NC, Craven, Court, New Bern District Court Records 13
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New Bern District Court Records
DSCR 206.326.3

Folder: 1793
Information: Appears to be an appeal for arrest of judgement in case of 
State vs. Cormick HIGGINS for imbezzlement. Jury finds HIGGINS guilty of felony 
whereof he stands charged, but not under statute but at common law. Follows a 
list of reasons why this should be set aside. First, there does not appear on the 
face of the indictment what the offense is that the state meant to charge the 
prisoner, so the jury can't possibly know what judgement to pass on him. Four 
other reasons are given, include definitions of grand larceny.
Date: March term 1792
Date of: Appeal
County: Not given

Folder: 1793
Information: Summons for Benjamin GRIFFIN to appear and testify on behalf of 
Edward SWINEY and wife against Francis LOFTIN.
Date: 19 Mar 1793
Date of: Summons
County: Lenoir

Folder: 1793
Information: Appearance bond for Thomas HENBY with Joseph HENBY and Thomas GRIZZARD 
to appear and answer following charges: 1. assault on Joseph PATE, 27 Feb 1789; 2. 
assault on Sarah MUSICK on 7 Apr 1789; 3. assault on John MUSICK, 9 Apr 1789; 4. 
assault on John MUSICK senior 10 Jan 1790; 5. assault on John MUSICK the younger 
10 January 1790; 6. assault on John BEARFIELD 20 Mar 1790; 7. setting fire to the 
dwelling house of William BRIT 17 Jan 1790.
Date: 23 Feb 1793
Date of: Bond
County: Glasgow

Folder: 1793
Information: Appearance bond for Thomas HENBY with Moses FIELDS Esqr.. and 
Enos ELLIS to appear and answer various charges against him.
Date: 4 Sept 1793
Date of: Bond
County: Glasgow

Folder: 1793
Information: Summons for John HENBY to forfeit bond on a charge of failing 
to appear 
Date: 19 Sept 1792
Date of: Summons
County: Glasgow

Folder: 1793
Information: Summons for John Charles PONSONBY, John CASWELL, & Stephanus SHEPPARD 
to forfeit bond for failure of PONSONBY to appear and answer charge against him.
Date: 19 Sept 1792
Date of: Summons
County: Glasgow

Folder: 1793
Information: Summons for John Charles PONSONBY and John FAIRCLOTH to forfeit bond 
for failure of PONSONBY to appear and answer charge against him.
Date: 19 Sept 1792
Date of: Summons
County: Glasgow

Folder: 1793
Information: Appearance bond for John Charles PONSONBY with bondsmen Stephanus SHEPPARD 
and John CASWELL to appear and answer charge of assault on William BRITT.
Date: 1 Sept 1792
Date of: Bond
County: Glasgow

Folder: 1793
Information: Appearance bond for John FAULKNER with Thomas PHILLIPS to appear and 
testify against John C. PONSONBY on charge of robbery of said John FAULKNER.
Date: 2 Apr 1792
Date of: Bond
County: Lenoir

Folder: 1793
Information: Arrest warrant for David MAY, Thomas JENKINS, Walker KNIGHT, & Jesse 
KNIGHT on charge of assault of John WORSLEY on 25 Apr 1790
Date: 19 Sept 1792
Date of: Warrant
County: Edgecombe

Folder: 1793
Information: Slip of paper torn in half listing court costs for John LENNON vs. 
Benjamin WILLIAMS. Appears it is to be sent to Sals. Sup. Co. Law.  Only other names are 
att. R. WILLIAMS, Shff. B. WILLIAMSON, and "A. JOYCE.."
Date: Mar term 1794
Date of: 
County: Not given

Folder: 1793
Information: Summons for Ephraim STANDLEY based on complaint by Edmond HUTCHINS that 
STANDLEY killed hogs belonging to Edwin BUCKTON. Bottom adds "Summons Edwin BUCKTON & 
Richd. GIBBS junr. for state. Back states "the within warrant being returned 26th Nov 1793 
judgment against the plaintiff Edmond HUTCHINS for case &c."
Date: 25 Nov 1793
Date of: Summons
County: Lenoir

