Cuff or Cuffee, an African American man residing in Onslow County, North Carolina, was enslaved by Benjamin Ward. Cuff's name was likely an English version of the Akan name Kofi, which was given to boys born on Fridays. Cuff's name indicates he might have been have been born in Africa, or born to African-born parents. Benjamin Ward died sometime between July 1767 and July 1768 . In his will, Ward gave Cuff to his wife, intending to use the proceeds from Cuff's labor to pay for his children's schooling. However, Ward's will indicates that Cuff may have resisted enslavement before, as Ward made the provision in his will that if Cuff misbehaved, he was to be sold, a stipulation only made for Cuff amongst the many enslaved individuals mentioned in Ward's will. In November 1769, Cuff went on trial for poisoning and subsequently killing his enslaver Benjamin Ward. The local freeholders court found him guilty and sentenced him to death by hanging on November 25, 1769.