Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Category: Uncategorized

Look out for him.

A Villain – Look out for him. – A fellow of quite an ordinary appearance, arrived here on Saturday night last in the stage and registered his name at the Edenton Hotel, “J.C. Martin, South Mills” – He was recognized, however, on Sunday, by the Captain of a Canal Boat from Norfolk, as being the individual who broke jail in Richmond not long since, where he was confined for kidnapping and selling a free negro, and whose real name is James Cox.  On Monday morning, after some delay, it was determined by the citizens to arrest him; but he had, no doubt, by this time been apprized of the fact, and he left town immediately, by jumping a few fences in the rear lot of the tavern.  As soon as it became known that he had disappeared, a posse of men proceeded in search of him, and once got sight of him, but by keen dodging (at which no doubt he is in full practice,) he succeeded in evading them.

The rascal, having left his trunk at the tavern, had the audacity to send for it, (by remitting the money to pay his tavern bill,) on Tuesday night by the stage.  It was not sent, but broken open, and found to contain a bowie knife, a dirk, a pistol well charged, some cotton cloth torn in slips and tied together, two or three small ropes, a few articles of clothing, several letters from his wife in Norfolk, and a brief statement of his villainous acts since his escape from the Richmond jail, written and signed by himself.  – Edenton Sentinel.

Tarboro Press, 5 Oct 1844.

Her complexion is an act of the Almighty, not her crime.

Pasquotank County   } To the Worshipfull the Justices of the Inferior Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the County of Pasquotank County now in Court sitting.  The humble Petition of Ruth Tillet a free born, coloured Woman, Humbly sheweth unto Your Worships, that she was born of a Free woman named Ann Tillet, The daughter of the Wife of one [blank space] Tillet of Powel’s Point, supposed by a Black Man; That your Petitioner’s mother moved from Currituck to a Neighborhood on Little River, and was delivered of your Petitioner at the House of one Timothy Mead, where she remained until the Death of her Mother and the said Timothy, at whose [illegible] she was sold to one Blackstock who she verily believes was not ignorant of her Condition and Rights to Liberty, and sold her to a distant Merchant called Barny Coffoo of Newbern.  At which place, she had eight, Several Masters, each getting rid of her, as soon as thgey could, on hearing of her Story, and her Resolution to regain her Liberty.  That in the lifetime of her last Master John Bishop, she made her escape, and came to her native County, to which Place the said Bishop followed her and sold her to one Zachariah Jordon, (and he, as she has been informed gave no Purchase Money for her, and that the said Bishop enjoin’d the said Zachariah to inquire into her Rights and if true, to let her enjoy them, and if otherwise to send him payment, which was like the common Honest behaviour of his Life) who she believes, noways ignorant of the Premisses, still detains her in Slavery and Duress.  Your Petitioner humbly begs to inform Your Worships, That she has been so happy to find reputable and honest Evidence alive, although at the Distance of forty Years, of her Birth and of her Civil and Social Rights.

Whereupon your Poor and Distressed Petitioner humbly prays (Altho’ her Complection, which is an Act of the Almighty Not her Crime) Your Worships will, of your Mercy, take her Case under your Guidance and Consideration, and to render her such Redress as to Your Worships in your great Wisdom and Justice you shall seem Meet.    And Your Poor Petitioner as in Duty bound and ever Pray &c, Ruth Tillet by Will Cumming her Att’y

Ruth Tillet vs Zachariah Jordon}   Petition

Records of Slaves and Free Persons of Color, Pasquotank County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

Dangerous characters.

We the grand jury present Sarah, Hannah, Betty, being free negroes, as dangerous characters.

/s/ Challe Eagerton, Jas Forbs, W.W. Shaw, Lot Williams, David Jenkins, Jas. Scott, Mitchel Barber, Samuel Evens, Hinton Barber, James Brown, John Jarman, Danis Aman, Wm Webb.

———-

We as grand Juriors present a Certain percis of Free Negres that has not been Dealt with according to law having obtaind their Freedom by John Pair which Negroes are named [illegible] Sarah Boon July 9th 1816 /s/ Charles Agerton, Samuel Evins, Dennis Aman, James Brown, John, Jarman, David Jenkins, Mitchell Barber, Wm Webb, James H. Barber, Lott Williams, John Marshel, James Fioller, Wm Shaw.

Slave Records, Onslow County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

[Side Note: “Dangerous characters”? Why?]

A severe punishment.

 

A free boy of color, named Ned Carroll, was convicted at superior court for Johnson [sic] county, in this state, two weeks since, of an attempt to commit a rape on a white girl; and sentenced to be hung on the 25th inst.  A severe punishment, but a just one.

Western Carolinian, 8 April 1828.

Death for kidnappers.

Crimes punishable with death in North Carolina for a single offence.

