Table of Contents
Natchez Index of Free Individuals and Families of Color
The following pages are the culmination of research on free Black people that began after an initial trip in 1996 when I was investigating property-owning free women of color in Natchez and surrounding Adams County, Mississippi. It later grew into a community-wide study encompassing all free Black people who surfaced in the records, living in the area for any length of time. The process began with the inspection of the Spanish and US census returns and of William Johnson’s diary that he kept from 1835-1851. Using the diary’s index and carefully inspecting every entry for mentions of free Black people living in Natchez provided a basis for cataloguing this population. Sporadic research trips from that time to the most recent in 2019 allowed the opportunity to visit the Adams County Chancery Court and the Historic Natchez Foundation where I pored over the transcribed Spanish records, chancery and circuit court records, will books, deed books, marriage books, probate records, and Police Board records, among others.
Early on in the process, I created the Natchez Index of Free Individuals and Families of Color to archive both transcriptions of the documents and excerpts from books relating to free Black people done by other scholars. It has been a primary aim from the outset to collect and catalogue the records available to document individuals who defied neat characterization. This involved either transcribing on-site, making photocopies, or later, digitally capturing images of documents. transcriptions of primary sources documents living for any time in Natchez, organized alphabetically by surname when known or first name when surname is not given.
The Natchez Database of Free People of Color was a natural outgrowth of this organizational process to account for every person in a more concise and ordered fashion. Indeed, it went hand-in-hand with the process and the Index correlates directly with the Database by serving as its expanded repository. In addition to recording the name of every free Black individual who surfaced in the record, diligent attention was paid to entering demographic characteristics like gender, age, color, property ownership, occupation, and literacy, among others in the Database. Doing so has revealed critical patterns regarding intergenerational familial relationships, movement, and violence. The intertwining of these complementary units, the Database and the Index, serves as the backbone of this project. For more on the creation of the Index and the Database, refer to the essay on methods, “Natchez in Freedom and Enslavement: A Methodological Reflection on the Establishment of a Database Documenting Free People of Color, 1779-1865” elsewhere on the website.
It is important to note that the focus has always been on free Black people. Therefore, not all sources are fully transcribed and are often truncated to include only the relevant information about that group. When I use brackets [x] in the following pages, it indicates either my own notes about a particular source or to show that the text is from a footnote or elsewhere in a secondary source. For a bibliographic listing of the secondary sources that were utilized, refer to the end of this Index. At times I inserted question marks when I was uncertain about deciphering a word or name. Other times, I would indicate hesitancy with phrases like “illegible,” or “difficult to discern.” When reading the census records, the following abbreviations were used: bf=black female; bm=black male; mf=mulatto female; mm=mulatto male; wf=white female; and wm=wm. Any mistakes that in the transcriptions are mine and mine alone.
A
Aaron
Aaron, emancipation from Thomas Nicholls, 1805
Adams County Chancery Court
Deed Book D
Pgs. 36-7
Thomas Nicholls to Negro Aaron Eman.n [emancipation] To all to whome these presents shall come that I
Recd 4th April 1805 Thomas Nicholls of the County of Mason And State of Kentucky being Possessed of a certain Negro man named Aaron about Twenty eight years of age doth by these presents Emancipate and Set free the said Negro man slave Aaron releasing and discharging the said Negro man Aaron from me and my heirs Executors administrators and Assigns and I the said Thomas Nicholls doth covenant doth covenant [sic] promise and agree to and with the said Negro Man Aaron that I will warrant and forever defend his freedom from the claim or claims of all and every Person or Persons whatsoever aand in case the deed of Emancipation should not be thought sufficient then I will make such other deed or deeds as Shall be Sufficient to secure to the Said Aaron his freedom in Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Affixed my seal this ninth Day of May one thousand Eight hundred and three
Thomas Nicholls seal
Mason County KY
I Marshall Key deputy Clerk of the Coutny aforesaid do certify that this Deed of Emancipation from Thomas Nicholl to Aaron a Negro Man was this day produced before me and acknowledged by the said Thomas Nicholls according to Law, and duly recorded; Given under my hand this ninth Day of May one thousand Eight Hundred and three
State of Kentucky Marshall Key
Mason County
I Thomas Marshall Clerk of the County aforesaid do certify that the within is a True copy of the Deed of Emancipation From Thomas Nicholls to Aaron a negro man now of record in my office; In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the said County to be affixed this first day of March in the year one thousand Eight Hundred and Five
Thomas Marshall
Abagail
Abagail, Police Board Records, September 1841
Adams County Chancery Court
Police Board Records
P. 320
Special September Term 1841
The following applications for license to remain in this State, by free Negroes, and Mulattoes, were Ordered to be rejected To wit
The applications of Robert D.A. Smith
Priscilla Harriet Stern
Joe Cornish Armstead Carter
Nathl. Stearns Easter Stearns
Andrew Leiper Albert Tolbot?
