Wilson Advance, 10 June 1881.

“The old African Methodist church” is likely the earliest location of Saint John A.M.E. Zion church.

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In the 1870 census of Wilson, Wilson County: domestic servant Clay Farmer, 60; brickyard worker Gray W. Farmer, 13; and domestic servant Jonas Gay, 14.

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Jonas Gay, 20, laborer, living alone. Also, laborer Ephraim McMannin, 60, wife Abigail, 48, and children Atha Simms, 13, and Sherrard Simms, 3. [Abigail McMannin was Jonas Gay’s mother.]

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: servant Wright Bynum, 37; wife Amanda, 30; with four lodgers, teamster Jonas Gay, 36, tobacco grader Joseph McMannin, 27, and servants Joseph Crawford, 22, and Shepard Sharp, 20. [The relationship of Joseph McMannin to Ephraim McMannin is unknown.]

Jonas Gay died of consumption [tuberculosis] 17 February 1910. His supposed age was 52, which is within the range of the ages given for him in census entries. Informant Lee Simms‘ relationship to the Simms’ children living with Abigail Gay McMannin in 1880 is unknown.