| Name | Age | Color or Race | Sex | Role in document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| coroner L. Spivey | Male | grantor | ||
| Sheriff John Freeman | Male | grantee | ||
| Mariah | Black ("negro") | Female | enslaved | |
| John | Black ("negro") | Male | enslaved | |
| Betsy | Black ("negro") | Female | enslaved |
Bill of Sale. NC.BER.GG.276.1, NC.BER.GG.276.2 and NC.BER.GG.277.2 all relate to “Negro Woman Mariah and her two children John and Betsy”. The enslaved had been owned by John Holden, deceased. As I understand it, the three had been parceled out amongst heirs when the estate was divided, ending up with S.M. Holden and wife. Reddick and Emily Holden apparently didn’t agree with the division, and took S.M. Holden and wife to court, and won a judgment (the reference is No. 29 in February 1844 court). Subsequently, Sheriff John Freeman sold the enslaved at a public sale March 30, 1844 to John P. Rascoe, for $470. On March 20, 1844, in a transaction I don’t understand, L. Spivey, coroner, says he sold a one-fourth interest in Mariah, John and Betsy to John Freeman for $95. Finally, John P. Rascoe sold Mariah and the children to John Freeman (as Sheriff?, as a private person?) for $470, with the document dated October 5, 1844. In this specific document (276.2), L. Spivey, identified as “coroner” sells a one-fourth interest in the three enslaved to John Freeman for $95. I have no idea how Spivey and/or his being coroner are involved in this situation. The document was signed March 20, 1844, presented in Court August 1845, and registered October 2, 1845.
