Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Tag: free status

April 26, 2013

Never guilty of any action to forfeit his freedom.

State of North Carolina, Craven County } To the Worshipfull, the Justices of Craven County

The Petition of James Manly an Indian humbly represents to your Honor that he was free born at Edenton and that he never has been Guilty of any Action by which his Freedom can be forfeited by any of the Laws of this or any other of the United States.

Your Petitioner further begs leave to inform your Worships that he has lived some Time past at Broad Creek and that on or about the [blank] Day of [blank] a Certain John Garland came to the dwelling House of the said James Manly and forcibly drove him away and sold him as a Slave to Colonel Levi Dawson for the Consideration of one hundred pounds Specie. Wherefore as your Petitioner is a Subject of this States; and under the present happy Constitution humbly moves that this worshipfull Court will pass an Order for liberating or Setting him free from the service of Colonel Levi Dawson aforesaid and restore him to his Freedom And as in Duty bound your Petitioner will ever pray.    Jas. Cooke Atty. For the Petitioner.

[On back.] James Manlys Petition  December Term 1782. James Gatlin & Levi Dawson  Read and Granted The Petitioner set Free   Chrisr. Neales C.C.

Miscellaneous Records 1757-1929, Craven County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

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April 26, 2013

Between an African and a mulatto.

Alfred Nichols v. William F. Bell, 46 NC 32 (1853).

The first issue in the case involved a question of parol evidence.  The second involved Alfred Nichols himself.  Nichols was “neither black nor white, but … he was of a brown color, between that of an African and a mulatto, and … neither of his parents could have been a white person.” Further, “in Onslow, where the contract he was made, he was reputed to be a free person, was called and known as free Alfred Nichols.”  Defendant Bell requested that the court instruct the jury that any person darker than a mulatto was presumptively a slave. The court declined.  Affirmed, as the principle is incontroverted that only “black” skin carries the presumption. “Let the presumption rest upon the African color; that is a decided mark: but to carry it into shades, would lead us into darkness, doubt and uncertainty, for they are as various as the admixture of blood between the races, and against the rule that presumptions are always in favor of liberty.”

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April 25, 2013

He seems to know these places, but …

Notice. Was committed to jail of this county, on Thursday the 14th inst. a negro man who says his name is John Wilson, and that he is free man; that he has a wife and family in Baltimore, Md.; that he has lived in Baltimore and Philadelphia; that a man by the name of John Wilson carried him to the state of Tennessee as a waiting-man, and there sold him to a man by the name Wilson, from whom he shortly afterwards ran-away. On being examined the fellow seems to have knowledge of those places but is thought to be a slave.  He appears to be about 30 years of age, 5 feet 7 or 8 inches high, light complexion. The owner, if any may, or any other person, if he is free a requested to come forward and release him from confinement according to law.  GEO SWEARENGEN, Jailor. Randolph County, Oct 31 1816.

Star, Raleigh, 15 November 1816.

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April 24, 2013

He has a pass, but …

COMMITTED To the Jail of Rockingham County, North-Carolina, on the 5th inst. a mulatto fellow, who calls his name George Petteford, jr. about 24 years old, five feet high; and has in his possession a pass signed by William M. Sneed, Esq. from Granville county, dated 11th November, 1817. If the said George belongs to any person, the owner is requested to come forward, prove his property, pay charges and take him away.    SAM’L MOXLY Jailor.  Sept. 15, 1820.

Star, Raleigh, 6 October 1820.

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April 23, 2013

James has his papers.

NOTICE. Taken up and committed to the Jail of Moore county, on the 14th day of July, 1860, as a Runaway, a NEGRO MAN who says that he is free, that his name is JOHN LUCAS, and that he is from Nash County, N.C., and was bound to Marcom Hinesdeen of Nash County, and says that James Night has his papers. He is about 29 years old, dark complected, 5 feet 10 or 11 inches high, weighs about 165 or 170 lbs. The owner is requested to come forward , prove property, pay charges, and take him away, or he will be dealt with as the law directs.   L.F. CADDELL, Jailor. Aug. 13.

