Edgecombe County farmer Willie (pronounced “Wiley”) Atkinson died in 1848. Atkinson lived south of the Town Creek area and maintained close business ties with men who lived in and around Stantonsburg.
We saw here a reference to two enslaved men, Blount and Miles, hired out by Atkinson’s estate in 1851. They were part of a larger community of enslaved people held for Atkinson’s heirs. In December 1851, pursuant to court order, Atkinson’s eldest daughter Rhoda A.M. Atkinson received her one-sixth share of her father’s slaves — Cary and Red, valued at $750. The remaining — Rachel, Miles, Blount, Harry, Mariah, Harriet, Cherry, and Mills “returns back to common stock.”
The people enslaved by Willie Atkinson were largely members of a single extended family, several of whom settled in Wilson County after Emancipation:
- Rachel
Rachel Atkinson and Harry Atkinson were the parents of Mills, Blount, Henry “Harry,” Mariah, and, probably Harriet. (Only one Harry is listed among Willie Atkinson’s enslaved. This, presumably, was the younger Harry, and the elder Harry may have had a different owner.)
In August 1866, Harry Atkinson and Hagar Atkinson registered their 40-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace. [Is this a different Harry Atkinson?]
On 22 December 1868, Henry Atkinson, son of Harry Atkinson and Rachel Atkinson, married Sophia Bridgers, daughter of Virgil Bridgers, in Wilson County.
On 30 August 1869, Mills Atkinson, son of Harry Atkinson and Rachel Atkinson, married Rhoda Bridgers, in Wilson County.
In the 1870 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Rachel Atkinson, 75; (presumed) husband Harry, 82; and Isaac Atkinson, 60.
- Mills
On 30 August 1869, Mills Atkinson, son of Harry Atkinson and Rachel Atkinson, married Rhoda Bridgers, in Wilson County.
In the 1870 census of Cokey township, Edgecombe County: farm laborer Mills Atkinson, 40; wife Rhoda, 42; Maria Bridgers, 32, farm laborer, and Martha, 2, and Lucinda Bridgers, 8.
In the 1880 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Blount Adkinson, 52; wife Rachael, 40; and children Jerry, 12, Lenora, 9, Victora, 4, and Bursia, 2; Rachael Adkinson, 79; and brother Mills Adkinson, 57.
On 30 December 1886, Mills Atkinson 60, married Lucey Jenkins, 50, in Saratoga, Wilson County.
In the 1900 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Mariah Taylor, 61, widow; brother Mills Atkinson, 64, farm laborer; niece Roxie Webb, 24, widow; nephew Amos Webb, 3; and servant John Webb, 19.
- Blount
In the 1870 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Blount Atkinson, 34; wife Rachael, 31; and children Guilbert, 13, Charlotte, 12, Jeremiah, 3, and John H., 7 months.
In the 1880 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Blount Adkinson, 52; wife Rachael, 40; and children Jerry, 12, Lenora, 9, Victora, 4, and Bursia, 2; Rachael Atkinson, 79; and brother Mills Adkinson, 57.
Blount Atkinson died in 1894, and T.J. Hadley was appointed to administer his estate. His heirs were his children Jerry, Lenora, Basora, Victoria, and Alex. His debts outweighed his assets, and sales of his cotton and the 70 acres he owned brought in $89.51 and $115.87 respectively.
In May 1899, Thomas Farmer, 21, of Wilson County, son of Isaac Barnes and Chany Farmer, married Bazy Atkinson, 19, of Wilson County, daughter of Blount and Rachel Atkinson, in Wilson County.
On 10 January 1906, Hoyet Robbinson, 47, of Taylors township, son of Sam and Milly Robbinson, married Lindora Atkinson, 35, of Gardners township, daughter of Blunt and Rachel Atkinson, at Thomas Store in Gardners township.
In December 1907, Joe Petway, 61, married Victoria Atkinson, 40, of Gardners township, daughter of Blount and Rachael Atkinson. Jonah Williams, Primitive Baptist minister, performed the ceremony.
On 16 December 1908, James Whitaker, 52, of Gardners township, married Bazora Atkinson, 23, of Gardners township, daughter of Blount Atkinson and Rachel Atkinson, at Jerry Atkinson’s in Wilson County. Harry Pender, Peter Barron, and Calvin Atkinson were witnesses.
