The following are transcriptions of black residents found in Wayne County, Indiana probate and court records.
See also Black Residents of Indiana
Circuit Court Order Book A, 1815-1822, Pages 13, 35, 48, 62, 72, 81, 85
March 1815 to October 1816
Randal, a man of color, vs. Thomas Hughes} trespass, assault and battery, and false imprisonment
Page 13 – “The Sheriff of Wayne County be and he is hereby directed to take into his possession Randal a person of Color and him safely keep and out within the limits of this county unto such person or persons as shall cures him his wages Subject to the further Order of this Court unless Thomas Hughs who exercises and heretofore hath exercised ownership over the said Randal a person of Color shall on the service of this notice give Bond unto the Sheriff with such Security as he shall approve in the sum of $1000 Dollars Conditioned that he will not remove the said Randal a person of Color without the Jurisdiction of this Court until the final Determination of an Action of Trespass assault & Battery and false Imprisonment.”
Page 81 – “It is therefore considered by the Court that Randall the plaintiff aforesaid do recover against Thomas Hughes the Defendant aforesaid the sum of one cent the Damages aforesaid by the Jury aforesaid in form aforesaid assessed.”
Page 85 – “On Motion George Hunt is appointed by the Court to make settlement with Sheriff Turner for the wages & hire of Randall a man of Colour who was put in his possession by Order of Court. And It is further Ordered by the Court that the said Sheriff Turner pay over such Sum or Sums of Money as shall appear to be due from said Turner to said Randall to George Hunt which shall be subject to the order of said Randall.
Circuit Court Order Book A, 1815-1822, Page 150
March 1818
Jacob Koons vs. Orange, Miriam, David, and Dick, persons of colour} on recognizance
This day Bladen Ashbey, Thomas Hill and Adam Boyd Securities for the above named defendants delivered them to court in discharge of their Recognizance.
Circuit Court Order Book A, 1815-1822, Page 150
March 1818
Thompson Ward vs. Charlott & America, persons of colour}
This day came David Hoover and David J. P. Fleming Securities of the above named defendants and Delivered them into court in discharge of their Recognizance.
Probate Order Book A, 1818-1830, p. 13.
November 1818 Term
A transcript of the record of the emancipation of negro flora and her two children Setty & Joseph
At a court held for the county of Nicholas at the Court House thereof on Monday the 22nd day of July 1805 an instrument of writing was produced under the hand and seal of John Shankland in Court and acknowledged by the said John Shankland and ordered to be recorded to wit
I John Shankland of Nicholas County and State of Kentucky do by these presents liberate and set free on negrow woman and her two children Setty and Joseph and disere that the same may be recorded free
Given under my hand and seal this 22nd day of July 1815
[signed] John Shankland [seal]
Attest Jo. Morgan
Whereupon it is ordered by the court that the said negrow woman named Flora and her two children Cetty and Joseph be manumitted and set entirely free agreeably to the act of assembly in that case made and provided.
Probate Order Book A, 1818-1830, p. 18-20
State of Indiana Wayne County} To Samuel Bandy constable Adam Boyd a Justice of the Peace in & for said county to the Keeper of the Jail of said county greeting Whereas Barnabas Springer on the 15th day of January in the year 1820 personally appeared before me & made oath that James Elliott William Elliot & Thomas Riddle on the 15th of January 1820 at the county of Wayne in the State of Indiana aforesaid did Enter the dwelling house of John Mason a man of colour living in Richmond in county aforesaid and did then & there charge him to Surrender, the said James Elliot having a pistol in each hand at the same time and said William Elliot did likewise draw out a chain with an Intention to Secure him that they did order him out of his House & marched him through Richmond to the office of Esqr. Boyd and further the Deponent Saith not and whereas also the said James Elliot William Elliott & Thomas Riddle have been arrested on the above charge and brought before me & after mature deliberation and proper hereing thereof hath been by me adjudged guilty therefore in behalf of the Said State of Indiana I command you that you receive the said James Elliott Wm Elliott & Thomas Riddle into your custody in the proper Jail of said county there to remain until they shall be delivered from your custody by due course of Law
Given under my hand & Seal this 16th day of January 1820
[Signed] Adam Boyd JP [Seal]
And all & singular the premises being fully seen heard & inspected and by the court now here fully understood It seems to the court that matters & thing contained in the return of the Jailor aforesaid are not Sufficient in Law to Imprison the said James Elliot William Elliot & Thomas Ruddle It is therefore ordered that they be dismissed from the custody of the said Jailor without day &c.
