1860s

Wilson township enslavers.

The 1860 slave schedule is the only known surviving, contemporaneous list of the men and women who enslaved black people in Wilson County. It is not a list of the enslaved themselves, as none are named in that census. Rather, the schedule described people by “color” (black or mulatto), sex, and age.

Organized by township, this series will set forth these enslavers, the number of people they held in 1860, and the ages of the youngest and oldest people held. Where possible, I will also name people known to be enslaved by each person. They may or may not correspond to the enslaved people described in the 1860 slave schedule. The paucity of such identifications is heartbreaking, and I continue to search.

Wilson district, which included the Town of Wilson and its immediate surrounds, was the southwestern end of Edgecombe County prior to 1855. The 1860 slave schedule lists 118 enslavers — far more than in any other township of Wilson County — the largest of whom were William Barnes, who held 79 people, and his brother Joshua Barnes, who held 67 people and controlled another 29 as a trustee for minor heirs.

B.H. [Benjamin H.] Bardin — 13, aged 1 to 30 years

B.H. Bardin, in trust — 8, aged 1 to 30 years

J.J. [Jesse J.] Bardin — 5, aged 7 to 60 years

Willie Daniel — 18, aged 6 months to 37 years

Albert Farmer — 2, aged 13 and 15 years

Westley Swift — 12, aged 1 to 37 years

W.G. Jordan — 13, ages 1 to 40 years

R.D. [Robert D.] Johnston — 8, ages 2 to 39 years

W.W. [Willie W.] Winstead — 1, age 15 years

B.B. Barnes — 2, ages 23 and 52 years

William M. Gay — 10, ages 8 to 60 years

William M. Gay, in trust — 11, ages 8 to 70 years

W.D. [Willie Daniel] Rountree — 5, ages 2 to 50 years

Moses Rountree — 4, ages 2 to 50 years

N.A.H. Godwin — 3, ages 10 to 30 years

Jesse D. Barnes — 6, ages 9 to 45 years

James D. Barnes — 35, ages 8 months to 56 years

William Murray — 1, age 50 years

S.M. [Spencer May] Warren — 1, age 31 years

Alfred J. Brown — 4, ages 2 to 26 years

E.G. [Edwin G.] Clark — 2, ages 11 and 13 years

Margaret H. Battle — 32, ages 1 to 68 years

Thomas C. Davis — 4, ages 4 months to 23 years

Edmund Moore — 23, age 6 months to 50 years

Lovet Peacock, in trust for one minor — 4, ages 3 to 28 years

Lovet Peacock — 2, ages 1 month and 30 years

John Hearn — 8, ages 7 to 38 years

William Hamlet — 1, age 30 years

Arthur D. Farmer — 5, ages 7 to 40 years

Sarah A. Stephens — 3, ages 12 to 66 years

Jane Hamlet — 2, ages 12 and 31 years (the younger described as “D[eaf] & D[umb]”)

Spencer Fountain — 1, age 11 years

A.C. Thomas — 1, age 14 years

Perry Barnes, in trust for one minor — 4, ages 18 to 60 years

Thomas D. Gay — 8, ages 1 to 28 years

Sallie Barnes — 2, ages 8 and 11 years

J.D. [Jonathan Dew] Rountree — 12, ages 4 months to 50 years

B[uckner D]. Stith — 1, age 38 years

Mary E. Ricks — 1, age 20 years

L.D. [Larry Dew] Farmer — 33, ages 2 months to 37 years

Elizabeth Farmer — 14, ages 9 months to 54 years

Jesse H. Adams — 31, ages 2 to 70 years

George Howard — 8, ages 6 to 39 years

Jacob S. Barnes — 20, ages 2 to 65 years

Jesse S. Barnes — 7, ages 4 months to 36 years

John Farmer — 21, ages 3 to 34 years + “left out on page,” 6 additional, ages 37 to 56 years

