Annis, an African American woman residing in Beaufort County, North Carolina, was enslaved by Henry Ormond. In July 1770 Annis, along with four other people enslaved by Ormond, killed her enslaver by smothering him with a mattress. At the ensuing trial, the court found Annis and her fellow conspirators guilty and sentenced Annis to be executed via hanging. Amongst the three enslaved women executed for the crime, Annis was valued the most at £70, indicating that she was likely healthy and in the prime of her adult life at the time of her death. The Ormond family later received compensation for the loss of Annis' labor.