Toney, an African American person residing in Brunswick County, North Carolina, was enslaved by Peter Allston. Toney was called a "lad" in 1777, indicating he was somewhat young at the time. Consequently, he is probably the same "boy Toney" that appears on a 1768 list of enslaved people that Peter Alston and his siblings inherited from their deceased father Peter Allston Sr.'s estate. In March 1777 Toney and four other enslaved men murdered enslaver Henry Williams. The motive for the crime was not recorded. The court found Toney and the others guilty and sentenced them to be burnt alive. Allston later received compensation for Toney's death.