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A BRIEF HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SLAVE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 H 
 i 
 
 I I _JL- L_ I 
 
 H 
 
 H 
 
 Jl 
 
 H 
 
 H 
 
 H 
 
 AND THE 
 
 ATTLES OF LIFE, 
 
 fAND 
 
 Four Years of his Ministerial Life, 
 
 Written from Memory, to 1882. 
 
 RALEIGH : 
 
 Ddwards, Broughton & Co., Steam Printers, Publishers and Binders. 
 
 1882. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 The many readers of this little book will doubtless 
 find many imperfect sentences. While the writer has 
 not been blessed with a scholarship that many of the 
 readers have, and in the thirty-third year of his life, 
 after having passed through many conflicts, of which 
 the public have been slightly informed, and many slan- 
 derous remarks have been made in relation to him„ 
 He therefore presents himself to the public in fair 
 colors, without any regret of the past life, relative to 
 his own action. 
 
 Hope the many readers will carefully read and pon- 
 der well the facts in the whole matter herein con- 
 tained. 
 
 Raleigh, January 19th, 1882. 
 
 
History of Rev. L R. Ferebee.. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 This chapter will relate to the birth-place and parentage 
 of London R. Ferebee. He is a son of the late Eider Abel 
 M. Ferebee, of the Virginia Conference of the A. M. E. Zion 
 Church in America. He was the son of the Rev. Robert 
 Simmons, of Currituck county, North Carolina. During the 
 time of slavery, while a slave, he was granted license under 
 the M.. E. Church, South, to preach, and was associated by 
 the Rev. Gabriel Whitehurst. The Rev. Robert Simmons 
 died in the year 1857. The Rev. Gabriel Whitehurst died 
 about the year 1871 or '72, after being an ordained Elder in 
 the A. M. E. Zion Church, and presided over the Rev. Abel M. 
 Ferebee for several years. The Rev. Abel M. Ferebee was 
 one of the first men in the organization of the North Caro- 
 lina Annual Conference, with Bishop J. W. Hood, then an 
 Elder of the New England Conference, and Bishop J. J. 
 Clinton, Elder Hill, W. J. Moore, and others, in Newbern, 
 North Carolina; and sometime in the summer of 1865, was 
 ordained an Elder on Roanoke Island, North Carolina, and 
 put in charge of the church, under Elder John Williams. 
 And then W. J. Moore took charge as Presiding Elder 
 sometime in 1866. The Rev. A. M. Ferebee was an active 
 Elder until within nine days of his death, and at the time 
 of his death was in charge of three churches, to-wit: Moses'" 
 Temple and Mary Holly Grove, in Pasquotank county, and 
 one in Perquimans county, viz : Fork Bridge. In the 
 time of life he always desired that one of his boys should 
 be a preacher. He was a blacksmith by trade. Married 
 about the age of twenty-three or twenty-four, to a woman 
 
(6) 
 
 owned by Mrs. Oley Whitehurst, of Currituck county, by the 
 name of Chloe. They lived together as man and wife for 
 twenty-two years. The number of their children was ten — - 
 seven boys and three girls. In time of the life of his wife, a 
 cross word by either of them to each other has never been 
 known by any one. She died in May, 1859, and he re- 
 mained a widower for seven years, and then married a sec- 
 ond time, and in that selection got a quiet, Christian wife, 
 and lived till his death in peace and quietness. He left his 
 widow with a homestead, on which she now lives, without 
 fear of molestation by any one, and is held in as high re- 
 gard as a step- mother can be by his children, and will never 
 be allowed to suffer while any of his children survive their 
 father. The widow's residence is in Elizabeth City, Pasquo- 
 tank county, North Carolina. The connection, as well as 
 State, county and community, say: " Peace to his ashes/" 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 This chapter begins to treat upon ihe life of London R. 
 Ferebee, now known as Rev. L. R. Ferebee, an Elder of the 
 A. M. E. Zion church, in America, who was a slave as all 
 of his ancestors were. 
 
 At an early age my mother was sold. I scarcely can 
 remember the occurrence which took place on the mornino- 
 she was sold. It wassaid thatall of my people are mixed with 
 Indian blood, and she was a spirited woman and would not 
 suffer to be imposed upon by her master nor mistress. A 
 dispute arose between my mother and her mistress, and 
 her mistress attempted to strike her, at which mother said 
 " If you strike me, it will be the dearest lick ever you struck,'' 
 and at the arrival of the master her mistress of course 
 reported the conduct of my mother. He, knowing the 
 spirit of my mother, took his gun and cowhide in hand 
 
