Wright Edmondson, who lived on 1800 acres on Toisnot Swamp, was one of the largest slaveholders in Wilson County. Like most wealthy men of his time and place, he died with lengthy lists of both debtors and creditors, and the probate of his estate was considerably complicated by his failure to make a will and his many gifts to his children of slaves and other property a decade or so before he died on Christmas Eve 1860.
This list of “Names of all the slaves of the estate of W. Edmondson at his death except the increase of such as were advanced by him” includes 96 people. The subsets of people indicated by dividing lines represent some of the groups distributed together. Were they groupings random? Did they comprise nuclear families?
The 96 were: Esther, Cassel, Mariah, James, Edmond, Sarah, Lucy, Louis, Isaac, Lucindy, Bil, Silvy, Josh, Charles, Elith, Willis, Arthur, Esther, Rose, Howel, Eliza, Henry, Pheby, and Epsy; Sarah, Frank, Ann, Levy, Isaac, Edny and child, Tom, Jesse, Liza, Byrum, Peggy, Mary, Manuel, Arthur, Lewis, Mary, Jane, Lewis, Ruben, Mary (yellow), Sherard, Gatsy, Elias, Jason, Burt, Riley, Margaret, Nancy, Anica, Laura, Sampson, Emily, Calvin, Caroline, Julia, Dick, Patrick, Kate, Beck, Allen, Luvinia, London, Henry, Dury, Sarah, Adline, Haywood, Betsey, Lizz, John, Ephraim, Aaron, Gray, Winny, Morrison, Ben, Alsy, Violet, Bob, Hilyard, Ester, Pherby and child, Levi, Mac, Samuel, Arnold, Synthia, Ellen, Fondney, and Claricy.
Rufus W. Edmundson acknowledged that in 1842 he had received three enslaved people from his father along with land, work animals, two carts, and food staples. Curiously, none of the enslaved were named. Rather, they were “1 Negro Fellow likely age about 21 years …,” “1 [Negroe] Woman” about 18 years old, and “1 [Negroe] Boye” about 12.
Redmond S. Petway acknowledged receipt, on behalf of his wife Elizabeth Jane Edmundson, of Easter, Edmon, Jim, Cassel, and Mariah in December 1843 and March 1844.
Garry Edmundson confirmed that in 1843 his “Pa” had given him Bill, age 23 (but a “boy”); Silvy, age 26 (but a “girl”); Josh, age 10; Charles, age 7; and Elitha, an infant. He took the opportunity to grade Bill as medium quality; Silvy and Josh as inferior; and the youngest children as “likely,” i.e. strong and healthy.
In 1853, William L. Quarles, on behalf of his wife Caroline Edmundson, had received Rose, about 20, likely; Howell, 8 or 9, likely; Eliza, 8 or 9, ordinary; and Henry, 23 or 24, average. In 1855, he had received Phiby, 8, diseased (“did not recover”), and Epsy, 8, likely.
John F. Sanders (husband of Martha Edmundson) affirmed that in 1848 he had received Lewis; Lucy, 14, Sary, 13, Isaac, 7, and Lucinda, 6 (plus a mule and some cash.) All except Lewis were described as “likely.”
The rest of Edmundson’s children and his widow Susan Edmundson “took charge” of certain slaves before the estate was divided. Zilly Edmundson claimed Mary, Ann, Frank, Manuel, and little Mary. Penelope Edmundson snagged Alcy, Ester, Bob, Arthur, and Violet. Susan W. Edmundson took Cate, Beck, Patrick, Allen, and Luvinia. James P. Edmundson claimed Dury, Allen, Lun, Tom, and Lear. Their mother took Sherard, Gatsey, Jason, Sampson, Elias, Burt, Riley, Aniky and child Laura, Nancy, and Margaret.
Finally, the remaining unclaimed enslaved people were divided — “Drawn for by all children after setting apart certain slaves for equalizing advancements and certain slaves taken charge of by the widow.”
James Edmundson received Henry, Sarah, and Haywood, valued at $1800. Rufus Edmundson received Lizzie, Gray, Winny, Ann, and Betsey valued at $1675. John F. Saunders received Reuben, Cintha, Ellen, Fonzy, and Claricy, valued at $1850. Redmond S. Petway received Isaac, Edny, Eliza, Jesse, and Byron, valued at $1950. William L. Quarles received Calvin, Caroline, and Julia Ann, valued at $2150. Zillah Edmundson received Mary, Jane, Lewis, and Arnold, valued at $1500. Penelope Edmundson received Levi, Feriby, Mac, and Sam, valued at $1800. Susan Edmundson received Ephraim and Emily and her child, valued at $1900. Garry Edmundson received Ben, Sarah and her child, and Hilliard, valued at $1950.