Winney, Washington Stearns
Abagail Charlotte
Abbey
Peyton Abbey's free papers, 1831
Adams County Chancery Court
Deed Book BB
P. 292
Peyton Abbey a free man of Colour
The State of Mississippi
Adams County Be it known unto all whom it may concern, that the barer here of Peyton Abby a free man of colour, some four years ago, was apprehended and imprisoned in the jail of said county under suspicion of being a runaway slave, that some months afterwards was taken from prison by writ of liberty, and carried before Judge Probate? Ellis when satisfactory evidence being adduced, the judge set him at liberty and at the same time Decreed that Peyton should pay all Costs, that for the payment of Said Costs Peyton Indented himself as a servant to Robert Parkinson for the space of three years, and on the last day of October last past his Servitude expired and since which Peyton has gone at large and is received and acknowledged as a free man, be it also remembered, that the original papers and proceedings relative to the Establishment of Peytons freedom have been lost or mislaid and that he may not suffer thereby I Henry Tooley A justice of the peace in and for Said County residing in the City of Natchez, being intirely acquainted with all the matters and things aforesaid do testify the same under my hand and the seal of my office at Natchez the 8th day of February 1826.
H. Tooley
Peyton Abby is a small black man about 21 years old five feet four & quarter inches high, a scar on the little finger of the left hand thick lips
I certify that the foregoing certificate was received in my office to be recorded on the 16 day of January A.D. 1831
Woodson Wren Clk
Abraham
Will of Benajah Osmun, 1815
Adams County Will Records
Vol. 1
pgs. 122-3
[Not transcribing all, only the portion relating to Abraham]
It is my will and desire that my Executors apply so much of my Estate as may be necessary to purchasing a mulatto boy named Abraham now the property of Berkly and Salkild and when so purchased they my said Executors manumit and set free from Slavery the said boy Abraham and when manumitted I devise and be (122)
Bequeath to the said boy Abraham the sum of one thousand Dollars to be paid to him by my Executors (123).
Adams
Anthony Hoggatt--29 mm, carpenter w/John, 27 mm; Elliot, 4 mm; Louisa, 2 mf; Deebry Adams, 18 mf, seamstress; Emiline, 16 mf, seamstress (1860 Natchez census)
Agatha
Angeline & Agatha2 fpc (Census of 1816, Adams County)
Margaret Nauchere Will, 1812
Adams County Chancery Court
Will Book 1
P. 83
In the first place, in consequence of her fidelity and long attention and honesty I give at the time of my death, unto my female slave Agatha, her freedom hoping that she will make good use of it.
Albert
Manumission of Albert by Anselm Lynch, 1835
Adams County Chancery Court
Deed Book W
Pgs. 314-5
Alford notes that that Lynch was of Warren County, MS, 48
Recorded in Alford, Terry L. “Some Manumissions Recorded in the Adams County Deed Books in Chancery Clerk’s Office, Natchez, Mississippi, 1795-1835,” Journal of Mississippi History 33, (Feb. 1971): 39-50.
