Craven County, NC - Criminal Actions Concerning Slaves & Free Persons of Color Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sue Guptill - sguptill@mindspring.com Part 1, 1781-1822 ----- Cran County Criminal Actions Concerning Slaves And Free Persons of Color No date 1781-1832 (broken series) CR.028.928.8 Criminal Actions concerning slaves and free persons of color No date Jurors of the State upon their oaths present the following persons for allowing the following to hire their own time or to live off themselves: William GASTON for Hannah, Rody, Anaky, Mary & Harriot—Thos. SWANN witness— live off [Note: William Gaston lived from 1798-1844, so the time period for this document is sometime from about 1819-1844] John MERRETT for Mevier—Thomas Swan witness—hire his own time John L. DURAND for Rachiel, Susan, Harry Duncan (probably two different people, but there is no comma there. Above the word Duncan is written “hire his own time)—Thomas SWANN witness Mrs. Elizabeth ARMSTEAD for Fillis Sofa & Betty—Thomas SWANN witness Samuel SIMPSON for William hire his time—Thomas SWANN witness Charles SLOVER for James, living off—Thomas SWANN witness Jerrial BROWN for Rachel, living off—Thomas SWANN witness John R. DONNEL for Peggy, Netty, Slade, Green, Tom—Hiram BRINSON & Thomas SWANN witness Catherine ANTHONY for Phillis, live off—Thomas SWANN witness Dr.. Isaac HUGHS for Mary, Susan, Hannah & Aron, hire (seems to apply to Aron only)—Thomas SWANN, James PITTMAN, B.F. MILES witnesses Martin MILLER for John Alfred Harriot, hire—Thomas SWANN witness Josephus HALL for Ben, & Manuel—Thomas SWANN witness Miss Nancy JONES for Netty, live off—Thomas SWANN witness Mrs. Eliz. NEIL for Pampy, Loveless, live off—Thomas SWANN witness Mrs. Eliz. MORENING for Bregget, live off—Thomas SWANN witness Geo. HOWARD for Caleb, hiring time—Thomas SWANN witness Will S. MORRIS for Lewis, William, Famer, Lewis, Sam,Frank, Absalum, Jim, hire their time—witness James PITTMAN, B.F. MILES, & Thomas SWANN Mrs. Eliz. HATCH for Franck, hire his time, Bill, Saul, hire their time, Ned & John, Theadore—Thomas SWANN witness John HARGET for Abner, hire his time—Thomas SWANN witness Hardy L. JONES for John, hire his time—Thomas SWANN witness Geo. WILSON for Providence, hire her time—Thomas SWANN witness Jno M. ROBERTS for John COOK & Bill BROWN, live off and hire their time— Thomas SWANN witness. [Note: The way this is written, there does appear to be last names for these 2 slaves]. Francis MCILWAIN for Sam & Eliza, live off & hire—Thomas SWANN witness James SHACKELFORD for Mingo, live off & hire—Thomas SWANN witness Nancy HARRIS for Ben and Pero, live off and hire—Thomas SWANN witness Martin MILLER for Jim BROWN, live off and hire—Thomas SWANN witness Mrs Ann M. JUSTICE for Ned & Amos BROWN, live off and hire—Thomas SWANN witness C.B. WOOD for Ismael, live off & hire—Thomas SWANN witness Mrs. CUSTIS for Fabius, Lee, Ned, Bill, live off & hire—Thomas SWANN witness Estate of Jno H. JONES for Carrou JONES, live off—M.C. BOGEY, witness Mr. John BESSINGTON for York, live off and hire—Thomas SWANN witness Mrs. Eliz. WATKINS (widow of Becton WATKINS) for Sam & Dave—Thomas SWANN witness Thomas B. CRAWFORD for Easter & Sam’s wife—Witnesses Willie MOORE & John CLEMMONS Mrs. GROVER for Alfornzo & Dave—witness Goram HALL & wife Nay Jacob MCCOTTER for Abram & Rosa—Benj. M. WISE, witness Grand jury present Abigale JONES for hiring to her Negro men Israel & Moses there own time. Witness Philip PIPKIN Grand jury present James K. GAILON for not assisting to take a prisoner. Witness Philip PIPKIN. [Note: Philip Pipkin lived from 1803-1868, making date of this document ~1824-1868]. State vs. Jerome slave of Zilphia FULLER. Lists “additional sheriff’s fees” by George DILL, sheriff. Includes summoning special venire 50 jurors, conveying prisoner from Carteret to Craven, one assistant guard. Negro Boatswain Sentenced to Death 1756 “These may certifie that we the Subscribers Being Sumoned by the Sheriff of the County afsd. [Craven] in virtue of an Act of General Assembly of this Province Intitled Act Concerning Servants and Slaves, we have Therefore passed Sentence of Death on a Negro called Boatswain Belonging to Elizabeth WILSON an Orphin, and have valued him at Sixty Pounds Proclamation Money, Given under our Hands and Seals the 15th Day of May Ann Dom 1753. Signed Wm. WILLIAMS, Jas. DAVIS, Joseph LEECH, John FONVILLE, John CLITHERALL, John STEVENSON, Jos. HANNIS Criminal Actions Concerning Slaves 1781-1782 [Document is faded, and has a large hole in the middle and along the entire right border] Bet, a [torn] belonging to Mrs. GORDON charged on both [torn] George HARGATT of assaulting and striking [torn] the said servant. Below this is the names of 3 men, Joseph LEECH, Wm. TISDALE, Wm. BRYAN. Below that is what appears to be a list of men [this is where the center hole is] bracketed with the word “Freeholders” written beside them. Below that is a large torn section, then a statement that the opinion of the court is that Bet was guilty of assaulting and ordaining that she receive [torn] lashes well laid-on on her bare back, and that the [torn] carry the sentence into execution on Monday evening next. 23 Dec 1781 Court in Newbern tryal of a Negro man Romeo the property of Doct. Thomas HASLEN for assaulting and striking Jonathan PERKINS, Doct. Thomas HASLEN being summoned to appear at the tryal. Present: Joseph LEECH, William BRYAN, William TISDALE, Justices; William GOOD, Nathan SMITH, Elias JUSTICE, Richard FORBES, freeholders. Jonathan PERKINS declared that Romeo on the 24th day of December 1781 at Doct. HASLEN plantation near HASLEN’s mill, did with a club strike him [PERKINS] on his arm which disabled PERKINS for some time from the use of his arm. [Next 1-2 lines are torn away]. Opinion that Negro man Romeo is guilty of assaulting PERKINS and judge for his punishment that he stand tomorrow in the Pillory in new Bern [torn] hours & have one of his ears nailed to Pillory and cut off and receive 100 lashes on his bare back. 4 Feb 1782 Order to sheriff to summon 3 justices and 4 freeholders, owners of slaves to meet at the courthouse this afternoon at 3:00 to try a Negro man Romeo, property of Doct. Thos. HASLEN who is charged by Jonathan PERKINS with striking him with a club on the arm. 4 Feb 1782 Criminal Actions concerning slaves and free persons of color 1788, 1793 Bond by Sampson LEATH with John CARNEY and John TILLMAN, bondsmen for £500. Condition is that whereas LEATH has been charged and found guilty of having carried away and converted to his own use two negro men, free citizens of this State, named Kent SPELLMAN and David SPELLMAN, and that they are now without the state, and that they can be produced and brought into Craven County, if LEATH presents them to the Justices of the Court of Craven County on the second Monday of June next, then the bond is void. 13 Dec 1788 Oath by Thomas TURNER of Newbern, Merchant concerning what he knows of John GEORGE breaking into the store of Thomas TURNER and William SHEPHARD in the night of 13 Oct 1793 and stealing gold silver & paper money, about £800. TURNER states that on Monday morning of 14 th Oct last he found that the night before the cellar door had been forced open, and a short plank broken up which made larger entrance for a man to enter the store that the front door of the store had been unbared and unlocked the key having been left in the lock of the door in the inside after seeing this disorder he retired from the door to the place where the cash was usually kept in a trunk and found the trunk which contained the money was gone, that the same day he had a slave named Jack belonging to the estate of John W. STANLEY apprehended who declared that John GEORGE was concerned in the above robbery, that on the evening of the 14th John GEORGE was carried to goal and after there about half an hour this deponent was sent for to the Goal of Newbern and was admitted where John was in confinement he then informed if this deponent [TURNER] would forgive him he would give him the money or words to that purpose; he then went along with Mr. COORE with John GEORGE to the end of Mr. COORs Kitchen under which house GEORGE said the money was, altogether put into one Bag that he had placed the Bag under the kitchen behind the foundation of Mr. SIMMONS and was desirous to go after it himself, that was objected to and Mr. COOR sent one of his slaves under the kitchen who brought out the bag containing the money that was lost together with his sundry papers. To Mar court 1794 Oath by Mr. James COOR concerning what he knows of John GEORGE stealing money from Thom. TURNER & William SHEPHERD in Newbern on the night of 13 Oct 1793. COOR states that he went to the Goal of Newbern and saw John GEORGE in irons Mr. Thomas TURNER being sent for had some conversation with John who went out of Goal to the lot of this deponent [COOR], when he came here he told him and TURNER that the money was under the kitchen behind the foundation of the Chimney and that he would fetch out if they would let him go under; deponent advised Mr. TURNER not to suffer him to go, that he would send one of his slaves under the kitchen for the money, sent according to John GEORGE’s directions and brought a bag and gave it to Mr. TURNER, that TURNER immediately opened the bag and said he believed all his money was there, and further said he cannot remember the day of the month when this transaction happened. 25 Mar 1794 Oath of John GEORGE, charged with breaking into the store of Thomas TURNER and William SHEPHERD merchants in Newbern, in the night of 13 Oct 1793 and stealing gold silver and paper money, amounting to £800. GEORGE says he was not concerned in the robbery neither did he know anything about it further than Jack a slave belonging to the estate of Wt. STANLEY told him he had a bag of money hid under Mr. COORS kitchen that he gave such information to Mr. TURNER & Mr. COOR when he was taken into custody. To Mar term 1794 Charles SAUNDERS complained that Levin DICKINSON has traded with a slave named Brandon now living with Mr. MARSHALL, which offense is contrary to Act of Assembly. Sheriff ordered to take the body of Levin and bring him to a JP to respond to the chart. 12 Aug 1793. Below this: Summons John BARRINGTON, evidence for plaintiff Criminal Actions concerning slaves 1792 [Note: There is only one document in this folder. It has a large hole all the way through the document, about ? of the way from the left margin that creates a gap of 1/2-1 inch]. Trial of Nanny a slave belonging to [torn] C. BEGGLESTON charged with stealing sundry articles, property of Ebenezer BEXLEY. 19 Dec 17[torn]. Below this, list of justices: [torn] GUION, Francis LOWTHORP, William TISDALE Below this, list of freeholders: [torn] HUNLEY, [torn] BRYAN, George ELLIS, William JOHNSON. Prisoner [torn] guilty. [Note: this could be pled guilty or not guilty]. The witnesses [torn] that the proof offered to [torn—last word ends in “t”, so this is probably “not”] sufficient to convict the prisoner of the Cr[torn] she stands charged with and that she [torn]—Ordered that the Prosecutor on behalf [torn] the state pay all costs. 19 Dec 1792 Criminal Actions concerning slaves 1794 Order to sheriff to summon 3 justices of the peace and 12 free men all of whom are to be owners of slaves to appear at 12:00 this day to pass judgement on Bill, negro slave of Saml. YOUNG, charged with robing Mrs. PAXTON of £15 and sundry evening apparel; also give notice to the clerk of court or his deputy, also to Mr. WOODS, atty for the state as well as to the owner of the slave, summon Mrs. PAXTON to appear as a witness for the state. Below this a list of names that appear to be the justices: Squire SMITH, GUION, LOWTHORP. There is then a long list of names that appears to be the freeholders: Jarvis BUXTON, James MCMANN, Francis HAWKS, Mr. Geo. ELLIS, Wm. HAWLEY, Mr. C. ASKIN(?), Dr. SMALLWOOD, John HORNADAY, Thos. TOMLINSON, Wm. LAWRENCE, John HOBDAY, Wm. JOHNSTON, James MCCAFFERTY, [can’t read], Thos. MCCLEAR, Thos. COX, Lovick JONES, Robt. HUNT, John GOOD, Wm. GOOD. [Note that this is more than 12 people]. Complaint having been made that certain goods and merchandizes, the property of John HARVEY were on the night of the 19th instant feloniously stolen & carried away and there is reason to suspect that a negro man slave called John, the property of Col. John [can't read] and another man slave called James KENT, together with a certain negro wench Hannah, the property of Mrs. GASTON, and another negro woman called De belonging to Mrs. CRESEY committed the theft. Order to sheriff to take the negro slaves and bring them to some justices to be examined regarding the theft. Newbern 18 Nov 1794 Special court held at New Bern 30 Jul 1794 for the trial of negro Will, the property of Samuel YOUNG, charged with having robbed Mrs. Elizabeth PAXTON of sundry wearing apparel and a sum of money. Below this, names of justices Isaac GUION, Francis LOWTHORPE, John SMITH. Prisoner pleads “Not guilty,” then there is a list of jurors: James MMAINS, William GIBBS, William HAWLEY, Joseph CRISPIN, John HOBDAY, James MCAFFETY, Joseph CLARK, Enoch ALEXANDER, Thomas COX, Lovick JONES, John GOOD, William GOOD. Jury finds the defendant not guilty in meaning and form. Criminal actions concerning slaves and free persons of color, 1802, 1807, 1808 State vs. James HOPKINS: Deposition of Frederick PHILLIPS, witness for the state swears that on Sun., 21 inst. That he was at the house of Mr. Kendrid KNIGHT & in the evening when he was about to start home, a bell was heard & Mr. KNIGHT took his gun & walked out, expecting the bell was on a doe, but the bell was found to be on a dog which was following HOPKINS (said to be a Spanish Bull Dog) then old man HOPKINS rode up on a very small bay horse & desired to have bread given him, observing at the same that he had with him his family consisting of his wife daughter & his (or a) Negro boy which he had to wait on him further saying that he was an old soldier & provided a certificate from Saml. ASHE to that affect, he went on to say that he had enough of other provisions except bread. Mr. KNIGHT said he was out of meal, but if potatoes would do he should have them; I wished the old man goodbye & went on to the road which was a sight from the place where the conversation took place; when I came up to the company (the old man’s family) many questions were asked them; first I asked the Negroe who he belonged to who made a stammering answer & said to that old gentleman who was gone to the house; the negroe appeared to be such frighted from the interrogation & told many tales which did not appear to be true; many times he would pause for an answer & it would be made by the woman & then the negroe would say yes I believe it is so or nearly so. This created a suspicion in me that the old man’s right in this negroe was not good, the old man had before said he was on his way to Raleigh In the forenoon the next day I was at Lewis’s Store & made known the aforesd. Conversation in the presence of several gentlemen; Mr. LEWIS observed that such a man had passed there without any negro this confirmed the suspicion so much that we went on & took the negro after riding about 9 miles overtook them all walking slowly on when the negro was questioned again he confessed who his master was & HOPKINS immediately disowned the Negroe & said he had endeavored to drive him back. 23 Nov 1802 Deposition of Kindred KNIGHT, witness for the state: Relates as above, as far as meeting the old man HOPKINS, he says that the old man did call him his own negroe & further said that he had 2 Negroes at General CEARNEY which Negroes he had hired to the General when he went into the service & they (the negroes) had been there ever since. He further went on to say that he was Master of 8 or 12 Negroes I know not which. Further HOPKINS observed that he must see the General (the reply was made by me that we was out of his way to Raleigh).23 Nov 1802 Deposition of Elisha JOINER, witness for the State: Says that HOPKINS was at his house Sunday evening & said he was on his way to the Federal City & further that HOPKINS said he wished to buy bread & did have bread from him; he called the negro that was with him by the name of John & further said he would send John to the next house for cider. 23 Nov 1802 Appearance bond for James HOPKINS of Pitt County with Edward GRAHAM, Esq., Atto. at Law & This. A. GREEN, Esq. for HOPKINS to make his personal appearance at the next Superior Court in Newbern on 15 Jun next. 20 Dec 1802 Order to sheriff of Edgecomb County: James HOPKINS of Pitt County was brought before Wm. HYMAN & Exum LEWIS, justices for Pitt Co., charged with seducing a Negroe man slave to leave the lawful employment or calling of his master to convey him away; the slave has been taken out of the possession of James HOPKINS and confined in the jail [in Pitt County]. Order is to take James HOPKINS and commit him to [the jail in Edgecomb County] until discharged by due course of law. 23 Nov 1802 State vs. James HOPKINS: Deposition of Gardner MOY taken by Wm. HYMAN & Exum LEWIS—States the negro man Tony which was taken out of the possession or accompanying HOPKINS peaceably along the road was his right & property & that on Friday night the 21st instant [i.e., 21 November] HOPKINS & negro man departed from his plantation & that he had just reason to suspect that the negro went off in company with James HOPINS & his wife. 25 Nov 1802 Appearance bonds by Fred PHILLIPS, Kindred KNIGHT, Elisha JOYNER, Matthew EXUM, Jonas WHITLEY, & Major GLANDEN of Edgecomb County to appear on 18 Jan next as witnesses for the State in the case the State vs. James HOPKINS. 23 Nov 1802. Back: Examination of James HOPKINS by Exum LEWIS of Edgecomb County on suspicion of seducing and conveying a certain man slave named Tony belonging to the the Estate of James Albritain Junr. of Pitt County, but was hired by Gardner MOY the present year which appears to be the confession of the prisoner Jas. HOPKINS. HOPKINS saith that he started from Gardner MOYS in Pitt County on Friday evening the 19th inst. [i.e., 19 November] & came about one mile & took up camp to stay all night & there came to him some time in the night a negro man slave who then lived with MOY & desired to go with him, & he told him he would have nothing to do with him, on which the negro left his camp, & never appeared to him again until he got through Tarborough. 23 Nov 1802 Indictment in Craven County Court of Frederick BLOUNT of Craven County, the owner of the slave Jack, who on the first day of May 1807 and other times allowed Jack to hire his time. Oct term 1807. Bottom: Costs of court for trial. Back: Witness was Wm. MOURNING. [Note: This indictment was on a pre- printed form, with the names and dates filled in by hand]. Warrant to sheriff to arrest Jack the property of Frederick BLOUNT to appear and answer a charge of hiring his time.17 Nov 1807 Indictment in Craven County Court of Moses GRIFFIN of Craven County, the owner of the slaves Dick and Toney, who on the first day of May 1807 and other times allowed Dick and Toney to hire their time. Oct term 1807. Back: Witness was William MOURNING [Pre-printed form] Indictment in Craven County Court of Henry L. CHAPMAN of Craven County, the owner of the slaves Jack and Jim, who on the first day of May 1807 and other times allowed Jack and Jim to hire their time. Oct term 1807. Bottom: Costs of court for trial. Back: Witness was John A. MOOR. Warrant to sheriff to arrest Jim the property of Henry L. CHAPMAN on an indictment against him of hiring his time. 17 Nov 1807 Indictment in Craven County Court of John MCCABE of Craven County, the owner of the slave George, who on the first day of May 1807 and other times allowed George to hire his time. Oct term 1807. Back: Witness was Geo. LANE. Indictment in Craven County Court of William GASTON of Craven County, the owner of the slave Diamond, who on the first day of May 1807 and other times allowed Diamond to hire his time. Oct term 1807. Back: Witness was Wm. MOURNING. Indictment in Craven County Court of Phebe KEAN, widow of Craven County, the owner of the slave Belfast, who on the first day of May 1807 and other times allowed Belfast to hire his time. Oct term 1807. Bottom: Costs of court for trial. Back: Witness was Wm. MOURNING. Warrant for Churchy: Martin HAGEN (Craven County) complains that Churchy, a free colored man on this day assaulted and abused him on Edward C. KING’s wharf. Order to sheriff to arrest Churchy and bring him to be dealt with according to law. 9 Sept 1808. Bottom: Summon Jeva TINKER for the defendant; Benjamin FINNINGIN for the plaintiff. (Back: Appearance bond by defendant Church LINDSAY with Sarah RAYOR security for 2nd Monday in Sept. Martin HAGAN and Benj. FINNEGIN, witness also have bond). Order to sheriff to command Jacob DOVE, Bill DOVE, and Molly DOVE that they have the body of Jesse GAUDET, daughter of Betsey GAUDET, whom they detain in their custody together with any cause, right, or authority of their taking and detaining Jesse GAUDET, before the Superior Court at Newbern on Friday the 29th Apr. 21 Apr 1808 Oath by Betsey GAUDET that she has the misfortune to be the mother of an illegitimate male child called Jesse GAUDET now about 14 months old. That some months ago, Jacob DOVE, a free man of her own color, the father of the child, upon sundry false representations obtained possession of the child & took it from the care of deponent. Soon after, deponent being informed that she was entitled to retain the child in her own care until it was otherwise disposed of by the County Court, repeatedly demanded & solicited Jacob DOVE to restore the child to her, but without success. At March term of Craven County last past Jacob DOVE applied to the court to have the child put apprentice to him, but the court hearing the objections of deponent refused to bind the child, but ordered that he should be restored to deponent & the court charged Jacob DOVE with the payment of the usual sum for the maintenance of the child. Jacob DOVE still refuses to deliver the child to her & Bill DOVE & Molly DOVE, parents of Jacob with whom he lives assist Jacob in retaining the child & refuse the deponent the opportunity she has lately intreated of visiting her child in its sickness. 21 Apr 1808. a/Betey [X] GAUDET Depositions of Wm. Molly, & Jacob DOVE: Oath that the child mentioned in Betsey GAUDET’s affidavit was not obtained by any false [can’t read] as she alleges, but on the contrary that the child was voluntarily surrendered by its mother to Jacob, and further that the child was received by Jacob by the request and solicitation of its mother for the better provision & maintenance of the child under the care of the deponents. The deponents reside together, and William & Molly are the parents of Jacob and that by means of the property they have acquired and their honest industry they are enabled to make a comfortable substance. That they were induced to take charge of the child from no other view than for the Childs benefit and advantage and because they believed they were better able & better disposed to promote this object than its mother with the assistance of her friends. Betsey GAUDET is a woman of very loose & profligate life—she has two other bastard children & the shocking report prevails that she cohabits improperly with her own father. These deponents aver that in point of sobriety, industry, & inoffensive manner in their own neighborhood & in ability to provide well for the child they have every advantage over Betsy GAUDETT and her parents and have not doubt of establishing this argument should the time for that [can’t read] be enlarged by the whole neighborhood to the entire satisfaction of the court. Deponents never refused the mother leave to visit the child & afford it any aid, the child has not been sicke—they have only been desirous to avoid her abuse, and to recover to the child a permanent home. No date. s/Jacob [X] DOVE, Wm. [X] DOVE, Molly [X] DOVE. Warrant for Phill & Harry the property of Nathan SMITH to answer an indictment for hiring their time. 17 Nov 1807 Warrant for Phill & Harry the property of Nathan SMITH to answer an indictment for hiring their time. 2 Dec 1807 Indictment in Craven County Court of Nathan SMITH of Craven County, the owner of the slaves Phil and Harry, who on the first day of May 1807 and other times allowed Phil and Harry to hire their time. Oct term 1807. Bottom: Back: Witness was John A. MOOR. Criminal Actions concerning slaves and free people of color 1811-1819 Order to gaolers of Newbern to receive the body of Sam the property of Mrs WOODS being charged with being accessory in breaking open the stores of Thos. L. CLARKE on Sat. Night 29 last [June] and taking a quantity of counterfeit dollars. 7 Jul 1811. Sam the property of Mrs. WOODS says that on Sunday morning the last of June Caleb MARSHALL gave him ten dollars by Mrs. PALMER which he gave to him to change into paper and as a compensation provided to lend him ten dollars. Peter [can’t read] give the hard dollars. No date Order to goaler in Newbern: Commanded to take the body of Caleb MARSHAL and keep in the debtors room until about four o’clock this afternoon at which time he will be sent for to be examined regarding a late robbery committed in Newbern. 8 Jul 1811 Rhody DOVE says the about sunrise the first inst [July] she saw Sam the negro man property of Mrs. WOODS with a bag having marks containing a quantity of hard dollars part of which he pulled out of the bag and showed her. Peter & Sam were both at her house Sunday morning. Caleb MARSHALL says that about 9:00 on the first of July in the morning sam, belonging to Mrs. Woods came and exchanged with him ten hard dollars for which he gave a five and one dollar bill. Five of the hard dollars MARSHALL paid to Moses GRIFFEN who said they were counterfeit; he then went to Sam and told him the dollars he got from him were counterfeit on which Sam [can’t read] him a five dollar bill but would not go with him to get the counterfeit dollars back again that refused by MARSHALL Horrace [no last name] confirms Rhody DOVES testimony and further says that Sam said he got the hard dollars from F. LA MOTTE. Deposition of Peter a negroe man the property of Stephen FORBS: On Monday morning being July 1st Instant [i.e. 1811] Sam a negroe man belonging to Mrs. WOODS came running to him and said that he had ruined himself for that he had given Caleb MARSHALL some hard dollars who had passed them to Moses GRIFFIN who said they were counterfeit. Sam then told Peter that he had broken open the store occupied by Thos. L. CHEEK on Saturday last past and that he had taken the counterfeit dollars out of the desk. 9 Jul 1811. Angus belonging to F. HAWKS declares that he met or fell in with Mrs. WOODS Sam on Monday morning the 1st Jul before breakfast that Angus asked Sam why he did not come to work with Mr. OLIVER as he had promised to do. Sam said that he was going to pay Mr. HAWK his wages that he had the money & held a bag in his hand out of which he drew some dollars as Angus supposed to convince him he had the money—the bag had some marks on it. No date Order to sheriff to summon Mary VALTRIES, Wm. LAWRENCE, & Robt. WOODS to appear and testify on behalf of the state in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Joshua READ is defendant. Apr 1812 Summons for Jezekiah WATERS & Yolo B. HANAWAY to appear and testify on behalf of Joshua REED in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and REED is defendant. Apr 1812 Complaint having been made to Thomas L. CHEEKE, Justice of Craven County that within a few days past that Joshua REED had taken from Newbern two free black boys, one named Gill aged 15 son of Sylva a free woman, the other named John aged 7 years the son of Sugar with intent to sell the free boys. Order to sheriff or any officer to make diligent search for Bill & John and REED & having found to keep so that you have them before some Justice to be dealt with as the law directs. 9 Jul 1812 Indictment in Craven County court of Joshua REED: On 11 June 1812 took one male free negro named Bill and another free negro named John and convey them out of the state of North Carolina for the purpose of selling the male free negroes to persons to the jury yet unknown. And the jurors state that Joshua REED, laborer, on 11 June 1812 one male negro slave named Bill of the price of £100 and one negro slave named John of the price of £50 of the goods and chattels of persons to the jury unknown did take and carry away with the intention of selling to persons unknown to the jury. Oct term 1812. [Note: It appears that the two sets of negro males are the same people. This indictment is covering the contingency that REED or someone else will claim that Bill and John were not free, so the indictment covers both possibilities] Summons for Dickson BOGEY & Emanuel & Cesar two negro fellow to appear and testify on behalf of the state in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Elias defendant. Dec 1812 “On the examination of W. BOGEY, Emanuel and Ceasar who was brought before us as witnesses on the charge of a certain Negro man named Elias having murdered his wife named Bella we think Elias is guilty.” Jury: Wm. LAURENCE (foreman), Levi WEST, William [X] JONES, Jos. LAMOTTE, Spencer PITTMAN, Asa [X] DANIEL, Stephen FOWLER, Salmon HALL, John PAUL, Wm. TRIPPE, John B. GRIFFEN, Stephen W. WINN, Steph. B. FORBES. Dec term 1812 Charge by Wright C. STANLY, attorney for the State against Elias, man slave the property of Dixon BOGEY “not having the fear of God before his eyes but being instigated by the devil” [Note: this is standard language in murder trials] on the first of Dec 1812, upon one negro woman slave named Bella the property of Dixon BOGEY made an assault with a knife of the value of six pence which he held in his right hand and struck her on the left side of the belly, head, back, and neck and other parts of the body, giving her divers mortal wounds of the breadth of 3 inches and depth of six inches of which of these mortal wounds the negro woman slave Bella instantly died. Dec term 1812 Indictment by Grand Jury based on information laid before them by William GATLIN, Esq. and the verdict of a jury of inquest over the dead body of a slave named Moses the property of Reading GASKINS shows that Moses was shot with two guns on 20 Aug 1813, which caused his death. Thomas GREEN and John S. GREEN did wickedly and willfully fire the guns at Moses. Witnesses in behalf of the State were William GATLIN, Dempsy WILLIAMS, Joseph GREEN, Thos. BROWN, Sarah SMTH, and Reading GASKINS. Jury: Guilfd. MURPHEY, This. CHEEK, T. S. MITCHELL, Charles SAUNDERS, Abner HARGET, Wm. S. SPARROW, [can’t read] COX, Edward BOWEN, Jno. SMITH (foreman), Lucas J. BENNERS, Wm. GATLIN, Joshua CARAWAY, Burton ALLEN, H. CARRAWAY, John SMAW, Geo. LANE, Wm. HOLLAND, Wm. MCKINNEY. Oct term 1813 Summons for Michael POWERS and Dempsey HOLTON to appear and testify for the state in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Jno. S. GREEN is defendant. Apr 1814 Indictment of John S. GREEN states that on 17 Aug 1813 made an assault on negro man slave Moses the property of Reading GASKINS with a gun of the value of 5 shillings with gun powder and lead shot shot Moses in the breast giving him several mortal wounds of the depth of 4 inches and breadth of ½ inch of which Moses instantly died. April term 1814 Summons for Hannah PETTIFOR and Obid. WILLIAMS to appear and testify on behalf of the state in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Isaac KORNEGAY is defendant. Sept 1813. Warrant for Isaac KORNEGAY to appear and answer an indictment for assault & battery in which Hannah PETTIFOR is prosecutrix. Sept 1813 Summons for Richard CARTER to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Isaac KORNEGAY is defendant. Sept 1813 Warrant for Isaac KORNEGAY to appear and answer an indictment for assault & battery in which Hannah PETTIFOR is prosecutrix. Dec 1813 Order to sheriff based on a complaint by Hannah PETTIFOR that on Sunday night Isaac KORNEGAY came to her home and beat and abused her. 1 Sept 1813 Indictment stating the Isaac KORNEGAY on 1 Sept 1813 made an assault on Hannah PETTIFOR. Sept term 1813 Note or letter from Richard CARTER states, “I hereby certify that on Sunday night last a fortnight ago myself and Family were alarmed by the cries of this negro woman Hannah on getting up & going to the window I could distinctly hear the blows she received I likewise perceive the motion of the stick over her head & shoulders. By the time I could put on my cloaths & go to her assistance the Person or persons had quitted her house The Treatment she Recv’d appeared to be very Inhuman, by the Quantity of Blood on her cloaths she told me it was a Mr.KORNEGY & two other white men in Company with him, She has as far as comes within my knowledge behaved herself with peaceableness & Industry since she has Resided near my dwelling. I should not know Either of the men where I to see them.” s/Richard CARTER [Note: Signed name; name and document in same handwriting]. Newbern Sept. 17th 1813 Order to any law enforcement officer of Craven County, based on complaint by Hugh JONES that on Monday night the store of John & Hugh JONES was broke open and more than $20 in cash taken and he believes that Tom Tit a slave belonging to John JUSTICE and Harry belonging to Eli SMALLWOOD are the perpetrators or are knowing to the robbery; order is to bring Tom Tit and Harry before any JP. Newbern 3 Feb 1813 Summons for Shadrack HICKMAN and Thomas P. IVES to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Harry a negro is defendant. Dec 1814 Examination taken at the Jail by Thomas L. CLARK and Lucas H. BENNERS of 2 negro slaves, committed for burglary: Harry belonging to William TRIPPE and Tom Tit belonging to Mrs. JUSTICE. Harry was called first, and each was examined separately. Harry: Q. Harry when did you take the money our of the Jones’s store? A. It was a Monday or Tuesday night about 8:00. Tom Tit was with him [i.e., Harry] & went round to the back window & broke it open with a crow bar upon which Tom Tit came to me in the street & gave me 2 five dollar bill, 1 two dollar bill, & 1 one dollar bill & dollar in small change, lacking about 3 shillings. They went to Doctor CHAMBERS’s window & by the light of a candle there they divided the money. He does not know what part Tom Tit retained, he saw him keep a five dollar bill & said he give him all beside. Q. Did you lay out any of the money? A. Yes I bought a pair of shoes of William STREET for $2.75 of which Tom Tit had one pair. I bought a watch of Mrs. HUNTS Tom for $3. I bought [can’t read] at Mr. JERVIS store for $1.50—I carried the watch I bought to Mr. MARCHAND paid $5 for mending it. Q. Did you not carry a bill to the Bank to get it changed? A. Yes, it was a $5. It belonged to Tom Tit, & he was to give me half if I got it changed. Q. Who broke open Mr. BROWN’s store? A. I did it myself without any assistance & I took Mr. PIERCE’s chest & left it on the warf with some cloaths, sold a pair of the trousers to Mr. Wm. BRYANS man. Tom Tit: Denied heaving any knoledge of the crime to which he stood charged, with Harry. Newbern 4 Feb 1813. Warrant for Harry a negro man slave the property of James DICKSON to answer the state on a charge of hog stealing. Dec 1814 George Edmond BADGER, attorney for the State of for Craven Co. gives the court to understand that Harry a negro man slave belonging to James DICKSON of the county on 3 Dec 1814 stole a certain hog of the value of 12 pence from Richard HICKMAN. Dec 1814 Grand jury finds that Churchill LINSEY a man of color & Ann DOWDY a white woman on Bay River in Craven Co. have & now do unlawfully cohabit together contrary to the Act of General Assembly. Jury: Guilfd. MURPHY, Christopher DAWSON, Jno. WHEDON, William GOODING, John SHINE, Peter ENGLISH, Elisha HALL, Joseph BELL, Wm. GATLIN, Aaron ERNULL, Burton ALLEN, Leonard LOFTIN, Thomas DELAMAR, Thos. P. IVES, Wm. DURHAM, J.L. FRIOU, Smith DELAMAN, B. NEIL. Apr term 1814 Jurors present that Churchill LINSEY, laborer, and Ann DOWDY on 10 Apr 1814 and on divers other days as well before as after, not being joined together in the bonds of matrimony unlawfully did bed and cohabit together, contrary to the form of the statute. s/ J.L. GUION, solicitor. Apr term 1814 Summons for John PATRICK & Frederick I. COX to appear and testify on behalf of the state in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Jim & Tenah are defendants. Mar 1814 Summons for William CROOM, Rueben WITHERINGTON to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and negro Jim property of Moses GRIFFIN is defendant. Mar 1814 State vs. Jim & Tenah: Witness charge by Richard WITHERINGTON charged to the State. Includes 70 miles travel. Mar 1814 Wright C. STANLY, attorney for the State of NC and County of Craven gives the court to know that negro man slave Jim, property of Moses GRIFFIN and negro woman slave named Temah, property of Mary BROWN on 1 Mar 1814 killed one hog of the value of 12 pence, the property of Samuel SIMPSON, without the owner’s consent, and that on the same day they stole a hog from SIMPSON. [Not clear if this is the same hog, or if they allegedly killed one and stole another that they didn't kill]. Order to any law enforcement officer based on complaint by Genl. SIMPSON that on or about the 20th of Dec last a negro man Toney the property of [smeared] DELAMAR and Tenor belonging to the heirs of ____ BROWN killed 2 or 3 of his hogs; order is to bring Toney and Tenor to any JP. 13 Mar 1814. Attached to back: “Inasmuch as it appears that Tenor in the boat or canoe did take or hire Toney and Jim to carry her & her five gallons of rum up about Genl. SIMPSON’s premises, and all of them or some of them at least did kill the hogs—that she Tenor is concerned in a greater or less degree in the crime and therefore a greater punishment than 39 lashes is due her—in consequence thereof you are commanded to safely keep sd. Tenor in the jail so as she may be had before the county court of Craven to answer &c.” 17 Mar 1814 John R. DONNELL attorney pro ten for the County [of Craven] gives the court to understand that Amy a negro woman slave the property of Edward C. KING and Allen a negro man slave the property of Isaac TAYLOR on 26 Jul 1815 stole a mahogany chest of the value of 12 pence the property of Nancy SLOVER. Sept 1815 State vs. Jacob: Witness fee by Thomas P. IVES charged to the State. Includes 6 miles travel. Dec 1815 Summons for [can’t read] HAMPTON to appear and testify for the state in a case where the State is plaintiff and Jacob M. MCLURE is defendant. Mar 1825 Order to sheriff to collect £9.12.11 from John F. SMITH which was adjudged against him in a case in which the State was plaintiff Jacob the slave of John F. SMITH was defendant. [Charge is for costs of court]. Mar 1819 Order to sheriff to collect £7.19.2 from John F. SMITH which was adjudged against him in a case in which the State was plaintiff Jacob the slave of John F. SMITH was defendant. [Charge is for costs of court]. Dec 1816 Order to sheriff to collect £8.15.2 from John F. SMITH which was adjudged against him in a case in which the State was plaintiff Jacob the slave of John F. SMITH was defendant. [Charge is for costs of court]. Dec 1817 Order to sheriff to collect £8.2.11 from John F. SMITH which was adjudged against him in a case in which the State was plaintiff Jacob the slave of John F. SMITH was defendant. [Charge is for costs of court]. Mar 1817 Order to sheriff to collect £8.6.8 from John F. SMITH which was adjudged against him in a case in which the State was plaintiff Jacob the slave of John F. SMITH was defendant. [Charge is for costs of court]. Jun 1817 Summons for Shadrack HICKMAN and Thomas P. IVES to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and negro Jacob is defendant. Dec 1814 Summons for Jacob a slave to appear and answer the State on a charge of hog stealing. June 1815 Summons for Shadrack HICKMAN and Thomas P. IVES to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and negro Jacob is defendant. June 1815 Summons for Thomas THOMPSON to appear and testify on behalf of Jno. F. SMITH in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Jacob a slave is defendant. Dec 1815 Summons for Shadrack HICKMAN to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and negro Jacob is defendant. Dec 1815 George Edmond BADGER, Attorney for the State of NC and County of Craven gives the court to know that Jacob a negro man slave belonging to John F. SMITH on 3 Dec 1814 stole a hog of the value of 12 pence the property of Richard HICKMAN. Dec 1814 Warrant for Jacob a negro man slave the property of John F. SMITH for hog stealing. Dec 1814 Summons for Thomas THOMPSON to appear and testify on behalf of Jno. F. SMITH in a matter in which the State if plaintiff and Jacob a slave is defendant. Sept 1815 Summons for Joh MANSFIELD to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Jim defendant. Dec 1815 The State vs. Jacob the slave of Moses GRIFFIN & David the slave of Lydia GASKINS: Defendants are in custody under a charge of entering the dwelling house of Lydia GASKINS & stealing money and other articles. The defendants were brought before the JP’s at the jail in Newbern on 17 Feb 1815. Examination of Lydia GASKINS: On the night of Wed. 8th instant [i.e., Feb 1815] after midnight, she was in bed in her house; she was awakened by a noise in her room. She believed it was the negro girl who slept in the adjoining room & spoke to her but received no answer. Some person then came to her chest which stood hear her bedside took it & carried it out—as they went out at the door she saw them & thinks there was more than one person, but cannot say positively there was more than one. She found her chest the next morning in the woods—broken open & its contents carried off, except a pair of knitting needles— the property taken was cloathing, papers, money, &c. The sugar box, pair of silver shoe buckets & the papers, now produced, are her property and are a part of the articles which were removed from her house in the chest. She believes they entered the windows & that it was opened by violence. s/Lydia [X] GASKINS. Examination of Thomas MASTERS: States that last Sunday a search warrant was put in his hands to search for the property lost by Mrs. GASKINS. Together with Wm. P. FURLAW, he with permission of Capt. Robt. SPARROW in his [SPARROW’s] in the northwest room upstairs in a cupboard in the room found the sugar box now produced, with the papers which it now contains. MASTERS brought this box to the jail where Jacob was confined & asked him if he knew that box. He at first denied that he had any knowledge of it. MASTERS told him he was suspected to have had a hand in the robbery & advised him to confess & it would be better for him as he could not rely upon what others concerned might do to save their lives & left him. Afterwards, MASTERS saw him again & renewed his advice to him to confess & gave him to believe that by a confession he might escaped punishment. He then said he did not steal the things—that Mrs. GASKINS David brought them to him, he received them & could show where they were. MASTERS took Jacob with him to Capt. SPARROW’s garden & where Jacob pointed out dug & found a bag containing hard money & in the wheat lot adjoining Jas. STANLY’s garden found where Jacob directed a bag buried containing papers, bank notes, women’s & men’s apparel; these bags are the same now produced. Jacob said he had forgotten to bury or hide the box. There was $464.40 in specie and $510 in bank notes. David TAYLOR: Was with Mr. MASTERS when the box was found & heard his conversation with Jacob when he confessed & was with him when all bags were dug up. Agrees with deposition of Thos. MASTERS, except was not present when the hard money was dug up. Mrs. GASKINS’ Philles: A stocking was produced she believes was Jacob’s she assisted his wife Jerusha in footing it & put some stitches with a needle near the heel & therefore thinks she knows it to be the same. Last Christmas Jacob asked her if she would take some keys he had and open Mrs. GASKINS chest take out her [can’t read] & send him word she had something for him & he would come for it. She took the keys & carried them over the river but returned them but made no use of them. She slept in the house & Jacob asked her if she would open the door for him & she refused to do it—Jacob told her he had asked David to lend a hand to get the money but he was so damned honest he would not help him. She never told her mistress of this until since the chest was taken—this day—she told Miss Polly SAILOR of this also today. Mrs. GASKINS’ Peter: The stocking now produced to & deposed by Philles I found on the side of GAskins’ mill run next the house at the fording place the morning after the robbery—Mr. ANDREWS was present when I found the stocking. About a month ago Jacob told me it was said Mrs. GASKINS had a heap of money & that people could be found in town to go there and get it & she never know it—I made him no answer but grunted at him. 1 Feb 1815 Wright C. STANLY attorney for the State of NC and County of Craven gave the court to know that a man slave named Jacob the property of Moses GRIFFEN on 8 Feb 1815 about 10 at night broke and entered the house of Lydia GASKINS and stole 100 pieces of silver dollars of the value of £50 and one sugar box of the value of 5 shillings and one pair of silver shoe buckets of the value of 5 shillings. Mar term 1815 Order to any laws enforcement officer based on a complaint by Lydia GASKINS that last Wednesday evening she was robed of Sundry property such as specie, banks notes, wearing apparel, and suspects Jacob belonging to Moses GRIFFIN Simone belonging to E. SMALLWOOD, and Davie belonging to her; order is to bring Jacob, Simon, and Davey before any JP. 11 Feb 1815 Order to sheriff to receive and safely keep in jail negro Jacob the property of Moses GRIFFIN and David the property of Lydia GASKINS charged with burglary in the dwelling house of Mrs. Lydia GASKINS, & to keep them until discharged by law. 13 Feb 1815 Bond by Moses GRIFFIN for $1000. The condition is that whereas negro man Jacob the slave of Moses GRIFFIN has been charged with felony and witnesses for the prosecution not appearing, the discharge of the negro is directed upon the condition that he be sent beyond the limits of the state and be kept out of the state. If Moses GRIFFIN shall transport Jacob out of the state, & not permit his return, then the bond is void. 18 Mar 1815 To Executors of George BRYAN: Notified that a prosecution is now pending against Poll a negro slave belonging to your testator’s estate for murder and that information is filed against her in court; you can make such defense of the negro as you see fit. Mar 1816 Summons for Ann ERNULL to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Poll a negro slave is defendant. June 1816 Summons for Wm. M. HERRITAGE, Burton CARMON to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Poll a negro slave is defendant. June 1816 Summons for Daniel HUMPHRIES, Sally BEASLEY, Frederick MCCOY, Edmond HEATH to appear and testify on behalf of the Poll a slave in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Poll is defendant. Mar 1816 Summons for Daniel HUMPHRIES, William WHITE, and James WHITE to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Poll a negro slave is defendant. March 1816 Summons for James WHITE, William WHITE, Daniel HUMPHRIES, Levi WRIGHT, Zachariah HEATH, and Edmond HEATH to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Poll a negro slave is defendant. Mar 1816 Order by Wm. HERRITAGE, JP states that he is creditably informed that Negro Poll belonging to the estate of George BRYAN is suspected to have murdered a child named Zede HEATH; order is to apprehend Poll and bring her before a JP to be examined. Order also to make diligent search by all lawful means to find her and Bring with her all such persons as can give any information on behalf of the State touching the premises herein. 