The only black person who received anything of value among the multitude of transactions needed to resolve Edmundson’s estate was Sherrod, a “servant,” i.e. enslaved man. Sherrod filed a claim against the estate, asserting that Edmundson owed him nine dollars. As an enslaved person, Sherrod was incapable of entering into a binding contract, but Rufus W. Edmundson paid him nonetheless. On Christmas Day 1861.
We recognize several of the people distributed among Wright Edmundson’s wife and children as people he obtained in a controversial series of transactions with Abner Eason circa 1830: Sampson, born about 1811; Nancy (1806) and her daughter Phereby (1825); London (1827), Henry, and Sherrod. Edmundson also owned Nancy’s later-born children Alfred, Rose, Calvin, Nanna, Ann, and Howell, and Phereby’s daughter Lucinda.
Relatively few freedpeople in Wilson County adopted the surname Edmundson after Emancipation, and it is difficult to trace forward more than a handful of the men, women, and children Wright Edmundson held.
These couples registered cohabitations with Wilson County justices of the peace in 1866: Benjamin Edmundson* and Alsa Edmundson*, 12 years; Ephraim Edmundson* and Gatsey Rodgers, 3 years; John Edmundson* and Marie Edmundson, 1 year; Safronia Edmundson and Henry Peacock; Bettie Edmundson and Arthur Barnes, 17 years; Dewey Edmundson* and Solomon Woodard, 4 years; Gatsy Edmundson* and Sherard Ham, 24 years; Kate Edmundson* and Mason Bass, 4 years; Mary Edmundson* and Amos Ellis, 18 years. I have marked with an asterisk those couples that appear to have been held by Wright Edmundson.
The families I have found:
- Benjamin and Alsa Edmundson and daughter Violet Edmundson Pitt
In the 1870 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, North Carolina: Ben Edmundson, 55, farm laborer; wife Alsa, 39; and Violet, 18. [Alsa and Violet went to Penelope Edmundson, above. Ben went to Garry Edmundson.]
On 24 January 1871, Violet Edmundson married William Pitts in Wayne County.
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street, farmer William Pitts, 34; wife Violet, 25; and children Ailsey, 10, Martha, 5, Hattie, 3; and Laura, 10 months.
In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Ben Edmonson, 77, drayman; wife Elsy, 71; and boarder [granddaughter] Elsy Pitt, 25, “cooking”.
In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Violet Pit, 50, washing, and children Martha, 24, washing, Hattie, 22, cooking, Lula, 21, cooking, Ben, 19, tobacco stemmer, Carry, 12, cooking, Rosa, 16, nurse, Meaner, 11, Jenney, 5, and Edward, 2.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: laundress Violett Pitt, 58; daughters Lula, 28, Matha, 34, and Hattie, 30; and grandchildren Mary, 10, Harvey, 8, Frank, 7, Lizzie, 6, Jonie, 18, and William, 9; and daughter Mena, 20.
On 7 November 1915, Ed Battle, 24, of Wilson, son of Allan and Mariah Battle, married Rosa Pitt, 24, of Wilson, daughter of Bill and Viola Pitt, in Wilson. Shade Hines applied for the license, and A.M.E. Zion minister B.P. Coward performed the ceremony in the presence of Frank Barnes, Leonard Kornegay, and B[illegible] Edmundson.
Rosa Pitt Battle died 26 December 1919 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 2 January 1884 in Wilson County, N.C, to William Pitt and Violet Edmundson; was married to Eddie Battle; and lived at 804 Vance. Mena Pitt was informant.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 804 Vance, widow Violet Pitt, 70, and daughters Elise, 45, Lula, 39, Mena, 29, and Elizabeth, 16.
Elsie Pitt died 19 June 1938 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born in 1875 in Wilson to William Pitt of Nash County and Violet Emerson [Edmundson] of Wilson County; was single; lived at 903 East Vance; and was buried in Wilson [probably in Vick Cemetery, but possibly the newly opened Rest Haven.] Ximena Martinez was informant.
In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Ephram Edmundson, 25, farm laborer; wife Gatsey, 23; and children Mary, 6, and Buck, 4.
In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Gatsey Edmundson, 35; children Buck, 14, Mattie, 12, Louise, 10, Jorden, 8, and Marcellus, 1; and Waity Barnes, 18.
On 4 February 1890, Ephram Edmundson, 45, married Harriet Ruffin, 20, in Wayne County, N.C.
In the 1900 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, N.C.: farmer Lewis Artice, 49; wife Mattie, 46; children Loney, 21, Arthur, 18, Ida, 17, Andrew J., 14, Minnie, 11, Floyd, 8, and Ivey, 26; boarder Ephram Edmundson, 60, widower; and mother-in-law Sarah Evans, 70, widow.
In the 1910 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, N.C.: Ephram Edmundson, 60, and daughters Sarah, 19, Sallie, 16, and Merdy, 1.
