Month: June 2023

Lane Street Project: in memory of David M. Allen (1875-1915).

I’ve spoken of the database I am developing of likely burials in Vick, Odd Fellows, and Rountree Cemeteries. My spreadsheet draws upon death certificates, obituaries, and other sources — most distressingly imprecise. The term “Rountree Cemetery” on these documents may refer to Vick, Odd Fellows, or Rountree. Some documents broadly refer only to burial in Wilson. However, in the absence of official burial records for any of the cemeteries, we make do.

This series honors the men, women, and children who never had grave markers, or whose stones have been lost or stolen or destroyed. Graves believed to be in Vick Cemetery, which the City of Wilson stripped of remaining markers in 1996, will be identified with a Vick Cemetery logo.

——

David M. Allen died 28 February 1915 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1875 to Simuel Allen and McKinsey Bridges; was married; worked as a common laborer; and was buried in Wilson by C.H. Darden & Sons. Informant was McKinsey Allen, Smithfield, N.C.

The last will and testament of Clinton F. Goffney.

Clinton F. Goffney was a few days shy of his 29th birthday when he executed his will; “the uncertainty of [his] earthly existence” likely alludes to a terminal illness.

Goffney’s mother Lucy Ann Barnes Goffney had died just days earlier, but as her only child, he knew he stood to inherit a one-acre lot she owned adjacent to G.W. Suggs, Samuel H. Vick, Charles Bynum, and James Battle. Goffney left this land and all the rest of his property to his uncle, Frank O. Barnes of Durham, North Carolina.

——

C.C. Goffney, 35, married Lucy Ann Barnes, 24, on 7 March 1900 at Lucy Barnes‘ house in Wilson.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: teamster C. Columbus Goffney, 36; wife Lucy Ann, 24; son Clinton, 7; and brother-in-law Frank O. Barnes, 17, tobacco stemmer day laborer.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: house carpenter Christopher Goffney, 44; wife Fannie [sic], 33; son Clinton, 16; Freeter Mosely, 19, insurance agent.

In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Goffney Clinton F (c) cook h 410 E Green

Clinton F. Goffney registered for the World War I draft in New York City, Manhattan County, New York. Per his registration card, he was born 28 February 1897 in Wilson, N.C.; resided at 514 Lenox Avenue, New York, N.Y.; his father was born in Cherokee, N.C.; his employer was Mr. Moore, Clarissa Apartment House, 2400 Seventh Avenue; and his nearest relative was mother Lucy A. Goffney, 147 Suggs Street, Wilson.

In the 1922 and 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Goffney Clinton (c) tobacco wkr h 704 Suggs

Lucy Ann Goffney died 11 February 1922 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 15 February 1876 in Wilson to Edwin Barnes and Lucy Ann Barnes; was the widow of Columbus Goffney; lived at 704 Suggs; and was buried in Wilson [likely Vick Cemetery.] Clinton Goffney was informant. [Lucy Gaffney’s estate consisted of a house and lot valued at $1400 and “B&L stock” valued at $200.]

Goffney died 4 June 1927 in Wilson. Per his direct certificate he was born 28 February 1893 to Columbus Goffney and Lucy Barnes; was single; worked as a day laborer; lived at 704 Suggs; and was buried in Wilson [most likely, in Vick Cemetery]. Informant was Frank O. Barnes, Durham.

Will of Clinton F. Goffney (1922), North Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998, http://www.ancestry.com.

Lane Street Project: New South returns, but the city scoffs at a plat map.

The Wilson Times‘ continues its close coverage of Vick Cemetery with another Page 1 article in the June 27 edition. An engaged local press is vital to an informed community. Please support local media.

Also, please demand transparency from Wilson city government concerning Vick. Though I am described in this article as a liaison between the city and the descendant community, I can tell you there is precious little liasing going on. As if this isn’t the tack that got us to this unfortunate point in the first place, city officials continue to make decisions and take actions unilaterally, with no communication before or after.

We press on.

Update: the estate of Moses Farmer Sr.

When I first examined the estate file of Moses Farmer Sr., who died in 1844, I missed this recitation of names of the people he enslaved — Marina (purchased at his direction), Reuben, London, Luke, Glasgow, Dick, Harry, Thomas, Washington, Greene, Valentine, Rachel, Charity, Caroline, Alice, Nelly, Elva, America, Fortune, big Rose, Chain, Jinny, Ofie, Daniel, Jason, Watson, Drewry, Chain, Venus, little Rose, Sylvia, Maria, Warren, Nan, and [blank.] Per the terms of Farmer’s will, all but “Big Chainny” were to be sold.