13 Feb 1816. Notice to Frederick BRYAN, George BRYAN, John BRYAN, and Johnson BRYAN Executors of George BRYAN, deceased: Prosecution is now pending and to be tried at the next term of Craven Court in June 1816 at the instance of the State against Poll a negro woman belonging to your testator’s estate on a charge of murder at which place and time you are invited to attend and defend the negro slave as you think proper. Mar 1816. Back: Notice communicated to the persons it was addressed to except Frederick BRYAN who is dead. June 1816 Inquest taken at Zackeriah HEATH’s on the body of Zede HEATH, infant, lying dead. Jury of inquest is John FONVIELLE, Wm. WHITE, James A. WHITE, Daniel HUMPHREY, Levi WRIGHT, Wm. SIMMONS, Auston PRESCOTT, Andrew RICHARDSON Junr., Benjamin WHTIE, Johnathan KETTREL, Whitchcoat WHITE, Wiley WHITE. Jury says that on the 12th day of February 1816 at the plantation of Zackerias HEATH Negro Girl Poll belonging to the estate of George BRYAN, Decd. Assaulted Zede HEATH with an ax of the value of £5 which in her right hand then and there held feloniously and gave Zede HEATH three mortal wounds on the head of which he died immediately; Poll willfully murdered him contrary to the peace and dignity of the State. Poll at the time of committing the felony and murder had no goods or chattels lands or tenements in the county. 13 Feb 1816. [Note: Zede HEATH is referred to as an infant, which means he was a minor under 21, not necessarily that he was a baby]. Charge by Wright C. STANLY, prosecutor for Craven County that Poll, a negro girl slave belonging to Frederick BRYAN, George BRYAN, John BRYAN, and Johnston BRYAN, Executors of the last will of George BRYAN, decd. “not having the fear of God before her eyes, but moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil” on 12 Feb 1816 upon Zedekiah HEATH willfully and with malice aforethought made an assault and with an ax the value of sixpence upon the left side of the head of Zedekiah HEATH struck him one mortal wound of the breadth of three inches and the depth of four inches, of which he instantly died. March 1816 Bond by George BRYAN and Johnston BRYAN for $7000. The condition is that whereas a negro girl slave named Poll the property of the obligers has been on this date tried in Craven County Court on a charge of murder and acquitted; if George BRYAN & Johnston BRYAN remove Poll beyond the limits of the State of NC or if Poll while remaining in this State shall be of good behavior then the obligation will be void. 13 June 1816 Charge by Wright C. STANLY, prosecutor for Craven County, that Ben, a Negro slave the property of Samuel HYMAN “being a person of evil and depraved disposition and corrupt heart and a common buyer and receiver of stolen goods” on 13 Oct 1815 received a piece of Sattinett of the value of ten shillings, a piece of casimere of the value of 10 shillings, and 3 pieces of calico of like value of the goods of Elijah CLARK, the goods having been stolen by a person as yet unknown. Ben, knowing the goods had been stolen, for the sake of wicked gain received the goods. Mar 1816 Order to sheriff to collect £4.7.3 from Thomas A. GREEN, guardian of Sarah MCILWEAN, taxed in a suit in which the State was plaintiff and Jim, a slave, the property of Sarah MCILWEAN was defendant. Sept 1816 Order to sheriff to collect £18.4.2 from Thomas S. SINGLETON, taxed in a suit in which the State was plaintiff and David, a slave, the property of Thomas S. SINGLETON was defendant. Sept 1816 Order to sheriff to collect £18.7.11 from Thomas S. SINGLETON, taxed in a suit in which the State was plaintiff and David, a slave, the property of Thomas S. SINGLETON was defendant. Dec 1816 Order to sheriff to collect £18.15.5 from Thomas S. SINGLETON, taxed in a suit in which the State was plaintiff and David, a slave, the property of Thomas S. SINGLETON was defendant. June 1817 Warrant for David a negro man slave the property of Patsy SINGLETON to appear and answer a charge for hog stealing. Dec 1814 Warrant for David a negro man slave the property of Patsy SINGLETON to appear and answer a charge for hog stealing. Dec 1815 Warrant for David a negro man slave the property of Patsy SINGLETON to appear and answer a charge for hog stealing. Jun 1815 Appearance bond by Thomas SINGLETON for the appearance of David, negro slave on a charge of hog stealing. 3 Jan 1816 Appearance bond by Thomas SINGLETON for the appearance of David, negro slave on a charge of hog stealing. 16 Apr 1816 Warrant for David a slave to appear and answer a charge for hog stealing. Mar 1816 Summons for Shadrack HICKMAN and Thomas P. IVES to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a manner in which the State is plaintiff and negro David is defendant. Dec 1814 Summons for Shadrack HICKMAN and Thomas P. IVES to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a manner in which the State is plaintiff and David is defendant. June 1815 State vs. David: Witness fee for Thomas THOMPSON charged to defendant, includes 12 miles travel. Mar term 1816 State vs. David: Witness fee for Thomas THOMPSON charged to defendant, includes 12 miles travel. Dec term 1815 State vs. David: Witness fee for Thomas P. IVES charged to plaintiff, includes 6 miles travel. Dec term 1815 State vs. David: Witness fee for Thomas P. IVES charged to plaintiff, includes 500 miles travel. June term 1816 State vs. David: Witness fee for Thomas THOMPSON charged to defendant, includes 12 miles travel. June term 1816 Charge by George E. BADGER, prosecutor for Craven County, that David a negro man slave belonging to Patsy SINGLETON, spinster, on 3 Dec 1814 stole a hog of the value of 12 pence the property of Richard HICKMAN. Dec term 1814 Warrant for Ben, a slave belonging to the heirs of Thomas HYMAN based on a charge by Elijah CLARK that on 13 Oct last his store was broken into by persons unknown to him, and that a quantity of dry goods were stolen to amount of $200, and that he has just reason to believe that Ben was concerned therein. 22 Jan 1816 Notice to John COART, guardian of Samuel HYMAN, that a prosecution is now pending against Ben a negro slave belonging to Samuel HYMAN “whose guardian you are” for burglary and housebreaking and other felonies and that information for the offenses are filed against him. You can make such defense for the Negro as you see fit. Mar 1816 Summons for John FENNO, a fee man of color, to appear immediately and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State of NC is plaintiff and Ben a negro slave is defendant. 13 Mar 1816 Summons for Peter George and McLins PETER to appear and testify on behalf of Ben in a controversy in which the State is plaintiff and Ben is defendant. Mar 1816 Charge by Wright C. STANLY, prosecutor for Craven County that Ben a negro slave the property of Samuel HYMAN, on 13 Oct 1815 about 9 in the night did break and enter the dwelling house of Elijah CLARK with the intent to steal one piece of satinet of the value of 10 shillings, one piece of casimere of the value of ten shillings, and 3 pieces of calico of the value of 50 shillings and did steal [these items]. Also that Ben, on 13 Oct 1815 at about five in the afternoon did break and enter (no person being then in the dwelling house) the house of Elijah CLARK and stole one piece of satinet of the value of ten shillings, one piece of casimere of the value of ten shillings, and 3 pieces of calico of the value of 50 shillings. Mar term 1816 Depositions in the case State at the instance of Elijah CLARK vs. Ben, belonging to the estate of Thomas HYMAN and others: Elijah CLARK: In the month of October last he believes in the night of 28th his store was broken open, the window appeared to have been forced open & sundry goods stolen, among others a piece of domestic manufacture called stainett and a piece of mixed casimere, a silver watch, seven pieces of calico, cash between $50 and $100, two pair Morocco women shoes, the pieces of calico he now produces he believes to be a part of that stolen of him, he found one in possession of negro woman Chelsea property of heirs of James GREEN, another piece found same time was claimed by Mrytilla or Matilda the property of HYMAN’s estate, a third piece he found in possession of Grace, the property of Doct. BLOUNT. A garment for a boy made of the stuff called satinett he found in the room occupied by Ben the property of HYMAN’s estate & under the bed in which Ben was lying. He also found a pair of mans pantaloons of the same stuff under Ben’s bed—all these goods he believes are those stolen from his store. Ben the property of HYMAN’s estate: Sometime in the fall after Mr. GOODING with whom he then lived returned from New York, negro Peter belonging to MCLIN told him Mr. TRIPPE’s Henry had some cloth for him—that he afterwards saw Henry at Blounts Grocerys house & Henry told him he would give him a piece of cloth if he would not tell that he had seen him have goods. Henry did give him 5 yds of one piece & 3 yds. Of another piece & 5 yds, of calico. The boys garment produced by Mr. CLARK made of the clothe given him by Henry— the pantaloons also he claims & are made of the same cloth. He promised Henry he would not tell on him—Ben paid entry 20s. On account of the good besides promising not to tell. Henry refused to tell how he came by the goods. The 5 yards of cloth Ben says he sold to Gideon JONES’ man Bias. Henry gave Grace a piece of calico for her child—he does not know to whom Henry Gaven any other goods, but he had other goods with him at the time he gave Ben these he has mentioned. The conversation with Peter was in the street opposite Mr. GOODING’s store. He had heard that Mr. CLARK’s store had been robbed before Henry gave him the goods. He says he did not see Henry have more or a watch, but he suspects he had money as he was giving tea parties. Upon further examination he admits he saw Henry have money & counted it upon a stool at Graces—the money was in change bill, a large parcel he had some quarters in his pocket & some in his hands. NO person was present when the money was counted but him & Henry—Grace was abed in the room. He since recollects that Rose was present when the money was counted & the goods given to him. Elijah, property of Mr. CLARK: Says he has no knowledge of the affair, he did not receive any of the goods nor money—not sworn, but examined. Grace: (Charge & examined as witness): Ben gave her child calico for [can’t read]. The piece produced by Mr. CLARK is some of it. Rose took a piece of calico from Ben in play & threw it to the child. Rose is Bens wife. She [Grace] did not see Ben have any money. Rose: Last fall Mr. CLARK’s Elijah came three nights following to Grace’s house where Ben was with Rose, & took him to the door & they talked together & Ben said he would not go. That one night afterwards late at night TRIPP’s Henry, Peter GEORGE a free negro & CLARK’s Elijah came to the house & brought with them goods in their arms—a barrel of rum, a barrel of pork—the rum they drew off in jugs & kegs that night; the barrel of pork was buried in the garden. Peter GEORGE took off with him the rum that night. Henry had a quantity of money, some of which Peter GEORGE took to buy salt. The goods were left at the room where they were brought & left there until the next night, when Henry & Peter GEORGE came & received the goods & Peter GEORGE took them away. Henry gave Ben 2 pieces of calico. She has seen Peter GEORGE wear a coat & pantaloons of one of the pieces of the cloth. The night the goods were taken away Elijah came to the door and opened it & Henry met him at the door & told him “my fellow creature all things are done right, you need not give yourself any trouble.” Peter GEORGE was to sell the goods. The night the goods were brought there Ben did not go out but staid with her. The pork was taken out of the barrel some days after & Peter GEORGE took it away in a long bag. She has seen Peter GEORGE’s wife have 2 dresses of the calico that was brought to Graces than night—She has seen Jacob DOVE wear pantaloons of the cloth, a vest also of the same cloth with blue homespun back. One of the nights that Elijah came to Bens he brought a pistol with him. Matilda belonging to HYMAN: (Charged with having some of the stolen property in her possession) Asked how she came by that calico, says a black man in the street at night offered to give it to her for certain indulgencies—she took the calico & went into Mr. SEARS’ kitchen & gave the fellow the kiss—she doesn’t know the negro & has no knowledge of the goods except what she states. Chelsea belonging to GREEN’s estate: (Charged with having some of the stolen goods in her possession) Says Ben who had been her husband but had left her, gave her 5 yards of calico—she knows not where he got it. Peter GEORGE a free man: (Charge with a concern in robbing Mr. CLARK’S store He does not know Mr. TRIPP’s Henry—nor CLARK’s Elijah, but he knows Rose, Ben’s wife & he knows Ben. He was not at Rose’s last fall nor any other time, never carried a barrel of rum to her house, nor a barrel of pork, nor received any goods there to take down the river to sell. His wife has a new calico gown which he bought of Ha. JONES—he has no clothes of the kin of cloth now shown him. Depositions taken at the Jail in Newbern 24 Jan 1816 Indictment by jury of Richard MORRIS, a free man of color for living & cohabiting with Dinah WILKERSON a white woman—on Adams Creek. Jury: Guilford MURPHEY foreman, CHRISTOPHER Dawson, M.D., Jno. WHEDON, William GOODING, Leonard LOFTIN, Thomas DELAMAR, Burton ALLEN, Jd. FRIOU, Wm. GATLIN, John SHINE, Peter ENGLISH, Elisha HALL, Joseph BELL, Aaron ERNUL, Thos. P. IVES, Wm. DURHAM, Smith DELAMAR, B. VAIL. Apr 1814 Jurors for the state present that Richard MORRIS, laborer, on 10 Apr 1814 and at divers other days both before and after unlawfully did bed and cohabit together with Dina WILKERSON, he not being lawfully married to Dinah. Apr term 1814 Wright C. STANLY, prosecutor for Craven County, charges Dinah a negro slave the property of Doreen MUMFORD on 23 May 1816 with making an assault on Matilda HARDURICKS and beat, wounded, and ill treat her. June 1816 Charge by Parmelia CARPENTER that Dinah belonging to D. MUMFORD did brick bat her child to the danger of its life. 24 May 1816 Complaint made by Francis LAGON & Mary his wife that Sally MITCHELL, a free girl of color, has threatned them with bodily harm & used toward them insulting language, & they fear bodily harm from Sal. Order to sheriff to take Sally MITCHELL &. Bring her before a JP to be dealt with on the complaint. 