(7) 
 
 and coming to the kitchen, said with an oath, " Chloe, if 
 you don't let me whip you for saucing your mistress. I'll 
 shoot you." She (my mother) said, opening her bosom, 
 " Shoot; that's the only way yuu can whip me." Having at 
 this time come in reach of her, he struck at her with the 
 cowhide. She seized it and cut it in two with a butcher knife 
 which she had been cleaning fish with: they then gathered 
 each other and my mother threw him, and as he fell the 
 gun discharged but injured no one. She put one knee in 
 his breast, the other, as well as I can now remember, -on one 
 arm, wrested the gun from his hand and struck him over 
 the head with the breech, wounding him badly, so that 
 he called for help. She was taken off by some of his 
 men. That morning he sold her to a speculator, Hal- 
 stead, of Camden county, he, (Halstead) not knowing at the 
 time it was my father's wife until after he had bought her. 
 He then left her and rode thirty-one miles to see my father 
 who was then working at Col. W. F. Martin's ship yard, 
 Elizabeth City, N. C, and was hiring his time from his 
 master, Dr. E. D. Ferebee, to see what arrangement he could 
 make about buying her or getting his master to do so. 
 
 The plan was fixed between himself and master, so he 
 bought her from the speculator by paying ($1,100.00,) eleven 
 hundred dollars. The next day, as near as I can remember, 
 moved her and myself and. two more of the children with 
 her, where I remained until I w r as large enough to render 
 service. I was then taken from her, and saw her twice from 
 that time unto her death. According to my age the readers 
 will see that I was quite young. I was horn at a place 
 called the Big Ditch, on Coin Jock shore, near the Sound, 
 Currituck county, N. C, the 18th day of August, 1849. 
 After leaving my mother, 1 had a rough life. Many hard- 
 ships I had to undergo, as all young slave, children had to 
 suffer. I went by water with my master a good deal until 
 I learned to man the vessel pretty well ; even at night 
 I could steer by the compass, or by any star. My mas- 
 
(8) 
 
 ter would point out to me, before he went to his bunk, 
 and I've heard him tell gentlemen in my presence he could 
 lie down as well satisfied with me at the helm as any one of 
 the crew. 
 
 My aptness gained his affections, and I received favors 
 of him, and he would not allow me to be cruelly treated, 
 and at last I felt satisfied when with him. His name was 
 Edwin T. Cowles, his assigned initials was Capt. E. T. 
 Cowies. My mistress was named Sarah. He had three 
 children, Elizabeth, Oliviour, the eldest, Lydia, the next, 
 and Willie, the youngest. I was given to the oldest, Eliza- 
 beth. Up to this day they are kind to me, and when I am 
 with them they give me the best their table affords, and I 
 am accommodated to all the hospitalities of the house. My 
 mistress was always cruel to me. It appeared she always 
 had spite to me by reason of my mother. I suppose it was 
 because I allowed no one to whip me but my master. She 
 always would say you are some of the old blue hen's chick- 
 ens. At (7) seven years old she, with the assistance of her 
 house girl, attempted to whip me and I was the conqueror, 
 and my master, after having learned the circumstances con- 
 nected with the case, refused to whip me, but teased her for 
 letting me whip out the house. This always apparently 
 gave her a distaste to me. 
 
 I suffered under the yoke of oppression until the 9th day 
 of August, 1861, the Northern forces having taken Roanoke 
 Island, and proceeded immediately to Elizabeth City in the 
 winter preceding the date just mentioned. We were living 
 then at a little place called Mill Town, (If-) one mile and a 
 half from Shiloh, a little country village in Camden county, 
 about (12 or 13) twelve or thirteen miles through the coun- 
 try and nine miles down the river called Pasquotank from 
 Elizabeth City.- .The Northern army stationed a portion of 
 their men at that place, and on the day mentioned, the 9th 
 of August, I ran away and went to the Yankees, so called. 
 I reached the Yankee lines about (30) minutes before my 
 
(9) 
 
 master overtook me on the road. I remained with them 
 until the 1st day of January, 1863. The Yankees then 
 evacuated Shiloh and removed to Elizabeth City, and there 
 they delivered me to my father, where I remained, until 
 they evacuated Elizabeth City and went to the city of New- 
 bern, N. C, carrying as many colored people with them as 
 wanted to go. The war having not ended, my father and 
 others not knowing what would be the consequences of those 
 that remained, concluded it best to go with the Yankees 
 where freedom was assured, embarked on board of a large 
 vessel, to wit: the Edwards, having (4) four cannons on it, 
 it being used as a gun boat, and she was accompanied by 
 another large vessel named Benjamin Butler, both sail ves- 
 sels. We left Elizabeth City the 19th of April, 1S63, and 
 arrived at Newbern, N. C , on the 21st. Then my father 
 occupied a house for the time being on Pollock Street. At 
 this time I knew not ray alphabet and had become quite 
 unhealthy and suffered with Rheumatics. I entered a pri- 
 vate school at the Christian Church, taught by a colored 
 man, a minister of that church, and an ex-slave, viz: Isaac 
 Bishop, (alias) Isaac Peel. 
 
 I learned my alphabet that day, the 1st day of June of 
 the date above mentioned. Then I remained in that school 
 until September, at which time my father was ordered, as 
 chief magistrate, to Roanoke Island, N. C, by Colonel Fos- 
 ter, and being advised by Chaplain James, as the small pox 
 was raging then in Newbern, he moved his family to 
 Roanoke Island also. 
 
