Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Category: Military

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 27, 2013

Wounded with a cannonball at the Battle of Monmouth.

North Carolina, Wake County  }  Schedule:  Court of pleas and quarter Sessions on this 25th day of august 1820 Personaly appeared in open Court it being a court of Record for the county aforesaid Drury Pettiford aged 69 years resident in Said County & State being first duly sworn according to law on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows, that he served 2 years in the 2nd Regiment in the company commanded by Cap’t Lewis Burwell and that he has here unto rec’d a pension certificate No. 5443 upon his original declaration made before Judge Potter on the 27th day of May 1818.  And I do solemly swear that I was a resident citizen of the U.States on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time by gift Sale or any manner disposed of my Property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it. As to bring myself with in the provisions of an act of congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the united States in the Revolutionary war passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person intrust for me any property or Security contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereunto annexed and by me Subscribed.

Real Estate – none; Personal Estate – one blind sorrel mare; one Sow and 2 shoats; 4 chairs; 2 Dishes and 1 Basin; 1 Sett knives & forks; One pott.

Names & ages of the family now resident with him are himself aged 69, Dicy his wife aged 66, Jesse aged 18 years Nicholas aged 16 years Janey 12 years Drury aged 9 years Sally aged 7 years Franky aged 6 years & Thomas aged 9 years.  That all the assistance he has is from the labour of his two eldest sons Jesse & Nicholas that himself and wife are not able to do much & his eldest daughter only assists her and have to rent land and being verry old and infirm he is himself unable to pursue his Occupation having also been wounded with a cannon ball at the battle of Monmouth in his right knee which verry much injured the bones & sinews of his leg & knee, & much burned by the blowing up of a magazine in middlebrook.  Sworn to and subscribed in open court   Drury X Pettiford

From the file of Drury Pettiford, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, National Archives and Records Administration.

Drury Pettiford married Tycey Bass on 12 November 1781 in Granville County.  Right Bass served as bondsman, and Bennet Searcy witnessed.  In the 1830 census of Wake County, Drury Pettiford headed a household of six free people of color.

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January 7, 2013

He is an East India Indian.

TEN DOLLARS REWARD.  DESERTED from me the 12th instant on their march for Halifax, two soldiers belonging to the 5th battalion of this state, William Watson and Charles Peters, Watson has deserted five times, he has also cost the public twenty odd pounds for taking him up, and jail fees, he is about five feet ten inches high, dark complected, black hair, lives on or near Bay river, below Newbern.  Peters is an East India Indian, formerly the property of Mr. Thomlinson in Newbern.  Whoever delivers one or both of the above deserters to me at Bath or to any continental officer, taking their receipt for the same, shall have the above reward.   BEN. STEADMAN.

North Carolina Gazette, 15 May 1778.

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January 6, 2013

The Confederates tried to get me again, but I dodged them.

Hugh Cale filed claim #12668 with the Southern Claims Commission.  He was 33 years old, resided in Elizabeth City, and engaged in trading. From 1861 to December 1862, he lived in Edenton.  He then moved to Plymouth until 1864.  He then “went in the United States service on board Steamer Massaint [Massasoit] a transport remained on her for five months. I then shipped on Steamer Pilot Boy still in the service of the United States and remained on her until after the close of the war.”

“I was taken in the Spring of 1861 & carried to Beatom Iland [Beacon Island] near Ocracoat-bar [Ocracoke] N.C. and was made to work on the fortifications for the Confederate Government against my will for I was a man of color. Was kept there two weeks and was then carried to Hatrass [Hatteras] to work on fortifications & was then kept there three months & three days.  We were then sent home, & remained home until the fall of Hatrass. I was then taken and put on board of the Schuner Cinaline and remained on her till the Capture of Roanoke Iland. I then went home the Confederate troops tried to get me again. I doged them.”  He “did all I could to get other collered people to leave home and to go the places held by the United States Authorities.”  “In 1862 I was arrested up the Chowan River as a spie for the United States. I was kept about five weeks under arrest and was not released until the Union troops took Winton.”  “The Confederate troops wanted me to go to Norfolk Va and get goods for them. I told them I couldnot do that. They said if I did not do it that I should not stay at Home. I faild to do it then Confederate soldiers came to my House & beat me so I was laid up for some time.” “After I became free I worked at the Masons trade. I made money after I went in [illegible] lines at Plymouth and paid for the property with it. Except the boat which I owned before the war. I never had a master.” Union soldiers took lumber, goods and a sail boat from him.

