State Normal Magazine, Vol. 10 (Classic Reprint): November, 1905

Excerpt from State Normal Magazine From the records of the Orange Presbytery we get a clearer insight into his relation to the community in which he lived than we may from reminiscences alone, hence the following Sept, 1827. John Chavis writes a letter to Presbytery about the Colonization Society, and asks for aid in his pecuniary difficulties. In 1831 the negroes of southeastern Virginia and northeast ern North Carolina rose in insurrection under the leadership of a negro, Nat Turner. In consequence of this, very severe laws were passed by the Legislature of North Carolina concern ing the control of slaves. It was forbidden to teach a negro to read, and colored men were forbidden to preach. This deprived Chavis of his livelihood, and we see concerning him in the minutes of his April, 1832. Chavis writes again to Presbytery about his troubles in view of an act of the late Legislature of North Carolina forbidding colored men to preach.