Fourth Generation Inclusive

Colored communicants.

Communicants reported 27 May 1857 – … 27. Polly Bethel. 28. Jerry Bethel (colored) 29. Margaret Strange (colored)

Communicants added since Convention 27 May 1857 — … 31. Annabella Wilson (colored) … 39. William Foster (colored)

22 May 1857 “Day after Ascension Day. The ordinance of confirmation was administered to the following persons by the Rt. Rev. Thomas Atkinson, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese” … Annabella Wilson (colored)

1. Nancy Williams 2. Hannah Pinckney 3. William D. Pinckney 4. Thomas B. Taylor 5. Harriet Taylor 6. Mary Jane Brown 7. William Foster 8. Mary Bethel 9. Eliza T. Bryant (the above being colored communicants) “The above confirmed by Bp. Atkinson at his visitation of the parish October 10, 1858. T.S.W. Mott, pastor.”

From W.H. Biggers, Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church, Charlotte, North Carolina, Extracts from the First Parish Register (1975).

In the 1860 census of Western Division, Mecklenburg County: Jerry Bethel, 45, barber, “manumitted,” wife Mary Bethel, 40, and Robison Reid, 8.

In the 1860 census of Western Division, Mecklenburg County: W.F. Strange, 54, clerk-U.S. Mint, born Scotland; Edy, 75; Caroline, 43; James, 22, coach painter[?]; Margaret, 20, “hs keeper;” Robert, 14; Anna, 12; Edward, 9; and Mary Strange, 5; plus Elizabeth Jack, 12; all except W.F. were mulatto.

In the 1860 census of Western Division, Mecklenburg County: Mary Foster, 29, laborer; William, 24, wheelwright; Annabella, 20, laborer; Mary, 2; Austin, 5 months; and Jane Clark, 7.

Leave a comment

April 6, 2013

He lives with a free colored woman.

Fifty Dollars Reward. For negro SHADRACK, who ran away from me in August last, 1823; he is twenty-six years old, five feet six or seven inches high, dark complexion, and has a sulky appearance. He was raised by Mathew C. Whitaker, Esq. deceased, of Halifax county; his parents belong to Henry Mason, Esq. and his wife belongs to the heirs of Benjamin Harriss, deceased, and at this time lives with a free colored woman, one mile and a half from Halifax town, on the main road leading from thence to Enfield. I will give the above reward for him delivered to me in Warren county, three miles south of Warrenton, on the stage-road, or confined in Halifax jail so that I get him. All persons are forewarned from hiring or harboring said boy. Rob. Ransom. Greenwood, Aug. 16, 1824.

Free Press, Halifax, 17 September 1824.

Leave a comment

April 6, 2013

An acquittal. A conviction.

Raleigh, Oct. 10 – The Superior Court for this County adjourned on Saturday. On Friday, Trueman Goode, a free man of colour, was tried for the murder of Jacob, slave, the property of Wm. Daniel; but it appearing from the testimony, that he killed the deceased in self-defence, he was acquitted.

On the same day, Frederick Matthews, a free man of colour, indicted for an assault on John Gragson, a white man, with intent to kill, was tried and convicted of the charge. He was sentenced to remain in Jail until our next County Court, on the first two days of which he is to stand in the public Stocks for one hour; to be recommitted until the 15^th of January, to pay the costs of the prosecution, and to give security for the preservation of the peace for eighteen months.

Free Press, Tarboro, 17 October 1826.

Leave a comment

April 6, 2013

Craven County Apprentices, 1812.

On 20 April 1812, “Mr. George Cooper, Take notice that a motion will be made at the next term of Craven County Court to discharge Martin George from his apprenticeship to you.”

On 8 June 1812, Harriot Cully, 6, was bound to John J. McLin as a spinster and Adam Cully, 3, as a cooper.

On 8 June 1812, Jacob Carter, aged 18 years last September, was bound to Isaac Perkins as a cooper.

On 8 June 1812, Rufus Chance, aged 2 years last February, and Ezekiel Chance, aged 16 years last December, bound to William Dove as coopers.

On 8 June 1812, John Chadwick, aged 15 years last September, was bound to Robert Hay and Thomas Youle as a chair maker.

On 9 June 1812, Martin George, 11, bound to John Marchment as a blacksmith.

On 10 June 1812, orphans Manuel Dowdy, Henry Dowdy, and William Dowdy were presented to the grand jury.

On 10 September 1812, Cassa Davis, 6, was bound to Elizabeth Cannon as a spinster.

On 15 December 1812, Henry [no last name], 2, and Washington, [no last name], 4, were bound to Thomas Fulshire as shipbuilders.

On 18 December 1812, Farro Lewis, 18, was bound to Gabriel M. Rains as a cabinetmaker.

Leave a comment

April 6, 2013

License to carry a shotgun.

Ordered by the Court that the following Free Persons of Colour be granted license to carry a shotgun for twelve months next ensuing viz: Jordan Locklayer, Fed Wilkins, Willie Jones, Jesse Richardson, William Jones, Gideon Richardson, John Smith, Reasa Richardson, Frederick Haithcock, Lem’l Morgan, Aaron Locklayer, Simon Purner, Nicholas Richardson, Richard Conn, Julius Flood, David Reynolds, Robert Mitchum, Ellick Jones, Hardy Richardson, Herrod Scott, Norman Scott.