Cale worked as merchant from 1862 to 1864.  While absent, his clerk, Sam Skinner, conducted business for him.  After they captured Plymouth, United States authorities took such merchandise from Cale as butter, flour, tobacco, bacon, apples.

John Block estimated that Cale’s 26-foot boat, in good shape with sails and fixtures, was worth two hundred dollars.

Allowed: $602.50.

Report of the Secretary of War, Vol. I, 1865, “No. 20. List of vessels in service of Quartermaster’s department supplying General Sherman’s army” lists both the Massasoit and Pilot Boy.

Hugh Cale died July 22, 1910, in Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County.  He was about 75 years old.  His death certificate lists his occupation as merchant.

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January 5, 2013

He was well acquainted with Genl. Washington.

State of North Carolina, Franklin County    }

On this the 18th day of June AD 1841 personally appeared before me one of the Justices of the Peace for the County aforesaid & one of the Justices of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions of the same, Solomon Bibbie, a free man of colour a resident of the County of Franklin & State aforesaid, aged ninety years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 AD 1832, that he joined the Army under Genl Sumner and served under Capts Pell, Armstrong, & Brickle and others (whose names he cannot now recall) he entered the service in the Spring of the year but what year he does not now recollect, he remained in the service three years from the time he entered as aforesaid as a volunteer, he was at the battles of Eutaw Springs, Camden & Guilford Court House, and attended most of his time to the care of the horses & as protector & guard to the baggage wagons, he was not engaged in any of the said battles, he was a volunteer, & joined & continued as such whilst he was connected with the Army.  He was well acquainted with Genl Gates, Greene, and also with Genl Washington & Malbry (he thinks the name was). He has in his possession no documentary evidence & knows of no one who can testify, except one Pope who lives in the western part of the State somewhere, but at what place he does not know.  He does not know what year he was born in but he was born in this County (which was then called Bute) & State.  He has no record of his age.  He was living near Sandy Creek in the County when he volunteered & has lived ever since.  He received his discharge from service from Genl Sumner through his aid Capt but he has lost it, or it has been destroyed by age.  He states the following as persons living in his neighbourhood who can testify to his character for truth, viz: Presley Parsons, William Ransom, T. Patterson, B. Jones, Jeremiah Perry, Arch’ld Yarbrough, Philemon Hawkins & Nathan Patterson & who can testify also to his good behaviour & most of whom can testify from information received from others of his Revolutionary services, and he hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever, and he makes oath that he served faithfully through his whole time & that he is now very needy & dependent & unable to work.

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year above before me

Thomas Howerton J.P.                                           Solomon X Bibbie

From the file of Solomon Bibbie, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, National Archives and Records Administration.

Solomon Bibby was head of a household of five free people of color listed in the 1830 census of Gills district, Franklin County.

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January 2, 2013

Colored Confederates — mostly cooks.

5 Cav. N.C. William Lynch, cook, Co. E., 63 Reg’t North Carolina Troops (Cavalry). Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above, for March and April 1864.  Enlisted 12 Jan 1863 at Kinston, by Capt. Harris for duration of war. Remarks: “Enlisted as cook — free negro — has no horse”

3 N.C. Jackson Evans, Pvt., Co. F, 3 Reg’t North Carolina Inf. (State Troops). Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above for November and December 1862.  Enlisted 15 July 1862 at Wayne as a conscript for duration of war.  Remarks: “This man was substituted for one J.W. Cox of Wayne Cty N.C. & proves to be a free negro”

5 Cav. N.C. William Rudd, cook, Co. E., 63 Reg’t North Carolina Troops (Cavalry). Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above, for March and April 1864.  Enlisted 4 December 1862 at Hamilton by Capt. Harris for duration of war. Remarks: “Enlisted as cook — free negro — has no horse”

In the 1860 census of Western District, Halifax County: James Rudd, 55, farmer; wife Rebecca, 50, midwife; with Margaret Rudd, 26; Frances, 15, William, 14, and Ann M. Richardson, 9; and William Rudd, 23, carpenter, all mulatto.

3 Art.y N.C. Aurthur Reid, Pvt, Co. D., 40 Reg’t North Carolina Troops (Artillery). Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above for July and August 1864.  Enlisted 16 June 1864 at Edgecombe by Capt. Lane for duration of war. Remarks: “Free Negro Cook for company since time of enlistment”

In the 1850 census of Edgecombe County: Arther Reid, 46, farmer; wife Pheby, 45; and children Brily, 22, Lucinda, 21, Louisa, 18, Sandy, 14, Jane, 10, Susan, 7, Arther, 5, and Ducan Reid, 2 months.