Elix Zander Atkinson died 22 June 1947 in Wilson township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 7 April 1891 in Wilson County to Blount Atkinson and Rachel Sharpe; was a widower; worked as a day laborer; and was buried in Brantley Cemetery, Wilson County, by I.W. Lee of Fremont. Brazria Whitaker was informant.
Victoria Petway died 29 April 1958 in Elm City, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 October 1883 in Wilson County to Blount Atkinson and Rachel Atkinson; and farmed. Informant was Luther Petway. She was buried in Rountree Cemetery, Wilson.
Bastoria Whitaker died 27 July 1971 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 29 August 1890 to Rachel Atkinson; was widow; worked in farming; and was buried in Lucas Cemetery, Wilson County. Nancy Elliott, Wilson, was informant.
- Henry “Harry”
On 22 December 1868, Henry Atkinson, son of Harry Atkinson and Rachel Atkinson, married Sophia Bridgers, daughter of Virgil Bridgers, in Wilson County.
In the 1870 census of Lower Town Creek township, Edgecombe County: Harry Atkinson, 26, farm laborer; wife Sopha, 27; and children Warren, 12, Harriet, 11, and Charley, 1.
In the 1880 census of Lower Town Creek township, Edgecombe County: Harry Atkinson, 43, farmer; wife Sophia, 45; children Harriet, 21, Charley, 11, Geo. E., 9, Sarah F., 6, Callie A.T.A., 4, and William H., 2; and grandson Wiley, 1.
In the 1900 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Harry Atkinson, 63; wife Sophia, 68; and servant Rachael Bridgers, 16.
In the 1910 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Harry Atkinson, 68, and wife Sophia, 70. Next door:Â Mariah Taylor, 65, widow; son Jerry Taylor, 38, widower; and grandson Lonnie Taylor, 3.
Chas. Atkinson died 23 October 1915 in Gardners township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1865 to Harry Atkinson and Sophia Bridgers and was a farmer.
Tempie Barron died 19 January 1932 of Toisnot township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 40 years old; was born in Wilson County to Harry Atkinson and Soffie Atkinson; was married to Gray Barron; and was buried in Wilson County.
- Harriett
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street, Eli Webb, 34, farmer; wife Harrett, 30; children John H.H., 11, Nancy A., 9, Betsey, 7, Mattie, 2, and Amos, 1; sister-in-law Mariah Atkinson, 36; and servant Fannie Vane, 12.
Reddick Webb died 10 January 1937 in Wilson township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was 47 years old; was born in Wilson County to Elijah Webb and Harriet Atkinson; was married to Glennie Webb; and worked as a common laborer. Emma Webb was informant. [Was Reddick named for “Red,” who was also enslaved by Willie Atkinson?]
- Mariah
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street, Eli Webb, 34, farmer; wife Harrett, 30; children John H.H., 11, Nancy A., 9, Betsey, 7, Mattie, 2, and Amos, 1; sister-in-law Mariah Atkinson, 36; and servant Fannie Vane, 12.
In the 1900 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Mariah Taylor, 61, widow; brother Mills Atkinson, 64, farm laborer; niece Roxie Webb, 24, widow; nephew Amos Webb, 3; and servant John Webb, 19.
In the 1910 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Mariah Taylor, 65, widow; son Jerry Taylor, 38, widower; and grandson Lonnie Taylor, 3. Next door: Harry Atkinson, 68, and wife Sophia, 70.
Mariah Taylor died 13 June 1923 in Gardners township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 80 years old; was born in Edgecombe County to Henry Taylor and Rachel Robins; was the widow of Henry Taylor; and was buried in Wilson County. Amos Webb was informant.
Hoyt Robinson died 2 January 1947 in Taylors township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 2 January 1851 in Robeson County, N.C. to Henry and Millie Robinson; was married; and worked as a farmer. He was buried in the Mariah Taylor cemetery, Wilson County. [Hoyt Robinson was married to Lenora/Lindora Atkinson, Mariah Atkinson Taylor’s niece.]
- Miles
Perhaps, in the 1880 census of Lower Town Creek township, Edgecombe County: Miles Atkinson, 51, laborer, in the household of white farmer John Sumerlin.
- Others?
In the 1880 census of Olds township, Greene County, N.C.: Leah Atkinson, 50, and Cherry, 16, and Blunt, 12. [Was Leah Atkinson a child or close relative of Harry and Rachel Atkinson? Did she name her children after two of their children?
Estate File of Willie Atkinson (1848), Edgecombe County, North Carolina Estate Files 1663-1979, http://www.familysearch.org