Children

Bynum accidentally shoots son.

Wilson Daily Times, 5 August 1924.

Wilson Daily Times, 3 September 1924.

Though John Wesley Bynum‘s death certificate describes his father John H. Bynum as “drunken,” the elder Bynum was not charged in the boy’s accidental death.

In the 1900 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Gray Bynum, 41; wife Hagar, 41; and children Rose, 17, John, 15, Martha, 9, Gray, 7, and Isaac, 12.

In the 1910 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer John H. Bynum, 25; wife Carry, 20; daughter Queen E., 5; mother Cherry, 52; and sisters Cora, 18, and Leeoner, 15.

In the 1920 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer John Bynum, 35; wife Carrie, 29; children Rosetta, 6, and John, 4; and nephew and nieces Isaac, 7, and Jeneva Bynum, 4, and Susan Bridges, 19; laborer Bruce Daniel, 19, and niece Susie Ward, 15.

In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: on Fountain Road, farm laborer John H. Bynum, 55; wife Carrie, 44; children Johnnie Jr., 15, Carrie, 8, and Beatrice, 5; mother Hagar Best, 87; nephew John W. Baker, 8; and cousin Ruth Farmer, 23. [John Jr. was born shortly after John Wesley’s death.]

John Wesley Bynum, known as “Snap.”

Snap Bynum’s photo courtesy of Ancestry.com user tashiaj1.

Doings about town.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 25 July 1931.

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An inquest into the shooting death of five year-old John Mercer.

In 1908, when an eight-year-old boy shot and killed another young boy, a Wilson County coroner’s jury recommended that he be bound to someone (for supervision and work) rather than charged with murder.

State of North Carolina, Wilson County }

We, the undersigned Coroner’s Jury, find that the deceased, Jno. Mercer, came to his death by a pistol shot in the hands of Nathaniel James (or Smith). The jury is of the opinion, however, that Nathaniel James should be bound out to some reliable person, and we recommend that the Clerk of the Court bind him out at once. The child not being old enough know the enormity of the crime, is the reason why we recommend the above.

/s/ J.F. Nadal, William Walls, E.L. Daughtridge, E.G. Barnes, J.A. Cutchins, J.C. Winstead Jurors, Henry B. Best, Coroner of County

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North Carolina, Wilson County }

The examination of Caroline Mercer, Mattie Pool, Mary Harriss, and Erdora James, taken before the undersigned, coroner of the county, this 25th day of May, 1908, near the house of Caroline mercer, upon the body Jno. Mercer then and there lying dead, to wit:

Caroline Mercer, being duly sworn, says: Jno. Mercer is my son and is five years old. El Nollia Smith and Dellzell Smith were out here playing, and I saw Nathaniel Smith come up with a gun in his hand, and he fired it. He was two feet from Jno. Mercer when he fired gun. Didn’t speak after he was shot. Nathaniel Smith is between nine and ten years old. My son’s back was to me and Nathaniel’s face was to me. My house is thirty yards from where shooting occurred. Is not in habit of playing with my children. Hasn’t had any fuss before. Boy wasn’t excited after he shot Jno. Didn’t run away. Doesn’t work any where. Don’t know where pistol is now, nor where he got it. Walked right up and shot him, Didn’t shoot butane. My children were playing and he came up and shot. Didn’t see pistol until he fired. He is considered a boy of good sense. He lives with his grandmother, mother being dead. He is a fussy boy, but never has had any trouble with my children before. May 25th, 1908.  Caroline (X) Mercer

Mattie Pool, being duly sworn, says: Looked out window from my house, thirty feet from where shooting occurred, and saw Nathaniel when he shot boy. Never heard boy who did shooting say anything. He ran away when he shot. Jno. Screamed when he got shot. Nathaniel was about three or four feet from Jno. when he shot. I got to Jno. first. Never spoke at all. Nathaniel is about eight years old. He, Nathaniel, is always running up and down street trying to pick a fuss with other children. Never has had any fuss with Caroline Mercer’s children. Was attended by Drs. Dickerson & [Frank S.] Hargrove, and died about half hour after being shot. Didn’t see pistol after he shot boy. I think he shot Jno. Mercer intentionally.  May 25th, 1908. Mattie (X) Pool

