Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Tag: Elizabeth City

April 1, 2013

They had to leave home more than 100 times.

THE EFFECTS OF SLAVERY ON THE FREE COLORED PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH. – Mary Morgan, of No. 59 King-Street, New-York, widow of James Morgan, who died in the spring of 1834, with the small pox, says that she and her husband owned a farm of 250 acres of land in Pasquotank County, about five or six miles from Elizabeth City, North Carolina; that they had hogs, cattle, and horses, and were well to live; that they were both born free, as were both their parents; that as many as six or seven years ago [before they had been provoked to it by northern abolition] a number of the lower class of the whites went about the country to disturb the free colored people; that they frequently came to their dwelling, broke their table, and cups, and saucers, and beat James Morgan a number of times, sometimes with a club, at other times with a cowhide, and at one time so severely that his life was despaired of.

Some of the better class of whites called at the house, and said they thought he was so badly hurt he could not live. For a fortnight after, he was not able to cut a stick of wood. Seven places on his head were shaved to put on plasters, and his back and legs were also much bruised. So frequently were they attacked, that they had to leave their dwelling more than one hundred times, often in showers of rain. At one time, Mary was put on horseback, behind one of the ruffians, who rode off violently for about a mile, took her off, and placed her in a mud puddle up to her waist, in a dark night, and there left her to get as she could. These things happened so frequently that the Friends, commonly called Quakers, (who were really friends to them,) advised them to sell their property and come to the North. Those who caused them to suffer, gave no other reason for their conduct than that they were free negroes, and ought to go to the North, and that there was no law for free negroes in Carolina. Joseph Elliott, Thomas Elliott, and Aaron Elliott, of the society of Friends, were their near neighbors, and were often very kind to them, and did their best to prevent the abuse. Miles White, a merchant of Elizabeth city, knows this statement to be true; other free colored people of that neighborhood suffered pretty much in the same way. They came to New-York, where her husband was taken sick and died; Mary and the children were taken to the Almshouse, where they staid about seven weeks, and were then turned out, penniless, and had it not been for the charity of some humane persons, they might have perished from want.

The farm in Carolina was sold for the small sum of $350, which was soon eaten up by the expense of coming to New-York, and the maintenance of the family while here.

Mary Morgan has to support, by day’s work, five small children. The friends of the oppressed, who have any sympathy to spare, will do well to render her some assistance – at least, by furnishing her with work.  No. 59 King street is her residence.

The First Annual Report of the New York Committee of Vigilance (1837).

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February 13, 2013

Free Colored Inhabitants of the Town of Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County, 1860.

#2. M. Hester, 30, domestic, in the household of Albert White, miller.

#4. David Sample, 40, mariner; wife Lucretia, 26; and children Fanney, 12, Samuel, 7, Margaret, 3, and Patsey, 1.

#5. George Blunt, 65, farmer.

#9. Rachel Smith, 38, in the household of Mary Scarboro.

#11. Fanney Sawyer, 45, domestic, in the household of Samuel M. Rodes, mariner.

#23. Lucy Ehringhaus, 17, domestic, in the household of Ella E. Green.

#24. Albert Sawyer, 28, blacksmith, in the household of Samuel Williams, merchant.

#29. Emily Paling, 24, washerwoman.

#30. Thomas Roberts, 27, blacksmith; wife Easter, 22; and children Rebeca, 3, and John, 1.

#31. Eliza Harvey, 25, washerwoman, with Henretta, 6, and Margaret Harvey, 4.

#32. Amanda Sawyer, 40, washerwoman; John James, 19, house carpenter; Sarah James, 16; Charles Sawyer, 18, mariner; and Margaret Sawyer, 10.

#35. Merfey Mickens, 33, farm hand; wife Ellen, 28; and Sarah, 11, Ann, 5, and Allice Spelman, 2.

#43. George Overton, 12, in the household of Sarah A. Tubbs, grocerist.

#46. Alfred Bow, 30, farmer; wife Rachel, 24; and children Sarah, 4, and Nathan, 1.

#49. Martha Bow, 35, and Elizabeth Bow, 8, in the household of T.R.G. Pool, grocerist.

#52. Mary Jane Dozier, 16, in the household of Samuel Weisel, merchant.

#53. Jane Roberts, 13, in the household of William Stager, baker.

#59. Mary Small, 23, house servant, in the household of T.J. Miskell, tinner.

