Fourth Generation Inclusive

December 3, 2012

Voter Registration Under the Grandfather Clause: Wayne County

Public Laws of North Carolina, 1899, chapter 218.

(Sec. 4.) Every person presenting himself for registration shall be able to read and write any section of the constitution in the English language and before he shall be entitled to vote he shall have paid on or before the first day of March of the year in which he proposes to vote his poll tax as prescribed by law for the previous year. Poll taxes shall be a lien only on assessed property and no process shall issue to enforce the collection of the same except against assessed property.

(Sec. 5.) No male person who was on January one, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, or at any time prior thereto entitled to vote under the laws of any states in the United States wherein he then resided, and no lineal descendant of any such person, shall be denied the right to register and vote at any election in this state by reason of his failure to possess the educational qualification prescribed in section four of this article….

The following colored men registered to vote in Wayne County in 1902. In accordance with Section 5, each was required to name the ancestor who “grandfathered” him in.

Joseph Aldridge, 36, Brogden, Robert Aldridge.

M.W. Aldridge, 45, Goldsboro, Robert Aldridge.

Robert Aldridge, 33, Brogden, Robert Aldridge.

In the 1860 census of Newton Grove, Sampson County: Robert Aldridge, farmer, $260, illiterate, with wife Mary E., and children George W., John J., Armelia, Matthew L., David S., and a one month-old infant.

A.B. Artis, 29, Nahunta, Absalom Artis.

Joseph Artis, 21, Nahunta, Absalom Artis.

Mack Artis, 52, Nahunta, Absalom Artis.

Nathan Artis, 42, Saulston, Absalom Artis.

In the 1860 census of North Side of the Neuse, Wayne County: Absolom Artis, 70, wife Clarkey, 55, and Absalum, 23, Joseph, 19, Jane, 17, Eveline, 14, and Albert, 12.

Albert Artis, 58, Nahunta, Edwin Artis.

Donnie Artis, 21, Nahunta, Edwin Artis.

In the 1860 census of Buck Swamp, Wayne County: Edwin Artis, 50, Emily, 35, Albert, 16, Elvira, 14, Absalom, 12, Clarkey, 10, George, 8, William Edwin, 6, and Baby, 9 months.

J.F. Artis, 58, Buck Swamp, James Artis.

John Artis, 39, Buck Swamp, William Hagans.

Oscar Artis, 22, Buck Swamp, Jim Pig.

Will Artis, 47, Buck Swamp, Jim Pig.

In the 1880 census of Pikeville, Wayne County: Willey Artis, 24, wife Charlotte, 24, and son Oschar L., 2 months.

G.W. Barnes, 33, Pikeville, Asey Artis.

In the 1860 census of Wayne County: Asa Artis, 35, wife Phereby, 34, and Lumizer, 20, Mary, 18, Penninah, 15, Lewis, 12, William G., 7, Zilpha J., 3, and Benaja, 1.

Calvin Brock, 52, Brogden, Fred Gibson.

Calvin V. Brock, 24, Brogden, Fred Gibson.

In the 1860 census of the Northern Division of Duplin County: Cassy Smith, 45, with Charlott, 25, Dorcas, 19, Rebecca, 16, Richard, 14, Mary G., 12, Ezekiel, 8, and Thear Smith, 4; plus Calvin Brock, 10, and Samuel Purvie, 35.

Calvin V. Brock was Calvin Brock’s son.

Marshall Carter, 42, Brogden, Mike Carter.

Williby Carter, 22, Brogden, Mike Carter.

In the 1860 census of Clinton, Sampson County: Michael Carter, 57, and wife Patience, 47. Next door, Wm. Carter, 26, wife Mary, 34, and children Cornelia, 6, Francenia, 6, Thos. G., 5, Sarah J., 2, and Archibald, 9 months. In a duplicate listing in Piney Grove, Sampson County: William Carter, 27, turpentine laborer, Mary 27, Cornelia, 12, Francenia, 6, Isaiah T., 4, Sarah J., 2, and Archy M., 6 months. (Archibald “Archy” M. Carter was Marshall Carter.)

