A free negro is lately condemned to be hung at Tarboro’, in this State, for forcibly entering a house and stealing a decanter of whiskey!
Highland Messenger, Asheville, 1 Apr 1842.
Jacob Cherry, age 52, a farmer, filed claim #20118 with the Southern Claims Commission. He resided at Beaufort County. “I was a slave before the War. I belonged to Wm. Cherry.” During the war, he lived on the lands of Mr. Benjamin Brown and cultivated a farm there. “… I had a brother in the union army by name Alfred Gorham he resides in Brunswick Co N.C., he joined the union army in 1862.” “I felt if [the Union] cause succeeded that I should be free and that it would be to my benefit.” “I was a slave at the beginning of the war. I became free after the War. … I hired my time from my owner, and paid my hire, and saved money bought my horse.” Cherry bought the horse in January 1865, and Union soldiers took it the next month. He was plowing a field that he had rented from Benjaim Brown when Captain Graham’s cavalry company came to Greenville from New Bern on a raid, taking all the horses they could find. Cherry told Captain Graham that the horse belonged to him, and the captain said, “That might be but so many colored people were claiming their owners horses that he could not tell whether they belonged to them or their owners.” Cherry described the horse as a young bay mare with foal, “fat and in good condition, quick, a good buggy horse and a good plough horse.” “I bought her from a free colored man who worked at the farm of Widow Parker. This colored man was impressed by the confederates to work on the breastworks and died there. His wife belonged to Mrs. Parker and when he was sent off he sold me the horse for which I paid $300.00.” The free man’s name was Wiley Taylor.
John Bartlett Sr., age 54, who resided in Washington, North Carolina, and worked as a cooper, confirmed that Cherry had bought the horse from a free man of color whose wife lived at Martha Parker’s and who was taken by Confederates to work at fortifications at Bald Head. Bartlett was working at the Confederate commissary in Greenville when he saw Cherry ride by with a federal cavalryman. Cherry rode bareback with a plow line for a bridle. “Jacob Cherry … was a hard working man and of excellent character. He started a very good crop but after the taking of his horse, he lost it.” Bartlett was free-born and lived within a mile of Cherry.
John Bartlett Jr., age 24, day laborer, also testified about Graham’s confiscation of horses in and around Greenville.
Claim approved: $150.00.
Martin Black; Absalom Martin; Cesar Burgase; John Carter; Jenny; Old Samson; Free Peter; Free Carolina; Free Toby, Sr.; Free Dinah; Elizabeth Fisher; Geo. Carter; Peter Cooper; Peter Braddock; Joe Pie Stanton; Jerry; John Carter; Ann Norwood; 92 total free people of color.
CHAPTER XXXV. An Act to Emancipate Certain Negroes Therein Mentioned.
Whereas, it hath been represented to this General Assembly, that Robert Shaw, in his life-time, did receive a valuable consideration for the further services of a certain negro woman named Amelia, and has certified the same and declared her to be free: And by petition of Thomas Lovick, it appears to be his desire that a certain negro woman by the name of Betty, belonging to him, should be set free; also a petition of Monsieur Chaponel, desiring to have set free a mulatto slave belonging to him, by the name of Lucy, of three and half years old: And whereas, it appears by the petition of Ephraim Knight, of Halifax county, that he is desirous to emancipate two young mulatto men, called Richard and Alexander, the property of said Ephraim: And it hath also been represented to this Assembly by John Alderson, of Hyde County, that it is his desire to set free a mulatto boy belonging to him, called Sam: And whereas, it hath been made appear to this Assembly by the petition of Thomas Newman, of Fayetteville, that he hath a mulatto boy belonging to him, which he is desirous to emancipate, and known by the name of Thomas:
I. 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 the said negro women called Amelia and Betty, and the mulatto girl Lucy, and the said mulatto men Richard and Alexander, and the said mulatto boy called Sam, and the negro boy named Thomas Clinch, shall be, and each of them are hereby emancipated and declared free; and the said Richard and Alexander shall take and use the surname of Day, and the mulatto boy Sam shall be known and called by the name of Samuel Johnson; and the said slaves so liberated, and each of them, are hereby declared to be able and capable in law to posses and enjoy every right, privilege and immunity, in as full and ample manner as they could or might have done if they had been born free.
