Coroners and the Enslaved

On May 29, 1850, an enslaved man named Ellick stood seeding and hoeing in Thomas Mickle’s field. Hired out to Mickle, Ellick had already worked a long, hot day when Mickle approached on horseback to tell him that he would have to replant and re-hoe everything he had done. When Ellick protested that that would take all night, Mickle dismounted and threatened to flog him if he didn't return to his hoe. Ellick did so, but when Mickle rode off a little ways, Ellick suggested that it would probably be better for Mickle to hire somebody new to finish up. At this Mickle reared around and prepared to flog Ellick for his insolence.

This basic pattern of escalation—this uneven clash of wills between the well-armed and the defenseless—replayed itself thousands of times across the antebellum South. What fascinates me is both human beings' capacity for enduring such treatment and their occasional inability to take it any more. For whatever reason, on this day, Ellick ‘snapped.’ Some combination of circumstances—some brewing for years, others existing only in the moment—made it impossible him to endure his enslavement any longer. When Mickle moved to strike, Ellick said he wouldn’t allow it. Mickle then pulled a gun, to which Ellick responded, “shoot.” At this, Mickle discharged a load of squirrel shot into Ellick's leg, but Ellick remained unfazed.

“You see you have shot me,” Ellick said, but “I don’t care for you[r] gun.” Mickle then turned to report Ellick to his mistress (and presumably to get reinforcements or, one hopes, a doctor), but he hadn’t gone far when he turned to see Ellick coming on the run. Mickle unloaded both barrels into Ellick’s stomach. He was found by the jury to have committed justifiable homicide.

As a system of compulsory labor, slavery was by definition violent. Precisely how violent is difficult to say. Few overseers recorded every act of discipline on a plantation, though we do have one diary from a Louisiana planter who fired his overseer because the man was “good for nothing” and generally cruel to his slaves. Taking over the duties himself, he recorded administering 160 whippings in a twenty-three month period, roughly one every four and a half days. Most of these beatings were administered in front of the assembled slaves, meaning that a public beating was a spectacle they endured at least once a week. Some of the slaves were whipped for “rascality” or “misconduct,” but most were whipped for failure to work. Sixty of the seventy-seven slaves who worked in the fields were whipped at least once. Eighty percent of the male cotton pickers and 70 percent of the female cotton pickers were whipped one or more times in this two-year period.

Beatings were also the stock-and-trade of the Magistrates and Freeholders Court (see example below). While many slaveholders administered their own punishments, some counties like Spartanburg had court systems that would try slaves for infractions, sending the ‘guilty’ to the local jailor for whippings, incarceration, and (occasionally) hanging. Free blacks were also tried in the Magistrates and Freeholders Court and received like punishments. To be black, then, was to be beaten, and to be under the constant threat of a beating.

This is hardly news, however, nor is it particularly surprising that occasional acts of discipline ended at the morgue. On June 15, 1838 a slave named Peter managed to wrest the stick he was being beaten with out of his overseer’s hand and gave the overseer half a dozen good licks before he was subdued. Infuriated, the overseer was determined to force Peter to submit to the lash but Peter struggled so valiantly that the overseer finally had to settle for crushing Peters head with a stone. In a similar case in May 1844, two overseers were so exasperated by an altercation with a slave named Randal that they took turns lashing and resting until they had delivered more than four hundred blows. After his wounds were washed with salt to intensify the pain, Randal told them to go ahead and wash him with salt again—then he vomited and died.

Why dwell upon such encounters? Doesn’t it just reproduce all the indignities the black body was forced to endure? No. The disciplinary violence of the slave regime belongs to its perpetrators alone, who here have names. An enslaved man named Peter was stoned to death by Caleb Watkins. An enslaved man named Randal was beaten to death by Alfred L. Hughes and Sebourn Randolph. All of these men are dead. Justice will never be done. But there is a sort of justice in naming names and in recording what happened. “We cannot escape history,” Lincoln said, and I would like to believe that he is right. I would like to believe that our actions “light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation.”

Moreover, as the cases of Peter and Randal suggest, the enslaved were not passive in the face of injustice but often heroically defiant, and their names too should be lighted down, even if this is all we can ever know about them.

All of these cases are clear cut. Morally we identify with Randal and Peter and abhor the conduct of Hughes, Randolph, and Watkins. Do we also identify with a slave named Appling, who found his mistress doing her chores next to the local creek and raped her? When he was done, the mistress told him he would hang for it. “I then told her, ‘might and might not,’” Appling told a fellow slave, “and then I took hold of her and held her head in the Spring branch until she was dead.” Is such conduct excusable? Certainly it is understandable, given the massive amount of violence and sexual abuse visited upon the enslaved. What about the case of an enslaved woman named Clarisy, who murdered her three children “by breaking their sculls with an axe and cutting [their] throats”? Or the case of the ten-year old enslaved nurse, Ceily, who killed one of her four-year old charges by pressing his head with a brick and choking him to death? Did enslavement drive them to this as well?

Possibly. Enforced illiteracy and daily violence degrade the conscience, even when you are their victim. The expectation that all slaves could have or should have risen above their brutalization to become proto-Civil Rights workers is both ridiculous and unfair. Some did, some didn’t. Some could, some couldn’t. Like any group of human beings, the enslaved must be granted their astounding variety of personality, character, and circumstance if they are to be granted their humanity at all.

