Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Green, country-looking man and woman without papers.

SENT BEFORE THE GRAND JURY. – Oswald Wright, the person charged with bringing Eveline Mills, a free negro of North Carolina, into the state contrary to law, was, yesterday brought the Mayor, and after an examination into the case was required to find security for his appearance before the Hustings’ Court Grand Jury, to answer any indictment that might be found against him for the offence. The amount of security ($150) was not given by him, and he was committed to jail. The punishment should he tried and convicted is a fine of not more than $500, and imprisonment not exceeding six months. The jury may vote the accrued guilty, fine him one cent, and put him in jail one hour. Eveline Mills, the woman who was held as an adjunct of weight in the offence, produced her certificate of freedom and discharged from custody.

The Daily Dispatch, Richmond VA, 27 August 1857.

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SENT BACK. – Oswald Wright, who stands accused of bringing Evelyn Mills, a free negro, into this state from North Carolina, contrary to the law, was before the Mayor yesterday, but the case was not gone into, on account of the absence of witnesses. The defendant was sent back to jail. – Wright, a green country looking individual, says he came from Rockingham county, and was on his way back when arrested. The woman, Evelyn Mills was likewise sent back to answer for coming into the State without free papers. It is not known with certainty whether she is free as she asserts.

The Daily Dispatch, Richmond VA, 3 September 1857.

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HUSTINGS COURT. – This tribunal commences its regular monthly term on to-day next. Below we give a list of cases which will occupy the attention of the magistrates during the session …. The misdemeanor cases … will be found in the following list:

7. Oswald Wright. Bringing a free negro from North Carolina to this city, contrary to the laws of Virginia.

The Daily Dispatch, Richmond VA, 9 November 1857.

Wayne County Apprentices, 1832-33.

John Artis, 11, and Bryley Lane, 7, were bound to John Davis in 1832.

Possibly: in the 1850 census of North Side of Neuse, Wayne County, John Artis, 28, farmer, wife Seatha, 30, and children Sarah, 3, and Zachariah, 2.

John Capps, 6, and Joe Capps, [no age], were bound to James Everett in 1832.

In the 1850 census of South Side of Neuse, Wayne County: John Lane, 28, hireling, and wife Lany, 25, both born in Wayne County.

Henderson Gandy, 5, was bound to William Sauls in 1832.

In the 1860 census of Kinston, Lenoir County: Henderson Ganzey, 30, in the household of Bryan McCullin, livery operator.

Theo King, 5, was bound to Mark Smith in 1833.

In the 1850 census of North Side of Neuse, Wayne County: Theo. King, 22, farmhand, in the household of Major Smith, farmer.

John Green, 7, was bound to Lewis Howell in 1833.

Ben Reed, 2, and Washington Reed, 14, were bound to Nathan Davis, in 1833.

In the 1850 census of North Side of Neuse, Wayne County: Hillard Artice, 37, wife Vina, 24, and children Joshura, 15, Mary, 13, Sarah, 11, Elizabeth, 8, Isaac, 6, John, 5, Daniel, 3, and Hilliard, 8 months, plus Benjamin Read, 20, farmhand. Also, Washington Read, 28, farmhand, with wife Pinnina, 25, and daughter Lewiser, 2 months.

Sherard Hagans, 16, and Needham Hagans, 6, were bound to Exum Pike in 1833.

Calvin Hagans, 10, and William Hagans, 16, were bound to Council Bryan in 1833.

In the 1850 census of North Side of Neuse: Sarah Hagans, 30; Eliza Hagans, 5; James Warren, 35, distiller, born Virginia; and Calvin Hagans, 24.

Stephen Mitchell, 8, and Warren Mitchell, 7, were bound to Bunyon Barnes in 1833.

Mary Reed, 2, was bound to [blank] in 1833.

Larkin Hagans was bound to David Bardin in 1833.

Hannah Locus and Daniel Locus, both 5, were bound to Tobias Musgrove in 1833.