[signed] Jesse Davenport, associate judge
Probate Order Book A, 1818-1830, p. 30
October 1820 Term
On application the court appoint James Junkins G[u]ardian for Peter Black a person of Colour.
Circuit Court Order Book A, 1815-1822, Page 358
November 1820
Nathaniel P. Taylor vs. Albert, a man of Colour}
On the [blank] day of November Eighteen hundred and Twenty Albert a man of Colour was brough before John C Kibby an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County on a Charge of owing service to Nathaniel P. Taylor of Jefferson County of the State of Kentucky and after the said John C Kibby had heard the Testimony adduced on Both sides it was the opinion of the said John C Kibby Justice as aforesaid that the said plaintiff’s clame [sic] was well founded … thereupon the said Jury upon their oaths aforesaid do find the following verdict to wit We of the Jury do find that the within described Albert owes service to Nathaniel P. Taylor of Jefferson County Kentucky. It is therefore considered & ordered by the court that the said Nathaniel P. Taylor be allowed to take & convey the said Albert to the state of Kentucky & that the clerk certify the same.
Circuit Court Order Book A, 1815-1822
Page 550
State of North Carolina, Green County} Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, August Term 1827
Charity Jones a free mulatto woman came before the Court and signified her intention or wish to travel to the State of Indiana, and the Court being Satisfied of her freedom It is ordered that the Same be recorded and a Copy thereof given to her with the Seal of the Court annexed.
Circuit Court Order Book A, 1815-1822, Page 551
State of N. Carolina, Wayne County}
Be it Known that I John Davis Sr. of the State and County aforesaid one of the Society of friends (commonly called Quakers) being in mind conscientious scruples of holding any of the human family in bondage or slavery, do hereby liberate and freely discharge (so far as in my power may be) without any consideration from myself my heirs executors &c. my trusty upright servant Allen who has personally made known to me his desire to remove himself and family to the State of Indiana where he may enjoy the privileges allotted to people of colour the aforesaid Allen is a bright Mulatto man about twenty eight or nine years old well sot and has a pleasant countenance and I can say with pleasure that during the time of his raising and to the present time his conduct has been suck as to merit my approbation and I have reasons to believe that of those who were acquainted with him. Allen has a family consisting of a wife Mary Jones and three small children (girls) the aforesaid Mary is a free born woman a bright Mulatto and of the ordinary size her character I believe to be honest and her conduct such as to merit approbation and her connection has as far a standing as any of that class of people. I therefore hope & desire that the said Allen who I have given the surname of Davis & Mary Davis his wife and Children may be permitted to pass unmolested from this into the State of Indiana and elsewhere if the said Allen should think proper afterwards and that he be furnished with such necessary comforts of life as they may stand in need of provided they make ample amends for the same. Given under my hand & seal this 19th day of the 8th mo 1827.
John Davis {seal}
Test: Gab Sherard, Thomas Horn, Jno. F. Cook
Probate Order Book A, 1818-1830, p. 196.
October 1828 Term
James Rariden is appointed guardian for Jacob Lewis a boy of colour to file his bond in the sum of one hundred dollars with Israel Abrahams for security.
Probate Order Book A, 1818-1830, p. 244.
November 1829 Term
Matthew Wilson is by the Court appointed guardian for William and David minor children of colour under the age of fourteen years who now here files his bond in the penal sum of one hundred dollars with Eli Wright for security who is approved by the Court
Said Wilson is also duly sworn according to Law.
Probate Order Book B, 1830-1838, p. 17.
March 1831 Term
Samuel Charles is appointed guardian for Milton White (a negro boy over fourteen years of age) who now comes into open Court and makes choice of the said Samuel Charles for his guardian, who thereupon files his bond in the penal sum of one hundred dollars with John S. Newman for security who is approved by the Court. Said guardian is also duly affirmed according to law.
Probate Order Book E, 1848-1851, p. 343.
February 1850 Term
In the matter of Josephine, a colored minor} For Guardianship
Now comes Solomon Meredith and files his petition for the appointment of a Guardian for Josephine a colored girl and minor aged between ten and twelve years in these words and figures to wit (Here insert) And the Court appoints the said Solomon Meredith Guardian for said Josephine And therefore he is qualified and gives bond as required by law in these words to wit (Here insert) And leters of Guardianship are issued accordingly.