Williby Carter was Marshall Carter’s son.

George Hagans, 48, Nahunta, William Hagans.

H.E. Hagans, 34, Goldsboro, Napoleon Hagans.

W.S. Hagans, 31, Nahunta, Dr. Ward.

Napoleon Hagans, age 6, was apprenticed in 1845 to William Thompson in Wayne County NC. Apprenticeship Records, Records of Wayne County, North Carolina State Archives.

In the 1850 census of North of the Neuse, Wayne County: Aaron Seaberry, 32, farmhand, wife Louisa, [stepson] Napoleon [Hagans], 10, Frances, 5, and Celia Seaberry, 17. In a duplicate listing, Leacy Hagans with [grandson] Napoleon Hagans.

Henry E. and William S. Hagans were Napoleon Hagans’ sons. (Dr. Ward was David G.W. Ward, father of Henry and William’s mother Apsaline “Appie” Ward Hagans.)

R.H. Hagans, 22, Nahunta, Everett Hagans.

Edwin Hall, 53 Nahunta, Dempsey Hall.

In the 1860 census of Wayne County, North Side of the Neuse: Dempsey Hall, 26, wife Martha, 26, and children Vina, 2, Edwin, 1, and Eveline, 2 months.

John H. Jacob, 52, Brogden, Jesse Jacob.

In the 1860 census of Honeycutts, Sampson County: Jesse Jacobs, 43, wife Abba, 31, and children Edward J. 14, Betsey A., 13, John R., 11, Martha, 8, Solomon, 6, Jesse, 4, and Abba J., 6, plus William, 10, Eliza, 8, and John Jacobs, 6.

George Linch, 22, Buck Swamp, Haywood Linch.

Haywood Linch, 56, Buck Swamp, self.

Morrow J. Linch, 26, Buck Swamp, Haywood Linch.

In the 1850 census of Wayne County, North Side of the Neuse: Raiford Linch, 38, wife Rebeca, 38, and children Bryant, 17, Eveline, 15, Bud, 13, Sarah, 11, Eliza, 10, Haywood, 8, Aley, 5, and John, 2.

Morrow (Marion?) and George Haywood Lynch were Haywood Lynch’s sons.

Wiley Mozingo, 76, Goldsboro, Christopher Mozingo.

In the 1850 census of Northern District, Sampson County: C. Mazingo, 50, mulatto, with Wiley, 18, Joshua, 16, and William, 14.

David Reed, 87, Fork, self.

In the 1860 census of Nahunta, Wayne County: Rhody Reid, 50, son Isaac, 26, and husband David Reid, 65.

George W. Reid, 32, Goldsboro, Washington Reid.

In the 1850 census of Wayne County, North Side of the Neuse: Washington Read, farmhand, 28, wife Penninah, 25, and Lewiser, 2 months.

1 Comment

December 3, 2012

More theft near Fayetteville.

Willie Millinder filed claim #10955 with the Southern Claims Commission. He lived and farmed about 17 miles north of Fayetteville. He was 59 and was born free in Lenoir County. Soldiers camped about a mile from his home took his property. He complained to three men wearing swords, but they did nothing.

One witness to Millinder’s loyalty, John Easom, testified that he himself had been a Confederate soldier but had deserted in 1864 and converted his sympathies to the union cause.

Leave a comment

December 3, 2012

George W. Aldridge.

GEORGE W. ALDRIDGE was born about 1851, probably in Sampson County, to Robert Aldridge and Mary Eliza Balkcum Aldridge. He farmed near Dudley, in southern Wayne County, and, after his marriage to Dora Greene, near Fremont, in northern Wayne County. He died in the 1930s.

Photograph courtesy of Paul Ashford. Sidenote: George Aldridge was the brother of my great-great-grandfather, John W. Aldridge. Another brother, Mathew W. Aldridge, is shown here. — LYH.

3 Comments

December 2, 2012

Free-Issue Death Certificates: NC-born Michiganders.

