Onslow County | Fourth Generation Inclusive

September 14, 2014

She might have gone off with him.

$10 Reward.

RANAWAY from the Subscriber, about the 15^th ult. a negro woman named HANNAH; formerly the property of Col. Edward Williams, of Onslow County, but more recently owned by Richard Saunders, Esq. Hannah is above the ordinary size, black complexion – about Forty years of age. – She has relations in Onslow county and at Rocky Point.

She has, for some years past, been living with a free colored man named Isaac Scott, who has left this place, and she might have gone off with him.

I will give the above reward for her apprehension, upon delivery to me at Wilmington, or confinement in any jail, so that I may recover her. ANN GUTHRIE. Wilmington, Sept. 11^th, 1835.

Wilmington People’s Press and Advertiser, 25 September 1835.

Leave a comment

June 6, 2014

In payment of Confederate taxes, no. 4.

Form of the estimate and assessment of agricultural products agreed upon by the assessor and tax-payer, and the value of the portion thereof to which the government is entitled, which is taxed in kind, in accordance with the provisions of Section 11 of “an Act to lay taxes for the common defence and carry on the government of the Confederate States,” said estimate and assessment to be made as soon as the crops are ready for market.

Rice — Quantity of gross crop. — 5 bush. Quality — #2. Tithe or one-tenth. — 1/2 bush. Value of one-tenth. — $2.00

Cured Fodder — Quantity of gross crop. — 700 lbs. Quality — #2. Tithe or one-tenth. — 70 lbs. Value of one-tenth. — $280

Ground peas — Quantity of gross crop. — 7 1/2 bush. Quality — #2. Tithe or one-tenth. — 3/4 bush. Value of one-tenth. — $4.50

I, Durant Dove of the County of Onslow and State of N.C. do swear that the above is a true statement and estimate of all the agricultural products produced by me during the year 1863, which are taxable by the provisions of the 11^th section of the above stated act, including what may have been sold of consumed by me, and of the value of that portion of said crops to which the government is entitled. /s/ Durant X Dove

Sworn to and subscribed to before me the 28th day of November 1863, and I further certify that the above estimate and assessment has been agreed upon by said Dove and myself as a correct and true statement of the amount of his crops and the value of the portion to which the government is entitled. /s/ F. Thompson, Assessor.

The Confederate Papers Relating to Citizens or Business Firms, 1861-1865 (NARA M346), often called the “Confederate Citizens File,” is a collection of 650,000 vouchers and other documents relating to goods furnished or services rendered to the Confederate government by private individuals and businesses.

The “Citizens File” was created by the Confederate Archives Division of the Adjutant General’s Office from records created or received by the Confederate War and Treasury Departments that were in the custody of the U.S. War Department. The Citizens File was created to aid in determining the legitimacy of compensation claims submitted for property losses allegedly inflicted by Union forces. The records were used by the Treasury and Justice Departments, Southern Claims Commission, Court of Claims, and congressional claims committees to determine whether the claimant had been loyal to the Union or had aided the Confederate government and thus not eligible for compensation.

Leave a comment

May 23, 2014

Willis Dove, Confederate cook.

Comments on additional muster rolls indicate that Dove, a corporal, “has no horse” in January-February 1864 and deserted the Confederate Army on 5 April 1864.

In the 1850 census of Lower Richlands, Onslow County: Hosea Baisden, 50, wife Nancy, 60, and Willis, 13, Hull, 12, and Rilly Dove, 5.

In the 1860 census of Southern Division, Duplin County, Willis Dove, 23, wife Mary Dove, 20, and daughter Mary Jones Dove, 4, plus B.J. Hall, a white schoolteacher, 18.

Leave a comment

May 18, 2014

He supposed she had gone to New Bern.

HORRIBLE MURDER.

