Month: February 2025

Ellis Chapel United American Free Will Baptist Church.

A couple of recent posts have concerned Ellis Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, founded around 1881 in the New Hope area of northwest Wilson County. Rev. Crockett Best was its first pastor. The sanctuary, built in 1911 on land given by Hilliard and Fereby Rountree Ellis and extensively renovated in 1977, has been empty for many years.  It recently went on the market.

On a recent visit to Ellis Chapel, I found one of the glass double doors at the entrance kicked in and completely shattered. I stepped through into a small vestibule. On either side, there are bathrooms added in perhaps the mid- twentieth century. Glancing up at a square cut into the drywall, I saw the building’s original weathered siding.

Inside the sanctuary, the walls have been stripped to the studs. Its stained glass windows, which bear (or bore) a small plaque naming the donating family, mostly have been  smashed. 

The peeling ceiling reveals a soft blue-green layer of paint underneath a white coat.

Triple-six aside, there is surprisingly little sign of vandals inside. The rear wall here appears to have been the original back of the church; the rectangle at right was a window. A roof leak has done serious damage to a section of the ceiling. Other than ceiling fans and broken pendant lamps, little remains of the sanctuary’s adornment.

This fireproof brick was made by Aetna Brick Company of Hartford, Connecticut.

The cornerstone has been pried out, exposing the corner of the bathroom additions.

Scattered on the ground, a torn, snow-soaked Bible and a broken finial printed with praying hands.

The Book of Amos.

One of three gnarly old oaks that shade the front of the church. 

Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, February 2025.

A supplemental petition to the Best heirs’ petition.

David Crocket Best et als. }      Supplemental Petition

Hillary Best et als.              }

To the Superior Court of Wilson County:

The petitioner herein, in  addition to the matters and things set forth in the foregoing petition, complain and allege:

That on the 25 day of October 1899, David Crocket Best and his wife Caroline Best, borrowed from C.J. Jones the sum of Ninety Three Dollars to enable them to complete the house now located on the lot described in paragraph 4 of the petition in this Cause, and on said day executed and delivered to him their Joint note for said amount and a mortgage securing the same, said mortgage being recorded in Book 53 on page 137, Wilson County Registry: That every cent of the $93.00 secured by said mortgage was expended on said house and was absolutely necessary before the said house could be occupied; that said expenditure was necessary and greatly improved the value of said lot; that there now remains unpaid on said note about $90.00; that David Crocket Best and Caroline Best purchased said lot and that they, together with Germima Best and George Best, deceased, are the only persons who have ever paid a cent either on the purchase price of the lot or for the improvements placed thereon since same was purchased; that neither of the defendants have ever paid any amount for said lot or toward making the improvements thereon and at the time said lot was purchased David Crocket Best and Caroline Best made the purchase and paid nearly all of the purchase price, but had the deed made, giving the remainder to Germima and George Best for the reason they helped pay a small amount thereon; that the petitioner desire that this mortgage debt be paid out of the proceeds of said sale, and that the purchase money, after deducting the costs of sale, he paid into the Clerks office, and that the Clerk pay out of said purchase price the Amount now due on said note and mortgage and hold the balance for reinvestment in real estate on like terms and conditions as the said lot, described in paragraph 4 of this complaint, is now held, upon proper petition in this court, filed for the purpose of reinvestment

Whereupon, Your petitioners pray in addition to the prayer set out in the petition herein, that the Commission who makes the sale shall pay into the Clerks office, after first deducting the cost of this proceeding, the purchase price for said lot and that the said Clerk pay off said note and interest and retain the balance of the purchase price until a suitable lot, at a reasonable purchase price, can be obtained and that the said fund be reinvested, upon proper petition being filed in this cause, in other real estate upon the same terms and conditions as the lot described in the petition is now held.

W.A. Finch, Atty for Petitioners

David Crocket Best and Germima Best, and after being duly sworn each for himself, deposes and says: that he has heard read the foregoing supplemental petition and that the same is true of his own knowledge, except as to those he believes it to be true.  David Crocket X Best, Jermima Best

Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 16 day of Feb, 1906  S.G. Newborn C.S.C.

