Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Tag: Chatham County

May 29, 2014

Runaway bound boy, no. 14.

FIVE DOLLARS REWARD.

RANAWAY from the Subscriber on the 17th of October last, a colored Boy named THOMAS WALDEN, about eight years old. I understand said boy is about Donald Street’s, in Moore county. I will give the above reward for his delivery to me at Emerson’s Tan Yard, Chatham county. Said boy was bound to me by the County Court, I therefore forewarn all persons from harboring him, as I intend to enforce the law against the aggressor.  DANIEL CAMPBELL.  October 23rd, 1841.

Fayetteville Weekly Observer, 3 November 1841.

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May 2, 2014

In connexion with the falsehoods uttered by them all.

State v. Joab B. Cheek, 35 N.C. 114 (1851).

Case appealed from Chatham County Superior Court.

Joab Cheek, Aaron Malone, and free man of color Robert George were indicted for passing a counterfeit $20 notes, purporting to have been issued by the Bank of Georgetown in South Carolina.  All three were found guilty, and Cheek appealed.

At trial, one Seymore testified that he kept a shop on a high road in Chatham County, leading to Fayetteville. In March 1850, Berry Davidson and a man named Stout stopped their wagons for the night about 250 yards from his house. The same evening, Cheek, Malone and George showed up asking for liquor and a place to spend the night. They said they had been working for McCullock, a contractor working on a improvement project for the Navigation Company on the Deep River. When Seymore served them, they said they did not have change. After quiet discussion among themselves, George offered Seymore a $20 bill. Seymore refused it, saying that he was no judge of South Carolina banknotes, but did not think the bill was good. George then paid with a silver coin and for additional drinks with a knife. Cheek got drunk and fell asleep. Malone and George left, but returned for Cheek, who left as well.

Berry Davidson testified that Robert George came to his camp, identified himself as John George, a free man. George asked to buy Davidson’s watch, but Davidson “refused to trade … because he was a negro.” George said he would get his “young boss” to make the trade and returned with Malone, who called himself James Johnson. Malone and Davidson bargained a $13 price for the watch, and Malone offered the $20 note in payment. Davidson asked if it were good, and Malone told him that it was, that they had received it from McCulloch, for whom they had worked. Davidson took the bill and gave Malone the watch and one dollar in change. He did not have the other six, and they agreed that he would leave that amount with a man in Haywood the next day. Thirty minutes later, George returned with Cheek, who told Davidson that his name was Brooks, that he had lent Malone six dollars and would take five in repayment at that time. Davidson borrowed six dollars from Stout, paid Cheek, and Cheek and George left.

A man named Harris testified that an hour before daybreak the next morning, Cheek and George came to his house, claiming they had “lost their road.” Cheek was drunk and said his name was Brooks, and Thomas Brooks was his father.

McCulloch testified that he was a superintendent for contractors at Buckhorn Falls on the Deep River and paid out all the money spent there; that Cheek, Malone and George had worked for him in February or March; that he had paid the white men three dollars and “the negro $1”; and he had never given them a $20 note. McCulloch further testified that he had consulted his account books to refresh his memory, to which the defense objected.

The State introduced a copy of the South Carolina statute incorporating the Bank of Georgetown and called a Mr. Dewey, a clerk at the Bank of North Carolina, to offer expert testimony on the validity of the $20 note. The defense objected to both.

The issues before the North Carolina Supreme Court: (1) whether McCulloch should have been allowed to refresh his recollection without producing his account books at trial; (2) whether the copy of the South Caroline statute was properly received; (3) whether Dewey was qualified to assess the genuineness of the bank note; and (4) and whether Cheek, who was drunk and asleep when the note changed hands, was guilty as a principal in the crime.

The court made short work of the issues, responding yes to all four. As to the last, the justice noted: “The three persons formed one party, and appeared to be acting on secret consultations with each other, and all the little they had seemed to be in common.” The evidence raised a strong presumption against Cheek, and there was no error in judgment.

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June 1, 2013

He abused and abandoned her.

State of North Carolina, Guilford County    }   Superior Court of Law In Fall Term 1866

