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The trouble started at a corn shucking.

Inquisition over body of Tom Barnes

North Carolina, Wilson County}

The examination of Hilliard Hill, Frank Lipscomb, Bill Barnes and Geo. Barnes taken before the under-signed, Coroner of said county, this the 23rd day of Nov., 1910, in the Grand Jury room, after having viewed the body, upon the body of Tom Barnes, to-wit:

Hilliard Hill, being duly sworn, says: The trouble started at a corn shucking at Jno. Webbs. All had been drinking pretty heavy. I was about drunk. I was talking to Mr. Geo. Barnes and Jim Donnelly was standing around. Tom Barnes walked up and said “What in the hell are you all talking about?” Some one pushed him off and told him to go on. In a few minutes we heard a fuss about forty yards away like some one fussing about to fight. We went to where the fuss was and found Tom Barnes lying down and Jim Donnelly standing over him trying to stamp him, but we stopped him. Tom and Jim went on off, and Tom was cursing. We went back towards house and pretty soon heard pistol fire, and we went where they were and Jim said “Dam it. I had to kill him” or “Dam it, I am about to kill him.” Jim went back towards Mr. Webb’s house. He Tom died in a few moments after he was shot. Tom and Jim were at the corn shucking when I got there. I don’t know whether they had been fussing previously or not. After Tom was shout I saw a pistol in Jim’s hand. Did not see a knife nor pistol before shooting. Jim and Tom were both drinking.   Nov. 23rd, 1910  /s/ Hilliard Hill

Frank Lipscomb, being duly sworn says: Tom Barnes and Jim Donnelly got into a dispute about “holloaing” at the corn shucking. Pretty soon we saw some one fighting. We went down there and Tom was down on his face and Jim was trying to get to him again. Jim had a pistol in his hand. I tried to get it away from him, but didn’t get it. I, Bill, Tom Barnes and Hilliard Hill went towards road and Jim was walking along by the side of Tom with pistol by the side of his (Tom’s) head. Jim was cursing Tom. When we got to the road Jim said to Tom “I am a great a mind to kill you any how.” Tom said “If you kill me you will have to do it.” Then Jim said “Don’t you say much to me, if you do I will kill you any how.” Then he stuck the pistol to the side of his Tom Barnes head and shot him. Tom was standing in the road before he was shot with his hands to his side, was not trying to him or cut him. Didn’t see a knife nor pistol in Tom’s hand. Jim Donnelly killed Tom Barnes — I saw him. After Tom fell I started towards Mr. Webb’s and Jim said to me “Don’t you go another but further that way” (and he drew him pistol on me) “if you do I will kill you.”    Nov. 23rd, 1910 Frank (X) Lipscomb

Bill Barnes, being duly sworn, says: Tom Barnes is my son. I was on Mr. Webbs portch giving out the “holloa.” Saw two men run down towards stable, and I ran out that way too. Just as I ran out the side gate heard a pistol fire back of stables. When I got down there Tom was down and Jim was trying to stamp him, but didn’t do it — Hilliard Hill pulled him off. Jim had a pistol in his hand and told me not to come on him, waving his pistol towards me. Tom was not shot then. I, Hilliard, Frank, Tom, and Jim started towards road, but I didn’t go to the road. I was about 100 yds. away and heard a pistol shot and saw the light. I went to Tom and he died in about ten minutes. I saw Him going towards Mr. Webbs with his pistol in his hand, and wouldn’t let Hilliard Hill go up to him. Never heard of any fuss between them before. All were pretty full.  Nov. 23rd, 1910  /s/ Bill Barnes

Geo. B. Barnes, being duly sworn says: When the “holloaing” was going on Jim Donnelly came to me on the porch and said “I have got to kill Tom to-night.” I tried to get him not to do it, but he said “I am bound to do it.” Didn’t say why he was going to kill him. Pretty soon I heard a pistol fire. For about fifteen minutes heard a second shot and saw light.  Nov. 23rd, 1910  /s/ George Barnes

Verdict

We the undersigned Coroner’s jury, find that the deceased, Tom Barnes, came to his death from a pistol wound, said pistol being in the hand of Jim Donnelly, and that the act was premeditated and willful. /s/ J.D. Williams, R.B. Evans, [illegible], W.L. Lucas, J.F. Batts, D.T. Turner, Jurors

Henry B. Best, M.D., Coroner of Wilson Co., Nov. 23rd, 1910.