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December 23, 2012

At work for the cause.

Duplin is right, as she always is; and so is Sampson. We cannot tell exactly the number of companies raised in either county, so far; but we know that the efforts of their patriotic citizens will only be limited by their ability.  One Duplin company, under Captain Kenan, is already completed.  The Sampson company, under Captain Faison, holds itself in readiness, and how many more will soon be ready, is difficult to say.  A number of free negro laborers was brought down yesterday from Sampson under the charge of Thos. H. Holmes, Esq., and they are at work.

Sundry companies have been formed in the interior of New Hanover, and we hear of companies forming in Bladen, though none have yet tendered themselves for actual service.  – Wil. Journal.

One Duplin company – a fine looking body of men – arrived here on Saturday and went into camp.

Weekly Standard, Raleigh, 1 May 1861.

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December 23, 2012

Donations to the cause.

DONATIONS

To Company K, 6th Reg’t, N.C. State Troops, by Pleasant Grove District, Alamance, collected and carried to Virginia, by Lieutenant Levi Whitted.

… Egbert Corn, (free negro,) 1 quilt; Ned Corn, (free negro) 2 quilts; Dixon Corn, (free negro) 2 blankets: … Sam Martin (free negro) 1 pair shoes ….

Weekly Standard, Raleigh, 10 December 1862.

In the 1860 census, Alamance County: Egbert Corn, mulatto, no age given, farmer, shared a household with Lem Jeffries, mulatto.  Also, in adjacent households: Ned Corn, 60, and children Martha, 28, Ebra, 27, Thos., 24, and L. Corn, 22, plus C. Anderson, 23; and Dixon Corn, 64, wife Tempy, 65, and A.J., 27, Giles, 24, Frank, 18, and J. Mc. Corn, 5, plus, Bill, 15, Haywood, 12, John, 18, and Jackson Heath, 26.

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December 23, 2012

Their first child was born the day ‘Wallis was made prisoner.

State of North Carolina, Sampson County}    On this the 11th day of November 1845, came before the undersigned one of the acting Justices of the pace and  a member of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the said County of Sampson.  Milly Manuel a resident of the aforesaid County & State 88 years Eighty eight years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed on the 4th July 1836 for the benefit of certain Widows.

That she is the widow of Nicholas Manuel Dec’d of the said county who was a draughted soldier in the war of the Revolution as follows one (18) Eighteen months Tour one (9) nine months Tour and one Three months Tour, in all her husband the said Nicholas Manuel served two years and a half faithfully as she has heard him say.

That her husband the said Nicholas Manuel was under the command of Captain Kinion Hubbert and others and was in the battle of Briar Creek and was in the seage of Charleston as she has often heard him say.

That she has caused diligent search to be made for her husbands discharge which she has a very perfect recollection of having seen, particularly a printed one.

That her husband the said Nicholas Manuel lived in N.C. when he was called into the service.

That she cannot now tell the date of her marriage to the said Nicholas Manuel but that he the said Nicholas Manuel served both before and after the marriage.

That she was married to the said Nicholas Manuel before Gen Wallis was taken, that her first child to wit Sheadrack was born on the day that Wallis was made prisoner.

That she was married in Duplin Co N.C. by Fleet Cooper Esqr.

That her husband the said Nicholas Manuel died the 27th day of March 1835 Eighteen hundred & thirty five

Sworn to and subscribed on this the 11th day of November 1845 before me.  /s/ Neill Campbell J.P. Milly X Manuel

From the file of Nicholas Manuel, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, National Archives and Records Administration.

Nicholas Manuel is head of a household of free people of color in the 1830 census of Sampson County.

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December 17, 2012

Free man of color, Confederate deserter.

GASTON BURNS, a free man of color, ranaway from me on the 18th inst.  He has been living at Salisbury, N.C., for a number of years.  I will give the above reward for his apprehension and confinement in some jail, so that I can get him again.  A.W. HOWERTON.  1st Lieut. Co. I, 57th Reg. N.C.T. Richmond, Va., Sept. 18, 1862.

Carolina Watchman, Salisbury, 22 Sept 1862. NC Newspaper Digitization Project, North Carolina State Archives Historic Newspaper Archive.

In the 1860 census of Salisbury, Rowan County: G. Burns, 28, mulatto, listed in the household of Margaret Earnhart, 56, white.

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