The obituary of Sissie Earp Robinson.

Wilson Daily Times, 28 October 1941.

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In the 1880 census of Old Fields township, Wilson County: farmer Sidney Earp, 39; wife Nancy, 35; and children Marzilla, 14, Chistiny, 11, Cissy, 7, Lysaney N., 6, Octavia, 4, and Ive Sidney, 2.

On 16 December 1891, William R. Robinson, 20, of Old Fields, son of Katie Freeman, married Sallie W. Earp, 19, of Old Fields, daughter of Sidney and Nancy Earp at Sidney Earp’s residence.

In the 1900 census of Old Fields township, Wilson County: blacksmith William Robinson, 29; wife Sissie, 27; and children Loomis, 7, Theodore, 6, Walter, 5, Mary N., George M., 2, and Joseph S., 10 months.

In the 1910 census of Old Fields township, Wilson County: farmer William R. Robinson, 40; wife Cicero, 36; and children Lunice, 17, Lucian T., 16, Walter L., 15, Naney M., 14, George M., 12, Joe S., 10, Pauline, 8, Levesta, 6, Thelma, 4, Olza B., 3, and Katie S., 1.

In the 1920 census of Old Fields township, Wilson County: farmer William R. Roberson, 49; wife Sissie, 48; and children Mary N., 22, Pauline, 18, Lemmon, 16, Sink, 14, Olzia, 12, Katie, 9, and William, 6.

In the 1930 census of Old Fields township, Wilson County: farmer William R. Robinson, 59; wife Sissie, 58; children Katie, 21, and William, 16; and grandchildren Jessie, 11, Lessie, 9, and Joe S., 8.

In the 1940 census of Bailey township, Nash County, N.C.: Lamon Robertson, 36; wife Ina, 35; daughter Katrina, 15; mother Sissie W., 67, widow; and brother William, 25.

Sissie Robinson died 26 October 1941 near Bailey, Nash County, N.C. Per her death certificate, she was 69 years old; was born in Wilson County to Sidney Earpe and Mary Nancy [no maiden name]; was the widow of William Robinson; worked as a farmer; and was buried in New Vester Cemetery. Mary Nancy Reid was informant.

Private First Class Simon Ellis, sent overseas.

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In the 1930 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer James Ellis, 42; wife Matilda, 38; and children Christine, 14, Simon, 10, and Naoma, 5.

In the 1940 census of South Whitakers township, Nash County, N.C.: farmer James Ellis, 53; wife Matilda, 49; and children Simon, 20, and Naoma, 14.

In 1941, Simon Ellis registered for the World War II draft in Edgecombe County, N.C. Per his registration card, he was born 17 February 1920 in Wilson County; lived in Rocky Mount, Edgecombe County; worked as farm laborer for Richard Fountain; and his contact was James Ellis.

Simon Ellis received an honorable discharge in October 1945 as a Technician Fifth Grade.

Simon Paul Ellis died 18 August 2000 and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery.

News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 20 August 2000.

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library; North Carolina Discharge and Statement of Service Records, http://www.ancestry.com.

Suggs’ Broughton Street grocery catches fire.

Mayor John M. McDonough’s Annual Report for the year ending 13 December 1894 contained this tidbit under “Fires and Alarms”:

Sanborn fire insurance map of Savannah, Georgia, 1888.

This 13 August 1894  Savannah Morning News article sheds light on the fire and reveals that Daniel C. Suggs had a sideline as a grocer.

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Lane Street Project: do we know who’s buried in Vick Cemetery?

Last weekend, a number of people inquired about what we know about who is buried in Vick. Here are some FAQs:

Do cemetery records survive for Vick? No. Vick was under the aegis of a Colored Cemetery Commission, but its commissioners have not been identified nor its records found. Nor have I found any deeds filed for plots purchased in Vick.

Do funeral home burial records survive for Vick? No. No plot maps, no burial registers. Burials in Vick were handled by families, by furniture companies, and by defunct undertaking businesses like Darden, C.E. Artis, and Hamilton. Edwards Funeral Home, which is still active, opened in 1948 at the very end of the era in which Vick accepted burials. No Vick records have been found for any.

Were the names on the grave markers the City removed circa 1995 recorded? No. Or, if they were, the City has not produced any such document(s) and says it has none.