Acts of the North Carolina General Assembly, 1789. North Carolina Colonial Records.
$25 Reward.
RANAWAY from the Subscriber, on the 1st day of last July, my negro man JACKSON, aged about 25 years, light complected, 6 feet 3 or 4 inches in height, weighing about 165 pounds – the little toe of his right foot is off, and the middle finger on one of his hands is crooked and stiff in the first joint. He is supposed to be lurking in Nash county, near Vicksville, with a free mulatto woman named Mary Locust. The above reward will be given for the apprehension of Jackson, if confined in any jail so that I get him again, or if delivered to me, in Edgecombe county, near Upper Town Creek meeting house. All persons are forbid harboring, or carrying off said negro under penalty of the law. JAMES J. TAYLOR. August 17, 1844.
Tarboro Press, 5 Oct 1844.
On 14 June 1797, Ann Maria, free person of color aged 3 years in September next, was bound to Euphamia Tinker, Widow, as a spinster.
On 16 June 1797, Lucy, a free person of color aged 7 years, was bound to Patsy Gaynor [Gainer], widow of New Bern, as a spinster.
On 17 June 1797, Samuel McKinnin, a “certain lad of colour” aged 4 years the 25th of December last, was bound to Isaac Markel, mariner of New Bern, as a mariner.
On 16 March 1798, Reading Moore, a base born free Negro boy, was bound to Francis Lowthorp, Esq., of New Bern, as a tobacconist.
On 10 December 1798, Sampson Wilson, free black boy aged 7 years, was bound to William Tignor of New Bern as a block maker, and Amy Wilson, a free black girl aged 11 years, was bound to Tignor as a spinster.
On 10 June 1799, Polly Harris, a free black girl aged 16 years, was bound to William Laurence, merchant of New Bern, as a spinster, and Thomas Harris, a free black boy aged 11 years, was bound to Laurence as a cooper.
Condemned. At Surry Superior Court, last week, Abram Weaver, who has been confined in the jail of this county for some eighteen months, was tried and convicted of selling a free negro. An appeal was taken to the Supreme Court. People’s Press.
Carolina Watchman, Salisbury, 30 September 1852.
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ABRAM M. WEAVER.
This notorious individual, we learn, was tried for kidnapping, at the recent term of the Superior Court of Surry county – Judge Ellis presiding. He was found guilty, and condemned to be hung on the first Friday in October; but appealed to the Supreme Court.
We understand it was in evidence that in the Spring of 1848 Weaver induced a free negro, Jim Corn, to go with him from Stokes county over the mountains into Virginia, on a trip to sell guns; that they stopped at the house of one Lowder, in Burke’s Garden, soon after which the prisoner, sold the said free negro into bondage, who was carried to Louisville, Kentucky, where the negro sued for and obtained his freedom. Greens. Pat.
Carolina Watchman, Salisbury, 7 Oct 1852.
One Dollar Reward.
Ranaway from the subscriber, on Monday the 1st inst., a bound mulatto girl by the name of SARAH ANN HAYWOOD. The above reward will be given to any one who will deliver the said girl to me. – All persons forwarned from harboring or employing the said girl, as the law will be enforced against any person who may do it. J.C. RUDISILL. Wood Lawn, Lincoln, N.C. June 25.
Lincoln Courier, Lincolnton, 8 August 1846.
Fifty Cents Reward!
Runaway from the subscriber, living 20 miles south-east of Lincolnton, in Gaston County, a bound girl, about 17 years of age, a dark mulatto. She left about the 18th of March last; her name is Susannah, and the above reward is paid for her apprehension. All persons are forewarned from harboring said girl, under the penalty prescribed by law. A. FITE. April 21
Lincoln Courier, Lincolnton, 5 May 1849.
THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD. BROKE JAIL ON THE NIGHT OF THE 8TH OF May, the following negroes:
SOLOMON, the property of John Lockhart, deceased – He is about five feet eight inches high, black, no marks on his person recollected, aged 35 years.
WILLIS, the property of Capt. J.W. Latta, about six feet high, slender built, black, aged about 27 years.
ALEX HARRIS, a free boy, about five feet five inches high, mulatto, has been living about Raleigh.
Solomon was convicted for the murder of John Lockhart, and was detained for a new trial. I will give for his apprehension two hundred dollars, and fifty dollars each for the two others, or their confinement in any jail so that I can get them. H.B. GUTHRIE, Sheriff. Hillsborough, N.C., May 22, 1863.
Weekly Standard, Raleigh, 27 May 1863.
$500 REWARD. ESCAPED FROM THE JAIL OF GRANVILLE County, in Oxford, on the night of the 27th instant, BALDY KERSEY, a free negro, very bright color, and hair nearly straight, stout made, and about five feet eight inches high, about 45 years old, impudent appearance and quick speech.
Also, JOEL, a slave of T.B. VENABLE. Joel is a dark mulatto, about 5 feet 10 or 11 inches high, and rather spare built, though strong and likely, he is about 35 years of age.
Kersey was sentenced at September term of Granville Superior Court to six months imprisonment, and there are still pending against him five indictments for larceny.
Joel was committed for house breaking and an attempt to commit rape.
I will give the above reward for the apprehension and confinement of both, so that I get them again, or $200 for either. The belief is that they are making towards the Eastern part of the State. I wil give $500 for the apprehension and delivery, with evidence sufficient to convict those or anyone of those who assisted from the outside and broke the jail so as to release said prisoners. W.A. PHILPOTT, Sheriff. October 6, 1864.
Weekly Standard, Raleigh, 26 October 1864.
At a General Assembly, begun and held at Fayetteville, on the second Day of November, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-Nine, and in the Fourteenth Year of Independence of the said State; being the first session of the said Assembly. Samuel Johnston, Esq., Governor.
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CHAPTER XXXIII.
An Act to Invest an Indefeasible Right of Inheritance in Charles, Alley and Prudence Oggs, the Surviving Natural Children of John Oggs, of the County of Pasquotank, of such Property as was Bequeathed to them and their Deceased Brother Jesse Oggs.
Whereas, it hath been made appear to this General Assembly, that John Oggs late of the county of Pasquotank, hath departed this life, leaving behind him four natural children, Charles, Alley, Prudence and Jesse, by his negro slave Hester, to whom he bequeathed all his real and personal estate by virtue of a certain last will and testament: And whereas, by the policy of the law the said children, being bastards, are debarred from the rights of inheritance, and being recommended to this General Assembly as persons of good fame: And whereas, Jesse, one of the children is dead:
I. 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 the above mentioned Charles, Alley and Prudence Oggs, are hereby invested in an indefeasible right of inheritance of all and singular the lands and tenements, goods and chattels which were bequeathed to them by their father John Oggs, in virtue of his last will and testament; and that they hold and take the said property to them and their heirs and assigns forever, agreeably to the directions of the said will, and the intentions of the said John Oggs therein expressed.
And whereas, the within mentioned Hester, and her children Charles, Alley and Prudence Oggs, are recommended to this General Assembly by several very respectable inhabitants of the counties of Camden and Pasquotank, as worthy of being manumitted and set free agreeable to the intention of their father John Oggs:
II. Be it therefore enacted, That the said negro woman Hester, and her children Charles, Alley and Prudence Oggs, are hereby manumitted and set free to all intents and purposes, and to possess all the rights and privileges as if they had been born free.
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Acts of the North Carolina General Assembly, 1789. Colonial and State Records of North Carolina.
Fourth Generation Inclusive 