Report of the Jury Inquest on the body of Robt. Amerson held on 9th March 1885. H.W. Peel Cor., By A.J. Simms special dpt.
State of North Carolina, Wilson County }
Be it remembered I A.J. Simms Special Deputy Coroner of Wilson County did hold an inquest over the body of Robert Amerson and after summoning six good & Lawful men and they by me being duly sworn beg leave to report as follows – after examining the body of the deceased & hearing the testimony of the witnesses summoned to give credence in the case, agree that the cause of the death of the deceased was from the effect of Liquor & freezing to death. This the 9 March 1885
H.W. Peel Coroner, by A.J. Simms Special Deputy Coroner
/s/ H.D. Barnes, J.A. Farmer, Abram (X) Shelly, Walter (X) Whitfield, Bud (X) Bullock, Henry (X) Armstrong
Jarmon Farmer after being sworn says on the night of the 4th February 1885 about eight oclock – I live about (600 yards from Joshua Farmer) a man came to my house hollowed I asked who is that he said tis Bob Amerson I told him I did not know Bob Amerson he said yes you do then I asked my son Green if he knew a man by the name of Bob Amerson and he said he did not I asked my wife if she [knew] him & she said she did not one now but known one in slavery times belonging to Mrs Elizabeth Amerson about that time he started off around corner of house heard him stumble over a compost heap breaking the ice as he walked did not hear any more from him that night next morning I went out to the gate & saw where some person had fallen over the compost heap then I went to the house near by & asked if any one had been here examining four tracts [illegible] which way the man went could not see any more never saw the man but said his name was Bob Amerson
Joshua Farmer after being sworn says that on the 14 Feby about dusk & told me his name was Bob Amerson was quite drunk so much so he staggered said he was going to Wilson & lived below Wilson stayed at my house I think about one hour then left towards the road think the body is the same man that went to my house
This the 9 March 1885 A.J. Simms Special Deputy Coroner
On the body of the person was found one dollar & thirteen cents pint licker one third full whiskey pad Lock Key fastened to a small chain pocket Knife pipe & small piece Tobacco A.J. Simms Dpt. Cor.
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Possibly, in the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Robert Amerson, 40, wife Pennie, 55, and Tresy Scott, 80, with Rebecca Amerson, 61, and Ann, 17, and Judea Amerson, 14. In the 1880 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer Jarman Farmer, 52; wife Jennie, 45; children Greene, 22, Julia A., 15, Mary E., 13, Jarman, 4, and Isaac, 3; and brother Blount Farmer, 46. Also: Joshua Farmer, 34, wife Fannie, 25, children Eliza, 3, Moses, 2, and Mahalah, 3 months; and mother Mary Farmer, 50.
Coroner’s Records, Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.