 After he arrived, he was taken sick, and remained so until 
 the next spring, to-with, 1864. He, through the assistance 
 of Chaplain W. A. Green, now pastor of the 1st Baptist 
 church in Raleigh, N. C, succeeded in getting a nice school 
 house and industrial building erected, and had 12 or 14 
 Northern teachers to come down, among them was a lady 
 of the finest deportment and a finished alumni, and she was 
 from Boston, Mass., by the name of Ella Roper, and another 
 
(10) 
 
 by the name of Mary Burnepp, of Vermont, in all there 
 were sixteen. I fell, fortunately, in the department taught 
 by Miss Ella Roper, and Miss Mary Burnepp, and Kate 
 Freeman, and many other too tedious to mention now. 
 
 Early in the spring of 1864, April, I entered the school, 
 with Miss Roper as my teacher, where my progress was so 
 rapid, I ascended to the head of the first class in school, 
 and no scholar in school or on the Island could com- 
 pete with me, in consequence of which I was made assistant 
 teacher. When I began to write, I learned to make my 
 alphabet in one night. The first copy bonk I ever had I 
 wrote it up the first night — every page. My teacher set me 
 no more alphabet, and the first copy of writing was this — 
 a improve each shining hour." 
 
 By reason of study, my. health grew bad, and my eyesight 
 failed me. I made a profession of religion in September, 
 1864. Before I repented of my sins, I was elected superin- 
 tendent of the Sabbath school. Some time in May, the same 
 year, Rev. Andrew Cartwright lectured the Sabbath school 
 on the subject of Repentance. I was then honored to the 
 position in the Sabbath school as Superintendent, but had 
 not made any profession of faith in Christ, and the language 
 falling from the mouth of God's servant, touched my heart. 
 He was followed by my father, and all that each said seemed 
 to rest on me. By their words used relative to teachers 
 teaching what they really knew nothing of; then in strong 
 terms showed that all my instruction given as Superinten- 
 dent, would prove to me, without repentance, my eternal 
 destruction. Then I was convicted, and from that time, 
 until I manifested a hope, I could not, nor did not, open 
 school any more. And at a revival in September, 4th Sun- 
 day, about eight o'clock, P. M., I received the Pearl of Great 
 Price. Soon after, I was nominated and elected Secretary 
 of church and Board of Trustees. 
 
 All the teachers and scholars and members of the church 
 apparently appreciated me for my usefulness in church, 
 
(11) 
 
 school, &c. There was a young man by the name of Miles 
 Bartlette, who, at a time previous to that, was a member of 
 the same school, and in' my class, but w r as dull in his studies, 
 and the teacher said, one morning, Mr. Bartlette, I'll have 
 to send you over to the primary school. She then, unfor- 
 tunately, asked me if I did'nt think best? I deliberately 
 answered yes. At ray sanction to her idea, he was sent 
 down to Miss Kate Freeman, who taught that branch. 
 
 He then, with envy, sought to slay me, and at his first 
 opportunity stabbed me on the 5th day of July, 1865. In 
 the night, about 9 o'clock, he came up behind me and com- 
 mitted the vicious deed. The instrument used was a dirk. 
 He was strong enough to throw it through my left shoulder 
 blade, and came very near touching my heart, so that I was 
 •compelled to lie at home during the months of July, August 
 and September. In October I was able to enter school 
 again. The schools all flourished until the latter part of 
 1866, When, after it was understood by both races, learned 
 and unlearned, that freedom was established, the people then 
 began to scatter to the different parts of North Carolina 
 and many of the teachers went back North. My father 
 moved back to Elizabeth City, N. C, on the 20th day of 
 April, 1867. 
 
 Schools there were somewhat dull then to what they had 
 been on the Island. I entered there with a younger brother 
 and sister — the baby. In the summer I was called to 
 Nixonton, Pasquotank county, to take charge of a private 
 school. Having taught a session before leaving Roanoke, 
 it had become very familiar to me to teach, so I opened the 
 first school of any note ever held in Nixonton, where I 
 taught for three years in succession. In 1869, I entered a 
 normal school, under the management of T. W. Cardozo, of 
 New York city, and his wife, and his wife's cousin, Miss 
 Sarah Williams, of New, York. Thirty-five boys of the 
 school were prppared for Howard University, but there were 
 only three that could get any assistance from Northern 
 
(12) 
 
 friends, as Prof. Cardozo,only appeared to look out for those 
 of a light hue, or mulatto — none of the dark ones could get 
 any assistance. We then had to go to Hampton, Va., and 
 wherever we could acquire an English education. We all 
 resolved, though the other boys w T ere blessed above us, we 
 would not envy them, but strive to compete. I managed 
 to keep in the normal schools until I could master an Eng- 
 lish education partially, and demanded a first grade certifi- 
 cate from any county examiner, but having an eye and 
 heart on the study of law, I contracted, by the consent of 
 my father, with Judge C. C. Pool, of the First Judicial Dis- 
 trict, to live with him, for the purpose of taking lessons in 
 Latin, law, &c. I had free access to all the books of his 
 library and also in his law office. It was from him I got 
 the most of my business training. It was rich, good, and 
 came so freely from him I never felt like I wearied him 
 in all classes of law he taught me. 
 
