Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Free Colored Inhabitants of Elizabeth Town, Bladen County, 1860.

#373. Eady McGhee, 60, Wilson McGhee, 22, Elizabeth McGhee, 19, and Virginia McGhee, 9.

Free-Issue Death Certificates: MISCELLANEOUS, no. 13.

Gray Reid. Died 8 January 1936, Tarboro, Edgecombe County. Colored. Widower of Lucy Reid. Age 87. Farmer. Born Edgecombe County to unknown parents, Informant, Jonah Reid, Macclesfield.

In the 1860 census of Edgecombe County: Bryant Read, 33, farmer, wife Betsey A., 26, Lucinda, 30, Saunders, 23, mechanic, Arthur, 13, Wright, 12, and Gray Read, 10.

Henrietta Smith. Died 21 November 1933, Cedar Fork, Durham County. Resided Morrisville. Widowed. Age 80. Born Wake County to Felin Evans and unknown mother. Buried Guess cemetery. Informant, son Charlie Smith.

In the 1850 census of Lower Regiment, Chatham County: Fielding Evans, 38, laborer, wife Marthany, 25, and children Henry B., 10, Olly, 5, Mary, 3, and Henrietta, 2.  [Sidenote: next door, Richard Evans, 74, farmer, wife Lucy Evans, 73, Granderson Evans, 26, mechanic, and Abby Evans, 12; then, Anson Evans, 30, farmer, wife Viny, 27, and children Andrew, 14, Richard, 11, James, 8, Anson, 6, and Laurina Evans, 3. Fielding and Anson may have been sons of Richard and Lucy Evans. – LYH]

Jessy Lacewell. Died 19 May 1918, Whites Creek, Bladen County. Mulatto. Single. Common laborer. Born Bladen County to unknown parents. Buried Mitchell graveyard. Informant, Ben Chance, Elkton NC.

Even Lacewell. Died 2 July 1915, Whites Creek, Bladen County. Mulatto. Married. Farmer. Born 1855 in Bladen County to unknown father and Delphy Lacewell. Buried “Mitchell G.Y. (Columbus Co.)” Informant, Willie Shaw, Clarkton NC.

In the 1860 census of White Creek, Bladen County: James Lacewell, 38, turpentine, wife Delphia, 38, and children John, 13, Charity, 11, Jesse, 8, Even, 6, Martha, 5, and Mary Lacewell, 2.

James A. Lacewell. Died 25 June 1936, Acme, Carves Creek, Bladen County. Negro. Farmer. Married to Agness Lacewell. Born 9 February 1856 in East Arcadia, Bladen County, to Mike Lacewell and Betsey Graham. Informant, Agnes Lacewell.

Wilmouth Eatman gives share and share alike.

NORTH CAROLINA, WILSON COUNTY   }

I, Wilmouth Eatman of the aforesaid county and state being of sound mind and desposing memory, but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence do make and declare this my last will and testament.

FIRST: My executor, hereinafter named shall give my body a decent burial suitable to the wishes of my relatives and friends and pay all funeral and burial expenses to-gether with all my just debts out of the first monies which may come into his hands belonging to my estate.

SECOND: I give and devise to my four children Joe Eatman, Magaret Locus, Kinion Eatman, and Annie Locus, wife of Acie Locus, Joitly and equally to share and share alike in the devision of same of the proceeds thereof, the lands conveyed to me by Deal Howard which said deed is duly recorded in book 24 page 195 Register Deeds Office Wilson County, said lands being situated in the said County and state, Taylors Township adjoining the lands of John B. Thompson, Wood Eatman, Deal Howard, the mark Mathews land et als. And bounded as follows to-wit: Beginning at a Gum in the big branch, thence south 2 ½ west to a stake in John B. Thompson line thence north 87 ½ west 69 poles to a stake in said Thompson’s line, thence south 2 ½ east to a black gum in said big branch, thence down said branch to the beginning containing forty one and one fourth acres, more or less.