26 Aug 1816 Summons for William HANDCOCK to testify on behalf of Ben in a matter in which The State is plaintiff and Ben is defendant. Mar 1816 Notice to Nathan SMITH, senior that at June term 1817 three negroes slaves called Michum, Reuben, & Ben Henry, property of SMITH, will be tried on a charge for stealing and killing a steer the property of John WEST decd. At which time an opportunity will be afforded SMITH for the defending the slaves if he thinks proper. Mar term 1817 Summons for John BRINSON to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Mitchum, Rufus, & Ben Henry are defendants. Mar 1817 Warrant for Mitchum, Reuben, and Ben Henry, negro slaves of Nathan SMITH, senior to appear and answer the State upon an information filed against them for killing a steer the property of John WEST. June 1817 Warrant for Mitchum, Reuben, and Ben Henry, negro slaves of Nathan SMITH, senior to appear and answer the State upon an information filed against them for killing a steer the property of John WEST. Mar 1817 State vs. Mitchum, & Ben, slaves of N. SMITH’s: Witness charge by John BRINSON to the State, includes travel of 28 miles. Sept term 1817 Summons for Daniel BRINSON to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and sundry slaves of Nathan SMITH are defendants. June 1817 Summons for Caleb a negro man slave the property of Levi WAYNE and Daniel BRINSON to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Minshero & other slaves of Nathan SMITH are defendants. June 1817 Nathan SMITH complains that this morning a Negro Slave named Esther belonging to Capt. Richard FISHER did attempt to set the Town of Newbern on fire by putting fire to the house of Spencer PITTMAN. Order to sheriff to bring the body of Lucy [note that first reference is to Esther] to some justice to be dealt with as the law directs. 15 June 1815 Charge by Wright C. STANLY, prosecuting attorney for Craven County that a negro slave woman named Esther, the slave of Richard FISHER, “not having the fear of God before her eyes but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil” after the 14th day of June 1815, to wit on the 15th of June 1815 about 5 in the morning set fire to a house of Nathan SMITH. June 1815 Charge by Wright C. STANLY, prosecuting attorney for Craven County that Jim a negro slave the property of Sarah MCILWEAN and Frances MCILWEAN on 17 February 1816 one ______ stone horse of the price of £10 of the goods of William J. CARMAN did steal. Mar 1816 Order to sheriff to collect £3.17.5 from Thomas FOY adjudged against him in a a case in which the State was plaintiff and Jim the negro slave of Thomas FOY was defendant. Sept 1818 Order to sheriff to collect £4.11 from Thomas A. GREEN, guardian of Sarah MCILWEAN, taxed in a suit in which the State was plaintiff and Jim, a slave, the property of Sarah MCILWEAN was defendant. Dec 1816 Receipt from Dempsey HOLTON for £3.10.0 for witness tickets in suit George a man of color vs. Dempsy WILLIAMS & John S. GREEN. 9 Dec 1817 Receipt from Jn. C. STANLY for $14.30 being the cost due Wm.B. PERKINS Michael POWERS in the suit of George a man of color against Dempsey WILLIAMS & John S. GREEN Executor returnable to Oct. Superior Court 1817 Order to sheriff to collect six pence from Dempsey WILLIAMS & John S. GREEN which George a man of color recovered against them for damages, to be levied on the life estate of WILLIAMS in 500 ac of land on Goose Cr. Mar 1817 Charge by Wright C. STANLY, prosecuting attorney for Craven County that a negro man slave named Mitchum, the slave of Nathan SMITH; another man slave named Reuben, the property of Nathan SMITH; and a negro man slave named Ben Henry, the slave of Nathan SMITH on 1 Mar 1817 found and killed one steer the of the value of 12 pence, the property of John WEST. Mar term 1817 Summons for Mary CHURCHILL to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Jim defendant. Sept. 1815 Complaint by Burton CARMON that a horse called Mark has been stolen out of the stable of William J. CARMAN on the 17th instant and he has reason to believe a certain negro boy belonging to the heirs of Francis MCILWEAN [sentence ends there]. Order to any constable or to John GREEN to take the body of the negro Jim and bring him before any justice to be dealt with according to law. 20 Feb 1816. Back: Notice from Wm. H. HERRITAGE, JP to sheriff or keeper of the Goal of Newbern that he sends Negro Jim belonging to the heirs of Francis MCILWEAN taken upon my warrant and brought before me. Entering the stable of William J. CARMAN on 17th instant and staling a certain stud horse to the value of $50, property of William J. CARMAN. Order to receive Jim and safely keep until he shall be from thence discharged by due Course of law. 20 Feb 1816 Complaint by Jos. SHEFFIEDL, Wm.H. JUDD, & James GRISWOLD that a negro boy named Jim the property of John JONES, Esqr. Did this night set fire to a blacksmith shop near Mrs. CHURCHILLs. Order to sheriff to make the body of Jim and keep him in jail until discharged according to law. Newbern, 10 Jul 1815 Indictment for Negro slave Jim, the property of John JONES, Esq. “not having the fear of God before his eyes” for setting on fire and burning down the house in the occupation of Robert V. ORNE on 10 Jul 1815. Further on the same date, Jim set fire to the house of ORNE, putting contiguous dwelling houses in danger of being burned to the terror and affrightment of the good citizens near the house. Further that Jim set the fire with an intent to burn the contiguous houses. [Note: At one point the document says the house set on fire was the property of Charles CHURCHILL occupied by Robert V. ORNE] Sept term 1815 Indictment of William WILLIAMS for “intertaining” and teaching Negro slaves on 18 Sept 1818. Jury: Hardy L. JONES, Foreman, Abner WHITHEAD, Marmakude MOY, John GREEN Jr., William [X] HARDY, Asa BRINSON, George HILL, Joseph SMITH, Josiah FULSHER, S. DAUGHETY Sr, Peter ENGLISH, John H. [X] JONES, John M. OLIVER. Sept term 1818 “We the Grand Jury for the presenting term think proper to present to your Worships a certain Negro by the name of Jack or known more commonly by the name of Crazy Jack as we think him to be a common nuisance in the town with your Worshipfull body to take proper measures to prevent the said Crazy Jack from continuing to go at large in the town of Newbern.” Jury Isaac TAYLOR, Foreman, Barnum LINCOLN, Joseph CARRUTHERS, Jesse VENDRICK, James MACKELROY, Asa ARTHUR, Wm. [X] MEWS, Frederick CARNEY, Charles BUTLER, Elijah [X] DOWDY, Joseph MORRIS, Norman WILLIS, John [X] BROUGHTON. Mar term 1819 Warrant for Jacob MCCLURE with his sons John & Jacob MCCLURE for beating and wounding in a barbarous manner Negro man Bill, belonging to the estate of James HOUSTON, and is hired by the year by MOMFORD the plaintiff. This assault & beating happened on the morning of 13h instant. 6 Apr 1819 Appearance bond for Jacob MCCLURE with Asa JONES to appear and answer the state on a complaint of Donut MUMFORD for having beaten & wounded a Negro man slave, the property of the Estate of _____________ HOUGHSTON, and hired by the year by the plaintiff. 7 Apr 1819 Appearance bond by John SNEAD for the appearance of a Negro woman called Stache, the property of Ann FATHERCE. 14 Jul 1819 Search warrant issued by William GATLIN, JP based on a complaint by James IPOCK that a shad net was stolen out Nuse R. Where IPOCK left her setting on the night of the 23rd instant by persons unknown. IPOCK has probable reasons to suspect that the goods are concealed in or about the Negro houses on the plantation of Shadrick GATLIN. Sheriff is therefore authorized with proper assistance to enter in the daytime the negro houses on the plantation and search for the net, and if found to bring it and the person or persons whose custody the net was in to William GATLIN or another JP to be dealt with as the law requires. 25 Jan 1819. Back: The property herein mentioned was found in the house occupied by Sally a free woman of color and Henry a slave by the officer D.R. WHITFORD and proved by James IPOCK. Examination of Sally STRINGER a free woman of color and Henry the property of Abner PASTURE taken by a warrant from William GATLIN, 25 Jan 1819. Sally: Q. How came this net in your house? A. My husband brought her there. Q. How is your husband? A. Here he is Griffiths Henry. Q. How did he say he came by her? A. He bought her he told me. Henry: Q. How came you by this net? A. I bought her. Q. Who did you buy her of? A. Of a black man and I do not know him but he told me his name was Tom. Q. Do not you know nearly all the negros in the county? A. I believe I do nearly all, but I do not hardly think he belonged to this county. Q. Where did you fall in with Tom to buy this net? A. I was coming from old Joes and overtook him on the Creek he asked me if I did want some shad I told him I had no money he then said he would sell me a net and pay one dollar and he must trust me for the balance he said he would when I come to over hall the net and so what she was worth. “This was about the greater part of what was said in the presents of Jacob BURCH, Allen ERNUL, D.R. WHITFORD, and Barron GATLIN.” s/Wm. GATLIN Order to jailer of Craven County to receive the bodies of Henry a slave of Capt. LLOYD and Sally his wife a free woman of color, charged with having taken from James IPOCK Senr. one shad net out of Neuce R. Where he had set her, which net was found in the house of Sally and Henry and sworn to by the prosecutor and proved by witness. They are to be kept in jail until they give bond or are discharged by due corse of law. 25 Jan 1819 Appearance bond for Sally WILSON with Donut MUMFORD, bondsman, both free persons of color to appear and answer the state on a complaint by James IPOCK. 26 Jan 1819 Warrant for a negro slave named Morris the property of Nathan SMITH based on a complaint by James G. CUTHBERT that Morris on the 3rd instant did break into his kitchen & steal therefrom a trunk & sundry articles. 4 June 1819 Order to collect £2.2 from Nathaniel SMITH, charged against him in the suit in which the State was plaintiff and SMITH defendant. Sept 181__ Order to collect of Nathan SMITH and Nathan SMITH, Jr. the sum of £9.10 taxed in a suit brought by the State of NC. 23 May 1816 Order to collect of Nathaniel SMITH the sum of £1.15.6 taxed against him for the costs of a suit brought by the state against Smith for a forfeited recognizance. Oct 1820 Appearance bond by Nathaniel SMITH for the appearance of Negro man Morris the property of SMITH to answer a charge of Robbery. 19 Jul 1819 Summons for Silas Messor a slave of Jeremiah BROWN, Phillis slave of James OLIVER & Lizzy to appear and testify on behalf of Morris in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Morris is defendant. June 1819 Summons for a negro man Mars to appear and testify on behalf of the state in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and a negro slave Morris is defendant. June 1819 Summons for Sarah and Lucy, slaves of James G. CUTHBERT to appear and testify on behalf of Morris in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Morris is defendant. June 1819 Summons for Nathaniel SMITH to appear and show cause why he should not forfeit his recognizance in a case in which he entered into recognizance for the appearance of Morris a slave of Nathan SMITH, who failed to appear. Oct 1819 [2 copies of this in folder] Criminal Actions concerning slaves and free persons of color 1820-1822 State vs. Ben, the slave of John B. HERRINGTON: This is a Supreme Court opinion. The document is 9 pages long, and includes opinions by several justices, with no details about this particular case. Apparently the case was appealed based on a question of the types of evidence and witnesses needed to convict a slave of a capital crime. The document refers to various legislative acts. It appears that: There was no law governing crimes alleged to have been committed by slaves, such as murder, insurrection, or conspiracy to commit murder or insurrection prior to 1741, and that it is likely that slaves at that time were hastily tried, and subject to injustice. In 1741, a law was enacted that required that slaves accused of such serious crimes be tried by 3 magistrates and 4 freemen who were slave owners, and that the rules of evidence were stricter than was the case for freemen accused of similar crimes. (This was seen as a protection for the slaves, who were deprived of most other rights and forms of defense). In particular, the law in 1741 was to protect slaves against public hysteria in cases of insurrection or alleged conspiracy for insurrection by requiring that testimony by a slave for or against another slave was not enough to convict; there has to be corroborating evidence or more than one witness. (This is referred to as pregnant circumstances). From 1741 until the time of this case (Dec 1821), other laws were enacted that moved jurisdiction to County Courts or County Superior Courts. The judges disagreed as to whether this removed the pregnant circumstances requirement, since these courts had regular rules of evidence. December term 1821. [Note that this is a brief summary of a 9-page document that includes history and interpretation of laws from 1741-1821]. [Note: This specific case was a topic in the book Slavery and the Law by Paul Finkelman. See this link: https://books.google.com/books?id=1YI0DvuukxkC&pg=PA216&lpg=PA216&dq=pregnant +circumstances+slave&source=bl&ots=bardoILVBp&sig=UgTAnZE- YfNM1Qw2KVP2t0npg3Y&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiW5u3pur7XAhXBQSYKHaZZBxIQ6AEIJjAA# v=onepage&q=pregnant%20circumstances%20slave&f=false] Deposition of William DUNKIN that about March 1820 he was employed to go in search of a colored girl Dicy MOORE a free girl said to have been carried away for the purpose of illegally selling or disposing of her as a slave. Deponent found such a girl in Columbia where she had been taken from a person carrying her and offering her for sale. Deponent produced the indentures from Craven County Court , the letters of declaration from J.W. STANLY & others and had the girl delivered to him & brought her back to NC. Deponent does not recollect seeing the defendant BRYAN after this time until sometime last fall or winter when he was [can’t read] (or Wm. BRYANs) he saw the defendant BRYAN & had a conversation about the girl Dicy—the defendant BRYAN set up a claim to the girl as his property spoke of his being gone to Georgia for proof & showed deponent certain papers and in this conversation BRYAN admitted his having carried the girl to Columbia where he was stopped & she was taken from him. Deponent understood that BRYAN then went on to Georgia after evidence. Defendant BRYAN also told deponent that the girl Dicy when young had been left by him in possession of Cathy FRIOU & that she taking advantage of defendant’s absence at sea had gone to court to get the girl bound to her. 15 Aug 1821 Deposition of Cathy FRIOU: Girl Dicy MOORE was bound to her by the County Court of Craven by the indentures produced. Deponent say that about 18 years ago the girl Dicy MOORE then an infant of a year old or more was brought to the house of this deponents mother and left with her. Deponent soon after come to live with her mother and frequently about that time heard the defendant BRYAN who had left the child with deponents mother speak of the girl Dicey and say she was the daughter of a white woman named Lydia MOORE and deponent never knew of his setting up any claim to the girl as a slave until about 2 years ago when defendant told deponent he had a bill of sale for Dicy & asked this deponent if she was not afraid to be so far from home & if she was not afraid he would steal Dicy. Deponent answered if she was afraid she supposed it was not without reason as [can’t read] had heard he was determined to have her. Oh said he when I want her I can send my man after her—while this deponent was at Swifts Creek Bridge in Feb 1820 about five miles from home the girl Dicy was taken away from her house and this deponent did not see her afterwards until she found her in possession of Wm. DUNKIN. 