NEXT: Coroners and Freedmen

 


Magistrates and Freeholders Court Cases (Spartanburg)

Case # Name Trial Date Offense Verdict Sentence Owner's Name
1 Case number 1 contains trial papers which could not be linked to any particular case.
2 Isaac misbehavior guilty 15 lashes Robin Berry
Jeff misbehavior guilty 15 lashes Richard Scruggs
3 Simon May 28, 1824 murder guilty death by hanging John Sarratt Seigre
4 Dick October 23, 1824 assault guilty 10 lashes Samuel S. Ross
5 Fill December 26, 1831
Winny
General
6 Moses February 15, 1832 assault not guilty John Murph
7 Ceasar March 10, 1832 receiving stolen goods guilty imprisonment for four months and 125 lashes Harry Finch
8 Titus May 3, 1833 using insulting language not guilty David Golightly
9 Saul July 8, 1833 assault guilty 20 lashes John Hardin
10 Jesse September 21, 1833 housebreaking and stealing free man of color
11 Bob August 19, 1835 making an affray guilty 19 lashes Mrs. Agnes Barnet
Harry making an affray guilty 19 lashes Mrs. Agnes Barnett
12 Edmund August 26, 1835 treatening life guilty 39 lashes Robert Lipscomb
13 Chang September 26, 1835 uttering false and slanderous conversation guilty 15 lashes Unicey Price
14 Betty December 18, 1835 harbouring a slave Susana Barnett
15 Jacob December 24, 1835 false, infamous, and slanderous language not guilty William Clark
16 Willis February 23, 1836 making an affray guilty 50 lashes James Burnet
Jess Hughey trespassing guilty 39 lashes free man of color
17 Phil July 2, 1836 killing cattle not guilty Richard Willis
18 Jacob October 29, 1836 breaking and entering guilty 25 lashes John Pickumpack
19 Phil August 7, 1837 assault guilty 25 lashes Richard Willis
20 Dick December 27, 1837 stealing cotton guilty 100 lashes Col. J. W. Waters
21 Jack January 4, 1838 larceny acquitted S.C. Manufacturing Co.
22 Samuel Kelly January 23, 1838 beating and wounding guilty 8 lashes free man of color
23 Alfred March 23, 1838 assault and battery guilty 50 lashes Thomas Poole
24 Henry April 2, 1838 petty larceny and contempt of court guilty 25 lashes + 39 lashes Isaac Gordon
25 Jim May 17, 1838 larceny not guilty Michale Gaffney
26 Cornelius October 3, 1838 giving insolent language, telling lies, laying hands on guilty 10 lashes Alexander Miller
27 Jess Hughey April 18, 1839 stealing bacon free man of color
Moses stealing bacon John Chapman
Bill stealing bacon Mrs. Lewis
28 Philip Garret September 19, 1839 assault and battery guilty 25 lashes free man of color
29 Tom September 19, 1839 assault and battery with intent to kill guilty 19 lashes Richard Gordon
30 William November 8, 1839 stealing guilty 25 lashes John Pickenpack
31 Daniel July 16, 1840 retailing liquors on Sabbath guilty 21 lashes Hutson Lankam
32 Prime September 24, 1840 obscene language guilty 12 lashes
33 Frank March 24, 1841 trading with a slave guilty 39 lashes + $25 fine free man of color
34 Joe April 29, 1841 assault and abuse acquitted Margaret Comp
35 Tom May 19, 1841 misdemeanor guilty 13 lashes
36 Titus June 25, 1841 felony guilty 15 lashes Hannah O'Neill
Moses felony guilty 15 lashes John Murph
37 Lease July 21, 1841 assault guilty 5 lashes J. R. Richards
38 Phil Garret July 28, 1841 trading with slaves free man of color
39 Andy August 26, 1841 threatening guilty 5 lashes Jesse Casey
40 Feby September 22, 1841 S. Rhodes
Tildy S. Rhodes
41 Elihu October 8, 1841 larceny Col. Harris
Abel larceny D. Golightly
Miner larceny D. Golightly
42 Anthony October 16, 1841 stealing clothes not guilty William Norris
43 Armstead January 6, 1842 larceny guilty 45 lashes and 45 more Nancy Woods
Asa larceny guilty 45 lashes and 41 more Sarah Waters
Oliver larceny guilty 45 lashes and 41 more John Brown
Henry larceny John Burges
Isaac Hardy larceny free man of color
Ben larceny Francis Littlejohn
44 Jesse Hewy January 14, 1842 stealing acquitted free man of color
45 Simon poisoning P. Cocks
Tone poisoning Jones Foster
Jack poisoning Robert Watts
46 Randal July 26, 1842 gambling H. H. Thompson
Hall gambling and selling liquor R. C. Poole
Elias gambling guilty 10 lashes R. Ballinger
Jess gambling John Bomar
Daniel gambling N. Gentry
Simon gambling N. Gentry
Andy gambling James Foster
Sam gambling not guilty James Foster
Fred gambling guilty 20 lashes John Poole
Cato gambling John Kirby
47 Jerry September 13, 1842 larceny George Thompson
48 Wyat Harris September 22, 1842 stealing not guilty free man of color
49 Daniel September 28, 1842 accessory in stealing guilty 25 lashes Elizabeth Rogers
50 Job November 5, 1842 felony or housebreaking guilty 40 lashes John W. Murph
Abney felony or housebreaking Henry Murph
51 Douglass November 30, 1842 accessory in concealing a stolen coat guilty 25 lashes Phillip Pilgrim
Jerry accessory in concealing a stolen coat guilty 25 lashes Phillip Pilgrim
52 Prince December 22, 1842 stealing leather guilty 25 lashes Elisha Huston
53 Harris May 10, 1843 burning a storehouse John Murphy
Bob burning a storehouse John Murphy
Washington burning a storehouse J. M. Eppes