The estate of Joseph Dawson.

Records from Joseph Dawson‘s estate file offer a detailed look at the possessions of a prosperous African-American Wilson County farmer at the very beginning of the twentieth century.

Dawson died in early 1902, Samuel H. Vick and Henry C. Rountree were appointed to assess Dawson’s personal estate for the calculation of Emma Artis Dawson‘s support for herself and her two young children.

Elijah L. Reid was later appointed administrator of the estate. He filed with the court an exquisitely detailed inventory and account of the sale of Dawson’s personal property and, in January 1904, a final account of receipts and disbursements. Among those who picked over Dawson’s farm tools, animals, produce, and furnishings were family members and African-American men like Raiford Dew, Huel Newsome, Elijah L. Reid, Edmond Williams, James Grice, and Henry S. Reid.

Dawson’s heirs divided $431.04, each receiving one-tenth. Dr. Reid noted that son Dempsey Dawson had left North Carolina “some years ago, and when last heard from was in the city of New York. This was in 1900.” His share was paid to the clerk’s office for safekeeping.

—–

In the 1870 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farm laborer Joseph Dawson, 23; wife Waity, 24; children son Alfred, 5, and Rosey, 7 months; Rachel Sanderson, 18, and Betha Sanderson, 10.

In the 1880 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Joseph Dawson, 34; wife Waity, 38; children Alfred, 15, Roscoe, 11, Dempsey, 8, Polly Ann, 6, Mathew, 4, Alison, 2, and infant, 2 months; and Tobithy Sanders, 20, farmworker.

On 28 January 1897, Joseph Dawson, 46, married Emma Artis, 18, in Nahunta, Wayne County, N.C.

In the 1900 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Joseph Dawson, 45, farmer; wife Emma, 22; sons William H., 2 months, Frank, 19, and Fred, 17; nieces Martha, 23, Laura A., 20, and Charity Saunders, 10; and boarder James Allen, 21.

Albert Dawson died 2 April 1918 in Durham, North Carolina. Per his death certificate, he was about 32 years old; was born in Wilson County to Joseph Dawson; was married to Bettie Dawson; worked as a foreman at Liggett & Myers; and lived at 1008 Lynchburg Street. He was buried in Violet Park cemetery.

Joseph Dawson [Jr.] died 12 September 1958 in Black Creek township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 12 March 1902 in Wilson County to Joseph Dawson and Emma Artis; resided in Fremont, Wayne County; was married to Corintha Dawson; and was buried in Turner Swamp cemetery.

Cemeteries, no. 30: Brantley cemetery, part 3.

A lot has changed since I visited Brantley cemetery in June 2020, and the credit goes to industrious Gary Holmes of the Howard-Brantley family. A sign clearly marks the small cemetery, which lies between two fields and is accessible by a dirt path.

Decades of overgrowth have been cleared from the headstones, which are now clearly visible. Charlie Brantley‘s grave marker is one of the largest in the cemetery.

His father Henderson Brantley‘s marker stands nearby.

Kudos to the Howard-Brantley family for reclaiming their ancestral burial ground.

Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, February 2025.

The Ellises sell Ellis Chapel a parcel of land.

Hilliard and Feraby Rountree Ellis sold Ellis Chapel for the nominal sum of $7.50 the half-acre parcel of land upon which Ellis Chapel Free Will Baptist Church was eventually built. Ellis Chapel’s cornerstone cites the church’s founding as 1882. This deed, however, is dated 26 April 1881 and shows the church had already formed at that time.

Deed book 18, pages 559-560, Wilson County Register of Deeds office.

The confusion may stem from the registration date of the deed —  16 June 1882.

Hat tip to Melanie Nelson Ellis for this copy of the deed.

The sale of Mary and Warren.

