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UNUSUAL OLD 1856 SLAVE RIOT COURT DOCUMENT MACON GA
Interesting and highly unusual old 4-page MACON COUNTY, GEORGIA court document (about 8 x 12.5”) written out in manuscript in dark ink on attractive old blue lined paper of good rag content. Few small holes at fold lines, otherwise quite good condition as shown in scan.
This interesting document concerns a SLAVE along with two white men who are sought in this 1856 Macon County, Georgia court document because they “DID COMMIT A RIOT UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES OF AN AGGRAVATED NATURE:” A partial transcription follows:
“Georgia, Macon County
Before me Benjamin Harris, a justice of the Inferior Court and for said county, personally came Samuel M. McKenzie, who being duly sworn … saith that James H. Wadsworth and Henry Abraham, both of said county--
WITH FORCE AND ARMS … on the first day of July, in the year 1856, at or about the hour of 9 o’clock of the night, IN A VIOLENT AND TUMULTUOUS MANNER, WITH GUNS AND OTHER WEAPONS, DID APPROACH WITHIN 30 PACES OF THE DWELLING HOUSE OF MRS. MILLEY MCKENZIE … AND DID THEN AND THERE WITH TUMULT AND LOUD NOISE, the said James H. Wadsworth did CURSE, INSULT, AND USE HIGHLY ABUSIVE LANGUAGE toward the inmates of the said house, and did then and there FIRE OFF AND DISCHARGE A SHOTGUN LOADED WITH POWDER at the said dwelling house, which the said Milley McKenzie, one Maria C. McKenzie, Eusche Chatam a widow, two infants of the said Milley, and also George W. McKenzie and Samuel M. McKenzie, sons of the said Milley, and all members of her family, were quietly inhabiting said dwelling house as their regular place of abode.”
“And the said Wadsworth then and there FIRED OFF THE SAID GUN AS MANY AS SIX OR EIGHT TIMES, AND AT ONE OF THE FIRINGS, A NUMBER OS SHOTS STRUCK THE SAID DWELLING HOUSE. all the said time the said Wadsworth was in A GREAT RAGE, CURSING AT THE PERSONS IN SAID DWELLING AND DARING THEM TO COME OUT. And defendant states that the said Henry Abraham was present aiding and abetting the said James H. Wadsworth in the said outrages by loading the said gun for the said discharges and otherwise assisting the said Wadsworth to commit said violence.
And defendant also further states that A CERTAIN NEGRO MAN SLAVE BY THE NAME OF CAESAR the property of the estate of Ethel Wadsworth deceased, was also present, shouting and making a noise with the said James H. Wadsworth by his orders and directions, and by his command, THE SAID NEGRO CURSING THE SAID GEORGE W. MCKENZIE AND SAMUEL M. MCKENZIE, AND DARED THEM TO COME OUT OF THE HOUSE, AND HE WOULD GIVE THEM A WHIPPING, or language to that effect …”
Note written in lighter ink on the reverse: “The defendants Wadesworth NOT FOUND in the County after diligent searching. John(?) L. Parker, Sheriff.”
Milley McKenzie was the wife of Macon County Baptist preacher Rev. John McKenzie, who had died in 1851. She was 70 years old at the time of the “Riot” described in this old document. Part of her obituary follows from THE CHRISTIAN INDEX - September 14, 1859:
“MRS. MILLEY MCKENZIE - At her residence in Macon County, Ga. on the 27th of August 1859, after a short illness, Mrs. Milley McKenzie, in the 73rd year of her age.
Sister McKenzie was born in Warren Co., Ga. April 1, 1787, and married the Rev. John McKenzie on February 26, 1804 and the same year confessed a hope in Christ, joined the Baptist Church and was baptized by Elder Jesse Mercer, in the year, 1807.
She removed with her husband to Jones Co., and there lived 21 years, then removed to Houston, [Now Macon Co., GA] in 1828, and was one of the constituting members of the Beulah Church and of which she died a member. She was the mother of fourteen children, eight of whom with her husband, had preceded her to the grave.”
Price= $545.00
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