——

  • Reuben — Reuben Farmer. In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Reuben Farmer, 68, Nancy, 71, and Luke Farmer, 11.
  • London
  • Luke
  • Glasgow — on 11 August 1866, Glasco Farmer and Clary Farmer registered their 20-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace. In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Glasses Farmer, 49; wife Clara, 36; Morning, 17, Haywood, 18, Rosa, 15, Ferby, 3, and Louisa Farmer, 9 months; and Mae Barnes, 7.
  • Dick
  • Harry
  • Thomas — in 1866, Thomas Farmer and Polly Woodard registered their ten-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace. In the 1870 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Thomas Farmer, 40; wife Mary, 34; and children April, 13, Liberty, 4, and Eliza, 1.
  • Washington — Washington Farmer. His wife Waity Harris and children were enslaved by a different owner.
  • Greene
  • Valentine — Valentine Farmer. Per his daughter Martha Farmer Ruffin, Valentine’s parents were Reuben and Nancy Farmer. His wife Quinnie and children were enslaved by Robert Bynum. Val Farmer and his parents remained within the white Farmer family after Moses Farmer’s death.
  • Rachel — in 1866, Warren Farmer and Rachel Farmer registered their ten-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace.
  • Charity
  • Caroline
  • Olive
  • Nelly — Nellie Farmer. In the 1870 census of Joyners township, Wilson County: Nellie Farmer, 62; Mary, 47; and Joshua, 22. In the 1880 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Nelly Farmer, 75; grandsons George, 20, Drewry, 17, and Berry, 17; and great-granddaughter Martha A. Parker, 8.
  • Elva — in 1866, Hilliard Farmer and Elva Farmer registered their two-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace. In the 1870 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farm laborer Hilliard Farmer, 30; wife Elery, 29; and children Jason, 4, and Adeline, 12.
  • America — possibly, in the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Sydnor Campbell, 48; wife America, 40; York, 16, Thomas, 12, Pennina, 7, Reuben, 5, Nelly, 3, Lawrence, 2, and Nancy, 1; and stepdaughters Maggie Woodard, 12, and R. Rountree, 18. (The death certificates of Lawrence Campbell and Pennina Campbell Williams list their mother’s maiden name as Farmer. Several of America Campbell’s children bear names found in the community enslaved by Moses Farmer, including Thomas, Reuben, Nelly, Nancy, and Elva.)
  • Fortune
  • Big Rose
  • Chain
  • Jinny — in 1866, Jenny Farmer and John Farmer registered their 13-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace.
  • Ofie
  • Daniel
  • Jason — in 1866, Jason Farmer and Candis Gay registered their seven-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace. In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Jason Farmer, 33, farm laborer; wife Candas, 29; and children Florence, 9, Isiah, 6, and George, 4.
  • Watson
  • Drewry
  • Chain
  • Venus — in 1866, Venice Farmer and Arch Barnes registered their  cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace. Perhaps: in the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Rosa Farmer, 35, and children Gray, 16, Turner, 17, Mary, 16, Thomas, 13, Daniel, 12, Leah, 10, Jefferson, 8, Louisa, 10 months, and Anna, 3, plus Arche Barnes, 73, cooper (if so, Venus likely died 1866-1870.)
  • Little Rose — perhaps, in the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Rosa Farmer, 35, and children Gray, 16, Turner, 17, Mary, 16, Thomas, 13, Daniel, 12, Leah, 10, Jefferson, 8, Louisa, 10 months, and Anna, 3, plus Arche Barnes, 73, cooper.
  • Sylvia
  • Maria
  • Warren — in 1866, Warren Farmer and Rachel Farmer registered their ten-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace.
  • Nan — see Reuben, above.

Country roads.

Searching for a church cemetery in Georgia recently, I was startled to turn off a well-paved state road onto a narrow sandy track. Even late into the twentieth century, dirt roads like these — though often less well-maintained — traversed the far corners of rural Wilson County.

Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, June 2023.

Lane Street Project: a meeting of the Vick Cemetery descendant community.

At a 11 May 2023 public forum, I outlined the findings and gave commentary on the ground-penetrating radar report prepared by New South Associates for Vick Cemetery. Since then, the City has made (and not made) a few moves, and I’ve made a couple of my own.

Vick Cemetery has been a publicly owned burial ground since its establishment in 1913. Its current state is the direct result of acts of omission and commission by the City, acts undertaken with little or no input from or knowledge of the families whose loved ones are buried there. The Cemetery Commission may own the cemetery, but it does not own the bodies in it, and the City must engage with the Vick Cemetery Descendant Community to determine how best to honor and protect the dead going forward.

If you have family buried in Vick Cemetery (or wish to ally with those who do) and want to add your voice to this discussion, please join a Zoom meeting Thursday, June 29, at 7:00 P.M.

If you wish to place your email address on a mailing list to make sure you receive notice of Vick Cemetery-related matters going forward, please notify me at lanestreetproject@gmail.com. Thank you.

——

Lisa Y. Henderson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Vick Cemetery Descendents + Allies Info Meeting
Time: Jun 29, 2023 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84348748658

Meeting ID: 843 4874 8658

—

One tap mobile
+16465588656,,84348748658# US (New York)
+16469313860,,84348748658# US

—

Dial by your location
• +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
• +1 646 931 3860 US
• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
• +1 305 224 1968 US
• +1 309 205 3325 US
• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
• +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
• +1 360 209 5623 US
• +1 386 347 5053 US
• +1 507 473 4847 US
• +1 564 217 2000 US
• +1 669 444 9171 US
• +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
• +1 689 278 1000 US
• +1 719 359 4580 US
• +1 253 205 0468 US
• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Meeting ID: 843 4874 8658

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/ket1SHxU1m

Lane Street Project: in memory of Jesse Henderson Jr. (1928-1929).

I’ve spoken of the database I am developing of likely burials in Vick, Odd Fellows, and Rountree Cemeteries. My spreadsheet draws upon death certificates, obituaries, and other sources — most distressingly imprecise. The term “Rountree Cemetery” on these documents may refer to Vick, Odd Fellows, or Rountree. Some documents broadly refer only to burial in Wilson. However, in the absence of official burial records for any of the cemeteries, we make do.

This series honors the men, women, and children who never had grave markers, or whose stones have been lost or stolen or destroyed. Graves believed to be in Vick Cemetery, which the City of Wilson stripped of remaining markers in 1996, will be identified with a Vick Cemetery logo.

——

Jessie Henderson Jr. died 15 April 1929 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 5 months old; was born in Wilson to Jessie Henderson of Dudley, N.C., and Pauline Artis of Johnston County, N.C.; lived at 318 Pender Street; and was buried Rountrees Cemetery [likely Vick Cemetery] by C.E. Artis.