54 Jerry June 13, 1843 lying L. Cantrell
55 Peter June 20, 1843 breaking open smokehouse not guilty Samuel Littlejohn
Patsy breaking open smokehouse Mrs. McDowel
Silas breaking open smokehouse not guilty Rufus Lancaster
Randolph breaking open smokehouse Vicy Kerby
56 Berry July 11, 1843 stealing guilty 40 lashes Mrs. Burnett
Poland stealing not guilty Mrs. Burnett
57 Henry July 11, 1843 stealing
Pink stealing not guilty
58 Ben October 3, 1843 Sampson Bobo
Ellick (or Aleck) murder discharged Willis W. Dickie
Dick felony not guilty Gabrael B. Styles
Dick felony-murder not guilty William Waldrip
Randy accessory to a felony not guilty Sampson Bobo
Gracie accessory to a felony discharged Sampson Bobo
59 Berry January 10, 1844 larceny guilty 15 stripes Eunicy Price
60 Floyd January 26, 1844 larceny guilty 45 lashes Michael Gaffey
George larceny not guilty Michael Gaffey
Leah larceny guilty 15 lashes Michael Gaffey
Giney (Jane) larceny guilty 10 lashes Michael Gaffey
Washington larceny not guilty Michael Gaffey
61 Jacob March 29, 1844 felony and stealing not guilty John Murphy
Harris felony and stealing not guilty John Murphy
62 Anderson April 6, 1844 stealing guilty 2 months prison and 40 lashes Widow Brunt
63 Jesse April 10, 1844 stealing beegums guilty 21 lashes David Whetstone
Henry stealing beegums David Whetsone
64 Moses April 19, 1844 houseburning not guilty John Cannon
65 Charlotte Hunt May 31, 1844 murdering and poisoning free woman of color
Frances Hunt murdering and poisoning guilty prison 4 weeks and 100 lashes free woman of color
66 Sealy June 27, 1844 poisoning a Negro woman discharged John Pearson
Omy poisoning a Negro woman discharged David A. Moore
Daniel poisoning a Negro woman discharged Nathaniel Gentry
Ede (Edy) poisoning a Negro woman discharged Mrs. Willis
Fill poisoning a Negro woman discharged Mrs. Willis
Tilda poisoning a Negro woman discharged James Alexander
67 Henderon Clark September 9, 1844 larceny by stealing 2 pistols guilty 59 lashes free man of color
68 Lotty September 23, 1844 stealing and carrying away a Negro slave guilty 40 lashes J. T. Kirby
Jerry stealing and carrying away a Negro slave guilty 600 lashes and 6 months prison George Thomason
69 Jacob Breedlove September 23, 1844 forgery not guilty a mestizo
70 James December 20, 1844 beating and abusing
guilty 10 lashes John Burgess
71 Jason January 3, 1845 petit larceny guilty 50 lashes John Martin
72 Berry February 14, 1845 hogstealing not guilty Nicy Price
Jacob hogstealing not guilty Nicy Price
73 Elic August 9, 1845 stealing not guilty Edmond Cooley
74 Elias October 1, 1845 killing hobs guilty 25 lashes Moses Wilkins
75 Henry
February 5, 1846 housebreaking and stealing money not guilty R. P. Qualls, J. Collins, B. B. Foster
76 Isaac February 5, 1846 receiving stolen money not guilty James Foster
Noah receiving stolen money not guilty Thomas Finch
77 Dempsy June 5, 1846
not guilty James Prichett
78 Tom July 17, 1846 attempt to seduce a white woman guilty 25 lashes Joseph Finger
79 Ned July 24, 1846 larceny not guilty H. White
80 Henry August 8, 1846 larceny guilty 23 lashes Thompson Robbs
81 Jourdan September 16, 1846 larceny guilty 32 lashes William Dunn
82 Pat January 15, 1847 stealing spoons Dorcus McDowell
Molly stealing spoons Dorcus McDowell
Mary stealing spoons Dorcus McDowell
Phillis stealing spoons A. W. Thomson
Clarissa stealing spoons M. Moore
Sarah stealing spoons M. Moore
Bartlet stealing spoons M. Moore
Missorii stealing spoons Thomas Poesey
Jim larceny-stealing spoons not guilty M. Moore
83 Pink June 21, 1847 robbery and arson not guilty William Walker
84 Dave August 27, 1847 larceny guilty 85 lashes and imprisonment William Smith
85 Harriet October 6, 1847 larceny not guilty D. B. Ross
Judy larceny not guilty D. B. Ross
Tom larceny not guilty D. B. Ross
Bob larceny not guilty Samuel Sarrett
Liza larceny not guilty Rhoda Arendale
Perry larceny not guilty Elizah Turner
Jourdan larceny not guilty John Sarrett
Tallon larceny not guilty John Sarrett
Frank larceny guilty 100 lashes D. B. Ross
Jack larceny guilty Samuel Sarrett
Wily larceny guilty 100 lashes Rhoda Arendale
Jim larceny guilty Charles Hopper
Lum larceny guilty 100 lashes Elias Morgan
86 James (or Jim) October 14, 1847 assault and rioting guilty 25 lashes William Copeland
Isaac assault and rioting not guilty Robert Berry
Jerry selling spirits guilty 15 lashes Henry White
Tobias selling spirits guilty 15 lashes Henry White
George selling spirits not guilty R. R. Ramsey
George selling spirits not guilty Jesse Cleveland
Aaron selling spirits not guilty Elizabeth Younger
Bill (or Will)/td> selling spirits at camp meeting guilty 20 lashes Polley Hines
87 Ky October 19, 1847 stealing iron John Wolf
88 Ky April 22, 1848 striking and assaulting a white man guilty 15 lashes John Wolf
89 Bob June 3, 1848 larceny-stealing bacon guilty 32 lashes David Holcombe
Luke larceny-steaing bacon not guilty David Holcombe
90 Bob June 3, 1848 larceny-stealing cornmeal not guilty David Holcombe
Luke not guilty David Holcombe
