Dempsey Mercer, 20, married Mattie Knight, 20, in Edgecombe County on 23 January 1902. When the 1910 census was taken, the family was in Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Dempsy Mercer, 27; wife Mattie, 20; sons Charles, 7, William, 6, Robert, 3, and Walter, 7 months; nieces Lula, 2, and Gertrude Hines, 1 month; and sister Maggie Hines, 19.

According to Dempsey Mercer’s divorce petition, Mattie Mercer committed adultery with Calvin Barnes on or about 1 January 1911 and left their home after he discovered her infidelity. Dempsey filed for divorce in September 1911 and requested custody of their children. Mattie could not be found in Wilson County for service of the complaint and was believed to have left the state.

At November Term 1911 of Wilson County Superior Court, a judge granted Dempsey Mercer’s divorce.

Wilson [County, North Carolina] Divorce Records 1859-1913, http://www.familysearch.org.