We learn from Mr. O.F. Alexander, that on the 24^th of February last, his negro girl Sarah Jane, left his premises without any cause, and he supposed she had gone to Newbern. On Friday last, the 18^th of March, he was informed that a free negro, called John Shavers, had carried her off. That night two of his neighbors and himself went to look Shavers up, and luckily succeeded in taking him. On examining him he said he had carried the girl off to the edge of Onslow county and left her in a piece of woods, in Mr. Seth King’s field, he being at the time hired at some Salt Works near by. Mr. Alexander kept Shavers secure until Saturday morning, when he made his escape, carrying off a trace chain locked around his ankles. Mr. Alexander repaired to the place Shavers had described to him where he left the girl, and about 150 yards from the road, with some friends, found the dead body of the girl covered over with limbs, straw, etc. Her head was separated from the body – by her side lay a lightwood limb, from which most probably the unfortunate girl received the fatal blow.

A jury of inquest was called, and their verdict was, “that Sarah Jane came to her death by a blow or blows inflicted on the back of her head by the hands of John Shavers.”

A reward of $100 is offered for his arrest. Wil. Journal, 26^th.

North Carolina Argus (Wadesboro), 7 April 1864.

Leave a comment

August 6, 2013

His wife left with him.

See Gatsey Pittman here.

Wilmington Advertiser, 22 December 1837.

Leave a comment

May 10, 2013

Father a slave.

At page 14 of Chi Chi Mills, “Descendants of William Mills Sr. of Onslow County,” www.ncgenweb-data.com/onslow/family, Eliza Ann Mills is listed as the daughter of William Mills and Nancy Whaley. Eliza Ann Mills’ son was William Kelly Mills, born 1836, who married first Anna Maria Simms, then Alvina Reeves. Eliza married Lewis Turner, but William Kelly Mills’ name carries the notation “father a slave.”

In the 1850 census of Lawrence County, Illinois: Eliza Turner, 30, born North Carolina; Kelly Turner, 13, born North Carolina; Nancy Turner, 11, born Illinois; and Mary Turner, 8, born Illinois; all were described as white.

In the 1860 census of Christy, Lawrence County, Illinois: Eliza Turner, 40, born NC; Alex, 25, NC; Kelley, 20, born NC; Nancy, 20, born Illinois; and Mary Turner, 4, born Illinois; all white.

In the 1870 census of Christy, Lawrence County, Illinois: Eliza Turner, 51, born NC; Charlotte Turner, 14, born Illinois; and William Mills, 33, born NC; all white.

In the 1880 census of Sumner, Lawrence County, Illinois: Kelley T. Mills, 43, plasterer, born NC; wife Alvina E., 30, born Illinois; and children Eliza A., 7, Laura M., 6, and Elura B., 2. Alvina was described as white; Kelley and the children as mulatto.

In the 1900, 1910 and 1920 censuses of Christy, Lawrence County, William “W.K.” Mills, NC-born plasterer, is described as mulatto. He died in Lawrenceville, Illinois, on 1 April 1927. Wm. Kelley Mills’ death certificate noted that he was born 25 August 1836 in New Bern NC to Eliza Mills.

[Sidenote: Eliza Mills Turner’s cousin, Nancy Mills Parker, and brother John Mills testified in 1860 to the free status of Nancy Henderson Dove, my great-great-great-great-great-grandmother Patsey Henderson‘s sister. Their mother was a white woman. – LYH]

2 Comments

May 3, 2013

Her freedom has never been disputed.

