Trial of Nathan (slave of Benjamin Blunt estate)

September 6, 1831 –  Executed

At a court summoned and held for the County of Southampton on the first day of September/1831/ for the trial of Nathan the property of Benjamin Blunt est. of this County and of Nathan, Tom, and Davy the property of Nathaniel Francis of this County for making insurrection.

Present. Robert Goodwin. James W. Parker. James Trezevant. Alexander Peete & Oris A. Browne. Gent.

The above named Nathan, Tom, and Davy were set to the bar in the custody of the Jailor of the County, and for reasons appearing to the Court the trial of the said prisoners is adjourned till tomorrow, and thereupon they are remanded to jail.

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At a Court of Oyer and Terminer continued by adjornment and held for the County of Southampton the 2d day of September 1831 for the trial of Nathan a slave the property of Benjamin Blunt Est. of this county, Nathan, Tom and Davy Slaves the property of Nathaniel Francis charged with making an insurrection.

Present: Benjamin Griffin, William B. Goodwyne, James D. Massenburg, James W. Parker, and Alexander P. Peete. Gent.

The Court being thus constituted the above name Nathan, Nathan, Tom and Davy were brought into Court. Whereupon for reasons appearing to the Court the trial of the said prisoners is adjourned till Tuesday next and thereupon they are remanded to jail.

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At a Court of Oyer and Terminer continued by adjournment and held for the County of Southampton on the 6th day of September 1831 for the trial of Nathan a negro man slave belonging to the estate of Benjamin Blunt, dcsd. & Nathan, Tom, and Davy negro boys slaves belonging to Nathaniel Francis, charged with consulting, advising and conspiring with divers other slaves to rebel and make insurrection and making insurrection and plotting to take the lives of divers free white persons of the Commonwealth.

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

M. B. Broadnax Atty. for the Commonwealth filed an Information against the prisoner & the Court being thus constituted the prisoner Nathan the property of the Estate of Benjamin Blunt dcsd. was set to the bar in custody of the Jailor of the County and the Court doth assign James L. French Esq. Counsel for the prisoner in his defense and the said Nathan being arraigned of the premises pleaded not guilty to the information and

Daniel a negro boy slave sworn and charged as a witness for the Commonwealth says the he and the prisoner was confined in the jail of Greensville County during which confinement the prisoner was relating to as a runaway at the time the prisoner was also confined in said jail, that the prisoner said he had been present when the murders were committed by the insurgents—the prisoner had blood on his breeches which he said he had told the white people was cider.

Moses a negro boy slave was sworn and charged as a witness for the prisoner and says that the prisoner went unwillingly—that he committed no murder and he thinks had no opportunity to escape and remained with the insurgents till they dispersed.

The Court after hearing the testimony and from all the circumstances of the case are unanimously of opinion that the prisoner is guilty in manner and form as in the information against him is set forth and it being demanded of the prisoner if anything he had or knew to say why the Court should not proceed to pronounce judgment against him is set forth and it being demanded of the prisoner if anything he had or knew to say why the Court should not proceed to pronounce judgment against him according to Law and nothing being offerred or alleged in delay of judgment it is considered by the Court that the prisoner be taken hence to the jail from whence he was taken therein to be safely confined until Monday the twelth day of September instant on which day between the hours of ten o’clock in the morning and two o’clock in the afternoon the prisoner is to be taken by the Sheriff to the usual place of execution and there be hanged by the neck until he be dead. And the Court values the said slave Nathan to the sum of three hundred and seventy five dollars.

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The Court doth allow James S. French the sum of ten dollars his fee for defending Nathan a slave the property of Benjamin Blunt and to James S. French, William C. Parker & Thomas R. Gray the sum of ten dollars each for defending Nathan, Tom and Davy negro slaves belonging to Nathaniel Francis.