91 Noah Wilson December 8, 1848 cursing and abusing a white man not guilty free person of color
92 Jess Hughey May 19, 1849 leaving the state and returning guilty to leave the state limits free man of color
Catherine Hughey leaving the state and returning guilty to leave the state limits free woman of color
93 Jess Hughey July 5, 1849 for returning to the state contrary to law guilty 10 lashes and leave state free man of color
Catherine Hughey for returning to the state contrary to law 10 lashes and leave state free woman of color
94 Jerry July 25, 1849 stealing money not guilty Jesse Brown
95 Alexander July 27, 1849 assault and battery guilty 100 lashes and 2 weeks prison Sam Snoddy
96 Isaac August 9, 1849 hog stealing guilty 20 stripes Henry Hines
Moses hog stealing guilty 30 stripes Henry Hines
97 Eddy August 13, 1849 striking with an ax and murdering a white man guilty hanged by the neck until dead John Kirby
98 Jess Hughey August, 22, 1849 indicted for refusing to leave the state having entered the same contrary to law not guilty free man of color
Catherine Hughey indicted for refusing to leave the state having entered the same contrary to law not guilty free woman of color
99 Jim August 27, 1849 misdemeanor, using indecent and insulting language 150 lashes and imprisonment Edward Bomar
100 Jess Hughey August 27, 1849 returning to the state unlawfully guilty imprisonment and to be sold as a slave free man of color
101 Jess Hughey September 3, 1849 free man of color
102 Abram September 3, 1849 larceny guilty 50 lashes Robert Lipscomb
Daniel larceny guilty 50 lashes Robert Lipscomb
103 Jack September 3, 1849 larceny-stealing watermelons guilty 40 lashes Mathew Cooper
104 Green September 8, 1849 stealing a wash pot guilty 18 lashes Lewis Blanton
105 Jacob September 17, 1849 assaulty and battery (stabbing) guilty 50 lashes William Lipscomb
106 Asa September 17, 1849 riot guilty 60 lashes Sarah Waters
Wilson riot not guilty Hiram Lockhardt
Peggy riot not guilty Hiram Lockhardt
Elias riot guilty 30 lashes William Lipscomb
107 Sigh September 26, 1849 gambling guilty 20 lashes Elizabeth Rogers
Nim gambling guilty 30 lashes Albert Cuningham
Cato gambling guilty 20 lashes John Fielder
108 Bob September 30, 1849 larceny guilty 40 lashes Samuel Sarratt
Frank larceny not guilty John Sarratt
109 Jim October 23, 1849 stabbing a white man guilty 200 lashes immediately, 600 more or 125 at a time until 600 is totaled. After jail to leave South Carolina
110 Lucy November 2, 1849 conspiracy against the life of Robert Stacy not guilty R. Stacy (dec'd)
Gilly conspiracy against the life of Robert Stacy not guilty R. Stacy (dec'd)
Henry conspiracy against the life of Robert Stacy not guilty R. Stacy (dec'd)
Abe conspiracy against the life of Robert Stacy not guilty R. Stacy (dec'd)
Harry conspiracy against the life of Robert Stacy not guilty Robert Lipscomb
111 Norman November 27, 1849 stealing cloth guilty 30 lashes James Rhodes
112 Mark December 1, 1849 vending of spiritous liquors guilty 25 lashes James Bragg
113 Norman December 6, 1849 stealing a sack of corn guilty 30 lashes James Rhodes
Amos aiding in steaking a sack of corn not guilty David Brewtons
114 Pink January 5, 1850 whipping and beating a negro slave guilty 42 lashes William Walker
Warner accessory not guilty William Walker
Bob accessory not guilty D. Coltine
115 Jefferson January 19, 1850 stealing wheat guilty 25 lashes Rhoda Hobby
116 Abraham February 23, 1850 assault guilty 55 lashes Margaret Montgomery
117 Larken March 11, 1850
stabbing a Negro man guilty 100 lashes Thompson Robbs
118 John June 1, 1850 larceny discharged Solomon Abbot
119 Mary July 31, 1850 stealing guilty 27 lashes and 1 week prison Andrew A. Holtshouser
120 Redman August 2, 1850 attempt to commit rape Edward Smith
121 Isaac Staggs August 20, 1850 retailing liquor guilty 50 lashes free man of color
122 Isaac Staggs August 21, 1850 carrying firearms guilty
11 lashes and $5.00 fine free man of color
123 Lize August 31, 1850 abusive language guilty 35 lashes James Foster
124 Mathew October 10, 1850 felony-stealing bacon not guilty Alvin Lancaster
Toby felony-stealing bacon not guilty Robert James (Guardian)
125 Madison November 5, 1850 receiving stolen money not guilty P. M. Wallace
126 Noah November 30, 1850 receiving stolen cotton not guilty Temperence Wilkins
127 Jack February 3, 1851 slander guilty 30 lashes Mathew Cooper
Olly slander guilty 20 lashes Mathew Cooper
Rachel slander not guilty Mathew Cooper
Sally slander not guilty Mathew Cooper
128 Bassell February 14, 1851 assault and battery on a slave guilty 44 lashes Mariah Wofford
129 Olly February 22, 1851 slander guilty 10 lashes Mathew Cooper
130 Jack February 22, 1851 selling liquors guilty 15 lashes Mathew Cooper
Olly selling liquors not guilty Mathew Cooper
Sally selling liquors not guilty Mathew Cooper
131 Joe February 22, 1851 assault and affray guilty 23 lashes D. W. Moores
132 Ceasar March 19, 1851 receiving stolen goods and selling liquor guilty 39 lashes Harrey Finch
