Johnston County, NC - Court Records File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Ken Lindsay Court - Johnston Co., NC 8 Nov 1780 - Trial - Minutes of the Special Court for the Trial of Negroes: At a special court held for the tryal of Negro Jenney the Property of the late Lewis Bryan Dec'd, charged with the Poisoning of Needham Bryan his Father & family at the Court House of the sd County on Wednesday the 8th day of November AD 1780. Justices Present: Nathan Williams, James Lockhart, Jesse Tyner, Richard Warren. Freeholders present: Benj. Williams Jr, Wm Avera, Aaron Vinson, John S. Whitley Who being legally Summoned to the Tryal of the said qualified & proceeded to the isamenation of Negros Juno, Patti Beck and and Treacey together with the Testimony of Patty Lynch, James Bagget evidences against the said Negro Jenney & after Considering the same & the circumstances belonging - are of the opinion that the said Negro Jenney is Guilty of the poisoning so laid to her charge as aforesaid and do accordingly order & sentence that the said Negro Jenney be carried back to the place of confinement & from there to be taken to the ground of the Court green. On Saturday the eighteenth of this instant (November) between the hours of twelve & one of the clock in the after noon, & there to be burt to death by a stake & that the Sheriff of this County see that the said sentence be carried into execution. At the same time the Court taking the value of the said negro under consideration do value her to Five thousand pounds cur. Certifyed under the hand and seal of the said Justices & Freeholders respectfully this eighth November AD 1780. From the above Johnston Co., North Carolina court document we know the following facts: 1. Lewis Bryan of Johnston Co., NC was the owner of the accused slave, Jenney. 2. Lewis Bryan of Johnston Co., NC was dead by 8 Nov 1780. 3. Lewis Bryan was a son of Needham Bryan. 4. Needham Bryan and other members of the family were said to have been poisoned by Jenney. 5. Needham Bryan is dead by 8 Nov 1780. 6. Jenney was found guilty. 7. The sheriff (who happens to be a Needham Bryan) is ordered to carry-out the execution. Johnston Co., NC Ct. Minutes. 27 Nov 1780 - (Contributed by Lea L. Dowd): Exhibited into Court held for the Tryal of Negro Jenney charged with the poisoning & therein sentenced to death. Ordered that the same be filed. Johnston Co., NC Ct. Minutes. 27 Nov 1780 - (Contributed by Lea L. Dowd): Ordered that the Needham Bryan Shereff be Allowed two and an half PCent from the amt. of the sales of Lewis Bryans Estate and that the Admr. pay the same. Comment by KGL: Here we see that Needham BRYAN was Sheriff of Johnston County. It was he who did the burning at the stake. Court - Johnston Co., NC Ct. Minutes. 26 Feb 1781 - (Contributed by Lea L. Dowd): Presented into Court by Nm Bryan high sheriff of Johnston Co. the Account of Sales of the Estate of Lewis Bryan deceased amounting in the whole to one hundred and two thousand Three hundred and Seventeen pounds fourteen shillings. Comment by KGL: This indicates that Sheriff Needham Bryan is a brother to Lewis Bryan, therefore, a son of Needham Bryan who was claimed to have been poisoned. Court - Johnston Co., NC Ct. Minutes 26 Feb 1782 - (Contributed by Lea L. Dowd): Samuel Smith Esquire Adm. of the Estate of Needham Bryan desd. came into Court and settled his Administration and produced Notes to the amount of Two hundred seventy five pounds seven shillings and ten pence and paper currency to the amount of eight hundred and ninty pounds eleven shillings and six pence, with several vouchers & papers, all of which are Ordered to be filed in the Office with the Clerk until further Orders thereon. ============================================================== 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. The 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. ==============================================================