Wilson Daily Times, 28 January 1931.

• Louisa Scarborough Perrington
• Hancy Harper Best

Hancy Best was the widow of Orren Best, who owned much of the property in the old Grabneck community before its residents shifted over to New Grabneck.

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Daniel Best, 62; wife Jane, 50; children Laura, 19, Nicy, 17, Noah, 16, and Orange, 21, and [Orren’s wife] Hancy, 21.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: hireling Daniel Best, 72, and wife Jane, 55, living amid a cluster of household that included farmer Orren Best, 31, wife Hansey, 31, and children James, 9, Oscar, 6, George, 4, Fannie, 2, and Hattie, 3 months; hireling Lewis Best, 53, wife Harriette, 50, and children Daniel, 23, Sarah, 12, John, 8, and Willie, 10; and brickmason Noah Best, 27, wife Sarah, 25, and sons William, 2, and Thomas, 4 months.

On 28 March 1900, Fannie Best, 22, married Willie Rountree, 28, at Orren Best’s house. Minister R.S. Rives performed the ceremony in the presence of Levi James, Fred Vastenable and Martha Vastenable.

On 31 December 1902, Willie Barnes, 22, son of Willis and Cherry Barnes, married Hattie Best, 21, daughter of Orange and Hancy Best, at Orren Best’s residence in Wilson. A.M.E. Zion minister N.D. King performed the ceremony in the presence of Charles B. Gay, John H. Lewis, and Orren Best.

In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Nash Road, house carpenter Orange Best, 67; wife Hansy, 60, laundress; widower son Oscar, 37, grocery store owner; daughters Roberta, 22, laundress, and Bethena, 19; son Robert, 17, wagon factory laborer; and granddaughter Sarah, 8.

On June [no date], 1919, Hattie Barnes, 38, daughter of Orren and Nancy Best, married Shepherd Smith, 38, son of Billie and Polly Smith, in Wilson, Free Will Baptist minister R.D. Smith performed the ceremony in the presence of Henry Young, Henry Batts and Jim Long.

In the 1920 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Nash Street, carpenter Orange Best, 76; wife Hancey, 65; daughter Bethenia F., 28; son-in-law [sic; grandson?] Henry Sulors(?), 9; widowed granddaughter Sarah Bess, 20; great-grandson William Bess, 3; and granddaughters Nancy, 5, and Margret Fultis(?).

Oren Best died 26 March 1924 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 16 February 1848 in Greene County to Daniel Best and Jane Edwards; was a carpenter; and was married to Hancy Best.

On 8 September 1926, Bertha Best, 32, daughter of Orren and Hansy Best, married Henry A. Freeman, 44, son of Julius and Eliza Freeman, in WIlson. A.M.E. Zion minister B.P. Coward performed the ceremony in the presence of Jas. Robert Bess, Ardena Holloway and Orren Best of Wilson.

In the 1930 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Bertha Freeman, 39, cook, and mother widowed Hancy Best, 92.

Hancy Best died 25 January 1931 in WIlson, Per her death certificate, she was 75 years old; was born in Greene County to Hardy Harper and Harriett Harper; and was a widow. Bertha Freeman was informant.

Fannie Rountree died 2 September 1953 in Philadlephia, Pennsylvania. Per her death certificate, she was born 2 February 1876 in WIlson, North Carolina, to Oren Best and Nancy Harper; was a widow; and resided in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Ethel T. Rountree, Asbury Park, was informant.