Two sets of Tates are buried in Odd Fellows cemetery. At the northeastern edge of the cemetery, near a ditch separating it from Rountree cemetery, is barber Noah Tate family’s large and gleaming white marble headstone. It anchors a family plot that contains intact markers for Noah J. Tate and his two year-old son John P. Tate, and a few broken markers. Perhaps 100 feet away are two small markers for Noah’s father and half-sister, Hardy Tate, a brickmason, and Daisy Tate.

• The Noah Tate family

Noah John Tate was a well-to-do barber whose house at 307 North Pender Street is among the best preserved in East Wilson Historic District.   

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Noh Tate, 23, single, barber.

On 24 November 1904, Noah J. Tate, 28, of Wilson, son of Hardy and Mary Tate, married Hattie B. Pierce, 20, daughter of Andrew and Alice Pearce, in Wilson.

Per his grave marker in Odd Fellows cemetery, John P. Tate was born 6 September 1905 and died 7 November 1907. [His death predated death certificates in Wilson County.]

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: barber Noah Tate, 28; wife Hattie, 24; and children John P., 3, and Helen, 2. [The Tates apparently named a second child after his recently deceased brother.]

Noah John Tate registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County in 1918. Per his draft registration card, he was born 6 November 1876; lived at 208 North Pender Street; was a self-employed barber at 213 East Nash Street; and his nearest relative was wife Hattie Tate. He was described as tall, of medium build, with brown eyes, and black hair. He signed his card with his full name.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 208 Pender, barber Noah Tate, 42; wife Hattie, 34; boarder Mary Jennings, 28, a public school teacher; and children Helen, 13, Mary Jane, 8, Andrew, 11, and Noah Jr., 3.

Noah J. Tate’s broken headstone. His footstone is below.

Noah J. Tate died 3 January 1926 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 50 years old; was born in Grimesland, N.C., to Hardy Tate of Wayne County and Mary Jane Dawson of Pitt County; was married to Hattie Tate; worked as a barber; lived at 307 North Pender; and was buried in Rountree [actually, Odd Fellows] Cemetery.

Wilson Daily Times, 5 January 1926.

Noah Tate’s footstone. His broken headstone is at rear, next to the large family marker.

Mary Jane Tate died 11 June 1927 in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, N.C. Per her death certificate, she was 16 years old; was born in Wilson to Noah Tate of Pitt County and Hattie Pierce of Wilson County; was a student; and was buried in Rountree [probably, Odd Fellows] cemetery.

Noah J. Tate Jr. died 26 September 1929, aged 13. Per his death certificate, he was born in Wilson to Noah J. Tate Sr. of Grimesland, N.C., and Hattie Pierce of Wilson; was a student; and was buried in Rountree [probably Odd Fellows] cemetery.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 307 North Pender, seamstress Hattie Tate, 44, widow, and children Hellen, 23, insurance agent, and Andrew, 21, hotel bellboy, as well as lodger Lucy Davis, a public school teacher.

Wilson Daily Times, 17 April 1964.

Andrew Tate died 16 May 1977 in Wilson. He was born 8 September 1908 to Noah Tate and Hattie Pierce; was married to Helen Whitfield; lived at 506 East Vance; and was buried in Rest Haven cemetery. Informant was Helen Tate Huggins, Atlanta, Georgia.

• The Hardy Tate family

Hardy Tate arrived in Wilson before 1892, when he purchased a lot on Green Street. His two-story home at 611 East Green Street featured a polychrome slate roof. It was demolished in the 1990s.

Hardy Tate’s Odd Fellows grave marker.

In the 1870 census of Union township, New Hanover County, N.C.: Michael Pigford, 45, farm laborer; wife Philis, 35; and children Hardy, 17, Archie, 13, Kinyon, 11, Ella, 6, Charles, 5, Robert, 4, and Ann, 2.

On 6 March 1902, C[harles].B. Gay, 24, of Wilson County, son of Sam and Alice Gay, married Ella Tate, 21, of Wilson County, daughter of Hardy and Mary Tate. A.M.E. Zion minister Nicholas D. King performed the ceremony at Saint John A.M.E. Zion church in the presence of Rev. E.A. Mitchell, J.D. Reid, and S.H. Vick.

Mary Jane Tate died 24 October 1909 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born in 1857 in Pitt County, N.C.; lived in Green Street; and was married. Undertaker Charles Darden was informant, and she was buried in Wilson.

On 10 February 1912, Hardy Tate, 52, of Wilson, son of Michael and Phillis Pigford, formerly of Pender County, married Annie Thomas, 33, of Wilmington, daughter of Henry and Jane Tate, of New Hanover County County, in New Hanover County.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 610 Green Street, Hardey Tate, 50, brickmason; wife Annie, 40; children Inez, 8, and Daisy, 6; and lodgers Rome Bagley, 44, and John Boykin, 28.

Annie Beatrice Tate died 20 July 1923 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 44 years old; was born in Wilmington, N.C., to Henry Tate and Catharine Nickson, both of [New] Hanover County, N.C.; was married to Hardy Tate, who was informant.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 612 Green Street, valued at $8000, bricklayer Hardy Tate, 70, widower, and daughters Ines, 17, and Daisy, 15. Renting a space in the home for $20/month, plumber Henry Jones, 48, and wife Jessie, 32. [Henry Jones’ birth place was listed as California, rare for this time and place.]

Ella Gay died 19 November 1933 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 50 years old; was born in Greenville, N.C., to Noah Brown [sic, Hardy Tate] and Mary Jane Brown [sic]; was married to Charlie Gay; and lived at 402 Reid Street.

Daisy Tate died 16 May 1936 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 22 years old; worked as a common laborer; was born in Wilson County to Hardy Tate of New Hanover County and Annie Tate of New Hanover County; and lived at 508 East Green Street.

Hardy Tate died 3 May 1938 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 84 years old; was a brick mason; lived at 611 East Green Street; was a widower; and was born in Duplin County, N.C. Daisy Tate was informant. 

Daisy Tate Dau of Hardy Tate 1914-1936

Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, January 2021.