Fourth Generation Inclusive

An Irishman, called himself McGraw, has, for several months past, been loitering about this neighborhood in company with a free mulatto woman, whom he calls his wife. No species of villainy is new to this abandoned wretch, who seems to have such a refined taste in the selection of his better half. He is believed to be the man who persuaded a free girl of color to leave her employer in Salisbury, as they were afterwards seen in company, wending their way towards Wadesboro, N.C. It would be well for the public to keep a good look out, and if he should make his appearance in a tangible form, to let the law, if not the gallows, have its just rights. JOSEPH HAINES. Fulton, Rowan Co., N.C., June 6 1832 [sic] 6 June 1835

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December 23, 2012

At work for the cause.

Duplin is right, as she always is; and so is Sampson. We cannot tell exactly the number of companies raised in either county, so far; but we know that the efforts of their patriotic citizens will only be limited by their ability. One Duplin company, under Captain Kenan, is already completed. The Sampson company, under Captain Faison, holds itself in readiness, and how many more will soon be ready, is difficult to say. A number of free negro laborers was brought down yesterday from Sampson under the charge of Thos. H. Holmes, Esq., and they are at work.

Sundry companies have been formed in the interior of New Hanover, and we hear of companies forming in Bladen, though none have yet tendered themselves for actual service. – Wil. Journal.

One Duplin company – a fine looking body of men – arrived here on Saturday and went into camp.

Weekly Standard, Raleigh, 1 May 1861.

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December 23, 2012

Horse-stealing, redux.

STOLEN from the subscriber at Wake Court House, on Wednesday evening last, a bright bay HORSE, 4 feet 11 inches high, with remarkable small feet, canters and trots well, and is very spirited, several saddle spots on his back. The above horse was stolen by a free mulatto man, of the name of THOMAS BOWSER, a blacksmith by trade, who formerly worked in Fayetteville, very ingenious at his business, a bushy head, and very dark complexion, can read and write well: It is suspected he is gone to Hillsborough.

Any person apprehending the thief, and recovering the horse, by leaving him with the subscriber, at Col. J. Lane’s at Wake Court-House, shall receive the above reward. PETER BIRD.

Fayetteville Gazette, 11 Dec 1792.

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December 23, 2012

They left their wives and took up horse-stealing.

Arrested on Suspicion. – On the 28^th ultimo, two persons of suspicious appearance, one a white man and the other a mulatto, were arrested in this place, and after a hearing before a Magistrate, committed to Jail. When first arrested, the white man gave his name as William Carter, and claimed the mulatto as his slave – said that they were both carpenters in search of work, and that they were from Rockingham county, N.C. After their commitment, Carter acknowledged that he had given a wrong name, that his true name is James Oliver, that the mulatto is a free man by the name of Alexander Carter. They both state that they have wives, whom they left at Bruce’s cross roads in Guilford county.

Oliver is about 5 feet 6 inches high, 26 or 27 years of age – Carter is about the same in height.

There is reason to believe they have been engaged in stealing horses, a gentleman having stated here that two horses had been stolen in Patrick county, Va., and traded off near Madison, N.C., and two others between Lexington and Salisbury, supposed to have done by two persons answering the description of the above. They were well armed, each having a Pistol and a Bowie-knife, with plenty of ammunition. The white man also carried a long Jack-knife, and the mulatto a steel walking stick with a buckhorn head. – Camden Journal.

Carolina Watchman, Salisbury, 7 Oct 1847.

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December 23, 2012

Donations to the cause.

DONATIONS

To Company K, 6^th Reg’t, N.C. State Troops, by Pleasant Grove District, Alamance, collected and carried to Virginia, by Lieutenant Levi Whitted.

… Egbert Corn, (free negro,) 1 quilt; Ned Corn, (free negro) 2 quilts; Dixon Corn, (free negro) 2 blankets: … Sam Martin (free negro) 1 pair shoes ….

Weekly Standard, Raleigh, 10 December 1862.

In the 1860 census, Alamance County: Egbert Corn, mulatto, no age given, farmer, shared a household with Lem Jeffries, mulatto. Also, in adjacent households: Ned Corn, 60, and children Martha, 28, Ebra, 27, Thos., 24, and L. Corn, 22, plus C. Anderson, 23; and Dixon Corn, 64, wife Tempy, 65, and A.J., 27, Giles, 24, Frank, 18, and J. Mc. Corn, 5, plus, Bill, 15, Haywood, 12, John, 18, and Jackson Heath, 26.

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December 23, 2012

The mulatto man who married my sister did it.

