Fourth Generation Inclusive

One-eyed boy missing.

MISSED AND SUPPOSED TO BE KIDNAPPED.

A free Black-Boy named BILL.

Twelve or thirteen years of age, has but one eye; formerly of the slaves belonging to the Estate of Col. WM. THOMPSON of Beaufort, Carteret County. – Said boy was placed by his mother under the care of SAM WHITNEY; who passes for a free negro in the Town of Newbern. – Said Boy disappeared about the 2^nd Monday in March last, nor has his mother or any one been able to obtain any account of him. – If any information of said boy can be lodged by any one with the Editor of this paper he would thereby subserve the cause of humanity & probably of public Justice. Newbern, 11^th April, 1818.

Carolina Federal Republican, Newbern, 11 April 1818.

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April 14, 2013

A gang of bold rascals.

ROGUES CAUGHT. – A few nights ago the smoke-house of Thos. J. Curtis, in this vicinity, was robbed of some 1000 lbs. of bacon, by a gang of bold rascals who it seems took a carry-all to the spot to bring off some of their plunder. Mr. C. the next day ferreted out some of the rogues, had two of them – Enoch Manuel, a free negro, and Isaac Hobbs, a slave – arrested and committed to jail, and recovered nearly half of the bacon. He deserve [sic] the thanks of the public for his energy.

Carolina Observer, Fayetteville, 31 March 1862.

In the 1860 census of Fayetteville, Cumberland County: Caroline Manuel, 25, Enoch Manuel, 35, boat man, and Clarissa Manuel, 10. But also: Clement G. White, 35, lawyer, his wife Annett, 25, and Enoch Manuel, 36, farm hand.

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April 14, 2013

A sad disaster.

A SAD DISASTER. – We are pained to announce another fatal steamboat explosion on the Cape Fear. The boiler of the Kate McLaurin, a new and handsome freight and passenger boat, exploded on Tuesday morning last about 4 0’clock, at the Little Sugar Loaf, about 50 miles below this place, by which Capt. W.T. Evans and three hands lost their lives. Capt. Evans is supposed to have been thrown 75 or 100 feet into a cane-brake, which being overflowed in the high state of the river, his body was not found when we last heard. Charles, a free boy of color, is supposed to have been thrown into the river. William, a negro man belonging to Mr. Duncan McLaurin, was blown over the top of the new Steamer A.P. Hurt, which was delivering hoods at a landing near by. Capt. Hurt very promptly had picked up, alive; he was brought to town on the Hurt, but died before he could be landed from the boat. The third boat hand lost was a free boy named John Henry Hayes, who was unhurt in the explosion, but was drowned in attempting to swim ashore.

At the time of the explosion the Kate was just in rear of the A.P. Hurt; both boats were stationary – the Hurt had stopped to land a box, the Kate came up and made an effort to pass, but not finding sufficient room had backed down a few feet.

Great credit is awarded to Capt. A.P. Hurt for his kindness to the crew of the ill-fated steamer.

The Kate drifted about 33 miles down stream and was then tied up by the men who remained on board. Most of the cargo was insured – all of it ought to have been. The boat is supposed to be not very greatly injured, and nothing in a pecuniary view distressing about it, in comparison with the sad loss of life.

The Kate McLaurin belonged to Messrs. Orrell & Dailey, cost perhaps $6,000, and had been running less than six months.

Carolina Observer, Fayetteville, 4 June 1860.

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April 13, 2013

Still fully able of taking care of himself.

AGED CROATAN INDIAN DEFIED THE OFFICERS

When Writ of Ejectment Was Secured in Math Locklier in Robeson, He Answered by Pulling His Gun.

Maxton, May 18. – Tuesday Deputy Sheriff W.W. Smith, in company with James A. Shaw, W.O. Burns and G.H. McCallum went out about five miles in the country from Maxton to serve a writ of ejectment on Math Locklier, a Croatan Indian. Math is over 80 years of age but still active and well preserved and fully capable of taking care of himself against all comers, resisted the writ and pulled his gun on the visitors. All departed deciding the climate was not good for their health in that immediate vicinity.

Greensboro Daily News, 10 May 1912.

In the 1850 census of Upper Division, Robeson County: Richmond Locklier, 48, farmer, wife Nancy, 39, Angus, 24, Alex, 18, Joe, 14, Pheny,12, Amy, 10, Artemas, 8, Barnaba, 6, Malachi, 2, Betsy, 2, Alamander, 1, and Mathew, 12; all mulatto.

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April 13, 2013

Killer escaped.

HALIFAX. MARCH 20.

Last night Harris Allen, who was committed for the murder of John James, a free mulatto, of Northampton county, made his escape from the gaol of this town. He is remarkable tall man, and had on a short round jacket. It is hoped the officers of justice and others, will be vigilant in their endeavours to apprehend and bring him to condign punishment.

North-Carolina Journal, Halifax, 20 March 1793.

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April 13, 2013

I think they will aim for Washington or New Bern.

Ten Dollars Reward.