Allen
Allen, Alexander (black) v. White, John, 1835
Historic Natchez Foundation
Box 67
File 3
Alexander Allen
vs On petition for habeas Corpus before the honorable Edward Turner
John White Chancellor of the State of Mississippi at the Court House in and for the County of
Adams on the twenty eighth day March in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and Thirty five
Be it remembered, that upon the return of the defendant above the writ issued in this case, it appeared that the petitioner Alexander Allen was detained by the defendant is a Slave by virtue of a Bill of Sale Executed by one A. H. Green to the Said defendant John White
Thomas Gand being sworn, deposeth and saith that the said petitioner was purchased by the said John White, and that the signature appended to the bill of sale was in the hand writing of the said A H Green
Jenkens being Sworn, deposeth and Saith that he had been acquainted with a John White for several years, and that he had lately travelled in company with the said Whitethat Said petitioner was then in the possession of the said White as a Slave, that he had had frequent conversations with the petitioner relating to his parentage, that he thought he was born in Missournio? And that his mother was an Eighth negro blood that she was brought from Europe and Sold in slavery, that he was mother was free when in Europedeponent saith that said conversation took place about ten days agothat said White is from Tennessee that he is partially a negro trader, that he has never offered the said petitioner for salethat he has brought with him two or three negroes for sale and that that is his
business in this place at this time, that said White has a plantation in Holmes Countydeponant [sic] saith that the said White is lately in New Orleans, receive money of one Graham for the Services of the said petitionerdeponant [sic] saith that he has been acquainted with said White three or four years
Mr Halsey being sworn saith that he is acquainted with the said White A.W. Green and that the said Green offered to sell him a white slave about two yearsthat from his recollection he could not now identify the said mentioned white slave with the petitionerdeponant [sic] saith that the said Green informed him that he brought the said slave from Arkansaw [sic]. That his objection to buy the Said boy, was his colour, that he understood from said Green that the said boy was a Slave for lifethat he asked about three hundred dollars for said boy, as he estimated from the trade that was in question between said deponent & Green
W. C Green? Being sworn, saith
Whereupon after hearing of the testimony introduced and the argument of the council, it is ordered that the Court adjourn untill [sic] 9 O Clock Monday morning
The State of Mississippi
Adams County
Alex.r Allen
vs Habeas Corpus
John White
The testimony on each side, & the Counsel of the parties, being heard, & the case maturely? considered by the Chancellor ^ it is considered that the Petitioner is not entitled to his discharge under this virtue of this writbut that to try the question of freedom or slavery, a jury is necessary, under the provisions of our statute
The writ will be considered as dismissedat the costs of the Petitioner to be [illegible] by the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Adams County--& the Petitioner be remanded to the custody of the Defendant.
March 30. 1835
E.Turner
[HNF note: Plaintiff claims to be free, not slave. Claims mother from Europe and sold as slave. Writ of habeas corpus denied, but trial on question of free or slave ordered. Possibly from Missouri. Defendant, his owner, identified as a part-time slave trader. Habeas corpus] [Mine: unclear outcome]
Al-Rahman
Abd (Prince)
“He has the feelings of a father, and cannot bear the thought of leaving his offspring in bondage, while he is restored to freedom. He is therefore making an effort to raise as much as will procure their emancipation; and it is hoped that the interesting case of this meritorious individual will be regarded in a favorable light by those who are blessed with liberty and the means of enjoying it.” (from Alford, Terry. Prince Among Slaves: The True Story of an African Prince Sold Into Slavery in the American South, 30th Anniversary Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007, 127).