THIRD: I give and devise to my son Kinion Eatman and my daughter Annie Locus, wife of Acie Locus Joitly and equally to share and share alike in the lands of proceeds thereof all my right title and interested in that certain track of land conveyed to me and Robt. Eatman by Bettie Mathews (See book 57 page 23 Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, The lands being situated in said county and state Taylor Township adjoining the lands of D.E. Mathews Zealous Howard Etals and bounded as fellows: to-wit: Beginning at a corner pine in Bettie Mathews Line, thence up nash road to another corner in the D.E. Mathews line, thence south along said line Zealous Howard line, thence nearly east along the canal to Ed. Farmer’s line thence north along Farmer’s line to the beginning estimated to be about 11 or 12 acres more or less.

FOURTH: I give and bequeath to my said son Robt. Eatman and my daughter Annie Locus, wife of Acie Locus, equally all my personal property of each and every description which I may own at my death, including money on hand, house hold and kitchen furniture, stock, crops, choses in action, to be equally divided between my two said children Kinion and Annie by mu Executor hereinafter named.

FIFTH: It is my will and desire that my executor hereinafter named may either have the lands herein devised to my said children partetioned and allotted to each in severalty, or sold and the monies arising from said sale equally divided as their respective interest appears. Said division of lands or money to be determined according to the wishes of the majority of my said children.

It is my further will and desire that should either one of my said children above named die without issue or legal heirs, or children then and in that event it is my will and desire that said share is shares devised or bequeathed to my said said child or children shall go and be equally divided between my living children and their lawful heirs.

SIXTH. I hereby constitute and appoint my trusty friends and legal adviser J.A. Farmer my lawful Executor to all interest and purposes to execute this my last will and testament to the time intent and morning of same, and every part thereof hereby revoking and declaring utterly void and all other will and testament by me heretofore made.

In witness whereof, I the said Wilmouth Eatman do hereunto set my hand and seal this 10th day of April 1911. Wilmouth X Eatman

Will Book 5, page 79. Office of Clerk of Superior Court, Wilson County Courthouse, Wilson.

In the 1850 census of Nash County: Nelson Eatman, 54, farmer, wife Rinda, 33, and children Rhoda, 12, Wilmot, 12, Princy, 10, Ginny, 8, Smithy, 6, and Alford, 4. In the 1870 census of Taylor, Wilson County: Nelson Eatmon, 53, farmer; wife Marinda, 50; daughter Welmouth, 31, and her children William, 13, Robert, 11, Margaret, 10, Crawford, 4, and Missouri, 7 months; and children Gremsey, 25, Alfred, 23, Emily, 16, Nelson, 13, and Jarman, 11.  In the 1880 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: Wilmoth Eatmon, 46, and children Joseph 24, Robt., 22, Kenan, 7, and Anna, 2, living among a cluster of Eatmons, Howards and Locuses. [Sidenote: Wilmouth Eatman’s sister Rhoda Eatman married Zealous “Deal” Howard. – LYH]

Approved teachers.

State of North Carolina, Wayne County, Monday, Sept. 3rd 1877

To the Register of Deeds of Wayne County:

The County Examiner, in pursuance of Section 16 of the School Laws, reports for the year ending the day preceding the first Monday in September, 1877, as follows:

TEACHERS EXAMINED AND APPROVED.

Washington Simmons. Col’d. Third Grade. Male.

J.C. Carroll. Col’d. Third Grade. Male.

Mathew Aldridge. Col’d. Third Grade. Male.

Washington Winn. Col’d. Third Grade. Male.

Susan Winn. Col’d. Third Grade. Female.

Mary Aldridge. Col’d. Third Grade. Female.

Licensed to carry, no. 2.

The licenses authorizing free negroes to carry fire arms are for one year –

Persons Names                                                   Date of license

Loftin Chance                                                      June 1854

Ezekiel Chance                                                    June 1854

John A. Wiggins                                                  June 1854

Jacob Wiggins                                                    June 1854

Richard Brown                                                     June 1854

Willis Lewis                                                          June 1854

Frank Pettiford                                                     September 1854

Israel Pettiford                                                      Sept’r 1854

Wright Pettiford                                                    Sept’r 1854

Ben Banton                                                           Sept’r 1854

Stanly Moore                                                        Sept’r 1854

Jno. Archibald Wiggins                                        Sept’r 1854

James Gaudett                                                     Sept’r 1854

John Gaudett                                                        Sept’r 1854

Rufus Chance                                                        December 1854

Kelso Davis                                                            December 1854

The Licenses to retail spirituous liquors by the small measure are issued by the Sheriff who is required to furnish a list to the grand jury – persons sometimes obtain permission of the Court but fail to pay the Sheriff the State tax & obtain his license.

