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March 30, 2013

He has a mulatto indenture.

One Hundred Dollars Reward.  Ranaway from the subscriber in April, 1800, a negro man named ZIBE, about 25 years of age, 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, well made, handsome features, and dark complexion – I do suppose he is in or about Norfolk, as his mother and some of his other connexions live in that place. I have lately understood he has a mulattoe indenture and certificate, and goes by the name of the mulattoe, which is James Turtle, which if he has the indentures was executed in Bertie county North Carolina, to Mr. Jesse Brown, of county and state aforesaid, and the certificate was granted to said Turtle, by said Jesse Brown. The above reward will be given to any person apprehending said negro and confining him to that I get him again, or delivering him to me in Hertford county North Carolina, and all reasonable expences paid.  Eli Moor.

N.B. He is a tolerable shoemaker.

Norfolk Herald, 1 July 1802.

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March 29, 2013

He has no papers to prove his freedom.

Committed to Norfolk county jail, a Mulatto fellow, who says he is a free man, but has no papers to prove his freedom, he is a bright mulatto, 6 feet high; he says he is named JOHN MASINS, born in Washington county, N.C., a small scar over his right eye, and one on his right ear. His owner is requested to come forward, pay charges and take him away.  CHARLES RUDDER, Jailor.

Norfolk Herald, 1 July 1802.

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March 28, 2013

Register of (NC-Born) Negroes and Mulattos: Bartholomew County, Indiana, no. 4.

Dolly Curzy, age 26, born Robeson County NC; mulatto woman, 5’8”, light complexion, tolerably straight dingy black hair; slightly freckled; small black mole on right upper lip; wife of Edward Curzy and has three children; William Atkinson; 5 Nov 1853.

Edward Curzy, age 43, born Bladen County NC; a light mulatto, hair black and nearly straight, 5’6 ½”, left leg crooked having once been broken in knee joint; William Atkinson; registered 5 Nov 1853.

Eliza Curzy, age 3, born Bartholomew County IN, mulatto girl, very light complexion, quite bright and intelligent looking; Wm. Atkinson; registered 5 Nov 1853.

John Curzy, age 4 ½, born Jennings County IN; light mulatto, very bright and intelligent looking; no marks; Wm. Atkinson; registered 5 Nov 1853.

Dianah Galbraith, age 50, born Perquimans County NC; black negro woman, 5’5”, small white scar on left foot; very peaceable, inoffensive and respectable; wife of Edmund Galbreaith; James Hobbs; registered 1 Sept 1853.

Edmund Galbraith, age 70, born South Carolina; negro man, 5’8”m scar about two inches long on left breast caused by burn; very peaceable, inoffensive and respectable; James Hobbs; registered 1 Sept 1853.

In the 1850 census of Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana: Edmund Galbreath, 75, laborer, born SC, and wife Diana, 48, born NC.

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March 23, 2013

He does all he can to keep me in slavery.

The Petition of negro man Dick Dingley to the worshipfull County Court of Chowan humbley sheweth that a certain Ichabod Jordan of the county aforesaid Redeem’d the said Petitioner of Mr. James Legett on Ronake for the Consideration of ninty five pounds & then the Said Petitioner made a bargain with Said Ichabod Jordan before witness that if the Said Petitioner was to be a full Liberty as will more fully appear the said Petitioner has paid Said Jordan his full Demand and Since that the Said Jordan has Let him have his Liberty for three years as agreed but so it is that of Late the Said Jordan has renewed his Clame & has most Cruely Beaten your Petitioner and does all he Can to keep him the Said Petitioner in Slavery this therefore is Humbley to pray your worships that as your Petitioner is without redress only through your worships that you will be please to Confirm the above bargain & Redress your Said Petitioner & as in duty Bound Shall Ever Pray.       Dick Dingle  March 8th 1798

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

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March 23, 2013

Green, country-looking man and woman without papers.

SENT BEFORE THE GRAND JURY. – Oswald Wright, the person charged with bringing Eveline Mills, a free negro of North Carolina, into the state contrary to law, was, yesterday brought the Mayor, and after an examination into the case was required to find security for his appearance before the Hustings’ Court Grand Jury, to answer any indictment that might be found against him for the offence. The amount of security ($150) was not given by him, and he was committed to jail. The punishment should he tried and convicted is a fine of not more than $500, and imprisonment not exceeding six months. The jury may vote the accrued guilty, fine him one cent, and put him in jail one hour. Eveline Mills, the woman who was held as an adjunct of weight in the offence, produced her certificate of freedom and discharged from custody.

The Daily Dispatch, Richmond VA, 27 August 1857.

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SENT BACK. – Oswald Wright, who stands accused of bringing Evelyn Mills, a free negro, into this state from North Carolina, contrary to the law, was before the Mayor yesterday, but the case was not gone into, on account of the absence of witnesses. The defendant was sent back to jail. – Wright, a green country looking individual, says he came from Rockingham county, and was on his way back when arrested. The woman, Evelyn Mills was likewise sent back to answer for coming into the State without free papers. It is not known with certainty whether she is free as she asserts.

The Daily Dispatch, Richmond VA, 3 September 1857.

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HUSTINGS COURT. – This tribunal commences its regular monthly term on to-day next. Below we give a list of cases which will occupy the attention of the magistrates during the session …. The misdemeanor cases … will be found in the following list:

7. Oswald Wright. Bringing a free negro from North Carolina to this city, contrary to the laws of Virginia.

…

The Daily Dispatch, Richmond VA, 9 November 1857.

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March 9, 2013

Porch detained.

Ordered that Francis McBride be cited to appear at this court tomorrow to show cause if any he can why he detains a mulatto boy named porch in his service when it is supposed he ought to have his freedom.

Minutes, August Term 1781, Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Guilford County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

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