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  • Hilliard Hill

In the 1880 census of Lower Town Creek township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: farmer Sol Hill, 28; wife Hannah, 24; and sons Hilliard, 6, and William, 2.

On 13 December 1892, Hilliard Hill, 21, of Wilson, son of Solomon Hill and Hannah Hill, married Ada Howell, 16, of Wilson, daughter of Caroline Hall, at the bride’s home in Wilson township. H.S. Edwards applied for the license, and the ceremony took place in the presence of M.L. Phillips, Charlie Neal, and Bettie Sanders.

In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: teamster Hilliard Hill, 24; wife Ada, 18; and daughter Hanah, 1.

In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: planing mill laborer Hilliard Hill, 35; wife Ada, 29; and children Hannah, 11, John, 7, Mildred, 3, and Edwin, 1.

  • Frank Lipscomb

In the 1870 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: carpenter Stephen Lipscomb, 49; wife Mariah, 29; and children Anna, 13, Tilitha, 12, Betha, 12, Frank, 10, Archibald, 8, Penny, 6, and Daniel, 1 month.

In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Frank Lipscomb, 42; wife Roda, 43; and children John, 18, Lizza, 17, Jona, 14, Mariah, 9, and Sarah, 5.

In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Frank Lipscomb, 53; wife Rhoda, 54, laundress; daughter Maria, 20; and grandsons James, 3, and Willie Lipscomb, 3 months, and Rosavell Barnes, 7.

On 10 May 1913, Frank Lipscomb, 55, married Sue Cooper, 28, in Wilson township, Wilson County.

Frank Lipscomb died 5 October 1941 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 80 years old; resided at Wilson County Home; was a widower; was a farmer; and was born in Wilson County to Stephen and Mariah Lipscomb. Johnnie Coley was informant.

  • Will Barnes
  • Tom Barnes
  • George B. Barnes
  • Jim Donnelly
  • John Webb

Coroner’s Inquests (1910), Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

The obituary of Samuel Barnes.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 November 1933.

On 9 October 1895, Saml. Barnes, 26, married Ida Hinton, 22, at Ida Hinton’s in Wilson. L.B. Williams, A.M.E. minister, performed the service in the presence of Nannie Brinkley, Braswell R. Winstead and Alex Hinton.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: drayman Sam Barnes, 26, wife Idda, 25, a washerwoman, and daughter Tinnie, 2.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Francis Barnes, 63; son Sam, 40, oil wagon driver; daughter-in-law Ida, 38, laundress; granddaughter Liu[intelligible], 11; and daughters Annie, 23, housemaid, and Nannie, 21, cook.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 615 Viola Street, public drayman Samuel Barnes, 50; sister Fannie, 27, a public cook; wife Ida, 45; and daughter Lurean, 21, public school teacher.

Nunnie Barnes died on 26 August 1921 in Wilson, leaving a sizable estate. Her siblings Sarah Joyner, Annie Alexander, and Sam Barnes were her heirs, and her estate was estimated as a one-quarter interest in a house and lot at 604 Viola Street (worth about $500) and other property totaling about $2400.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 604 Viola, drayman Sam Barnes, 56, wife Ida, 52, and daughter Lorine, 29, a school teacher.

Wilson Daily Times, 15 November 1933.

Charles Barnes, who died in service to his country.

Wilson Daily Times, 31 July 1919.

Charles Barnes was the son of Wesley and Ella Mercer Barnes. In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on the N.&S. Railroad, drayman West Barnes, 22, wife Ella, 47, laundress, and children Sylvester, 17, drayman, Viola, 15, cook, and Charlie, 13, laborer at wholesale store, plus son-in-law James Watson, 23, drayman, wife Lucy, 22, cook, and children West, 4, and Lucy, 3 months. Charlie Barnes died of tuberculosis at an Army hospital in Asheville.

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  • Rev. B.P. Coward — Bryant P. Coward.
  • Arthur N. Darden
  • Elton Thomas
  • Arthur Moore — in the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer John Moore, 36; wife Mattie, 36, dressmaker; and sons Arthur, 14, William B., 7, Zack, 6, and James, 5.
  • Brodie Reed — Brodie Reid.
  • Charlie Will Farmer
  • Moses Parker
  • Connie Rountree
  • George Batts
  • Cordie Tillery — Cordy Tillery registered for the World War I draft in Wilson in 1917. Per his registration card, he was born 9 August 1889 in Manchester, Virginia; lived on Spring Street, Wilson; and was a convict (“misdemeanants”) with County of Wilson. Per his service card, he served two years honorably.

