Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color
December 20, 2012

Free-Issue Death Certificates: SIMMONS.

George Robert Simmons.  Died 24 June 1922, Dudley, Brogden, Wayne County.  Colored.  Married to Molly Simmons. Farmer.  Age about 75. Born Wayne County to George Simmons and Floxy Jane Simmons. Informant, Robert Simmons.

Bryant Simmons.  Died 14 Jan 1932, Brogden, Wayne County.  Colored. Married to Donnie Simmons. Farmer.  Born 2 Dec 1852, Mount Olive NC,  to George W. Simmons of Duplin County and Flozie Manuel  of Sampson County.  Buried in Dudley NC. Informant, Geneve Simmons, Dudley.

General Washington Simmons.  Died 27 Jan 1941, Dudley, Brogden, Wayne County.  Negro. Widower of Mary E. Simmons.  Age 84. Farmer.  Born Wayne County to George Washington [Simmons] of Wayne County and Flaxie Jane Simmons of Wayne County.  Buried, Simmons burying ground.  Informant, Orlander Simmons.

Hillery B. Simmons.  Died 25 Oct 1942, Brogden, Wayne County.  Colored.  Married to Celester Simmons.  Farmer.  Age 84. Born Wayne County to George Simmons of Wayne County and unknown mother.  Buried, Congregational cemetery. Informant, Moses Budd.

Riley Simmons.  Died 17 July 1924, Dudley, Brogden, Wayne County. Colored. Married. Born 1840, Dudley, to Geo. Simmons and Axy Simmons. Buried Wayne County. Informant, Sam Simmons.

Zachariah T. Simmons. Died 17 March 1938, High Point, Guilford County. Resided 604 Fairview. Colored. Minister. Married to Mrs. Eugenie W. Simmons. Born 12 December 1848, Mount Olive, to George W. Simmons of Dublin [Duplin] and Axie Manuel. Buried High Point. Informant, Mrs. Eugenie Simmons.

In the 1860 census of Indian Springs, Wayne County: George Simmons, 40, wife Axey J, 38, and children Riley B., 19, Simon, 15, Susan A., 17, George R., 13, Zack, 10, Silvania, 9, Bryant, 7, H.B., 5, and Gen., 2. 

William Frank Simmons. Died 4 Jan 1944, Dudley, Brogden, Wayne County.  Colored. Married to Sarah Simmons. Farmer.  82 years, 7 months, 4 days old.  Born Wayne County to Bryant Simmons and Betsy Winn, both of Wayne County.  Buried Dudley.  Informant, Sarah Simmons, Dudley.

William C. Simmons. Died 2 Aug 1920, Piney Grove, Sampson County.  Negro. Married. Farmer. Age 75. Born Dudley NC to Green Simmons and Betsy J. Thornton of Sampson County.  Buried private burial ground. Informant, Charlie Simmons.

Betsy Lee Drew.  Died 26 Aug 1927, Wilmington, New Hanover County.  Resided 7 King Street.  Colored. Widow. Age 63. Born Dudley NC to Green Simmons and Jene Thorington. Buried Dudley NC.  Informant, Arthur Drew.

In the 1860 census of Indian Springs, Wayne County: Green Simmons, 43, mechanic; wife, Betsey; and children Needham G., 15, Cisero W., 13, Mary, 12, Martha R., 9, Media, 7, Seamore D., 5, Crecy B., 2, and B.L., 2 months.

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December 19, 2012

Born in Guinea, carried to France, landed at Beaufort.

ADVERTISEMENT.

ON the 29th day of October last, came to the house of the subscriber, a negroman who says his name is BRANDY, and that he is a free-man that he was born in Guinea and carried to France, and afterwards to this country by Calu a Frenchman, about 12 or 18 months past, who landed at Beaufort.  He is about 30 years of age, of a black complexion, about 5 feet 8 or 10 inches high, has the marks in the face of a guinea negro, I believe he speaks French pretty well. If any person has any lawful claim to the above mentioned negro I earnestly request that they will give me private notice of it, and upon information of his being a slave I will do my earnest endeavours to confine the said negro, as I shall be by his owner directed, as he is at this time at my house and says that he will stay there.  NATHAN ARCHBELL.  Beaufort county, Nov. 1st, 1800.

Edenton Gazette, 19 Nov 1800.

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December 19, 2012

A bill to bind out the mulatto children of white women.

Mr. Baker moved for leave to bring in a bill to impower the Justices of the Inferior Courts to bind out Mulatto Children born of any white woman

Ordered that he have leave accordingly

Mr. Baker presented the aforementioned Bill which he read in his place and delivered in at the Table where the same was again read by the Clerk.  Then on Motion, Ordered that the said Bill lie on the Table for the perusal of the House.

From the Minutes of the Lower House of the North Carolina General Assembly, Tuesday, 25 Nov 1760, p. 495.  Colonial and State Records of North Carolina.

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December 18, 2012

He had no right to come back.

The Wadesboro’ Argus tells of a free negro who lived in Wadesboro’, and removed to Ohio; but soon found he could not live as well there as in North Carolina, and came back.

