Fourth Generation Inclusive

Historical Documents of Genealogical Interest to Researchers of North Carolina's Free People of Color

Tag: Pasquotank County

March 21, 2013

First patrolman of his race.

Wiley G. Overton.

The First Full Fledged Patrolman of His Race Appointed on Brooklyn’s Police Force.

Wiley Granda Overton is a successful undertaker, whom Commissioner Hayden has appointed as patrolman and assigned to the First Precinct, in the most popular and business part of Brooklyn, under Capt. Campbell. Mr. Overton is originally from North Carolina. He was born in Elizabeth City, Oct. 20, 1859, of free parentage. He spent his early days attending school, until his graduation from the normal school. While yet quite a young man he passed a good examination before the county commissioners and obtained a position as a teacher in the public schools. With his parents he came North fourteen years ago and settled in Brooklyn. Through his energy and push he was not long in obtaining a good situation [illegible] wholesale firm in New York City [illegible] Taylor & Co. Entering as a porter he rose to the important position of stock clerk, which he held for seven years. While in this position he spend all of his leisure moments in private study and improved his education. After leaving his New York situation he engaged with a well known undertaker, Moses Genung, and after sufficient training he started out in business for himself at 75 Lawrence street. His business has grown rapidly, and he will turn it over to his cousin, R.D. Overton.

Immediately after his business venture, it came to his mind that he would like to become one of the guardians of the city and he entered the civil service examinations …. He attained 76 ½ percentage, standing 58 on a list of 164 eligibles. It was thought that Mr. Overton’s color would be a barrier to his appointment …. Commissioner Hayden, however, … said: “He passed a good examination, and, as the law makes no distinction in regard to color, I do not see why there should be any question as to my duty in the matter.”

Mr. Overton is nearly six feet high, of fine athletic build and of dark complexion. He has been assigned to Post 5 of the First Precinct, bounded by Pierpont, Joralemon, and Clinton streets and Columbia Heights. … Mr. Overton is a devoted member of Bridge Street A.M.E Church and has been been a member of the Trustee Board for several years. He has a charming wife and two beautiful daughters to cheer him at his fireside.

In the 1860 census of Pasquotank County: Jeffry Overton, 62, farmer, Juley, 31, Jeffry, 29, Haywood, 18, Ruben, 10, Margaret, 9, Mary, 6, John, 4, George, 2, and Wiley, 8 months.

The New York Age, 21 March 1891.

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February 15, 2013

United States Colored Troops, no. 8.

37 U.S.C.T. Edward Hammonds. Co. T, 35 Reg’t U.S. Col’d Inf. appears on Company Descriptive Book of the organization named above. Description: age, 38 years; height, 5 feet 8 inches; complexion, light; eyes, dark; hair, dark; where born, Onslow County, NC; occupation, laborer. Enlistment: when, 30 August 1864; where, New Bern; by whom, A.P. Smith; term, 3 years. Remarks: mustered into U.S. Service at New Bern by Capt. Wm. Sweet 30 Aug 1864, bounty paid $100, due $200.

In the 1850 census of Lower South West, Onslow County: Edward Hammons, 24, in the household of Owen Jarrett, farmer.

14 H. Art’y U.S.C.T. Thomas Hammonds. Co. D, 14 Reg’t U.S. Col’d H. Art’y. appears on Company Descriptive Book of the organization named above. Description: age, 38 years; height, 5 feet 9 inches; complexion, black; eyes, black; hair, black; where born, Onslow County, NC; occupation, laborer. Enlistment: when, 23 May 1864; where, New Bern NC; by whom, Lt. Wheaton; term, 3 years.

In the 1850 census of Half Moon, Onslow County: Thomas Hammons, 55, wife Sena [no age], with Susan, 35, and Thomas Hammons, 24, Seana Littleton, 16, and Marthy White, 13.

2 Cav. U.S.C.T. Wilson Sawyer. Co. D, 2 Reg’t U.S. Col’d Cav. appears on Company Descriptive Book of the organization named above. Description: age, 17 years; height, 5 feet 2 inches; complexion, black; eyes, dark; hair, dark; where born, Camden County, NC; occupation, farmer. Enlistment: when, 24 December 1863; where, Fort Monroe; by whom, Col. Cole; term, 3 years. Remarks: engaged in action at Suffolk, Virginia, March 9, near Peterburgh June 6, 12 and 18, 1864.

In the 1850 census of Camden County: Mary Sayer, 30, with children Pricilla, 7, and Wilson, 2.