Surnames: McDowell County, 1850.

The following surnames are found among free people of color in McDowell County in 1850:

ABBOT, BAILEY, BIRD, BOYCE, BROOKS, COZENS, FRANCIS, HARDY, HAYS, HEDGPETH, HONEYCUTT, HOWELL, HYATT, JACKSON, JOHNSON, JOHNSTON, JONES, LACKEY, LUCAS, MATHEWS, McNEAL, MITCHEL, OLIVER, OWENS, PARKER, POWELL, RED, SCOTT, SHADE, SIMMONS, SMITH, STEVELIE and WEAVER.

Free mulatto negro-stealer.

Negro Stealing. – It is stated in the Edenton Gazette, (N.C.) that the noted Willis Edge, a free mulatto, of negro stealing memory, was shot on the 8th ult., in Hertford County, when in the act of arresting him for another offence of the same kind, lately committed.

The Adams Centinel, Gettysburg PA, 7 April 1824.

An act to emancipate Betty.

An Act to emancipate Betty, a slave

Sec. 1. 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 Betty, a slave, the property of Joshua Carman, of Cumberland county, be, and she is hereby emancipated and set free by the consent and at the request of her master, and by the name of Betty Barbee, shall possess and exercise all the rights and privileges of other free persons of color in this State: Provided, nevertheless, that before this act of emancipation shall take effect, the owner of said slave Betty, or some person for him, shall file in the clerk’s office of the court of pleas and quarter sessions of Cumberland county, a bond with good security, in the sum of five hundred dollars, payable to the Governor of the State and his successors in office, that the said Betty shall demean herself correctly while she remains in the State and not become a county charge, which bond may be put in suit in the name of the Governor for the time being, to the use of the county or person injured by a breach of its condition: Provided, that she do not reside out of the county aforesaid, more than thirty days at any time; also that she give bond in such an amount as will be approved of by the county court, that she will not become a public charge. [Ratified the 14th day of February, 1855]

Chapter 108, Private Laws of North Carolina Passed by the General Assembly 1854-55, State Library of North Carolina.

Sarah “Sallie” Greenfield Winn.

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SARAH GREENFIELD WINN was born about 1820, probably in southeast Wayne County.  She married Gray Winn about 1835 and was widowed in 1850.  Their children were Elizabeth Winn Simmons, Edward James Winn, Eliza Winn, Penny Winn Simmons, Ally Winn and Washington Francis Winn. She died in 1909 and is buried near her son Edward in a small family graveyard near Dudley in Wayne County.

Photograph by Lisa Y. Henderson, March 2013.

In the 1850 census of South Side of the Neuse, Wayne County: Sally Winn, 30, and children Betsey, 14, Edw’d J., 12, Eliza, 10, Penny, 6, Ally, 4, and Washington, 1.

James, an industrious, sober and honest barber and hairdresser.

State of North Carolina, Chowan County  }   June Term 1795

To the worshipful the County Clerk of Please and Quarter Sessions for the County of Chowan the petition of John Cunningham Humbly Sheweth that your petitioners Father died when he was very Young leaving a Valuable but unproductive Estate for the Support of your Petitioner and his Mother, consisting principally of Young Slaves, among whom is a Mulatto Male Slave by the Name of James, the profits of whose labour, has greatly if not principally contributed to the Maintenance & Support of your Petitioner thru a long Minority and an expensive course of Education. Your petitioner further Sheweth that the great profit which he has derived from the labour of the said Slave James has been owing as well to the great assiduity and attention of the said James in acquiring & presenting himself in the Trade of Mystery of a Barber & Hair Dresser as to his Industry sobriety and honesty Your petitioner further Sheweth that during a very dangerous and lingering Sickness last Spring (1794) the attention of the said James was such as cannot fail to inspire the highest gratitude in him in consideration whereof and as a reward for the past faithful Services of the said James, your Petitioner is willing and desirous to Manumit or set him free conceiving that no less a reward will be commiserate to the Services rendered, but as to guard against the great injuries & inconvenienced which might result from the indiscriminate Manumission of Slaves the legislature have Wisely provided that no Slave shall be manumitted except for Meritorious services to be approved of by the County Court, your petitioner is prevented from effecting his intentions without the aid and assistance of your Worships. May it thereof please your Worships taking the past character and faithful and meritorious Services of the said James into consideration to order & Decree that he may be Manumitted & Set free agreeable to the Directions of the act of the General Assembly in Such Cases Made and provided And your petitioner as in Duty bound shall ever pray &c.     John Cunningham