#61. Martha Harvey, 33, washerwoman, and Robert Harvey, 19, farm laborer.

#63. Milley, 25, servant, with children, Indianona, 2, and Manuel, 1, no surnames, in the household of B.B. Ballance, merchant.

#65. Patsey Bow, 35, washerwoman, and Peneloppy Bow, seamstress.

#66. Sarah Thompson, 17, servant, in the household of Wm. Rutter.

#68. Martha Mitchel, 50, servant, in the household of Thomas A. Commander.

#70. Nancy Guirkin, 17, servant, in the household of Elizabeth Guirkin, mantua maker.

#71. Priscilla Lane, 16, servant, in the household of Isaih Fearing, merchant.

#74. Mariah Jackson, 60, in the household of Sarah Flanagin, seamstress.

#82. Georgeanna Morris, 13, and William Reid, 25, cook, in the household of T.W. Butt, bar keeper.

#87. Charles Spelman, 10, servant, in the household of John M. Woodard, com. school teacher.

#91. Mary Spelman, 30, servant, in the household of Joseph R. McCabe, printer.

#93. John Brown, 12, and Henry Brown, 10, in the household of Wm. Shannon, merchant.

#95. Jordon Thomas, 43, carpenter, and Alfred Thomas, 32, carpenter, in the household of W.H. Clark, machinist.

#100. George, 9, James, 10, and Jacob Smith, 12, in the household of Henry Culpepper, grocer.

#104. Sarah Griffin, 40, washerwoman, and children Tamer, 15, and William Griffin, 8.

#106. Mary A. Turner, 35, in the household of Louisa Ashcraft, grocerist.

#108. Louvina Spiars, 45, washerwoman, Frank Roberts, 28, house carpenter, Ann R. Spiars, 13, and Isaac Briant, 35, mariner.

#111. Depsy Eley, 35; William Morris, 22; Watson Jones, 23; and Mary Spelman, 11; all mariners. (Mary’s designation is probably in error.) Eley was born in Virginia and Jones in Delaware.

#112. Edward Smith, 26, house servant, in the household of Wm. A. Harney, hotel keeper.

#113. Ezekiel, 12, and Lamb White, 11, plus Henry Ash, 45, painter, born Virginia, in the household of the sheriff, William E. Mann.  These notes appear beside Ash’s name: “1860,” “carrying fire arms;” presumably, he was in jail.

#116. Axem Tann, 50, farmhand; Ann Tann, 27, washerwoman; Willis Spelman, 6, Wilson Spelman, 5, and Rebecca Griffin, 24, washerwoman.

#118. Thamer Bowser, 31, washerwoman; William Bow, 12, and Nancy Bowser, 7.

#123. Benj. Small, 27, house carpenter; wife Jane, 21; and children Lila, 3, and Sarah, 8 months.

#133. Roan White, 35, farmhand, wife Sarah, 25, washerwoman, and Mary White, 1.

#136. Isaac Cidney, 12, in the household of David J. Beach, teamster.

#139. Jesse Bryant, 28, seaman, listed in the marine hospital.

#140. Elizabeth Highter, 40, cook, and Tresls Rane, 30, house servant.

#143. Henry Wheaton, 34, bar keeper, Ann Wheaton, 38, seamstress, and Fanny Allen, 59.

#144. Jane Highter, 32, washerwoman.

#145. Elizabeth Hall, 30, and Sarah Hall, 6.

#147. Clanda Sampson, 23, house servant.

#148. Miley Spelman, 35, cook, in the household of Wm. C. Pool, Meth P. Clergyman.

#151. John Sandlin, 16, house servant; Henry Overton, 21, farm hand; and Lydia Barrington, 17, servant, in the household of James Nichols, hotel keeper.

#152. Henry Sampson, 18, servant, and Francis James, 14, in the household of Arther L. Jones, livery.

#153. Charley Gordon, 16, house servant, in the household of John B. Lyon, “teacher of clasi school.”

#156. Eliza Berk, 38, seamstress.

#159. Melind Cobb, 35, servant, and Amelia Cobb, 18, servant, in the household of P.H. Dozier.

#164. Abner Harvey, 55, waiter in store; Catharine Harvey, 55, washerwoman, and Jane Harvey, 7; and Victoria Harvey, 6.

