Where did they go?: Washington, D.C., death certificates.

Washington, D.C., was a popular destination for eastern North Carolina migrants. These death certificates primarily record deaths of African-Americans who left Wilson County before the Great Migration.

  • William Anderson Pridgeon

William Anderson Pridgeon died 26 June 1896 in Washington, D.C., at 73 H Street N.E. Per his death certificate, he was ten months old; colored; born in Wilson, North Carolina; had lived in Washington, D.C., for two weeks; and both his parents were born in North Carolina.

  • George Barnes

George Barnes died 17 November 1906 in Washington, D.C., at Washington Asylum Hospital. Per his death certificate, he was 30 years old; was born in Wilson, N.C. to parents born in Wilson; was married; and worked as a laborer.

  • Eva Vailes

Eva Vailes died 4 March 1918 in Washington, D.C., at 1116 Minnesota Avenue, N.E. Per her death certificate, she was 4 years, 2 months, 3 days old; was born in Wilson, N.C., to parents born in Wayne County and Wilson County, N.C.; and had lived in Washington for 18 months.

  • James H. Ellis

James H. Ellis died 17 March 1919 in Washington, D.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 30 April 1869 in Wilson, N.C., to Bob Ellis; was married to Emma Ellis; lived at 1331 You Street, N.W.; worked as a barber; and was buried in Harmony Cemetery. Mother-in-law Mollie Huff was informant.

In the 1915 Washington, D.C., city directory: Ellis Jas H barber 901 U St h 905 U St

  • Sarah Best Young

Sarah Young died 25 February 1923 in Washington, D.C. Per her death certificate, she was 28 years old; was born in Wilson, N.C., to Daniel Best; lived at 1027 Fourth Street, N.W.; was married to Henry Young; had lived in D.C. two years; and was buried in Wilson, N.C. [probably, in Vick Cemetery.]

  • Joe Perry

Joe Perry died 23 April 1924 in Washington, D.C., at Freedmen’s Hospital. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1905 in Wilson, N.C., to Edward Perry and Nancy Smith; worked as a elevator operator; was single; had lived in D.C. 19 years; and was removed to the Anatomical Board.

  • Alexander Moore

Alexander Moore died 18 February 1930 in Washington, D.C., in Freedmen’s Hospital. Per his death certificate, he was 42 years old; was born in Wilson, N.C., to Lawrence Moore and Vina [no maiden name]; lived in Fairmount Heights, Maryland; was a widower; was an ex-soldier; and was buried in Baltimore, Maryland. Informant was sister Delia Moore, Baltimore.

On 23 January 1873, Lawrence Moore, 30, married Vina Moore, 25, in Wilson County. “Col’d minister” London Johnson performed the ceremony.

In the 1880 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Lawrence Moore, 38; wife Viny, 25; and children Lee, 16, Nellie, 13, Esther and Delah Ann, 10, John, 7, David, 5, and Austin, 2.

In the 1900 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Lawrence Moore, 50, widower, and children Branie, 20, Joseph, 12, Alexandrie, 8, and Charlie, 6.

On 5 July 1913, Delia Moore, 30, born in North Carolina to Lawrence and Venie Moore, married Amos D. Moore, 31, born in North Carolina to Anthony and Mary Moore, in Danville, Virginia.

Washington, District of Columbia, Death Certificates 1874-1931, http://www.ancestry.com

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