Peter Coley (1842-bef. 1900).

Several Peter Coleys lived in northern Wayne County, North Carolina, in the late 1880s. The portrait above has been labeled as Peter Coley, husband of Rachel Exum Coley, by numerous Ancestry.com users. However, considerable misinformation about this Peter is floating around that site, including an erroneous death date of 1924. In fact, Coley died before 1900. His widow and children moved back and forth across the county line between Fremont in Wayne County and Black Creek in Wilson County.

——

In the 1870 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County: blacksmith Peter Coley, 28; wife Rachel, 21; and children Lula, 4, James E., 3, and Mary E., 7 months.

In the 1880 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County: farmer Peter Coley, 39; wife Rachel, 33; and children Zola, 13, James, 12, Frany, 10, Willie, 8, Pennelopode, 6, Thomas, 5, John, 4, and Rachel, 1 month.

In the 1900 census of Fremont, Wayne County: John Coley, 23; his sisters Rachel, 21, Pennie, 20, Calie, 19, Rebeker, 17, and Pealie, 12; and [brother] Jack.

On 7 October 1903, Jonah Bunch, 22, of Wayne County, son of Mack and Caroline Bunch, married Pennie Coley, 23, of Black Creek, daughter of P. and Rachel Coley, in Black Creek township, Wilson County. Father P. Coley was dead; mother Rachel Coley lived in Black Creek.

On 25 November 1903, Edward Crummedy, 25, of Black Creek, son of Calvin and Della Crummedy, married Rachel Coley, 25, of Black Creek, daughter of Peter and Rachel Coley, married in Wilson, N.C. Father Peter Coley was dead; mother Rachel Coley lived in Wilson.

In the 1910 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County: Jonah Bunch, 24; wife Penny, 26; sons William, 6, and Elijah, 2; nephew Zachariah Coley, 15; and mother Rachel Coley, 65, widow.

On 5 August 1914, John Coley, 37, of Wilson County, son of Peter and Rachel Coley, married Jennettie Rodgers, 34, of Wayne County, daughter of Ed and Lucy Rodgers, in Fremont, Nahunta township, Wayne County.

John Coley died 20 August 1919 in Nahunta township, Wayne County. Per his death certificate, he was 43 years old; was born in Wayne County to Peter Coley and Rachel Coley; was married; worked as a farmer; and was buried in the Fort graveyard, Fremont. Tom Coley, Lucama, was informant.

On 26 December 1922, Jeff Holloway, 55, of Nahunta township, son of Lewis and Caroline Holloway, married Sallie Coley Whitley, 41, of Nahunta township, daughter of Peter and Rachel Coley, in Nahunta.

Rachel Cromedy died 15 November 1924 in Nahunta township, Wayne County. Per her death certificate, she was 45 years old; was born in Wilson to Peter Coley and Rachel [no maiden name]; was married to Ed Cromedy; and was buried in Best graveyard.

Rachel Coley died 26 July 1928 in Black Creek township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was of unknown age; was born in Wayne County to John Exum and Saphonia Exum; was single [but married to Peter Coley, i.e. a widow]; and was buried in Coley graveyard.

James C. Coley died 21 July 1935 in Goldsboro, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was 67 years old; was born in Wayne County to Peter Coley and Rachel Exum; worked as a farmer; and lived at 426 Canal Street, Goldsboro.

Winnie Newsome died 4 August 1936 in Black Creek township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 63 years old; was born in Wayne County to Peter Coley and Rachel Exum; was married to Stephen Newsome; and was buried in Wayne County.

On 24 October 1939, Richard Davis, 63, of Nahunta township, son of Phil and Emily Davis, married Rebecca Newsome, 52, of Nahunta township, daughter of Pete and Rachel Coley, in Nahunta township, Wilson County. Alex Adams of Wilson County was a witness.

Thomas Coley died 28 September 1942 in Mercy Hospital, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 11 April 1874 in Wayne County to Peter Coley and Rachel Elexon; worked as a farmer; was married to Victoria Coley; and was married to Coley Cemetery, Wilson.

Pennie Bunch died 7 August 1944 in Black Creek township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 17 January 1881 in Wayne County to Pete Coley and Rachel Exum; was married to Jonah Bunch; and was buried in Bunch Cemetery, Fremont, N.C.

Maggie Davis died 19 August 1946 in Old Fields township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 9 February 1884 in Wayne County to Peter Coley and Rachel Exium;  was married to Westley Davis; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery, Wilson.

Photo courtesy of Ancestry.com user foothillsgirl.