Know all men by these presents that I Zachariah Gill Adm’r of Thomas T. Gill dec’d of the County of Edgecomb and State of North Carolina have bargained and sold unto Hilliard Thomas of the County and State aforesaid Two negroes named Mary and Warren for the consideration of the sum of Five hundred and Sixty three dollars and sixty cents in hand paid the receipt I do hereby acknowledge and therewith fully satisfied I do bind myself my heirs executors administrators and assigns forever to defend the right and title of said negroes as far as is vested in me as Administrator promise unto the aforesaid Hilliard Taylor his heirs and assigns forever against the lawful claim or claims of all or any person or persons whatsoever In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal Oct 6th 1849     Zachariah Gill Adm  Test Jos. Barbee H. Etheridge

Edgecomb County Court The execution of the foregoing Bill of Sale is duly acknowledged in open Court by Zachariah Gill, the maker thereof for the purposes therein mentioned and is ordered to be registered.  Test Jno. Norfleet clk

——

Judging by their combined price, my guess is that Mary and Warren were young children.

Hilliard Thomas is listed in the 1860 slave schedule of Joyners and Gardners district, Wilson County, with eight enslaved people — boys and men aged 12, 13, 40, and 74, and girls and women aged 13, 19, 38, and 57.

Deed book 25, page 317, Edgecombe County Register of Deeds, Tarboro, N.C.

Black History Month talks in Wilson.

I love to share African-American history with a hometown audience, and a weather delay means I’ll be speaking two nights in a row at Wilson County Public Library!

Tonight, February 24, 6:30 PM:

Tomorrow night, February 25, 6:00 PM, Wilson County Genealogical Society meeting (open to the public):

 

Signal Boost: community open house concerning flood mitigation projects in East Wilson.

I can’t go because I’m speaking to Wilson County Genealogical Society that night, but you have an opportunity to weigh in on flood mitigation and park improvements in the works for East Wilson’s Freeman Park and Carolina Street Park.

Per an article published in the Wilson Times online on 29 September 2024:

“The city of Wilson has been awarded $875,331 from the Golden Leaf Foundation as part of Golden Leaf’s $25 million Flood Mitigation Program. The grant will be used to design and construct stormwater flood control measures at two key locations — Carolina Street Park and Freeman Park.

“These projects will manage stormwater flow and prevent frequent flooding by gradually discharging runoff during storms.

“The state of North Carolina appropriated the Golden Leaf Foundation $25 million for the Flood Mitigation Program. The program awards up to $2 million per project. Funds may only be awarded to units of local government.

“‘The Golden Leaf Foundation was entrusted by the N.C. General Assembly to implement a program for local governments seeking to mitigate flooding in their community,’ said Golden Leaf President and CEO Scott T. Hamilton. ‘We are pleased to support the city of Wilson with construction of an innovative solution to increase floodwater storage in Wilson, which will help to reduce incidents of flooding around homes, businesses and roadways.’

“The project will encompass various phases, including engineering and design, permitting, bidding and procurement, construction and surveying. It will also include community forums and park restoration efforts, culminating in the enhancement of both parks after flood mitigation construction is completed between September and December 2025.

“Installing flood control measures at Carolina Street Park, bounded by Carolina Street East and East Street East, and Freeman Park, bounded by Freeman Street Southeast and Finch Street Southeast, is expected to significantly reduce flooding in adjacent properties within Wilson and along the Sandy Creek downstream, city officials said. The project aims to minimize localized flooding and road closures, improving safety and accessibility for residents and businesses.

“The city’s stormwater division is collaborating with N.C. State University on the project’s design and community engagement components. Wilson is pursuing additional grants to further support community involvement.

“‘This project is part of our broader stormwater management plan, which has focused on identifying and addressing flood-prone areas over the past decade. The fact that this project also enhances community parks makes it particularly exciting and efficient,’ said Noah Parsons, assistant public works director of stormwater and engineering.

“The Golden Leaf Foundation, established in 1999, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing economic opportunities in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities. In the past 25 years, the foundation says it’s helped create 68,000 jobs, generating more than $780 million in new payrolls and training more than 98,000 workers for higher-paying jobs.”