15 Aug 1821 Attached: Order to jailer of Craven County to produce the body of John BRYAN as soon as practicable, who was now in prison, together with the day and cause of his capture and detention, so that further legal course of action can be decided upon. Also says if any particular person known to you are interested in the detention of this man to give them notice of his application for this writ of habeas corpus, together with the time and place of return. Back: Based on examination of witnesses William DUNKIN and Cathy FRIOU, it appears that there is much ground to believe the defendant BRYAN had taken the girl Dicy out of the state unlawfully for the purpose of selling or otherwise disposing of her & knowing her to be free and BRYAN been unable to offer any sufficient security for his appearance, order to recommit him and have him at the next term of Superior Court. 15 Out 1821 “The jurors for the County aforesaid [Craven] present, as a nuisance, that the great number of slaves of the County and particularly in the Town of Newbern hiring of their own time, to the great injury of all well disposed citizens altho there is a law existing as relates to this Town, that one hundred slaves are permitted to hire their own time. But this Grand Jury are of the opinion from the charge of your Honor, they hold this practice an [can't read] offense, not withstanding of such a law.” Jurors: Cla. IVEY, Foreman; James HORTON, Jno. MILLER, Joseph KILL, Joshua CARRAWAY, John JUSTICE, John SHINE, Richd. RICHARDSON, John HARRIS, Christopher DELAMAR, J.B. CARNEY, Jemuel GORDON, Joseph WALLACE, Gidn. CARRWAY, John H. JONES, Wm. ISLER, Wm. BLACKLEDGE, Thos. ROE. April term 1820 Warrant for Morris the slave of Nathaniel SMITH to answer a charge by Nancy ORR of burglary. Oct 1820 Appearance bond by Nathan SMITH, senior for £100 for his slave Morris to appear and answer a charge of burglary. 14 Apr 1821 Order to sheriff in response to a complaint by Nancy ORR that on the night of 19 September inst. Her dwelling house or kitchen in New Bern was forcibly broken open & entered by Morris, a slave belonging to Nathan SMITH. Order is to bring Morris before a Justice of the Peace to be dealt with as the law directs. Below this is a list of other people to be summoned: Joe, slave of Danl. SHACKELFORD for the State and Esther a free woman of color and Ruth, slave of Nathan SMITH for the defense. 20 Sept 1820 Appearance bond by Nathaniel SMITH for the appearance of Negro man Morris, the property of SMITH to appear abide by the judgement of the court, and depart the same. New Bern 23 Sept 1820. Jurors present that Morris a slave the property of Nathan SMITH, on 19 Sept 1820, about the hour of two of the same day, with force and arms entered the house of Nancy ORR, feloniously and did break and enter, with intent to take away the goods and chattels of ORR. Apr 1821 Prosecution bond by William DABNEY to prosecute a suit against John CAMPBELL for certain stolen property found in CAMPBELL’s possession this day. 10 Feb 1819. Attached: Order to sheriff based on complaint by William DABNEY that his store was broken open on the night of 9 Feb, & robbed of some bags of coffee, kegs of wine, & a quantity of cheese, & that he hath cause to believe John CAMPBELL was concerned in the robbery. Order is to bring John CAMPBELL before a justice of the peach. 10 Feb 1819. Prosecution bond by William DABNEY to prosecute a suit against Polly BROWN for certain stolen goods found in her possession. 11 Feb 1819. Attached: Appearance bond by Polly BROWN to appear and answer such things as are alleged against her, for receiving certain stolen goods found in her possession. Thomas WASHBURN and John R. GOOD are bondsmen. 11 Feb 1919. Attached: Order to sheriff based on complaint by William DABNEY that his store was broken open on the night of 9 Feb, & robbed of some bags of coffee, kegs of wine, & a quantity of cheese, & that he hath cause to believe Polly BROWN was concerned in the robbery. 10 Feb 1819 Deposition of Polly BROWN taken 11 Feb 1819: On the night of 9 instant at a very late hour, somebody knocked at the door, and Mr. CAMPBELL got up, and was gone some time, and then called me out of my bed. I went into the shop, there I found CAMPBELL in Company with Morris, a negro man slave the property of Nathan SMITH and Moses a negro man slave the property of the heirs of Benners DAIL, Esq. decd. With two kegs which Polly understood had been brought there filled with wine and [can’t read] into a Barrel which was in the shop before her knowledge. She also saw a quantity of coffee, but does not know how much, but not less than 3 or 4 boxes and empty bags carried away by the Negroes; there were also nine or ten cheeses, some on the Counter and some brought afterwards, but those brought after were carried away by the negroes. They also carried away one or two bags of coffee and also the empty kegs. The negroes went and came at different times during the night; at one time CAMPBELL went to bed, but some time after the time Polly got up, some person knocked again at the door and CAMPBELL got up, and remained so for some time, then came to bed again. The wine was very good, and know there was no wine in the shop before for some time. When we heard of DABNEY’s store being broken said nothing about the property we had in possession. The money given in payment of this property appeared to me to be but a trifle. Order to sheriff based on complaint by William DABNEY that his store was broken open on the night of this instant, & robbed of some bags of coffee, kegs of wine, & a quantity of cheese, & that he hath cause to believe that a Negro slave called Morris the property of Nathan SMITH and a negro slave belonging to the estate of John COART called Moses are concerned in the theft. Order is to bring Morris & Moses before some Justice of the Peace. 11 Feb 1819. Order to jailer of Craven County to receive the Negro man Morris into the jail until he be lawfully discharged. 11 Feb 1819. Below this: Order to receive Moses, the property of Jno. COART, and keep him until lawfully discharged. 11 Feb 1819. Attached: Appearance bond by John COART for the appearance of a slave Moses, he having acknowledged that he, along with other, broke open & stole from the store of Wm. DABNEY, goods amounting to £200. 11 Feb 1809 Deposition of John CAMPBELL taken in jail of his own free will on 11 Feb 1819: Morris a negro man slave the property of Nathan SMITH and Moses a negro man slave the property of the heirs of Benners VAIL, Esq. dec. came a little before day of the ninth instant and knocked at the door. They asked me if I would buy a barrel of wine. I told them I will, and asked the prices. I then asked where did you get this wine. They answered it was none of my business where they got it. I might as well have a bargain as any person. I then asked them the price particularly; their answer was $30. I told them I will give $20. They brought in the wine, and I gave them the money. The wine was in the same barrel in which it was found on the tenth. As to the Coffee I had a little before. They asked me also if I did not want to buy coffee that I should have a bargain. I told them I would give twenty cents, but did not weigh. The asked me do you want to buy cheese. I said I did not, but they answered you might as well have it as another. We will give you a bargain also in the cheese. They then brought eight into the shop and I asked them again where do get theses cheeses; they answered it was none of my business and then parted. Appearance bond by William W. LYONS with Richard F. ARCHER & Henry DALY, bondsmen, for LYONS to appear and give evidence on behalf of the state where the State is plaintiff and John CAMPBELL is defendant. 11 Feb 1819 State vs. John CAMPBELL & Polly BROWN, Morris a slave the property of Nathan SMITH, Simon, slave, the property of Nathan SMITH, and Moses a slave the property of Jno. COART. Examination of Moses, one of the defendants on 11 Feb 1819: On the ninth instant he heard a conversation between the defts. CAMPBELL & Morris above named. Morris asked CAMBPELL if the Palma Christe Seed was there he replied no, they were moved, but there was plenty of coffee & cheese & [can’t read] they was right. He believes this conversation had reference to Mr. DABNEY’s store & he believes the amount of what CAMPBELL said was to urge Morris to commit a robbery. This conversation took place early in the evening of the day before mentioned. Deponent further says that about 2 o’clock in the morning of the 10th instant, he, together with Morris & Simon the deft. above named, went down to the store of Mr. DABNEY & Morris with a [can’t read] broke the east window in the fourth end of the store & went into the store. Morris then passed out of the window several bags of coffee, kegs of wine, & some cheese which he and Simon recd. at the window & carried up to CAMPBELL’s dwelling. He further says that Morris carried one bag of coffee to the dwelling of Peter JOHN, knocked him up & delivered him the bag. He [Moses] & Morris then put three bags of coffee, one keg of wine, some cheese, & several axes (all taken from the store of Mr. DABNEY) into a canoe & he & Morris took them over to the south side of Trent River & hid them there in the marsh up a cove & near the ferry point. Simon was first started in the canoe with the bags of coffee, Keg of wine above mentioned for the purpose of hiding them in the stone ballast on the end of N. SMITH’s wharf, that on Morris & himself going round to the wharf to look for Simon they found the canoe with the articles in her, but Simon was gone, & he [Moses] is inclined to the belief that he is drowned. He saith further that the last mentioned coffee wine cheese & axes have since been found in consequence of information given by himself which information he gave under a promise that he should be favored. He said the articles were found at the place above described & have been delivered to Mr. DABNEY. Deponent said in conclusion that it was with great reluctance he took a part in the robbery above mentioned, that he was over persuaded to do so by Morris & that Morris told him a few weeks ago he had broken into the store of Mr. DABNEY & stolen therefrom boots, cheese, & rum. Order to sheriff based on complaint by William DABNEY that his store was broken open on the night of this instant, & robbed of some bags of coffee, kegs of wine, & a quantity of cheese, & that he hath cause to believe that John CAMPBELL was concerned in the robbery and the goods or a part thereof are concealed in his house. Order is to enter the dwelling house, outhouses, & premises of John and diligently search for the goods. 10 Feb 1819 Jury presents that Morris, a slave belonging to Nathan SMITH on 9 Feb 1819, stole from William DABNEY one cheese of the value of 5 shillings. April 1819 Warrant for Morris, slave of Nathaniel SMITH to appear and answer the state upon an indictment for burglary. Apr 1821 Summons for William Charlotte Somersett salve to James JONES, Henry or Harry, slave of William DUNSTAN, Chelsea, residing at Mrs. ORR’s to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the state is plaintiff and Morris is defendant. Apr 1821. Summons for Chelsea BOGUE, Jo belonging to SHACKELFORD, Hannah BOGUE to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the state is plaintiff and Morris is defendant. Oct 1820 Summons for Nancy ORR to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the state is plaintiff and Morris is defendant. Oct 1820 Summons for Polly STRINGER to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the state is plaintiff and Morris is defendant. Apr 1821 Jury presents that Morris, a slave the property of Nathan SMITH, on the 19 of September 1820 about 10 of the night broke and entered the dwelling house of Nancy ORR, spinster with intent to steal the goods and chattels of Nancy ORR. Apr 1821. State vs. Negro Morris: “Nathan SMITH the owner of Morris makes oath that he hopes to obtain testimony he believes important & indispensable to the defense & fair trial of Negro Morris & which is rendered more important from the circumstance that he had been misled by information of testimony which he could procure the desired testimony he cannot procure this day.” 28 Apr 1821 Summons for John MANSFIELD to appear and testify on behalf of the state in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Ben defendant. Oct 1821 Summons for Elijah CLARK to appear and testify on behalf of the state in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Ben defendant. Apr 1821 “Bail to be taken in the sum of $1000 with two securities in $500 each before Durant HATCH, senr. John P. DAVIS, Edward R. KING Esquires or either of them. Enter this in each of the cases of larceny.” [This is all that is written on this small slip of paper]. [Piece of paper that looks like notes related to some case]: Friday 14th Dec 10 & 4. Master for their appeal. Polly Hill to be discharged on bail. Jim Randall, Ben, Harry BLACK to be removed to Jones & return to be made by sheriff of Jones & to be delivered to shff. of Craven on his application & [can’t read] to be rtnd to shff of Jones. C. ROACH to Lenoir. [Piece of paper that summarizes the case with no other context. It is undated]: “In this case the fact of Burglary was proved by the testimony of William TAYLOR a white man and a witness above suspicion but the only evidence to show any agency therein on the part of the Prisoner was given by negro Adam the slave of William T. MORRIS and that evidence was direct and positive. The counsel for the prisoner called on the court to instruct the jury that in law such evidence was insufficient to convict the prisoner because not supported by pregnant circumstances. But the Court instructed the jury that whatever rules existed on the subject were rules of reason and precedence addressed to their sound discretion that that there was no positive rules of law which should prevent them if they believed the testimony of the slave Adam from finding a verdict of guilty against the Prisoner, altho said testimony was supported by other proof. The jury found a verdict of guilty accordingly. A new Trial was moved for in behalf of the Prisoner on the ground of misdirection. The new trial was refused—and sentence of death pronounced against the Prisoner—From this sentence there was an appeal to the Supreme Court.” [Note: See the case of Ben, above, in folder Criminal Actions concerning slaves and free persons of color 1820-1822 regarding the meaning of “pregnant circumstances”. This document appears to refer to him]. Jurors for state present that Ben a slave the property of John B. Harrington of the State of Mississippi and who resides out of the State of North Carolina, on 22 Feb 1821, about 11 of the night of the same day, did break and enter the house of William TAYLOR with intent to burglarize 50 pieces of bacon, value forty shillings. Oct 1821 Appearance bond for John BRYAN with _______ bondsmen to appear and answer a charge of feloniously taking and carrying away from the cty a certain mulatto girl, Dice MOORE (Free Born) bound unto Katherine FRIOU and conveying the girl out of the state with intent to sell her as a slave. ____ 1821 State vs. Negro Jim: Statement by Thomas H. DAVES, sheriff of Craven Co. that he has written a letter in February last to Thomas LITTLE of South Carolina, the supposed master of negro Jim. Mentioned in the letter that if he was not the master to give information who the master. No reply to the letter. Sheriff also mentioned in the letter the nature of the charge against Jim. The letter was directed to Columbia, SC not knowing exactly where LITTLE lived. 