In a letter he wrote to his children from D.C., he emphasizes keeping the number of people that will have to be bought out of servitude small “My dear boys, Simeon [sic] and Prince, for God sake don’t let Lee get a wife till you hear from me.” (124)
An assistant to antislavery activist Benjamin Lundy, William Swaim, met with Prince and recounted, “‘Though this victim of ruthless misfortune has lately stepped into the enjoyment of his natural rights, he has children remaining at Natchez. While he related to us this painful truth, the tears gushed from his eyes and rolled down his cheeks.” (116)
When Prince and Isabella were leaving Natchez, Andrew Marschalk, who had been instrumental in helping him gain his freedom, commented that “the sons ‘are really the finest young men I have seen. They were all genteely dressed. They expressed themselves pleased with the freedom of their parents.’ Yet at this fateful hour, the colonel added, ‘there was a look of silent agony in their eyes I could not bear to witness.’” (111)
Writing about immediately after Prince got his freedom, prior to his wife getting hers, Andrew Marschalk noted that Ibrahima “looked at the old companion of his slavery, the mother of his nine childrenhe could not agree to part without her. She, toohow could she part with him! She wished to follow him to the end of the earth.’ During the next several days, he was deeply troubled, “ ‘Cheering as his [own] situation was, his delight was mingled with the deepest anguish,’ Gallaudet wrote. ‘What was personal freedom when such social ties prevented his enjoying it. His very freedom was almost a curse.’” (108-109) Al-Rahman took up a collection among Natchezians and eventually procured her freedom (not kids though)
“I have left five children behind, and eight grandchildren. I feel sad, to think of leaving my children behind me. I desire to go back to my own country again; but when I think of my children, it hurts my feelings. If I go to my own county, I cannot feel happy, if my children are left. I hope, by God’s assistance, to recover them.” (Blassingame, Slave Testimony, 685).
Freed on Feb. 22, 1828 by Thomas Foster.
Amey [possibly Johnson]
Amey v. Davis, James, 1814
Historic Natchez Foundation
Box 30
File 15
[Standardized form with specific information filled in]
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS; that we James Davis and William Adams of Adams County, Mississippi Territory, are held and firmly bound unto White Turpin, Sheriff of said County, in the just and full sum of four Hundred Dollars and – Cents to be paid to the said White Turpin, his executors, administrators or assigns, to which payment, we bind ourselves, and each of our executors and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly, by these presents; signed and sealed, this 29th day of August 1814
THE CONDITION OF THE ABOVE OBLIGATION IS SUCH, That if the above bound James Davis shall be and appear before the Judges of the Superior Court of Adams County, to be holden for said County, at the Court house thereof, on the second Monday of October next, to answer to Amey a free woman of Colour in a plea of trespass, assault, and Battery wherefore with force and arms he did assault beat abuse and mistreat the said Amery to her damage One thousand Dollars; an in case he should be cast in the same suit, he shall also pay and satisfy the cost and condemnation of the Court, or render his body to prison in execution for the same, or on failure thereof, that the said William Adams shall do it for him Then the above obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.
Signed, Sealed and delivered
in presence of Jas. G Davis [SEAL]
N. Gyllaspey? William Adams [SEAL]
I, WHITE TURPIN, Sheriff of the County of Adams, do hereby assign the above Obligation and Condition, to Amy a free woman of Colour her executors and administrators, to be sued for according to the Statute in such case made and provided. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this twenty ninth day of August 1814
W Turpin [SEAL]
This action is brought to recover damages from the Defendant for assaultingbeating abusingand ill treating the plaintiff on the 27th day of May 1814by assaulting and striking and whiping [sic] her with a whip commonly called a cowskinand with the same cut, wound, and tear the skin and flesh of the said Amey on her shoulder and breast, and by strikingknockingor throwing her down on the Ground, and then and there, beatingkicking, and stamping to her very great injury & damage.
James Fort Muse
Attorney for Plaintiff
60
Adams Superior Court
To October Term 1814
Amey a Free Woman:
vs Tress.
James Davis Ast. & Bat.y
Bail W. Adams
Muse
Set the within named Defendant, James Davis be held to bail in the sum of Two hundred Dollars.
Cost paid G. Poindexter
Aug. 9.th 1814.