#165. Rachel Blanchet, 50, washerwoman; Stephen Blanchett, 20, ostler; and Margaret Bedgood, 8.

#166. Robert Hall, 28; Elizabeth Hall, 30; and Bettie Hall, 60.

#171. Joseph Paling, 32, mechanic; Hester Paling, 28, washerwoman; Rebecca Griffin, 25.

#174. Bashabe Baily, 74.

#175. Jane Wilroy, 53, washerwoman, and Martha Knox, 11.

#176. Jacob Spelman, 49, sexton, and Mariah Spelman, 43, washerwoman.

#178. Martha Gordon, 32, washerwoman; Benonly James, 40, house carpenter; and Ann James, 16.

#179. Timothy Perry, 35, house carpenter, and Mary Perry, 30, washerwoman.

#180. David Morris, 35, drayman; Louvina Morris, 24, washerwoman; Elizabeth Thompson, 7.

#181. Rebecca Whitehurst, 27, washerwoman; and children John, 8, Stephen, 5, Mary, 2, and Fanny Whitehurst, 12, plus Isaac Turner, 24, house carpenter.

#187. Lucy Harvey, 16, in the household of Blucher Ehringhaus.

#192. Mary Sawyer, 13, servant, in the household of George Popindick, butcher.

#195. John Mitchel, 27, mariner; wife Louisa, 24; and James, 3, and John, 1.

#196. William Pailin, 38, ship carpenter, and Harriet Morris, 35.

#197. Milley Spelman, 35, cook, and children George, 8, and Stephen, 3, in the household of John O’Kelly, grocer.

#200. Isaha Spelman, 17, servant, in the household of W.W. Burgess, 43, merchant.

#207. Nancy Mitchel, 27, washerwoman, and Emiline White, 24.

#212. William Highter, 50, laborer, and wife Nancy Highter, 59; Levi Price, 28, farm hand; Dempsy Highter, 18, laborer, William Highter, 15, and Martha Highter, 13.

#213. Wilson Bow, 30, house carpenter; wife Louisa, 29, washerwoman; and children William, 14, Lovey, 11, George, 10, Martha, 6, Nancy, 4, and Benjamin, 1.

#214. Jane White, 25, washerwoman, and children Elizabeth, 3, George, 2, and Fanny, 3 months.

#216. Allen Dozier, 59, blacksmith; wife Milley, 55, washerwoman; and children Allen, 21, blacksmith, Milley, 11, and Sarah, 10; plus Elisha Turner, 24, house carpenter, and William Weaver, 29, mason.

#217. Fanny Robins, 39, washerwoman; children Ashbery, 16, farmhand, and John, 15, farmhand, Jane, 12, Jacob, 10, and Plater Robins, 6, plus Nelson Bass, 27, mason.

#218. Tamer Jordon, 38, washerwoman; and Nelson Turner, 8, and Mary Turner, 2, in the household of Matilda Tatum.

#220. William Thomas, 30, house carpenter; and Elizabeth, 34, Mary, 33, Penina, 32, and Eliza Thomas, 27, all washerwomen; and children Ann, 12, Francis, 10, Charles, 6, Plesant, 5, Sarah, 4, Lucinda, 3, Permeade, 5, Charles, 4, and Mary Thomas, 2.

#221. Eliza Cerfon, 44, washerwoman.

#224. Walter Eldridge, 13, in the household of Thomas Allen, merchant.

#226. Margaret Boon, 30, servant, in the household of William Laboyteaux.

#239. William Michel, 28, servant, in the household of R.K. Speed, “M.D.”

#299. John Harvey, 59, farmer, with James, 19, and Charles Harvey, 16, farmhands, plus Betsy Spelman, 60.

#304. Samuel Sandlin, 44, blacksmith, wife Elizabeth, 37, washerwoman, and children Mary, 22, Leacy, 20, John, 18, Kingleton, 2, and Susan Sandlin, 2.

#305. Whit Lane, 37, house carpenter, wife Mary, 28, washerwoman, and children John, 8, Wiley, 8, Munroe, 4, Calvin, 2, Emma, 12, George, 9, and William Lane, 6.

#306. Dorcus James, 30, seamstress, and George, 9.

#307. Isaac Briant, 40, mariner,  and Caroline, 39, and children John, 12, Adline, 10, Louisa, 7, and Isaac, 5.

US Federal Population Schedule.

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