Wilson Daily Times, 17 December 1938.
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Greenfield School returned to Odd Fellows Cemetery in force this morning, clearing weeds, underbrush, and dead limbs from the cemetery’s center. Our relationship with the school’s students goes back three years, and the Knights have become one of our most reliable partners in the reclamation of this sacred space. They bring energy and enthusiasm to the task, and we thank them, their parents, and administrators (especially Assistant School Head Steve Manna, who coordinates and leads the student-volunteers) for their commitment to the cause. Who’s got next?!
Photos courtesy of Steve Manna.
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
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
John Batts — 1, age 8 years
William Thomas — 7, age 6 to 61 years
Hilliard Thomas — 9, age 10 to 74 years
John B. Batts — 7, age 2 to 55 years
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
Henry Dixon — 2, ages 16 and 37
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
Caroline Armstrong — 2, age 18 and 24
James G. Armstrong — 7, age 6 to 52 years
George W. Armstrong — 6, age 7 to 28 years
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Just as I input the last row in a 700-line spreadsheet cataloging the largest one of my funeral program collections, Cousin Dr. Portia Nicole shared this detailed guide f0r building a family tree workbook using Claude AI and obituaries. I’m a lot of things, but tech-savvy is not one, so I’m excited and intrigued about the possibilities for organizing and extracting data from the thousands of documents I’ve accumulated. Let me know how it works for you!
Vicki M. Cowan shared these snapshots of her mother Monte Vick Cowan and uncle Robert E. Vick visiting Odd Fellows Cemetery on a winter afternoon, perhaps in the 1990s.
In the first image, they stand beside the marble ledger tablet that covers the grave of their mother Annie M. Washington Vick. Rountree Cemetery is behind them.
Below, Robert E. Vick standing in Odd Fellows.
The families of the Lane Street cemeteries never forgot their dead. Never abandoned them. Distance, or age, or responsibilities to the living may have kept them from coming to lay flowers or from fighting nature’s relentless threats, and time is the thief of memory, but never abandoned. We knew our people were here, even if we didn’t know how best to reclaim them.
Lane Street Project will soon announce new initiatives to expand our care for the dead of Odd Fellows Cemetery. We’re excited about the possibilities for improving conditions in this cemetery, and count on your continued support.
Thank you, Vicki Cowan!
James W. Bridgers died without a will in the spring of 1850 in what was then Edgecombe County. (He and his family lived near Shallingtons Mill, adjacent to James Barnes, David Shallington, and Eli Robbins.) He left a widow, Millicent Freeman Bridgers, and eight children, adults William F. Bridgers, Reddin Bridgers, Thomas Bridgers, and Mary Ann Bridgers Barnes (wife of James W. Bridgers), and minors John Bridgers, Sally Ann Bridgers, Joseph Bridgers, and Edwin Bridgers.
James Barnes (a “miller”) was appointed administrator of the estate. After settlement of all debts, there remained five enslaved people — Arthur, Richmond, Celia, Lydia, and Winny. William F. Bridgers had paid off the purchase of some of the enslaved people. All the children wished to divide the enslaved people equitably, which was not possible without liquidation by sale, which they petitioned a court to approve.
John G. Williams was appointed commissioner to sell the five on six months’ credit with interest from date of sale. On Christmas Eve day, 1852, Williams opened bidding at the Bridgers’ house. Arthur was “nocked off” to Allen May for $701.15. David Williams bought Rich for $687. James W. Barnes bought Celia and her child Winny for $665, and William Thomas was high bidder for Lydia at $307. Thus, a small community, perhaps of kinspeople, was torn four ways.
Haywood Wesley’s surname was originally Worsley, and he may, in fact, have been born in Lower Town Creek township, Edgecombe County.
In the 1870 census of Lower Town Creek township, Edgecombe County: farm laborer Elisha Worsley, 25; wife Charity, 22; and sons William, 2, and Haywood, 8 months.
