The 1860 slave schedule is the only known surviving, contemporaneous list of the men and women who enslaved black people in Wilson County. It is not a list of the enslaved themselves, as none are named in that census. Rather, the schedule described people by “color” (black or mulatto), sex, and age.

Organized by township, this series will set forth these enslavers, the number of people they held in 1860, and the ages of the youngest and oldest people held. Where possible, I will also name people known to be enslaved by each person. They may or may not correspond to people described in the 1860 slave schedule. The paucity of such identifications is heartbreaking, and I continue to search.

Here we have a combined Joyners & Gardners district, which were part of Edgecombe County prior to 1855. The 1860 slave schedule lists 76 enslavers in this section of Wilson County. The largest were Robert Bynum and James Reddick Barnes:

William G. Sharpe — 9, age 3 to 39 years

Rolin [Rowland] Wiggins — 1, age 75 years

D.W. Barnes — 7, age 1 to 26 years

Jesse Farmer — 5, age 12 to 34 years

• Nellie, Clarkey, Ailsey, Dinah, Jim, Jerry, Hilliard, and Cindy

Thomas H. Bridgers — 13, age 3 months to 34 years

Bartley Williams — 3, age 3 months to 21 years

Hardy Barnes — 11, age 9 months to 40 years

Augustin Farmer — 9, age 1 to 35 years

• Washington, Patsey and four children

John Batts — 1, age 8 years

William Thomas — 7, age 6 to 61 years

• Lydia

Hilliard Thomas — 9, age 10 to 74 years

• Mary, Warren

John B. Batts — 7, age 2 to 55 years

• Penny and her children Alexander, Adline, Amanda, Gandy, Joshua, and Peter Batts

William D. Farmer — 9, age 3 to 50 years

A.J. Williford — 3, age 14 to 50 years

J.H. Barnes — 15, age 1 to 30 years

Thomas G. Dixon — 4, age 5 months to 38 years

• Delar

Henry Dixon — 2, ages 16 and 37

• Anny

John J. Sharpe, in trust — 6, age 1 to 45 years

Hansel Wells — 3, age 1 to 45 years

Harris Winstead — 6, age 5 to 25 years

Willie Wells — 1, age 20 years

Catherine Armstrong — 5, age 6 to 53 years

• Abram, Avy, Nelson and Allis

Caroline Armstrong — 2, age 18 and 24

• Julan, Mahala and Nancy

James G. Armstrong — 7, age 6 to 52 years

• James, Burton, Rufus and Lucinda and her child

George W. Armstrong — 6, age 7 to 28 years

• Ned, Clary, Sarah and Barry

John Wilkins — 14, age 2 months to 37 years

W.H. Williams — 1, age 27 years

Nancy Ruffin — 1, age 20 years

James Pender — 14, age 1 to 66 years

Joseph W. Taylor — 1, age 50 years

J.J. [Joseph J.] Pender — 25, age 6 months to 75 years

John G. Williams — 9, age 8 to 63 years

Elizabeth Flowers — 3, age 12 to 20 years

E.H. Flowers — 2, age 1 month and 16 years

Willie G. Barnes — 13, age 9 months to 50 years

• Quinny, Harry, Scilla and her child

Joseph L. Petway — 1, age 60 years

Franklin Bridgers — 1, age 11 years

Milly Bridgers — 24, age 6 months to 50 years

John Bridgers — 9, age 2 months to 45 years

Holiway Ethridge — 1, age 47 years

Benjamin Sharpe — 15, age 1 to 42 years

• Abram, Mary, Daniel, Judith

Martin Thomas — 8, age 3 to 60 years

David Sharpe — 5, age 5 months to 26 years

Elizabeth Barnes — 10, age 10 months to 60 years

James W. Barnes — 14, age 3 months to 33 years

• Celia and her child Winny

James J. Taylor — 30, age 8 months to 55 years

Mary A. Rountree — 7, age 8 to 50 years

Hartwell Williford — 4, age 8 to 45 years

• Thomas

Elizabeth Williford — 6, age 5 to 23 years

Benjamin Edwards — 1, age 14 years

A.J. Pender — 12, age 9 months to 16 years

Sallie Gill — 1, age 65 years

D.W. Barnes, in trust — 1, age 18 years

James Woodard — 14, age 4 to 68 years

Hiram Forbs — 10, age 6 months to 35 years

• Mary Ann, Jim, Hannah, Tony, Mace, Silvey, Gatsy, Tobey, Minna, Hector

James S. Barnes — 14, age 1 to 51 years

Stephen Cherry — 7, age 9 months to 35 years

W.W. Batts — 7, age 6 to 62 years

Martha Batts — 5, age 16 to 60 years

Elisha Robbins — 5, age 16 to 45 years

• George, Harry, Keziah, Amos, Jinny

Jesse Pitman — 3, age 13 to 55 years

John Carter — 1, age 3 years

Willie Walston — 1, age 50 years

William Skinner — 6, age 1 to 48 years

W.W. Flowers — 1, age 18 years

Martha Thorn — 1, age 16 years

D.W. Barnes, in trust — 4, age 3 to 26 years

Milliann Eason — 4, age 1 to 26 years

William Woodard — 19, age 10 to 65 years

Calvin Woodard — 18, age 2 to 60 years

James R. Barnes — 41, age 1 to 60 years

• Clary and her children, Cate, Sherard

James R. Barnes, in trust — 32, age 9 months to 55 years

James S. Woodard — 14, age 1 to 35 years

Moses Farmer — 24, age 1 to 60 years

Elizabeth Woodard — 10, age 12 to 60 years

Robert Bynum — 46, age 1 month to 52 years

• Britt, Miles, Daniel, Gatsey, Maria, Adeline, John, Annice, Albert, Amos, Lucinda, Penny, Betty, Hansel, Mary, Cherry, Preston, Harry, Americus, Patience, Auston, Harberd, Scott, Hilliard, Daniel, Irvin, Abbie, Silva, Bunny, Jack, Vinie, Rosa, Lewis, Zilphia, Wilson, Beauregard, Calvin, Catherine, Laura, Emily, Isabella, Alice, Quinny, Clara, Pattie, Isaac, Nannie, Leah, Dallas, Mattie, Carrie, Delsy, Mary Jane, Eliza, Charlie, Mariah, Melissa, Jefferson Davis, Henry, Thaney, Fanny, Redmond, Oscar, Oliver, Polly, Howell, Dilsey, Edna, Diana, Charlie, Jolly, Church,