John Farmer, in trust for 6 heirs — 19, ages 8 to 63 years

George Barefoot — 10, ages 1 to 75 years

John S. Barnes — 1, age 7 years

Dempsey G. Barnes — 1, age 26 years

A.J. [Andrew Jackson] Barefoot — 15, ages 5 months to 60 years

Mary Barnes’ Sarah — age 100

James Tomlinson — 6, ages 3 to 30 years

John McGowns — 11, ages 2 months to 40 years

Ann Scarboro — 10, 6 months to 50 years

Benjamin Simms — 37, ages 3 months to 63 years

Larry Dew — 34, ages 3 months to 60 years

Joshua Barnes — 67, ages 8 months to 94 years

Thomas Jordan — 15, ages 9 months to 32 years

J.H. Martin — 1, age 21 years

Jacob Taylor — 6, ages 8 to 45 years

Julian Jordan — 4, ages 3 to 30 years

John Barnes — 8, ages 4 months to 27 years

William Tomlinson — 9, ages 2 to 54 years

Samuel Barnes — 3, ages 5 months to 24 years

Jonathan Bullock — 1, age 50 years

John W. Farmer — 10, ages 7 to 46 years

Ira G. Ellis — 8, ages 10 months to 32 years

Cornelius Jordan — 7, ages 2 to 50 years

John P. Clark — 5, ages 3 to 25 years

R.H. [Richard Hines] Blount — 27, ages 4 months to 80 years

R.H. Blount, in trust for 2 minor heirs — 2, ages 24 and 75 years

J.J. [Joseph J.] Lawrence — 2, ages 12 and 19 years

James Jordan — 4, ages 12 to 30 years

J.W. [James Watson] Davis — 2, both age 14 years

Martha Selby — 5, ages 3 to 45 years

Isaac Harris — 6, ages 1 to 26 years

John Dew — 27, ages 5 months to 39 years

Gray B. Sharp — 5, ages 14 to 52 years

Samuel Marshbourn — 18, ages 1 month to 65 years

Jonathan T. Dew — 7, ages 8 to 34 years

  • Edwin

David Dew — 7, ages 6 to 50 years

John Coleman — 2, ages 27 to 30 years

Patsey White — 8, ages 1 to 47 years

  • Stephen, Cherry, Luke, Thomas, Harriet, Fanny,

Isaac B. Farmer — 20, ages 6 months to 40 years

Nancy Farmer — 2, both age 50 years

Ephraim E. Cobb — 1, age 18

Isaac Farmer — 2, ages 45 and 50 years

Ceborn Farmer — 3, ages 9 to 55 years

Iredell Farmer — 1, age 20 years

Permelia Farmer — 1, age 55 years

Jesse B. Robbins — 5, ages 8 months to 38 years

Arthur Robbins — 10, ages 1 month to 60 years

John Thorn — 5, ages 2 to 25 years

S.B. Farmer — 14, ages 1 to 67 years

G.W. Ruffin — 22, ages 3 to 43 years

James Farmer — 1, age 94 years

Arthur B. Dew — 6, ages 3 months to 51 years

Lemon Ruffin — 21, ages 1 to 52 years

David Conner — 1, age 70 years

Elizabeth Amason — 4, ages 5 to 50 years

Calvin Rountree — 2, ages 1 and 36 years

Crissie Rountree — 1, age 8 years

  • Deley

Elizabeth Rountree — 6, ages 10 months to 61 years

James Rountree — 1, age 32 years

Charles Rountree — 8, ages 2 to 29 years

Margaret Rountree — 12, ages 1 to 37 years

Elisha Barnes — 1, age 23 years

James D. Barnes, in trust for 4 minor heirs — 5, ages 14 to 51 years

Charles F. Deems — 1, age 40 years

Jackson Brinkley — 2, ages 8 and 17 years

[no first name] Skinner — 1, age 25 years

Nathan T. Rountree — 3, ages 2 to 30 years

  • Patsey, Jane, Amos, George

John Harper — 3, ages 8 to 36 years

  • Jason, Lettice, Martha

O[swald]. Lipscomb — 9, ages 6 to 55 years

  • Stephen

Benjamin Bynum — 12, ages 1 to 41 years

Thomas Mollison — 3, ages 13 to 23 years

Walter Farmer — 13, ages 3 months to 55 years

A.S. [Alexander Spotswood] Cotton — 42, ages 1 to 70 years

Thomas Hadley — 39, ages 2 to 74 years

Calvin Parker — 13, ages 1 to 38 years

Jesse Fulghum — 9, ages 2 to 56 years

Alsey Stott — 2, ages 7 and 20 years

David Taylor — 5, ages 8 to 50 years

Thomas Johnston — 4, ages 11 to 56 years

Joshua Barnes, in trust for 2 minor heirs — 29, ages 2 months to 65 years

William Barnes Jr., in trust for 1 minor heir — 6, ages 9 to 38 years

 

