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 7 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: 1781 Information: Summons for Mary CAMPAIN and John BENNETT to testify against Thomas CAMPEN Date: 15 May 1781(date of summons) County: Beaufort Folder: 1781 Information: Apparance bond for William ALDRIDGE, junr. with bondmen William ALDRIDGE, senr. and John KENEDY, planters to appear and answer charges against him. [There is a large portion of this document-about 1/6-torn out toward the bottom. There might have been more information in that part-sbg] Date: 4 Dec 1781 (date of bond) County: Dobbs Folder: 1781 Information: Top of page is an arrest warrant for William FERRIL for rape, based on a complaint by Rachel Ann LOFTIN. Bottom of page is an order to the 3goaler2 to imprison FERRIL. That order states that Rachel Ann LOFTIN is a minor. Date: 5 Sept 1781 (date of warrant and order) County: Dobbs Folder: 1782 Information: Summons for James SAUNDERS to testify against James HOBBS Date: 26 Nov 1782 (date of summons) County: Jones Folder: 1782 Information: Summons for Jonathan WILKINSON to testify against William RUPELL Date: 26 Nov 1782 (date of summons) County: Hyde Folder: 1782 Information: Arrest warrant for William HINES, Benjamin BRIGHT, John SMITH, Rice BASS, John BASS, John BRIGHT, Joseph MASILL, John STEWART, Nathan NEWEL, John PARKER, and William PARKER on a charge (with Daniel MILLER and others) of murder. Date: 26 Nov 1782 (date of Warrant) County: Duplin Folder: 1782 Information: Appearance bond for Thomas COLE to appear and testify against Rice BASS & John BASS charged with the murther of Martin FRANCKS & James BLACKSHIRE, Junr. & robbing the house of James BLACKSHIRE on the 26 Oct 1781 or thereabouts. Date: 19 Nov 1782 (date of bond) County: Craven Folder: 1782 Information: Summons for Daniel DESHON, Richard COGDELL, Jr., James GREEN, Jr., Edward TINKER, John HACKBURN (?could be BLACKBURN), Thomas OGDEN, John LINDSAY to appear and testify on behalf of William TISDALE on 2 indictments for misdemeanors. Date: 15 Nov 1781(date of summons) County: Craven Folder: 1782 Information: Indictment of David DONAN, attorney, for assisting his client John DONNOL (accused of 3horse stealing and other capital crimes2) in escaping from custody. States that DONNOL, after being arrested for his crimes, was left in the custody of Capt. George FALCONER, due to the lack of a 3goal.2 DONAN, as DONNOL1s attorney, prevailed upon FALCONER to allow him to confer in private with DONNOL. David DONAN then allowed DONNOL to escape, and got him a convenient distance away, and set him at large. Date: 10 Feb 1782 (date of arrest of DONNOL and escape) County: Pitt Folder: 1782 Information: Appearance bond for John STANSELL (£200,000) with William MEARS and James ROBERTS (£100,000 each), planters, to appear and answer a charge of beating Georg TURNAGE. Date: 20 Nov 36th year of independence2 County: Dobbs (STANSELL)/Creven (TURNAGE) Folder: 1782 Information: Indictment of John PERSON, planter, for voluntarily going to a party of the British troops and ask for their protection and parole. (On back: Pros-William BRYAN. Witnesses-Nath. R. SHEETS, Evan SWANN, William CANADE) Date: 22 Aug 1781 County: Craven Folder: 1782 Information: Indictment of Robert ELLIS, yeoman, for murder of Fredk. GUYTAR (?GUYTON, but looks like GUYTAR all the way through the document) by shooting him in the head a little above the right ear with a musket loaded with gunpowder and one lead bullet. (On back: Witnesses-James TAYLOR, David MCCULLOCK, James MCDONNAL) Date: 16 Nov 1782 County: Craven Folder: 1782 Information: Deposition of Thomas VAUSE, yeoman, charged with murder of Hardy POWELL. VAUSE says that he is innocent; on the night in question he was at Mr. PATER, then left and went to Mary YOUNG1s about 2 miles away, where he remained ‘til late in the night; then he went to Thomas BARFIELDS and stayed until the next mornning. Date: 20 Mar 1780 County: Dobbs Folder: 1782 Information: Indictment of Samuel CARMAN, planter, also known as Samuel FOLSON, for forming, along with upwards of 50 other persons, as yet unknown, a military force with guns, swords, and other military weapons, for the purpose