Docket, August Term 1848, Court Records, Halifax County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

Leave a comment

April 6, 2013

An act to emancipate Sally Zimmerman.

An Act to emancipate Sally Zimmerman, a slave belonging to the estate of Andrew Caldcleugh, deceased, late of Rowan County.

Whereas the said Andrew Caldcleugh, in and by his last will, did devise that a female slave, called and known by the name of Sally Zimmerman, a child of tender years, should be emancipated and set free; and whereas the executors of the said Andrew Caldcleugh, by and with the consent of the heirs at law, and residuary legatee of the said Andrew Caldcleugh, have petitioned this General Assembly to carry the will of the said Andrew into effect as it relates to the said slave:

Therefore be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That from and after the ratification of this act, the said slave Sally shall be, and hereby is emancipated, and set free from slavery, fully and absolutely, and shall be called and known by the name of Sally Zimmerman.

Ratified three times and ratified in General Assembly, this 31st day of Dec. 1823

A. Moore, S.H.C.

B. Yancey, S.S.

A true Copy, Wm. Hill, Secretary

Chapter CLXVI, Public and Private Laws of North Carolina Passed by the General Assembly 1823-26, North Carolina State Library.

In the 1850 census of Northern Division, Davidson County: Sarah Zimmerman, 31, living alone. She reported owning $600 in real property.

3 Comments

April 5, 2013

He passes for a free man.

TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS REWARD. Absconded from New-Bern about twelve months past, a mulatto man slave named JOHN, who passes for a free man and calls himself JOHN McCLISH. He is a taylor by trade, well made, of a middle stature and wears his hair in a queue; he has been seen at the plantation of the late George Lovick, nine miles below New-Bern, on Neuse river, about three months past. Any person who will bring the said fellow to me in New-Bern shall receive the above reward [illegible] reward and all reasonable charges paid. THO. WILLIAMS, New-Bern, Nov. 2, 1785.

North Carolina Gazette, or Impartial Intelligencer and Weekly Advertiser, 3 November 1785.

Leave a comment

April 5, 2013

A devilish confusion.

A knotty point for the civilians. – Ned Mitchell, a free man of colour, was married to his wife Cressy in the year 1820, she having had one (white) child, but that was at Chapel Hill. They lived together for ten long years in the enjoyment of domestic felicity, and in perfect harmony, during which time Cressy had five children, as much like Ned, as shot are like bullets. At length in 1830, Cressy moved to distant parts; Ned promised to follow her, but went to the Montgomery Gold Mines and has been there ever since. Cressy, in 1833, returned to Salisbury, and not finding Ned there, nor hearing of them thereabouts, she, in the course of time, gave her hand in matrimony to another gentleman, with whom she had one child. A few days since, who should make his appearance but Ned Mitchell, claiming to be restored to his matrimonial rights; and a devilish confusion is about to be the upshot of it. In the priminary, we have been professionally consulted, but not deeming the matter fairly within our province, we have turned it over to the eccelesiatics, Dan Macay and Hanibal brown, and if they should encounter any difficulty, we have advised, that they call on the “Kitchen Cabinet,” before which, matters of this kind are “peculiarly cognizable,” as the Lawyers say. – Salisbury Watchman.

Tarborough Free Press, 21 March 1834.

Leave a comment

April 5, 2013

Nash County Apprentices, 1778-1806.

At April Court 1778, Jesse Booth, Sylvia Booth, Henry Tayborn, the first two “base begotten” children of Priscilla Booth, the last the orphan of Henry Tayburn deceased, fees pd. Indenture to be prepared again next ct.

At July Court 1779, ordered that Isham Locas, 3, Martha Locas, 4, and Burwell Locas, 2 months, base-begotten children, were bound to Lazarus Pope to learn the art and mystery of planters for the boys and carding & spinning for the girl.

At October Court 1779, ordered that Lucy Locust, 3, Henry Locust, 6, and Joshua Locust, 2, base born children of Mary Locust, were bound to George Jackson, the boys to learn the “art and mystery” of planters and the girl, carding and spinning.

At August Court 1792, Chany Locus, 4, base-born child of Sarah Locus, was bound to Jacob Barnes until 18 to learn to card and spin.

At May Court 1806, Rich’d Shay, age 1 year, 9 months, a base-born child of color, was bound to Reuben Whitfield until 21.

At May Court 1806, Fanny Jones, 4, base-born child of color, was bound to Zadock Sneed.

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

Leave a comment

April 5, 2013

Runaway bound boy, no. 7.

COMMITTED to the Jail of Rowan County, on the 4^th of August, a negro boy named Edward Bailey, who says he is free, and bound to Newsome Westmoreland of Stokes county. Said boy is of dark complexion, about 13 or 14 years of age. N. ROBERTS, Jailor. Salisbury, Aug. 16, 1845.

Carolina Watchman, 18 August 1845.

Leave a comment