Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Category: Free Women of Color

June 2, 2014

An account of an execution.

FOR THE PRESS.

WENTWORTH, N.C., Jan. 11th, 1859.

DEAR SIR:

On Friday last, according to the sentence of His Honor, Judge DICK, Lucy Hine, a free woman of color, and a resident of your county, was publicly executed about 1 ½ miles East of town, in the presence of an unusually small crowd, compared with the number generally attending executions. I was glad to see so small a crowd in attendance, as I think such spectacles have anything but a good tendency. – Instead of morality, immorality is taught on all such occasions.

The day of execution was a little damp, and the roads muddy, but not sufficiently so to be disagreeable. About 11 o’clock the Sheriff proceeded to the jail with the attending officer, robed the criminal for execution, placed her in a wagon, and conducted her to the gallows. – She was attended by three ministers, Rev’s Day, Fields and Norman. Arriving at the gallows, she ascended the scaffold with a firm and resolute step. On being asked, if she had any confessions to make, she relied, none more than she had already made to the jailor, which in substance is, that she was innocent of the murder, and that there was no plot whatever between Frank and herself to kill her husband, and that she lent no aid either for or against him, and that she helped to conceal the body after the murder was committed.

She then exhorted all persons present, mostly negroes, to beware of their acts and conduct and not so as she had done. Said that she had been a great sinner, but felt that she was forgiven, and was willing to die. After which Rev. B. Field of the Methodist Church, delivered a short and appropriate address; and at 1 o’clock, the rope being adjusted, the drop fell, and her spirit took its flight to that last resting place “whence no traveler returns.”

Much credit is due Rev. Wm. Gay of the Episcopal church at Leaksville, who visited the criminal the day before her execution, and prayed with attended her to the gallows. AVO.

The People’s Press (Winston-Salem), 14 January 1859.

In the 1840 census of Bethabara, Stokes County: Lucy Hine, a free woman of color aged 24-36, living alone.

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June 2, 2014

Their eyes have been injured.

Ten Dollars Reward.

RAN AWAY from the subscriber on the 8th inst, my negro man MINGO, aged about 45 years, of ordinary size, rather dark complexion, a white streak near the sight of one of his eyes, (which eye is not recollected) has rather a bad look out of his eyes. It is supposed that he is lurking about the lower edge of Edgecombe, or the upper part of Pitt, or he may have got as low down as Washington, Beaufort county, as his wife is a free woman of color, named Julia Read, lately of Pitt and has relations in Beaufort. The eyes of both him and her have been injured, his by a splinter and hers by a burn. The above reward will be given for the apprehension of Mingo, if delivered to me near Tradesville, in Edgecombe county, or if secured in any jail so that I get him again. All persons are forbid harboring, employing, or carrying off said negro under penalty of the law. MATTHEW WHITEHEAD. Nov 15, 1843

Tarboro’ Press, 10 February 1844.

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May 31, 2014

An affray; a fatal accident.

From the Weldon Patriot.

…

ANOTHER. __ On Sunday last an affray occurred in the neighborhood of Gaston, between mulattoes, Dick Graham and Bob Carter, both Boatmen, which terminated in the death of the latter. Graham has been taken and confined in jail.

FATAL ACCIDENT. – On Monday evening last, Betsey Douse, a free woman of color, attempted to cross the Rail Road on Quankey Bridge as the Wilmington train of cars for this place was approaching, when she fell and was caught under the wheels, and so seriously injured that her life is despaired of. Betsy was no doubt, at the time, afflicted with “tangle legs.”

Weekly Commercial (Wilmington), 25 April 1851.

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May 30, 2014

Barnes, or Burns, or Copage, or Farmer.

$125 REWARD

will be paid for the delivery of the said HARRY to me at Tossnot Depot, Edgecombe county, or for his confinement in any Jail in the State so that I can get home, or One Hundred and Fifty Dollars will be given for his head.

He was lately heard from in New-Bern where he called himself Henry Barnes (or Burns), and will likely continue the same name, or assume that of Copage or Farmer. He has a free mulatto woman for a wife, by the name of Sally Bozeman, who has lately removed to Wilmington, and lives in that part of the town called Texas, where he will likely be lurking.

Master of vessels are particularly cautioned against harboring, employing, or concealing the said negro on board their vessels, as the full penalty of the law will be rigorously enforced. GUILFORD HORN.   June 29th, 1850

Eastern Carolina Republican (New Bern), 20 November 1850.

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May 30, 2014

Puking, purging, pains.

From the Washington (N.C.) Whig.

HEALTH OF THE TOWN.

Several cases of malignant cholera have occurred in our town. We deem it unnecessary to say much on the subject ourselves, as our readers will find below the detailed report of the Board of Health. This report was handed to us yesterday at noon, and we have heard of no case since. It is now four days since the last case occurred: our citizens are therefore recovering from the panic with which they were at first struck; and several families who then thought of withdrawing from the town, now deem that step quite unnecessary.

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.

The undersigned, Commissioners and Physicians, constituting a Board of Health for the Town of Washington, under a sense of what they deem their duty to the community, make publick the following cases and facts and occurrences, relative to the health of this town: —

October 8th. Case 1. – A child of a coloured man, living in a low and wet, though central part of the town, and taken in the night with the following symptoms: – puking, purging, pains in the stomach and bowels. When seen by a physician, there was universal coldness of surface, and no perceptible pulse at the wrist. Died at 12 o’clock, A.M. on the 9th.

