On 26 December 1864, a court-appointed committee divided the enslaved people held by Council Applewhite, deceased, into roughly equal parts by value. (Applewhite was the elder brother of Henry Applewhite.)

William P. Applewhite drew the first lot, valued at $12,250 and consisting of Adison, Gray, George, Delia and her child Renna, Ada, Eliza, and Bedy.

Samuel H. Applewhite drew the second lot, valued at $13,200 and consisting of Dock, Hyman, Warren, Della, Clary, Sary, McKoy, and Larrence.

The estate of Joseph J. Applewhite drew the third lot, valued at $11,600 and consisting of Luke, Rufus, John, Zany, Osker, Martha, Rose, and Abraham. This group was further divided among Joseph Applewhite’s heirs, with Sarah H. Applewhite receiving Rufus and Abraham ($2300); Isaac C. Applewhite receiving Osker and Rose ($1200); William P. Applewhite receiving Luke ($1800); and Samuel H. Applewhite receiving John ($2100).

William R. Peacock, husband of Mary Applewhite Peacock, received Martha ($2600), and Thomas J. Applewhite, Zany ($1600). Various amounts of cash exchanged hands to even out the numbers.

Four months later, all were free.

——

The 24 people Council Applewhite enslaved likely consisted of one or more mothers with children, young and/or adult; perhaps nuclear families with both parents present; men whose families lived elsewhere; and unattached adults. Obedience “Bedie” Applewhite was the mother of Doc Applewhite (ca. 1831), Addison Applewhite (ca. 1835), George Applewhite (ca. 1840), and Adelia Bynum (ca. 1841). Adelia Bynum, whose husband Lewis Bynum was enslaved elsewhere, was the mother of George and Ada Bynum. Della Applewhite (ca. 1836) was the mother of Sarah and Clara Applewhite.

• Adison

On 15 August 1866, Addison Applewhite and Jane Ellis formalized their marriage by registering their two-year cohabitation with a Wayne County, N.C., justice of the peace.

In the 1870 census of Burnt Swamp township, Robeson County, N.C.: turpentine laborer Addison Appelwhite, 33; wife Jane, 24; and children Eustus, 9, Delia, 2 months, and John, 15.

In the 1880 census of Goldsboro, Wayne County, N.C.: huckster Addison Applewhite, 46; wife Jane, 34; and children Eustace, 20, huckster, Delia, 10, Mary, 7, Hattie, 5, and Minnie, 4 months; plus mother Obedience, 75.

On 5 May 1881, the Goldsboro Messenger reported that Addison Applewhite had been elected to represent Goldsboro’s First Ward as city alderman.

In the 1900 census of Astor township, Lake County, Florida: Adison Applewhite, 65, turpentine dipper; granddaughter Mary Vanstory, 11; and boarder William Ford, 33, railroad section hand.

• Gray

In the 1870 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Gray Applewhite, 19, farm laborer, is listed in the household of Nancy Newsom, 62.

On 25 October 1872, Gray Applewhite, 22, married Cary A. Parker, 23, in Wilson. J.P. Clark, Levi Melton, and Fanny Moody were witnesses.

• George

A George Applewhite enslaved by Council Applewhite went on to achieve national notoriety and will be featured in a future post.

• Delia and Renna

In 1866, Lewis Bynum and Delia Bynum registered their cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace.

In the 1870 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: Lewis Bynum, 30, farm laborer; wife Adelia, 29; children George, 10, Ada, 9, Scott, 7, Penny, 6, Pet, 4, Isabella, 2, and Charles, 8 months; and Obedience Applewhite, 63.

I have not found Renna.

• Ada

Probably, Ada Bynum, born about 1861, listed in Lewis and Adelia Bynum’s household in 1870, above.

• Eliza

Is this Eliza Ellis, born about 1856, daughter of Zana Applewhite Ellis, below?

• Bedy

See the 1870 household of Lewis and Adelia Bynum, above.

See the 1880 household of Addison Applewhite, above.

However: in August 1866, Beady Applewhite and Wilson Hagan registered their 19-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace.

• Dock

In 1866, Dock Applewhite and Clara Barnes registered their cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace.

In the 1870 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, N.C.: farm laborer Dock Applewhite, 35, and wife Claricy, 30.

On 9 April 1872, Doc Applewhite, son of Nathan Hooks and Beedie Applewhite, married Mervona Barnes, daughter of M[illegible] Barnes, in Wayne County.

In the 1880 census of Bullhead township, Greene County: Dock Applewhite, 46, laborer; wife Malvina, 35; and children Missouri, 15, Emma, 8, Henrietta, 6, Bud, 4, and Martha, 2.

• Hyman

Perhaps Hyman Bynum, born about 1849, listed below in Della Applewhite’s 1870 household.

