Births Deaths Marriages

Buried at the schoolhouse?

When 17 month-old John Jones Jr. died of malaria and meningitis in 1916, he was buried at “Jones Schoolhouse.”

Jones Schoolhouse? Was there a cemetery at Jones Hill School? Or was this the cemetery for Jones Hill Primitive Baptist Church, which was close by the school?

John Jones’ father William Anderson Jones was the son of Nathan and Joanna Jones and grandson of Joseph and Zilla Locus Jones, and thus a member of the large extended Jones family with roots as free people of color in Nash County. Many are buried in the Jones Hill cemetery, which seems the most likely location for this baby’s grave. (Another of William and Amanda Rowe Jones’ children — William Thomas Jones — was buried in New Vester church cemetery in 1915, as was Amanda Jones after her death in Wake County in 1927.)

The obituary of Alice Crawford.

Wilson Daily Times, 5 January 1943.

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On 15 August 1929, Daniel A. Crawford, 69, married Alice Merritt, 55, in Wilson.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 605 South Spring Street, Daniel A. Crawford, 74; wife Alas, 51; and children Daniel W., 25, Theodore R., 23, Jesse, 22, and Morton, 20.

Daniel A. Crawford died 14 January 1932 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 2 March 1856 in Alamance County, N.C.; was married to Alice Crawford; lived at 605 South Spring Street; and worked as a night watchman for Liggett & Meyers. Daniel Crawford was informant.

Alice Crawford died 2 January 1943 in Wayne County, N.C.

The last will and testament of Leah Ellis Barnes.

Leah Barnes executed her last will and testament in November 1914 with the following provisions:

  • to grandsons Paul and Louis Barnes, her house and lot on Viola Street adjoining the property of J.Z. Staton and Wash Pitt
  • to children Edward Barnes, Maggie Barnes, Mary Jane Lane, and Frank Barnes and grandsons Paul and Louis Barnes, all personal property, to be divided equally
  • Elder Jonah Williams to serve as executor and guardian to Paul and Louis if they were not yet 21 years of age

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In the 1900 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Laurence Barnes, 53; wife Lizzie [sic], 48;  and children Edwin, 18, Maggie, 15, Frank, 14, and Joseph, 12.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Lela [sic] Barnes, 55, widow, odd jobs laborer; children Edward, 26, wagon factory laborer, and Frank, 25, blacksmith; grandchildren Lewis, 9, and Maggie, 25, servant; and boarder Harry Draughn, 24. Leah Barnes reported that 6 of her 11 children were living.

Lear Barnes died 1 June 1915 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 62 years old; was born in Wilson County to Amos Ellis and Mary Edmundson; was a widow; and was buried in Wilson [likely, Vick Cemetery.] Maggie Barnes was informant.

The settlement of the estate of Elder Jonah Williams.

Clarissa Williams was appointed administrator of her father Jonah Williams‘ estate. She filed an inventory of his property, noting one $2000 life insurance policy (of which $900 had been borrowed against); a black horse; a lame mare; a horse wagon; a buggy cart; five plows; a cotton planter; a guano sower; five weeding hoes; a grubbing hoe; two shovels; two rake forks; a glass blade; a saw; seven barrels of “arn”; a half stock of fodder; and a house and lot on the south side of Green Street valued at about $1000.

In May 1917, Williams submitted to Wilson County Superior Court an account of the settlement of the estate. Across the two years after his death, Williams carefully tended her father’s affairs, paying tax bills and other debts, taking in farm income, and selling personal property. Several African-American men and women appear in the list, including Martha Dew Alston and Louvinia Hargrove for nursing services, Charles [S.] Thomas for barber services, Henry Tart for hack hire, Georgia A. Aiken for carriage hire, Dr. Frank S. Hargrave for medical services, and Rachel Falkland, Rose Barnes, Caroline Mercer, Cora Derring, Henry Joyner, Bisco Hagans, Wade Barnes, and Richard Pender for unspecified debts.

Probate Records 1905-1919, Property Settlement Records 1905-1923, Wilson County, North Carolina, http://www.familysearch.org.

The last will and testament of Andrew Parker.

Andrew Parker executed his last will and testament in May 1923, leaving all his property to his daughter Nancy Parker Locus [Lucas] and her daughter Rose Ella Parker. Parker lived another 12 years and, though he remarried, he apparently did not update his will.

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In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer James Parker, 39; wife Louisa, 40; children Andrew, 18, Martha Ann, 16, Samuel, 15, Henry, 13, James, 7, Sallie, 5, and Johnny, 2; grandson Charlie Vick, 2; and widowed mother-in-law Cherry Lindsey, 70.

On 5 February 1903, Andrew Parker, 21, of Wilson township, son of James and Louisa Parker, married Conteaster Vick, 25, of Toisnot township, daughter of Payton and Ellen Vick, in Wilson County.

