Trial of Jack (slave of Everett Bryant)

September 20, 1831 –  Discharged

At a court of Oyer and Terminer summoned and held for the County of Southampton at the Courthouse on the 31st day of August 1831 for the trial of Daniel, a negro man slave the property of Richard Porter, Jack, the property of Everett Bryant, Moses, the property of Thomas Barrow, Tom, late the property of Caty Whitehead, Jack, late the property of Caty Whitehead, Andrew, late the property of Caty Whitehead, Davy, late the property of Elizabeth Turner, Stephen, the property of Thomas Ridley, and Curtis, the property of Thomas Ridley, charged with feloniously counselling, advising and conspiring with each other and divers other slaves to rebel and make insurrection and making insurrection and taking the lives of divers free white persons of the Commonwealth—

Present: Jeremiah Cobb, James D. Massenburg, Alexander P. Peete, James Trezvant and Orris Browne—Gent Justices.

Meriwether B. Broadnax, attorney for the Commonwealth filed an information against the prisoners above mentioned and the court doth appoint William C. Parker, Esq., Att. at Law to defend the prisoners.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

At a Court of Oyer and Terminer continued by adjournment and held for the County of Southampton on the first day of September 1831 for the trial of Moses a slave late the property of Thomas Barrow, Jack late the property of Caty Whitehead, Andrew late the property of Caty Whitehead, Davy late the property of Elizabeth Turner, Stephen the property of Thomas Ridley, and Jack the property of Everitt Bryant charged with having on the 22d day of August 1831 at this County/feloniously/ consulted, advised and conspired with each other and divers other slaves to rebel and make insurrection and for making insurrection and taking the lives of divers free white persons of the Commonwealth.

Present. Carr Bowers, James D. Massenburg, James W. Parker, James Trezvant and Orris A. Browne, Gent. Justices.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Jack the property of Everitt Bryant, Davy/late/ the property of Elizabeth Turner & Stephen & Curtis the property of Thomas Ridley who stand committed to the Jail of this county upon a charge of conspiring to rebel and make insurrection were this day brought into Court and for reasons appearing to the Court the trial of the said prisoners is adjourned till tomorrow. Ordered that this Court be adjourned till tomorrow morning nine o’clock.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

At a Court of Oyer and Terminer continued by adjournment and held for the County of Southampton on the 2d day of September 1831 for the trial of Davy the property of Elizabeth Turner Stephen the property of Thomas Ridley Curtis the property of Thomas Ridley & Jack the property of Everitt Bryant charged with feloniously on the 22d day of August 1831 at this County consulted, advised and conspired with each other and with Divers other slaves to rebel and make insurrection and for making insurrection and taking the lives of divers free white persons of this Commonwealth.

Present Thomas Pretlow, Samuel B. Hines, James W. Parker, James Trezvant & Alexander P. Peete. Gent.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

At a Court summoned and held for the County of Southampton on the 19th day of September 1831 for the trial of Jack a negro man slave the property of Everett Bryant charged with conspiring to rebel and make insurrection.

Present William B. Goodwyn, James W. Parker, James Trezvant, Alexander P. Peete & Joseph T. Claud Gent.

For reasons appearing to the Court the trial of the said Jack is adjourned till tomorrow and the Court is adjourned till tomorrow morning nine o’clock.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Jack a negro man slave the property of Everett Bryant was this day set to the bar in custody of the Jailor of this County (the Court summoned for his trial having failed to meet) charged with conspiring to rebel and make insurrection, and Meriwether B. Broadnax Attorney for the Commonwealth filed an information against the prisoner and the Court doth assign William C. Parker Counsel for the prisoner in his defense and the prisoner being arraigned of the premises pleaded not guilty to the information. The Court after hearing the testimony and from all the circumstances are of the opinion that the prisoner is not guilty as in pleading he hath alleged and proclamation being made as the manner is and nothing further appearing or being alleged against the prisoner it is ordered that the prisoner be forthwith discharged from custody . . .