Is there a Find-A-Grave account for Vick? Yes and no. There’s a Find-A-Grave for “Rountree-Vick Cemetery” containing 366 memorials — most derived from a good faith effort about twenty years ago to identify burials from death certificates and other records. Confusingly, Rountree, Odd Fellows, and Vick Cemeteries, though separate and unrelated, have been referred to collectively as “the colored cemetery” or “Rountree cemetery,” even on official records. We now know that the 366 people in the Rountree-Vick account are buried across all three cemeteries, not just in Vick. The Find-A-Grave entry for Rountree-Vick uses a photo of Odd Fellows Cemetery and carries this woefully inaccurate description: “The Rountree cemetery has been consolidated and all that remains of older markers from ‘Rountree’ is an obelisk to commemorate the numerous interments upon its grounds. A concrete path is visible from the parking lot which leads to the structure — the area is equipped with marble benches as patrons may sit and pause for a moment of reflection. The Vick cemetery is located adjacent to the Rountree obelisk. (This cemetery is located around the curve from Rest Haven – just pass the power station).” In other words, the account is unreliable for our purposes.

Does the City of Wilson maintain a database of Vick Cemetery burials? No.

Does anyone? Sort of. I have created a spreadsheet that records the oldest African-American burials in the city of Wilson, including documented and suspected burials in Rountree, Odd Fellows, and Vick. Such evidence is drawn primarily from death certificates, obituaries, funeral programs, military headstone records, and oral history. This is a work in progress. The spreadsheet contains a little over 1000 entries, of which less than ten percent have been assigned a documented location. We know there are more than 4200 graves in Vick Cemetery alone, so you get a sense of the scope of the challenge.

The obituary of Nellie B. Rice, esteemed educator.

Mamoroneck Daily Times, 23 May 1997.

Nellie Louise Barnes Baldwin Rice was born 14 April 1910 in Johnston County, North Carolina. Her parents William Orangie Barnes and Maggie Hinnant Barnes moved often between Wilson and Johnston Counties in her childhood.. After graduating from North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University), she spent years as a Wilson County educator.

(Note that 87 year-old Nellie Rice’s mother survived her. Maggie H. Barnes died the following year at age 115.)

Gilbert Hadley, Co. D, 37th United States Colored Troops.

On 31 January 1864, Gilbert Hadley enlisted in the United States Colored Troops in Washington, North Carolina. Born in what is now Wilson County about 1844, Hadley likely was enslaved by Thomas J. Hadley III (who held dozens in bondage) or IV.

Hadley was mustered into service at Norfolk, Virginia, by “Capt. Gould,” the officer who was responsible for processing and swearing in hundreds of newly freed individuals and volunteers enlisting in the United States Colored Troops.

Hadley did not return to Wilson County after he mustered out of service.

On 7 March 1867, Gilbert Hadley married Margaret Singleton in New Hanover County, N.C. John Hadley and Richard Smith served as bondsmen and R.B. Wood Jr. as witness. (John, who enlisted with him, appears to have been his brother.)

Hadley led a turbulent life, and his name regularly appears in Wilmington newspaper accounts of violence and petty crime. (But also an industrial accident.)

On 27 May 1871, a paper reported he had been arrested to face malicious mischief charges in neighboring Brunswick County.

On 4 February 1873, Gilbert Hadley, 25, of Wilmington, N.C., son of Moses and Venus Hadley of Goldsboro, married Mary Ann Moseley, 26, of Wilmington, daughter of Robert and Nannie Moseley, both deceased, in Wilmington.

In April 1873, he received minor injuries when struck by debris from a boiler explosion while sawing wood nearby.

In September 1873, as police attempted to arrest Hadley for beating his wife, he fought the officer and escaping over a fence.

Wilmington Star-News, 3 February 1873.

A 28 November 1875, a paper reported that Hadley had been discharged from a chain gang for good behavior.

In the 1875-76 Sheriff & Company’s Wilmington, N.C., city directory:

In August 1876, Gilbert and Mary Hadley were charged with disorderly conduct after a public argument.

Wilmington Star-News, 9 August 1876.

In October 1883, Hadley was charged with assault and battery on Sarah Robinson.

In November 1883, Hadley was one of seven prisoners who broke out of jail in Wilmington. Hadley jumped a fence, but was immediately captured. The following month, he was sent to a workhouse.

On 23 June 1885, a newspaper reported Hadley had been arrested for stealing a pair of shoes from a Wilmington store. (Allegedly, he tried on and bought a pair and, in the meantime, slipped another pair into a basket.) In July, Gilbert Hendricks, alias Gilbert Hadley, was convicted of larceny and sentenced to two years in the state penitentiary.

In the 1890 federal veterans’ census schedule of New Hanover County, N.C.: Gilbert Hatley, Private, 37 U.S. Infantry, 1863-1866.

In the 1900 census of Wilmington, New Hanover County: Gilbert Hadley, age unknown, laborer; wife Susan, age unknown; and mother Amanda Juitt, age unknown, laundress.

On 18 May 1904, Gilbert Hatley and Susan Robinson were married in Wilmington. (This appears to be the Susan who lived with him in 1900.)

Gilbert Hadley died the next day.

Wilmington Star-News, 25 May 1904.