Vann vs Hargett~1831
N. C. SUPREME COURT CASE #1869 - VANN vs HARGETT - Jones County, NC.
Found at the NC Archives, Raleigh, NC
Jones County 23 May 1831
On the 2nd Wed after the 2nd Mon of Sept 1827 - John Vann and wife and Lewis
Gregory against Benj. W. Harget, Wm. Armstrong and Levicy his wife, Willis
Gregory, Ashton Gregory and William Gregory defendants do not reside in
State Peter Harget was the agent for Benjamin W. Harget
Charges made by John Vann for keeping Negroes from 10 Dec 1827 to 17 Oct 1830 -
$200 proven reasonable from the $200, 1/7 was Vanns share of expenses
leaving $170.43 to be paid to Vann on this acct
Deposition of John Vann 14 July 1834 - the following persons to receive
residue of the purchase money William Gregory and Ashton Gregory both of
South Carolina, Louisa Armstrong daughter of Levicey Armstrong who was Levicey
Gregory, heirs of Celia Smith of South Carolina who was Celia Gregory, heirs
of Polly Pugh who was Polly Gregory, and William Gregory of Alabama (Note it
was not clear where Polly was from but it reads as if she lived in Ala)
On 27 Oct 1783, Joseph Gilbert of Jones Co made his will which was probated
June Term 1784 Among other things he left Negroes Moll and Nell to his
daughter Mary Ann Gregory for her life and then to her children except her
son John Mills Tippet for whom I have already provided Mary Ann died and
had three children when her father died John Mills Tippet, Levicy Gregory,
Penelope Gregory who was the wife of John Vann after her father died,
Mary Ann had additional children Willis, Ashton, Eliza, Polly, William,
Lewis, Allen and Joseph Gregory Polly, Allen and Joseph died before their
mother without issue; Levicey married William Armstrong of Wake County;
Eliza married Samuel Smith of Cumberland Co William and Levicy Armstrong,
Samuel and Eliza Smith, Willis, Ashton and William Gregory all removed
from the state.
Mary Anns husband, John Gregory, disposed of the negroes left to his wife in
her fathers Will Moll and her children to a Hargett of Jones Co and
Benjamin W. Harget now has said Negroes. According to the Will, the said
Negroes belonged to the children of Mary Ann. Benjamin W. Harget is fixing to
leave the State and he should not take the Negroes with him 15 March 1829
The husband of Mary Ann had no right to sell Moll. There was a Bill of Sale
from John Gregory to Peter Harget for Moll and one child on 9 March 1784.
Isaac Kornegay delivered Moll and her child Anaka to Benjamin Williams Harget
on 19 Dec 1820. (Isaac Kornegay was the exec of the
Will of Peter Hargett - mmm)
DEPOSITION OF Benjamin Williams Hargett his answer
Said Moll was not the same Moll in the Will the Moll in question was in
possession of Mary Ann when her father died - she then sold her to Peter
Harget (sic)
Dec 1831 - Report of sale of Negroes by the Sheriff - $676.50 payable in 6
months after the 17 Oct 1831 Sheriff to pay 2/7 of the residue to John Vann
and wife and Lewis Gregory Ordered that Benjamin W. Harget would pay court
cost
Negroes were Molls four children John Vann took them into his possession.
He paid the charges of $132.50 on Dec 1827. He kept them until 17 Oct 1831
when they were sold and he is charging $200 for expenses. The Sheriff sold
them to the following people
Moll sold to Hubard Stanly for $81.50
Anakey sold to Willis J. Vann for $241.00
Peter sold to Willis J. Vann for $151.00
Violet sold to Willis J. Vann for $102.00
Tyner sold to Willis J. Vann for $101.00
DEPOSITIONS
1. Selathel Ezzell 5 July 1834 - in Sampson County said John Vann had
following Negroes in his possession Moll, Anakey, Peter, Violet and Teynar
stated that by 1833 Celia Smith of South Carolina was dec appears Louisa
Armstrong and Polly Pugh lived in Ala and Polly was dec.
2. Ezzell Sutton 26 Nov 1834 Sampson County stated Vann had the Negroes
and their ages were Moll 50, Anakey 7 years, Peter 5 ½ years, Violet 3 1/2
years and another one about 18 months
3. William Kirby 26 Nov 1834 Sampson County stated the same information
4. Selathel Ezzell 26 Nov 1828 Duplin County Mary Ann Gregory wife of
John Gregory and daughter of Joseph Gilbert Sen of Jones Co Mary Anns father
left her and her children Negroes by Will in Jones Co names were Moll and
Nell Mary Ann wanted Ezzell to go to Jones Co and get her Negroes for ½ of
said Negroes for her lifetime question (this is not clear) did Mary Ann
Gregory and Penelope Vann wife of John Vann own each other as mother and
daughter answer yes Ezzell stated that Mary Ann died 28 Dec 1826 when
Ezzell first met Mary Ann she was a widow
5. Sarah Hines 26 Nov 1828 Sampson Co Mary Ann had a daughter Penelope
who married John Vann Sarah knew Mary Ann for 20 years and her husband was
already dec Mary Ann lived in Sampson Co
5. Nathan Harget 14 Sept 1829 signed with a mark nothing new
6. John Chestnut 13 Nov 1829 Duplin Co Mary Ann married before she md
Gregory and her first husband was Teppit; Polly was married to John Pugh
7. Elisha Gregory 13 Nov 1829 Duplin Co mentioned Lewis Gregory was also
Mary Anns son
8. Elisha Robertson - 12 Nov 1828 Jones Co was 55 years old; Ann Hargett
was the widow of Peter and had in her possession the Negro Moll and her children
who were Phillis, Isaac, Dennis, Clo, Hannah and others Mr. Armstrong came
and claimed some of them but he went away
9. Robert Gilbert 12 Nov 1828 was 60 years old Joseph Gilbert had several
Negroes who were the children of Moll and they were Tom afterwards owned by
Benjamin Harrison, dec now by his widow the wife of Abner Greene; Ann was owned
by John Stanly; Lenes owned by William Hellen; other children were Nell, Violet
and Phillis; stated that Mary Anns first husband was John Tippet; Robert
stated he was a relative of Joseph but did not state how related
10. Richard Reynolds 5 June 1828 Jones Co stated he was 75 years old
said Joseph Gilbert was in the Rev. War;
Note: There was more than one Deposition from Richard Reynolds with no additional
information and it is not clear if there was more than Richard although there
was more than one Richard in Jones Co at the time
11. Barbara Stanly Jones County - aged 57 years nothing new
12 Edward Gilbert 3 Feb 1829 - Jones County aged 40 years son of Joseph
Gilbert (was he the son of Joseph Jr?) Old Joseph gave Moll to his son
Benjamin Gilbert and John Gregory to be divided equally
13. Elijah Perry 3 Feb 1829 Jones County aged 51 years said old Joseph
did not like Gregory mentioned that Jesse Gilbert worked for Joseph Gilbert
There was a mention of a Deposition of Mourning Turner and Rhoda Hawkins who
were between the ages of 60 and 70 years old but I didnt see those Depositions
Sept 1827
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