Folder: 1793
Information: Appearance bond for Sarah SUTTON with William BARFIELD & Mills BARFIELD to 
appear and testify against Asa BARFIELD of Glasgow Co. who is charged with being an 
accessory to the murder of Thomas BARFIELD
Date:24 Sept 1793
Date of: Bond
County: Craven/Glasgow (residence of Asa BARFIELD)

Folder: 1793
Information: Oath of Sarah SUTTON before Benjamin SHEPPARD "at the house of Thomas 
BARFIELD, decd. upon the body said BARFIELD then and there lying dead. To wit: Thomas 
BARFIELD was in his own yard when John BARFIELD  rode up near him and spoke. Thomas 
BARFIELD asked how he did, and John said that he did not know how he did but damn him he 
had come to kill him and that he would do it before he quit and rode up near him with a 
stick in his hand attending to ride on or strike him. Thos BARFIELD told him he did he 
would kill his horse under him then William BARFIELD son of the said John, and Asa 
BARFIELD told Thomas Damn him he should not kill his horse if he did he would kill him and 
after some words William BARFIELD struck Thomas with his fist under or near his ear and  
John then told him mend up his licks and kill him William then got an ax and struck him 
and Thomas ? off and Lord have Mercy on him he was kill and deed within a few minutes..." 
Sarah X Sutton 
Date: Not given (event and deposition same day)
Date of: 
County: Glasgow

Folder: 1793
Information: Appearance bond by Jesse BARFIELD with bondsmen William BARFIELD and Mills 
BARFIELD to appear and answer a charge of being an accessory before the fact of murder 
committed by John BARFIELD on the body of Thomas BARFIELD on 6 Sept [1793]
Date: 24 Sept 1793
Date of: Bond
County: Craven

Folder: 1793
Information: Summons for John BARFIELD and William BRITT to appear and testify against 
John HENBY. [Back: Executed on BRITT; BARFIELD not found]..
Date:19 Mar 1793
Date of: Summons
County: Glasgow

Folder: 1793
Information: Complaint by Thomas MASTIN against Benjamin SHEPPARD that SHEPPARD signed 
a note for 80 pounds specie dollars 8 shillings to be repaid with interest, and has not 
repaid.
Date: 18 May 1790/September term 1793
Date of: Note/complaint
County: Dobbs, Contentnea District

Folder: 1793
Information: Warrant for Soloman CHERRY, William CHERRY, Willis CHERRYto appear and 
answer an indictment for an assault on John WORSLEY April 25 1790
Date:19 Sept 1792
Date of: Summons
County: Pitt

Folder: 1793
Information: Warrant for Soloman CHERRY to appear and answer an indictment for assault 
and false imprisonment on John WORSLEY, 20 Feb 1789 [Back: Not found].
Date: 19 Sept 1792
Date of: Warrant
County: Pitt

Folder: 1793
Information: Note that says: The State vs. Elijah KELLUM: Assault. "Not a true bill" 
Tobias COBB pros. to pay 1/2 fees. The state vs. Elijah KELLUM et al.: Riot. Not a true 
bill as to Isaac HUGGINS. Tobias COBB to pay 1/2 fees. There is 1/2 of a piece of paper 
attached to this one that says on back: The State vs. Tobias COBB. Appears to be a summons 
for COBB in New Hanover Co. 
Date: March term 1793
Date of: Note
County: Not given/New Hanover?

