NC, Craven, Court Records, New Bern District Court Records ========================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons 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. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by Sue Guptill, February 2001. ========================================================== New Bern District Court Records Part 6 New Bern District Court Records DSCR 206.326.1 The District Court was the precursor to District Superior Courts. The New Bern District covered Ccarteret, Craven, Beaufort, Hyde, PItt, Dobbs, Jones, and Duplin. When Dobbs county was split and then abolished, the new counties were also in the New Bern District. The following are abstracts of Box 1. Dates when not otherwise noted are the date of the event (e.g., the date that an assault took place). Christine Fuller abstracted Box 2, which are also posted. Folder: 1780 Information: Oath of John JORDAN that he carried William Morris TATUM up for misprision of treason and has never received any satisfaction Date: 12 Mar 1780 (date of event) 14 Aug 1780 (date of oath) County: Beaufort Folder: 1780 Information: Complaint by Lusana CUMMINS that she was robbed of gowns and other apparel she believes by sailors on the ship of war out at New Bern. Order to search for the articles and arrest any sailors who are involved. [This document is very hard to read-sbg] Date: 17 Instant County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Complaint by Edward PASTEUR who acts for his brother that a mare in the legal possession of the Continental Army was stolen and that he has since seen it in the possession of Edward B. HODGES who refuses to deliver it. Order to arrest HODGES Date: 16 Aug 1780 (date of order) County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Indictment of Elisha VENTERS, labourer, for armed robbery of a canoe belonging to Stephen MOORE (petit larceny) Date: 2 Aug second year of independence County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Slip of paper which says, 3Grand jury present Edward HURT for receiving and buying stolen goods knowing them to be stolen on the 17th January 1849 at night.2 Witnesses Jas M. GOODING Alex MEADOWS & Jno STREET Date: 17 January 1849 (misfiled) County: Not given Folder: 1780 Information: 2 pieces of paper money good for 50 Spanish milled dollars or the Value in Gold or Silver according to a Resolution passed by Congress at Philadelphia, September 26th, 1778. Date: N/A County: N/A Folder: 1780 Information: Appearance bond for Jesse PROCTOR (£50,000) with bondsmen Richard PROCTOR and Arthur FORBES (£25,000 each) for Jesse PROCTOR to appear and abide by the judgement against him. Date: 18 Apr 1780 (date of bond) County: Pitt Folder: 1780 Information: Arrest warrant for James HOBBS. Date: 15 Nov 1780 (date of court) County: Jones Folder: 1780 Information: Appearance bond for ?DAVIS and Robert PEEBLES (£500 each) to appear and testify against Nathan SMITH. [Note: Document is somewhat smeared, and has a tear along the side. I think the charge is passing a counterfeit $100-sbg] Date: Feb 12 1780 (date of bond) County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Arrest warrant for Major SLADE for trespass Date: 15 Nov 1780 (date of warrant) County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Summons for Joseph LEECH and John KENNEDY to appear and testify on behalf of William SPIKES Date: 15 Nov 1780 (date of summons) County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Appearance bond for Edward B. HODGES (£500) with bondsmen William ORME, Thomas PARSONS (£250 each) for HODGES to appear and answer a charge of taking into his possession and refusing to deliver up a mare impresssed into the Continental Army. Witnesses: William SMYTH Gailer and Edward PASTEUR Date: 21 May 1780 (date of bond) County: Not given. Names indicate Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Summons for Zedibiah NIXON to appear and testify against John BOND Senior Date: 30 Aug 1780 (date of summons) County: Beaufort Folder: 1780 Information: Arrest warrant for Daniel DESHON, mariner, for assault on Isaac GUIION, Esquire Date: 27 Nov 1780 (date of warrant) County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Summons for Hezekiah MIXSON and James PRINGLE to testify against John BOND, Sr. Date: 15 Nov 1780 (date of summons) County: Beaufort Folder: 1780 Information: Arrest warrant for Lewis BRYAN, planter, to satisfy debt of £50 pounds for not attending last court (November term) as a juror and also 16 shillings for this execution and sheriff1s fees for this service. Date: 15 Nov 