NC, Craven/Dobbs, Court, New Bern District Court Records 1790 ========================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providingfree information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercialentities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or forpresentation by othe rpersons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Thesubmitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the filepermanently for free access. This file was contributed by Sue Guptill. March 2001. ========================================================== I'm also going to send a little explanation of the records, and what the documents mean, because I realized that there were a couple of things I wasn't sure of, so others might not be either. I've talked to a lawyer who explained each type of document to me. (SUE) The District courts served as Superior Courts for a district of several counties. These records are the Criminal Action papers that are in file folders in boxes. The documents are the papers that were filed leading up to the trial. The sequence of events was generally like this: Charges were brought against someone, either by the sheriff or as a result of a complaint brought by someone who swore out a warrant against him or her. A warrant was issued for the person's arrest. Summons (or subpoenas) were issued for any witnesses against or for the person. Sometimes depositions were taken. Finally, a Bill of Indictment was brought. If the grand jury found that a crime was committed and there was a reasonable chance that the person charged was the guilty party, then it was issued as a true bill. Otherwise, it was not a true bill, and the charges were dropped altogether. If it was found to be a true bill, then it went to trial. These are the documents in these folders for the most part. The actual trial information is not in these folders. (In other words the indictment is not the same as the verdict). The actual outcome of a trial is contained in the minute books. Besides the Criminal Action papers (5 boxes), there are Civil Action papers (17 boxes), and a variety of boxes of land records, disputed estate records, etc. This could be a life's work! ______________________ New Bern District Court Records DSCR 206.326.3 Folder: 1790 Information: Arrest warrant for Buchner WILSON for assault on James ATKINSON Date: 19 Sept 1791 Date of: Warrant County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Arrest warrant for Buckner WILSON for assault on James ATKINSON Date: 14 May 1790 Date of: Warrant County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for William MATHEWS, Elizabeth WILLIAMS, Sally BRETT, Rebecca BRETT to testify against Henby William WILLIAMS, Thos. HENSLY, & Jno. Chrs. PONSONBY Date: 20 May 1790 Date of: Summons County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for James ATKINSON to testify against Buckner WILSON Date: 20 May 1790 Date of: Summons County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for Joh MESSICK, Major MESSICK, and John B. BRAND to testify against William WILLIAMS Date: 20 May 1794 Date of: Summons County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Indictment of Absalom WALLS, yeoman, for assault on John MEUSE Date: 29 Mar 1788 Date of: Event County: Beaufort Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for John MEUSE to appear and testify against Absalom WALLS on charge of assault on MEUSE Date: 20 Nov 1788 Date of: Summons County: Beaufort Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for David MAY, Thos. JINKINS, Walker NIGHT, & Jesse NIGHT to appear and testify in a case of assault and false imprisonment Date: 20 May 1790 Date of: Summons County: Edgecomb [Note: This is where the summons was sent, not necessarily where the crime took place­sbg] Folder: 1790 Information: Arrest warrant for Absalom WALLS on charge of assault Date: 20 May 1790 Date of: Warrant County: Beaufort Folder: 1790 Information: Arrest warrant for Absalom WALLS on charge of assault of John MEUSE Date: 20 May 1789 Date of: Warrant County: Beaufort Folder: 1790 Information: Arrest warrant for Samuel MAY on a charge of assault on John WORSLEY Date: 20 May 1790 Date of: Warrant County: Pitt Folder: 1790 Information: Indictment of Buckner WILSON, hatter, for assault on James ATKINSON Date: 10 Jan 1790 Date of: Event County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Appearance bond for Buckner WILSON with John WILSON and John JONES to appear and answer a charge of assault Date: 10 Nov 1790 Date of: Bond County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Appearance bond for Buckner WILSON with John WILSON to appear and answer an indictment against him Date: 15 Mar 1792 Date of: Bond County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Arrest warrant for Charles WALDRON