 He then went to work and got a free school for me,, the 
 first I ever taught drawing pay from the State ; he also 
 managed that I got first-class pay. This was in the latter 
 part of 1869, I think, as my memory is not as good as we 
 wish on the date at this juncture. I had a good reputation 
 as a teacher, at that early age, so I was always in employ- 
 ment in that direction, all over Camden, Pasquotank and 
 Perquimans, and at last became to be a swift politician and 
 canvassed the Judicial and Congressional Districts over in 
 fayor of Republican candidates, and in my course was never 
 known to change or waver from Republican principles. In 
 all campaigns my attention was always called, by those con- 
 cerned, and solicited, and eagerly importuned to take part 
 and was always successful. I married in March, 1872, at 
 South Mills, Camden county, where I was then teaching, to 
 a young lady of Gates county, N. C, by the name of Lu- 
 ciuda Smith, her residence being rwsar Sunsbury. 
 
 I was yet engaged in politics. I had, in my own county, 
 many enemies that I was unconscious of, both colored and 
 
(13) 
 
 white of rny own part} 7 , for the fact that the colored voters. 
 which is the strength of the Republican party in Pasquo- 
 tank county, had severally expressed a desire of my coming 
 before them as a candidate, and as my aspiration was the 
 Legislature or the Senate, and, at that time, could have 
 received any office within the gift of the people. 
 
 In 1872 a conspiracy was gotten up against me by some 
 office lobbies of Pasquotank of both races, for the fear they 
 had of my prominence, or popularity, as it would. warrant 
 my nomination in the county convention. Thomas P. 
 Wilcox, then County Treasurer, and his brother, James 
 Wilcox, and another man, of New Land Township, (two 
 first mentioned are white men, the third was colored.) 
 
 I was teaching at Nixonton, and had said, when I can- 
 vassed the county for W. J. Munden, the Republican candi- 
 date for the Legislature, that if the people would support 
 him, I would assure them they would have a colored man 
 the next time, for I intended to ask for the position myself. 
 Munden was elected. These parties were also aspirants and 
 opposed me in the convention, and when Munden was 
 nominated sought an opportunity to break down my repu- 
 tation. 
 
 While teaching at Nixonton I had occasion to go 4o T. 
 P. Wilcox, County Treasurer, with my school vouchers, four 
 in all, drawing $30 each. He lived eighteen miles from 
 Elizabeth City. . 
 
 I had been to his residence, and finding him not at home, 
 was on my return when I met him and his wife on their 
 return home. Just before this I had overtaken a young 
 man by the name of Benjamin Dozier, (colored,) and had 
 taken him up in my buggy. 1 stopped Mr. Wilcox, told 
 him my business. He said he had been to town but the 
 sheriff had not made settlement, but would take my vouch- 
 ers and give me a duplicate, and when the sheriff settled I 
 should receive the first monies. I gave him one $30 order 
 and took a written duplicate ; heat the time was half drunk. 
 
(14) 
 
 I, with my friend, Mr. Dozier, went on for home. On the- 
 next day, as I always had been doing and as it was a; 
 general custom,, passed the duplicate off to Mr. Emanuel 
 Davis as a deposit until I received some money. I left the 
 next day following for Edenton, N. C, where the A. M. E. 
 Zion Annual Conference had assembled, and returned a few 
 days after. I waited on the Treasurer some time,, as I had 
 been accus.tom.ed to do. 
 
 And one day Mr. Davis approached me, saying, "I pre- 
 sented that duplicate to the Treasurer, and he would not 
 settle it." "Why?" said I. "Because he says he has not 
 given you any," said he. " He don't deny having a voucher 
 of mine?" said I; "does he?" Mr. Davis said, "No." 
 "Well," said I, " why not pay you then on the order and 
 not consider the duplicate, for it is of no use if he settles the 
 voucher, as both are numbered." 
 
