Jacob, an African American man residing in Johnston County, North Carolina, was enslaved by Nicholas Farmer. Jacob was married to Hannah, an African American woman enslaved to Elizabeth Durham. Living on separate properties put certain constraints on Jacob and Hannah's relationship, and it's clear that Jacob was often concerned with how Hannah might be treated by her enslavers in Jacob's absence. In October 1779 Jacob stood trial before the local freeholders court, where they accused him of engaging in folk medicine or witchcraft, called conjuring. Jacob testified that he had once considered visiting Bristoe, a local enslaved conjurer, to get something which would make Farmer sell Jacob to the Durham family. Hannah also stated that Jacob gave her a supposedly magical red powder that, if slipped into the Durham's food, would make them be kinder to the enslaved people. The court found Jacob guilty and ordered that he receive thirty-nine lashes as punishment. No further records concerning this individual have been located.