Executed 29th August
1814
N. Gillaspy Df? 298
[HNF note: Plaintiff (fwc), seeks damages for assault. Defendant stuck her with a cow iron whip which tore her flesh on her shoulder and back. Then he threw her to the ground where he kicked and stamped on her. Judgement not apparent.]
Amie
July 18,1847I remained at home all day only walking out in the afternoon to the fort with 3 of my sisters children and 2 of mine, visitors Mrs Anie (Amie) and daughters
[Footnote: Mrs. Amie and her daughters apparently lived in New Orleans, although she had controlled property in Natchez in 1844. They were probably free Negroes with a strong admixture of white blood, Johnson Diary, 578]. See Lavinia Miller to Mrs. William Johnson, December 2, 1848; Mrs. Lavinia Miller McCary to Mrs. William Johnson, October 26, 1852, Johnson Papers].
Aug. 19, 1847Good many ladies at our house last night, old Mrs. Brustee, old Miss F. and young Miss F., Mrs Amie & two daughters, Mis Henrietta, some other Miss of Jerman extraction, Mr Brustee and all our own children They kept up the sport until 11 Oclock (Johnson Diary)
Ana
Anna, sale to Wm Foster and promise of emancipation, 1804
Adams County Chancery Court
Deed Book C
P. 597
Know all men by these Presents that I Lewis Pullins of Adams County Mississippi Territory for and in consideration of the sum of four hundred and fifty Dollars lawful money of the United States to me in hand well and truly Paid by William Foster of the aforesaid County and Territory Planter the Receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged and the said William Foster hereby fully discharged and acquitted of the Same have Bargained Sold and delivered by these Presents do Bargain Sell and deliver unto the said William Foster his heirs and assigns a negro woman Named Ana about twenty five years of age To have and to hold the said Negro woman Named
Ana as a Slave unto the Said William Foster his heirs and assigns for and During the space of fourteen years complete at the expiration of the above mentioned time she shall be free Provided the said Ana Do faithfully Serve him or them during the said space of time from the date of these Presents Provided nevertheless that if the said Ana do not faithfully serve him or them during the Space of time aforesaid then and in that case She shall be liable to Serve as a slave during his or their Pleasure In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal at natchez the Second day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and four
Signed Sealed and Delivered L. Pullins
In presence of John Henderson Be it Remembered that on the day of the date here of
A.H. Beaumont Personally came before me the undersigned one of the Justices of the Peace and Judge of the County Court for Adams County Lewis Pullins whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Bill of sale and acknowledged the same to be his act and did for the papers?? [another word, unreadable] mentioned and desired the same to be recorded a such given??
Anderson
Manumission of Margaret Anderson and children by William H. Hickey, 1836
Adams County Chancery Court
Deed Book X
Pgs. 303-4
Alford notes that Margaret, 26, was also known as “Peggy, ‘bright mulatto complexion, about one eighth negro blood…,’ son and daughter [son not named…or is his first name Anderson like her previous owner’s first name? Daughter, 8, Nancy]. Sold to Hickey by Anderson Torrence on 7 June 1836 (Deed Book X, 305)” 49
Recorded in Alford, Terry L. “Some Manumissions Recorded in the Adams County Deed Books in Chancery Clerk’s Office, Natchez, Mississippi, 1795-1835,” Journal of Mississippi History 33, (Feb. 1971): 39-50.