16. Taking a free negro or person of mixed blood out of the State with the intention to sell or dispose of him, &c.

Highland Messenger, Asheville, 13 March 1846.

They claim to be free.

NOTICE.  TWO MULATTOES, a man and woman, were arrested and committed to jail in this county, on the 6th this month.  They claim to be free, but are believed to be slaves, having no sufficient evidence of their freedom.  The man is 25 or 30 years old, about six feet high and calls himself ANDREW McCALL.  The girl is about 18 or 20 years old, and says that her name is Louisa McCall.  They say that they were kidnapped from their hometown near Norfolk, Va., by Sandy Hogan, a trader from North Carolina, and after travelling in the South about two months, ran away from him.

Any person complaining said slaves, are requested to come and prove property, pay charges and take them away, or they will be dealt with according to law.  B.J. SMITH, Jailor.  Burnsville, Yancy co., Feb. 14, 1843.

Highland Messenger, Asheville, 17 Feb 1843.

The infamous business of abducting free people of color.

Fayetteville, March 19. Kidnapping. – We learn that this infamous business is carrying on to a considerable extent, near the lines of the counties of Sampson, Wayne and Johnston, and that five free persons of color, have been abduced [sic] from that neighborhood, by a set of daring outlaws & most probably have been sold in bondage.  If these things be so it is time for the citizens of that neighborhood to be active in their exertions to bring the offenders to justice.  The cause of suffering humanity, calls upon them for a generous effort in behalf of this unfortunate class of our population.  The violated laws of the State require them, as good citizens, to use every possible means to vindicate its humane, and merciful provisions, ferreting out and bringing to punishment its invaders.  Journal.

Carolina Watchman, Salisbury, 29 Mar 1834.

 

Show cause why the indentures of apprenticeship should not be rescinded.

North Carolina

To the Shiriff of Wayne County Greeting

You are hereby commanded to make known to Nathan Edgerton to produce into court at the next term to be held for said County at the Court House in Goldsboro on the third Monday of May next, Mary, Raeford, Louisa, Amelia, Devereux, Narcissa, Olif & Sarah Carroll, Children of Margaret Carroll, then & there to Show cause if any he has why the Indentures of Apprenticeship to him should not be recinded — herein fail not, & have you then & there this writ

Witness Benj Aycock clerk of said court at office the third Monday of Feby A.D. 1856

Issued 23rd April 1856                  Benj. Aycock  Clk.

Nathan Edgerton indentured nine Carroll children, aged 1 to 15, in 1855.  Their mother Margaret Carroll, who lived in Johnston County, protested the indentures without apparent success: Sarah, Louisa, Amelia, Olivia and Narcissa Carroll appear in Nathan Edgerton’s household in the 1860 census of Wayne County.

Apprenticeship Records, Wayne County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

When the upstir was about the Negro rising I readily delivered my gun.

State of North Carolina     }  To the worshipful — the Court of pleas and

Wayne County                }       quarters sessions August Term 1841

From the observance of an act of Assembly Ratified 11th Jany, 1841 prohibiting Negroes &c from Carrying fire Arms at Page 61 and Chapter 30.

Free Willis Petitions your worships that he be allowed to keep and use a shot-gun and Ammunition at his home as usual

As it may pleas your worships I have ever been permitted to Keep a shot-gun and ammunition and no charge has Ever been against me for any injury done thereby — And when the upstir was about the Negro rising I readily delivered my gun to Mr Henry Sasser who Kept it Untill the stir was all over and then gave it to me again   August 17th 1841   Willis

Willis lives at one End of my plantation and as I apprehend no danger in his Keeping his gun and ammunition and as he does me some benefit by destroying the Vermin around my fields I would rather he could retain his gun     Benajah Herring

Benajah Herring’s petition to Wayne County Superior Court secured Free Willis’ freedom in the 1830s.  The “Negro rising” referred to probably was Nat Turner’s Rebellion in Southampton County, Virginia, and/or an aborted slave revolt in Duplin and Sampson Counties, NC, both with took place in the late summer of 1831.  Willis Herring appears, immediately adjacent to Benajah Herring, as a head of household in the 1840 census of Wayne County.  He lived alone.

Records of Slaves and Free People of Color, Wayne County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

We know nothing against his character.

State of North carolina Wayne County

To the Worshipful Court of please & Quarter Sessions at May Term 1854 Stephen Evans A Free Man of Couler Wishes the Court to grant him the privilege of Hunting With a Gun For the purpose of killing Game For Twelve months We the undersigned Subscribers has Bein Well a Quainted with Stephen Evans For the Last two years & Know Nothing Against his character

M.G. Harrell

George Flowers

Solomon Rouse

W.G. Martin

Stephen Evans, age 27, appears in Nathan Evans’ household in the 1850 census of Wayne County, north side of the Neuse.

Records of Slaves and Free People of Color, Wayne County Records, North Carolina State Archives.