35 U.S.C.T. George Archer. Co. E, 35 Reg’t U.S. Col’d Inf. appears on Company Descriptive Book of the organization named above. Description: age, 25 years; height, 5 feet 7 ½ inches; complexion, light; eyes, grey; hair, dark; where born, Hertford, NC; occupation, government laborer. Enlistment: when, 22 May 1863; where, Newbern NC; by whom, Capt. Crofts; term, 3 years. Remarks: died at Gov’t Hosptl No. 5, Jacksonville, Florida, 18 August 1864, of chronic rheumatism; final statement papers forwarded to Adjt Genl’s office, Washington DC, 23 August 1864.

In the 1850 census of Southern District, Hertford County: Levi Archer, 43, laborer, wife Lucinda, 31, and children George T., 11, West, 9, Elizabeth, 7, Assirah, 2, and Bartelmus, 0.

36 U.S.C.T. Calvin Bow. Co. C, 36 Reg’t U.S. Col’d Inf. appears on Company Descriptive Book of the organization named above. Description: age, 20 years; height, 5 feet 5 ½ inches; complexion, black; eyes, black; hair, black; where born, Pasquotank County, NC; occupation, farmer. Enlistment: when, 13 June 1863; where, Roanoke Island NC; by whom, Lt. Shaw; term, 3 years. Remarks: mustered 28 Oct 1863 at Portsmouth, Virginia, by Lt. Horton; free on or about 19 April 1861; mustered out 13 June 1866 by reason of expiration of term of service at Brazos Santiago Texas.

In the 1850 census, Suttons Creek, Perquimans County: James Bow, 49, laborer, wife Penny, 35, and children Alfred, 18, Augustus, 15, Joshua, 12, Clarisa, 10, David, 8, Calvin, 6, and Timothy Bow, 1, and Isaiah Overton, 3 months.

11 H. Art’y U.S.C.T. Isiah Dove. Co. B, 11 Reg’t U.S. Col’d H. Art’y. appears on Company Descriptive Book of the organization named above. Description: age, 23 years; height, 5 feet 5 ½ inches; complexion, dark; eyes, black; hair, black; where born, Newbern, NC; occupation, seaman. Enlistment: when, 7 September 1863; where, Providence, Rhode Island; by whom, Capt. Simon; term, 3 years.

In the 1850 census of Craven County: Isaiah Dove, 22, laborer, wife Ann, 23, and son Levi, 3 months.

9 H. Art’y U.S.C.T. James R. Faithful. Co. E, 9 Reg’t U.S. Col’d H. Art’y. appears on Company Descriptive Book of the organization named above. Description: age, 40 years; height, 5 feet 8 ¾ inches; complexion, dark; eyes, brown; hair, dark; where born, unknown NC; occupation, farmer. Enlistment: when, 2 September 1864; where, Alliance, Ohio; by whom, Capt. Olliver; term, 1 year. 

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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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January 26, 2013

These persons, though free, were sold and enslaved.

November Sup. Court, Edenton District 1778 }  State of No. Carolina

On motion that a Writ of Certiorari should Issue to the Justices of Pasquotank County, to remove all the Orders and Proceedings of the Court of the said County relating to the Sale and enslaving of the following Persons, either of them, vizs. Hannah, David, Charles, Toby, Pritchard, Nero, Prissilla, Rose, Judith, Jane, Albertson, Samuel, Hagai, Ann and Sarah, on a Suggestion that the said Persons, ‘tho free subjects of the state, were Sold and enslaved by Order of said Court, in express Violation of the Constitution of this State, and contrary to Natural Justice, and that there are Manifest Errors and Irregularities in the said Proceedings.

Ordered that a Certiorari Issue accordingly, unless Sufficient  Cause to the Contrary be shewn within the three first days of the next insuing Term.    /s/ Will Righton for Cha. Bondfield C.S.C.

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

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January 19, 2013

By the assistance, industry, economy and prudence of his wife.

State of North Carolina, Pasquotank County  }  June Term 1797

To the Worshipful the County Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for Pasquotank County The Petition of Thomas Sylvester a Freeman of Colour Humbly Sheweth That he some years agoe took to wife a Negroe Woman Slave by the Name of Joan the property of a certain Jeremiah Symons who hath borne him four Children, to wit Abba, Nancy, Jerry and Annaretta. That by the Assistance, Industry economy & prudence of his said Wife Joan he hath been enabled to raise a sufficient Sum to purchase her and her Children from their said Master.

May it therefore please your worships taking your Petitioners Case under your consideration to prepare Order for the liberation & emancipation of the said Joan, Abba, Nancey, Jerry and Annaretta by the names of Joan Sylvester, Abba Sylvester, Nancey Sylvester, Jerry Sylvester and Annaretta Sylvester agreeable to the Power of Authority in your Worships Vested by the Act of the General Assembly in such Cases made and provided and Your Petitioner as in Duty bound shall ever pray &     Will Blair for the Petitioner

In the 1790 census of Pasquotank County, Thomas Sylvester is listed as the head of a household of four “other free” people.

