Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Category: Newspapers

March 7, 2013

The runaway’s father is an Indian in Virginia.

Fifty Dollars Reward. RANAWAY from the subscriber, on the 10th inst. without a fault, a Negro Man named DAVE, about 32 years of age, is about 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, slender made, yellow complexion, down look when spoken to, speaks not very quick when spoken to; has not got good eyes, on account of having wild hairs in them at times. It is probabl Dave will try to pass for a free man; he has travelled a good deal with the wagon in different parts of this state and Virginia, and don’t lack for want of sense. I have been told that he has gone to Virginia; and that his father lives in Meherrin, Va. near Gholson’s Bridge. His father, I have been told, is of Indian descent, and is a free man; his name is said to be Kinchen Tucker; and he will no doubt conceal him, should Dave get there. When he went away he had good clothes, and dressed equal to any serveant; he had a new fur hat on, and forty or fifty dollars in cash, about forty of which was in specie. I purchased him of a Mr Ross Hutcheson, living within six miles of me, a man who raised him. I will give the above reward if taken out of the state, and if taken in the state, twenty-five dollars if put in any jail so that I get ho again. – Should said negro man Dave be taken up information can be given to me by letter, addressed to Hillsborough, or to Pleasant Grove, Orange county, N.C.    JOHN B. VINCENT. August 23.

Raleigh Register and North Carolina Weekly Advertiser, 2 September 1825.

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March 6, 2013

One of the runaways had a free wife.

TAKEN UP AND COMMITTED TO THE PUBLIC JAIL — of Wilkes County on the 15th inst. three negro men, who say they belong to JOHN SMITH, a refugee, stopping at present at High Point, N.C. viz:

JO, about 30 years of age, weighs 160 lbs., five feet three and a half inches high, teeth good, “black as soot,” says he was raised in Jones County by MERRY JONES; had a free wife name ANNA DONE [DOVE]; is a shoe-maker.

CHARLES, raised in Craven County, owned by MRS. LAVINIA SMITH, of Edgecombe County; knows B.M. SELBY and other citizens of Tarboro’; 40 years of age, weighs 160 lbs., height five feet eight inches; black round face; and professes to be a sort of carpenter.

HENRY, 35 years of age; weighs 150 lbs., five feet eight inches high; yellow black in color; was raised in Virginia by DR. HARRIS, sold to JAS. HARRISON, who sold to JOHN SMITH, the present owner, and says he is a plasterer.

The owner or owners will please come forward, pay charges and take said negroes away, or they will be dealt with as law further directs.  August 24, 1863       ROBT. M. SMITH, Sheriff.

Raleigh Standard, 26 August 1863.

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March 6, 2013

Don’t credit her.

NOTICE OF SEPARATION

Whereas my wife, ELIZABETH CHAVERS, has deserted my bed and board without any just cause, I hereby forewarn all persons from crediting her on my account, as I am determined to discharge no debt of her contracting.   ISAAC CHAVERS, Granville, Jan. 30, 1811.

Raleigh Minerva, 7 February 1811.

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March 5, 2013

Runaway bound boy, no. 6.

Twenty-Five Cents Reward.

RAN away from the subscriber on the 12th instant, a negro boy by the name of LEROY BRANDOM, who was bound to me by the court of this county, to serve until he became twenty-one years of age.  Said boy is about eighteen years old, dark complexion, bushy head of hair, large white eyes, and wears a truss.  I forewarn all persons from harbouring said boy under the penalty of the law.  I will give twenty-five cents reward for the delivery of said boy to me in this place, but will not pay any charges or expences.  Said boy had sundry clothing, not any recollected.         John Young. Aug. 20.

Hillsborough Recorder, 29 Aug 1821.

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March 5, 2013

He has a badly executed free pass.

$25 Dollars Reward. Ran Away from the subscriber, living in Wayne county, 12 miles north of Waynesborough, on the 8th of January last, a mulatto man by the name of EPHRAIM, who has since altered it to JOHN ARTIS. He is between 25 and 30 years of age, nearly 6 feet high, and his foreteeth are somewhat defective. He has a free pass, badly executed, and it is suspected that he will endeavor to go to Indiana with some negroes in Guilford county, who are about starting for that State. The above reward will be given for the apprehension and delivery of said fellow to me, or securing him in any jail in that State, so that I get him again.  PETER L. PEACOCK. July 27, 1827.

The State and North Carolina State Gazette, 16 August 1827.

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March 4, 2013

Save this girl from a state of slavery.

Notice: The attention of the public is requested in the following statement.  On the evening of Saturday the 19th instant, the house of the subscriber, on Swift Creek, was entered during her absence, by John Bryan, and a free mulattoe girl named Dicey Moore, the daughter of Lydia Moore, was forcibly taken and carried away in a chair by the said Bryan.  It is believed that he has a forged bill of sale for the girl, purporting to have been executed by her mother, and it is feared that he has carried the girl to the south, with the intention of selling her.  Dicey Moore has lived with the subscriber ever since she was fifteen months old, and the fact of her freedom can be proved beyond the possibility of a doubt.  She is now about seventeen years old, five feet high, with a yellowish complexion, black bushy hair, and wears rings in her ears.  Bryan is about six feet high, has blue eyes, is a little round shouldered, and has a long nose.  The editors of southern papers are requested to give the foregoing as insertions in their respective papers, as possibly it may save from a state of slavery this girl, who has unquestionable right to her freedom.  Catherine Free, Swift Creek, Craven County, February 25, 1820.