Joseph C. Ash. Died 17 Feb 1890, Calvin, Cass County, Michigan. Mulatto. Married. Age about 60. Born in NC to Harry and Louisa Ash.

Marmaduke Ash. Died 7 April 1911, Calvin, Cass County Michigan. Colored. Age 81 years, 6 months, 2 days. Married at age 27. Parent of 13 children, of whom 7 are living. Born NC to Herrod Ash and Eliza Kerner, both of NC. Buried Chain Lake. Informant, Louisa Ash, Cassopolis.

In the 1850 census of Perry, Logan County, Ohio: Eliza Ash, 45, and her children Joseph C., 22, Marmaduke, 21, Mary, 20, Wm. H., 18, Sarah J., 16, Bates, 15, Marshama, 10, Marquis, 8, Eliza, 7, Arrena, 6, and Martha, 3. Eliza and her first four children were born in NC; the remainder in Ohio.

In the Consolidated List of All Persons Subject to Do Military Service in the Second Congressional District of Michigan: Joseph C. Ash, 36, and Marmaduke Ash, 35, both colored, born in NC, and residents of Calvin, Cass County. Beside Marmaduke’s name, under Remarks, “1/4 white.” Civil War Draft Registration Records, National Archives and Records Administration.

Wiley Chavous. Died 1 April 1915, Calvin, Cass County, Michigan. Colored. Married. Farming. Age 63. Born Indiana to Eli Chavous and Jane Locklayer, both of NC. Buried Calvin Center. Informant, Louisa Jane Chavous.

In the 1860 census of Calvin, Cass County, Michigan: Eli Shaver, 35, wife Jane, and children Samford, 11, Willy, 9, Mary E., 6, Emeline, 3, and Martha, 3 months. Eli and Jane were born in NC, Samford and Willy in Indiana, and the remaining children in Michigan.

Martha A. Dungey. Died 28 Feb 1904, Calvin, Cass County, Michigan. Mulatto. Widow. 40-year resident of Calvin. Born 10 Oct 1845 in Virginia to Henry Liggins and Elizabeth Liggins, both of NC. Buried in Bethel cemetery, Cassopolis.

In the 1860 census, of Calvin, Cass County, Michigan: Henry Liggins, 55, wife Eliz., 35, and children Parthenia, 17, Rufus, 15, Martha, 13, Mary 12, Susan, 10, Emma, 8, Alexander, 5, M.L., 4, and David, 2. The censustaker recorded all as born in Virginia except the three youngest children.

Thomas S. Evans. Died 23 April 1911, Porter, Cass County, Michigan. Colored. Widowed. Retired farmer. Born 5 Aug 1827 in NC to Thomas Evans and an unknown mother, both of NC. Buried Chain Lake. Informant, H.E. Wise, Bristol, Mich.

Emily Ann Evans. Died Porter, 19 Sept 1907, Cass County, Michigan. Mulatto. Married. Age 73 years, 1 month, 14 days. Married at age 16. Parent of 11 children; 8 living. Born in NC to Reddin Chavious and Francis Harris, both NC. Buried Chain Lake.

George Eaton Evans. Died 19 Sept 1898, Porter, Cass County, Michigan. Colored. Single. Farmer. Age 41 years, 5 days. Born in NC to Thos. S. Evans and Emily A. Harris, both of NC.

Floria Ann Goins. Died 3 Aug 1908 in Calvin, Cass County, Michigan. Colored. Age 72 years. Married at age 15. Parents of 15 children. Born in NC to Silas Oxendine and Ali Hunt, both of NC. Buried at Bethel. Informant, Wm. Goins.

In the 1860 census of Robeson County: Alx’d Oxendine, 36, Amy, 27, Mary J., 12, Henery J., 11, Minerva, 8, Flora A., 6, Jiles, 3, Catharine, 6 months, and Silas, 45.

Rabbi Goins. Died 22 March 1914, Calvin, Cass County, Michigan. Colored. Widower. Parents of 2 children, both living. Born Nov 1848 in NC to Jesse Goins and Roxey Goins, both of NC. Laborer. Informant, Asa Goins.

