The fifth in a series of annotated abstracts of Wilson County death certificates of African-Americans born before 1870, the cusp of slavery and freedom. The records are a trove of information about otherwise obscure family relationships among enslaved and free people of color and shed light on intra- and interstate migration patterns in the decades after Emancipation.

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Barnes, Aaron. Born 22 June 1844, Wilson County. Died 20 May 1914, Wilson township. Father, Preston Williams, Wilson County. Mother, Harriett Barnes, Wilson County. Married. Farmer. Buried family graveyard. Informant, Johnnie Barnes, Elm City. [In the 1880 census of Upper Town Creek, Edgecombe County: Aaron Barnes, 34, wife Pennie, 24, and children Maggie, 7, Louisa, 5, Annie, 3, and Aaron, 1. In the 1900 census of Toisnot townshio, Wilson County: Aaron Barnes, 54, wife Penny, 47, and children Aaron, 21, Penina, 18, Maimie, 16, Elijah, 13, Edwin, 12, Virginia, 9, and Penny, 7.]

Barnes, Aaron. Born about 1845, Wilson County. Died 20 December 1915, Gardners township. Father, Joshua Barnes. Mother, not listed. Married. Farmhand. Buried “near London Church.” Informant, C.F. Jones, Wilson. [Possibly, in the 1870 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Aaron Barnes, 22, Matilda Barnes, 20, and Mary A. Smith, 22.]

Barnes, Adline. Born 1857, Wilson County. Died 24 February 1931, Wilson. Father, Joyner Rountree, Wilson County. Mother, America Cambell, Wilson County. Widow of Aaron Barnes. Resided 201 Walnut Street, Wilson. Informant, Penina Williams. [In the 1910 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Aaron Barnes, 60, wife Adline, 50, and niece Effie Barnes, 10.]

Barnes, Allie. Born 1862, Wilson County. Died 8 November 1917, Gardners township. Father, Haywood Batts, Wilson County. Mother, Rhoda Pender, Wilson County. Married. Informant, Mark Barnes. [In the 1900 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Mark Barnes, 50, wife Allice, 33, children Rodie A., 10, Minnie E., 7, William F., 3, and Bertha Ann, 8 months, plus boarder Willie Batts, 17. In the 1910 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Mark Barnes, 60, wife Allie, 43, children and grandchildren Rodie, 20, Eva, 17, William F., 13, Bertha, 10, Lucy, 7, Ida, 5, Haywood, 2, James, 4, and Hattie, 2, and father-in-law Haywood Batts, 77.]

Barnes, Annie. Born 1869, Edgecombe County. Died 2 August 1920, Black Creek township. Father, Tonnie Parker, North Carolina. Mother, Wadie Mercer, North Carolina. Divorced. Tenant farmer. Informant, Silvester Barnes. [In the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Sylvester Barnes, 23, wife Esther, 20, and mother Annie, 58.]

Barnes, Annie. Born 1845, Wilson County. Died 26 December 1917, Wilson. Father, George Battle, North Carolina. Mother, not listed. Widow. Informant, George Barnes. [In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on County Line Road, George Barnes, 71, wife Annie, 66, and son Joshua, 34.]

Barnes, Arron. Born 1852, Wilson County. Died 6 October 1930, Lucama. Father, Arron Barnes Sr. Mother, Elvie Barnes, Wilson County. Farmer. Married to Kannie Barnes. Buried in Pollie Watson graveyard. Informant, R.A. Woulds, Lucama.  [In the 1900 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: Aaron Barnes, 42, wife Chanie, 37, and sister-in-law[?] Tempie Peacock, 15. In the 1910 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: Aaron Barnes, 54, wife Chainie, 45, and mother-in-law Celia Thompson, 86. In the 1920 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: Aaron Barnes, 63, and wife Chanie, 62. In the 1930 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: Aron Barnes, 72, and wife Chanie, 72.]