Records of Slaves and Free Persons of Color, Pasquotank County Records, North Carolina State Archives. US Federal Population Schedule.

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January 17, 2013

Her complexion is an act of the Almighty, not her crime.

Pasquotank County   } To the Worshipfull the Justices of the Inferior Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the County of Pasquotank County now in Court sitting.  The humble Petition of Ruth Jillet a free born, coloured Woman, Humbly sheweth unto Your Worships, that she was born of a Free woman named Ann Jillet, The daughter of the Wife of one [blank space] Jillet of Powel’s Point, supposed by a Black Man; That your Petitioner’s mother moved from Currituck to a Neighborhood on Little River, and was delivered of your Petitioner at the House of one Timothy Mead, where she remained until the Death of her Mother and the said Timothy, at whose [illegible] she was sold to one Blackstock who she verily believes was not ignorant of her Condition and Rights to Liberty, and sold her to a distant Merchant called Barny Coffoo of Newbern.  At which place, she had eight, Several Masters, each getting rid of her, as soon as thgey could, on hearing of her Story, and her Resolution to regain her Liberty.  That in the lifetime of her last Master John Bishop, she made her escape, and came to her native County, to which Place the said Bishop followed her and sold her to one Zachariah Jordon, (and he, as she has been informed gave no Purchase Money for her, and that the said Bishop enjoin’d the said Zachariah to inquire into her Rights and if true, to let her enjoy them, and if otherwise to send him payment, which was like the common Honest behaviour of his Life) who she believes, noways ignorant of the Premisses, still detains her in Slavery and Duress.  Your Petitioner humbly begs to inform Your Worships, That she has been so happy to find reputable and honest Evidence alive, although at the Distance of forty Years, of her Birth and of her Civil and Social Rights.

Whereupon your Poor and Distressed Petitioner humbly prays (Altho’ her Complection, which is an Act of the Almighty Not her Crime) Your Worships will, of your Mercy, take her Case under your Guidance and Consideration, and to render her such Redress as to Your Worships in your great Wisdom and Justice you shall seem Meet.    And Your Poor Petitioner as in Duty bound and ever Pray &c, Ruth Jillet by Will Cumming her Att’y

Ruth Jillet vs Zachariah Jordon}   Petition

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

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January 6, 2013

The Confederates tried to get me again, but I dodged them.

Hugh Cale filed claim #12668 with the Southern Claims Commission.  He was 33 years old, resided in Elizabeth City, and engaged in trading. From 1861 to December 1862, he lived in Edenton.  He then moved to Plymouth until 1864.  He then “went in the United States service on board Steamer Massaint [Massasoit] a transport remained on her for five months. I then shipped on Steamer Pilot Boy still in the service of the United States and remained on her until after the close of the war.”

“I was taken in the Spring of 1861 & carried to Beatom Iland [Beacon Island] near Ocracoat-bar [Ocracoke] N.C. and was made to work on the fortifications for the Confederate Government against my will for I was a man of color. Was kept there two weeks and was then carried to Hatrass [Hatteras] to work on fortifications & was then kept there three months & three days.  We were then sent home, & remained home until the fall of Hatrass. I was then taken and put on board of the Schuner Cinaline and remained on her till the Capture of Roanoke Iland. I then went home the Confederate troops tried to get me again. I doged them.”  He “did all I could to get other collered people to leave home and to go the places held by the United States Authorities.”  “In 1862 I was arrested up the Chowan River as a spie for the United States. I was kept about five weeks under arrest and was not released until the Union troops took Winton.”  “The Confederate troops wanted me to go to Norfolk Va and get goods for them. I told them I couldnot do that. They said if I did not do it that I should not stay at Home. I faild to do it then Confederate soldiers came to my House & beat me so I was laid up for some time.” “After I became free I worked at the Masons trade. I made money after I went in [illegible] lines at Plymouth and paid for the property with it. Except the boat which I owned before the war. I never had a master.” Union soldiers took lumber, goods and a sail boat from him.

Cale worked as merchant from 1862 to 1864.  While absent, his clerk, Sam Skinner, conducted business for him.  After they captured Plymouth, United States authorities took such merchandise from Cale as butter, flour, tobacco, bacon, apples.

John Block estimated that Cale’s 26-foot boat, in good shape with sails and fixtures, was worth two hundred dollars.

Allowed: $602.50.

Report of the Secretary of War, Vol. I, 1865, “No. 20. List of vessels in service of Quartermaster’s department supplying General Sherman’s army” lists both the Massasoit and Pilot Boy.

