Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Category: Free Women of Color

April 11, 2013

Police report.

Reported for the Sentinel.

Office of Police, August 7th, 8th & 9th.

A vigilant police is essential to the execution of laws. The execution of the laws is essential to our security. The wicked and disorderly must be opposed, and if not done by the police, it will have to be done with our muskets. It is not expected that the violent and disorderly are to be exterminated, but they can be kept in check; and with the assistance of the posse comitatus, we are determined to do it.

…

The third case was that of Bob Hazle, a free negro. Bob was met at 10 o’clock at night, in a public street, by one of the patrol, and on enquiring who he was, and where going, said he “was as free a man as any body – that he had a right to travel when and where he pleased,” and added some abusive language, as a sauce to his discourse. But Bob had made a wrong estimate of his franchise, as also of his consequence; for, without much ceremony, he was arrested, conducted to the police office, tried, and found guilty of disorderly conduct, and was compelled to enter into a recognizance to the state, with security for his good behavior for twelve months.

…

The fifth case was that of Nancy Brown, a free mulatto woman: She had taken up a notion that she ought to parade the streets and abuse the police officer, for arresting the fellow Ned [a slave], on Sunday. To alter her singular ideas, and to set her at ease on the subject, she was arrested and tried for disorderly conduct, was found guilty, and compelled to enter into a recognizance with security for her good behavior for twelve months.

… The seventh case was of Jordon S. Carrow, the police officer. A free mulatto, whose name is not remembered, was arrested by Mr. Carrow for riotous conduct in the street. The man resisted Mr. Carrow, who inflicted on him one or two slight blows with his cane – one, about his head, which cut the skin and caused the blood to flow. The court was of the opinion that as the officer was resisted, he had a right to subdue the prisoner.

We cannot close our report without saying that the public have in Mr. Carrow, a deserving and vigilant officer.

Newbern Sentinel, 18 August 1827.

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April 11, 2013

44 acres on Calf Pasture branch.

Know all men by these presents that we Lovett Reaves & Milly Reaves of the State of Georgia & County of Hancock Know ye that we Lovett Reaves & Milly Reaves for & in consideration of the sum of One hundred and ten dollars to us in hand paid by Jane Winn of the State of North Carolina & County of Duplin before this executing and delivering of these presents, the receipt whereof we hereby acknowledge & confess that we are therewith fully satisfied contended and paid & for these same considerations have given granted sold & assigned & set [illegible] to the said Jane Wynn her heirs and assigns forever a certain tract or parcel of land [illegible] lying & being in the County of Duplin & State of North Carolina on or near the head of the Calf Pasture branch, it being part of a tract of land belonging to the late Reuben Johnston &c and it also being the part of land that fell to the said Milly Reaves in the division of the said land by heirship, beginning at a stake in the old line & runs north with the old line N 45 poles to a stake Felix Johnson’s corner, then with his line W 158 poles to a stake his corner over the road then S 45 poles along the old line to a stake then W 158 poles to the first station including the house & field on the Road containing Forty four acres more or less together with all do privileges rights [illegible] and appurtenances to the said parcel of land & premises of the same to the use benefit & behoof of the said Jane Wynn her heirs & assigns to have & to hold forever & the said Lovett & Milly Reaves doth for themselves their [illegible] said parcel of land forever & the said said Jane Wynn shall & will warrant & forever defend from themselves their heirs executors adm’r & assigns & all other persons whatsoever. In witness whereof we the said Lovell and said Reaves [sic] hereunto set our hands and seals this twenty second day of February in the year of Our Lord Eighteen hundred & eighteen.   Lovett Reaves    Molly X Reaves

Signed sealed & del’d in the presence of Asher Flowers, Thomas X Gray

State of No Carolina, Duplin County. October Term 1818. The within deed was proved [illegible] by the oath of Asher Flowers & order to be registered. Test Wm. Dickson C.C.

Grantor Book DTFU, page 415. Register of Deeds Office, Duplin County Courthouse.

[Sidenote: Jane (or Jinny) Winn was a sister or mother or cousin of the male Winns, farmers and mechanics, who amassed property in the thousands of acres in Duplin, Wayne and Cumberland Counties. Much of it was lost in the decade before the Civil War. More later…. — LYH]

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April 10, 2013

He was the same person who had been kidnapped from his mother.