charged with assault on John WORSLEY Date: 20 May 1790 Date of: Warrant County: Pitt Folder: 1790 Information: Indictment of Gabriel VAILLARD, merchant, for assault on Peter CONSTANTEEN Date: 27 June 1790 Date of: Event County: Craven Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for Peter CONSTANTINE to appear and testify against Gabrile VILLIARD Date: 20 Nov 1790 Date of: Summons County: Craven Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for Francois BRETAGNE, Pierre HENRION, and William MOORE to appear and testify against Gabriel VILLIARD Date: 20 Nov 1790 Date of: Summons County: Craven Folder: 1790 Information: Arrest warrant for Gabrile VILLARD for assault on Peter CONSTANTINE Date: 20 Nov 1790 Date of: Warrant County: Craven Folder: 1790 Information: Arrest warrant for Thomas BRANTON to appear and pay to Robert COTTON £119.4 which COTTON recovered against him; also £10.3 fine and costs Date: 20 May 1790 Date of: Warrant County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Note calculating fees owed by Thomas BRANTON Date: not dated Date of: County: Not given (Dobbs in previous document) Folder: 1790 Information: Arrest warrant for Martin CASWELL, junr. for failing to appear as a witness in the case against Stephen SHEPHERD and others, then for failing to appear when summoned to explain previous failure. Now to appear and remit fine charged against him. (On back: ³Not to be found, the Defendant removed out of the County² s/Benja. Caswell, Shr.) Date: May term, 1790 Date of: Term of court (only date I can find) County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for Nathan MAYO & Wm. WALLACE to appear and testify on behalf of John SMITH, Luke OSBURN, & Mathew LUTER Date: 20 May 1790 Date of: Summons County: Martin Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for John WORSLEY and Isaac BROWN to testify against Luke OSBORNE and others Date: 20 Nov 1789 Date of: Summons County: Pitt Folder: 1790 Information: Right half of an arrest warrant: Luke OSBORN, ?SMITH, John COUNCILL, & Thomas JENKINS (back says John SMITH) on a charge of assault on John WORSLEY Date: Nov 1789 Date of: Warrant County: Martin Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for Nathan THIGPEN to testify against Luke OSBORNE, Matthew LUTEN, and John SMITH Date: 20 May 1790 Date of: Summons County: Pitt Folder: 1790 Information: Arrest warrant for Philip TAYLOR to appear and pay sum previously fined against him Date: 20 Nov 1790 Date of: Warrant County: Jones Folder: 1790 Information: Arrest warrant for Philip TAYLOR. Appears to be same as above, different date Date: 20 May 1789 Date of: Warrant County: Jones Folder: 1790 Information: Same as above, different date Date: 20 May 1790 Date of: Warrant County: Jones Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for Jacob COOKE, master of a vessel belonging to the Port of New Bern to testify on behalf of James MCCAFFERTY, James MCMAIN, William MITCHELE, Jeremiah READING, and John DOE on the information of Isaac GUION Date: 20 May 1790 Date of: Summons County: Craven Folder: 1790 Information: Arrest warrant for Thomas JENKINS on a charge of assault of John WORSLEY Date: 15 July 1789/20 Nov 17990 Date of: Event/Warrant County: Edgecomb Folder: 1790 Information: Oath of Matthew LUTEN that Nathan THIGPEN, late of Edgecomb, now of the state of GA, and James WORSLEY and Palmer WORSLEY late of Pitt, now resident in SC or near about the line of this state and Col. Nathan MAYO are material witnesses for him in a case against him, and that he could not procure their attendance at this term, but believes that he can proceed in the next term. Date: May term, 1790 Date of: Term of court listed on back County: Edgecomb/Pitt Folder: 1790 Information: Similar oath as above by John LOVICK? regarding same witnesses and present location, followed by same oath by Luke OSBORNE Date: None Date of: County: Edgecomb/Pitt Folder: 1790 Information: Order to sheriff to ³make known to James MCAFFERTY of Swift Creek that he appear before the Judges Što shew cause wherefore Judgment final should not be entered up on his recognizance for the appearance of John FRY before the said CourtŠ [I think this means that MCAFFERTY was a bondsman on an appearance bond for FRY, who did not appear, meaning that MCAFFERTY should forfeit his bond­sbg] Date: 19 Sept 1795 Date of: Order County: Craven Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for William FERGUSON to appear and testify on behalf of James MCCAFFERTY Date: 20 Nov 1790 Date of: Summons County: Craven Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for John DRURY and Thomas CARTER to appear and testify against Geo. MCFARLAIN et al. [Document very faded; not sure of last name of defendant­sbg] Date: 20 Nov 1790 Date of: Summons County: Craven Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for