Mary Harriss, being duly sworn, says: I was talking to Mrs. Mercer and looked around and saw him falling. Looked around because I heard pistol fire. Never heard any fuss or talking before the accident. Saw Caroline’s children before. Never saw pistol after firing, nor boy that did shooting. Nathaniel is considered a bad boy by the neighbors. May 25th 1908. Mary (X) Harriss

Erdora James, being duly sworn, says: Nathaniel stays with grandmother. Pistol is kept in top bureau drawer of my aunt’s. Would know pistol if I saw it again. Heard pistol shoot, and ran out. Saw Mattie Pool & Lillie Taylor standing where accident occurred. My brother was eight years old, going on nine. Never heard him make any threats. Never saw brother before policeman got him. He stays all over streets in day time. Is wild and bad to manage. May 25th 1908    Erdora (X) James

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  • Caroline Mercer and son John Mercer

In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Stantonsburg Street, oil mill laborer Meadie Mercer, 35; wife Caroline, 29; and children Octavos, 8, and Mae, 2.

  • Mattie Pool

In the 1920 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: James Poole, 50; wife Mattie, 45; and boarder Mozella McCann, 22, tobacco factory laborers.

  • Mary Harriss
  • Nathaniel James and sister Erdora James

In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Florence James, 30, tobacco stemmery day laborer; children Earty, 6, and Nathaniel, 2; and boarder Israel Whitaker, 25, day laborer.

  • El Nolia and Delzell Smith
  • Lillie Taylor

Coroner’s Inquest (1908), Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

The sale of Temperance and her children Marian and David.

Deed Book 21, page 415, Edgecombe County register of Deeds Office, Tarboro, N.C.

On 21 February 1835, Willie (Wiley) Rountree, who lived on Contentnea Creek in what is now Wilson County, purchased an enslaved woman named Temperance and her children Marian and David for $812 from William Horn of Wayne County, North Carolina.

I.P. Thorne’s time with Sherwood’s Youth Band.

When Isaiah Prophet Thorne wrote to the Daily Times in 1941 asking for information about his family, he mentioned that he “was placed, when a small child, in Sherwood’s [Orphans] Schools, and later traveled with a school band.”

Preston and Edna Thorne and their elder children are listed in the 1880 census of Wilson County, and Isaiah was born about 1885. Both parents were reported living in 1890 when their daughter Hattie Thorne married, but may have died soon after, when Isaiah was still a young boy.

By 1893, Isaiah Thorne was the drum major of Sherwood’s band. Contemporary newspaper accounts, even when peppered with the casually cutting racism of the era, single out Thorne’s talent. In May, the band was in New England:

Morning Journal-Courier (New Haven, Conn.), 26 May 1893.

In August 1894, they entertained in the streets of Buffalo, New York:

Buffalo (N.Y.) Commercial, 7 August 1894.

Buffalo (N.Y.) Weekly Express, 9 August 1894.

 

Indoor circuses and other social events.

Baltimore Afro-American, 12 May 1928.