Carolina Observer, 13 August 1860.

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April 22, 2013

He is making for the Western Country.

One Hundred Dollars Reward.

RANAWAY from the subscriber on the 6th day of March last, a mulatto man by the name of JACK, well built, about five feet five or six inches high, 28 years of age, a tolerable shoe maker, and has been much in the habit of driving a wagon – He has a scar on his forehead, and a part of one of his upper foreteeth is broken off, one of his wrists broke and crooked, and his right leg pretty much shot with small shot which will shew very plainly. He has been seen on his way making for the Western Country, and passes as a free man but the name of John Revill, having obtained a pass from a black free man of that name which was written and signed by John Taylor Clerk of the County Court of Orange, (State of North-Carolina) – Any person who will deliver the aforesaid mulatto man to the Subscriber at Hillsborough in the state aforesaid, shall receive the above reward, and all reasonable charges paid from time of his being taken until delivered.  LEVI WHITTED.

Hillsborough Record, April 8, 1812.

P.S. The Subscriber was somewhat mistaken before in a part of the description given of this fellow, that is with respect to his height.

The Editor of the paper at Knoxville, is hereby requested to give this advertisement an insertion in his paper and continue the same about 6 weeks, for which he will be good enough to forward his account to the subscriber living at Hillsborough, and the money shall be duly forwarded.   L. WHITTED.

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April 22, 2013

Sprightly and writes well.

Was committed to Jail of Robeson county, N.C. on the 20th ult. a Negro man who calls himself Joseph Leggan, and says he is free, about five feet seven inches high, dark complexion and bow legged, has a very sprightly look and writes well – He says he was born in Powhatan county, Virginia, and that John Panly, of Buckingham county, raised him, and that his father was a servant of the said Panky, named Ben; that he followed boating in James river for many years, and for eight or ten years he has followed ditching, which has been his occupation since in this county. He is from thirty-four to thirty-five years of age, and is ruptured; he is well-cloathed amd appears to have a variety, a description of which is unnecessary.    ALEX ROWLAND, Sh’ff.  Lumberton, May 4th, 1814.

Star, Raleigh, 13 May 1814.

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April 21, 2013

She seems not to have a sound mind.

Was committed to the Jail of Greenville county, on the 15th inst. a yellow woman, who says her name is Rachel Patterson, that she was raised by Churchwell Anderson, and that she is a free woman. She appears to be about twenty three or four years of age, gives very various and contradictory accounts of herself, and seems not to have a sound mind. The owner will come forward, prove his property, pay charges and take her away.  DAVID MITCHELL, Jailor.  July 27, 1816.

Raleigh Minerva, 26 July 1816.

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April 20, 2013

African Negro says he is free.

CAME to my house, on the 15th inst. An African Negro Man, who calls himself GEORGE BROWN. He says he is free, but is in possession of no document to substantiate the fact. It is supposed, that he is a Slave – a runaway from on board some vessel. He is about 6 feet high, black complexion, and spare made.

The owner (if any) if hereby requested to come forward, prove property, pay charges, and take said fellow away.   JOHN LATHAM   Sept 26th, 1810.

True Republican, New Bern, 7 November 1810.

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April 18, 2013

Should he be a slave ….

TAKEN UP, AND committed to the Jail of this county on the 3d of August last, a Negro man who calls himself PETER GREEN, says he is free, and that he belongs to Providence, Rhode Island. He professes to have followed the sea, and exhibits an American Protection, which, however, does not correspond with his height. He appears to be about 33 or 35 years of age, very black, well made, about 5 feet high, very artful, and had on when taken, the clothing of a seaman.

Should he be a slave, the owner is notified to come forward, comply with the requisitions of the law and take him away; otherwise he will, after a reasonable time, be sold for his jail fees, and discharged form custody.   W.C. TAYLOR, Jailor.   October 11th, 1823.

New Bern Sentinel, 24 October 1823.

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