Margaret Anderson, 40 bf, Ireland w/Fred Johnson, 14 bm, NY; Latitia, 9 bf, MS; John, 7 bm; Joseph, 5 bm; Mary, 3 bf, LA; Jane, 2 bf; Jerry, 1 bm (1860 Natchez census)
Andrews
Catherine Andrews40 mf, “FN,” MS, w/ house of white males Jonathon McCullum 56 wm, planter, $4500 RE, Scotland; Jonathon Heanley, 30 wm, laborer, PA?; Woodson Wells, 28 2m planter, AL. (1860 Census)
Angelica
Angelica and others, free papers, 1823
Adams County Chancery Court
Deed Book N
Pgs. 265-6
Angelica and others, free papers
In the City of New Orleans, on the thirteenth of March A.D. ? before me the Clerk and witness, appeared the Senor Licentiste Don ? GevanaAssessor General of the Intendency, Alcado of the first ward? Of this city and its jurisdiction and testamentary Executor of Wills. Donna Margarita Gengen Bauvais, Widow of Don Thomas Bentley according to the tenor of the writing and will that is before me, of the date November fourth of the year past A.D. ? at which time said Senor E Don Thomas Bently, did, and ?? in virtue of the definitive act of the Senor Baron de Carondelet, Knight of the Order of St. John, Yula? Marshal of the Royal ? Govornor and Commandant General and Vice Patron Royal of these provinces of Luisiana and West Florida, by the advice and consent of the Senor, Doctor, Don, Nicholas Maria Vidal, Lieutenant Governor Auditor of War and Assessor General of this Government on the eleventh of the present Month, it is declared that the Senor Ortogante shall execute the Testamentary articles, ??of the wills of the said of the said Donna Margarita Gengen, and it being and of them one of the clauses of the wills that there should be granted to her slaves Celeste, Henngueta, Miguel & Juan Bautista, Mulatto brothers & sisters, as also to the negress named Angelica, using those powers which the laws grant her, in virtue of that which the Testatrine has of giving, she grants by the presents & representing their persons, that she frees and liberates from all subjection, Bondage and Servitude the said slaves, Celeste, Henngueta, Miguel Juan Bautista, and Angelica that they may hold it, and be no longer subject to her. By which means, she deprives of and separates from, and divests of and ? from said succession, the right of property, possession, use, Dominion and authority, that she had to said slaves, and all she held in them, She yields to them, renounces and transport So that as free persons, they may devise contract, purchase, vend, appear in Judgment, grant writing and wills, and do all of the Judicial and extra=Judicial acts that may do and do these persons who are exercising their freedom; and declared that neither the heirs of said Succession nor their Successors shall reclaim them in any manner whatsoever, Since they would do it by the mere act, they cannot possible be heard or listened to? & it must inevitably be seen that she has approved it and complied with all the necessary requisites, adding to it, strength strength [sic] & contract to contract, to the fulfillment of which said succession, is obliged in every form (or items) of law
[More details not transcribed but archived in N.O. in 1797 and recorded in Natchez 8th December 1823 by Woodson Wren & Robert Piggot]
Angeline
Angeline & Agatha2 fpc (Census of 1816, Adams County)
Ann or Mary Ann
Ann (or Mary Ann) v. Kempe, James, 1818
Historic Natchez Foundation
Box 43
File 68
Superior Court of Adams County
November Term 1818
To the Honorable John Taylor presiding Judge of the Superior Courts of the second Judicial District of the State of Mississippi.
Humbly complaining sheweth unto your honor your petitioner Ann otherwise called Mary Ann, a person of colourThat in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and five your petitioner was living as an indented servant with the Reverend George Deshiell in the City of Baltimore, State of MarylandThat sometime in the month of October of the same year your petitioner was sold by the said George Deshiell to one John Bannerman of the same place for the consideration of one hundred dollars, for the term of six years, at the expiration of which period your petitioner was to be free. But contrary to equity and the just rights of your petitioner the said John Bannerman sold your petitioner to one [blank space where presumably, the name would have been filled in but was not] who brought her to this country in which she has been held and sold as a slave and as such was sold by the representative of the late James Kercheval to [illegible and possibly crossed out]
James Kempe Esq who at present claims her as his slave and with whom she now resides Your Petitioner humbly prays this honorable Court to grant to her that freedom to which she has been entitled since the year 1811, and by a decree of this Court establish on a firm and secure babsi those rights to which the law of the land has given its sanction.