Willis Haithcock. Died 3 Aug 1898, Calvin, Cass County, Michigan. Mulatto. Married at age 24. Parents of 16 children; 9 living. Age 72 years, 2 months, 24 days. Farmer. Born in NC to Burrell Archer and Sarah Haithcock, both of NC. Buried Chane Lake cemetery.

In the 1850 census of Jefferson, Cass County, Michigan: NC-born Willis Hathcock, 24, in the household of white farmer Peter Marmon.

Berry Haithcox. Died 16 March 1904, Porter, Cass County, Michigan. Married at age 45. Three children; all living. Born 1825 in NC to Mills Haithcox and Sarrah Byrd, both of NC. Informant, Roberta Haithcox, Vandalia, Michigan.

In the 1850 census, of Jefferson, Logan County, Ohio: Mills Heathcock, 50, wife Sarah, 40, and children Dica, 25, Charlotte, 18, Bartlett, 16, Littleberry, 21, Sarah E., 8, John Mitchell, 7, Upper J., 5 and Permelia, 2. Mills was born in Virginia. All others, except the Ohio-born last child, were born in NC.

Ruberta Haithcock. Died 12 Nov 1916, Porter, Cass County, Michigan. Widow. Mulatto. Born 30 Mar 1837 in NC to William Tabron and Beda Tabron. Buried Mount Zion. Informant, Beda Haithcox.

Lovina Hathcox. Died 6 April 1905, Calvin, Cass County, Michigan. Mulatto. Widowed. Born 16 Aug 1834, Logan County, Ohio, to Green Allen and Angeline Wade, both of NC. Buried Chain Lake cemetery. Informant, A.S. Haithcock, Cassopolis.

Rebecca Ann Lawson. Died 19 May 1920, St. Joseph, Berrien County, Michigan. Colored. Married to James H. [Lawson.] Born 24 Nov 1849 in NC to George Artis and Susan Allen, both of NC. Buried Cassopolis. Informant, Jas. H. Lawson, Benton Harbor.

In the 1860 census of Porter, Cass County, Michigan: Geo. W. Artis, 45, carpenter, S., 34, M.E., 17, Sarah J., 14, E.A., 12, Rebecca, 10, M.F., 7, Geo. H., 2, and S.E., 4 months.

Death certificates, Library of Michigan; US population schedules.

Leave a comment

December 2, 2012

The first free colored person he recollects he ever saw.

State of North Carolina, Wayne County } August the 3^rd 1853

Jesse Martin after being Duly Sworn Deposeth & Says as follows (viz) that he has known Fariby Simons a free Woman of Color for the last Sixty or Sixty five years and was Raisd within one of Two Miles of hir She was the first free Colord person he Recolects Ever saw and She was Cald free Fariby in the Neighborhood the Deponant further Sais She the Said Fariby Simons Never was considered to be a Slave the Said Fariby Simons livd with William Burnham She & Burnham would have a fawling out at Some times & she thretend to leave him Said Burnham and they would have to Compremise to Keep hir from leaving but She was concidered By all knew his that She was free & has Remaind So to the present time further the Deponant Sayeth Not August the 3^rd 1853 then was the above written certificate of Jesse Martin Sworn to & Subscribed to before me George Flowers JP /s/ J Martin

Jesse Martin’s affidavit Evidence of Phereby Simmons freedom Recorded Aug 6 1853

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

This is one of four sworn statements by whites attesting to Fereby Simmons’ freedom. They were recorded in Docket Recording Book 11, p. 346, with this notation: “The following papers were presented to the court & permission asked to have them Registered & Recorded for the better security of the evidence therein contained, the court doth therefore grant said request, let them be recorded.” Office of the Clerk of Superior Court, Wayne County Courthouse, Goldsboro.

1 Comment

December 1, 2012

I was stolen from my parents.

State of Virginia, Southampton County } SS.