Folder: 1793
Information: Deposition of Sarah SUTTON aged 22 years or thereabouts, single woman, 
taken before James GLASGOW, William SPEIGHT, and Milus BROOM, justices. ...saith that [she] 
hath lived at the house of Thomas BARFIELD decd. near a year and a half. That on 6 Sept 
instant ...Thomas Barfield was at his own house sitting on a chair in the yard that about 
ten oClock in the forepart of the day John BARFIELD rode up ...about 20 yards from where 
...Thomas was sitting ...Thomas answered how are ye. John replied Damn you above I dont know 
how I am but I come to kill you and will do it before I leave your ground upon which 
William BAREFIELD junior and Asa BARFIELD came up to the Barrs, and all come into the 
yard, except Asa who come into the house and told this deponent [Sarah SUTTON] he wanted 
her to go out, she ...askt what for? Because says Asa There is something going to be done 
here today and I don't wnt you to see it upon which [SUTTON] said she would not for if 
anything was to be done she would see it, that...Asa repeated his solicitations and told 
damage was to be done and he did not want her to see it, that when John came up to where 
Thomas was sitting he attempted to strike him with a stick...and endeavored to ride over him 
and said he would ride over & kill him. Thomas said said if he did he would kill his horse 
if it lay in his power that William BARFIELD stept up and struck him with his fist under 
his ear upon which John Mind your Blows and kill him God damn him upon which William 
runned round and pict up an ax and struck him with the eye of the ax under his left breast 
upon which ...Thomas turned nearly round and said Lord have Mercy on me he has killed me and 
fell; that [SUTTON] and ...Asa BARFIELD during the whole of the transaction was sanding in 
the door and looking at them that [SUTTON] begging him to go out and not let William 
strike with the ax when she saw him pick it up that he said he would not, nor did not till 
the mortal blow was given that William after striking the first blow with the axe drew 
back to strike again that Asa ran and catched the axes from him and whorled William round, 
that Willliam and John then turned round and went off together that Asa pickt up  his 
uncle Thomas and brought him in his arms, that he appeared to do this without any concern 
of disturbance at what had happened." Sarah X SUTTON
Date: 6 Sept 1793/9 Sept 1793
Date of: Event/deposition
County: Glasgow

Folder: 1793
Information: [Note: Edge of this document is torn away-sbg]. Deposition of Pearce 
BARFIELD (female) taken near the house of Willie BARROW upon view of the body of Reddick 
BARFIELD then and there lying dead. Stated she was riding with Reddick BARFIELD and 
Micajah BARROW on the way to Stephen CADES when one of them mentioned a dispute between 
them which they had settled. After some time Micajah BARROW asked Reddick BARFIELD why he 
would be so unkind to his daughter, this deponent [Pearce BARFIELD] "that he would not 
give her a ring which he had taken from her and after some some talk on the subject 
Reddick BARFIELD said he would give to her as soon [torn] he got to the house & took a 
drink of grog but still mentioned at times that it was his own ring, at length Micajah 
BARROW said to [Pearce BARFIELD] You dont care so much about the rind do you she said she 
did because her grandmother gave it to her on which Reddick BARFIELD told Micajah BARROW 
tht he had a good mind to drive his, Micajahs teeth down his throat with his gun. Micajah 
asked him why he would attempt to do that [torn] as that they had made friends he Micajah 
would not strike him Reddick for five hundred pounds. The said Reddick BARFIELD 
immediately dismounted himself ...and made a blow with his gun and struck...Micajah BARROW on 
the head & knocked him off his horse. [Goes on to describe a fight with many blows 
exchanged]. "Reddick called out and said God Cajah I will kill you I will Damned if I dont 
and repeated his blow again." [Describes more fighting]. "Micajah BARROW got hold the 
barrell part of the gun ... [torn] he struck ...Reddick and as [torn] blows Reddick says Cajah 
I beg and no other words past between them and ...Reddick lay dead." Pearce BARFIELD goes on 
to say that she had often heard Reddick say that he would kill Micajah "and that he would 
never be at rest untill he had done it and that she was at the house of William BARFIELD 
sometime past and that ... Reddick [over in the neighbourhood of the said Micajah BARROW] 
and he come to the house of ...William BARFIELD and William asked him if he was come Reddick 
said yes, ...William asked him ...if he had done what he went to do Reddick told him no. 
...William very warmly exclaimed agt him and asked ...why he did not kill the damnd son of a 
bitch at once [torn] have done with it for that he was a fool and would go poking [torn] 
and not do it untill it would be too [torn] for that he might have killed fifteen Micajah 
BARROWS before this and have [torn] the ring and never been troubled about it and been 
gone to sea and damn him for a fool do it the next time went before he returned again. 
Reddick BARFIELD knodded hishead at William BARFIELD and said to him as this deponant 
understood, not talk so ferce, for that it should soon be done.
Date: 31 Aug/1 Sept [year torn]
Date of: Event/deposition
County: Dobbs