9th. Case 2. – Winney Pilgreen, a free coloured woman, age not known, but supposed to be about 50 years. When seen by a physician, she was vomiting a glareous fluid, which she said was hot and acid; purging frequent, but small, of a fluid slightly tinged with bile; had pains in the stomach and intestines; spasms of the fingers and in the muscles of the legs and feet; surface of the head, chest and abdomen, below natural temperature; and at the extremities, very cold, shriveled, and inelastic; excessive thirst; complaining of great internal heat; pulse very indistinguishable, being full, soft and feeble; tongue with a thick brown coat upon it. Died on the morning of the 16th.

9th. Case 3. – Philis Brown, mother of the former, sick in an adjoining room. When seen by a physician, had every symptom of preceding case, except that of the pulse; here it was with difficulty perceived, being very small and frequent. Died on the night of the 11th.

…

10th. Case 6. Jackson, a free mulatto. Habits not known; in appearance, having a strong healthy constitution; previous health not known; taken at 10 o’clock, P.M. Was seen by a physician in an hour after attack, and found with spasms in stomach and intestines; puking and purging colourless matter; cold tongue; pulseless. Died at 5 A.M., on the 11th.

12th. Case 7. – Isaac Pilgreen, a free coloured man. Habits intemperate; by trade a mason; had been intoxicated for the last week, and exposed day and night in attendance on Nancy, his wife. This patient, when taken, was in a state of inebriety. When seen by a physician, which was in less than an hour, the patient was spasmed in stomach and intestines; cramped in the extremities; had puking and purging of this fluid rice-colored matter; cold surface and tongue; pulse nearly extinct. Survived 5 ½ hours.

…

Newbern Spectator, 24 October 1834.

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May 30, 2014

Diligent search has been made for her.

ESCAPED.

PATTY, a free negro, aged about 60 years, has a dark complexion and stout frame, is insane, though harmless and in feeble health. She left my farm near Hillsborough a few days since, where she has been living several years with her relations. Diligent search has been made for her, but without effect. She was seen near Mr. Parrish’s, and between the race ground and Mr. Huntington’s old place. Any information concerning her will be thankfully received, and any person who will bring her home will be paid for his trouble by the subscriber. C. Jones.  June 17.

Hillsborough Recorder, 18 June 1834.

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May 26, 2014

Not guilty!

A Coroner’s Inquest was held on Sunday last, on the dead body of a new born colored infant, found half-buried in a ditch, in a frequented part of the City. The verdict of the Jury was, that the child was born alive, and inhumanely killed by its unnatural mother, a free woman of color, named MARTHA DICKINSON.

The North Carolina Star (Raleigh), 29 January 1845.

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SUPERIOR COURT.

…

No case involving life was taken up before Wednesday, when MARTHA DICKINSON (a free woman of color) was tried for the murder of her new-born child. The Prosecution was conducted by the Attorney General, and the Defence by C.C. BATTLE, Esq. There was no doubt, from the evidence, whether the child died from violence or neglect, and the Jury, after remaining out several hours, returned a Verdict of Not Guilty!

Weekly Raleigh Register, 4 April 1845.

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May 26, 2014

He sold me a free man as a slave.

$50 REWARD,

WILL be paid for the apprehension and confinement, so that he may be brought to justice, of WRIGHT ALLEN, who commonly calls himself Wm. Allen, who sold to me as a slave, a free mulatto boy named DENNIS. Said Allen is a very stout man, dark complexion, about 40 years of age, has an uncommon large hand and nose, the hand very covered with hair. I will give $200 reward for the recovery of the $500 which I paid Allen for the negro, or in proportion for any part of it. He carried with him from Fayetteville about ten days ago, a tall bright mulatto free woman named Mary, and it has been ascertained that they went North together by way of the Wilmington Rail Road. He wore a grey coatee with outside pockets without flaps, a black silk hat, made by J.R. & D. Gee, of Fayetteville, whose names are in the hat; his own name also is worked in the hat with yellow silk. Any information addressed to the Subscriber will be promptly attended to. DANIEL McKINNON. Stewartsville, Richmond County, N.C., November 27, 1838.

Fayetteville Weekly Observer, 28 November 1838.

 

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May 22, 2014

Bills to allow them to enslave themselves.

… a bill to allow Leah White, a free negress, to enslave herself to Morris McDaniel of Jones County; … a bill for the relief of James Moore, a free negro – allows him to enslave himself; …

The Raleigh Register, 27 February 1861.

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May 22, 2014

Harbored by a free negro woman.

A RUNAWAY SHOT. – A negro man, the property of Mr. Thomas Foust, of Alamance, was shot near this place on Saturday last. He ran away the 15th of May 1861, after threatening his master’s life, and he has been prowling about this neighborhood for some time, and was harbored, it appears, by a free negro woman named Jane Day, living a few miles from this place. Several slaves were in confidence with him, and they often met at Jane Day’s and gambled together, one of whom betrayed him. On Saturday last several gentlemen armed went out to capture him, but he refused to surrender, swore he would not be taken, and threatened to cut his way through if opposed. He had ascended to the top of the chimney, intending to make his egress from the house that way, and was told to stop, or he would be shot. One of the company aimed at his legs, but the negro stooped just at the time to make a leap, and the load lodged in his abdomen. He fell on the outside, and a large bowie knife which he had, fell inside of the chimney. He died in fifteen or twenty minutes. – Hils. Rec.

The North Carolina Argus, 30 January 1862.

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