In the 1880 census of Lower Town Creek township, Edgecombe County: farmer Elijah Worsley, 36; wife Charity, 26; and children William, 12, Haywood, 10, John, 9, Mark, 5, Emma, 4, and Henry, 1.
On 2 November 1896, Haywood Westley and Amy Simmons were married in Lafayette County, Arkansas.
In the 1900 census of Brown township, Columbia County, Arkansas: farmer Haywood Wesley, 29; wife Amie, 22; and children W. Henry, 2, and Kaleb, 1.
On 30 March 1905, Haywood Wesley received from the land office at Camden, Arkansas, a 40-acre homestead in the “North East quarter of the South West quarter of Section twenty one of Township nineteen South of Range nineteen West of the Fifth Principal Meridian in Arkansas.”
In the 191o census of Brown township, Columbia County, Arkansas: farmer Haywood Wesley, 44; wife Amie, 34; and children Henry, 13, Caleb, 11, Leona, 6, Viola, 4, and Pharisee, 1.
In the 1920 census of Smackover township, Ouachita County, Arkansas: farmer Haywood Wesley, 50; wife Amie, 44; children Lona, 17, Viola, 14, Pharisee, 12, Mabel, 11, Charity, 7, Elijah, 3, and Annie, 1; and son Henry, 22, and his wife Clyde, 18.
Hayward Wesley died 23 July 1924 in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was born 27 October 1871 in Wilson, N.C., to Lisha Wesley; was married; lived on Dollarway Road; worked as a merchant; and was buried in Wesley Cemetery.
In the 1900 census of Richwoods township, Lonoke County, Arkansas: George Scarborough, 47; wife Millie, 37; and children Walter, 16, George, 15, Martin, 11, Charity, 8, Council, 8, Ava Mariah, 6, Jessie, 4, Fannie, 2, and Joseph, 11 months. The oldest four children were born in North Carolina.
On 26 November 1906, George Scarborough, 24, of Cobbs, Lonoke County, married Rachel Scarborough, 17, of Cobbs, Lonoke County, in Lonoke County, Arkansas.
George Orange Scarborough registered for the World War I draft in 1918 in Lonoke County. Per his registration card, he was born 25 January 1884; lived on Route 2, Scott township, Lonoke County; farmed for Smith Daniels; and his contact was Rachel Scarborough.
In the 1920 census of Walls township, Lonoke County, Arkansas: on Community Road, George Scarborough, 36; wife Rachel, 30; and children James, 11, Berthrie, 9. Other, 5, Elsie, 3, and Ugine, 21 months.
George Scarborough Jr. died 22 May 1926 in Lonoke County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was born 22 March 1885 in Wilson, N.C., to George Scarborough and Millie [illegible]; was married to Rachel Scarborough; worked as farmer; and was buried in Hickory Grove Cemetery.
On 24 December 1879, Henry Daniel, 33, married Elizabeth Lassiter, 24, at E. Lassiter’s in Wilson County.
In the 1880 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C.: Henry Daniel, 35; wife Elizabeth, 26; and son Lovejoy, 2.
In the 1900 census of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas: Henry Daniels, 55; Elizabeth, 46; and children William H., 17, Matilda A., 15, Mary J., 13, and Rice B., 7. (The eldest three children were born in N.C.)
In the 1910 census of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas: Henry Daniels, 66, odd jobs laborer; wife Bettie, 57; and children Henry, 27, street laborer, and Matilda, 10.
On 3 March 1912, W.H. Daniel married Willie Floyd in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas.
In the 1920 census of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas: Henry Daniels, 78; wife Elizabeth, 65; daughter Mary Webb, 30; and grandchildren Ulus, 10, Felton, 9, Loise E., 8, and Mary Webb, 3. Next door: W. Henry Daniels, 38; wife Willie, 32; and children Justine, 6, Thurburd, 4, Rosabelle, 3, and Doretha, 7 months.
