On 14 February 1970, the Wilson Daily Times published a full-page article detailing the life of London Woodard, founder of London’s Primitive Baptist Church.
London Woodard was born enslaved in 1792. He was recorded in the estates of Asa Woodard in 1816 and Julan Woodard in 1826 (in which he was recognized as a distiller of fine fruit brandies.) In 1827, James B. Woodard bought London at auction for $500. The same year, London married Venus, a woman enslaved by Woodard. In 1828, London was baptized and appears as a member in the minutes of Tosneot Baptist Church. Venus was baptized in 1838 and died in 1845.
Transfer of title to “a negroe man by the name of Lonon” from Nathan Woodard to James B. Woodard, 1928.
J.B. Woodard’s second wife died in 1837, and he hired Penelope Lassiter, a free woman of color, as a housekeeper and surrogate mother to his children. Lassiter, born 1814, was the daughter of Hardy Lassiter, who owned a small farm south of Wilson. She met London, who was working as overseer, at Woodard’s. In 1852, Penny Lassiter bought 106 acres for $242 about five miles east of Wilson on the Tarboro Road.
In 1854, Penny Lassiter purchased her husband London, then about 62 or 63, from J.B. Woodard for $150. In 1858 Lassiter bought another 53 acres near her first tract and purchased 21 acres in 1859. The same year, she sold a small parcel to Jordan Thomas, a free man of color [who was married to her step-daughter Rose Woodard.] In 1866, the years after he was emancipated, London Woodard bought, subject to mortgage, a 200-acre parcel of land.
In 1866, London Woodard was granted authority to preach “only among his acquaintances,” i.e. African-Americans. A member of Tosneot Baptist donated an acre of land to build a black church, regarded as the first in Wilson County. London Woodard was licensed to preach in 1870.
London Woodard preached his last sermon on 13 November 1870. The next day, he suffered a stroke and fell into an open fireplace. Despite severe burns, he was able to dictate a will before his death.
The history of London Church for the 25 years after Woodard’s death is murky. In 1895, white churches Tosneot and Upper Town Creek dismissed several African-American members in order that they might establish an independent congregation at London’s. [London Church reorganized under the umbrella of the Turner Swamp Primitive Baptist Association in 1897.]
By the terms of his will, London Woodard provided for his wife Penelope; sons William, Hardy, Haywood, Howell, Elvin, Amos and London; and daughters Treasy, Rose, Pharibee, Sarah, Harriet and Penninah. (Deceased son John’s daughter was apparently inadvertently omitted.) “A few facts” about Woodard’s children follows.
Receipts for payments for taxes and accounts for Penny Lassiter and London Woodard.
This building was moved around the corner to London Church Road. It has long been abandoned and collapsed in 2017 after suffering serious storm damage the year before.
I recently discovered through a genealogy such that I am related to London Woodard on my grandmother’s side. This article is wonderful and I can’t wait to share with the rest of my cousins. Would you happen to have any information on the Kent family. My great great grandparents are Jess and Elvira Kent. Thanks!
Thanks For Sharing….I Am Anthony Barnes, Great, Great Grandson Of Simon Barnes, Great Grandson Of Leonard Barnes, Son Of Oscar Barnes. I Would Love To Meet All My Cousins Especially On My Grandmother Side, Adelaide White. If Anyone Have Any Information Please Share. I Don’t Know Anything About Her Side.
Thanks!!!
What a great read! I’ve driven this road countless times in my lifetime and never knew the history behind the name. Now every time I travel London Church Road, I will think of London Woodard and his life. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Mysi! I wish only that the old church building could have been saved.
I believe he’s my great grandfather
Likely several greats, as London Woodard the preacher died in 1870. He had several descendants named after him though.
Excellent read What a grand look at remarkable lives . Thanks for this love story !
My great Grandfather was William Woodard, grandson of London Woodard. William married Zilpha. Do you have any on Zilpha’s family?
What was Zilpha’s maiden name?
I am not absolutely sure. I think that it may have been Adams.
Lisa, I visited my 85 year old aunt last month and she told me this story almost verbatim; oral history passed down in our family. Penny Lassiter was a sibling of her paternal grandmother Mary Ann Lassiter Powell. Props to your researching skills.
Thanks, Sharon! The London Woodard/Penny Lassiter story is fascinating. I’m particularly interested in the Lassiter free family of color, which seems to have arrived in the Edgecombe/Wilson County area in the very early 1800s, perhaps from the Gates County NC area.
Lisa, My aunt may know more about the story; perhaps from oral history shared by her father. If you interested in contacting her, please let me know. She was fascinated by your blog.
I’d love to post an oral history version of the family’s history.
Excellent read my Great Great Grandmother was Elizabeth Lassiter Daniels, I would love to have the opportunity to reach out to Sharon J Doucette to learn more about my Family!
Love your blogs can’t get enough not sure if I read all the accounts of my family but I’ll keep searching or would love to receive notifications.
Thank you, Thelma! I’m not a Lassiter, but I’ve long been fascinated by the family. If you scroll down on the home page of the blog, you’ll see a box in which you can sign-up to receive email notifications of new posts. I appreciate your support!
Lisa H.