1850s

Hardy Lassiter Jr. sells brother land.

In 1854, Hardy Lassiter Jr., then about 26, sold his brother Green Lassiter, about 30, 16 acres of land in what was then Edgecombe County, N.C. By time the deed was recorded, Wilson County had been established.

This indenture made and entered into this day between Hardy Laster Jr. and Green Laster both of the County of Edgecomb & State of North Carolina witnesseth that I hardy Laster have bargained and sold unto Green Laster for Sixty six dollars Sixteen acres of Land in the County & State aforesaid adjoining B. Simms Lemon Ruffin & others beginning in Ruffins line thence across the Piney woods thence in a direct line with the crop fence & then with said fence to the Mill Pond to a water oak then across the mill pond to Green Lasters line then with said line out in the piney woods to the beginning a Stake containing sixteen acres more or less together with all the appurtenances thereon and I Hardy Laster do forever warrant & defend the wright & title unto Green Laster forever free and clear from any and person or persons whomever claiming the Same in witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this day 16th Sept. 1854. Hardy (X) Laster Witness J.W. Farmer, Josiah Farmer

Deed Book 1, page 56, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

Lynch vs. Odenheimer.

In 1856, Noah Lynch, a free man of color, pressed charges for trespass on the case against German immigrant Falk Odenheimer, claiming one hundred dollars as damages. (“Trespass on the case” was a common law action brought to compensate negligent harm.) Virgil Stephens, Isaiah Rawls, and H.L. Williford were subpoenaed as witnesses, but I have not found the outcome of the suit.

Civil Action Papers (1856), Wilson County, North Carolina Court Records, http://www.familysearch.org

Jacob Jones conveys 171 acres to his sureties.

Benjamin and Robert Simpson stood surety for Jacob Jones on two notes for debts Jones owned Robertson H. Baker totaling $557.37. On 2 April 1855, “desirous that the said Benjamin & Robert should not suffer any loss,” Jacob Jones conditionally conveyed to them a 171 1/2 acre tract that Jones had bought from Baker. However, if Jones paid off his notes, the deed would be void.

Deed Book 1, page 32, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

Tarrell Parker binds himself.

In 1855, when he was about 18 years old, free man of color Tarrell Parker voluntarily apprenticed himself to Gilbert Parker for six months. What could have driven him to this arrangement?

Know all men by these presents that I Terril Parker of the County  and State aforesaid for and in consideration of the Sum of Fifty Dollars to me in hand paid do bind myself to Gilbert Parker until the first day of January next given under my hand & my seal June 15th 1855    Terril (X) Parker Witness L.J. Sauls

Deed Book 1, page 31, Wilson County Register of Deeds, Wilson.

The apprenticeship of Wright Mitchell.

Fourteen year-old Wright Mitchell, a free boy of color, was apprenticed to serve John A. Lane until age 21. Lane had married Sarah Applewhite in 1852 and likely lived in the Stantonsburg area.

Minute Docket, Wilson County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, October Term 1858, Wilson Court Dockets 1855-1868, http://www.ancestry.com

Advertising sale of negroes.

University of Pennsylvania-trained physician Lewis J. Dortch of Stantonsburg died in October 1854, leaving an estate that included nearly three dozen enslaved people. We examined here the disruption created by movement of these people into short-term hires in Stantonsburg and over the county line in Nahunta district, Wayne County.

In fact, W.T. Dortch, the Goldsboro lawyer appointed to administer his brother’s estate,  placed multiple rounds of advertisements for the “sale of Negroes” as far away as the Wilmington Journal.

Receipt for ads placed in 1855 in Goldsboro newspapers the North Carolina Telegraph and the Tribune.

Receipt for 1859 ad in the Wilmington Journal.

I have not been able to find digital copies of the newspapers in which these notices were published.

Estate of L.J. Dortch, Probate Estate Case Files 1854-1959, Wilson County, N.C., http://www.familysearch.org.

The sale of Arthur, Richmond, Celia and her child Winny, and Lydia.