Barnes, Banzora. Born 1 August 1860, Wilson County. Died 10 August 1937 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson County. Father, Louis Bass, Wilson County. Mother, Julie Dew, Wilson  County. Widow. Farmer. Informant, Elitha Pleasant, 806 Happy Hills, Wilson. [In the 1900 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: Jerry Barnes, 41, wife Arzonie, 39, and children Rosa L., 15, Sarah, 12, Louis, 10, Milbert, 8, Elitha J., 6, Warren, 4, and William H., 2. In the 1910 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: widow Banzore Barnes, 45, and children Sarah, 23, Annie, 18, Louis, 20, Litha J., 16, Warren, 14, and William H., 12. In the 1920 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Banzory Barnes, 59, and children Sarah, 30, Bud, 23, Eliza, 20, and William, 21. In the 1930 census of Old Fields township, Wilson County: William H. Barnes, 32, wife Hattie, 24, and children Kenly, 7, Junior, 6, and Joseph,  4, plus mother Danzory Barnes, 70.]

Barnes, Bethany Ann Drucilla Jane. Born 3 July 1853, Wilson County. Died 30 June 1923, Springhill township. Father, Willis Jones, Wilson County. Mother, not listed. Widow of Essic Barnes. Buried Barnes graveyard. Informant, Frank Barnes. [In the 1860 census of Old Fields township, Wilson County: Willis Jones, 62, wife Sarah, 52, Henry, 20, Alexander, 19, Noel, 16, Willis, 12, Paton, 10, Burthany, 7, Sarah, 13, and James, 10. In the 1870 census of Old Fields township, Wilson County: Willis Jones, 70, wife Sarah R., 61, and children Willis R., 23, Phaton A., 20, and Bethany, 18. In the 1880 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: Esseck Barnes, 27, and wife Thany, 23. In the 1910 census of Spring Hill township, Wilson County: on “path leading to Wilson and Raleigh Road,” Essic Barnes, 59, wife Thanie, 54, and sons Wiley J., 14, and James H., 10.]

Barnes, Blaney. Born 1844, Wilson County. Died 26 April 1915, Crossroads township. Father, Sip Barnes, Wayne County. Mother, not listed. Married. Farmer. Buried, Barnes graveyard. Informant, Wiley H. Johnson, Lucama. [On 21 September 1903, Blaney Barnes, 50, resident of Lucama, married Diana Ricks, 45, resident of Spring Hill, in Spring Hill township. In the 1910 census of Spring Hill township, Wilson County: Blaney Barnes, 55, wife Dianna, 44, daughter-in-laws Louvenia Furgerson, 21, and Jane Barnes, 19, and grandchildren Hiliard, 7, and Joseph N. Barnes,  5, Willie Furgerson, 4, and Martha J. Barnes, 12, plus boarder Troy Barnes, 23.]

Barnes, Calvin. Born 1843, Wilson County. Died 21 February 1923, Wilson. Father, Benjamin Barnes, Wilson County. Mother, Violet Barnes, Wilson County. Married. Day laborer. Resided Stantonsburg Street. Informant, Redmond Barnes. [See also, Cherry Barnes, below.]

Barnes, Chanie. Born 1856, Nash County. Died 26 March 1936, Lucama. Father, George Thompson, Nash County. Mother, Celia Thompson, Nash County. Widow of Aaron Barnes. Resided Main Street, Lucama. [See Arron Barnes, above.]

Barnes, Charles. Born 1853, Wilson County. Died 18 June 1930, Wilson. Father, Alex Barnes, Wilson County. Widower. Resided East Viola Street, Wilson. Informant, John M. Barnes. [In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Charley Barnes, 30, wife Beckey, 36, and children John, 10, Frank, 6, Ann, 4, William C., 3, Tom, 1, and Cora H., 1 month. In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Charles Barnes, 50, wife Rebecca, 57, and children John, 27, William, 23, Annie, 20, Tom, 18, and Corrah, 12. In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Charles Barnes, 60, wife Rebecca, 52, and son Tom, 32. In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 213 Pender Street, Charles Barnes, 72, and wife Becky, 70.]

Barnes, Cherry. Born 1860, Edgecombe County. Died 6 March 1925, Wilson County. Father, not listed. Mother, Olive Heart. Widow of Calvin Barnes [see above]. Resided 608 Stantonsburg Street. Informant, James Henry Powell, Tarboro. [On 25 November 1909, Calvin Barnes, 69, son of Ben and Bilet Barnes, married Cherry Tart, 53, daughter of Henry and Polly Brown. Rev. W.H. Neal, minister of Saint James Holy Church performed the ceremony in Wilson County. In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Calvin Barnes, 70, and wife Cherry, 52. In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 610 Stantonsburg Street, Calvin Barnes, 85, and wife Cherrie, 56.]