Folder: 1793
Information: Verdict of coroner's jury on view of body of Reddick BARFIELD that he was 
killed at the hand of Micajah BARROW, who was violently attacked by Reddick BARFIELD and 
he was acting in his own defense. Based on testimony of Pearcy BARFIELD and sundry others. 
Jurors: Wm. SHEPPARD, John FAIRCLOTH, William MARTIN, John WILLIAMS, Moses holmes, JESSE 
HOLMES, Thomas FAIRCLOTH, Mark HEATH, William ANDREWS, William FAIRCLOTH, Joshua GOODSON, 
Harrod BARROW.
Date:1 Sept 1788
Date of: Verdict
County: Dobbs

Folder: 1793 (second folder)
Information: Arrest warrant for William WILLIAMS to answer indictment for assault on 
Major MUSICK on 25 Dec 1789; assault on William BRIT on 16 Jan 1790; setting fire to 
dwelling house [of BRIT] Jany 17 1790.
Date: 19 Sept 1792
Date of: Warrant
County: Glasgow

Folder: 1793 (second folder)
Information: Appearance bond for William WILLIAMS with John WILLIAMS, bondsman to 
appear and answer charges for an assault on Major MUSIC on 25 Dec 1789, and assault on 
William BRIT on 16 Jan 1790, and for setting fire to the dwelling house January 1790. 
Date:10 Mar "seventeenth year of independence."
Date of: Bond
County: Glasgow

Folder: 1793 (second folder)
Information: Deposition of James WOOD that he was security on an appearance bond for 
James HOMES for Sept term 1791. WOOD appeared, but left without leave. He then appeared, 
was tried, and acquitted at the Sept. term 1792. An order then issued to WOOD to show 
cause why his bond should not be forfeitted. He states that he, being an illiterate 
person, thought he had fulfilled his obligation. He (and the other bondsman) are poor men 
with several small children, and that exposing their property to public sale to pay the 
bond would scarcely pay the whole amount and would render them unable to suppor their 
families.
Date: 20 Mar 1793
Date of: Deposition
County: Glasgow

Folder: 1793 (second folder)
Information: Oath by Willoughby WILLIAMS that he was a bondsman for James HOLMES for 
Sept term 1791. (See above). He was ordered to appear and show cause why his bond should 
not be forfeit for HOLMES not remaining through the term. He says that at the time he was 
supposed to appear, he was confined to his home by a severe illness. A deposition from 
Doctor WILLIAMS has been lodged in the Clerk's office.
Date:27 Mar 1793
Date of: Oath
County: Glasgow

Folder: 1793 (second folder)
Information: Appearance bond for Stephen Pen WILLIAMS with bondsmen John C. BRYAN, Esq. 
& Frederick LOWTHORP to appear on a charge against him.
Date: 8 June 1793
Date of: Bond
County: Craven

Folder: 1793 (second folder)
Information: Appearance bond for William WILLIAMS with bondsmen John HOLLIDAY and 
Probet COLLIER to appear and answer a charge of trespass on the house of William BRIT 
January 16 1790, also an assault on William BRIT.
Date: 29 Mar 1793
Date of: Bond
County: Craven

Folder: 1793 (second folder)
Information: Summons for Edmund ROWE, John SHEFFIELD, Teras HILL to appear and testify 
against Charles WILLIAMS
Date:19 Mar 1793
Date of: Summons
County: Craven

Folder: 1793 (second folder)
Information: Summons for Thomas WILLIAMS, Benjamin HARRISON, Sharp SPIGHT and William 
COMBS to appear and testify on behalf of Elijah KELLUM, John GILBERT, and others.
Date: 19 Mar 1793
Date of: Summons
County: Jones