1780 (date of warrant) County: Jones Folder: 1780 Information: Summons to Zedekiah MIXSON and James PRINGLE to appear and testify against John BOND Date: 15 May 178(smeared) (date of summons) County: Beaufort Folder: 1780 Information: Appearance bond for Robert CAMPEN (£500) to appear and testify against John BOND on a charge of misdemenor tending to the breach of the peace. Date: 26 Aug 1780 (date of bond) County: Beaufort Folder: 1780 Information: Appearance bond for John BOND (£1000) with Robert CAMPEN and John ROLAND (£500 each) to appear and answer a charge brought by Richard FLANAKIN concerning some misdemeanors tending to the breach of the Peace. Date: 26 Aug 1780 (date of bond) County: Beaufort Folder: 1780 Information: Summons for Thomas ROE and James HANDCOCK to appear and testify on behalf of Thomas MCLIN Date: 15 Nov 1780 (date of summons) County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Oath by Jonathan TART, defendant in case of Jonathan TART agst. Jesse BARNES admin. of Julias BARNES, that Jane ELLIS of Edgecombe Co. widow, and Martha BOWLEY, wife of Joshua BOWLEY of the same county planter & James RICHARDSON of the same county blacksmith are material witnesses for him in the above case. Jane ELLIS is about 70 years old; Martha BOWLEY is between 40 and 50 years old, but subject to a dangerous indisposition; James RICHARDSON is about 70 years old. Date: 21 May 1783 (date of oath). (Misfiled) County: Not given/Edgecombe Folder: 1780 Information: Summons for Sarah CARRAWAY, Elizabeth FULSHER, and John RIGGS to appear and testify against Hezekiah MCCOTTER Date: 15 May 1780 (date of summons) County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Summons for Febbin GILGO, Clayton CARRUTHERS,William BROOKS, and Reuben HAMMONDTREE to appear and testify against Hezekiah MCCOTTER Date: 15 May 1780 (date of summons) County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Summons for Thomas DELAMAR & John TILLMAN to appear and testify against Hezekiah MCCOTTER Date: 15 Nov 1780 (date of summons) County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Arrest Warrant for Edward VAN DANIEL on a charge of trespass and misdemeanor &c at the last Nov. term. (On back: 3Executed and was so violently threatned by said Vann if did not immediately make my escape that I thought it prudent to make my escape from and his-2 Last line is crowded on bottom. I think it says, 3son JamesS¯2 can1t read rest) Date: 15 May 1779 (date of warrant) County: Beaufort Folder: 1780 Information: Summons for John CARRUTHERS, Febbin GILGO, William BROOKS, Clayton CARRUTHERS, Reuben HAMMONTREE, David BROTHERS and John RIGGS to appear and testify against Henry MCCOTTER Date: 15 May 1780 (date of summons) County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Oath of Jonathan TART the younger (in BARNES admr. of BARNES vs. TART) that Annie WATSON of Johnston County is a very material witness for him and that she is very old, upwards of 70, and lately was sick and likely to die with a slow fever. [Note: this was sworn before Saml. Spencer]. Date: 10 Nov 1782 (date of oath) (misfiled) County: Not given/Johnston Folder: 1780 Information: Summons for John PORTER, John SHAPLEY, Luke FORTESQUE, Perin ALMOND, Michael PHILLIPS to appear and testify for Elisha VENTERS in charge of petit larceny against Thomas MCGLIN. Date: 15 Nov 1779 (date of summons) County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: (Back of page only): The state vs. E VAN DANIEL} Ind. for High Treason. Edward VANDANNIEL found guilty of misprision of Treason. Witnessses Casting WOOLARD, P. WATERS (very faded), Tho. WALLIS Date: Nov term 1779 County: Not given (Beaufort, according to other documents) Folder: 1780 Information: The state vs. James HARRINGTON} Sur Murder. Witness Cox CORAT, Adam TOOLEY; Levi DAWSON forem. Plea 3Not Guilty2 Jury find the defendant guilty Date: November term, 1785 County: Not given Folder: 1780 Information: Appearance for William JONES of Mongumery County with David LEE of Johnston Co. (£50,000) for JONES to appear to prosecute John VICK for horse stealing. (On back: Other witnesses-David LEE with Noah BARFOOT security; John BARWICK, with David LEE security; Cooper VICK Date: 13 Oct 1780 (date of bond) County: Montgomery/Johnston Folder: 1780 Information: Complaint by Coll. James ARMSTRONG that he had a Negroe wench named Suck, seduced from him and carried to VA, and their sold to Benjamin BYNAM at Brunswick Co. [VA] and he has received inteligence that Robt. DANIELS Junr. with other persons conveyd her away and sold her. Therefore, order to arrest Robert DANIELS