This 1901 report of the sale of Samuel W. Williams‘ property offers a peek into the household of a small-town, middle-class African-American merchant at the turn of the twentieth century. Williams was a grocer and the step-father of Charles H. Darden‘s wife Dinah Scarborough Darden. The sale of his home furnishings appears to have gone smoothly. However, the disposal of the house itself, and the lot it stood on, sparked a fight that went all the way to the North Carolina Supreme Court. More on that later.

The nearly 50 men (and three women) who showed up at the sale to spend a few cents to a few dollars included:

• Simon Barnes
• S.H. Vick — Samuel H. Vick.
• S.P. Barnes
• Geo. Barnes
• B. Williams — Berry Williams.
• L. Williams — Louis Williams.
• J. Powell
• J. Leach
• H. Johnson
• S.B. Barnes
• J.A. McKnight
• W. Saucers
• Paul Goffney
• J.D. Smith
• J.A. Moore
• Alfred Dew
• Shade Barnes
• C.H. Darden — Charles H. Darden.
• Perry Davis
• James Sommerville — on 14 February 1904, James Summerville, 59, of Wilson, son of William and Frances Summerville, married Lila Henderson, 39, of Wilson, daughter of Stephen and Dicy Henderson, in Wilson. A.M.E. minister P.H. Leach performed the ceremony in the presence of S.D. Henderson, L.V. Leach, and Gray Battle.
• Dollison Powell
• Lemon Barnes
• H.C. Rountree — Henry C. Rountree.
• Dorsey Powell
• Daniel Vick
• Virgil Horne — in the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Virgial Horn, 70; wife Grizzie, 49, washing; and daughters Pattie, 25, and Mezera, 16, both washing.
• C. Deans
• R.D. Smith
• Felix Burden — in the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: drayman Felix Burden, 39; wife Emma, 30, washing; and children Dora, 11, James, 4, and Burnetta, 1.
• F.S. Simms
• S.D. Henderson — Sandy D. Henderson.
• Henry Young — in the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Henry Young, 65; wife Annie, 42; and boarder Pennie Young, 22.
• William Hagans
• Mrs. Harriss
• P. Leach — Patrick Henry Leach. In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: shoemaker Patrick Henry Leach, 61, born in Mississippi to N.C.-born parents, and wife Lavinea, 56.
• Mrs. Mercer
• Geo. Harriss — in the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer George W. Harriss, 55; wife Mary, 37; and children Malissa, 10, and William Henry, 20.
• R.D. Smith
• Mrs. Perrington — probably, Louisa Scarborough Perrington.
• J.H. Clark — John H. Clark.
• [blank] Hoskins — probably, Edward Hoskins. In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Edward Hoskins, 51; wife Amy, 47; and children Joseph L., 20, Herbert, 15, David, 13, Miles, 9, Pharebe Ann, 11, John A., 8, Moses T., 5, and Susan Anna, 4.
• [blank] McKnight
• M.H. Cotton — Mark H. Cotton.
• W.W. Sanders
• R. Hodge — Richard Hodge. In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: carpenter George Hewlin, 53; wife Jane, 42; and Richard Hodge, 29, hod carrier.
• J.S. Spells — John S. Spell.
• R.G. Williams

The items purchased: books; spoons; knives; lamps; bedsteads; a map; dishes; saucers; chips; plates; mugs; brushes; a bureau; coats; a clock; glasses; trunks; bags; a safe; a wheel; stoves; lemons; a trap; pipes; beans; a funnel; bowls; a paper roll; a slab; a tank; kegs; buckets; an auger; hatchets; knives; an axe; shot; paper; pants; jars; a square; oil; a tool; chairs; pans; a box; tables; corn; quilts; blankets; feathers; mattresses; kettles; a sugar dish; a lamp; a knife box; a griddle; a saw; pitchers; a slate; a basket; pipes; a watch; and a bed.

All of that netted $27.51. Of that, Braswell R. Winstead pocketed $8.40; G.D. Walston, $14.02; R.C. Jacocks, $3.00; and John H. Clark, $2.09.

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On 20 September 1870, Samuel Williams married Annie Scarbro, daughter of Jack and Zaly Adams, at Ann Scarbro’s in Wilson township. Rev. Laurence Moye performed the ceremony.

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: grocer Samuel Williams, 38; wife Ann, 47; and daughter Anna, 9.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: grocer Samuel Williams, 58, widower, and lodgers William Jackson, 36, and William Allen, 25, both tobacco graders.