When Alsey High died in 1848, his estate included eleven enslaved people — Sarah, Willis, Gilford, Peter, Abram, Jincey, Abel, Reddick, Merica, Esther, and Jo. On 26 December 1849, ten men, women, and children were hired out until 1 March 1850. Most went to High’s family — his widow Elizabeth Winborne High and sons William H., Manley, and Hackney High. Sarah’s unnamed four children, presumably, were among the five people listed last above. (High claimed only two enslaved people in the 1840 census. Either he made several purchases during the remaining eight years of his life and/or an enslaved woman or women had several children during that period.)

Account of the Highor of the Negros belonging to the Estate of Alsey High Des’t untill the 1st day of March next Bond and security Required before the Negros is Delivered s’d Negros to be Returned at the place of s’d Des’t on the 1 day of March next hired out the 26 of December 1849 by Alfred Boykin Adm’r

I have found post-emancipation documentation of only one person enslaved by Alsey High. Peter was about 12 years old when Alsey High died.

• Peter High

On 31 August 1866, Peter High and Mary Eatman registered their nine-year cohabitation with a Nash County justice of the peace.

In the 1870 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: farm laborer Peter High, 34; wife Mary, 35; and children Joseph, 12, Tilman, 9, Archabald, 6, Grant, 1, and Fanny, 13. [Fanny was likely Mary’s daughter and Peter’s stepdaughter.]

In the 1880 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: farmer Peter High, 50; wife Mary, 50; and children Grant, 10, and John W., 9.

In the 1880 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: in the household of white farmer David J. High, Tilmon, 18, and Archibal High, 14.

On 28 September 1884, Tilman High married Addie Scott at Peter High’s residence in Wilson County.

On 7 July 1887, Arch High, 22, of Nash County, son of Peter and Mary High of Wilson County, married Lottie Dew, 19, of Wilson County, daughter of Vol Dew, at George Barnes’, Taylor township, Wilson County.

On 23 February 1888, Fannie Eatmon, 32, of Nash County, daughter of Peter and Mary High, married John Locus, 35, of Nash County, son of Benjie and Jincey Locus, at the home of A[illegible] Locus, Taylor township, Wilson.

On 1 October 1891, John High, 19, of Taylors township, son of Peter and Mary High, married Trecy Rowe, 17, of Taylors township, daughter of Samuel and Louisa Rowe, at Ellises Chapel, Taylors township. Noah Battle applied for the license, and Freewill Baptist minister Crockett Best performed the ceremony in the presence of Hilliard Ellis, Joshua Bunn, and William Ray.

In the 1900 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: farmer Arch High, 40; wife Lottie, 24 [sic]; and children Peggie, 19, Nora, 11, Ardichar(?), 11, Henry, 6, and Izell, 1.

In the 1900 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: farmer John High, 26; wife Treasy, 23; and Walter, 8, and Sam, 6.

On 8 September 1907, John High, 37, of Wilson married Flora Lucas, 19, of Wilson County, daughter of Elbert and Rosa Lucas, at Ace Thompson’s house in Selma, Johnston County, N.C. Edward Battle of Wilson was a witness.

In the 1910 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: farmer John High, 40; wife Florine, 19, farm laborer; and Lena M., 2.

Fannie Brown died 23 July 1928 in Princeville, Edgecombe County, N.C. Per her death certificate, she was 76 years old; was born in Wilson County to Peter High and Mary High; was the widow of John Brown; and was buried near Wilson. Elijah Carney, Princeville, was informant.

In the 1930 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: farmer John W. High, 55; wife Flore R., 34; and children Lizzie, 14, John Jr., 16, Rennie, 12, Perlia, 10, Minnie, 8, Gldyes, 7, Bessie M., 5, and Earnest T., 1; daughter Julia Wood, 20, and granddaughter Rasey M. Wood, 8 months.

In the 1940 census of Washington, D.C., John High Sr., 67, widower, is listed as a lodger in the household of James E. and Pauline Tyler.

Estate File of Alsey High (1848), Nash County, North Carolina Estate Files 1663-1979, http://www.familysearch.org; North Carolina, U.S. Marriage Records, 1741-2011, http://www.ancestry.com.