Glasgow County, NC - Thomas Barfield Murder, 1793 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ State of North Carolina } Glasgow County } The examination of Sarah Sutton of the said county taken before me Benjamin Shepperd Coroner of the County aforesaid this sixth day of Septr 1793 at the House of the late Thomas Barfield Decd in the said County upon the Body the said Thomas Barfield then and there lying Dead, To wit, that on this present day the said Thomas Barfield was in his own yard, in the fere part of the day when John Barfield rode up near him and spoke and Thomas Barfield asked him John How he ded John gave him an answer 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 attenting 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 came up and told Thomas Damn him he should not kill his Horse if he did he would kill him and after some words past William Barfield Struck Thomas with his fist under or near the ear and John then told him to mend up his licks and kill him William then got an ax and Struck him and He the Said Thomas turn off and Lord have Mercy on him he was kill and died within a few Minutes and further saith not. Sarah (her x mark) Sutton State of North Carolina The examination of Sarah Sutton aged twenty two Years or thereabouts of the County of Glasgow Single woman taken before James Glasgow, William Speight and Melus Broom Justices assigned to keep the peace in and for the County of Glasgow. The Examinant being duly Sworn on the Holy Gospels of God deposith and saith, that the deponant lived at The House of Thomas Barfield decd near a year and a half That on the sixth day of September Instant The said Thomas Barfield was at his own house siting in a Chair in the Yard that about ten oClock in the forepart of the day John Barfield rode up to the Barrs about twenty Yards from where the said Thomas was sitting and said So Thomas answered, how are Ye John replied Damn Your Soul I don't know how I am but I come to kill you and will do it before I leave your Ground upon which William Barfield 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 deponant he wanted her to go out, She the deponant askt what for? Because says Asa there is something going to be done here today and I don't want you to see it upon which this deponant said she would not for if any thing was to be done she would see it, that the said Asa repeated his Solecetations and told her damage was to be done and he did not want her to see it, that when John came up to where Thomas was siting he attempted to strike him with a stick he had in his hand and endeavored to ride over him and said he would ride over him & Kill his Horse if it lay in his on power that William Barfield stept up and Struck him with his Fist under his Ear upon which John said Mind your Blows and Kill him G--Damn him upon which Willian turned round pickt up an Ax and Struck him with the Eye of the Ax under his left Breast upon which the said Thomas turned nearly round and said Lord have Mercy on me he has Killed Me and fell, That this deponant and the said Asa Barfield during the whole of the Transaction was standing in the door and Looking at them that this deponant kept begging him to go out and not let William strike with the Ax when she saw him put it up that he said he would not, nor did not till the Mortal Blow was given that William after strikeing the first blow with the Axe drew back to strike again that Asa ran and catched the Axe from him and whirled William round, that William and John then turned round and went off together that Asa Pickt up his uncle Thomas and brought him in his Arm's, that he appeared to do this without any Concern or disturbance at what had happened. Sarah (her x mark) Sutton Sworn to the 9th day of September 1793 J Glasgow Wm Speight Melus Broom State of North Carolina } Craven County } Be it remembered that on 24th day of September 1793 Came before us Isaac Guion & William Tisdale two of the Justices for the County aforesaid Asa Barfield, William Barfield & Mills Barfield all of Glasgow County acknowledged themselves indebted to the State aforeds in the Sum of one thousand pounds to say Asa Barfield in the Sum of five hundred pounds And William Barfield & Mills Barfield in the Sum of two hundred & fifty pounds Each to be levied on their Goods & Chattels Lands & tenements to the Use of the State---Provided nevertheless, if the Said Asa Barfield, do make his personal appearance, before the Judges of the Superior Court, to be held for the District of Newbern, in the town of Newbern & County aforesd, on the 19 day of March next, then & there to answer, to a Charge for being assessary before the fact of a Murder Committed by John Barfield, & William Barfield, on the Body of Thomas Barfield, on Sixth of this Instant September, and not to depart the sd Court, without leave first had & obtained, then this obligation to be Null & Void or otherwise to remain in full force & Acknowledged before us. Is. Guion J.P. William Tisdale J.P. State of North Carolina } District of Newbern } Superior Court of Law March Term 1794 The Jurors for the State upon their Oath present that William Barfield Junior late of the County of Glasgow within the district of Newbern aforesaid yeoman and Asa Barfield late of the same County and district yeoman not having the fear of God before their Eyes but being moved and Seduced by the instigation of the devil on the Sixth day of September in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and ninety three and in the eighteenth year of the Independance of the State with force and arms in the County aforesaid within the district aforesaid on and upon one Thomas Barfield in the peace of God and the State then and there being feloniously wilfully and of their malice and that the said William Barfield with a certain ax of the value of one Shilling which he the said William Barfield in both hands then and there had and held the said Thomas Barfield in and up the left breast of him the said Thomas Barfield then and there feloniously wilfully and of his malice aforethoughts and strike pinetrate and wound giving unto the said Thomas Barfield then and there with the ax aforesaid in and upon the aforesaid left breast of him the said Thomas Barfield one mortal wound and bruises of which said mortal wound and bruise so given as aforesaid he the said Thomas Barfield then and there instantly died and that the aforesaid Asa Barfield then and there Feloniously wilfully and of his malice aforethought was present, aiding, helping, abetting, comforting, assisting, and maintaining the said William Barfield the felony and Murder afore to do and commit and so the Jurors aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid do say that the said William Barfield and the said Asa Barfield the said Thomas Barfield then and there in manner and force aforsaid feloniously wilfully and of their malice aforethought did kill and murder against the peace and dignity of the State. Ed. Jones Lot. Genl. On the reverse: State vs William & Asa Barfield \ Inst. Murder of Thos Barfield March Term 1794, Sarah Sutton witness Sworn Silas Cooke cc. Governor pros., True Bill, J. Blount Foreman, E. Jones. Source: New Bern District Superior Court, Criminal Action Papers, 1790-1794. D.S.C.R.206.326.3 Deposition taken before County Court, State vs Barfield, Murder. To Sept 1793. ______________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Grace Williamson Turner ______________________________________________________________________