Abstract:
In 1831 an interesting historical event took place in Duplin and Sampson Counties, when African American slaves attempted an insurrection. At the time, the slave population greatly outnumbered the free African Americans. The leader of the conspiracy was a slave by the name of Dave, who belonged to Colonel Thomas Kenan Morisey, an influential planter of large holdings. Despite the attempted insurrection, plans were thwarted as a result of a family of free African Americans, who warned their neighbors of Dave's plans.