Sallie Mayo died 15 January 1943 in Nahunta township, Wayne County. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 April 1894 in Wayne County to Ephrim Edmundson and Harrett Ruffins; was single; and was buried in Lanes cemetery, Stantonsburg.
- Drury Edmundson Woodard Randall
On 3 April 1866, Solomon Woodard and Dewey Edmundson registered their four-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace.
In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Solomon Woodard, 30, farmer; wife Dewry, 25; and Mary, 3.
Solomon Woodard died early in 1878, and Drury Woodard relinquished administration of his estate to James S. Woodard.
On 25 December 1879, George Randal, 23, married Dury Woodard, 33, in Wilson County.
In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer George Randal, 23; wife Drewry, 34; and stepdaughter Mary, 14.
On 12 May 1866, Mason Bass and Kate Edmundson registered their four-year marriage with a Wilson County justice of the peace.
In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Mason Bass, 32; wife Katy, 33; children Spicy, 7, Bettie, 6, Riley, 1, and Nathaniel, 2 months; Mary, 53, Eliza, 28, and Sarah Bass, 16; and Ruffin Barnes, 18.
In the 1880 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Mason Bass, 43; wife Kate, 45; and children Isicy, 17, Bettie, 16, Amanuel, 2, and Mattie, 10 months.
In the 1900 census of Coahoma County, Mississippi: North Carolina-born Mason Bass, 63; wife Katie, 65; children Emanuel, 22, and Amelia, 18; and granddaughter Conelus, 1. Next door: Olie Henry, 45; wife Spicie, 37; and their children Amie, 14, William, 5, and Nathan, 3.
Amos Ellis and Mary Edmundson registered their 18-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace on 2 July 1866.
In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: next door to Isom and Patience Ellis, farm laborer Amos P. Ellis, 47; wife Mary 40; and children Adeline, 23, Authur, 19, Learh, 17, Mary, 15, Jane, 11, and Lewis, 10; plus Authur, 65, and Betsey Barnes, 60.
- Levi and Phenly [Phereby?] Edmundson and children Allen, Mack, Samuel, and infant
This family went to Penelope Edmundson as a partially intact group, without their oldest children. Son Allen, for example, was placed with Susan Edmundson.
In 1867, Levi Edmundson, son of Dick and Peggy Barnes, married Ferly Edmundson, daughter of Ned Amerson and Nancy Edmundson, in Wilson County. [Nancy and her daughter Phenly/Pherly/Phereby came to Wright Edmundson from Abner Eason. Phenly had a daughter Lucinda, and Nancy’s additional children included Alfred, Rose, Calvin, Nanna, Ann, and Howell.]
In the 1870 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Levi Edmondson, 55; wife Phenly, 47; and children Mack, 16, Samuel, 13, Milly, 10, Cora, 8, and Dock, 5.
In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Pheny Edmundson, 60, and children Mack, 24, Allen, 28, Lumilar, Doctor, 15, and Albert, 10.
On 23 December 1880, Allen Edmundson, 30, son of Levi and Fearby Edmundson, married Vicy Woodard, 29, daughter of Bright Thompson and Bidie Thompson, at Benjamin Woodard‘s residence in Wilson County. D.G.W. Ward performed the ceremony.
On 3 November 1883, Mack Edmundson, 26, married Harrett Newsom, 24, in Stantonsburg, Wilson County,
In the 1900 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County: farmer Mack Edmundson, 44; wife Harriet, 38; and children Levy, 16, Annah, 13, Mack, 9, Arthur, 7, Cora, 5, and Albert, 3.
On 26 February 1907, Mack Edmundson, 50, son of Levi and P[illegible] Edmundson, married Fannie Wooten, 40, daughter of Irvin and Bedie Exum, in Wayne County.
In the 1910 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County: farmer Mack Edmundson, 54; wife Fannie, 44; and children Mack, 19, Arthur, 16, Cora, 15, Albert, 13, and Almeter, 11.
On 17 February 1915, Mack Edmondson, 22, of Wayne County, son of Mack Edmondson and Harriet [no maiden name], married Pearline Taylor, 19, of Black Creek, daughter of Arnold and Alice Taylor, at Arnold Taylor’s in Black Creek, Wilson County. Walter H. Artis, John H. Artis, and Edward Artis were witnesses.
Cora Artis died 16 October 1936 in Nahunta, Wayne County. Per his death certificate, she was born 1894 in Wayne County to Mack and Harriet Edmundson and was married to Walter Artis.
Mack Edmundson died 6 May 1961 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Per his death certificate, he was born 5 May 1891 in North Carolina to Mack Edmundson and was married to Pauline Edmundson.
Almeter Edmundson Dickerson died 2 August 1975 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 20 February 1902 to Mack Edmundson and Ferbie(?) Edmundson; was married to Fred Dickerson; and resided at 308 Finch Street.