On this 7 day of March 1834 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the county court of Southampton now acting Drewry Tann (a Free man of Colour) a Resident of said county aged about seventy five 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 the 7^th 1832.

That he enlisted under Capt. Hadley in the County of Wake in the State of North Carolina (and states the manner he came in the service as follows) that being born free in the county of Wake he was stolen from his parents when a small boy by persons unknown to him, who were carrying him of to sell him into to [sic] Slavery, and had gotten with him and other stolen property, as far as the mountains on their way, that his parents made complaint to a Mr. Tanner Alford who was then a magistrate in the county of Wake State of N. Carolina to get me back from those who had stolen me, and he did pursue the Rogues & overtook them at the mountains and took me from them & my parents agreed that I should serve him (Tanner Alford) until I was twenty one years old, when he had served Alford several years (Six years) it came Alfords time to go in the army (or he told me so) and told me if I would go in the army he would set me free on which conditions I readily listed under Capt. Hadley for eighteen months as he was told and marched to Charleston and thence to Jameses Isleand where he served out his term of enlistment that he had a discharge and was about returning home when a Capt. Benjamin Coleman (who told me he lived in Bladen County N. Carolina) took his discharge from him and tried to compel him to remain in the service & be his waitingman – his name is to be found in the Records of the State of North Carolina as he is informed by Mr. Deverieux of the City of Raleigh N. Carolina & the term of his enlistments as well as the fact of his enlisting under Capt. Hadley as state above – he cannot state at what period of the war he entered the service. General Green was the commander in chief, Col Lightly & Capt Lightly. Adjutant Ivy that he served in the N. Carolina Regiment, that he has no other documentary evidence than that refered to in the Archives in the State of N. Carolina at the City of Raileigh and knows of no person living who can testify to his service. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Drewry X Tann

The said Drewry Tann states that he was born in the county of Wake N. Carolina in what year he does not know, that he has no Record of his age, that he was living in Wake County N. Carolina when he was Enlisted and that he has lived since the Revolution in the countys of Northampton N. Carolina and Southampton Virginia. That he lives in the county of Southampton at this time. That he listed volluntarily in the army under Capt. Hadley. He since as before stated on Jameses isleand near Charleston S. Carolina when there were some English prisoners & he was sometimes stationed as a guard on them, Gen Green was the commanding officer Col and Capt Lightley & Adjutant Ivy are all the names he can at this time remember he does not know what regiments he served with – he did secure a discharge from the service & Capt. Coleman took it from him & what has become of it he cannot say. He is known to Mr. Edwin G. Hart Mr. W. Owens John Hart Col. Clements Rochelle James Maggett Davis Bryant and many others. Drewry X Tann

Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 17 day of May 1834

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

Leave a comment

December 1, 2012

Surnames: Richmond County, 1850.

BONE, BREEDIN, BRIGMAN, CHAVERS, EADY, FREEMAN, GRANT, HARE, HATCHER, HAYS, HUNT, JACKSON, JACOBS, KNIGHT, LAVINE, LOCKLIER, LOVE, MASK, McPHERSON, MOORE, MUMPHRED, NORTON, PEEVY, QUICK, RUSS, RUSSELL, SCOTT, SESSOMS, SKIPPER, WEBB and WOODARD.

Leave a comment

December 1, 2012

Free People of Color Listed in Mortality Schedule: 1850.

Jane Hagens, 16, female, black, born NC, died June, “bilious f[ever]”, Wayne County.

Raiford Artice, 22, male, black, born NC, died July, farmer, unknown causes, Wayne County.

Jesse Hall, 20, male, black, born NC, died June, farmhand, bilious f[ever], Wayne County.

Robert Mitchell, 2, male, mulatto, born NC, died July, unknown causes, Wayne County.

Dempsey Read, 70, male, black, born NC, died March, hatter, unknown causes, Wayne County.

Allen Read, 60, male, black, born NC, died May, hatter, unknown reasons, Wayne County.

Hannah Croom, 43, female, mulatto, married, born Wayne County, died June, “bil fever,” Wayne County.