James W. Bridgers died without a will in the spring of 1850 in what was then Edgecombe County. (He and his family lived near Shallingtons Mill, adjacent to James Barnes, David Shallington, and Eli Robbins.) He left a widow, Millicent Freeman Bridgers, and eight children, adults William F. Bridgers, Reddin Bridgers, Thomas Bridgers, and Mary Ann Bridgers Barnes (wife of James W. Bridgers), and minors John Bridgers, Sally Ann Bridgers, Joseph Bridgers, and Edwin Bridgers.

James Barnes (a “miller”) was appointed administrator of the estate. After settlement of all debts, there remained five enslaved people — Arthur, Richmond, Celia, Lydia, and Winny. William F. Bridgers had paid off the purchase of some of the enslaved people. All the children wished to divide the enslaved people equitably, which was not possible without liquidation by sale, which they petitioned a court to approve.

John G. Williams was appointed commissioner to sell the five on six months’ credit with interest from date of sale. On Christmas Eve day, 1852, Williams opened bidding at the Bridgers’ house. Arthur was “nocked off” to Allen May for $701.15. David Williams bought Rich for $687. James W. Barnes bought Celia and her child Winny for $665, and William Thomas was high bidder for Lydia at $307. Thus, a small community, perhaps of kinspeople, was torn four ways.

 

The last will and testament of Jacob S. Barnes (1857).

On 11 November 1857, Jacob S. Barnes of Edgecombe County (present-day Gardners township in Wilson County) executed a will in which he bequeathed, among other things:

  • to wife Fanny Barnes Debby, Bob, George, William, Silvey, Manda, Sarah, Belcher, Deller, Dolly, Dick, Jo, Willis, Henry, Easter, Mary, and their increase

  • also to wife Fanny, for her lifetime, a negro girl Jane (to go to Jacob Bass after Fanny Barnes’ death)
  • to Julian Bass, for her lifetime, Nancy, Piety, Martha, and John (to go to her children after her death)

North Carolina Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998, http://www.ancestry.com.

The last will and testament of Sarah Jernigan (1849).

When Sarah Jernigan drafted her will on 20 July 1849, she lived in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, but her estate entered probate in Wilson County. (I have not found the estate file.)

To daughter Penelope Anderson, she bequeathed enslaved people Olive, Larrow, Rose, Ellen, Evaline, Rody, Lucy the child of Olive, Jack, Ben, Judy, and Anaky.

To friend [actually son-in-law and Methodist circuit rider] Nathan Anderson, in trust for Jernigan’s daughter Elizabeth Whitley (so as to keep the property free from control of her husband Edwin G. Whitley), she bequeathed Dinah, Mason, Dick, Jane, Caroline, Handy, Grace, Pearce, Beck, Peg, Delpha, Turner, Lucy, Ginny, and Hester.

Nathan Anderson is listed in the 1850 slave schedule of Edgecombe County with 14 enslaved people. He died in 1859, leaving widow Penelope and four young children. His estate mentions the hiring out of enslaved people — which brought in hundreds of dollars in income per year — but does not name them.

Penelope Anderson is listed in the 1860 slave schedule of Saratoga district, Wilson County, with only four enslaved people. Her near neighbor Edwin Barnes, who was administrator of Nathan Anderson’s estate, is listed as holding 15 enslaved people as the trustee for four minors (the Anderson children).

Few African-American Andersons and no Jernigans appear in post-emancipation Wilson County records. If the people Sarah Jernigan enslaved remained in the area, they largely adopted other surnames.

——

  • Olive

In 1866, Olive Anderson and Leavie Barnes registered their 24-year cohabitation with a Wilson county justice of the peace.

In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Levi Barnes, 45; wife Olive, 50; children Samuel, 19, Charles, 10, Rachel, 18, and Celia, 15; Adeline Whitley, 23; Dinah Whitley, 70; and Dewey, 12, and Richard Whitley, 42.

  • Larrow
  • Rose
  • Ellen
  • Evaline
  • Rody

In 1869, Rhody Anderson, daughter of Lee Anderson and Olif Anderson, married Stephen Moore, son of Stephen Moore and Jinsey Moore, in Wilson County.