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

Unlawfully did migrate, no. 4.

State of North Carolina, Wilson County   } Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions October Term 1850

The Jurors for the State aforesaid upon their oath present that Gray Powel a free negro late of the county of Wilson on the 1st day of June AD 1859 at & in the said county unlawfully did migrate into the State of North Carolina contrary to the provisions of the act of the general assembly in such cases made & provided & that the said Gray Powel afterwards to wit up to this time doth yet remain in said State & in the county aforesaid contrary to the form of the Statute in each case made & provided & against the peace & dignity of the State    /s/ B.B. Barnes Solicitor

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

In the 1850 census of Stephen Powell, 47, wife Synthia, 36, and children Gray, 9, Queen Anne, 8, Dolly, 7, Crockett, 3, and Noab, 1. [Sidenote: If this is the right Gray Powell, it suggests that he left the state prior to 1859 and tried to return. — LYH]

The partition of Isaac Dove’s land.

STATE OF NORTH-CAROLINA.  To the Sheriff of Craven County, GREETING:

You are hereby commanded to summon Hardy L. Jones, James T. Jones Esqr., Gideon Jones, Joseph Davis & Benjamin Borden to meet at such place and at some time before the next Court, to be held for your County, on the second Monday of February next, as you shall seem fit, then and there to make partition of that part of the lands (which were formerly held in common between Isaac Dove and Anthony Brown) which belongs to the heirs of Isaac Dove and are situated in Craven County on the east side of Spring Branch between George Carter & Sukey his wife. Stephen Godett & Mary his wife. Gambo Fenner & Deborah his wife who own the lands on the east side of Spring-Branch, heirs at law of Isaac Dove deceased, in severalty. Herein fail not and return the proceedings of said Commissioners in this behalf to our Court of pleas and Quarter-Sessions to be held on the second Monday of February next, together with this writ.

Witness, JAMES G. STANLY, Clerk of our said Court, at Newbern, the second Monday of November in the 50th Year of our Independence,   A.D. 1825.  /s/ J.G. Stanly

ImageImage

In obiediece to the Annexed order we the undersigned commissioners have made partition of the Lands heretofore held in common between Isaac Dove and Anthony Brown we find two Hundred and thirty four acres which we divide Eaqually No 1 drawn by Isaac Doves heirs Begins at the patent corner pine and runing So 9 E 203 poles to a Stake thence N 75 W 218 pole and thence to the Beginning Cont’ing One Hundred and seventeen acres No 2 by Anthony Brown or William and Jacob Dove Begins at a poplar the corner of the patent and runing thence No 54 E 90 poles to the corner of No 1 thence along the line So 73 E 218 poles to the corner stake thence So 7 E 45 pole to the patent corner thence No 85 ½ W’t 278 poles to a white oak on Cohoque Creek then down the creek to the Beginning Containing 117 acres In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 4th day of February 1826  /s/ Hardy C. Jones, Gideon Jones, James T. Jones, Benj. Bordin

From the file of the estate of Isaac Dove, Craven County. North Carolina Estate Files 1663-1979, https://familysearch.org. Original, North Carolina State Archives.

Outrageous murder.

An outrageous murder was committed about 3 miles from Weldon, N.C, on the evening of the 11th inst., by a free negro, named John Brown, on the body of James Smith, a very worthy young white man. Brown made his escape, but the Petersburg (Va.) Intelligencer understands he has been arrested in that place and taken back.

Baltimore Sun, 17 March 1848.

John R. Jacobs.

ImageJOHN ROBERT JACOBS was the son of Jesse A. Jacobs and Abigail Gilliam Jacobs. He is buried in the First Congregational Church cemetery, Dudley, Wayne County.

Photo taken by Lisa Y. Henderson, March 2013.

Next generation marriage.

ImageCandis Locust‘s birth was the subject of a bastardy action by the State on behalf of Waity Locust against Calvin Hagans. Louisa Wilson’s parents were John “Jack” Wilson and Zilpha Artis (herself the daughter of Vicey Artis and Solomon Williams.) Louisa’s brother, William Wilson, stood as witness.

Marriage Records, Register of Deeds Office, Wayne County Courthouse, Goldsboro.