• Warren

On 22 October 1873, Warren Applewhite, 21, married Delsey Bynum, 20, at Elbert Felton’s in Wilson County.

In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Warren Applewhite, 23; wife Delpha, 22; children Lillie, 3, and Marcellus, 2; and Sallie Ruffin, 6.

• Della

In the 1870 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: Della Applewhite, 34, domestic servant; Haywood, 19, farm laborer, Sarah, 14, domestic servant, Alice and Anna, 2, and Clara Applewhite, 7; Hyman Bynum, 21; Blount Best, 21; Abraham Bynum, 17; Moses Bynum, 20; and William Pittman, 21, all farm laborers.

In the 1880 census of Bullhead township, Greene County, N.C.: Della Applewhite, 40, domestic servant; daughters An, 14, nurse, Lora, 8, and Ora, 4; and son Oscar, 3 months.

• Clary

See Clara Applewhite, born about 1863, in the 1870 household of Della Applewhite, above.

• Sary

See Sarah Applewhite, born about 1856, in the 1870 household of Della Applewhite, above.

On 29 July 1872, Blount Best, 24, married Sarah Applewhite, 18, at Elbert Felton’s in Wilson County.

In the 1880 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: Blunt J. Bess, 32, laborer; wife Sarah, 23; children William L., 9, Nellie J., 6, Joseph H., 4, and Ivory, 8 months; plus sister-in-law Annie Barnes, 11.

In the 1900 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Blount Best, 53; wife Sarah, 44; and children Joe H., 27, John I., 20, Minnie, 18, Blount, 16, Ida, 14, Annie, 13, Mariah, 10, Ella, 8, Albert, 4, Sack, 2, and Joshua, 1.

• McKoy

Is this Macordia Ellis, born about 1860, daughter of Zana Applewhite Ellis, below?

• Larrence
• Luke

This is likely Luke Applewhite “Jr.,” son of Luke Applewhite (ca. 1815-bef. 1900) and Malinda [maiden name unknown].

Luke Applewhite, 22, son of Luke Applewhite and Malinda Bridgers, married Henrietta Bridgers, 20, daughter of Liberty Bridgers, on 16 October 1879, at Ben Sauls’ plantation in Nahunta, Wayne County.

In the 1880 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County: farmer Eliza Bridgers, 45; daughter Emily, 11; son[-in-law] Luke Applewhite, 22, farm laborer; daughter Henry E., 20; [granddaughter] Charity B., 8 months; and Victoria, 8.

In the 1900 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County: farmer Luke Applewhite, 45; wife Henrietta, 44; and children Frances, 18, Edward, 16, Liberty, 15, Bennie, 10, Lindie, 7, Willie, 4, Dancy, 2, and James, 3.

In the 1910 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County: farmer Luke Applewhite, 52; wife Henrietta, 47; children Frances, 27, Ben, 20, Malinda, 14, Willie, 12, Frank D., 10, and Anna, 7; and grandchildren  James, 11, Nancy, 6, and Roosavelt, 4.

In the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Luke Applewhite, 69; wife Henrietta, 63; children Malindia, 23, Willie, 22, Frank, 19, Annie, 16, Nancy, 15, James, 20, Rosevelt, 14, and Stella, 8; and grandchildren Eva, 5, Edgar, 4, and Henrietta, 3.

Luke Applewhite died 13 June 1923 in Cross Roads township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1855 in Nahunta township, Wayne County, to Luke Applewhite, Nahunta, and Malindia [last name unknown], Nahunta; was a farmer; and was “Husbane of Henry Etta.” Informant, B.F. Applewhite.

• Rufus
• John
• Zany

In the 1870 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: James Ellis, 48, farm laborer; wife Zana, 38; and children Eliza, 14, James, 5 months, Cora, 13, Macord, 10, Oscar, 6, and Anna, 1.

In the 1880 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: James Ellis, 59, farm laborer; wife Zany, 49; and children Mccoid, 18, Oscar, 17, Anna, 11, James, 10, Johnathan C., 8, and Benjamin S., 5.

In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Johnathan Ellis, 27; mother Zaney Ellis, 68, widow, sister Mccarda, 35, and brother James Applewhite, 29 [who appears to be the same James as James Ellis above in 1870 and 1880.]

Jonathan Ellis died 12 February 1944 in Toisnot township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 14 October 1875 in Saratoga to James Ellis and Zannie Applewhite; was married to Annie Ellis; was a farmer.

• Osker
• Martha
• Rose
• Abraham

Perhaps Abraham Bynum, born about 1853, listed above in Della Applewhite’s 1870 household.

Estate File of Council Applewhite, Wilson County, North Carolina Wills and Estates, 1665-1998 [database on-line], http://www.ancestry.com.