27 Apr 1821. Below that a note says: Ans that he has no knowledge of any owner of the Negro within the State of South Carolina. Order to sheriff based on a complaint by Sarah TOLER that on or about the night of 20 Sept last past, Jim (so now calling himself) a slave & the property of one LITTLE of SC did violently assault and rape her. Order is to bring Jim before a JP in Craven Co. 17 Mar 1820 Summons to Craven Co. for John BRUMMAGE, William DOVE, & Robert ROLFE to appear and testify on behalf of the defendant in a case wherein the State is plaintiff and Negro Jim is defendant. Apr 1820 Summons to Hyde Co. for John BALLANCE to appear and testify on behalf of Negro Jim in a case in which the State is plaintiff and Jim is defendant. Apr 1820 Summons to Pitt Co. for Cannon SMITH to appear and testify on behalf of Negro Jim in a case in which the State is plaintiff and Jim is defendant. Apr 1820 Summons to Craven Co. for John JONES, Esq, Cannon SMITH, Samuel AVERY, John NEALE, and Edward C. KING, Esq. to appear and testify on behalf of Negro Jim in a case in which the State is plaintiff and Jim is defendant. Apr 1820 Summons to Craven Co. for Allen ERNULL and Norman WILLIS to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a case in which the State is plaintiff and Jim is defendant. Apr 1821 Summons to Craven Co. for Sarah TOLLER, Evan JONES of Swift Creek, David WHITFORD & John NEAL to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a case in which the State is plaintiff and Jim is defendant. Apr 1820 Summons to Craven Co. for Sarah TOLAR to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a case in which the State is plaintiff and Jim alias Jim SMITH is defendant. Oct 1820 Summons to Beaufort Co. for William WILLIAMS to appear and testify on behalf of Negro Jim in a case in which the State is plaintiff and Jim is defendant. Apr 1820 State vs. Jim alias Jim SMITH alias Jim MANSFIELD: Oath by defendant that he has been confined in the Newbern jail for more than twelve months due to delays that cannot be imputed to him (first the continuance of the case and then the absence of Judge DONNELL from indisposition). During that time his case has been the subject of general & frequent conversations among the citizens of the county, and those conversations have created violent prejudices against him, so that it would be impossible for him to get a fair trial in this county. He further states that the alleged offense was committed near the line that separates this county from Beaufort County, and he has good grounds to believe that scarcely a man in that county has not heard of the case and constructed prejudices against him, so that justice would not be done in that county. “He is a stranger and without friends and without any person on whose protection he can rely to aid in his defense and unless tried by a Jury perfectly unbiased his life must Be sacrifice to unfounded prejudice.” 26 Apr 1821. s/Jim [X] SMITH Slip of paper: State vs. Jim. Sarah TOLER, Evan JONES, David WHITFORD, Jno. NEAL each recognized in $200 for their appr. At the next term for 3d Mon of 4 Monday. No date State vs. Jim: Witness charge to plff by Evan JONES. Includes 26 miles travel. Apr term 1821 State vs. Jim: Witness charge to plff by David WHITFORD. Includes 30 miles travel. Oct term 1820 State vs. Jim: Witness charge to plff by David WHITFORD. Includes 30 miles travel. Apr term 1821 Order to sheriff in Craven Co. based on a complaint by Isaac STOCKS that on or about the 18th of February last in Lenoir Co. that John FRANCIS so calling himself & passing for a free man of color did assault & rape his wife Hester STOCKS, and entered his house in a forcible manner. Order is to bring John FRANCIS to a JP to be dealt with as the law directs. 17 Mar 1820 State vs. Jim so calling himself a slave the property of ___ LITTLE of South Carolina. Examination of Sarah TOLER, a witness on behalf of the state taken before Edward C. KING, one of the justices of the county. Deposition of Sarah TOLER: She lives on land of David WHITFORD near the Little Swift Creek road in Craven County & alone. That she is over sixty years of age & was never married; that she has been the mother of one child. On or about the 30th day of September last the accused came to her house late in the afternoon & after some conversation with him the accused asked her for bread. Witness gave him a piece, directed him to the road, & he went away—at a late hour of the hour of the same night she was about going to bed; on opening her door she saw the accused standing there who then entered the house & having drawn his knife & repeatedly threatened her life if she did not submit to his wishes at last committed a rape upon her body. 17 Mar 1820. s/Sarah [X] TOLER Jurors present that Jim Randal a slave the property of Charles G. SPAIGHT, Jim Crispen a slave the property of Moses GRIFFIN, and Ben a slave the property of Nathan SMITH on 22 Feb 1821 about the hour of 12 of the night broke and entered the dwelling house of William TAYLOR with the intent to steal 50 pieces of bacon of the value of 50 shillings. Apr term 1821 Summons for William TAYLOR and Adam the slave of William S. MORRIS to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Jim Randall and others are defendants. Apr 1821 Warrant for Jim Randall, Jim Crispin, and Ben, negro slaves to appear and answer the state upon an indictment for burglary. Apr 1821 (2 copies in folder) Notice to William DUNCAN, Esqr. From Thomas H. DAVES, sheriff that a negro man called Jim Randal, whom DUNCAN has hired, the property of Charles G. SPAIGHT is in custody having been charged with burglary. DUNCAN may attend the trial and defend the negro if he thinks proper. 8 Oct 1821 Notice to Mr. John R. DONNELL that a negro man called Jim Randal (the property of DONNELL’s ward) is in custody of the sheriff charged with burglary and other offenses, the punishment whereof will affect his life limb or member, that he will be indicted and tried at the next term of court. 4 Jan 1821. Below this: Notice to Mr. Edward GRAHAM, one of the executors of Moses GRIFFIN, decd. That a negro man called Jim Crispin, the property of Moses GRIFFIN, is in custody of the sheriff charged with burglary and other offenses, the punishment whereof will affect his life limb or member, that he will be indicted and tried at the next term of court. 4 Jan 1821. Summons for negro woman Tempy HUSE, negro man Hark, and negro man John BILLYFOOT to appear at Sarah TINKERS to give evidence against negro man Bill on behalf of the State. 5 Oct 1820 Summons for Elijah SCOTT, George HALL, Doctor ROGERS Abram Allen FORBES, Lawrence Jeremiah BROWN to appear and testify on behalf of Bill in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Bill defendant. Date blank. Summons for Thomas C. MASTERS & John T. BOYD to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Bill defendant. Apr 1821 Order to sheriff in response to a complaint by Susan TORRANS that on 4 Oct instant, Bill a slave belonging to John F. SMITH did assault, beat, & wound her negro slave Henry of which wounds Henry has since died. Order is to bring Bill before a JP to be dealt with as the law directs. 5 Oct 1820 Appearance bond by John Frink SMITH for the appearance of negro man Bill the slave of SMITH, charged with homicide. “The foregoing recognizance was taken in pursuance of a writ of habeas corpus sued out this day in the case of the negro man Bill, which negro man I have ordered to be liberated from prison on an examination into the case of his imprisonment…” s/John R. DONNELL, Esq., Judge of Superior Court. 31 Oct 1820. Attached: Order to the Keeper of the public prison of Craven Co. to produce negro man Bill the slave of John F. SMITH who is in custody together with the day and cause of his capture and detention. 31 Oct 1820. Below this: William G. TAYLOR, keeper of the public prison returns that he holds the body of the slave Bill by virtue of the [can’t read] from Edward C. KING, JP, presented 5 Oct 1820. Jury presents that Bill a slave the property of John F. SMITH, not having the fear of God before his eyes but seduced by the instigation of the devil, on 4 Oct 1820, upon Henry (a slave the property of Susan TORRANS) did make an assault and did strike, beat, and kick Henry with hands & feet upon the head, breast, back, sides, and other parts of the body and then threw Henry upon the ground with great force and violence, beating him and giving him a mortal wound on the left side of the body near the groin of the length of 5 inches and the depth of 6 inches, of which Henry languished from the 4th of October to the 8th of October when he died. Apr 1821 State at the instance of Susan TORRANS vs. Bill, a slave of John F. Smith. Examination of the accused on the charge contained in the warrant, taken at the jail of Craven County on 5 Oc 1820 by Edward C. KING, JP Deposition of Bill: On the 4th of October, passing near W. WHITFORD’s store, he met with Mrs. TORRANS Henry who spoke to him, using provoking & insulting language—the accused says he cautioned Henry to keep off, and let him alone— but he not doing so, the accused said he kicked Henry once with his left foot. Deposition of Hercules, slave belonging to Silvester BROWN: He saw the accused kick Henry yesterday, was within 10 feet of the parties at the time & saw the accused kick only once, but this a blow passed that he heard—when his back was from them—He says Henry made no utterance—says further that Bill told him a few moments he made the assault on Henry that if Henry did not let him alone he would kick his gall out, or burst his gall, or words to that effect—he says after Henry had had the kick, putting his hand at his breast he exclaimed “Hark bear witness.” Deposition of John BULLYFOOT, slave of John STANLY: Says the accused told him yesterday he had kicked Henry—that he first made a pass at him with his right foot, but missed him—but on the second attempt hit him with his left foot. He says the accused told him he was insulted by Henry the night before (3rd Oct) that Henry had called him [can’t read—“hangman or hairyman Bill”]. Inquisition taken 5 Oct 1820 before Thomas C. MASTERS, one of the coroners of the county upon the view of the body of negro man Henry the property of Susannah TORRANS then there lying dead. Jury: John JONES, foreman, James G. CUTHBURT, Robert PRIMROSE, Creed DUDLEY, Wm. R. STREET, Hardy B. LANE, Jon GRILL, John TEMPLETON, Jno LIPSEY, Craven DICKINSON, Hardy WHITFORD, and John H. JONES. Jury says that one negro man Bill the property of John F. SMITH on the fourth day of Oct. 1820 did with force and arms with a blow inflicted by the foot upon the bowels and that the negro man Henry came to his death by this blow. [Note: This inquisition was taken on 5 October, so Henry was dead by then. The presentment by the jury above clearly states that Henry languished until 8 October, but this must be in error]. Order to constable to summon 24 men of the county to appear at Sarah TINKERS on 12 Oct to view the body of negro man Henry, viz Henry TINKER and say in what manner Henry came to his death. 5 Oct 1820 Grand jury presents Nathan SMITH of the Town of NewBern for preventing Jesse PIPKIN officer of Justice from taking into custody negro man Ben under warrant issued by Justice JONES. Grand jury: Jno. F. SMITH, Form., Gerard SCOTT, Lewis DAWSON, James VENDRICK, Southey [+] WETHERINGTON, Jacob RHEM, E.H. RHEM, Elijah CRATCH, Tos. SPARROUGH, L.. HERRITAGE, John [X] ALWAYS, Cason BRINSON, Wm. R. STREET, John Z. MIXON, Jesse, MECOTTER, Scott SPEARS, Chris J. DELEAMR, Norman WILLIS. Notice to Nathan SMTIH that negro man slave Morris is in custody of the sheriff charged with having committed a burglary on the dwelling house of Nancy ORR and will be tried at the present term of Superior Court and where SMITH may attend and defend the Negro if he thinks proper. 23 Oct 1821 Notice to Edward GRAHAM executor of Moses GRIFFEN that negro man slave Jim Crispin is in custody of the sheriff charged with burglary and will be tried at the next term of Superior Court and where GRAHAM may attend and defend the Negro if he thinks proper. 8 Apr 1822 Summons for Elsey BROWN, Etsey SMITH, Mrs. ____ RYAL, and Kate COPES a colored free woman to appear and testify on behalf of the defendant in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and a slave called Jim Crispin & others are defendants. Apr 1821 Notice to Francis HAWKS executor of Moses GRIFFEN that negro man slave Jim Crispin is in custody of the sheriff charged with burglary and will be tried at the next term of Superior Court and where HAWKS may attend and defend the Negro if he thinks proper. 8 Apr 1822 Summons for Henry PECK and John REEL to appear and testify on behalf of Jim Crispen in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Jim Crispen is defendant. 22 June 1822 Note addressed to John G. STANLY (name on back of document) that says, “Dear Sir, I wish you to send to me at Lenoir by Mr. ATTMORE a certified copy of the Indictment presented against RICHARDSON for killing HAWKs’ (or HANKs’) negro, and of the finding of the Grand Jury…” s/Will. GASTON. No date Presentment by jury that Andrew RICHARDSON, not having the fear of God before his eyes but moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil, on 9 Sept 1821 assaulted Runny (a slave the property of Nathan ROUSE) with a gun loaded and charged with gun powder and 5 lead shot, which he held against Runny and shot him in the left thigh a little below the left hip, giving him a mortal wound of the depth of four inches and breadth of one inch. Runny languished from 9 Sept until the 1st day of October when he died of the wound. Apr 1822 Notice to Francis HAWKS executor of Moses GRIFFIN that negro man slave Jim Crispin is in custody of the sheriff charged with burglary and other offenses the punishment for which will threaten his life limb or member. He will be indicted & tried on 21 Jan 1822. 4 Jan 1822 Notice to William GASTON executor of Moses GRIFFIN that negro man slave Jim Crispin is in custody of the sheriff charged with burglary and other offenses the punishment for which will threaten his life limb or member. He will be indicted & tried at the next term of court. 30 Jan 1822 Document begins with a long preamble describing the authority of Frederick NASH to hold a court of Oyer and Terminer for certain cases, and to have the sheriff call a jury to hear and make indictments. Then goes on to say that a jury consisting of Benjamin S. TILLMAN, Philemon HOLLAND, William FIFE, Elijah CLARK, Jesse PEARCE, Edward SEARLES, Creed H. DUDLEY, Frederick JONES, John BRINSON, Elijah CRATCH, William MUSE, Jeremiah FONVIELLE, John CLARK, John GREEN the younger, James C. COLE, John T. LANE, John MILLER, & Charles J. NELSON present that Jim Randal, a slave the property of Charles G. SPAIGHT and Jim Crispin, a slave the property of Edward GRAHAM, John DEVEREUX, Francis HAWKS, William GASTON, and John OLIVER, executors of Moses GRIFFIN deceased, on 22 February 1821, about one in the night of the same day, in Newbern at the dwelling house of William TAYLOR broke and entered with the intent to steal 50 pieces of bacon of the value of forty shillings and did steal the bacon. 21 Jan 1822 Order by Frederick NASH, Superior Court judge to the sheriff of Craven County. This document is not related to a specific case, but states NASH’s responsibility to carry out justice, then orders the sheriff to call a jury 48 “good and lawful men” with no connections to any prisoners to be tried to attend court on 21 Jan (this month), giving them at least 5 days notice, and that he give notice to anyone prosecuting a case of the impending court date and notice to all Justices of the Peace to have their records ready for review, and that the sheriff himself and any under sheriffs be there to assist in court. 