Wilmington, Oct. 2. – About eleven years ago, a white man came to the house of a free coloured woman, named Fanny Larrington, living on the sound, in the neighbourhood of this town, and requested her to lend him some assistance in bringing up some things he had landed close by. She readily sent her eldest child Dick with him. His long stay alarmed her; she went to look for him, and then she called, received no answer. She had not gone far when she heard the cry of her two younger children whom she left in the house. In returning to their relief she suddenly came upon a Negro man who had under each arm one of her children, who, he instantly dropped and made his escape into the woods. The mother knew at once the fate of her son, and while she embraced her little daughters thus fortunately rescued, she cried bitterly for the loss of her eldest child, who had been so cruelly and treacherously stolen from her. Of this son she had not heard any tidings, until a few days ago he arrived in Wilmington, and made her, as he was himself, happy by the recovery of his long lost freedom. He went before a very respectable Magistrate of this town and proved by two credible witnesses, that he was the same person who had been kidnapped from his mother as above recited, and that he was born free. He states that he went along with the white man to the landing, but saw nothing to bring away; he was obliged to go into a canoe over to the opposite side of the Creek, and when, on hearing his mother call for him he attempted to answer her, his mouth was gagged and he forced to accompany him through the woods, until, as by concert, they met on the road a wagon and team going into the back country. The apparent owner of it, who called himself “Dukes” claimed him as his property, carried him away and sold him. His last master was Mr. Wm. Walker, of Stokes county, with whom he went by the name of Prince. A subscription had been raised for the purpose of sending on a person who could identify this boy and by regular process of law, release him from his slavery. But Dick had availed himself of a favourable opportunity. He escaped, and by the exercise of considerable ingenuity, made good his way to Wilmington, where his claims to freedom have been substantiated beyond the possibility of a doubt.

Observing in the Raleigh Star an advertisement of Mr. Walker for a runway Negro, it would be well for the Editor of that paper to notice the circumstances here stated. It is hoped that by means of his last master, the perpetrators of this atrocious crime may be found out and brought to that punishment which they richly deserve.  – Gazette.

Star, Raleigh, 11 October 1810.

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April 10, 2013

She shall have a comfortable maintenance.

I, Nathan Lamb of the County of Randolph & State of North Carolina being of sound mind & memory but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence do make & declare these my last Will & Testament in manner and form following. That is to say first that my executor shall provide for my body a decent burial suitable to the wishes of my relations & friends & pay all funeral expenses together with my just debts howsoever & to whomsoever owing out of the money that may first come into his hands as part or parcel of my estate.

Item, I give & devise to my beloved wife Mary Lamb all the tract of land & plantation whereon I now live including my mansion house & all outhouses & other improvements whatsoever to her the said Mary Lamb to have & to hold for & during her natural life or widowhood in lieu of her dower & thirds of my real estate.

Item, I give and devise to my grandson Nathan Wall all this tract of land whereon I now live except the life estate of my wife derived in a former item on this my will & except the maintenance of my old Servant mentioned in another item to have & to hold to him & his heirs in fee simple forever.

Item, I give & devise to my daughter Mary Morgan, wife of William Morgan, all that tract of land whereon Elizabeth Stanton now lives known by the name of the Morgan Place to have & to hold to her & her heirs in fee Simple forever.

Item, I give & bequeath to my Said beloved wife Mary Lamb all the household & kitchen furniture all the horses & cattle & hogs & all the farming tools & all my other property on this plantation, all the crops of every discription that may be on the plantation whereon I now live & all the provisions on hand at my death for & during her natural life or widowhood except what may be necessary to pay all funeral expenses together with my just debts to be Selected & Sold by my executor for that purpose provided there Should not be money Sufficient on hand.

Item, My will & desire is that all the Crop Stock & provisions on hand at the death of my wife all the improvements of husbandry & all other personal property belonging to the estate Should be Sold & the money arriving from such Sale Should be equally divided among my children, except Mary Morgan, Share & Share alike to them & their personal representatives forever.

Item, My will is also that Luce, a free woman of Colour formerly in my Service Shall have a comfortable maintenance from my home plantation during her natural life or whenever She may chose to live thereon.

And lastly, I do hereby constitute & appoint my Son in Law William Chamness my lawful executor to all intents & purposes to execute the my last will & testament according to the true intent and meaning thereof, hereby revoking & declaring utterly void all other wills & testaments by me hereuntofore made. In witness whereof the Said Nathan Lamb do hereunto set my hand & seal this 4th day of May AD 1839.  Nathan X Lamb. Witnesses Daniel Swain, Anna Swain.     

Probated February term, 1845.  Randolph County Courthouse.

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April 9, 2013

Not guilty.

The Superior Court for this county, his honour Judge DONNELL, presiding, commenced its session on Monday last.

…

On Wednesday, Nancy Quinn, a free woman of colour, upon whose case the jury, at the last term, were unable to render a verdict, was tried for the murder of her infant child. She was found “Not Guilty.”

Newbern Sentinel, 28 October 1826.

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April 9, 2013

I am determined to pay no debts.

NOTICE.

Whereas my wife SARAH BREWINGTON has left my bed and board without any cause – this is therefore to caution all and every person not to credit her on my account, as I am determined to pay no debts of her contracting.   WM. R. BREWINGTON. Fayetteville, June 15, 1860.

Carolina Observer, Fayetteville, 18 June 1860.