133 Ralph April 1, 1851 larceny guilty
11 lashes Mrs. N. M. Moore
Caroline March 29, 1851 larceny not guilty Mrs. Rogers
Matilda April 1, 1851 larceny not guilty Isaac Johnson
Joe larceny guilty 13 lashes J. P. Miller
134 George March 31, 1851 assault and threats guilty 19 lashes S.C. Manufacturing Co.
135 Charles April 19, 1851 gambling and fighting guilty 32 lashes Widow Dewberry
Will gambling and fighting Widow Dewberry
136 Berry April 19, 1851 aiding and abetting in gambling guilty 10 lashes P. W. Head
137 Will April 19, 1851 gambling and fighting guilty 39 lashes Mary Hines
138 Jerry August 19, 1851 housebreaking and stealing guilty 34 lashes David A. Moore
139 Elias August 28, 1851 assault guilty 15 lashes Mrs. Exsy Foster
140 Calvin September 12, 1851 breaking open smokehouse and stealing guilty 39 lashes William Walker
141 Toby October 22, 1851 felony guilty 14 lashes for each offense and 20 lashes for breaking in a house and 3 months prison with 100 lashes each month or leave district and never return Robert James
142 Harry November 5, 1851 rape guilty 5 weeks prison, 500 lashes, 100 per week.
Leave state at end of prison or receive 100 lashes for 50 days
Mrs. McMeekin
143 Miles January 15, 1852 striking a white boy with an ax and offering to fight him guilty 15 lashes John Oatts
144 Patrick March 8, 1852 retailing spirits guilty 25 lashes Lucy Tanner
145 Elic April 2, 1852 stealing corn not guilty R. Berry
Isaac stealing corn guilty 35 lashes R. Berry
Eliza stealing corn guilty 25 lashes P. W. Head
Hanah stealing corn not guilty P. W. Head
146 Ebo July 7, 1852 housebreaking and stealing guilty 150 lashes D. Smith
147 General July 13, 1852 accessory to breaking and entering guilty 45 lashes Joseph Wofford
Mose accessory to breaking and entering not guilty Joseph Wofford
Dave accessory to breaking and entering guilty 25 lashes W. Wofford
148 Isaac Staggs December 30, 1852 felony not guilty free man of color
149 Ephram Wilson January 5, 1853 accessory to petty larceny free person of color
Charles petty larceny not guilty H. White
Lewis Andres aiding in petty larceny guilty 35 lashes free person of color
150 Emily January 24, 1853 coroner's inquisition committed suicide by hanging self J. M. Morgan
151 Bob April 26, 1853 larceny not guilty David Holcombe
Dick April 25, 1853 larceny not guilty David Holcombe
Press larceny David Holcombe
Dick larceny David Holcombe
Giles larceny David Holcombe
Rause April 26, 1853 larceny not guilty David Holcombe
152 Charles May 31, 1853 selling spirits guilty 50 lashes Mary Ann Montegomery
153 Charles June 8, 1853 highway robbery John D. Montegomery
154 Perry June 30, 1853 stealing not guilty Elizah Turner
155 Eliza June 30, 1853 stealing guilty 30 lashes Rody Arendale
Fanny stealing guilty 30 lashes Rody Arendale
Julian stealing Rody Arendale
Edmond stealing guilty 10 lashes Elizah Tuner
Franklin stealing guilty 30 lashes D. B. Ross
156 William June 30, 1853 stealing guilty 50 lashes D. B. Ross
Scipio stealing guilty 10 lashes William G. Clark
157 George July 27, 1853 felony not guilty R. A. Cates
158 Leslie October 22, 1853 stealing guilty 25 lashes and 50 lashes for saucy talk to court David S. Smith
Martha stealing not guilty Daniel McLain
Isaiah stealing guilty 25 lashes Capt. John Snoody
159 Stephen January 12, 1854 retailing spirits guilty 21 lashes James Tillolson
160 Violet February 18, 1854 striking a white person guilty 100 lashes and 2 weeks in jail John Burgess
161 Jim March 25, 1854 selling liquor to slaves guilty 28 lashes F. Turner
162 Jess Hughey March 29, 1854 selling liquor to slaves not guilty free person of color
163 Stephen March 29, 1854 gambling guilty 25 lashes Fielden
Will gambling not guilty Molly Hines
Ned gambling guilty 25 lashes Dolphus Turner
164 Jerry May 12, 1854 stealing corn guilty 38 lashes Robert Hanna
165 Patsy July 8, 1854 striking a white man not guilty
166 Willis July 28, 1854 drinking and disorderly conduct Bushes
Dick drinking and disorderly conduct G. Cannon
Charles drinking and disorderly conduct H. White
Lon drinking and disorderly conduct W. hines
167 William Lawson July 29, 1854 publishing slanderous declarations guilty 15 lashes no guardian
William Lawson using slanderous declarations guilty 5 lashes no guardian
168 John October 14, 1854 petty larceny guilty 23 lashes Robin Berrus
Hanner petty larceny guilty 23 lashes P. W. Head
Sis petty larceny not guilty Westly Hamet
169 Henry Dover November 7, 1854 larceny guilty 27 lashes free man of color
170 Mathew November 30, 1854 felony David Harris
Paschal felony W. W. Harris
171 Stephen December 27, 1854 stealing corn guilty 25 lashes John W. Farrow
172 Tom March 27, 1855 stealing a watch, stealing money, carrying liquor guilty 12 weeks of prison with 25 lashes each Monday Mrs. R. Mullinax
173 Adam April 9, 1855 arson guilty 10 days jail then must leave state; 100 lashes each day he doesn't leave A. J. Daniel
174 Tom April 10, 1855 arson Mrs. R. Mullinax
175 Annica April 12, 1855 stealing not guilty David Macomson