5 Jan 1822 Top of document pre-printed as follows: Long preamble describing the authority of Frederick NASH to hold a court of Oyer and Terminer for certain cases, and to have the sheriff call a jury to hear and make indictments. Then goes on to say that a jury consisting of Benjamin S. TILLMAN, Philemon HOLLAND, William FIFE, Elijah CLARK, Jesse PEARCE, Edward SEARLES, Creed H. DUDLEY, Frederick JONES, John BRINSON, Elijah CRATCH, William MUSE, Jeremiah FONVIELLE, John CLARK, John GREEN the younger, James C. COLE, John T. LANE, John MILLER, & Charles J. NELSON present as follows (the rest of the document is hand-written): Jim Randal a slave the property of Charles G. SPAIGHT on 21 Mar 1821 took one pair of suspenders (10 shillings), double bladed knife (5 shillings) piece of drab cloth (50 shillings) from Thomas WARDSWORTH. Document that is a list of names pertaining to two different cases (one on each side of document). It appears that all of the names together were the full jury pool. (Note that the same names appear for both cases). The first column is people who were challenged for cause (i.e., a stated reason); the second column is people who were challenged peremptorily (that is, for no stated reason); the third column is the people actually chosen for the jury. I have transcribed as written: First side: State vs. ROACH Ch for cause Perem— Jury Fs LAMOTTE Will. LEWIS 1 Ed. H. RHEM 1 Jno. F. SMITH Tho. CARRAWAY 2 Ed. PASTEUR 2 Jno. JONES Joseph NELSON 3 John TEMPLETON 3 Asa JONES Will HANDCOCK 4 John L. DURAND 4 Jno FRANKLIN Moses JARVIS 5 Salmon HALE 5 Tho ROWE Will. CARRUTHERS 6 Abner HARTLY 6 Chs BUTLER Henry CARRAWAY 7 Will CHARLOTTE 7 GEO. WILSON g.j. Thos. LEITH 8 Joseph RHEM 8 Sam OLIVER Will. R. STREET 9 Ben C. GOODS 9 Nathl. SMITH John FALK 10 John BURNEY 10 Ben GOULD Cason BRINSON 11 Elijah V. PITTMAN 11 Thos. O. BRYAN W.H. LENTE 12 John H. JONES 12 Jno. JUSTICE Elijah PATRICK 13 Cal. Ivey Jr. Gideon JONES 2nd side: State vs. Jim Randal} Arson Ch. for Cause Preemp Chal Jury El. SCOTT Will LEWIS Wm. HANDCOCK 1 Ed. H. RHEM Francis LAMOTT 2 Wm. CARRUTHERS Salmon HALE 3 Joseph NELSON Jno. BURNEY 4 Jno. S. NELSON 5 Tho ROWE 5 Ben C. GOOD Jno FRANKLIN 6 Jno S. SMITH Moses JARVIS 7 Chas BUTLER Will. CHARLOTTE 8 Jno. L. DURAND Jno. JONES 9 Ed. PASTEUR 10 Francis ALEXANDER 10 Thos. CARRAWAY Geo. A. HALE 11 Abner HARTLEY Jno. A. FRAZIER 12 Asa JONES Jno. TEMPLETON Elijah V. PITTMAN Joseph RHEM Eliakim PATRICK Tho. CASEY Zach SLADE Tho. O. BRYAN Jno. L. FALK Cason S. BRINSON Simon BRIGHT Ed. C. KING Tho. SPARROW 25 John DUGUID Summons for William G. TAYLOR, Chayborne IVEY, Elsy COPES, & Randal SPAIGHT to appear immediately and testify on behalf of Jim Randle in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Jim Randal is defendant. 28 Jan 1822 Summons for Polly HILL to appear and testify in the court now sitting on behalf of the State in a prosecution against Jim Randal for arson. 28 Jan 1822 Order to the sheriff to collect £1.2 from Charles SPAIGHT, the cost of court in prosecuting Jim Randal the proper slave of SPAIGHT. Sept 1819 Order to the sheriff to collect £6.2 from Charles SPAIGHT, the cost of court in prosecuting Jim Randal the proper slave of SPAIGHT. Sept 1819 Notice to Charles G. SPAIGHT that negro man slave Jim Randal is in custody of the sheriff charged with house breaking and other offenses the punishment for which will threaten his life limb or member. He will be indicted & tried at the next April term of court. 18 Feb 1822 Notice to John R. DONNELL that negro man slave Jim Randal the property of your ward Charles G. SPAIGHT is in custody of the sheriff charged with house breaking and other offenses the punishment for which will threaten his life limb or member. He will be indicted & tried at the next April term of court. 18 Feb 1822 State vs. Jim Randall: Witness charge by Evan THOMAS charged to the State. Includes no travel miles. April term 1822 State vs. Jim Randal: “Charles G. SPAIGHT the owner of the slave Jim Randal maketh oath and saith that he verily believes that the said slave cannot have a fair trial upon this Indictment in the County of Craven. As reasons for this belief the affiant states that several prosecutions of a capital nature have been carried on in said county against him, and that the unsuccessful result of these prosecutions has given rise to very strong expressions of resentment in the community—that prejudices of a violent kind against said Jim exist and extensively prevail in the said County—and that it will be exceedingly difficult if not impracticable to find a jury therein who will not be strongly inclined to bring in a verdict of guilty if the testimony furnish but a probable ground for his condemnation.” 25 Apr 1822 Summons for John D. FRIOU, Jarvis FRIOU, Charles the slave of J.D. FRIOU, William G. TAYLOR, John SYLVESTER, dick MORRIS, John D. FRIOU Jnr, and Evan THOMAS to appear and testify for the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Jim Randall is defendant. 20 Jan 1822 Summary regarding the case against Jim Randal. The case was heard before Frederick NASH, Superior Court Judge, and a jury brought a true bill of indictment against Jim Randal. Jurors were Benjamin S. TILLMAN, Philemon HOLLAND, William FIFE, Elijah CLARK, Jesse PEARCE, Edward SEARLES, Creed H. DUDLEY, Frederick JONES, John BRINSON, Elijah CRATCH, William MUSE, Jeremiah FONVIELLE, John CLARK, John GREEN the younger, James C. COLE, John T. LANE, John MILLER, & Charles J. NELSON. The bill was endorsed by John D. FRIOU, Jarvis FRIOU, Charles and William TAYLOR, John SELVESTER, Dick MORRIS, John D. FRIOU, Jnr., Evan THOMAS, witnesses all sworn except Charles W. TAYLOR & Dick MORRIS. Jim Randal was then brought before the bar and pled not guilty, and a jury trial was scheduled for April 1822, at which time Charles G. SPEIGHT, owner of Jim Randal, brought an affidavit for removal of the trial. The prosecution of this cause was therefore removed to Beaufort County Superior Court, and at the same time John SYLVESTER, Evan THOMAS, Jarvis FRIOU, John D. FRIOU for himself and for his boy slave Charles, Joshua GATLIN, John D. FRIOU jnr, Shadrack HOOVER, and William G. TAYLOR gave bond for their appearance at the September court in Beaufort County. 27 Apr 1822 State vs. Jim Randall: Witness charge to Beaufort Co. Superior Court by Evan THOMAS charged to the State. Includes 72 travel miles. Spring term 1822 Top of document pre-printed as follows: Long preamble describing the authority of Frederick NASH to hold a court of Oyer and Terminer for certain cases, and to have the sheriff call a jury to hear and make indictments. Then goes on to say that a jury consisting of Benjamin S. TILLMAN, Philemon HOLLAND, William FIFE, Elijah CLARK, Jesse PEARCE, Edward SEARLES, Creed H. DUDLEY, Frederick JONES, John BRINSON, Elijah CRATCH, William MUSE, Jeremiah FONVIELLE, John CLARK, John GREEN the younger, James C. COLE, John T. LANE, John MILLER, & Charles J. NELSON present as follows (the rest of the document is hand-written): Jim Randal a slave the property of Charles G. SPAIGHT on 10 Aug 1821 about the hour of one of the night of the same day, took one pair of shoes (10 shillings) from the house of John D. FRIOU. Summons for William L. MORRIS and Adam a slave of MORRIS to bring with them the judgment rendered by John REEL Esq at the instance of the State against Adam and with it personally to appear before the Judge of the Court of Oyer & Terminer immediately to testify on behalf of Jim Crispin in a matter in the the State is plaintiff and Jim Crispin is defendant. 21 Jun 1822 Order to sheriff to collect from the owner of slave Jim Randal £7.4, cost of court and charges against Jim Randal. Oct 1820 Summons for Anne For[smeared], free girl of color to attend the Court of Oyer and Terminer and testify for Jim Randal in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Jim Randal is defendant. 21 Jan 1822 Summons for Henry PECK and John REEL to appear immediately at the court of Oyer and Terminer to testify on behalf of Jim Randal in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Jim Randal is defendant. 22 Jan 1822 State vs. Jim Randal (as written on back): Document that is a list of names pertaining to this case. It appears that all of the names together were the full jury pool. The first column is people who were challenged for cause (i.e., a stated reason); the second column is people who were challenged peremptorily (that is, for no stated reason); the third column is the people actually chosen for the jury. I have transcribed as written: Ch. for Cause Peremp Jury Asa JONES 1 W. CHARLOTTE Thomas ROWE 1 Charles BUTLER 2 Tho. LEITH Francis LAMOTTE 2 John S. DURAND 3 Elijah V. PITTMAN Moses JARVIS 3 Ben C. GOODS 4 John BURNEY Joseph NELSON 4 Geo. WILSON 5 Wm. CARRUTHERS Abner HARTLY 5 John S. SMITH 6 Salmon HALE Edward PASTEUR 6 C.M. CHURCHILL 7 John JONES Wm. B. PERKINS 7 Cannon MOORE 8 Thomas CARRAWAY James BARNEY 8 W.R. STREET 9 John FRANKLIN John H. JONES 9 Jno. S. SHEPARD 10 Ed H. RHEM Bryan F. LANE 10 Alex TAYLOR 11 Wm. HANDCOCK James SMITH 11 Frd. ALEXANDER 12 Will LEWIS Stephen WYNN 12 M. H. LENTE 13 Joseph RHEM Wm. MITCHELL 14 Eliakim PATRICK Jos. GREEN 15 Cason S. BRINSON Bryan EDMONSON 16 John WHITFIELD Geo BRYAN 17 George HILL Tho. MCLIN 18 Abraham TAYLOR John FAUNS 19 Elijah SCOTT Hardy WHITFORD (State c) 20 James G. CUTHBERT Adam SCOTT 21 Rob. KORNEGAY John FONVIELLE 22 Chr. BRYAN Daniel SHAKELFORD 23 Ed Nelson Thos. S. SPARROW 24 Gab. M. RAINY Moses ERNUL Sam. FISHER David WHITFORD Thos. O. BRYAN James C. STEVENSON Summons for Mahala COPES and Jinny (free persons of color) to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Jim RANDAL is defendant. 1 Feb 1822 List of witness fees by Jno R. DONNELL in the suit in Craven Supr. Court, State vs. Jim RANDALL: John MANSFIELD 0.19.0 Henry PECK 1.4.4 Mary HUNTER 1.17.0 Claiborne IVEY 1.11.0 William S. MORRIS 13 Tickets in possession of Guardian of Charles G. SPEIGHT. No date Notice to John OLIVER, Executor of Moses GRIFFIN that a Negro slave called Jim CRISPIN, “your property,” is in custody charged with burglary and other offenses, the punishment of which will affect his life, limb, or member; he will be indicted and tried at the next Superior Court of Law. 1 Apr 1822 Notice to John DEVEREUX, Executor of Moses GRIFFIN that a Negro slave called Jim CRISPIN, “your property,” is in custody charged with burglary and other offenses, the punishment of which will affect his life, limb, or member; he will be indicted and tried at the next Superior Court of Law. 8 Apr 1822 Summons for Elijah CLARK, Hardy WHITFORD, & John REEL to appear and testify on behalf of Jim RANDAL in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and RANDAL is defendant. 21 June 1822. [2 copies of this in folder]. Summons for William S. MORRIS and Adam a slave of MORRIS to bring with them a judgment rendered by John REEL, Esq. at the instance of the State against Adam, and with it to appear immediately and to testify on behalf of Jim RANDAL in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and RANDAL is defendant. 7 Jun 1822 Summons for William TAYLOR, Adam slave of William S. MORRIS, & Edward C. KING to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Jim RANDAL & others are defendants. Oct 1821 Summons for Elsey BROWN, Betsey SMITH, Mrs. Hannah RYAL and Kate COPES a colored free woman to appear forthwith and testify on behalf of the defendant in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and a slave called Jim CRISPIN & others are defendants. 21 Jan 1822 Note that states “Prisoner convicted of Grand Larceny,” and that totals court costs. This is in regard to State vs. Jim RANDAL. No date. Note that states “Prisoner convicted of arson,” and that totals court costs. This is in regard to State vs. Jim RANDAL. No date. Jurors present that a negro man slave named Jim RANDAL the slave of Charles SPAIGHT and a negro man slave name Albert, the slave of James S. SPARROW on 20 May 1819 stole 20 gallons of rum of the value of twelve pence [note the words “of the value of twelve pence” were preprinted on the form] from Samuel OLIVER and Joseph OLIVER. Oct 1819. [2 copies of this in folder] Jurors present that Jim RANDAL a slave the property of Charles D. SPAIGHT “not having the fear of God before his eyes, but moved and seduced by the instigation of the Devil,” on the 29th of July 1821, set fire to the house of Adam SCOTT, which the fire did burn and consume. Oct 1821 Summons for Mary THOMPSON, Mary HILL, Richard MORRIS, Thomas GRACE to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Jim RANDALL is defendant. Oct 1821 Notice to John R. DONNELL, Esq. guardian of Charles G. SPAIGHT that Jim RANDAL, the property of his ward is in custody charged with having committed a burglary and will be tried at the next term of Superior Court of Craven County, where & when he may attend and defend the negro is he thinks proper. 8 Oct 1821 Jurors present that Jim RANDAL, a slave the property of Charles D. SPAIGHT, Jim CRISPIN, a slave the property of Edward GRAHAM, John DEVERIAUX, Francis HAWKS, William GASTON, and John OLIVER, the executors of Moses GRIFFIN, and Ben a slave the property of Nathan SMITH on the 22 day of Feb 1821 about one of the night, with force and arms broke and entered the dwelling house o William TAYLOR and took 50 pieces of bacon of the value of 40 shillings. Oct 1821 Stephen MILLER makes oath that he has reason to believe that Polly HILL to whom a subpoena has been issued to testify on behalf of the State vs. James RANDAL a slave upon a charge of arson, will not attend to the subpoena, & he believes her to be material. No date. State vs. Jim RANDAL: Arson. Witness charge to the State by Adam SCOTT; includes no travel. Jan 1822 State vs. Jim RANDAL: Arson. Witness charge to the State by Sally DRUGGERS; includes 12 miles travel. Jan 1822 State vs. Jim RANDAL: Arson. Witness charge to the State by Frederick AVERY; includes 12 miles travel. Jan 1822 State vs. Jim RANDAL: Arson. Witness charge to the State by Thomas GRACE; includes 0 miles travel. Jan 1822 Summons for Sarah JONES, wife of Jno. H. JONES to appear immediately to testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Jim RANDAL & Abraham are defendants. Oct 1819 Summons for Adam SCOTT, Mary HUNTER, SALLY JACOBS (alias DRUGGER), Dick MORRIS, Thomas GRACE, John MCCABE, James MCCABE, Polly HILL, Frederick AVERY to appear at the court not sitting to testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and Jim RANDAL is defendant. 28 Jan 1822 [Document has a long preamble that details the authority of the judge to preside over court and order the sheriff to call a jury]. Jury of Benjamin S. TILLMAN, Philemon HOLLAND, William FIFE, Elijah CLARK, Jesse PEARCE, Edward SEARLES, Creed H. DUDLEY, Frederick JONES, John BRINSON, Elijah CRATCH, William MUSE, Jeremiah FONVILLE, John CLARK, John GREEN the younger, James C. COLE, John T. LANE, John MILLER, & Charles J. NELSON find that Jim RANDAL a slave (property of Charles G. SPAIGHT) “not having the fear of God before his eyes…” on 29 Jul 1821 set fire to the house of Adam SCOTT. 21 Jan 1822 Summons for Sarah TOLAR, David WHITFORD, Evan JONES, and Neal [only name on document—might be either first or last name] to appear and testify on behalf of the State in a matter in which the State is plaintiff and negro Jim is defendant. Apr 1822 Warrant for Jim a slave the property of Moses GRIFFIN to appear and answer the State upon an information for killing stock. Dec 1815 Summons for Mrs. MANSFIELD to appear and testify for the state in a matter in which the State is defendant and negro slave Jim is defendant. [no date] 1815 Grand jury presents Jesse MORGAN (a man of color) and Polly JACKSON (a white woman) for living together as man and wife. April 1822 Jury: Asa JONES, foreman, Elijah SCOTT, Samuel MCCAFFERTY, Jn. WHITEHEAD, D.R. WHITEHEAD, E. PATRICK, Ragen CUTHRELL, David LEWIS, J.L. DUNOND, Samuel COOK, Norman WILLIS, John [C] WILLIAMS, James [X] JEWEL, Dur. H. LANE, Evan JONES, David WHITFORD, Shadrack HICKMAN, F.C. COLE.