Hillsborough Recorder,  5 April 1820.

Dicey Moore married George Carter on 12 July 1833 in Craven County. In the 1850 census of Craven County: George Carter, 63, laborer, wife Decy, 45, and daughters Margaret, 15, Ann, 13, Hannah, 10, and Betsy, 8.  [One can only hope that this is Dicey, above, happily ever after. — LYH]

In the 1840 census of Newbern, Craven County, Lydia Moore appears as the head of a household of two free colored women, both over age 55.

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March 3, 2013

He is probably lurking around his wife’s.

Twenty Dollars Reward.

RAN AWAY From the Subscriber’s plantation in Jones County, on the 8th inst. a negro man named TONEY. He has a cut on his foot, which occasions him to walk lame — is of a black complexion, and has a wife in Newbern known by the name of Rhoda Dove. It is probable he is lurking about Newbern. The above reward will be given and all expences paid, for his apprehension and confinement in Jail. All persons are hereby forwarned from harbouring, and masters of vessels from carrying said fellow away under penalty of the law.   LEWIS SANDERSON, Jones County, April 8, 1821.

Carolina Centinel, New Bern, 11 August 1821.

In the 1830 census of New Bern, Craven County, Rhoda Dove was the head of a household of three free people of color.

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February 24, 2013

He is carrying a dead man’s free papers.

$30 REWARD. – I will give the above reward of Thirty Dollars to any person who will apprehend and deliver to me, or confine in jail so that I can get him, my negro man TOM, who ran away from me about the 9th of February last. TOM is about forty-two or forty-three years old, about five feet five or six inches high, rather light built, of light complexion, almost of the Indian order, lank or hollow jawed, wears his hair combed up in front, when spoken to has a down look, no particular mark recollected, except a scar from a severe cut on his right fore finger. It is believed he has with him Free Papers belonging to James Lucas or Locust, who froze to death in January last in the neighborhood; since which his Free Papers have not been found or heard of; and I have no doubt TOM is now passing himself as James Lucas or Locust as a free man. I have reason to believe that he is occasionally lurking about Louisburg, as I bought him of Mr. JOSIAH BRIDGES of that vicinity.

All persons are cautioned against employing, harboring, carrying away, or assisting him to get away, as the law will in every case be rigidly enforced.  RICHARD SHORT.

Vicksville P.O., Nash county, N.C. August 21, 1839.

North Carolina Standard, Raleigh, 4 September 1839.

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February 23, 2013

He has a free wife near Stantonsburg.

$50 Reward. RAN AWAY from the subscriber about 6 years ago, a negro man named JACOB. He is about 35 years of age, 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high, about the common color, tolerably active, has narrow feet, and a small scar over one of his eyes. It is probably he has altered his name, as he frequently passes from Stantonsburg to Newbern. He has a free wife by the name of Rancy Artis, living near Stantonsburg, & it is likely he attempts to pass for a free man. The above reward will be given to any person who shall deliver said Negro to me, living five miles about Stantonsburg, or confine him in Jail, so that I get him again. All masters of vessels are forwarned carrying him off. JOEL NEWSOM.  Wayne county, Aug. 7

Raleigh Register and North Carolina Weekly Advertiser, 19 November 1824.

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February 22, 2013

I am informed he went off with a free man of color.

Twenty-five Dollars Reward. I will give the above reward of twenty-five dollars, for apprehending and securing in jail, or otherwise, negro Isaac, so that I get him again, and will pay all necessary expences if delivered to me at my place of residence, in the county of Edgecombe, about two miles east of the stage road leading from Tarborough to Enfield, and about eight miles from the latter. Isaac is a bright mulatto; sprightly, possessing much impudence, has a bushy head, and well proportioned in his form; his size I am not prepared to say, not having seen him for near twelve months – his age I imagine about twenty. This negro, I understand, absconded from Dr. Landon Clanton, of the town of Halifax, to whom he was hired for the present year. It is highly probably, that this boy has obtained a fraudulent pass, and will endeavour to pass for a freeman; a circumstance which goes to support such a conclusion is, I am informed he went off with a free man of color, named Napoleon Cabarrus, who resides in or about Edenton, N.C. and that they have been seen together beyond Pollock’s ferry, on Roanoke. Masters of vessels and all others are hereby cautioned against harboring or carrying off said negro Isaac at their peril.  ELI B. WHITAKER, Trustee, &c. Edgecombe Co. N.C., Aug., 28, 1826.

Free Press, Halifax and Tarboro, 29 August 1826.

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