John Newlin (1776-1867)

John Newlin, merchant, industrialist, land speculator, abolitionist, and Quaker leader, was born in the southeastern part of present-day Alamance County

Powell, W.S.Dictionary of North Carolina Biography: Vol.,4 L-O. p.364

Timeline of John Newlin’s life

NCPedia article

John Newlin’s Grave at Spring Friends Meeting

Slave Information

John Newlin inherited some slaves from Sarah Freeman in 1839, on the condition that he free them. However, this proved to not be an easy task because Sarah Freeman’s “heirs” contested the will, which was ultimately taken to the NC Supreme Court twice in the case of Thompson v. Newlin. After 10 years of being tied up in the courts, John Newlin emancipated 42 slaves on December 10th, 1850 after taking them to Logan County, Ohio.

Typically in a slave schedule the slave names would not be listed, but in the Deed of Emancipation, the slave names were listed so we can identify who they were.

Here is a list of his slaves on August 19th in the 1850 Slave Schedule of Alamance County, with a transcription.

Here is a list of former slaves of Sarah Freeman emancipated by John Newlin on December 10th, 1850 after taking them to Logan County, Ohio.

Troxler, C.W. & Vincent, W.M. (1999). Shuttle & Plow: A History of Alamance County, North Carolina. Porty City Press.

Logan County, Ohio record 

Logan County, Ohio Recorders Office Freedom Papers Filed 1834-1855, p. 126 Deed of Manumission

Founder of the Saxapahaw Cotton Mill

In 1844, construction began on the mill, and in 1848, John Newlin & Sons produced their first woven cloth. John Newlin was 72 years old at this time.

Bulla, B."Early History of Saxapahaw," Burlington Daily Times News, centennial issue (May 1949).

Hughes, J. “Development of the Textile in Alamance County: Evolution of Warp and Weft in Alamance”(Jan. 1, 1965). pp.33-40

Genealogy

Newlin, A.I. (1965) The Newlin Family: Ancestors and Descendants of John and Mary Pyle Newlin. Self-published.

Ancestry.com John Newlin Family Group Sheet