John BRIDGERS to appear and testify on behalf of James MCCAFFERTY Date: 20 Nov 17990 Date of: Summons County: Craven Folder: 1790 Information: Summons to James MCCAFFERTY of Swifts Creek regarding default of appearance bond for Charles PONSONBY Date: 19 Sept 1792 Date of: Summons County: Craven Folder: 1790 Information: Appearance bond for George MCFARLAIN with John SIMPSON and James STEWART, bondsmen to appear and answer a charge against him Date: Aug 19 1790 Date of: Bond County: Craven Folder: 1790 Information: Appearance bond for James MCCAFFERTY with Thomas HASLIN and William SLADE, bondsmen to appear and answer a charge of assault and breach of the peace. Date: Aug 19 1790 Date of: Bond County: Craven Folder: 1790 Information: Indictment of George MCFARLAIN, merchant; William MITCHELL, silver smith; James MCCAFFERTY, inn keeper; James W. MAINS, taylor; Jeremiah REDDING, mariner; and diverse other persons as yet unknown for riotously assembling to disturb the peace, and with sticks, stones, and brick-batts breaking the doors and windows of the dwelling of Isaac GUION with GUION and his family being in the house at the time. Date: 19 Aug 1790 Date of: Event County: Craven Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for John MASTEN (?MARTEN), Willoughby WILLIAMS, and Thomas BRANTON to testify on behalf of Willliam FARECLOTH Date: 20 May 1790 Date of: Summons County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Arrest warrant for William FAIRCLOTH on charge of assault on Andrew GREEN Date: 20 May 1790 Date of: Warrant County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Arrest warrant for William FAIRCLOTH on charge of assault on Andew GREEN Date: 20 Nov 1790 Date of: Warrant County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Appearance bond for William FAIRCLOTH with John FAIRCLOTH and John GARLAND, bondsmen to appear and and answer a charge of assault on Andrew GREEN Date: 18 Mar 1791 Date of: Bond County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Appearance bond for William FAIRCLOTH with John FAIRCLOTH and Graves BRIGHT to appear and answer and indictment against him. Date: 16 Nov 1790 Date of: Bond County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Indictment of John INCE, yeoman, for assault on Joseph CRISPIN Date: 21 Apr 1790 Date of: Event County: Craven Folder: 1790 Information: Indictment of John INCE, yeoman, for assault on Frederick BIGGS Date: 21Apr 1790 Date of: Event County: Craven Folder: 1790 Information: Arrest warrant for Andrew GREAR on charge of assault Date: 19 Mar 1791 Date of: Warrant County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Arrest warrant for Andrew GREER on charge of assault on William SHEPPARD. (On back: Appearance bond for Andrew GREER on this charge). Date: 20 May 1790 Date of: Warrant County: Edgecomb Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for John BURTON, Henry MITCHELL, and William FARMER to testify on behalf of Nathan COBB in an action between COBB and Jeremiah and Nathan POWELL Date: 20 May 1790 Date of: Summons County: Johnston Folder: 1790 Information: Indictment of Andrew GREER (of Dobbs Co. marked out and Edgecomb inserted) for assault on William SHEPPARD Date: 10 Nov 1790 Date of: Event County: Edgecomb Folder: 1790 Information: Indictment of Thomas HENLY, William WILLIAMS, John Charles PONSENBY, all laborers, for setting fire to, with the intent of burning down, the dwelling house of William BRITT Date: 17 Jan 1790 Date of: Event County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Indictment of Thomas HENLY and John HENLY, yeomen, on charge of assault of John MESSICK. (There are 2 of these that appear identical). Date: 10 Jan 1790 Date of: Event County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Appearance bond for John HENLY with James HAMES and William ANDREWS, bondsmen to make his appearance at the next court Date: 22 March 1790 Date of: Bond County: Pitt Folder: 1790 Information: Appearance bond for John HENLY with Jarvis THIGPEN bondsman, to appear at next court. Date: Nov 6 1789 Date of: Bond County: Pitt Folder: 1790 Information: Indictment of Thomas HENLY for assault on John BAREFIELD Date: 20 Mar 1790 Date of: Event County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Indictment of Thomas HENLY for assault on Sarah MESSICK. Date: 7 Apr 1789 Date of: Event County: Dobbs (place of event)/Pitt (residence of HENLY) Folder: 1790 Information: Indictment of Thomas HENLY (Pitt Co., planter), John HENLY (Dobbs Co., planter), and Zechariah ELLIOTT (Dobbs Co., planter) for assault on John MESSICK Date: 9 Apr 1789 Date of: Event County: Dobbs/Pitt Folder: 1790 Information: Arrest warrant for John SMITH, Charles COUNCILL, Samuel MAY, Matthew LUTEN, Charles WALDRON, Thomas SURLMAN, Solomon CHERRY