to answer charge. Date: 24 Nov 1779 (date of warrant) County: Pitt Folder: 1780 Information: Appearance bond for Nathan SMITH (£10,000) with James GREEN Junr. and Thomas OGDEN (£5,000 each) to appear and answer a charge of passing a counterfeit $100 bill. (Back of page is arrest warrant for Nathan SMITH) Date: Feb 12 1780 (date of bond) County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Coroner1s inquisition at home of Ann TISON on viewing the body of a male infant child apparently born the previous day. Coroner is Peter RIVERS. Jurors are: Joel SUGG, William BALDWIN, George WOLFINDEN, John FOREMAN, Zachariah ALLEN Nathaniel MOORE, Jodeph FORBES, Jesse FOURMAN, James LANIER, Philip, RYLAND, Pitt ALLEN, Roger ALLEN. States that Ann TISON was delivered of a male child with no one present except herself and her son Azariah TISON and that the infant was killed by a wound with a weapon which broke the scull two inches and a half long from the mole of the head to the back part. The infant was then secreted by Ann TISON and son Azariah. Goes on to say that both Ann TISON and Azariah had property and money in the county. Date: 27 Apr 1780 (date of crime) County: Pitt Folder: 1780 Information: Indictment of Peter PONSHET for forging and passing 4 counterfeit $100 bills to Peter REQUENOR. Date: 2 Mar 1780 County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Indictment of Ann TISON, widow, and Azariah TISON for murder of Ann TISON1s infant child. States that Ann TISON struck the child with a woman1s shoe on the forehead, from which wound the child instantly died. Azariah TYSON was 3present, aiding, helping, abetting, comforting, assisting, and maintaining2 Ann TYSON in this felony. Date: 27 Apr 1780 County: Pitt Folder: 1780 Information: [Note: some of this is very faded-sbg]. Indictment of Thomas JERNNIGIN, mariner, Charles WILLIAMS, George MAYS, and Richard REEVES for breaking and entering and burglarizing Lusana CUMMINGS of property, jewelry, money, etc. Further indictment of Archibald LEWIS, yeoman, for command, hire, counsel, and aid in above crime. Appears to be a futher indictment for assault on Lusana CUMMINGS. Date: 17 July 1780 in the hour of 10 in the night County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Indictment of James HOBBS, yeoman, for saying the following seditious words, 3That he had been very ? by our people as Cross Creek, and would give five hundred pounds for a Parole under the English.2 Later said (at the County of Dobbs), 3That the English would not hurt any but the gentlemen, that poor people would not suffer, and that he never would take arms again during his breath.2 Date: 12 June 1780 and 20 June 1780 County: Jones Folder: 1780 Information: Indictment of Aquila SUGG for saying to Stephen BROOKS, 3that he was told Fourteen thousand of the English were at Cross Creek and that the Enemy were to go through the State, and winter in Virginia,2 wheras in fact he had not heard the same, but invented the story to weaken and discourage the defense of the state. Later he said to Stephen BROOKS 3that men were to be stationed by the English in every county in this state, and that proper judges would be appointed to try and hang every leading man in the state.2 SUGG said this to discourage BROOKS from going out in the defense of his country. Date: 20 July 1780 County: Pitt Folder: 1780 Information: Indictment of William SPIKES, yeoman, for ravishing and carnally knowing Mary CUMMINGS, spinster, age 13 years and 3 quarters, against her will. Date: 15 Mar 1780 County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Indictment of John VICK, yeoman, for stealing a gelding from William JONES Date: 20 Oct 1780 County: Jones Folder: 1780 Information: Deposition of Silvanous PUMPHREY that Robert DANIEL came to his house and told him that he had a negro wench to conduct away of Coll. James ARMSTRONG1S, and he had been to Mr. BARFIELD1S to get him to carry her away. He asked PUMPHREY if she could stay at his house, because Hillery CAHUN and Samuel BARROW was coming to dinner, and he was afraid she might be discovered. PUMPHREY told DANIEL that she could not stay at his house, but later she came and said Mr. Robert had sent her. PUMPHREY told her to leave. Sometime later PUMPHREY happened to be at DANIEL1S house, and saw him rite the bill of sale for Coll. ARMSTRONG1S negro wench and saw him deliver it to Davis VANER and told Mr. VANER the wench must ride on his horse and that DANIEL went out the door and came in and called his name John BRINSON after the terms of the sale and that he DANNIEL would say a ? but ? was dead & ?Vance was gone. Date: Nov term 1789 (date of deposition) County: Pitt Folder: 1780 Information: Indictment of Benjamin GARRIS and John GARRIS, yeomen, for passing a counterfeit bill ($50) to Jeremiah TREVIN. Date: 23 Oct 1780 County: Pitt Folder: 1780 Information: Appearance bond for Daniel WALKER (£50,000) with bondsmen Richd. PROCTOR and Britain EDWARDS (£25,000 ea.) to appear and submit to judgement against him. Date: 28 Apr 1780 (date of bond) County: Pitt Folder: 1780 Information: Indictment of John LEE, yeoman, for theft of a sheep from Levi FULCHER. (Not a true bill) Date: 20 Apr 1778 County: Beaufort Folder: 1780 Information: Indictment of Hezekiah MCCOTTER, yeoman, for theft of a heifer belonging to John CARRUTHERS, and for defacing the mark on the heifer and replacing it with his own. (On back: Witnesses-Febbin GILGO, Wm. BROOKE, Crayton CARUTHERS, Reuben HAMMONTREE, John CARRUTHERS, David BROTHERS) Date: 10 Sept 1779 County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Indictment of William SPIKES, yeoman, for assault on Mary CUMMINGS. (On back: Pros.-Lusana CUMMINGS, Witnesses-Lusana CUMMINGS, Mary CUMMINGS) Date: 17 July 1780 County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Indictment of Major SLADE, planter, for theft of a cow and yearling from Samuel DUNBAR Date: 2 May 1779 County: Beaufort Folder: 1780 Information: Appearance bond for Silvanus POMPHREY (£6000) with bondsmen Peter ADAMS and James ARMSTRONG to appear and testify against Robert DANIEL charged with stealing a negro slave Date: 26 Nov 1799 (date of bond) County:Pitt Folder: 1780 Information: Appearance bond for Col. James ARMSTRONG (£3000) with Edwd. SALTER and John SALTER to appear and testify against Robt. Daniel charged with stealing a negro slave, the property of sd. ARMSTRONG Date: 9 Dec 1799 (date of bond) County: Pitt Folder: 1780 Information: Deposition of Robert PEEPLES that he was at the house of Mr. Oliver in town [New Bern-sbg] where some people were playing whist. Mr. Oroondates DAVIS won something of Nathan SMITH, who paid him. Very shortly after, DAVIS pulled out a [$100] bill and presented it to SMITH and said that it was bad [counterfeit], and that it was the bill that SMITH had used to pay DAVIS. SMITH examined it and at first doubted it was bad, but then agreed to take the bill back. The next day, PEEPLES, having also won money of SMITH, went to him the next morning to collect, and as SMITH was paying him, he pulled out the bad bill, and said it was the one that DAVIS had returned the previous night. PEEPLES looked at the bill, and agreed that it was very bad. Later (2-3 days), PEEPLES was at Doctor PASTEURS shop, and saw the same bill there. SMITH was sent for, and denied knowing where the bill was. SMITH and PASTEUR had a dispute about the bill, and PEEPLES told SMITH he should drop the dispute and pay good money for the bill, which he did. Date: 5 Feb 1780 County: Craven Folder: 1780 Information: Indictment of William CARTER, yeoman, for theft of a horse from Tobias COBB Date: 8 Sept 1780 County: Dobbs Folder: 1780 Information: Indictment of John HOBBS for saying the following seditious words in the presence of John SAUL: 3That he would never fight the English again.2 Date: 20 Jul 1780 County: Jones Folder: 1780 Information: Complaint of Richard FLANAKIN that John BOND Senr. is a person of lewd life and corrupt manners and keeps a bawdy house or a woman of lewd and loose character under his protection and maintenance. Therefore, this is an arrest warrant for John BOND; also a summons for Richard FLANAKIN, William BARROW, Ludiah BARROW, Violater HARVEY Jediciah (?torn) NIXON, Robert BOND, Tho. BONNOR, Francis WARNER Date: 14 Apr 1779 (date of warrant) County: Beaufort Folder: 1780 Information: Oath of Oroondates DAVIS that he was playing whist at the home of Mr. OLIVER, and that Nathan SMITH was there (DAVIS had not known SMITH previously), and that he made a bet with SMITH, which he won. SMITH paid him with a $100 bill, which upon examination proved to be counterfeit. He showed it to SMITH, who doubted it was counterfeit, and DAVIS pointed out several flaws in the bill. Some of the others there also agreed it was counterfeit. DAVIS offered to swear before a magistrate that it was a bad bill, and SMITH took it back. DAVIS told him to return it to the man he got it from, and not try to pass it again. 2-3 days later, DAVIS was in the shop of Mr. William PASTEUR, and PASTEUR showed him a $100 bill that SMITH had paid to PASTEUR1s brother Neddy, and DAVIS was positive in his opinion that it was the same bill. Date: 5 Feb 1780 County: Craven