Lewis Henry Daniels died 30 May 1920 in Pine Bluff. Per his death certificate, he was 79 years old; was married; was born in North Carolina; was “bright” colored [i.e. very light-skinned]; and lived at 500 East 17th Street. W.H. Daniel was informant. The cause of death: “operation of the eye and heart troubles.” Contributing factor: “Old cival war Soldier.”
Elizabeth Daniels died 10 December 1928 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Per her death certificate, she was 74 years old; was born in Wilson, N.C.; and was a widow.
In the 1930 census of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas: William H. Daniels, 56; wife Willie L., 40; and children Justine L., 16, Turland, 14, Rosebell, 12, Doratha, 10, Henry W., 8, Zeratha, 4, Julda V., 3, Floyd, 2, and Eloise, 1.
In the 1940 census of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas: Wm. H. Daniels, 56; wife Willie M., 52; children Dorotha, 19, Wm. Henry Jr., 17, Zereta, 14, Floyd, 13, Eloise, 11, Robert, 9; and father[-in-law] Robert Floyd, 83.
In 1942, William Henry Daniels registered for the World War II draft in Jefferson County, Arkansas. Per his registration, he was born 23 September 1881 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 506 East 17th, Pine Bluff, Arkansas; his contact was Mrs. Willie F. Daniels; and he worked for Cotton Belt R.R.
William Henry Daniels Sr. died 25 November 1945 in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was born 23 September 1880 in Wilson, N.C., to Lewis Henry Daniels and Elizabeth Lassiter; was married to Willie L. Daniels; and worked as a laborer.
On 2 December 1866, Isaac Armstrong and Laura Armstrong were married in Edgecombe County, N.C.
In the 1880 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farm laborer Isac Armstrong, 30; wife Laura, 24; and children Wiley, 10, Lilly, 8, and Lucy, 4.
In the 1900 census of Portland township, Ashley County, Arkansas: farmer Isaac Armstrong, 50; wife Laura, 47; and children William, 29, David L., 18, Mary B., 11, James G., 13, and Viola, 10. All but Viola were born in N.C.
In the 1910 census of Portland township, Ashley County, Arkansas: farmer Isaac Armstrong, 60; wife Laura, 57; and daughter Viola, 17. Next door: William Armstrong, 41; wife Elnora, 27, plus sister-in-law Rosie Nimmer, 17.
On 16 February 1915, David L. Armstrong, 22, married Maggie Rollend, 18, in Ashley County, Arkansas.
In 1918, David Leslie Armstrong registered for the World War I draft in Jefferson County, Arkansas. Per his registration card, he was born 18 May 1882; lived in Pine Bluff, Arkansas; worked as a boilermaker helper for Cotton Belt Railway; and his nearest relative was Maggie Armstrong.
In the 1920 census of Portland township, Ashley County, Arkansas: farmer Isaac Armstrong, 74, and wife Laura, 67. Next door: William Armstrong, 50; wife Elnora, 35; and children James D., 8, Isaac and Inez, 6, Simmie, 4, and Percy, 1.
In the 1920 census of Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas: David Armstrong, 38, car shops laborer; wife Maggie, 32; and children Casseitty, 12, Dorothy, 10, Laura, 8, Willie, 6, Leonard, 3, and Nettie, 5 months.
Isaac Armstrong died 24 March 1926 in Portland township, Ashley County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1876 [sic] in North Carolina to Fremon[?] Armstrong and Violet Brizle; was married; and worked as a farmer.
D.L. Armstrong died 25 February 1930 in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was 47 years old; was born in Wilson, N.C., to Isaac Armstrong and Laura Armstrong; was married to Maggie Armstrong; lived at 2206 Reed Street; and worked as a laborer.
Per her death certificate, Dora Barnes was born in Alabama, perhaps as her parents migrated from Wilson County to a new home in Arkansas.
In the 1870 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farm laborer Sherod Barnes, 67, and children Rosa A., 22, Shepard, 17, Harry, 15, Warren, 13, Harriet, 10, Haywood, 6, and Hec Barnes, 19.