In the 1910 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farm laborer Andrew Parker, 38; wife Lucas T., 26; children Julia A., 14, Nancy, 12, and Sylvester, 10; and brothers Johnie, 12, Joshua, 9, and Alex, 7.

On 7 September 1919, C. Floyd Locus, 21, of Toisnot township, married Nancy Parker, 20, of Toisnot township, in Wilson County. Missionary Baptist minister Elias Lucas performed the ceremony.

In the 1920 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Langley Road, farmer Andrew Parker, 43; wife Leasie, 43; Mary, 17, and Rosey, 4.

Lue C. Parker died 2 March 1922 in Toisnot township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 46 years old; was born in Wilson County to Payton Vick and Ellen Vick; and was married to Andrew Parker.

In the 1930 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer Andrew Parker, 55; wife Minnie, 33; Rosella, 15, and Catharine B., 12.

In the 1930 census of Bethesda, Maryland: coal yard laborer Floyd Lucas, 30; wife Nancy, 30, cook; children Elsie, 9, and Nanabel, 6; and brother Edward, 18.

Andrew Parker died 26 September 1935 in Toisnot township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was 67 years old; was born in Nash County, N.C., to James Parker and Lucy Lindsey, both of Edgecombe County, N.C.; was married to Minnie Parker; worked as a farmer; and was buried in Wilson.

Wilson Daily Times, 29 October 1935.

The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 12 January 1948.

State vs. Proctor and Ayers.

John W. Proctor and Harriet Ayers‘ interracial marriage made the news as far away as Raleigh. A grand jury indicted the couple in the fall of 1894 after a proceeding in which Thomas Hawley (alias Thomas Clark) and James Newsom gave testimony.

The couple were convicted. Proctor was sentenced to 12 months in county jail with permission from the court to hire him out. Ayers’ sentence was suspended on payment of one-half of court costs.

Adultery Records, Wilson County, North Carolina, Vital Records 1880-1915, http://www.familysearch.org.

Lane Street Project: what to expect on a service day.

So, you and your friends, family, or coworkers have decided to observe the spirit of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday or Black History Month by joining a Lane Street Project service day! Thank you!!

What can you expect at a clean-up day?

When you arrive, seasoned volunteers will be there to greet you. They’ll ask you to sign a waiver and invite you to add your name to a contact sheet to get more information about LSP activities. You’ll receive a brief orientation about our work, including do’s and don’ts, and will learn of the history and significance of Odd Fellows Cemetery. You’ll be asked what kind of tasks you’d like to engage in. (Remember: all ages and abilities are welcome!)

To help you decide how you might best contribute, here’s what you’ll see and where we’ll need the most help the first four service days.

  • Mowing and weedwhacking the front section

Ordinary lawnmowers and weedwhackers will work for this section, which contains the Dawson, Tate, Hines-Barnes, Mincey, and Vick family plots, among others. Be careful cutting around the headstones, as the soft marble is easily damaged by trimmer string.

  • New growth elimination

Inside the tree line, you’ll see light-colored twigs sprouting waist-high. These are new wisteria vines. Wisteria infests Odd Fellows Cemetery. We’ve made tremendous progress in eliminating the older growth — some of the vines were as thick as a man’s arm! — but cutting back new growth is a perennial task. Weedwhackers fitted with cutting disks are the best option for cutting these sprouts, which will then need to be raked to tarps for easy transport to the curb. There may also be dead tree limbs that can easily be dragged away. Place any brush in neat piles of lengths of about 6 feet for claw truck collection by the city’s Sanitation Department.

Removing the heavy canopy of wisteria has exposed the cemetery to increased sunlight, which spurs other new growth like these tiny pines. Cute as they are, they have to go. Weedeaters will make short work of this task.

On the other hand, never cut the yucca! These tough little plants were placed by families as grave decoration, and may be seventy to one hundred years old.

Privet, the green bushes seen above, are also highly invasive. They should be pulled up by the root if small or otherwise cut very low. Pruners, loppers, or hedge trimmers are best for this job.

  • Fence clean-up

We use the fence between Odd Fellows and Vick Cemeteries to post information and seasonal decoration. The little orange streamers that bear the names of all known Odd Fellows burials are torn and faded, as are flowers placed at the beginning of last season. A few small vines have also begun to grow through the wire. If you’d like to help remove them, please bring scissors or other small snipping tools.

The only known Wilson County grave of an African-American Spanish-American war veteran lies in Odd Fellows, about thirty feet from the fence. We know there are many World War I veterans buried here, too. Will anyone commit to replace our little flag and to remember our veterans on Memorial and Veterans Days?

  • Odds and ends

A shallow ditch partially separates the boundaries between Odd Fellows and Rountree Cemeteries. We cleared the worst of it last year, but need to tackle the regrowth.