State of North Carolina Onslow County

To all persons whom it may concern we the under Signed being called on to State what we Know concernning the Freedom of Nancy dove formerly Nancy Henderson do certify that Nancy Ann Henderson the Mother of the said Nancy Dove was a Free born white Woman and that the Freedom of the said Nancy Dove never has been disputed given under our hands this 3^rd March 1860 /s/ John Mills {seal} Nancy Parker {seal}

Test J.W. Thompson X

—–

March Term 1860

Then was the above certificate proven in open Court by J.W. Thompson /s/ Harvey(?) Cox

—–

State of North Carolina Onslow County } Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions March Term 1860

Then was the foregoing Certificate of John Mills and Nancy Parker duly proved in open Court by the Oath of Jonathan W. Thompson and Ordered to be registered /s/ Jasper Etheridge

—–

State of North Carolina, Onslow County } Registered in due form of law, April 14^th 1860 – Book No 29, Folio 48. /s/ Z.M. Coston Regr

Slave Records, Onslow County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

[Sidenote: Nancy Henderson, also known as Nancy Dove, was the sister of my great-great-great-great-grandmother, Patsey Henderson. –LYH]

7 Comments

April 29, 2013

Onslow County Bastardy Bonds

Sib Craft named Asa Hammons, 11 October 1815.

Gatsy Dove named Virgil Crawford, 20 July 1846.

Patsy Dove named Hezekiah White, 17 July 1846.

In the 1850 census of Lower Richlands, Onslow County: Patsey, 30, and Esther Dove, 1, in the household of Elijah Murrill.

Elizabeth Griffin named Asa Hammons, 6 February 1826, 5 August 1826 and 2 November 1829.

Mary Whitehurst named [blank], 29 January 1850. James Henderson posted bond.

In the 1850 census of Lower Southwest: James White, 44, “Turp’t B[illegible],” wife Eliza, 32, and children Luke, 13, Wm., 11, James, 9, Hester, 6, Eliza Ann, 3, and Ben, 4 months, plus Mary, 21, and Clarky Ann, 5 months.

Bastardy Bonds, Onslow County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

Leave a comment

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.”

Leave a comment

March 10, 2013

Not considered white.

61 N.C. Confederate Levi Cummings. Cap’t Francis D. Koonce’s Co. (Koonce’s State Guerillas) N.C. Volunteers. Appears on Company Muster-In and Descriptive Roll of the organization named above. Dated Jones County, July 22, 1862. Born Duplin Co., N.C. Age 26. Laborer. Enlisted July 14, 1862 in Jones County by F.D. Koonce. … Note: This company is mustered in the service of the State of North Carolina as “guerillas” for local service, to operate east of the Wilmington & Weldon Rail Road, between the Neuse and Cape Fear Rivers.

———-

61 N.C. Confederate Levi Cummings. Pvt. Co. K, 61 Reg’t N.C. Inf. (State Troops). Cap’t Francis D. Koonce’s Co. (Koonce’s State Guerillas) N.C. Volunteers. Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above. Dated May and June 1863. Enlisted August 30, 1862, Jones County, by Capt. Koonce. Last paid by Capt. Anderson, April 30, 1863. “Detailed as ambulance driver.”

———-

61 N.C. Confederate Levi B. Cummings. Pvt. Co. K, 61 Reg’t N.C. Inf. (State Troops). Cap’t Francis D. Koonce’s Co. (Koonce’s State Guerillas) N.C. Volunteers. Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above. Dated July and August 1863. Enlisted August 30, 1862, Jones County, by Capt. Koonce for 3 years. “Not considered white and dropped by order.”

Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Organized For the State of North Carolina, National Archives and Records Administration.

In the 1850 census of North Division, Duplin County: James C. Cummings, 47, farmer, wife Rebecca, 42, and children Levi W., 13, John J., 11, Betsey A., 9, Sarah L., 7, and Mary J., 5, all mulatto.

In the 1860 census of Tuckahoe, Jones County: Levi Commins, 20, and sister Sallie, 15; described as black.

In the 1870 census of Tuckahoe, Jones County: Levi Cummings, 34, mulatto, cooper.

In the 1880 census of Richlands, Onslow County: Levi Cummings, 50, works on farm, wife Caroline, 25, and children William H., 9, Minnie J., 6, and Lydia A., 2. Levi is described as mulatto; his wife and children, as white.

Leave a comment

Tag: Onslow County