On 23 December 1883, Warren Barnes, 23, married Delaney Ann Ruffin, 18, in Wilson County.
In the 1900 census of Owen township, Saline County, Arkansas: farm laborer Warren Barnes, 45; wife Anna, 34; and children William, 15, Dora, 14, Mary, 12, John, 10, Adline, 8, Ida, 7, Joda, 5, Carrie, 4, Lula, 1, and Walter, 5 months.
In the 1910 census of Live Oak township, Drew County, Arkansas: Warren Barnes,
Dora Barnes died 7 March 1914 in Winchester, Live Oak township, Drew County, Arkansas. Per her death certificate, she was 28 years old; was born in Alabama to Warren Barnes of Wilson County, N.C., and Annie Ruffins of North Carolina; and was single.
In the 1920 census of Live Oak township, Drew County, Arkansas: Warren Barnes, 60; wife Annie, 55; and daughters Mary, 30, Betta, 12, Artea, 10, and Ottea, 9. (Warren, Annie, and Mary were born in N.C.) Next door: John Barnes, 30; wife Marie, 30; and children Hermon, 9, Walter, 7, Carrie, 5, Jenneta, 3, and Lillian, 1. (John and Marie were born in N.C.)
Warren Barnes died 19 September 1937 in Winchester, Live Oak township, Drew County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was born 20 November 1860 in North Carolina to Isia Barnes; was married to Annie Barnes; and was a farmer.
In 1869, Stephen Moore, son of Stephen and Jinsy Moore, married Rhoda Anderson, daughter of Lee and Olif Anderson, in Wilson County, North Carolina.
In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Stephen Moore, 23; wife Rodah, 23; and Lazarus, 8 months.
In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Rhoda Moore, 30, and children Lazarus, 10, Peter, 8, and Nelly, 4.
On 27 December 1899, John Davis and Nellie Moore married in Ashley County, Arkansas.
In the 1900 census of Portland township, Ashley County, Arkansas: farmer John Davis, 24, and wife Nellie, 23.
In the 1910 census of Portland township, Ashley County, Arkansas: farmer John Davis, 37; wife Nellie, 34; and children Lucy, 15, Lenard, 7, Johnny Jr., 4, Janie, 5, Jesse, 2, and Roda, 5 months. The parents were born in N.C., the first four children in Louisiana, and the last two in Arkansas.
Ida Jenkins died 29 December 1921 in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Per her death certificate, she was 36 years old; was born in North Carolina to Stephen Moore and Rhoda [no maiden name]; was married; and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Helena, Arkansas.
William Davis died 19 November 1926 in Portland township, Ashley County, Arkansas. Per his death certificate, he was born 6 January 1903 in Monroe, Louisiana, to John Davis and Nellie Moore, both of Wilson, North Carolina.
Lucille Caldwell died 4 April 1980 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Per her death certificate, she was born 21 November 1891 in Louisiana to John Davis and Nellie Moore; was widowed; had worked as a nurse’s aide; and was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery.
Please note that, while we appreciate these moves and are hopeful about Vick’s future, so much of what is now being proposed to council are requests and demands repeatedly made right here at Black Wide-Awake over the last three years. The information needed to support these proposals has been available to anyone willing to look and see.
“An Old Reporter,” i.e. Hugh B. Johnston Jr., wrote a genealogy column for the Rocky Mount Telegram in the 1950s. On 22 February 1957, he featured Edgecombe/Wilson County farmer Hartwell Williford. The piece mostly detailed Williford’s business transactions, but includes some personal anecdotes, including a description of Williford’s torture of an unnamed enslaved man — delivered with a chuckle by the writer.
On a less funny note, Williford and his son were indicted for murdering an enslaved man named Thomas in 1860.
The Times recently reported on the expansion of Freeman Round House and African American Museum. See the full story online or in the March 10 print edition. I can’t wait to see the new exhibit space!