 I then paid all the money I received from Davis on it but 
 $2.00, and told Mr. Davis to let me have the duplicate. He 
 then said he did not have it with him, so I made myself 
 easy, waiting to see Mr. Wilcox, but for some time I could 
 not see him ; but in the meantime they bad concocted the- 
 plan to destroy me, for when Mr. Davis was talking to me 
 he bad then given the duplicate to the parties and had 
 agreed to the prosecution. He at this time, remember, was 
 an aspirant for the Legislature also, and would not tell me- 
 it was in the hands of an officer for my arrest, upon the oath 
 of T. P. Wilcox, swearing he had never given me any, and 
 that it was forged, and his brother James Wilcox, the brother 
 of the plaintiff, was an aspirant for the Sheriff's office. He 
 had his brother to kill the matter, and the matter between 
 him and m} T self was settled, no more to be heard of, ac- 
 cording to promise. At the June term of the Superior Court 
 the case, however, was called. I appeared as defendant. 
 The plaintiff was called and failed. I was recognized- by 
 the Court, Judge J. W. Albertson. He inquired into the 
 case somewhat, and finding it frivolous, passed it by. But 
 
(15) 
 
 Col. D. M. D. Lindsey, of Hertford, Perquimans county, had 
 told Wilcox and brother, if they undertook to prosecute me in 
 that case, neither of them should be elected, and if elected, 
 should not give bond This was not known to me until af- 
 ter the election, which came on in August, after court. My 
 friends, white and black, made frequent inquiry as to what 
 disposition had been made in the case, and the only answer 
 that could be given, "Oh, it's all nothing; no case could be 
 made out of it." And, in fact, the State had failed to make 
 a case out of it. 
 
 The next court the case came up again before Hon. J. W. 
 Albertson, and the State had yet not been able to make out 
 a case. I was put under no bond, and was no more inter- 
 ested, and the important witness, Mr. Benjamin Dozier, had 
 to leave for New York, and the case was supposed to be 
 over. 
 
 All things now were apparently good and pleasant. The 
 judicial nomination for Judge in the First District took 
 place in the summer of 1873. . Judge Albertson was nomi- 
 nated as the candidate of the Republican party for Judge, 
 and Mills L. Eure was nominated as the candidate of the 
 Democratic party. 
 
 My brother and Col. D. M. D. Lindsey, both of Hertford, 
 had had a previous difficulty in some of the municipal elec- 
 tions. Some of the men the Judge would not support ; there- 
 fore, they determined to defeat the Judge, though he was 
 the Republican candidate, and to satisfy their devilish de- 
 sign, they proposed to work for the Democratic nominee, 
 Mills L. Eure, of Gates county. He promised my brother, W. 
 E. Ferebee, a lot in Hertford for his support ; also to furnish 
 all the money he wanted for the support of his family, and 
 to pay all traveling expenses. The same offer was made to 
 me, but I refused to accept. I determined to support the 
 regular nominee of our party. In May or June there was 
 a mass meeting held at Gatesvilleforthe purpose of consoli- 
 dating the Republicans with the Democrats. I attended that 
 
(16) 
 
 meeting. I drove Judge Albertson's horse. I opposed the 
 measure, in the Court House, and defeated it. Next morn- 
 ing, before I left the hotel, I was waited on by a committee 
 for the purpose of wiping out my Radicalism relative to 
 Judge Aibertson. I became disgusted at the entreaties 
 made, so uncalled for, and the only plea made was upon 
 what my brother had said about what he and the Judge 
 differed on in the municipal election. I argued that per- 
 sonal differences should never make a political disorganiza- 
 tion. I remarked that no true loyal citizen — loyal to his 
 country — would make any difference in that case, but would 
 support the choice of his people. At this my brother appa- 
 rently got verjr angry, so much so I called for my horse and 
 buggy and left the hotel. Gatesville was stirred up from 
 centre to circumference. The true Republicans were with 
 me. 1 was the only man there, as a public man, defending 
 Judge Aibertson, and urging his claims. A remark was 
 made by my brother, that if he could get Mills L. Eure 
 elected, he would never be. troubled with me again, but I 
 thought nothing of it. At a meeting held in New Land 
 township, Pasquotank county, quite a hot discussion arose. 
 Myself and all the citizens of Pasquotank were Judge Al- 
 bertson's men, or men for the party. The.scheme they tried 
 was to wipe out all party issues in electing a Judge, for the 
 purpose of tangling the vote, so that M. L. Eure would be 
 elected. I defeated it that day. My brother, with quite 
 rough language, said all he wanted was Eure elected, and I 
 would soon be out of his way. 
 
 They succeeded in electing Eure by a small majority — I 
 think 180, or thereabout. 
 
 We lost Aibertson. The winter term of the Superior 
 Court Eure presided, and had that case resurrected. At this 
 time my witness was in New York and could not be gotten. 
 They forced me into trial without a witness for my defence 
 and the State never proved any forgery, and failed to procure 
 any evidence as to its being my handwriting. They intro- 
 
(17) 
 
 duced a Mr. Smith — a Yankee that I had been keeping 
 books for — to recognize the handwriting, but he would not. 
 Mr. John F. Pool, a school-mate, wanted to be sworn to 
 testify to the handwriting, but the Judge was so prejudiced 
 he would not allow any evidence whatever in my favor. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 In the last chapter in its conclusion you had the begin- 
 ning of my troubles. I shall endeavor to finish in this chapter. 
 My character was unattacked and proven good. My coun- 
 sels, Hon. C. W. Grandy, J. P. Whidbee and W. F. Pool urged 
 that further time be given, so that I might get my witness 
 from New York. The court would not allow any further 
 indulgence. I was therefore rushed into trial unprepared 
 in every respect. The Solicitor, J. P. Whidbee, was em- 
 ployed by me before, so he let Henry Gilliam, of Edenton, 
 appear for the State, one of Uie worst enemies I had on 
 God's green earth ; took the advantage of me by removing 
 or setting at least every colored man off the jury except two, 
 one of whom was a known enemy of mine, his name was 
 
 Henry , the other was Isaac Martin. He claimed he 
 
 did not or could not hold the rest, for when my counsel 
 were asking leniency in the case, the Judge said he ought 
 not to allow any chance for anything, for I was a mean, 
 mean, disrespectful wretch, and he " Isaac" said he saw the 
 rest of the jury were so bitter, relying on what the judge 
 had said, they returned a verdict of guilty. 
 
 At this juncture, my counsel asked that he allow an ap- 
 peal, so as to have a fair showing in the case. He, the 
 Judge, said he would grant nothing, so it was said by every 
 body, especially those in court, and saw his manoeuvres on 
 the bench, came to me and said, Ferebee, all the favor you'll 
 get now will be from the Governor, and we will help in 
 2 
 
18 
 
 every thing we can. Just rest easy, it don't make any dif- 
 ference what his sentence may be. The Hon. Hugh Cale 
 and others came up to go my bail for a new trial, but he 
 would not allow it. During the night my white friends 
 went to see him, and he required them to give a justified 
 bond of one thousand dollars, which was too heavy. I was 
 kept 27 days in jail. My friends failed to get me a new trial. 
 The Hon. Hugh Cale succeeded, with the assistance of Hon. 
 W. J. Munden and other citizens, in getting the Governor 
 to grant a pardon from under the sentence of a four years 
 in the penitentiary. 
 
 The County Treasurer, T. P. Wilcox, afterwards said he 
 did give the duplicate, but he was drunk at the time he 
 gave it. He afterwards was charged of stealing fifteen hun- 
 dred dollars of the county money, and his sureties had to 
 do all they could to save him, and the commissioners had 
 to appoint another to fill the vacancy, and his brother, 
 who was sheriff, had to run away from the town ; and in 
 fact every one that was in it have come to disgrace finally 
 both white and colored. 
 
 The citizens desired I should not be moved in daylight, 
 so, early on the 28th day of March, 1874, Monday, I left 
 my home for prison, but I was reconciled and had unshaken 
 confidence in God that an iron bar could not hold me if I 
 trusted Him, the all powerful God. I went with joy, and 
 the second day after getting there, Dr. Mullen, of Camden, 
 and Hon. W. J. Munden and several of the friends came to 
 see me, and asked the Warden and Captain to favor me 
 until they could have time to work for me ; from that time 
 the Captain, W. H. Thompson, done all in his power appa- 
 rently to render me comfortable, and I was licensed to 
 preach in the prison, and could go all over the stockade, 
 and all the guards, white and colored, fell in love with me, 
 and all would try to get on the beat next to me, and I held 
 Sunday School. When the order came to send men to the 
 mountains to the Railroad, Capt. Baldy Davis was allowed 
 
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 to pick his men of the best there were in prison. I was the 
 first man sent for to come up to the office. I went, and the 
 Captain told me if I did not wish to go he would not send 
 me against my will ; he also stated it would be better for 
 my health and better about writing home, and if there was 
 any reprieve for me I should certainly have one, if any 
 man did. I then, at the office, told the Captain who I would 
 like to go with us, so he and myself selected the crowd. He 
 promised me I should do nothing more than cook and wait 
 on the officers. 
 
 He kept his word, and while in the mountains I was 
 made a steward and trustee, and when I wanted to, and 
 had hours Sundays for preaching. I had a large crowd of 
 whites every Sunday as my audience, together with my 
 captains and guards. 
 
 The day my reprieve came, I was in the cook-house pre- 
 paring pastry for Capt. Moore's dinner. He did not allow 
 me to finish his dinner, at once came in the kitchen, and 
 said, " Ferebee, your prayers are answered. You can put 
 the business you are about down, and tell all the boys good 
 bye, and bid them follow your examples and they'll never 
 get punished." I bid my fellow-prisoners farewell, and the 
 Captain allowed me to pray with them. I then came out 
 and went to Henry Station, McDowell county, N. C, where 
 Major H. M. Miller was acting superintendent on the "West- 
 ern North Carolina Railroad, and his wife was a Christian- 
 hearted woman, and gave me the best her table afforded, 
 and from her appearance she always felt for a prisoner, and 
 when it was said some must go to headquarters to do any 
 work, all wanted to go, because she was kind ; and the Major, 
 also ; there never could be a better man over a parcel of men 
 than he was. He was not heard ordering a man to be 
 whipped. Though I've seen them in the mountains, struck 
 nine and thirty twice in one morning, out of doors and the 
 snow falling on them at the same time. But it was not the 
 Major's fault — he never gave such sentences. But Captain 
 
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 Baldy Davis was a blood-thirsty man, also Captain Moore 
 was so inclined. Thus, they would take the men and whip 
 them until the blood would run from their shoulders to 
 their heels. The} 7 did not stop for snow nor rain except 
 when they thought the Major would be up, and except it 
 snowed so they could not get to their work. But, thank 
 God, I was blessed with a favor from all. It was thought 
 by the doctor that I was ruptured, or becoming so, and the 
 Captain furnished me with a truss hoop. So it was God 
 protecting me that I might be able to preach His word. 
 
 I had so often prayed this prayer, " Lord, thou knowest 
 the charges made against me were false, and Thou hast 
 foreinstructed me of this prosecution, now give me patience 
 to stand and wait until Thou art satisfied with my faith 
 and patience, and then deliver me," and at that time, ac- 
 cording to my prayer, he done, and I have none of that life 
 to regret. I am to-day satisfied with my lot among men in 
 the past, and can risk the future in God's care. 
 
 Since I've been reprieved men of the aristocratic order 
 have labored to bury me, but the} 7 have found it a difficult 
 matter to do so. I received license to preach in 1877, and 
 in 1878 I made application to join the Annual Conference 
 of the A. M. E. Zion Church, at Goldsboro, N. C. I met an 
 objection by Elder T. F. H. Blackman, J. A. Tyler and 
 others, who bitterly opposed me, and had me sent before a 
 committee and examined after undergoing an examination „ 
 as a candidate to join the Conference, and had passed a first 
 grade. The committee was composed of Blackman, Hill, 
 Tyler, Mattocks, Simmons and Reeves. Committee reported 
 favorable, and Blackman, who made the open objections, 
 made this plea, the only thing he was after was to know 
 whether I was married or not, as he "understood I was 
 courting for a single gentleman." The Bishop, who knew 
 all the facts in the case, satisfied the Conference in reference 
 to my standing at home, my wife, &c, and vouched himself 
 for my competency, &c. 
 
 I was received into Conference and assigned to Winston , 
 
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 N. C, where I had held the charge one year and a-half be- 
 fore, and such strong petitions went to the Conference for 
 me, provided I was permitted to join. The judgment of 
 the Conference was to send me to them, where I spent a 
 pleasant year. 
 
 In the Conference at Lincolnton, N. C, a motion was 
 made that I go before the committee on Deacons' orders; 
 and after passing an examination, No. 1, on motion to re- 
 ceive, Elder J. A. Tyler opposed, on the grounds of the time 
 according to law, and urged his objection by saying it made 
 no difference how well equipped a young man niay be, it 
 was just giving them license to be in the way of the old 
 Elders. The Bishop stated there was a necessity for my 
 being ordained, and if I was not ordained he should not 
 send me where he wanted me, and should let me go to 
 teaching, as it was my occupation. The Conference voted 
 in favor of ordination. I was ordained and sent to Gran- 
 ville county, on the Oxford Circuit, where I held charge two 
 years— 1880-'81. 
 
 During the year 1880, I had an uphill way, but went 
 through ; the Circuit was poor and could pay no salary. 
 For that year I only received eighty ($80) dollars. I had 
 to attend the Conference at Tarboro, N. C, and had col- 
 lected five ($5.10) dollars and ten cents of the general fund, 
 and my churches had not paid me enough to carry me, but 
 the chairman of the Trustee Board had some money in 
 hand for me, and he said I could go and he would send it 
 to Conference time enough for me to replace it and make a 
 settlement with the Conference Steward. And the money 
 did not arrive in time — and on the passage of my charac- 
 ter, the Steward asked for settlement of general fund. I 
 related the matter, and as the Conference was about to pass 
 my character, an objection was raised by Elder R. H. Sim- 
 mons, because I had spent the money in lieu of my own, and 
 he held I had committed a crime punishable in law, and 
 held it a prison offence, and my character ought not to pass. 
 
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 The Conference differed, and could not see any crime, for I 
 had told the Bishop about it and also several of the Elders, 
 and the Steward also, and I could have said nothing of what 
 I collected, as others did, and it would not have been known. 
 The Bishop stated that Bro. Simmons' language was too 
 strong, and that there was no crime in the case ; it was only 
 misapplying the money from the purpose it was collected 
 without any intent to do wrong — showing a letter that had 
 been sent relative to the money, assuring me the money 
 would reach me before the Conference closed. The Confer- 
 ence passed my character, and the Bishop opened his pocket 
 book and paid the $5.00 for me, due the Conference. Elder 
 Simmons urged still his course against me, until the Con- 
 ference ruled him out of order. I have been hated all the 
 way through by brothers in church and State, by men who 
 aspire and think my ability will demand any thing credit- 
 able ; but I've kept my course all the time, and have not 
 put on a flinching jacket. 
 
 In the year 1SS1 I had quite a pleasant time in the min- 
 istry. My presiding Elder, W. J. Moore, was the most 
 feeling Elder I ever had. with one exception, to wit: Elder 
 W. H. Thurbee cannot be forgotten. 
 
 In June I lost a new church, by an incendiary, located near 
 Wilton, Granville county, in two hundred yards of Bank's 
 Chapel, the white Methodist church. 
 
 On the 13th of May, 1881, I was elected as delegate from 
 Granville county to the convention which assemble'! in 
 Raleigh on the 17th May. E. W. Turner, an aspirant, 
 wanted me to insert his name in the place of Mr. G. W. 
 Rogers'. I refused upon the grounds that it would be 
 unlawful. He took an exception at this action on my part 
 and introduced into the convention, unknown to me, a paper 
 that had been circulated by the Democratic part}' relative 
 to my imprisonment, &c, which they used to defeat the 
 Republican party of Granville, because I was said to be the 
 champion canvasser of the county, and was successful in 
 
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 electing the whole ticket — County, State and National. He 
 handed this paper to the committee appointed by the chair- 
 man of the convention, pro tempore, as a committee on cre- 
 dentials. The committee were as follows, as near as I can 
 remember : Rev. J. C. Price, Hon. J. H. Harris, W. V. 
 Turner, and when they reported they left my name as a 
 delegate out, and had inserted E. W. Turner. I had not 
 learned the concocted plan of theirs, brought about by John 
 H. Lane and Turner. The former, Lane, has a reputation at 
 home ; as a schoolmate of mine I know all about his stand- 
 ing, a man that can't teach a school in Pasquotank. W. V. 
 Turner, a notorious drunkard and had been sold right in 
 Raleigh for stealing, and having a telegram sent from 
 another State for his arrest, and Col. I. J. Young saved him 
 from being in prison. Doubtless these were the men that 
 objected to me, and were the big men in that convention. 
 
 Hon. J. C. Price, who was elected chairman, a brother of 
 mine in the gospel, never opened his mouth in my behalf, 
 and he and I both members of the same Conference. I saw 
 then that for the sake of honor and promotion, he would 
 suffer his brother minister to be crushed into the dust, and 
 my vote helped to put him there. I felt then that all 
 preachers do not practice what they sing and preach, to wit : 
 ''And each the other's burden bear," &c. He failed to put me 
 on his beast, and the only way he would allow me to say a 
 word was when Elder W. J. Moore and others, white and 
 colored, came to my rescue, with the Hon. Hugh Cale, of 
 Pasquotank county, to the front, then it was that I rose to a 
 question of personal privilege and obtained the floor, through 
 the assistance of Hon. J. H. Williamson and Col. G. T 
 Wassom. I had the big men of the day against me : Law- 
 yer Leary, of Fayetteville, J. E. O'Hara, of Halifax, George 
 W. Price, of Wilmington, James H. Harris, of Raleigh, and 
 many others, while Col. George T. Wassom, of Goldsboro, 
 and Hon. J. H. Williamson, of Franklin county, all the way 
 through, were in my defense. After I made my speech the 
 
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 fever was quieted, and then it was that I ordered my name 
 to be stricken from the roll and withdrew. So when men 
 want to ascend above their brothers, if prompted by self, 
 they will allow a brother to.be killed so they climb. It's a 
 good thing Jesus was not so, isn't it? 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 In conclusion, I will say something about what causes 
 many a young man to be finally lost. 
 
 In the early days of my conversion I was called to preach, 
 but for six years I refused, and when I made up my mind 
 to try, I applied to my Quarterly Conference, and the old 
 brethren denied ine upon the ground of age. I went another 
 year and they refused, on the ground that I had not paid 
 an assessment laid upon the members. I was at this time 
 teaching seventeen miles from home, and had not been 
 home. So right then I paid the assessments, but they still 
 refused. I waited another six months, and applied again. 
 The}' refused because I had not attended class. I proved 
 to them I had been home three times during the six months 
 and visited class every time. They still refused, and if it 
 had not been for them I should never have got into politics 
 as I did. So often the dog is in the manger and can't eat 
 the hay, and won't let the ox eat it, either. 
 
 Since I have been in the ministry I have had always 
 spiritual success. I have closely kept the number of all the 
 converts, which I claim will add some stars to my crown if I 
 continue faithful. My church ledger shows six hundred 
 and fifty (650) converts, besides a number claiming Christ 
 and not in any church, and from other denominations that 
 have chosen to come to Zion, one hundred and thirty-seven 
 (137.) 
 
 My congregations have always manifested a pleasure in 
 listening to my imperfect preaching, and so act towards me 
 that I always feel pleasant in their midst, at church or at 
 their firesides. 
 
 All this is respectfully submitted, by your servant, 
 
 With refined obdience, 
 
 L. R. FEREBEE. 
 Stationed at Raleigh, North Carolina. 
 
 January 19th, A. D. 1882. 
 
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