To the Honorable the Judge of said County

Zilpha Ann Goings of the county and state aforesaid by her petition respectfully showeth unto your Honor, that she was born free, that she intermarried in the county of Alamance on 7th of August 1858 with one Barrister Goings, a free man of color, that the said Barrister obtained a license from the clerk of the County Court for said County of Alamance, and the rites of matrimony were solemnized between them by a Justice of the Peace according to Law that the said Barrister lived [with] her about eighteen months, that for the first three months their life was peaceful and happy, that about that time, for some reason unknown to your Petitioner but wholly without Just cause, the said Barrister became Jealous of her, and began to curse, whip, illtreat, and threaten your Petitioner, that this course of conduct was kept up until some time in June 1860, when the said Barrister without cause and against the will of your Petitioner, left her and went to the county of Chatham, that in the autumn of that year, he returned to her, staid three weeks, quarreled with her, abused her threatened to take her life and again abandoned her, that she strove to make him happy and induce him to live with her, but it was all in vain, that he hath never returned to her house since that time, and has wholly and cruelly abandoned her, that he hath never since then helped her, in furnishing her in any thing to subsist, or paid any the least attention to her, whatever, that she is advised and believes that he has led a lewd life, since he quited her, that she is informed and believes, that he after leaving her, visited one Ruth Bass, a free woman of color, had illicit intercourse with her, and that afterwards the said Ruth was delivered [page missing] ly him, that she good reasons to believe and does believe that he has had illicit and adulterous intercourse with persons to her unknown, in the county of Chatham where he lived for some time after he left her, that she has not heard of him for about  two years, and does not know now where he lives, or in what manner he is conducting himself, that she has resided in Guilford county over seven years, that the course of action has existed for nearly eight years, that she hath born herself, as a wife should, hath observed her vows, of chasity and fidelity, and regretted no little that she could not induce her husband to continue with her, and observe his own vows of chastity and fidelity, help her to make a livelyhood, and lead with her a correct and upright life, that she hath never given him any cause for the course he has since stronly pursured, your Petitioner therefore prays your Honor that she may be dissolved from the bonds of matrimony with her said husband, the said Barrister Goings, and for further and such other relief, as the nature of her case may require and to your Honor may seem meet. May it please your Honor to grant unto her [illegible] writ of supoena directed to the said Barrister Goings, commanding him to appear at the next Term of the Superior Court of Law to be held for the county of Guilford at the Court in Greensboro on 4th Monday after 4th Monday in September 1866 then and there to plead, or answer the Libel of your Petitioner and stand to, abide by, and perform such orders and Judgments as shall lie made in this case, And as in duty bound will pray     Scott & Scott Atty

Divorce Records, Guilford County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

In the 1850 census of Southern Division: Barister Goans, 13, in the household of William Workman, 32. In the 1860 census of Eastern Division, Chatham County: Barrister Goings, 30, and Emeline Goings, 28.  In the 1870 census of Pittsboro Road North Side, Chatham County: Barrister Goens, 40, wife Nancy, 35, and children John, 11, George, 7, and Nathan, 5.

In the 1860 census of Alamance County: Stephen Bass, 60, with Ruth, 16, Sarah, 12, Jonathan, 10, and Eliza Bass, 6, and Maria, 23, M.J., 6, and John Dunnan, 2.

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May 3, 2013

The manumission of Dick and his wife Sally.

State of North Carolina, Chatham County   } I William Brantley of the State of North Carolina and County aforesaid, owner & possessor of a Negro man Dick and Saley his Wife for and consideration of his meritorious services and the further consideration of two hundred dollars to me in hand paid by the said Dick, the receipt whereof I hereby acknowledge, I do for myself my heirs Executors & administrators Manumit set free, and forever Quit claim to the said negro man Dick and Saley his Wife and I do hereby recommend them to the honorable General Assembly for their manumission legaly. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 13 day of October in the Year of our Lord 1800.  /s/ William Brantley

Signed Sealed & delivered in presence of William Guthrie, Thomas Harrington, Blake Brantley

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May 2, 2013

I gave him a copy of his indentures.

Haywood Chatham cty. N.C.

I do hereby certify that a coloured Boy, by the name of Banks Evans; that was bound to Col John Farrar of this county, has lived in my employ; for the last three years up to February last; about which time he became Twenty one years of age & in a short time afterward left my employ & hired himself; to a man in my neighborhood in Rutherford county NC. with whom at the time I left in June last he was living as a free man; & receiving pay for his services as a free man; after he became free I gave him a copy of his indentures with the certificate of the clerk of the county court  of Chatham Cty with the county seal thereto attached believing that was sufficient evidence of his freedom.  /s/ Jno. Smith

Sworn & subscribed to before me this 10th July 1837 J.H. Shull J.P.

[On reverse: John Smith affidavit in the case of Banks Evans a free boy of colour — 1837 — August Term]

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April 19, 2013

She hath been arrested.

State of North Carolina Chatham county

We Lucretia Evans & Philip Hartsoe, acknowledge ourselves indebted to the State of North Carolina in the sum of Fifty pounds each, to be levied on our goods & chattles, Land & tenaments, But to be void on condition that the said Lucretia Evans makes her personal appearance at the next county Court for Chatham to be held on 2nd Monday of August next, and not depart the said court without leave, and to answer the within charge – This 25th June, 1826.   Lucretia X Evans {Seal}

Teste. Jon: Haralson , Philip Hartso

———-

State of North Carolina, Chatham County

Thos. Lasater, one of the Justices of the peace for the said County To the keeper of the common Jail of the County af’d.

Whereas Lucretia Evans a free woman of the County af’d. hath been arrested by the lawful authority of the af’d County and brought before me charg’d with entering the house of Vicy Mason and feloneaus stealing and carrying away a web of cloth for which offence she has been duly examined before me and the presumption is she is guilty thereof.

These is therefore to command you the keeper to receive the said Lucretia Evans in your Jail there to remain until she shall be delivered by due course of law, given under my hand this 26th of June 1826   Thos. Lasater

Records of Slaves and Free Persons of Color, Chatham County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

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April 9, 2013

They are called Ephram Mitchell.

NOTICE.

Ranaway from the subscriber on Sunday night the 29th instant, two negro slaves, (mulattoes,) by the names  of DUNCAN and JIM the former about twenty four years of age, and the latter twenty one – the said negroes belong to the estate of John Whitted, dec’d, and are hired to the subscribers and probably at this time are lurking in the neighborhood of Haywood (Chatham county, in this State) for the purpose of taking off along with them their Brother, who is also a mullatto, (by the name of Stephen) these boys having calculated on their freedom from their late masters will, and feeling disappointed in their expectation, it is therefore believed that they will make for some part of the country, where freedom is tolerated, and in the mean time pass as free persons of colour, as they are determined to effect their freedom if possible. – Duncan is likely not very stout about five feet ten inches high and has a scar on his neck occasioned by rising, any person or persons who will apprehend the same negroes and deliver them to the subscribers in Hillsborough shall be reasonably rewarded – or if taken up out of the state and secured in any Jail thereof, so that the subscribers get them shall receive a reward of five dollars each.

N.B. It is said these negroes have procured some kind of instrument of writing from a free man of colour by the name of Ephram Mitchell which was given by the Clerk of county some time past, which they will probably make use of to answer their purpose, therefore they will try to pass in his name, Ephram Mitchell.  H. Thompson, John Young. August 29th 1819.

Star, Raleigh, 10 September 1819.

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March 8, 2013

Free-Issue Death Certificates: MISCELLANEOUS, no. 8.

Marsellas Evans. Died 21 September 1922, New Hope, Chatham County. Colored. Married to Emmer Evans. Farmer. Age 64. Born Hatham County to Granderson Evans of Chatham County and Arbella Smith of Raleigh. Buried Mount Zion Church. Informant, Weldon Evans.

In the 1860 census of Eastern Division, Chatham County: Granderson Evans, 36, farmer, wife Arobella, 20, and children Marcellas, 3, and Leweann, 2, plus William Stewart, 3, and Fab Lucus, 9.

Vancie Ann Glover. Died 29 April 1930, Hickory Mountain, Chatham County. Resided Siler City. Colored. Single. Age 75. Daughter of Kerney Glover and unknown mother. Buried Glovers cemetery. Informant, Berneice Alston.

In the 1860 census of the Western Division of Chatham County: Carney Glover, 38, Mahala, 35, Susan, 15, Sarah, 11, and Ann, 2.

Elda Cummings. Died 14 June 1923, Jones County. Negro. Single. Cook for Chas. Jones. Age about 65. Born Jones County to Jim Cummings of Lenoir County and Rebecca Bowen. Buried Gooding graveyard. Informant, Allen Gooding, Comfort NC.

In the 1860 census of Southern Division, Jones County: James Cummings, 56, cooper, born Onslow County; wife Rebecca, 52; and John J., 21, Farina, 10, and Elda Cummings, 6. 

Polly Edmundson. Died 20 May 1923, Nahunta, Wayne County. Colored. Widow of Lewis Edmundson. Born 1860 in Wayne County to Henry Hobbs of Johnston County and Elizabeth Hogans, Johnston County. Buried in Bert graveyard. Informant, Wesley Hobbs.

Lucinda Artis.  Died 23 June 1931, Wilson, Wilson County. Resided at 310 Reid Street. Colored. Widow of Jessie Artis. Age 84. Born Wayne County to Henry Hobbs of unknown and Elizabeth Hobbs of Wayne County. Buried in Wayne County. Informant, Cora Artis, Wilson NC.

In the 1860 census of Neuse River, Johnston County: Henry Hobbs, 37, distiller, wife Betsey, 36, and children Lucinda, 12, John, 11, Nicey, 9, Laurina, 7, Francis, 5, Polly, 4, and Green, 3.

George King.  Died 6 November 1923, Dudley, Wayne County. Colored. Single. Blacksmith. Age 76. Born Wayne County to Jim King of NC and Susie Booker of Duplin County. Informant, Jim King.

In the 1860 census of Buck Swamp, Wayne County:  James King, 43, carpenter, Susan, 27, and children George, 9, James H., 8, Jerome, 4, John, 4 months, and Polly A., 2.

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October 29, 2012

Surnames: Chatham County, 1850.

ADCOCK, ALLEN, ALSTON, ANDERSON, ARCHY, BAILY, BASS, BOLDING, BOWDEN, BOYD, BREWER, BROWN, BUCKNER, BURNETT, BYNUM, BYRD, CAMPBELL, CHANDLER, CHAVERS, CROAKER, CRUTCHFIELD, EVANS, EDWARDS, FANN, FARIN, FREEMAN, GEORGE, GLOVER, GOINS, GOODWIN, GRYMES, HARRIS, HATWOOD, HENLEY, HILL, JEFFERS/JEFFREYS, MAHO, MELTON, MICHEL, LINEBERRY, LINN, LUCAS, MIRICK, PARRISH, PEARSON, PHILLIPS, POWELL, PRICE, RAY, RIGEN, ROGERS, ROE, SMITH, STITH, STUART, SUITS, TINNEN, WARD, WHITE, WOODY and WRIGHT/WRITE.

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