  • Joseph Faulkland — in the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Rachel Falkland, 44, and sons Jessie, 18, wagon factory laborer, Freddie, 18, farm laborer, John, 16, brickyard laborer, and Joseph, 13, farm laborer.
  • David McPhail
  • Burley Brooks

Jewel Jennifer Phillips, teacher, singer, songwriter.

The Evening Star, 1 December 1917.

On 30 November 1917, William H. Phillips, 25, of Raleigh, North Carolina, married accomplished pianist Jewel Jennifer, 18, in Washington, D.C. Dr. Phillips, in fact, had recently established a dental practice in Wilson, and the couple set up their home there.

The Phillipses had no children, and the marriage did not last. Before 1930 (when her former husband remarried), Jewell J. Phillips had returned to D.C., where she commenced a remarkable musical career under her maiden name and took a position in the business college her brother W. Emile Jennifer founded, the first of its kind for African-Americans in Washington.

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In the 1910 census of Washington, D.C.: at 445 Second Street, census office clerk William Jennifer, 40, born in Maryland; wife Syme, 31, born in Mississippi; children Harold, 15, born in Louisiana, Jewel, 13, and William, 10, born in Texas, and Archibald, born in D.C.; and mother-in-law Bettie Jones, 50, widow, born in Mississippi.

Washington Bee, 17 May 1913.

In 1917, Jewel Jennifer was appointed teacher at the Banneker School.

The Evening Star, 17 June 1917.

The Evening Star, 22 November 1917.

Six months later, newly married, she requested an official name change:

Strangely, Jennifer is also listed in the 1917-18 Catalogue of

In 1919, Jewel J. Phillips appears in the Raleigh, N.C., city directory as a teacher at Shaw University.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 332 South Spring, widow Ella Battle, 52, and her children Grace [Glace], 27, teacher Roberta, 29, tobacco worker John, 25, and Olga Battle, 11, shared their home with boarders Georgia Burks, 25, a Georgia-born teacher; chauffeur Theodore Speight, 17; and roomers William Phillips, 35, a dentist, and his wife Jewel, 23.

Washington Bee, 20 March 1920.

Jewel J. Phillips was still in Wilson when her brother Archibald Jennifer died in 1925.

The Evening Star, 

And she appears in the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory:

However, the same year, she filed a copyright for an original composition and listed her address as Washington, D.C.

In the 1929 Washington, D.C., city directory: Jennifer Jewel musician r 1243 N J av nw

In the 1930 census of Washington, D.C.: at 1243 N.J. Avenue, owned and valued at $20,000, Syme Jennifer, 49, manager at business college; daughter Jewel, 28, Jennifer School teacher; and roomer Flo. K. Williamson, 34.

Washington Tribune, 8 September 1934.

In the 1940 census of Washington, D.C.: at 1243 New Jersey Avenue, N.W., Emile W. Jennifer, 39, private school teacher; mother Syme L. Jennifer, 60, notary; and sister Jewel J. Phillips, 33, pianist for fraternal corporation.

Times Herald (Washington, D.C.), 1 February 1947.

Jewell Jennifer Phillips died 8 June 1949 at her family home at 1243 New Jersey Avenue, Washington, D.C.

The Evening Star, 11 June 1949.

The obituary of Theodore Pender.

Wilson Daily Times, 4 November 1944.

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In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: tobacco factory worker Johnnie Pender, 29; wife Ardena, 24; and children Robert L., 5, Therado, 4, Henry T., 3, Louvenia, 1, and Katie, 1 month.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: tobacco factory laborer Ordelia Pender, 33, and children Robert, 16, grocery store delivery boy, Theodore, 15, Henry, 13, Luvenia, 11, Kattie, 7, Dorthy, 6, Jessie, 5, Paul, 4, Harry, 3, and James, 2.

In 1943, Theodore Roosevelt Pender registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 24 November 1925 in Wilson County; lived at 1016 Roberson Street; his contact was mother Ideala Pender; and he worked for J.C. Penney Company.

Theodore Pender died 4 November 1944 at the State Hospital in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Per his death certificate, he was born 25 November 1925 in Wilson to Jonah Pender and Ardelia Barnes; lived at 1016 Robinson [Robeson] Street; worked at J.C. Penney; and was single.

The estate of Arnold Peele (1873).

We read here of half-brothers Jack Williamson and Willis Barnes, who were sons of Toney Eatmon. We now have evidence of another brother of Williamson, Arnold Peele.