Our Senior Force, led by Castonoble Hooks and Briggs Sherwood, has identified additional small trees for removal in the interior of Odd Fellows. This work will be done under their discretion and direction, depending on the skillsets and tools of volunteers and weather conditions.

If you’ve been out to Odd Fellows before, THANK YOU and WELCOME BACK!! If you’re a first-timer, THANK YOU — WE’RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU!

Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2024.

I believe he is dead.

On 5 December 1907, the Wilson County coroner held an inquest over the body of Charles Burton, who was found dead at the police station after “sleeping off” an afternoon of drinking.  The jury found no charges were warranted in Burton’s death.

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Jim White — Charles Burton – saw yesterday morning – [illegible] apparently drink in the evening – about night lying on straw – Lane phoned for Carmon to come out back – before Carmon came Aiken got police to arrest him – Had between six & seven dollars in pocket – saw no scars on forehead

Junius Korney — Half past five p.m. drunk then sent for pint of whiskey & drank some then lay down on straw

John Aiken — Come in about 3 o’clock accused Charles Burton being drunk denied it tried to walk line couldn’t do it, was drunk – After 4 o’clock pm came to stables & Charles on all fours drunk – Half past six phoned for police – Can’t sat say whether living at time or not – Saw no scars. Police came about 6.30 pm put Charles on dray perfectly limber – use no force in putting on dray – when went to get Burton he was in same position on “all fours” as about been earlier in evening this about 5.45 Lane remarked I believe he is dead Aiken felt of him & he was warm.

Allen Mitchell — stayed in guard house part of last night went in about 4 pm. Came out about 12 o’clock don’t know when came in with Charles Burton. Allen Mitchell put in for drunkenness and about 12 o’clock pm police came & asked if he was cold I told him there was a dead negro next door – saw fire in store

Amos Pender — saw Charles Burton at Aikens stable after after 2 o’clock he was drinking them – He sent me after pint of liquor – Took several drinks together I then went away. Came back between 3 or 4 o’clock – He sent out & got some more whiskey – & was about drunk then – Burton was hauling wood from my place which is about 4 miles from town.

John Lane — came to town 5.45 & was told that Burton was in the back oc Aikens stable drunk. Went about & saw Burton lying in manure pile – & said I said to Aiken “I believe this man in dead” but Aiken felt of him & said he was not drunk. I tried to get back to send him home but police came & they put him on dray & brought him to guard house – Didn’t handle him rough either putting him on or off the dray at the guard house. About 11 o’clock Burton told me he had six dollars for me & offered to give it to me. I told him to wait & turn it all in at once. He then asked me for a quarter which I gave him. He hauled another another load & got two dollars for it.

Charles Edwards — saw Charles Burton about 4.30 drunk & offered to pay to carry him home

Jack Barefoot — sent for to go to Aikens stables. I went and found Charles Burton doubled up on pile of straw apparently drunk dray at door so I waited at door while Aiken & two others went in & brought him out & put on dray Brought to station & three of us brought him in – Went to stables at 6.30 o’clock – Put double blanket on him when put him on cot – good fire in stove — was on duty from 5 o’clock pm to 5 o’clock am. Went in 11.40 pm & found him dead – when put on cot was lying on back – when found at 11.40 dead was lying on side with one arm under body & arm nearly out of sleeve

Frank Felton — went in station about 11.30 to get water. Barefoot went in to see about Burton came out & said he was dead. Went in & found him lying on side with arm under body

Officer Bryant — searched Burton this morning & found no money – on his person – this was about 8 o’clock this morning

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  • Charles Burton
  • Jim White
  • Junius Korney
  • John Aiken
  • Allen Mitchell — in the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Tillman’s Road, farmer Allen Mitchell, 54; wife Eliza, 44; and children Frank, 20, James, 16, Junius, 13, Allen, 11, Floyd, 9, Earnest, 7, Pearlie, 5, Edgar, 3, and Madie, 2.
  • Amos Pender — in the 1900 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer Amos Pender, 57, widower; daughters Vanedous, 22, and Rhoday, 19; and adopted daughter Prussie Armstrong, 18.
  • John Lane
  • Charles Edwards
  • Jack Barefoot
  • Frank Felton
  • Officer Bryant — George F. Bryant.

Wilson [County, North Carolina] Coroner Inquest Records 1859-1915, http://www.familysearch.org.

Application to sell Nelson Eatmon’s property.

On 1 September 1881, attorney Frederick A. Woodard, administrator, filed a petition to sell Nelson Eatmon‘s personal property for cash. The sale went forward on September 30, netting $180.50 for an assortment of farm tools, household furnishings, and two mules.

Wilson County [North Carolina] Record of Accounts 1875-1884, http://www.familysearch.org.