Miscellaneous Slave Records, Chowan County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

He went immediately among free negroes.

$25 REWARD.

RAN AWAY from the Subscriber, on Saturday the 1st inst., my negro fellow named SHADRACH, he is about 21 years of age, five feet seven or eight inches high, well made and proportioned, a dark copper colour, talks rather slow when spoken to, is very likely, if any scars not remembered, and had on when he left an osnaburg shirt and pantaloons (considerably worn,) and old straw hat. I understood he went immediately on Neuse, Craven County, among the free negroes and called himself Jim Sampson and took passage in some boat for Newbern, no doubt he will try to get to the north in some vessel.

All persons are forewarned from harboring, or carrying him away under the penalty of the law, which will certainly be enforced against those who violate its provisions in such case made and provided. The above reward will be paid to any person for lodging him in any jail in this State so that I get him again.

DAVID L. JONES. Carteret County, August 5th, 1840.

Newbern Spectator and Literary Journal, 8 August 1840.

Free-Issue Death Certificates: BOWSER, no. 2.

Gid Bowser. Died 12 Aug 1925, Roanoke Rapids, Halifax County. Colored. Widower of Everlyn Robinson. Born 1 February 1857 in Halifax County to Tom Bowser and Rocksana Manly. Buried Halifax County. Informant, Willis Bowser.

Elizabeth Burn. Died 15 December 1917, Roanoke Rapids, Halifax County. Colored. Widow. Born 13 September 1860 in Halifax County to Tom Bowser and Roxana Manly. Buried Halifax County. Informant, W. Frank Bowser.

In the 1860 census of Western District, Halifax County: Thomas Bowser, 47, wife Roxanna, 27, and children Gideon, 3, and Penny E., 2.

James Christopher Toney. Died 19 September 1923, Roanoke Rapids, Halifax County. Resided Rosemary Street. Colored. Married to Hattie T. Toney. Farmer. Born 15 January 1857 in Halifax County to Hilliard Toney and Jane Bowser. Buried Toney cemetery. Informant, Vivian Toney.

In the 1860 census of Western District, Halifax County: Hilliard Toney, 45, wife Jane, 28, and Kinchen, 8, Orsborn, 5, and James, 2. 

Isiah Bowser. Died 22 January 1916, Roanoke Rapids, Halifax County. Colored. Married. Farm help. About 58 years old. Born Halifax County to Eaton Bowser and Sallie Bowser. Informant, John Carter.

In the 1860 census of Western District, Halifax County: Eaton Bowser, 34, farmer, wife Lucinda, 27, and children Rebecca, 9, Sallie, 8, George, 5, William, 3, and unknown, 3 months.

James Bowser. Died 1 November 1925, Poplar Branch, Currituck County. Born 9 August 1849, Currituck County to Jonas Bowser and Matilia Case.

In the 1860 census of Powells Point, Currituck County: Jonas Bowser, 37, laborer, wife Mahala, 33, and son James, 10.

A bill concerning free papers.

N.C. Legislature. Senate.

Monday, Jan. 5. Mr. Myers, of Mecklenburg, by leave, introduced a bill to prevent the Clerks of the County Courts from fixing the county seal on the papers of free negroes.  [Vote 27-18 in favor.]

North Carolina Whig, Charlotte, 13 January 1857.