of aiding the army of the King of Great Britain, and perpetuating a most cruel slaughter on the citizens and soldiers of the State. Date: 23 Aug 1781 and diverse other days before and after in the same year County: Craven Folder: 1782 Information: Arrest warrant for David DONNAL for assisting in escape of John DANIEL. Based on complaint by (torn) Horsemen that they had arrested DANIEL on several charges, and had summoned David DONAN Esq for assistance in guarding DANIEL, and that DONAN was offered a bribe or reward for assisting DANIEL to escape. Date: 30 Dec 1782 (date of warrant) County: Pitt Folder: 1782 Information: Indictment of William HINES, Benjamin BRIGHT, John SMITH, Rice BASS, John BASS, John BRIGHT, Joseph ?MASSEY, John STEWART, Nathan NEWEL, John PARKER, and William PARKER, all of Duplin, planters; William BROWN, Edward WHITE, Jesse HARPER, William ROBERTSON, all of Dobbs, planters; Daniel MILLER, Thomas DEAN the elder, and Thomas DEAN the younger, all of Jones, planters for murder of James BLACKSHIRE. States that Daniel MILLER shot BLACKSHIRE in the breast, yielding a mortal wound from which BLACKSHIRE instantly died. The other men were indicted for being 3present, aiding, helping, abetting, comforting, and maintaining2 MILLER. Date: 26 Oct 1781 County: Duplin/Dobbs/Jones Folder: 1782 Information: Oath by John BRIGHT that Thomas VOASE asked him he was going to Hardy POWEL. BRIGHT said yes, and VOASE told him to 3tell Hardy POWEL if he did not go away he wood be damed to hell if did not kill him.2 3VOASE said Hardy POWEL might as well rent his place to sd. BRIGHT for there he should not stay.2 Date: 3Sometime in Feb. last2 [1782] County: Dobbs Folder: 1782 Information: Summons for Thomas BARFIELD to appear and testify against Thomas VAUSE. Date: 15 Apr 1782 (date of summons) County: Dobbs Folder: 1782 Information: Appearance bond for John BRIGHT to appear and testify against Thomas VAUSE. Date: 11 Apr 1782 (date of bond) County: Dobbs Folder: 1782 Information: Summons for Shadrick CAMPBLE, Martin CASWELL, junior, and Hannavritta VAUSE to appear and testify against Thomas VAUSE. Date: 27 Apr 1782 (date of summons) County: Dobbs Folder: 1782 Information: Arrest warrant for Thomas FINNIGIN & Archibald LEWIS charged with burglary. Date: 15 May 1782 (date of warrant) County: Craven Folder: 1782 Information: Summons for James GLASGOW, Matthew MOSELEY, & John HARTSFIELD to testify on behalf of Thomas VAUSE. Date: 20 Apr 1782 (date of summons) County: Dobbs Folder: 1782 Information: Indictment of David ADAMS, planter, for assault on Ann BRIGHT 3and other wrongs.2 Date: 20 Oct 1782 County: Craven Folder: 1782 Information: Summons for John STYRON to appear and testify against Allen ROBINSON Date: 15 Nov 1781 County: Carteret (date of summons) Folder: 1782 Information: Summons for William ORME and Simon ?[original scratched out, and substitute name squeezed in-can1t read-sbg] to testify on behalf of William GIBSON Date: 15 May 1782 (date of summons) County: Jones Folder: 1782 Information: Summons for William ORME and Simon FOSCUE to testify on behalf of William GIBSON in a suit brought against him by Thomas LEE. Date: 15 May 1782 (date of summons) County: Not given Folder: 1782 Information: Arrest warrant for John STANSELL, planter, based on complaint brought by George TURNAGE that STANSELL held a loaded gun to his chest and threatened to kill him, then used the gun to beat him so that his life was in danger. Date: 17 Nov 1781 (date of warrant) County: Dobbs (STANSELL)/Craven (TURNAGE) Folder: 1782 Information: Indictment of Edward CANNNON, planter, for assault on William WILLIAMS Date: 19 Oct 1782 County: Craven (CANNON)/Pitt (WILLIAMS) Folder: 1782 Information: Appearance bond for John SILLIVAN (£100,000) to appear and testify against Thomas VAUSE, charged with murder. Date: 16 Mar 1782 (date of bond) County: Dobbs Folder: 1782 Information: Summons for Lusana CUMMINGS and Mary CUMMINGS to appear and testify against William SPIKES Date: 26 Nov 1782 (date of summons) County: Craven Folder: 1782 Information: Appearance bond for David DONAN (£200) to appear and answer to a charge against him of assisting James DONALD, in custody for horse stealing, to