Both Arnold Peele and his wife Hannah Eatmon Peele died in 1873.

On 10 July 1873, Jack Williamson renounced his intention to serve as administrator of Arnold Peele’s estate and requested that public administrator Larry D. Farmer serve instead.

The same day, Farmer applied for and was granted letters of administration. By his estimate, Peele’s estate was worth about $200 and his heirs were Jack Williamson, Charity Bynum, (who likely was his sister), and Joseph Farmer, executor of the estate of Hannah Peele. (Arnold Peele had no known living children, and the omission of Willis Barnes as an heir suggests that Peel and Williamson were maternal siblings.)

Receipt from L.D. Farmer to Isabell Eatman for “attending to stock &c of Arnold Peel,” dated 30 July 1873.

On 30 July 1873, L.D. Farmer offered Arnold Peele’s personal property for sale at auction. Isabella Eatmon, who may have been his stepdaughter, bid most often, winning numerous small household items. Among the neighbors who forked over small sums for various goods were John Kates [Cates], Sam Locust, Jack Williamson, Jacob Jones, and Orren Taborn. The entire sale netted only $215.55.

Hannah Peele died with a will, but I have not found a copy. Isabelle Eatmon, who presumably was her daughter, was her sole legatee and was paid out on 22 December 1873. (Hannah Eatmon Peele also had a son, Benjamin Eatmon, who seems to have predeceased her.)

On 26 September 1876, Sampson Bailey of Monticello, Arkansas, filed acknowledgement of receipt of the payout made to his wife, Charity “Cherry” Bailey.

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On 23 August 1866, Arnold Peel married Hannah Eatmond in Wilson County.

On 11 December 1868, Benjamin Eatman, son of Benjamin Winbun and Hanna Eatman, married Dina Locus, daughter of Gains and Zina Locus, in Wilson County.

In the 1870 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: Arnand Peel, 39, farm laborer; wife Hannah, 40; and Hannah Jr., 14.

The last will and testament of Sally Barnes.

Sally Barnes drafted her simple will on 22 April 1909, leaving all her property to her husband Ed Barnes and nieces Lizzie and Bruce Adams. Samuel H. Vick and Julia Burnett signed the document as witnesses. Barnes died months later, and Vick was appointed administrator of her small estate on 8 January 1910.

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On 3 June 1897, Ed Barnes, 22, married Sallie Johnson, 21, at N.A. Adams’ in Wilson County. Missionary Baptist minister Crockett Bess performed the ceremony in the presence of Adams, Alfonzo Graves, and J.W. McKay.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer Edwin Barnes, 25, and wife Sallie, 24. Next door: sawmill fireman Nathan Adams, 30; wife Bruce, 26; and daughters Lizza, 6, and Sissie, 4. [It appears in fact that Nathan Adams’ wife was Lizzie, and their daughter was Bruce.]

Bruce Adams died 25 April 1914 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 27 June 1894 in Wilson County to Nathan Adams and Lizzie Adams; worked as a cook; and was buried in Wilson [likely Vick Cemetery.] Lizzie Adams was informant.

Will of Sally Barnes (1910), Wilson, North Carolina, Wills 1663-1978, http://www.familysearch.org.

Aldridge and Boseman links to Wilson County.

We have seen the notices Guilford Horn published in 1850 seeking the return of a runaway enslaved man named Harry. Horn lived four miles north of Wilson in what was then Edgecombe County (and is now roughly just west of the Bridgestone tire plant.) He suggested that Harry might be “lurking” in the Texas neighborhood of Wilmington, North Carolina, where Sally Bozeman, his free-born wife, had recently moved.

Two years earlier, Guilford Horn had stood as bondsman for John Mathew Aldridge, a free man of color, who applied for a license in Edgecombe County to marry Catherine Bozeman, a free woman of color and likely the sister or close kin of Sally Bozeman.

In the 1850 census of Wilmington, there’s no sign of Sally, but: Matthew Ollage, 28; wife Catharine, 19; and sons William, 6 months, and J.H., 5. [John Henry Aldridge was Mathew Aldridge’s son by a first wife whose first name may’ve been Tabitha. John H. Aldridge’s children James Aldridge and Nina Faison Kornegay Hardy settled in Wilson in the early 1900s.] By 1860, Mathew and Catherine Aldridge were in Buck Swamp township, Wayne County (west of modern Pikeville), closer to his kin in southern Wayne County. Twenty year-old James Bosman lived with them and, like Mathew, worked as a railroad hand.