Trial of Isaac (slave of George H. Carlton)

September 2, 1831 - Transported

At a Court summoned and held for the County of Southampton at the Courthouse on the first day of September 1831 for the trial of Jacob and Isaac the property of George H. Charlton of the County of Greensville, for consulting, advising, and conspiring to rebel and make insurrection—

Present. Robert Goodwin, James W. Parker, James Trezvant, Orris A. Browne, and Alexander P. Peete. Gent.

The above named Jacob and Isaac were set to the bar in custody of the Jailor of this County and for reasons appearing to the Court the trial of the said Jacob and Isaac is adjourned till tomorrow morning 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 second day of September 1831 for the trial of Jacob and Isaac negro men slaves the property of George H. Charlton of the County of Greeneville, who stand charged with consulting, advising and conspiring to rebel and make insurrection.

Present—Jeremiah Cobb, Carr Bowers, William B. Goodwynne, Thomas Pretlow and Alexander P. Peete—Gent:

The Court being thus constituted the prisoner was set to the bar in custody of the keeper of the Jail of this County and thereupon Meriwether B. Broadnax Attorney for the Commonwealth filed an information against the said Jacob and Isaac and thereupon the said Isaac was set to the bar in custody of the Jailor of this County and being arraigned of the premises pleaded not guilty to the Information.

James S. French is by the Court appointed Counsel for the prisoner in his defense and

Nancy Parsons being sworn as a witness for the Commonwealth says that she was on her way with her sister to Belfield on the 22d day of August last, that in passing by Mr. Charlton’s plantation in the upper end of this county she saw several negroes standing near the road which road was also near Mr. Charlton’s field—that this prisoner was lying some distance off outside of the field kicking up his heels—that witness had heard of a disturbance in the County but did not know of what character—heard that the British were in the County—witness asked the prisoner if he was not afraid—prisoner answered that he was not—that if they came by he would join them & assist them in killing all the white people—that if they succeeded he would have as much money as his master.

            a slave the property of George Charlton was examined as a witness on behalf of the prisoner said that the prisoner said to Miss Parsons if the negroes came that way he would join them and kill all the whites and if he had been set free two Courts ago this would not have happed prisoner offered to take Miss Parsons child and preserve it and father it says the prisoner was sick in the morning but news of the insurrection brought him out—the prisoner very headstrong.

The Court after hearing the testimony and 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 him if anything for himself he had or knew to say why the Court should not proceed to pronounce judgment against him according to law and nothing being offered or alleged in delay of judgment it is considered by the Court that the prisoner be taken hence to the jail from whence he came there to be safely and securely kept until Tuesday the 20th day of September instant between on which day between the hours of ten o’clock in the forenoon and two o’clock in the afternoon the prisoner is to be taken by the Sheriff of this County to the usual place of execution and there be hanged by the neck until he be dead. And the Court values the said slave Isaac to the sum of three hundred dollars—and the Court from all the circumstances of the case doth recommend to the Governor to commute his punishment to transportation.

Ordered that George H. Carlton pay to James S. French the sum of ten dollars as a fee for defending his slave Isaac.

Court Minute Book, Southampton County, Virginia, 1830-1835: