There is a story here but I am not that kind of writer. (thanks to Traci the Librarian for pointing this out to me)
I see two people who crossed paths and simply find the details interesting. There is Ned Griffin, a half breed (mulatto if you prefer) who was purchased by William Kitchens and offered by his owner the opportunity to gain his freedom by serving in his stead in the Revolutionary War. Ned did just that. Then the weasel, coward and purported deserter William Kitchens reneged on the deal and tried to again sell Ned as a slave. Ned took it to Court. Thanks for Courts (as I think Ned would agree) he was declared a free man and manumitted.
Later William Kitchens found himself dead… murdered as it were. I have no idea what the beef was between his rather pissed off neighbors.
Ned led a quiet life next door to my ancestors in Edgecombe County, NC…. apparently dying a natural death. Not trying to be smartass or funny, he seemed to have had the effects of being “gobsmacked by life”. Ned died about 1802 or so. He never married apparently or had any (known) kids. There are some unanswered questions about that. There were some not fully white Andersons in the area.
https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/griffin-edward-ned
Orren Kelly’s post:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2961887134100424/search/?q=William%20Joseph%20Kitchens
The Murder of William Joseph Kitchens, Sr.
William Joseph Kitchens was born after 1747 and his parents were Boaz and Mary Kitchens. William was married to Frances Fannie Hobby around the year 1772. It was known that there were seven sons in this union.
William was murdered by his two neighbors, James Eastwood and Silas Todd. They both were tried, convicted, and sentenced to hang but escaped from captivity.
Newspaper: Georgia Republican & State Intelligencer
By his Excellency JOHN MILLEDGE, Governor and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of this State, and of the Militia thereof.
WHEREAS I have received official information from the Sheriff of the county of Warren that two convicted criminals, called James Eastwood and Silas Todd, who were confined in the common goal of the said county, and under sentence of death for the murder of William Kitchin, did in the afternoon of Tuesday last, the 12th instant, make their escape therefrom.
I have thought fit to issue this my proclamation hereby offering a reward of TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS, to any person or persons who will apprehend and lodge them in the goal of Warren county, or any other secure goal in this state or a reward of ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS for either of them upon his being secured as aforesaid. – And I do herby charge and require all officers civil and military, belonging to this state, to be aiding and assisting in apprehending and securing said criminals
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the state at the State House, in Louisville, this fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and five, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the twenty-ninth.
Description of the Criminals mentioned in the foregoing proclamation.
James Eastwood is about forty years of age five feet nine or ten inches high, has a fair complexion, blue eyes and not very dark hair, but two much so to be termed light hair – he is remarkably fond of smoking.
Silas Todd Is about twenty-five years of age, five feet ten or eleven inches high, stout made very round shouldered and has a fair skin with black hair.
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If any intrepid authors want to elaborate … I will be glad to offer this space … Even if you too are “remarkably fond of smoking”.
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