Joyous Juneteenth 2026!

Though it’s not a precise reckoning, the 1870 federal census is the closest account we have of who was emancipated in Wilson County five years earlier. The 310 surnames inscribed above are those reported to the census taker by the newly freed (and a few freeborn).

We need no one’s permission to honor and amplify the memory of our forebears, and we needn’t wait for the government to teach us their stories and struggles. Today, we celebrate freedom, resilience, and the enduring legacies of the men, women, and children these names represent.

Pour one for the ancestors this Juneteenth!

——

Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19th and a federal holiday since 2021, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. It marks the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the end of the Civil War and slavery—more than two months after Appomattox Court House and two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Signal Boost: Lives of the Greene County United States Colored Troops.

Far fewer men escaped Wilson County to join the U.S. Colored Troops, but the close ties between southeastern Wilson County and western Greene County will make this talk by my friend Trisha Blount especially interesting to Wilson County researchers.

Register here From Enslavement to Reconstruction: Lives of the Greene County USCT before June 30.

Saratoga township enslavers.

The 1860 slave schedule is the only known surviving, contemporaneous list of the men and women who enslaved black people in Wilson County. It is not a list of the enslaved themselves, as none are named in that census. Rather, the schedule described people by “color” (black or mulatto), sex, and age.

Organized by township, this series will set forth these enslavers, the number of people they held in 1860, and the ages of the youngest and oldest people held. Where possible, I will also name people known to be enslaved by each person. They may or may not correspond to people described in the 1860 slave schedule. The paucity of such identifications is heartbreaking, and I continue to search.

Saratoga district (roughly today’s Saratoga and Stantonsburg townships) was the southern end of Edgecombe County prior to 1855. The 1860 slave schedule lists 69 enslavers in this section of Wilson County, the largest of whom, William Barnes, held 79 people in bondage and controlled another 26 as a trustee. This area, spanning the southeast from the borders of present-day Pitt and Greene to Wayne, was the epicenter of slavery in Wilson County.

Hickman Ellis — 23, ages 1 to 55 years

  • Hannah, Jim, Netty, Aaron, Rose, Mary, Hannah, Old Peter and Old Chaney, Jack, Margaret, Elvy, Hewel, Tempy, Peter, Harriet, Gray, Hardy, Chaney and child Isaac, Eliza, John, Milbry and child Betsy, and Nancy

J.J. [John J.] Lane — 10, ages 8 months to 28 years

Annie Exum — 3, ages 15 to 40 years

William Felton — 12, ages 1 to 40 years

  • Piney, Esther

Thomas J. Gardner [constable of Saratoga] — 1, age 55 years

Drewry Joyner — 9, ages 9 to 70 years

Elizabeth Eason — 3, ages 3 to 26 years

W.J. [William J.] Moore — 4, ages 2 to 22 years

Starkey Howard — 6, ages 1 to 36 years

L.S. Dilda — 1, age 31 years

John Thigpen — 2, ages 17 and 44 years

Nancy Scarboro — 10, ages 2 to 50 years

Seth Tyson — 1, age 45 years

Seth Tyson, in trust — 6, ages 2 to 20 years

Edwin Whitley — 1, age 55 years

G.W. [George W.] Stanton — 7, ages 3 to 72 years

G.T. [Gatsey] Stanton — 7, ages 4 months to 70 years

  • Harry, Violet, Eliza and child, Ben, Dan, and Edy.