Gray Simmons, 33, mulatto, married, died January, farmer, pneumonia, Wayne County.

Sally Read, 80, female, mulatto, born Davis district, died January, old age, Franklin County.

Adeline(?) Finch, 26, female, mulatto, born Davis district, died December, pauper, Franklin County.

Lucy Dunstone, 30, female, black, died January, dropsy, Franklin County.

Lucy Mayho, 20 female, black, died May, unknown causes, Nash County.

Leave a comment

December 1, 2012

They commenced to taking everything.

Abel Payne, age 77, filed claim #21703 with the Southern Claims Commission. He lived in Fayetteville and worked as a builder. He rented and operated a grist mill for three months just before and at the start of the war and did not know whether he ground any corn for Confederates. He was arrested by an officer at the Confederate arsenal one time, but released because of his age.

“I was born a slave. I bought myself and family and was emancipated by the Legislature of North Carolina in 1837 I think it was.”

On 11 March 1865, a group of union soldiers came to his house, took his horse from the stable on his lot, “then commenced to taking” everything else within an hour. “Took all my good cloths and my watch, after all my property and while my house was full of soldiers an officer rode by I went to him told him that the soldiers had taken everything that I had, he put a Guard at my house, the Guard cleared the premises.”

Peter Harmon, 52, was a gardener. He was employed by Payne as a drayman. He drove Payne’s horse, a small sorrel about 7 or 8 years old, the night before the soldiers came and put it in the stable. He went to Payne’s house hoping he could get some provisions and found that the soldiers had taken all.

Martha Payne, 77, was Abel Payne’s wife. She witnessed the soldiers take his property. They asked for the keys to trunks “which was given to them or rather the trunks was opened for them.” They broke into the stable and rode off on the horse.

Mary Payne, 32, was Abel Payne’s daughter.

John Stewart, 40, brickmason, and Alexander Murphy, 45, carpenter, testified to Payne’s loyalty. Murphy worked for during the war. Murphy testified that Capt. James M. Williams threatened to send Payne to work at the breastworks “because he did not please him in some work he was doing for him. I never knew him to contribute anything in any way to aid the Confederate govt. or its officers or soldiers except to make hay presses for Capt. Williams which I suppose was for the Confederate or state government.”

In the 1860 census of Fayetteville, Cumberland County: Abel Payne, 64, carpenter, wife Martha, 65, seamstress, and daughters Jane, 31, Mary, 21, and Martha, 19.

Leave a comment

November 30, 2012

Free-Issue Death Certificates: MISCELLANEOUS, no. 3.

Eliza Aldridge. Died 29 Jan 1824, Brogden, Wayne County. Colored. Widow of Robert Aldridge. Born 29 February 1829, Duplin County, to unknown father and Nancy (no last name.) Informant, Joseph Aldridge.

Mathew Aldridge. Died 6 May 1920, Goldsboro. Colored. Married to Fannie Aldridge. Age 64 years, 2 months, 28 days. Merchant. Born Goldsboro NC to Robert Aldridge and Liazza Borkins, both of Wayne County. Informant, Levi Kennedy.

In the 1860 census of Newton Grove, Sampson County: Robert Aldridge, farmer, with wife Mary E., and children George W., John, Amelia, Matthew L., David S., and a one month-old infant.

Francis Carter. Died 26 September 1937, Brogden, Wayne County. Colored. Widow of Marshall Carter. Born Sampson County to Jesse Jacobs and Abbie Strickland, both of Sampson County. Informant, Granger S. Carter.

Marshall Carter. Died 11 July 1912, Dudley, Brogden, Wayne County. Colored. Married to Frances Carter. Born 7 July 1860 in Duplin County to William Carter and Mary (no last name.) Farmer. Informant, Milfred Carter.

John Jacobs. Died 16 June 1922, Dudley, Brogden, Wayne County. Age about 67. Miller (corn mill.) Born Sampson County to Jesse Jacobs and Abbie (no last name), both of Sampson County. Informant, Willie Carter.

Leave a comment