Folder: 1793 (second folder)
Information: Summons for Tobias COBB, Samuel HALL, George KOONCE, Sarah RUNNALS, 
William BUCK, and Nicholas A. BRAY to appear and testify against Elijah KELLUM and others.
Date: 19 Mar 1793
Date of: Summons
County: Jones

Folder: 1793 (second folder)
Information: Arrest warrant for Elijah KELLUM, John GILBERT, Stephen GREENE, Jesse 
SKEENE, John ISLER, George METZ, and John MACAFEE to appear and answer a charge of assault 
and riot. [Back: Executed on all but Jesse SKEENE & George METZ who was not to be found].
Date: 19 Mar 1793
Date of: Warrant
County: Jones

Folder: 1793 (second folder)
Information: Summons for Thos. SITGREAVES, Thos. SITGREAVES, Jr., Andrew BLANCHARD to 
testify against John HILL.
Date: 18 Nov 1799? [Smeared. Back says Nov 1799 in pencil]
Date of: Summons
County: Craven

Folder: 1793 (second folder)
Information: Arrest warrant for John HILL on a charge of petty larceny. [Back: Not 
found].
Date: 19 Sept 1792
Date of: Warrant
County: Pitt

Folder: 1793 (second folder)
Information: Arrest warrant for John HILL on a charge of petty larceny [Back: Not 
found].
Date: 19 Mar 1793
Date of: Warrant
County: Pitt

Folder: 1793 (second folder)
Information: Bottom half of indictment of John HILL. Appears to give details of what 
was stolen from Tubbman WOOFORD.
Date: Back: Swpt term 1792
Date of: Indictment
County: Not present in fragment

Folder: 1793 (second folder)
Information: Deposition of Anne KENNEDY that she was acquainted with John HILL in Dobbs 
Co. some years past. She is now living in South Carolina and saw the same John HILL there; 
after being there some time, he took sick & died. She was with him some nights in his 
sickness, and saw him after he was dead.
Date: 8 Oct 1793
Date of: Deposition
County: Dobbs

Folder: 1793 (second folder)
Information: Summons for Joseph FRILECK to appear and testify against Cormick HIGGINS.
Date: 19 Mar 1793
Date of: Summons
County: Craven

Folder: 1793 (second folder)
Information: Appearance bond for Carmick HIGGINS with Isaac GUION, Esq. and William 
ROSS to appear and answer a charge of stealing articles from Danl. CARTHEY, Esq.
Date: 16 Aug 1793
Date of: Bond
County: Craven

Folder: 1793 (second folder)
Information: Deposition of James BARNES who said that he was aboard his boat (9 PM) at 
new county wharf when Cormick HIGGINS  came on board and asked him where he was going from 
New Bern. BARNES said to Bay River, and HIGGINS asked him if he would take a bundle of 
goods that he would send him later, and not deliver the goods to anyone except "a free 
mulatto wench" for whom HIGGINS would give BARNES a letter. About sunrise the next morning 
he received a bundle from a Negro sent by HIGGINS. At 11 AM he saw HIGGINS at Daniel 
CARTHEY'S store, told him he had received the bundle. Near the close of day, he saw 
HIGGINS who gave him a letter to deliver with directions to deliver it. BARNES "not having 
a knowledge of letters" asked an acquaintance to read the directions to him, and was told 
that the letter was for Charity JOHNSON. BARNES delivered the letter and bundle to her. 
"further saith that having understood and believed that Charity JOHNSON was the kept-
mistress of said HIGGINS, he readily supposed her allluded to, when HIGGINS requested him 
to deliver the letter to "a molatto wench.." Goes on to describe the contents of the 
bundle which he saw when Charity JOHNSON opened it. 
Date: 16 Jan [no year].
Date of: Event
County: Craven

Folder: 1793 (second folder)
Information: Indictment of Cormick HIGGINS, storekeeper, a servant of Daniel CARTHY, 
for stealing goods entrusted to him by CARTHY.
Date: 1 & 2 Jan 1793
Date of: Event
County: Craven