8 October 1862: “you are therefore commanded to take the boddy of the said negro slave Lee and cause him to appear before me or some other Justice of the Peace…”

Item description: Two warrants, executed by Felix Johnson, a justice of the peace for Surry County, N.C., for the arrest of slaves accused of stealing leather from a tannery. The warrants are annotated to indicate the judgment and punishment that was ultimately given the accused.

[Transcription available below images.]

Item citation: From folder 1 of the Felix Johnson Papers #3000-z, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Item transcription:

[item 1]

State of North Carolina }
Surry County

To any lawful officer to execute and return. Charles Whittock hath this day complained upon oath before me John Banner[?] one of the acting justices of the peace for said county, that a certain negro slave named Lee the property of Anderson Simmons of said county did on or about the first days of October 1862 did felloniously break into the tan [?] of the said Charles Whittock and steal take and carry away three or more sides of unfinished leather which is contrary to law and against the peace and dignity of the state. you are therefore commanded to take the boddy of the said negro slave Lee and cause him to appear before me or some other Justice of the Peace to answer the above charge and be otherwise dealt with according to law given under my hand and seal this 8th day of October 1862.

M.J. Banner, J.P. {seal}

after hearing the evidence in this case we are of the opinion that Lee the slave is guilty of the charge and the constable is ordered to give the person Lee thirty lashes on the bare back well laid on
Oct 10th 1862

Robt. A. Gilmer {seal}
G.A. McGraw[?] {seal}
C. Thompson[?] {seal}
[?] {seal}

[note on back]

judgment against Anderson Simmons the owner of Lee for the cost of this warrant & proceedings 80[cents]. Oct 11th 1862  R.S. Gilmer {seal}

State
Lee, a slave
the property of A. Simmons
Warrant
–#–
Executed Oct. 10th 1862
By F. Johnson

—–

[item 2]

Surry County }
State of North Carolina

to any lawful officer of said County to execute and return according to law where a complaint has this day been made before me one of the acting justices of the peace of the aforesaid County upon the oath of Charles Whittock that he has just cause to believe and does believe that certain negro slaves viz Peter Andrew Reuben and Creacy[?] the property of Mrs. Ruth Davis & Hardin a slave the property of E. Seek[?] with certain other slaves together have so felloniously stolen and carried away from the [?] of the tan [?] of the said Whittock three or more sides of leather in an unfinished state, sometime about the first of this month which is contrary to law and against the peace and dignity of the state. these are therefore to command you to take the boddies of the said slave viz. Peter Andrew Reuben and Creacy[?] and Hardin & bring them before me or some other justice of the peace of said county to answer the said charge and to be further dealt with according to law, herein fail not. given under my hand and seal this the 8th day of October 1862.

M. J. Banner J.P. {seal}

after hearing the evidence in the case we are of the opinion that Reuben Peter Andrew and Hardin are guilty of the charges and that Reuben Peter Andrew receive thirty lashes on the bare back well laid on and that Hardin receive thirty lashes on the bare back well laid on we also believe Creacy[?] to be guilty of the charge against her and turn her over to her owner to be punished as he may think best  Oct. 11th 1862
Andy to receive 15 lashes

R.S. Gilmer {seal}
G. A. McGraw[?] {seal}
C. Thompson {seal}

[note on back]

Judgment against Peter Jack Tilly for the value of leather stolen or concealed five dollars and cost 80[cents] also judgment against Mrs. Ruth Davis for cost of Peter Andy Reuben & Creacy[?] two dollars and ninety cents given under my hand and seal   R.S. Gilmer {seal}
also cost of summons of three witnesses 60[cents]
Oct 11th 1862   R.S. Gilmer {seal} 

State
Peter Andrew Reuben Creacy[?] and Hardin
Slaves
Warrant
Executed Oct. 10th
1862
By F. Johnson

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