H.M. [Henry M.] Thompson — 21, ages 8 months to 24 years

Alvin Bagley — 4, ages 1 to 26 years

John A. Rodgers — 15, ages 8 months to 60 years

William Barnes Sr. — 26, ages 1 to 63 years

J.J. Bynum — 9, ages 8 to 38 years

Reuben Bynum — 21, ages 2 to 85 years

Reuben Bynum, in trust — 29, ages 1 to 60 years

Willie [Wiley] Sims — 30, ages 1 to 52 years

Wright Edmundson — 63, ages 1 to 48 years

David Batts — 1, age 14 years

Penelope Ellis — 19, ages 1 to 75 years

Sallie Applewhite — 32, ages 3 months to 65 years

Temperance Ellis — 1, age 13 years

Robert A. Ellis, in trust — 5, ages 4 to 50 years

G.J. Felps — 2, ages 10 and 17 years

Laura Felps — 2, ages 12 and 14 years

Rebecca Stanton — 1, age 49 years

Sallie Stanton — 2, ages 8 and 27 years

Julia Stanton — 2, ages 15 and 18 years

William C. Ellis — 13, ages 4 to 38 years

J.N. Amason — 2, ages 10 and 70 years

James B. Peacock — 4, ages 1 to 18 years

Sarah Peacock — 8, ages 1 month to 60 years

Jonathan Applewhite — 5, ages 4 to 80 years

Orpa Applewhite — 2, ages 10 and 18 years

Celia Applewhite — 1, age 20 years

W.H. [William H.] Applewhite — 2, ages 8 and 38 years

J.H. [James H.] Armstrong — 10, ages 6 to 55 years

Augustin Farmer, in trust — 2, ages 45 and 70 years

Rufus Edmundson — 35, ages 1 to 38 years

Warren Woodard — 21, ages 1 to 53 years

Washington Barnes — 5, ages 12 to 50 years

Winifred Bass — 2, ages 7 to 22 years

Jacob Barnes, in trust — 7, ages 2 to 45 years

Eliza Bass — 5, ages 8 months to 60 years

Joseph Peacock — 4, ages 10 to 44 years

Sarah Peacock — 8, ages 1 month to 60 years

Mahaly Barnes — 13, ages 4 months to 52 years

Macon Moye — 21, ages 2 months to 80 years

C.C. [Calvin C.] Peacock — 13, ages 4 to 25 years

John Wilkinson — 3, ages 20 to 55 years

John Hardy — 1, age 12 years

R.W. [Dr. Robert W.] King — 7, ages 2 to 35 years

E.G. [Edwin G.] Whitley — 28, ages 2 months to 67 years

Penelope Anderson — 4, ages 4 to 40 years

  • Olive, Larrow, Rose, Ellen, Evaline, Rody, Lucy the child of Olive, Jack, Ben, Judy, and Anaky

Edwin Barnes — 48, ages 3 months to 50 years

Edwin Barnes, in trust — 15, ages 1 month to 35 years

  • Dinah, Mason, Dick, Jane, Caroline, Handy, Grace, Pearce, Beck, Peg, Delpha, Turner, Lucy, Ginny, and Hester

William Barnes — 79, ages 1 month to 60 years

William Barnes, in trust — 26, ages 2 to 56 years

Praise for Lancaster’s Cotton Seed Sower: “any intelligent negro man” can work one.

Wilson County planters George W. Stanton, Robert M. Cox, and Benjamin H. Bardin lent effusive praise to this advertisement for Lancaster’s Cotton Seed Sower. None of them actually worked the fields themselves, so Stanton and Cox made clear that the “machine” was not too complicated for black farmhands.

The Norfolk Virginian, 21 February 1866.

The estate of Wright Edmundson (1861).

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.

  • Ephraim Edmundson

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.

  • Kate Edmundson Bass

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.

  • Mary Edmundson Ellis

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.

Estate File of Wright Edmundson, Wilson County, N.C., U.S. Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998, http://www.ancestry.com.