make his escape. Date: 16 May 1782 (date of bond) County: Not given (Pitt in previous documents) Folder: 1782 Information: Arrest warrant for John HOWELL, mariner, Nathan SMITH,, & Thomas PEARSON to answer George HARDWICK, Samuel GARRETT, & James MCCONNEL in a plea of trespass & damage, £50,000 currency Date: 15 May 1782 (date of warrant) County: Craven Folder: 1782 Information: Appearance bond for Baron Stephen CARTER to appear and testify in a capital matter. Date: 17 Oct 1782 (date of bond) County: Hyde Folder: 1782 Information: Summons for Henry GOOF, George WOLFENDON, & George FALCONER to testify against David DONAN Date: 15 Nov 1781 (date of summons) County: Pitt Folder: 1782 Information: Arrest warrant for Thomas VAUSE based on complaint by William FALKNER that Hardy POWELL (in his own dwelling place) was fired upon in a secret manner, and that he instantly died of his wounds. FALKNER swears that there is good reason to suspect Thomas VAUSE. Date: Friday, 15 Mar 1782 County: Dobbs Folder: 1782 Information: Depositions: 1) Isaac PATE, planter, states he knows nothing of the death of Hardy POWELL; he has heard he is dead and believes he is. 2) John BAKER states that last Friday evening the 12th, he, Tho. VAUSE and others were at a shooting (? smeared) at Mr. PATER1s. He asked VAUSE to shoot for him or lend him his gun, but VAUSE declined, because shot was scarce. BAKER offered to defray him the next day, but VAUSE declined, because might want it before morning. BAKER later asked him again, but VAUSE said he wanted to leave because he had some particular business to do that night. He did, however, alight and fire a gun for BAKER, then he went away. 3) William FALKNER states that he knows nothing of the murder of Hardy POWELL, but that some time past he and Thomas VAUSE were riding towards Kingston on the day that Hardy POWELL was to be tried by a court marshall. VAUSE asked FALKNER where POWELL would live if not turned into the Continental Service, and FALKNER said at his own place. VAUSE said 3if he would give him bond and Security not to settle nearer than one hundred miles from he might do so, but if he stays on his old place he would kill him.2 Date: 20 Mar 1782 (date of depositions) County: Dobbs Folder: 1782 Information: Depositions: 1) Joseph BRUTON states that about an hour and a half after daylight, he heard a gun towards Hardy POWELL1s, went there and found POWELL on the bed dead; does not know who killed him. Appeared he died of gunshot wounds. Saw next morning the track of a person to the house and from it twice, at a hole between 2 logs of the house. The dogs were ?steamed with powder. The track appeared to be half an inch longer than his own shoe. 2) Frederick BAKER says he was at the dwelling place of Hardy POWELL on the Saturday the 16th and saw POWELL dead, apparently from a gunshot wound, and he saw 2 tracks to & from the house. They seemed to have been made by the same person and to him appeared to be the track of Thomas VAUSE 3as his walk is rather uncommon on acct. of the lameness of one of his legs & walks with one toe rather more incllined inwards than the other.2 Asked which foot more inclined, he (BAKER) said left. Date: 20 Mar 1782 (date of depositions) County: Dobbs Folder: 1782 Information: Deposition of John SILIVEN: States that he was at Hardy POWELL1s the evening before and he & POWELL had been washing their feet by the fire when he heard something out which he took to be horses, that Hardy was shot willfuly by somebody with leaden shot. He (POWELL)2 raisd up went to the bed fell on it and was dead in two or three minutes.2 SILLIVEN does not know who shot the gun. The next morning he saw a mans track to & from the house and that he saw the stain of powder on the house. Date: 16 Mar 1782 (date of deposition) County: Dobbs Folder: 1782 Information: Appearance bond for Joseph GLEATON (£100) with bondsmen Samuel CASWELL and Belitha TILLGHMAN (£50 each) to appear and testify against 3those people called Tories and others.2 Date: 16 Sept 1782 (date of bond) County: Dobbs Folder: 1782 Information: Appearance bond for Nathan SLADE, John BELL, Joshua BELL, and John TULY (£6000) to appear and answer a charge of trespass Date: 6 May 