And your petitioner will ever pray &c
Robinson & Griffith
Pltffs Attys
The defendant James Kempe comes & defends the wrong & injury when &c and says that the plaintiff aforesaid her action aforesaid against him the said Deft to have and maintain ought not because he says that the petitioner is not free or entitled to her freedom but a slave for life & that he the said defendant is entitled to her services by such & of this he puts himself on the country &c
Rankin & Dangerfield
Defts attys
And the plaintiff doth the like
Robinson & Griffith
Mogon of the city of Baltimore
Then came before me the Subscriber ? Whason George Dashiell, Rector of H Peter’s protestant Episcopal Church in the City of Baltimore in the State of Maryland who being sworn on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God deposeth & saith
That during or near the month of October One thousand eight-hundred & five this Deponent then residing in the ^ said City of Baltimore did sell unto a certain John Bannerman of said Citya coloured Girl named Ann then about the age of eighteen years, for & during the term of six years at the expiration of which term the said Girl was to be free & discharged from slavery. The consideration agreed for & paid this Deponent was One hundred Dollars for said term This Deponent gave no Bill of sale for said Girl, & entertained no apprehension that she would afterward be detained as a Slave for Life. The said Girl was a mulattoe [sic] of low staturewith white or blue eyes & a wide mouth. This Deponent hath understood that the said girl had been disposed of by said John Bannerman & carried to Washington in the Mississippi Territory
[Not transcribing the end credentials but is dated Nov. 1813]
Depositions of witnesses produced, Sworn and examined on the Eleventh day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen at the Office of John F. Harris in the City of Baltimore under and by virtue of a commission issued out of the Superior Court of Adams County in the State of Mississippi for the examination of George Dashiell & John Bannerman material witnesses in a certain cause there depending wherein Ann or Mary Ann a mulatto Girl is plaintiff and James Kempe is Defendant, as follows:
The Reverend George Dashiell of the City of Baltimore aged Forty eight years and upwards, being produced, sworn and examined, doth depose as follows, in answer to the annexed ^ interrogatories put on the part of the Plaintiff’s atty
1st. To the 1st. Interrogatory he saith that he knows the Plaintiff but does not know the Defendant.
2d. To the 2d. Interrogatory he saith that he recollects formerly he owned a yellow Girl named Ann or Mary Ann. he [sic] sold her to John Bannerman for six years and no longer.
3d. To the 3d. Interrogatory he saith that the time when she was sold was in the year 1805. he [sic] believes in October
(the
the consideration was one hundred Dollars.
4th. To the 4th. Interrogatory he saith that she was about Eighteen years.
5th. To the 5th. Interrogatory he saith that he sold her as his Slave whom he had freed when her six years of servitude should expire.
6th. To the 6th. Interrogatory he saith that she was a yellow girl, of low stature, with a wide mouth, and white or light blue eyes. He recollects no other particular natural marks.
7th. To the 7th. Interrogatory he saith that this question is already answered.
8th. To the 8th. Interrogatory he saith that he had heard some years since that this Girl was sold and carried to the Mississippi Territory contrary to the express promise of John Bannerman who was to retain her in his own service for the six years of her time which he purchased, and then she was free to go wherever she might think proper; He went in search of John Bannerman to ascertain what disposition he had made of the Girl, but he was no more, he had been (dead
dead some weeks or monthsBonsal and Niles printers then interested themselves to rescue her from the unjust bondage in which she was held. For this purpose a deposition was made by him before Edward Johnson mayor of the City of Baltimore stating the true nature of the case, which deposition was, he understood, sent on to William B. Shields, and not having heard any thing more from her until within a few months he had entertained the hope she was rescued from the fangs of cruel slavery and had obtained that freedom to which she is justly entitled
The Reverend George Dashiell, being further examined, doth depose as follows in answer to the annexed Interrogatories put on the part of the Defendant viz
1st. To the 1st. Interrogatory, he saith that she was a bond or slave yellow woman.
2d. To the 2d. Interrogatory he saith that she was emancipated by him. The Law of Maryland allows any man to liberate any slave of which he may be possessed, provided the slave be under Forty five (years
years of age, and able o work and gain a maintenance.