and Samuel CHERRY on a charge of assault on John Worsley Date: 20 Nov 1789 Date of: Warrant County: Pitt Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for John WORSLEY and Isaac BROWN to appear and testify against Samuel MAY, et al Date: 20 Nov 1789 Date of: Summons County: Not given Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for Joshua WILKINSON, Mary WORSLEY, Sally WILKINSON, Isaac BROWN, and Thomas HALL to appear and testify against Samuel MOY and Solo. CHERRY (?smeared) and others. Date: 20 (no month) 1789 Date of: Summons County: Pitt Folder: 1790 Information: Search warrant for house of Charles BRITHAM and Thomas GRASARD based on a complaint by Anthony MATHEWS that they, along with Hardy GARRESS, broke into his house and beat and robbed him. (On back: Says Executed & found in the Dweling House of Thos. Grizzard a bag with some wheat & took the said GRIZZARD & Hardy GARRIS into custody. February 14th 1790 I have made diligent search & cannot find the within Charles BRITTINHAM & from sundry circumstances believe him to be fled). Date: 1 Feb 1790 in the night time Date of: Event County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Indictment of Hardy GARRIS, yeoman, Thomas GRIZARD, yeoman, Charles BRITTENHAM, yeoman for breaking, entering, and burglary of the house of Anthony MATTEWS. Date: 1 Feb 1790, about 12 at night Date of: Event County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Indictment of William GOODMAN for assault on John ROBERTS Date: 13 Mar 1790 Date of: Event County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Bail bond for William GOODMAN with bondsmen Benjamin COLEMEN and John JONES to appear and answer charge against him. Date: 12 November 1790 Date of: Bond County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for William CROOME, Edward TUTLE, John TUTLE, Stephen HERRING to appear and testify against William GOODMAN, Groves SHARPE, Charles MARKLAND, Nathan MARKLAND, & John CASWELL Date: 20 Nov 1789 Date of: Summons County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for William CROOME and Edward TOOTLE to appear and testify against Henry GOODMAN and William GOODMAN Date: 20 Nov 1789 Date of: Summons County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for Jessee HARPER, Richard NOBLE, Cloe DAVIS & Henry Goodman LONG to appear and testify against Willm. GOODMAN, Groves SHARP, Chr. MARKLAND, Nathan MARKLAND, & John CASWELL Date: 20 Nov 1789 Date of: Summons County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Summons for William CROOME, Edward TOOTLE, & Elizabeth CARNEY to testify against William GOODMAN, Henry Goodman LONG, & W. MARKLAND Date: 20 Nov 1789 Date of: Summons County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Arrest warrant for William GOODMAN to appear and answer a charge of assault on John ROBERTS Date: 14 May 1790 Date of: Warrant County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Appearance bond for Anthony MATTHEWS to appear and testify against Hardy GARRIS, Thomas GRIZZARD, and Charles BRITTINGHAM, charged with breaking & entering into MATTHEWS¹ house & robbing, beating, & wounding him. Date: 4 Feb 1790 Date of: Bond County: Dobbs Folder: 1790 Information: Indictment of James HAMILTON, innkeeper, for assault on John LEA Date: 26 Aug 1790 Date of: Event County: Craven Folder: 1790 Information: Reimbursement request by Willm. MOORE for appearing as witness in case against Gabriel VILLIARD. (Amount £2.0.8) Date: 26 Mar 1791 Date of: Request County: Not given Folder: 1790 Information: Reimbursement request by Marquis DE BRETAGNE for appearing as witness in case against Gabriel VILLIARD. (Amount £2.0.8) Date: 26 Mar 1791 Date of: Request County: Not given Folder: 1790 Information: Reimbursement request by Marquis DE BRETAGNE for appearing as witness in case against Gabriel VILLIARD. (Amount £2.16.8) Date: 26 Mar 1791 Date of: Request County: Not given Folder: 1790 Information: Deposition by James MCCAFFETY that Nathan LASSETER was bound over to answer a charge of counterfeiting certificates [money­sbg], and that at the same time MCCAFFETY was also taken into custody because he had a large number of certificates. MCCAFFETY turned over his certificates, first initialing all but one. LASSETER forfeited his bond, but MCCAFFTEY attended, was in court 10 hours, and no charge came against him and he was discharged. He has since made a number of requests to get his certificates back. Total value is £2500. As far as he knows all certificates are good, and he got none of them from LASSETER. Date: May term, 1790/March term 1794 Date of: Trial/Deposition County: Not given Folder: 1790 Information: Reimbursement request by Andrew GREER for appearing as witness in case against Benj. SHEPPARDE & William SHEPPARD Date: 31 Mar 1792 Date of: Request County: Not given.