Ranaway form the Subscriber on Sunday, the 19^th instant. A bright Mulatto Man named Mark. About 42 or 42 years of age, five feet 10 or 11 inches high; straight and stout built; a good countenance; a film coming on his left eye – had two or three pair of homespun Jackets and Trowsers, some of them filled with wool and dyed purple. He went off with a free mulatto woman by the name of Dill Moore, who has a free pass, and I expect she has procured one for him also. I think they will aim for Washington or Newbern, for the purpose of obtaining a passage on board some vessel bound for a Northern port. Should Dill Moore take a passage for herself only, she probably may have the man put on board privately. The above reward will be paid to any person who will deliver the said Mark to me, or secure him in any prison so that I can get him again.

Masters of vessels and all other persons, are hereby forbid to harbor, employ or carry off the said Mark, as I will prosecute with vigour the person so offending. JAMES HANRAHAN. Washington’s Ferry, Pitt County. April 25, 1829.

North Carolina Sentinel, New Bern, 13 June 1829.

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April 13, 2013

Says he bought them from a free colored person.

GREENSBORO’, N.C. APRIL 13.

Discovery. – The Jailer in this place, Col. John M. Logan, informed us yesterday, that he had found in possession of a negro slave from Anson county, four keys, two of which were found to belong to the United States’ Mail, and to open it as easily as the key employed for that purpose in the post office at this place.

The said negro was apprehended and confined to prison here about four months ago; and owing to his dexterity at concealment, the keys had never been found in his possession before. He says he bought them, together with two or three locks, from a free coloured person living with John Rushall on Round creek, in Anson county. This statement relative to the manner in which he obtained the keys, is thought not to be entitled to credit, as one of the other keys was a large one, with which he had probably opened some person’s storehouse, and purloined the mail keys, and three $5 bills on the Cheraw bank which were found in his possession at the time of his apprehension.

Miners’ and Farmers’ Journal, Charlotte, 21 April 1831.

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April 13, 2013

To allow.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA.

…

From the Wilmington Herald’s correspondence we condense Tuesday’s proceedings, which we have not received from any other source: —

…

Mr. Humphrey introduced a bill to allow free persons of color to become slaves by choosing masters.

Carolina Observer, Fayetteville, 3 December 1860.

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April 13, 2013

Minutes, New Hanover Court of P&Q.

At February term, 1807: Ordered that John Beauford, a mulatto fellow now in prison, for whom F. Fontaine and John McLellan became security for the procurement of a certificate for his freedom, and it appearing to the court that the said mulatto is a freeman, that he be released from prison upon F. Fontaine’s paying his jail fees and that the bond of the said Francis and John be cancelled and given up.

At May term, 1807: Upon the petition of Philip Bazadier ordered that a mulatto woman named Susan be emancipated and set free from slavery and that she hereafter bear the named Susan Bazadier.

At May term, 1807: Ordered that Anthony Williamson be appointed guardian of Major Armwood, an orphan, in room of Bartholomew Byrns, who surrenders said orphan to the court, giving bond with John Walker, and Joel Parrish as securities.

At August term, 1807: Upon the petition of J.D. Toomer and Lewis Toomer, ordered that Sam, a negro man slave of the said petitioners be emancipated and set free from slavery and that he hereafter bear the name of Sam Toomer, the petitioners giving bond with Wm. Campbell, secy.

Minutes, Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions, New Hanover County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

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April 12, 2013

Thomas Day.

Thomas Day, a cabinetmaker by trade, is the most celebrated of North Carolina’s antebellum craftsmen. He was born 1801 in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, to a family of free, landowning African-Americans. His father, John Day, was a skilled cabinetmaker who plied other trades as well, but always relied on woodworking to bring in money. Thomas and his brother John Day were well-educated. John’s education, during which he boarded with prominent whites and attending schools with them, is documented in his later correspondence, and it is assumed that Thomas did the same. Both of the Day sons initially followed in their father’s footsteps, learning the skills of a cabinetmaker. John eventually left the trade to study theology and later moved to Liberia, becoming one of its founders by signing its Declaration of Independence.

John Day moved to Warren County by 1820 and it is believed that Thomas was with him. The Days had established themselves in the furniture business in Milton by 1823. Thomas Day became a prominent and well-respected citizen of the community. In response to an act that prohibited free blacks from immigrating into the state, Milton’s white leaders petitioned the General Assembly in 1830 to allow Day’s bride, Aquilla Wilson, a free black from Virginia, to join him. They reared two sons and a daughter. In his almost forty years in Milton, Thomas Day built an extraordinary business, employing freedmen and slaves alike to craft stock lines of furniture and to fill custom orders for furniture and interior woodworking. By 1850, Day had the largest cabinetry shop in North Carolina. He is believed to have died in about 1861, after having suffered financial losses due to the national panic of 1857.

Adapted from ncmarkers.com.

In the 1850 census of Milton, Caswell County: Thomas Day, 49, cabinetmaker, born Virginia, property valued at $8000; wife Aquila, 44; son Devereux J., 17, cabinetmaker, born Milton; Mourning S. Day, 84, born VA; and Joshua Wood, 32, cabinetnaker; all mulatto except the last, who was white.

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