The one hundred ninety-ninth in a series of posts highlighting buildings in East Wilson Historic District, a national historic district located in Wilson, North Carolina. As originally approved, the district encompasses 858 contributing buildings and two contributing structures in a historically African-American section of Wilson. (A significant number have since been lost.) The district was developed between about 1890 to 1940 and includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Bungalow/American Craftsman, and Shotgun-style architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
This house was demolished between 2012 and 2019. The photo above, courtesy of Google Maps Streetview, was taken in April 2008. The address of this house has vacillated wildly. It has been known as 141, 138, 144, and 218 Ash Street as lot lines shifted and houses were densely packed into Ash Street’s short stretch. Current tax records describe the now-vacant lot as 144 Ash Street. (And Ash is often spelled “Ashe.”)
The inventory list of the nomination form for East Wilson Historic District, prepared in 1987, is confusing. #144 is described as a vacant lot. #138 is a “shotgun with shed-roofed porch,” which obviously is not this house. It appears that #142, “ca. 1908; 1 story; two-room central-hall house with turned post porch,” is the house above, though it does not now have turned posts on its porch.
The last Google Maps image of the house, June 2012.
Ash Street was once part of the Oswald and Sallie Lipscomb farm. On 8 April 1890, Maria Peacock purchased a one-quarter acre lot from the Lipscombs for $37.50. Per the deed, Peacock, who already lived in the lot, received a life interest in the property with the remainder to Levi H. Peacock and his heirs.
Description of 144 Ashe Street from Deed Book 2391, page 143, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.
The 1908 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson, N.C., shows the house as 141 Jane Street, as Ash was very briefly known.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Ash Street, post office clerk Levi Peacock, 40; wife Hannah, 38; children Oliva V., 15, Hannah, 13, Levi, 11, Susan, 6, Rubie, 4, and Vivian, 1; and mother-in-law Susan Pryett, 55, laundress.
Detail from 1922 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson, N.C.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 141 Ash Street, post office clerk Livia H. Peacock, 60; wife Annie, 31; children Olvia, 23, Annie L., 21, Livia H. Jr.; Sudie, 14, Rubie, 12, Vivian, 9, Bennie, 5, and John, 3; boarders Mary S. Roberson, 32, and Mary Brodie, 20; plus widow Susan Byatt, 62.
In the 1922 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Peacock Hannah (c) tchr h 138 Ashe; Peacock Hannah L (c) hair dresser h 138 Ashe; Peacock Levi H (c) clk P O 138 Ashe
Detail from 1922 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson, N.C.
In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Peacock Levi H (c) clk P O 138 Ashe [But Hannah, Ruby, Susan and Vivian Peacock at 140 Ashe.]
In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Peacock Levi H (c; Hannah) h 218 Ashe [But Peacock Hannah H (c) tchr Wilson Graded Sch r 138 Ashe]
In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Peacock Levi H (c; Hannah H) bellmn Hotel Cherry h 218 Ashe; Peacock Rubie E (c) sch tchr h 218 Ashe; Peacock Susan M (c) student h 218 Ashe; Peacock Vivian (c) lndrs h 218 Ashe
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 218 Ash, Levi Peacock, 62; wife Hanna, 64; Susan, 28, Elizabeth L., 26, John H., 24, and Benjamin, 23; Hanna Luke, 80; Susan Piatt, 34; and Ruby Piatt, 15. [There are numerous errors in names and ages in this entry.]
Detail from 1930 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson, N.C. The house is labeled (138) 218 Ash.
Levi Henry Peacock died 16 August 1934 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 72 years old; was born in Alabama to James Peacock and Marie Peacock, both of Wilson County; was married; lived at 218 Ash Street; was an “ex-P.O. clerk”; and was buried in Wilson [Masonic? Odd Fellows? Vick Cemetery?]
Hannah H. Peacock died 29 March 1935 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 50 years old; was born in Edgecombe County to Booker Pyatt of Petersburg, Virginia, and Susan Hines of Edgecombe County; resided at 218 Ash Street; was a school teacher; was the widow of Levi Peacock; and was buried in Wilson [Masonic? Odd Fellows? Vick Cemetery?]
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Hana Peacock, 32; her grandmother Susie Pyatt, 84; and brothers John, 22, and Benjamin Peacock, 24.
In 1942, Levi Harry Peacock registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 6 May 1898 in Wilson; lived at 418 North Reid Street, Wilson; his contact was Hannah Peacock, 138 Ashe Street, Wilson; and he worked for W.E. Barnes at Cherry Hotel, Wilson.
Susan H. Pyatt died 14 January 1944 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born in 1874 in Edgecombe County to Louis Hargrove and Hannah Lewis Hines; was widowed; and resided at 218 Ashe. Hannah Peacock was informant.
In 1944, John Hines Peacock registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 16 October 1915 in Wilson County; lived at 218 Ashe; his contact was sister Hannah L. Peacock, 218 Ashe; and he was “unemployed, except working around his home.”
1947 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory
Hannah Lee Peacock died 1 May 1969 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 12 September 1924 [sic] to Henry Levi Peacock and Hannah Hines; lived at 144 Ash Street; was a retired teacher; and was single. Vivian Peacock Smith, 144 Ash, was informant.
Wilson Daily Times, 22 April 1989.
Doris Smith Herrell sold the Peacock family’s Ash Street properties, including 144, in 2009, ending nearly 120 years of ownership by this family.