176 Ned September 8, 1855 destroying property not guilty Abner Cantrell
177 Nelly Hardy September 29, 1855 coroner's inquisition suicide by drowning free person of color
178 Joseph October 11, 1855 misdemeanor and disorderly conduct Mrs. Pickenpack
Mack misdemeanor and disorderly conduct I. N. Nolly
Jack misdemeanor and disorderly conduct D. J. Twitty
Titus misdemeanor and disorderly conduct G. W. Legg
John misdemeanor and disorderly conduct Mrs. M. L. Kennedy
179 Titus October 27, 1855 misdemeanor-stealing guilty return the watch G. W. H. Legg
John misdemeanor-stealing guilty 25 lashes Mrs. M. L. Kennedy
180 Giles Lumner November 17, 1855 larceny guilty 50 lashes free mulatto
181 Giles Lumner November 17, 1855 carrying firearms and threatening guilty 50 lashes free mulatto
182 Jess Hughey November 24, 1855 receiving stolen goods not guilty free person of color
Alex (Ellic) receiving stolen goods not guilty Owen White
Ned receiving stolen goods not guilty Wilson Cantrell
183 Lewis Wilson
December 8, 1855 murder guilty 50 lashes free person of color
184 Alexander July 9, 1856 assault and battery with intent to kill guilty 300 lashes and 12 months in prison Owen White
185 Tom July 22, 1856 playing cards for money not guilty William Lockhart
Dick playing cards for money guilty 50 lashes William Austell
Wash playing cards for money guilty 75 lashes Dr. Notts
Ben playing cards for money guilty 75 lashes Ara Tindalls
Henry playing cards for money Dr. Gaffney
Giles playing cards for money guilty 75 lashes Widow Gafney
186 Anderson October 2, 1856 stealing guilty 40 lashes Robert Otts
187 Anderson October 8, 1856 attempt to commit burglary guilty 75 lashes Robert Otts
188 Alvin October 10, 1856 stealing not guilty Rebecca Drummond
189 Peter October 24, 1856 stealing guilty 50 lashes D. B. Boss
Major stealing D. B. Boss
Sabra stealing D. B. Boss
George stealing Elias Morgan
Samuel stealing Elias Morgan
Sarah stealing Elias Morgan
Mariah stealing Elias Morgan
Mahala stealing Elias Morgan
190 John October 29, 1856 assault and abusive language not guilty W. Burnett
191 Samuel November 12, 1856 assault and battery guilty 100 lashes Capt. Robert Lipscomb
192 George November 22, 1856 larceny not guilty Landern Waters
193 Isaac December 27, 1856 misdemeanor-having liquor to sell and disposing of the same not guilty Joseph Foster
194 Henry December 27, 1856 misdemeanor-having liquor to retail guilty 36 lashes Mrs. H. J. Dean
195 Alph December 27, 1856 misdemeanor-having liquor guilty 50 lashes Col. W. W. Harris
196 Stephen December 27, 1856 selling and disposing of liquor guilty 50 lashes Joseph Martin
197 Martin February 26, 1857 murder not guilty Robert Jackson
Dave murder not guilty Robert Jackson
198 John March 4, 1857 burglary not guilty Mrs. Kennedy
199 Hamp February 28, 1857 burglary guilty 1,029 lashes William Lockwood
200 John February 28, 1857 burglary not guilty Mrs. May Kennedy
Andrew burglary not guilty Edward Parker
201 Martin March 6, 1857 gaming guilty 40 stripes Robert Jackson
Dave gaming not guilty Robert Jackson
202 Elias Mason April 2, 1857 bruglary and felony not guilty free person of color
203 Simon July 9, 1857 larceny guilty 40 lashes Jesse Casey
204 William Hardy July 30, 1857 larceny guilty 74 lashes and 2 weeks in prison free man of color
205 Lum August 26, 1857 petty larceny guilty 35 lashes Aaron Cash
206 Isaac Staggs September 1, 1857 stealing watermelons free person of color
207 Jourdan April 3, 1857 stealing hog guilty 50 lashes Lewis Blanton
Jerry stealing hog William Smith
208 Jacob Paris November 14, 1857 stealing a horse guilty 25 lashes free person of color
209 Patrick March 15, 1858 felony not guilty Lucy Tanner
210 Berry April 6, 1858 forceable robbery guilty 39 lashes, 75 lashes, and 99 lashes Mason G. Anderson
211 Thomas April 28, 1858 coroner's inquisition natural death from dropsy Judge Edwards
212 Howel May 14, 1858 stealing or trespassing not guilty H. G. Gaffney
213 John July 24, 1858 larceny not guilty Peter Pool
214 Patrick August 23, 1858 retailing spirits guilty 25 stripes Lucy Tanner
215 Peter August 23, 1858 retailing spirits guilty 25 stripes S. N. Evins
216 Mitchell September 11, 1858 insolent and abusive language guilty 20 stripes Wyatt Lipscomb
217 Jane September 20, 1858 striking a white person guilty 25 lashes and 7 days in jail Mary Hines
218 Straff September 30, 1858 coroner's inquisition accident-fell out of tree Gen. J. W. Miller
219 Nancy October 10, 1858 coroner's inquisition death from apoplexy S. C. Miller
220 Abidingo October 20, 1858 entering the state a free persons of color guilty leave state within 15 days free person of color
Winney entering the state a free persons of color guilty leave state within 15 days free person of color
221 Daniel January 15, 1859 assault and attempt to rape guilty 50 lashes
222 Dinah March 17, 1859 misdemeanor-abusive language M. A. Marny
223 Jim May 10, 1859 larceny guilty 39 lashes B. Price
Agg larceny not guilty B. Price
Ben larceny not guilty Dr. W. B. Nott