If this negro staid out of the State 90 days he had no right to come back, according to law.  We hope there has been no neglect of the law in this matter, on the part of the proper officers. No free negro is allowed by law to come into this State.  Any person who brings one in as an emigrant, either by land or water, is liable to a fine of $500.

We notice this case in order to arouse the attention of the officers of the law.  – North Carolinian.

Carolina Watchman, Salisbury, 10 Oct 1850.

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December 17, 2012

Reward for stolen free papers.

TEN DOLLARS REWARD.  The undersigned offers the above reward for his Free Papers, which were stolen from his house in Davidson county, on the 13th January, 1851.  They were signed by John Shuman, Jr., certifying that I am free, and by J.M. Brown, J.P., with a certificate attached from the Clerk of the County Court, John Giles, by John H. Hardie, Deputy Clerk, and dated October 1, 1844.   IRVIN FREEMAN.  Feb. 1, 1851.

Carolina Watchman, Salisbury, 6 Feb 1851.

In the 1850 census of Northern Division, Davidson County: Irvine Freeman, 35, and wife Biddy, 34.

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December 17, 2012

Surnames: Anson County, 1850.

BASS, BOGGAN, CONRAD, COX, DIGGS, FARMER, HALL, HINSON, JONES, LOCKLAYER, LOVE, MITCHEL, MUGEANG, MUMFORD, ROBINSON, SHAVER/SHAVERS, SKIPPER, SMITH, WALKER, WATTS, WILLIAMS, WRIGHT and YOUNG.

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December 17, 2012

Free man of color, Confederate deserter.

GASTON BURNS, a free man of color, ranaway from me on the 18th inst.  He has been living at Salisbury, N.C., for a number of years.  I will give the above reward for his apprehension and confinement in some jail, so that I can get him again.  A.W. HOWERTON.  1st Lieut. Co. I, 57th Reg. N.C.T. Richmond, Va., Sept. 18, 1862.

Carolina Watchman, Salisbury, 22 Sept 1862. NC Newspaper Digitization Project, North Carolina State Archives Historic Newspaper Archive.

In the 1860 census of Salisbury, Rowan County: G. Burns, 28, mulatto, listed in the household of Margaret Earnhart, 56, white.

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December 17, 2012

Craven County Apprentices, 1762-1783.

On 7 April 1762, Lydia, a free Negro girl aged 13 years; Acey, a free Negro boy aged 11 years; Aaron, a free Negro boy aged 9 years; and David, a free base born Negro aged 7 years were bound to Mrs. Anna Bryan until 18 to learn the house and plantation business.

On 5 July 1764, Ball, a baseborn Negro child 3 years and 10 months, and Hannah, a base born Negro child aged 1 year 4 months, were bound to Peter Rhem as servants until 21 years old.

On 19 June 1775, Thomas, a free Negro, was bound for 6 years to Edward Francks as a laborer.

On 15 March 1777, Abigail, a free Negro aged 11 years, was bound to Peter Rhem to learn to spin and do house work.

On 13 June 1778, Solomon Carter, a free Negro boy aged 5 years, was bound to Richard Neale as a cooper.

On 13 March 1783, George Carter, free Negro boy aged 6 years, was bound to Thomas McLin, Esq., as a cooper.

On 12 September 1783, Edward Black, freeborn Negro boy aged 6 years, was bound to Thomas Heath as a shoemaker.

On 13 December 1783, Betty Spellman, free Negro girl aged 4 years next January, was bound to John Tillman for spinning, weaving, and housework.

On 13 December 1783, Shadrach Lindsay, a free mulatto boy aged 10 years, bound to John Avery as a house carpenter.

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December 17, 2012

Carrying, conveying and concealing in order that he might escape.

State v. Alfred Woodly, 47 NC 276 (1855).

This was an indictment of Alfred Woodly and Richard Wynns, free persons of color, for carrying, conveying and concealing a slave in order that he might escape.  Woodly and Wynns were accused of carrying Anthony, a slave and the property of Tristram L. Skinner, executor of Joshua Skinner, deceased, out of the state on 13 January 1855.  The appeal in the case alleged a number of insufficiencies in the indictment, and the Supreme Court ordered a new trial in Bertie Superior Court.

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December 16, 2012

Properly instructed, he has become a constant communicant.

In that year [1760] besides the immediate duty of my own Parish I visited the Parishes of St Martins, Bladen & St John’s, Onslow; and in these 2 counties I baptized 55 Children whereof 9 were negroes & I baptized 2 adults, 1 white & 1 black by immersion.  In my own Parish, I baptized 9 white and 4 mulatto Children, 1 Adult Mulatto woman belonging to Coll’n Dry, & 4 Adult Negro women, belonging to the Hon’ble Mr. Hasell.  In the year 1761, I baptized in my own Parish in Bladen & in St James’ Wilmington 35 Children & 1 adult negro man.  In this Current year 1762 I have already baptized 33 children & 2 Adults; 1 a free negro man, who after proper instructions, is since become a constant communicant; the other a Captain of a vessel who died here, & on his death bed acquainted me, that he had never been baptized & prayed he might then receive that Sacrament.

Extract, letter from John McDowell to Daniel Burton, June 15, 1762, Brunswick NC.  Colonial and State Records of North Carolina.

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