4th. To the 4th. Interrogatory he saith that he knows nothing that he believes would benefit the Defendant in this cause.
George Dashiell
Examination taken, reduced to writing, and by the witness subscribed
and sworn to, this Eleventh day of March in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, before
John F. Harris Justice of the peace
of the State of Maryland in and
for Baltimore County
State of Maryland Baltimore County &c:
I hereby certify that John F Harris gentleman before whom the aforegoing deposition was made and who hath thereto subscribed his name was at the time of so doing a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid duly commissioned and proven In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office this 13th day of March 1819
Wm Gibson Clk Balte City Court
[HNF notes: Claims that she was sold as an indentured servant by the rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Baltimore, Maryland and was to be freed after six years. The priest confirms her status. Outcome not apparent].
[Because of the uncertainty as to applying the laws of Maryland, it got sent to the Mississippi Supreme Court in 1821 and it appears the court found in favor of the defendant, Kempe].
Anthony
Anthony (black) v. Reed, James, 1819
Historic Natchez Foundation
Box 42
File 21
Know all men by these presents that we James Reed & Daniel Carter & Thomas B Reed, at present of the City of Natchez in the State of Mississippi are held and firmly bound unto the Governor of the State aforesaid for the time being and his successors in office in the penal sum of two thousand dollars to which payment well and truly to be made we bind ourselves our Heirs Executors & administrators, jointly and severally firmly by these presents. Sealed with our Seals and dated this thirtieth day of January eighteen hundred and nineteen.
The Condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the the [sic] above bound James Reed & Daniel Carter have in their possession one Anthony a person of colour who claims his freedom & has filed his petition to the Superior Court of Adams County for that purpose, now if the said Anthony shall be forthcoming, as the next and subsequent terms of the said court if necessary & subject to the order of the said Courts, and if the said James Reed & Daniel Carter shall abide the Judgments of the said Court in this mater, then the above obligation to be void, else to be & remain in full force and virtue.
Signed Sealed & Delivered James Reed Seal
In presence of Daniel Carter Seal
the words “James Reed & Daniel
Carter” first interlived?? In the 4th Tho. B Reed Seal
line from the bottom
Wm B Griffith
Anthony formerly belonged to Strother Gatewood of Clarke County State of KentuckyWiinchester
Larkin Gatewood Executor of Thomas Gatewood, lives in Fayette County 7 miles from Lexingtonwill said papers on & prove boys freedom
Daniel Paineknows all about Larkin Gatewood’s title to Anthony.
Robert Griffin & James Daniel will prove the identity of Anthonyof Winchester Kentucky
Anthony
Vs
James Reed &
Daniel Carter
Superior Court May
Term 1819
State of Mississippi
Adams County
Anthony
Vs Petition for
James Reed & Freedom
Daniel Carter
To the Honorable the Superior Court of Adams County. the Petition of Anthony a person of colour who claims his freedom
Respectfully sheweth that your petitioner formerly belonged to one French Strother Gatewood of Clarke County in the State of Kentucky, who pledged him to one Cornelius Skinner for the payment of three hundred & fifty dollars loaned to him by said Skinner, that on the 1st day of June 1811 said Gatewood made his will & on the 23rd day of July following said Gatewood died, after having directed in his said will that Thomas Gatewood one of the legatees & a brother of the testator should redeem your petitioner & then emancipate him. Your petitioner sometime after brought suit for his freedom, but apprehensive that the same would go against him, one Webb who
Who had purchased your petitioner, sold him to a Mr Reed in whose possession together with one Daniel Carter your petitioner now is. Your petitioner was immediately handcuffed and run off & he now claims the aid of this honorable court in establishing his just rights.
WB Griffith Atty
For petr
Adams Sup Court
Anthony Pet
Vs of
James Reed & Freedom
Danl Carter
Filed 30th January 1819
Dismissed June 12th 1819
Couple other untranscribed docs