In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Stephen Moore, 23, farm laborer; wife Rodah, 23; and son Lazarus, 8 months.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Rhoda Moore, 30, works on farm, and children Lazarus, 10, Peter, 8, and Nelly, 4.

Ida Jenkins died 29 December 1921 in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Per her death certificate, she was 36 years old; was born in North Carolina to Stephen Moore and Rhoda [no maiden name] and was married. Frank Jenkins was informant.

  • Lucy, daughter of Olive
  • Jack
  • Ben

Perhaps, in the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Benjamin Anderson, 39; wife Catharine, 38; and children Robert, 13, Joseph, 10, Dink, 8, Dinah, 4, and Lucy, 1.

  • Judy
  • Anaky

In the 1870 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Anaka Anderson, 35, and children Fanny, 15, Seth, 7, Benjamin, 4, and Bettie, 2.

  • Dinah

Probably: in the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Levi Barnes, 45; wife Olive, 50; children Samuel, 19, Charles, 10, Rachel, 18, and Celia, 15; Adeline Whitley, 23; Dinah Whitley, 70; and Dewey, 12, and Richard Whitley, 42.

  • Mason

Possibly: in 1866, Mason Whitley and Marendy Bryan registered their 17-year cohabitation.

  • Dick

Probably: in the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Levi Barnes, 45; wife Olive, 50; children Samuel, 19, Charles, 10, Rachel, 18, and Celia, 15; Adeline Whitley, 23; Dinah Whitley, 70; and Dewey, 12, and Richard Whitley, 42.

In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Richard Whitley, 54, and wife Becky, 41.

  • Jane
  • Caroline
  • Handy
  • Grace
  • Pearce
  • Beck
  • Peg
  • Delpha
  • Turner
  • Lucy
  • Ginny
  • Hester

North Carolina Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998, http://www.ancestry.com.

The last will and testament of Daniel Land (1851).

In a will dated 29 March 1851, Daniel Land left his wife Martha a life estate in, among items, four enslaved people — Jason, Violet, Boston, and Venus. (Land lived in a section of Edgecombe County that became Wilson County in 1855. Interestingly, in the 1850 census of Edgecombe County, Land, whose occupation was “overseer of the poor,” claimed no slaves.)

Land’s estate was inventoried and sold on 21 December 1857. The administrator made note of the property passed via the terms of his will.

However, his remaining enslaved people were sold on twelve months’ credit: Louis, Mary and her child George, John, Cherry and her child Lonzo, and Caroline.

——

  • Jason Land

On 21 August 1866, Jason Land and Caroline Pender registered their four-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace.

  • Venus Armstrong Drake

In late December 1867 or very early January 1868, Thomas Drake, son of Thomas Avent and Lucinda Drake, applied for a marriage in Wilson to marry Venis Armstrong, daughter of Mary Armstrong. The license was not returned.

In the 1880 census of Town of Toisnot, Wilson County: railroad worker Thomas Drake, 34, wife Venus, 28, and children Jane, 9, Isaac, 7, John T., 3, and an unnamed infant, 1 month.

In the 1900 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Broad Street, farmer Thomas Drake, 55; wife Virginia [Venus], 46; and children Mattie, 20, cook, Ernest, 15, and Clarence, 11.

In the 1910 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Tom Drake, 65, wife Venus, 62, and  daughter Pearl, 10.

Venus Drake died 5 February 1917 in Elm City, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was about 55 years old; was a midwife; was born in Edgecombe County to Amos Braswell and Mary Braswell; and was buried in [Elm City] “col. cemetery.” Tom Drake was informant.

  • Mary Land Braswell

In 1866, Mary Land and Amos Braswell registered their 14-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace.

In the 1870 census of California township, Pitt County, N.C.: farmhand Amos Braswell, 40; wife Mary, 35; children John, 17, and Polly, 15; and Fereby Bassett, 28.

  • Lewis Land

In the 1870 census of Joyners township, Wilson County: Lewis Land, 30, farm laborer; wife Martha, 29; and Winnie, 10, and Charles, 2.

North Carolina Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998, http://www.ancestry.com.