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April 9, 2013

He stabbed her child.

MURDER. A man who called himself JOHN REID, a Scotchman, came to Newbern with a number of low priced watches for sale, and while here, was frequently drunk. In a state of intoxication, on the 4th inst., he entered the house of Nancy Sawyer, a free woman of color, and stabbed her child, Celia Maria Sawyer, a girl 8 years old, with a dirk, and also wounded a young coloured woman. The child died on the 11th inst. and an inquest taken before me has found that the child died of that wound.

Reid has left the County, and probably returned to Norfolk, of which place he said he was a resident. This notice is given, to the end that if met with in this State he may be delivered to the subscriber, of to the Sheriff of Craven, that he may be brought to justice. Thomas C. Masters, Coroner Craven County. Newbern, 15th April, 1819.

Newbern Sentinel, 24 April 1819.

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April 8, 2013

Babies’ daddies, no. 2.

At August term, 1800, Allen Mann ordered to pay Sarah Boon $15 for first year and $10 annually for next six years for support of her child of which he is the reputed father.

At August term, 1820, Benjamin Reynolds ordered to pay Lurany Hagans $15 for first year and $10 annually for next six years for support of her child of which he is the reputed father. Jesse Pridgen was bondsman.

At February term, 1821, Ben Reynolds ordered to pay Milly Locas $15 for first year and $10 annually for next six years for support of her child of which he is the reputed father.

In the 1850 census of Nash County: Milly Locust, 47, and Albert Locust, 6.

At August term, 1830, Moses Hagans ordered to pay Thena Locus $15 for first year and $10 annually for next six years for support of her child of which he is the reputed father.

In the 1850 census of Nash County: Mosis Hagans, 48, farmer, wife Pitty, 38, and Gray B. Hagans, 19.

At November term, 1830, Allen Brantley ordered to pay Patsey Bird $15 for first year and $10 annually for next six years for support of her child Lecy of which he is the reputed father.

At May term, 1831, Solomon Tabourn ordered to pay Elizabeth Howard $15 for first year and $10 annually for next six years for support of her child of which he is the reputed father.

Minutes of Pleas & Quarters Sessions, Court Records, Nash County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

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April 8, 2013

Woman, stolen, asks for support in old age.

Headquarters Bureau Refugee Freedmen and Abandoned Lands SC

Charleston SC Aug. 11th 1866

Major General O. O. Howard

Commissioner

General:

I have the honor to present the case of Mary Richardson an aged half breed now living in Manningsville this state.

She states that when she was about thirteen years of age and living with her parents in a village in North Carolina the name of which she has forgotten she was sent to a slave for articles and while there a stranger named Jacob Whitehead immediately caught her and placing her on a saddle with him carried her away against her will, riding all day and night crossing into SC, sleeping in the woods days and riding nights, in this manner until they arrived at his home in Manningsville SC. That Jacob Whitehead kept her as a servant in his house until she arrived at the age of puberty when he kept her as his mistress with the knowledge of his wife. After living with him for about seven years, she had a son born of him and the wife took charge of the child. 

About ten years after the child was born the father Whitehead tried to sell her at auction in Charleston City SC but was unable to do so, she being free born of Indian parents and Whitehead being unable to show title.

Eight or ten years after this went the wife of Whitehead died and she (Mary) and Mr. W. were quarreling continually, and by some arrangement she was transferred to a Mr. John Reams of Manningsville, with whom she lived as a slave until Gen. Sherman went through.

She orates that her son is still living a man grown on the Santee River this state, but she has not seen him for many years nor has she heard anything of her parents since she was kidnapped. All of her repeated effort to learn of them and to tell them of her fate being intercepted before she began to grow old, by the post masters and others who were relatives and friends of Mr. Whitehead. After Mr. Whitehead sold or transferred her to Reams he married a second wife: Mr. W. died during the war and his widow now lives on the estate at Manningsville as does Nath’ Whitehead the son of the first wife of Jacob Whitehead.

She now asks that some measures may be taken to secure to her from Jacob Whitehead’s estate means of support in her old age as also to the son she had by Whitehead his just position and standing among his people.

I am General, very respectfully, your Obd. Servant

Brevet Major General, Asst. Com. SC

Records of Assistant Commissioner of the State of South Carolina; Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands; National Archives Microfilm Publication M869.

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April 7, 2013

Julia Boone Budd.

ImageJULIA BOONE BUDD was born in 1854 in Sampson County to William and Susan Boone. She married Wesley M. Budd on 24 July 1873 in Wayne County.  They are buried in the Budd cemetery near Dudley, Wayne County.

Photo taken by Lisa Y. Henderson, March 2013.

In the 1860 census of McDaniels, Sampson County: Wm. Boon, 33, farm laborer; wife Susan, 31; Hezekiah, 6; Julia, 5; Azariah, 3; and Benamma Boon, 1.

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