1782 (date of bond) County: Hyde Folder: 1782 Information: Arrest warrant for Edward DOWELLING and Joseph CLARKE based on a complaint by Stephen MOORE that they came to his house and assaulted him. (On back: states charge is assault, battery, and false imprisonment. Appearance bond by Joseph CLARKE for £40 with securities John C. BRYAN and Shadrack FULCHER, £20 each). Date: 15 Dec 1782, 1 Jan 1783 (date of warrant) County: Craven Folder: 1782 Information: Indictment of Edward DOWELLING and Joseph CLARKE for assault of Stephen MOORE, yeoman, and for imprisoning him for 20 hours. Date: 15 Dec 1782 County: Craven Folder: 1782 Information: Appearance bond for David DONAN (£100,000) with George EVANS, esq. (£100,000) to appear and abide by the judgement against him. Date: 24 Jan 1782 (date of bond) County: Pitt Folder: 1782 Information: Arrest in judgement of David ADAMS, convicted of murder. This handwriting is very difficult to read, but it looks like an overturn of a judgement against ADAMS for murder, because the indictment does not clearly spell out the charges; for example, the district where the murder should have been charged is not mentioned, and it is not clear exactly how the deceased (ANTHONY) met his death. Date: Not given County: Not given Folder: 1782 Information: Arrest warrant for William WILLIAMS, planter, on a charge of assault of James HOBBS Date: 6 Nov 1781 (date of warrant) County: Dobbs Folder: 1782 Information: Arrest warrant for David GEORGE, planter, on a charge of assault of James HOBBS Date: 6 Nov 1781 (date of warrant) County: Dobbs Folder: 1782 Information: Arrest warrant for John STANCELL and William SKINNER, junior (both of Dobbs Co.) based on complaint by George TURNAGE (of Craven Co.) that a little after dark on 5 Sept, in Pitt Co., on the path going home with his wife and mother-in-law from a Vendue of Goods which had been that afternoon at the house of W. Joshua TINDALL, that STANCELL and SKINNER, 3idlers & very ill disposed Quarrelsome Men, together with some other man,2 knocked him down and beat bruised,, wounded kicked and stamped him with clubbs and with the toes and heels of their shoes until TURNAGE was almost speechless and very near death. TURNAGE also said that STANCELL encouraged the others by crying out a number of times, 3Damn him, Kill him, Kill him.2 He was rescued by some people who heard him cry out 3Murder2 when they first began to beat him. When the rescuers came he crawled into the bushes, where he fainted due to loss of blood. Page 2 is an appearance bond by William SKINNER (£200). Page 3 is appearance bond for William SKINNER, junior (£200) with James ROBERTS and James COWARD (£100 each) followed by a statement by the magistrate that on 19 Oct 1782 George TURNAGE came and dropped the charges against SKINNER, having received satisfaction for the assault and battery. Date: 5 Sept 1782 County: Dobbs/Craven/Pitt Folder: 1782 Information: Arrest warrant for John STANCELL and William SKINNER, Jr. based on complaint by Catharine BUTLER, wife of William BUTLER that she was in Pitt County with her daughter and son-in-law George TURNAGE on the path returning home a little after dusk, when STANCELL, SKINNER, and James BARFIELD, idlers, came running after them with clubs and knocked TURNAGE down, and TURNGE was crying out Murder, 3upon which she endeavored to to pull some of them away, & the said John STANCELL seized her by the neck & threw her down and kicked her in the face with great force & violence so that her mouth & nose was wounded & bruized so violently that her speach was very much altered & lost a great Quantity of blood, & the said William SKINNER after she got up jerked her down again & wounded one of her leggs very much (which said wounds & bruizes & also the alteration of her sppechc was plain to be seen & perceived at the time of making her complaint).2 Next page is an appearance bond by William SKINNER, jr. (£200) with William SKINNER, senr. and James COWARD (£100 each), followed by a statement that Catherine Butler came in on 21 Oct 1782 and dropped charges, having received satisfaction of SKINNER. Date: 5 Sept 1782 (date of event) 26 Sept 1782 (date of complaint and warrant) County: Dobbs/Pitt/Craven