Hugh Cale died July 22, 1910, in Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County.  He was about 75 years old.  His death certificate lists his occupation as merchant.

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December 27, 2012

An Act to Invest a Right of Inheritance.

At a General Assembly, begun and held at Fayetteville, on the second Day of November, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-Nine, and in the Fourteenth Year of Independence of the said State; being the first session of the said Assembly.  Samuel Johnston, Esq., Governor.

…

CHAPTER XXXIII.

An Act to Invest an Indefeasible Right of Inheritance in Charles, Alley and Prudence Oggs, the Surviving Natural Children of John Oggs, of the County of Pasquotank, of such Property as was Bequeathed to them and their Deceased Brother Jesse Oggs.

Whereas, it hath been made appear to this General Assembly, that John Oggs late of the county of Pasquotank, hath departed this life, leaving behind him four natural children, Charles, Alley, Prudence and Jesse, by his negro slave Hester, to whom he bequeathed all his real and personal estate by virtue of a certain last will and testament: And whereas, by the policy of the law the said children, being bastards, are debarred from the rights of inheritance, and being recommended to this General Assembly as persons of good fame: And whereas, Jesse, one of the children is dead:

I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of North Carolina, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That the above mentioned Charles, Alley and Prudence Oggs, are hereby invested in an indefeasible right of inheritance of all and singular the lands and tenements, goods and chattels which were bequeathed to them by their father John Oggs, in virtue of his last will and testament; and that they hold and take the said property to them and their heirs and assigns forever, agreeably to the directions of the said will, and the intentions of the said John Oggs therein expressed.

And whereas, the within mentioned Hester, and her children Charles, Alley and Prudence Oggs, are recommended to this General Assembly by several very respectable inhabitants of the counties of Camden and Pasquotank, as worthy of being manumitted and set free agreeable to the intention of their father John Oggs:

II. Be it therefore enacted, That the said negro woman Hester, and her children Charles, Alley and Prudence Oggs, are hereby manumitted and set free to all intents and purposes, and to possess all the rights and privileges as if they had been born free.

…

Acts of the North Carolina General Assembly, 1789. Colonial and State Records of North Carolina.

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November 27, 2012

Too infirm to support himself and family by his labour.

Original Claim

State of North Carolina, District of Edenton, County of Pasquotank.  On this 8th day of March 1825 personally appeared in open Court being a Court of record for Pasquotank Samuel Overton a free man of Colour, resident in said County aged [illegible] six Years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration In order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of the 18th March 1815 and the first May 1820.  That the said Samuel Overton enlisted for the term of three Years in the Year 1776 in the State of North Carolina in the Company commanded by Captain Isaac Moore, in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Peter Lange in the line of the State of North Carolina, on  the continental establishment, that he continued to serve in said Corps until the death of Captain Moore, when a certain Devisha[?] Davis commanded that he continued in the Service of the United States until the taking of Yorktown in Virginia, when he was discharged in the City of Philadelphia in the Year 1781, that he was at the battles of Germantown, Charlestown S.C. and at the taking of Yorktown in Virginia, and at the Battle of Germantown received two wounds. That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, except this present, that his name is not on the roll od any State, and that the following are the reasons for not making earlier application for a pension. That as long as he was able he was desirous to maintain himself; but now he is to infirm to support himself and family by his labour, and in addition had the misfortune to lose all his property by fire in July 1824.  And in pursuance of the act of the first May 1820 I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress entitled “An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War” passed on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not, nor has any person in Trust for me, any property or securities, contract or debts, due to me, nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and my be subscribed To wit one Cow and two shoats. That since the 18th of March the change in my property has been its loss by fire in July 1824.  My family consist of my wife and Son David five years old        Samuel X Overton

From the file of Samuel Overton, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, National Archives and Records Administration.

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November 27, 2012

I had to leave to keep from being carried off.

Isaac Griffin filed claim #20625 with the Southern Claims Commission.  He was 50 years old and lived near Rosedale in Pasquotank County.  He was a farmer, and during the war he lived on 16 acres, of which ten were cultivated. He was free-born.

He “had to leave several times to keep from being carried off by the rebels.”  In April 1863, soldiers from the 11th Pennsylvania cavalry, camped about five mills away at South Mills, Camden County, took his six-year-old horse, who was large, sound and gentle.

Penny Bogue, 48, testified that she lived a quarter-mile from Griffin. Two Union soldiers came to her house, and one was riding Griffin’s horse.  Sophia Edge, 26, also testified on his behalf. Caleb Griffin, 37, a justice of the peace for Pasquotank County, testified that he lived 100 yards from Isaac Griffin and was his brother.

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