On 7 September 1883, Charles H. Smith filed a divorce action in Wilson County Superior Court against his wife Jennie Smith. Smith had been principal of Wilson Academy (the private graded school that preceded the Colored Graded School) and was an up-and-coming figure in the A.M.E. Zion Church. He also founded a school in Black Creek. Jennie Smith was the sister of Braswell R. Winstead, educator, postal clerk, and close associate of Samuel H. Vick. J.W. Hood highlighted Charles H. Smith in One Hundred Years of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church; or, the Centennial of African Methodism. Hood’s bio of Smith does not mention his marriage to Virginia Smith.
The plaintiff complains and alleges
(1) That on the ____ day of 1871 (or 72) he intermarried with the defendant Jennie Smith
(2) That he and said defendant were then and have ever since been citizens and residents of the State of North Carolina
(3) That he and said defendant had lived together as man and wife in various places in this State after their said marriage until on discovering the various acts of adultery hereinafter mentioned, he separated from her
(4) That in or about the Summer of 1881 (for want of information plaintiff is unable to state this or any subsequent dates with greater particularity) the defendant at the residence in the County and town of Wilson committed adultery with one Patrick Brewer
(5) That in or about April 1881 in Greene County, N.C., at or near the house of Hagar Edwards, the defendant committed adultery with one Scott Ward
(6) That in the winter of 1880 and also in [illegible] ’81 in the County and Town of Wilson, N.C., in or about the winter of 1881, and at her residence, the defendant committed adultery with said Scott Ward
(7) That at her residence in the County and Town of Wilson, N.C., in or about the summer of 1881, the defendant committed adultery with one Wardson Ward
(8) That in the County and Town of Wilson, N.C., in or about the winter of 1881, at her residence, the defendant committed adultery with one Joseph Freeman
(9) That there were born of the said marriage a son named Charles H. Smith aged five years, and a daughter named Araminta Smith aged nine years, now in the care and custody of the plaintiff
[Jurat omitted]
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- Charles H. Smith
Perhaps: in the 1870 census of Town of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer William Smith, 27; wife Temperance, 31; son Charles, 20, farm laborer; and Nancy Brown, 51.
On 28 August 1874, Charles Smith, 22, married Jennie Barnes, 17, in Wilson County.
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street, minister Charles Smith, 26; wife Virginia, 22; and children Arminta, 7, John T., 3, and Charles H., 1; and brother-in-law Braswell Winstead, 20, teaching school.
- Jennie Smith
On 28 August 1874, Charles Smith, 22, married Jennie Barnes, 17, in Wilson County.
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street, minister Charles Smith, 26; wife Virginia, 22; and children Arminta, 7, John T., 3, and Charles H., 1; and brother-in-law Braswell Winstead, 20, teaching school.
- Patrick Brewer
- Scott Ward
In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: day laborer Scott Ward, 23; wife Tena, 24, cook; and children Beauty, 1, and Nathan, 3.
- Wardson Ward
Perhaps, in the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Warren Ward, 53; wife Sarah, 52, washing; and children Manda, 8, Henry, 7, and Lawrence, 19.
- Joseph Freeman
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street, farmer Haywood Freeman, 53; wife Emily, 40; and children Joseph, 17, and Sydnor, 15.
- Charles H. Smith
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street, minister Charles Smith, 26; wife Virginia, 22; and children Arminta, 7, John T., 3, and Charles H., 1; and brother-in-law Braswell Winstead, 20, teaching school.
On 17 April 1901, Chas. H. Smith married Elizzie Reed in Fair Bluff, Columbus County, N.C.
In the 1910 census of Tatums township, Columbus County: Charley Smith, 30, lumberyard foreman, and wife Lizzie, 28.
In 1918, Charlie Henry Smith registered for the World War I draft in Columbus County, N.C. Per his registration card, he was born 7 October 1879; lived in Boardman, Columbus County; worked as a lumberman for Butlers Lumber Company; and his nearest relative was Elizabeth Smith. He signed his card “Charles Henry Smith.” [Not to be confused with another Charlie Smith, who also registered in 1918. Per his registration card, he was born 12 August 1876; lived in Acme, Columbus County; worked as a laborer for Acme Manufacturing Company; and his nearest relative was Lizzie Smith. The form was signed with an X.]
In the 1920 census of Tatums township, Columbus County: lumber camp overseer Charlie Smith, 38, and wife Lizzie, 36.
Charles H. Smith died 9 June 1932 in Fair Bluff, Columbus County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was 54 years old; was born in Wilson to Charlie H. Smith; was married to Annie Smith; and worked in a sawmill. Charlie Maultsby was informant.
- Araminta Smith
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street, minister Charles Smith, 26; wife Virginia, 22; and children Arminta, 7, John T., 3, and Charles H., 1; and brother-in-law Braswell Winstead, 20, teaching school.
In December 1898, Charly Maultsby, son of Sophia Maultsby, married Araminta Smith, daughter of C.H. Smith and Jennie Smith, in Columbus County, N.C.
In the 1900 census of Whiteville, Columbus County, N.C.: day laborer Charles Maultsby, 25, and wife Araminta, 22.
Wilson County Divorce Records 1859-1913,