224 Elias June 11, 1859 burglary not guilty Govan Mabury
225 Miles July 12, 1859 entering and stealing guilty 75 lashes and 200 more Samuel Pilgram
Caleb July 13, 1859 entering and stealing guilty 75 lashes and 60 more Mrs. Marion A. Woodruff
226 Lawson July 30, 1859 misdemeanor not guilty Dr. James Bivings
227 Luke October 15, 1859 petty larceny guilty 40 lashes John Jackson
228 Patrick July 26, 1860 assault guilty 20 lashes Samuel Morgan
229 Tom July 28, 1860 retailing spirits not guilty William Lockhart
230 Alfred (Alph) October 6, 1860 arson guilty hanged John Bomar
231 Jerry October 11, 1860 attempted insurrection not guilty Robert Otts & Sons
Anderson attempted insurrection guilty 50 lashes Robert Otts & Sons
Ellis attempted insurrection guilty 50 lashes Robert Otts & Sons
Andy attempted insurrection not guilty Robert Otts & Sons
Sam attempted insurrection not guilty Robert Otts & Sons
232 Frank November 2, 1860 assault and battery not guilty Jenetta Shippy
233 Ben May 1, 1861 felony guilty 42 lashes M. A. Moore
234 Isaac June 1, 1861 larceny guilty 50 lashes and 15 more John Wofford
Jack larceny guilty 50 lashes and 15 more Dr. Benjamin Wofford
235 George July 2, 1861 gambling guilty 46 lashes R. A. Cates
Spencer gambling guilty 20 lashes Syntha Borough
Tom gambling guilty 26 lashes Mr. Alexander
Thompson gambling guilty 15 lashes H. F. McDowell
236 Andy August 2, 1861 misdemeanor guilty 25 lashes and jail, then 25 more William Moore
237 Sam September 3, 1861 retailing spirits guilty 39 lashes Thomas Peake
238 Wilson September 28, 1861 stealing guilty 39 lashes Thomas Spencer
239 Cy (Josiah) October 14, 1861 assault and battery and insolent language guilty 20 lashes and 3 months prison with 25 lashes a month
240 Sam February 20, 1862 retailing spirits and trading for stolen corn guilty 39 stripes immediately, imprisonment with 39 stripes each moth from February to July, then jail until January 1863 Thomas Peake
Willis larceny guilty 28 stripes Elizabeth Morrow
241 Will February 27, 1862 trading with a slave for wheat guilty 40 stripes Mary Hines
242 Thornton April 10, 1862 larceny guilty 400 stripes and jail Wilson Alexander
243 Thompson April 16, 1862 larceny guilty 75 lashes Mr. McDowell
Kiah larceny not guilty
244 Benjamin April 21, 1862 stealing guilty 50 lashes James Webster
245 Ed July 16, 1862 misdemeanor guilty 25 lashes Joseph P. Smith
246 Bill September 6, 1862 larceny-hog stealing guilty 39 lashes David Duncan
247 Josh October 25, 1862 larceny not guilty J. C. Timmerman
Bob larceny not guilty J. C. Timmerman
248 Ned December 12, 1862 larceny not guilty Dr. Ray (D. G. Findley)
249 Tillyan January 28, 1863 larceny guilty
27 lashes William J. Birly
Sally larceny guilty 35 lashes William J. Birly
250 Elias Mason February 25, 1863 high misdemeanor free person of color
251 Alfred March 24, 1863 felony guilty 39 lashes F. Harley
252 Joe April 18, 1863 felony guilty 30 lashes Henry Rush
253 Sam April 18, 1863 larceny not guilty Dr. Thomas Austin
Elias larceny not guilty Thomas Martin
Jane larceny guilty 58 lashes and jail Samuel Turner
254 Rich May 6, 1863 misdemeanor guilty 25 lashes Mrs. Patsey Kirby
John misdemeanor guilty 20 lashes Mrs. Patsey Kirby
255 Christena June 26, 1863 burning a stable not guilty Mrs. Toomers
256 Christena June 30, 1863 misdemeanor guilty 28 lashes Mrs. Toomers
257 Wallace July 3, 1863 assault guilty 18 lashes W. Lee
Sam assault guilty 18 lashes Richard Lee
258 Riley August 29, 1863 larceny W. C. Anderson
259 Sawny September 10, 1863 soliciting illicit intercourse J. C. Timmerman
260 John September 19, 1863 larceny William J. Kirby
Eliphaz larceny William J. Kirby
Elias larceny Clary Simmons
261 Jack September 22, 1863 stealing guilty 50 lashes Twitty
John stealing guilty 50 lashes Vernon
Jake stealing guilty 50 lashes Vernon
Tom stealing guilty 50 lashes Vernon
Omey stealing guilty 20 lashes Poole
Mahala stealing guilty 20 lashes McMakin
262 Bill Garrett October 19, 1863 concealing stolen property not guilty free person of color
263 Wiley October 30, 1863 larceny (principle) guilty 25 lashes Farrow
Louisa larceny (principle) guilty 25 lashes Farrow
Sam larceny (principle) guilty 25 lashes Farrow
Wash accessory guilty 20 lashes William Terry
Frank accessory guilty 20 lashes William Terry
Mary accessory William Terry
Perry accessory William Terry
Caroline accessory William Terry
Henry accessory guilty 20 lashes William Terry
Harriet accessory William Terry
George accessory guilty 20 lashes Hannah
Andy accessory guilty 20 lashes Dr. S. A. Brewton
Dave accessory guilty 20 lashes Dr. S. A. Brewton
Sam accessory guilty 20 lashes R. S. Woodruff
Bob larceny (principle) guilty 20 lashes R. S. Woodruff
Green accessory Mrs. Alexander
Pat accessory Mrs. Alexander
Elias accessory not guilty Griffith
Cassy accessory not guilty Harley
Judy accessory not guilty Harley
Alph larceny (principle) guilty 25 lashes F. Harlee
264 Towns November 6, 1863 larceny William Wilkins