Horrid Murder. – The wife of Jonathan Dalton of Montfort’s Cove, in this County, was committed to jail, in this town, on Wednesday last, charged with shooting her husband, while asleep, on the morning of the previous day. The evidence against her, we are told, is entirely circumstantial, as no person is known to have been in the house when the deed was perpetrated except herself and husband. She, however, states that a mulatto man who had married her sister, came to the house during the night, and that he endeavoured to persuade her to leave her husband and go home with him; that she went out of the house early in the morning and left them both within, when she soon heard the discharge of a gun, and without entering the house fled to the neighbors for aid – saying that a mulatto man had killed her husband. Her tale is by no means consistent. She had been married to him but three or four months, and we are told, that they had not lived together for a considerable portion of the time, and that she had positively declared that she never would live with him. We must forbear to state the circumstance relative to this transaction which have come to us, as they might serve to prejudice her trial, which will probably take place in October next. Dalton, we are informed, was dead before any of his neighbors arrived. Suspicion falls on another person as having been an accessory.

Miners’ and Farmers’ Journal, Charlotte, 31 July 1832.

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December 23, 2012

A free mulatto man may have led her away.

Ranaway. A mulatto woman by the name of LUCY, about 23 years old, of medium size, but now quite corpulent.

Said woman is probably in or near Town, but may have been led off in the direction of Newbern by Bill Bruinton, a free mulatto man who has been to work as a Carpenter probably on the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad at a Depot North of Warsaw. I will pay $25 for the delivery of said girl to me or lodged in Jail in town. If found in this County, $50 is said girl is found in any other County and confined in the Jail of the same, the party arresting me early information of he same. JNO. D. WILLIAMS, Fayetteville, Aug. 25, 1840

Fayetteville Observer, 14 November 1862.

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December 23, 2012

Their first child was born the day ‘Wallis was made prisoner.

State of North Carolina, Sampson County} On this the 11^th day of November 1845, came before the undersigned one of the acting Justices of the pace and a member of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the said County of Sampson. Milly Manuel a resident of the aforesaid County & State 88 years Eighty eight years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed on the 4^th July 1836 for the benefit of certain Widows.

That she is the widow of Nicholas Manuel Dec’d of the said county who was a draughted soldier in the war of the Revolution as follows one (18) Eighteen months Tour one (9) nine months Tour and one Three months Tour, in all her husband the said Nicholas Manuel served two years and a half faithfully as she has heard him say.

That her husband the said Nicholas Manuel was under the command of Captain Kinion Hubbert and others and was in the battle of Briar Creek and was in the seage of Charleston as she has often heard him say.

That she has caused diligent search to be made for her husbands discharge which she has a very perfect recollection of having seen, particularly a printed one.

That her husband the said Nicholas Manuel lived in N.C. when he was called into the service.

That she cannot now tell the date of her marriage to the said Nicholas Manuel but that he the said Nicholas Manuel served both before and after the marriage.

That she was married to the said Nicholas Manuel before Gen Wallis was taken, that her first child to wit Sheadrack was born on the day that Wallis was made prisoner.

That she was married in Duplin Co N.C. by Fleet Cooper Esqr.

That her husband the said Nicholas Manuel died the 27^th day of March 1835 Eighteen hundred & thirty five

Sworn to and subscribed on this the 11^th day of November 1845 before me. /s/ Neill Campbell J.P. Milly X Manuel

From the file of Nicholas Manuel, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, National Archives and Records Administration.

Nicholas Manuel is head of a household of free people of color in the 1830 census of Sampson County.

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December 22, 2012

We think they are very good.

GOOD TOWN ORDINANCES.

The Charlotte Whig publishes several new town ordinances for the town of Charlotte, which we think are very good. 1^st. Every free negro of twelve years and upwards, is required to present him or herself for registration, stating age, occupation, &c., &c., upon heavy penalty for failing to do so. Those who comply, will obtain a certificate, under the protection of which they will be allowed to dwell in safety, upon their good behavior. They are to pay one dollar for the certificate. 2d. No slave, under any pretence whatever, allowed to hire his or her own time; nor shall any slave go at large at his or her own discretion, by permission of the owner, working for his or herself where and when they please.

Carolina Watchman, Salisbury, 24 June 1861.

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December 22, 2012

Runaway bound boys.

FIVE CENTS REWARD – Ranaway from the subscriber, living in the county of Wilkes, a bright mulatto boy, named James Carter. Said boy was bound to the subscriber by the county court of Wilkes. I will give the above reward for the delivery of said boy to me, but no other charges paid. J.E. SAINTCLAIR. Wilkes county, May 2d, 1844

Carolina Watchman, Salisbury, 11 May 1844.

$5 REWARD. Ranaway from the subscriber in the 12^th ultimo, James C. Russel, a bound mulatto Boy, about 17 years old. Said boy is spare built and about 5 feet 6 or 8 inches high. The above reward will be given to any person that will bring him to me, or confine him in some jail so that I get him again. ISAAC N. RICH. Davie County, Feb. 20, 1850

Carolina Watchman, Salisbury, 6 Mar 1851.

In the 1850 census of Davie County: James C. Russel, 17, laborer, mulatto, in the household of white farmer Isaac N. Rich. In 1860 Mocksville, Davie County: Jas. Russel, 26, wagoner, wife Caroline, 20, and son John C., 7, plus Sam Kent, 14.

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