265 Amanda Briant November 12, 1863 accessory to theft not guilty free girl of color
266 Neacher November 19, 1863 stealing not guilty Mr. Steinmin
267 Ellen November 28, 1863 stealing not guilty I. S. Chambers
268 Isaac February 14, 1864 larceny guilty 39 lashes B. Berry
Sarah larceny guilty 25 lashes B. Berry
Lean larceny guilty 30 lashes B. Berry
269 William February 16, 1864 larceny guilty 200 lashes, jail Mrs. Stroheckers
270 Sam March 14, 1864 coroner's inquisition blow struck on forehead by fence nail Henry Furgerson
271 Ted March 14, 1864 murder (see #270) not guilty 100 lashes Henry Furgerson
272 Isaac (alias Elias Waddell) March 16, 1864 misdemeanor guilty 100 lashes, jail free person of color
273 Gusty April 7, 1864 larceny guilty 50 lashes Reubin Briant
Manda larceny guilty 32 lashes free person of color
274 Siller April 18, 1864 receiving and secreting stolen goods and trading with a slave guilty 39 lashes Dr. Irvan Briants
275 Henry April 19, 1864 assault and battery guilty 700 lashes David Holcombe
276 Mitchell April 19, 1864 burglary and stealing guilty hanging G. Burnett
Joe burglary and stealing guilty hanging Drury Anderson
277 Mealy April 26, 1864 larceny not guilty William Willis
278 Simon May 3, 1864 assault and battery with intent to kill and insurrecting rebellious conduct guilty 299 lashes, 4 weeks in jail Mr. J. C. Timmerman
Levi assault and battery with intent to kill and insurrecting rebellious conduct guilty 299 lashes, 4 weeks in jail Mr. J. C. Timmerman
Sally assault and battery with intent to kill and insurrecting rebellious conduct guilty 75 lashes Mr. J. C. Timmerman
279 Harriet June 11, 1864 misdemeanor guilty 30 lashes Benjamin Clark
280 Reubin August 5, 1864 burglary J. O. P. Vernon
Nicholas burglary Mrs. M. B. Walker
281 Norris August 12, 1864 burglary gulty 200 lashes, 2 months in jail J. H. Steinmeyer
Calvin burglary 300 lashes, 4 weeks of solitary confinement Mrs. W. B. Walker
Jesse burglary Mrs. Venning
282 Spann (Spaun) August 12, 1864 receiving stolen goods Mr. Wagner
Caty receiving stolen goods guilty 75 lashes, 2 weeks of solitary confinement Mrs. E. S. Lucas
Rose receiving stolen goods not guilty Mrs. E. S. Lucas
Stephen receiving stolen goods Dr. Baker
283 Jack August 16, 1864 stealing guilty 39 lashes Abner S. Waters
284 Marion August 16, 1864 striking a white person guilty 75 lashes Col. J. F. Kerns
285 George August 17, 1864 larceny guilty 100 lashers Asa Waldrip
286 Miles November 19, 1864 murder and arson guilty hanged R. B. Smith
Harriet accessory guilty 600 lashes R. B. Smith
Sandy accessory guilty 300 lashes R. B. Smith
Minerva accessory R. B. Smith
287 George December 20, 1864 larceny guilty 75 stripes S. Bobo or the S.C. Manufacturing
Company
288 Warner December 21, 1864 larceny not guilty Col. Kerns
Frank larceny not guilty Col. Kerns
Marion larceny not guilty Col. Kerns
Lee larceny not guilty Col. Kerns
Louis larceny not guilty Col. Kerns
289 Ben January 11, 1865 misdemeanor dismissed D. S. Twittys
John misdemeanor dismissed Sampson Bobo
Raus misdemeanor dismissed Sampson Bobo
Scipio misdemeanor dismissed S. T. H. White
Nelson misdemeanor dismissed S. T. H. White
John misdemeanor dismissed Mrs. Orland
Sam misdemeanor dismissed D. C. Judd
Harriet misdemeanor dismissed Mildred Thomson
Frank misdemeanor dismissed Mildred Thomson
Aleck misdemeanor dismissed Mildred Thomson
Cyrus misdemeanor dismissed J. E. Steumery
Reubin misdemeanor dismissed T. O. P. Vernin
Bill misdemeanor dismissed John Bowman
Anthony misdemeanor dismissed T. J. Boyd
Orange misdemeanor dismissed Mrs. M. O. Dean
Pink misdemeanor dismissed J. Quin Harris
Elias misdemeanor dismissed Mrs. Mills
290 Jack January 11, 1865 stealing a dog guilty 43 lashes Julia Harris
291 Lewis January 24, 1865 burglary Mrs. James G. Harris
292 Sam January 26, 1865 high misdemeanor guilty 1 year prison, 50 lashes each month William Smith
293 Sam January 28, 1865 larceny guilty 1 year jail, 50 lashes each month William Smith
294 Sam February 11, 1865 burglary dismissed because former sentences carried out William Smith
295 Jake February 22, 1865 misdemeanor guilty 50 lashes Mr. A. Vernon
Berry misdemeanor guilty 39 lashes Mr. W. Dupree
Sam misdemeanor guilty 20 lashes Mr. O. C. Judd
296 George March 1, 1865 murder guilty 2 months prison and 300 lashes John B. Cleveland
297 Henry March 29, 1865 burglary guilty 600 lashes, 2 weeks prison, then 3 days to leave the state Marcus Kirby
298 Jim April 12, 1865 larceny not guilty Mr. Rivers
Bob larceny Mr. Sanders
Cato larceny guilty 100 lashes and 1 week prison or 50 lashes and owner pays $75.00 Mr. Joyce
299 Bruce April 14, 1865 larceny guilty 30 stripes F. W. Littlejohn
Patience accessory guilty 30 stripes Thomas Burgess
300 George April 28, 1865 arson and robbery not guilty Asa Waldrip
301 Bill (William) May 5, 1865 burglary guilty solitary confinement for several days with
bread and water
S. A. Bettes
302 Bob October 10, 1865 coroner's inquisition hanged by unknown persons freedman

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