  • M. Lenard
  • Mrs. J.D. Reid — Eleanor P. Reid.
  • Mrs. Aline Darden
  • Mrs. Sarah Wilson — probably, in the 1930 Wilson, N.C., city directory: Wilson Sarah L (c) tchr Stantonsburg St Graded Sch r 209 N Reid
  • Mrs. M.S. Gilliam — Annie L. Gilliam.
  • Mrs. C.L. Darden — Norma D. Darden.
  • Artelia Barnes — Leo Artelia Barnes.
  • Inez White
  • Elroy Barnes
  • M. Fisher — probably, Milton Fisher.
  • William McCullers — in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1008 Washington Street, Clarence McCullers, 42, hardware store laborer; wife Rosa E., 37, who did washing; and son William E., 17.
  • Fletcher Pearce
  • Jesse Bullock — in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Joshuy Bulluck, 47; wife [illegible], 43; children Kattie, 23, Ruel, 21, Jessie, 20, Percy, 18, Maggie, 17, Joshuy, 16, Lonnie, 13, Mark, 12, James A., 10, Hermon, 9, Zeb, 5, Annie L., 8, and Wytelluse, 4.
  • Ruel Bullock 
  • Esmond Langley
  • Ameta Ellis — Ometa Ellis died 3 May 1928 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was married to Morriss Ellis; resided at 702 Nash Street; was 42 years old; and had been born in Wilmington, North Carolina, to Weldon Perrington of Wilmington and Louisa Scarborough of Wilson. Louisa Parrington was informant.
  • Sarah Williams
  • James H. Clarke — John H. Clark?
  • Thelma Barnes
  • Scott Hines — Elizabeth Scott Hines.
  • Rosa Lee Kittrell
  • Gerald Barnes — probably, Jerrell Randolph Barnes, who died 14 December 1929 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 7 May 1909; was single; worked as a common laborer; and was born to Ned Barnes and Louisa Gay. Informant was Alice Bryant, Wilson.
  • John E. Farmer — perhaps, in the 1940 csus of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Eula Farmer, 51, household servant; son John E., 30, laborer; and daughter Clifton, 24, movie theatre cashier.
  • Rufus Speights — Rufus Speight. in the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Speight Rufus (c) porter Wm Hines h 624 Viola. In 1940, Rufus Edward Speight registered for the World War II draft. Per his registration card, he lived at 624 East Viola; was born 4 October 1907 in Whitaker, North Carolina; his contact was brother Theodore Speight; and he worked for Bill Hines at 130 South Goldsboro Street.
  • Klondike Club
  • Herbert Mitchner — Hubert Mitchner.
  • Andrew Tate — in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 307 North Pender, seamstress Hattie Tate, 44, widow, and children Hellen, 23, insurance agent, and Andrew, 21, hotel bellboy, as well as lodger Lucy Davis, a public school teacher.
  • Douglass Ellis — in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 411 Pine, Windsor Ellis, 42, greenhouse gardener; wife Rachel, 34; children Douglas, 20, John H., 10, and Elaine, 5; and lodger Fred Moye, 26, cafe cook.
  • Charlie Thomas

The apprenticeship of Lutory Fields (1896).

On 4 July 1896, Clerk of Superior Court J.D. Bardin apprenticed Loutoria Fields, age 6 years, 3 months, to George W. Fields until she was 18 years old.

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Lutory Fields was George Washington Fields‘ granddaughter. Her mother Jane Fields likely died shortly before this indenture. Here we see an example of apprenticeship as a form of intrafamily adoption.

In the 1880 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Washington Fields, 30; wife Julia, 35; and children Renda, 12, Penninah, 11, Jane, 9, Christany, 8, London, 6, William, 5, and twins Isaac and Jacob, 3.

In the 1900 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Washington Fields, 60; wife Julia, 53; daughters Chrischanie, 25, Amanda, 15, and Lutory, 10; grandson Peter, 10; and granddaughters Julia, 5, and Lillie, 7 months.

On 9 November 1905, John H. Battle, 20, of Cross Roads township, married Lutora Fields, 18, of Cross Roads, in Lucama, Wilson County.

In the 1910 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer  John H. Battle, 28; wife Loutorie, 24; and son Johnie L., 2.

In the 1920 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer John H. Battle, 39; wife Lutoria, 30; and children John L., 16, Lenetta, 7, Bessie L., 5, Mary L., 3, Rosa, 2, Thurman, 1, and Armetta, 1 month.

In the 1930 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer John H. Battle, 49; wife Leutoria, 40; and children Johnie L., 21, Nettie, 19, Bessie L., 16, Mary L., 15, Roosevelt, 14, Armettie, 11, Alphnza, 8, Estelle, 7, Augustus, 4, and Harvey L., 2.

Imettie Battle died 18 September 1933 in Goldsboro, Wayne County, N.C. Per her death certificate, she was 12 years 0ld; was born in Wilson County to John Battle and Lutora Fields; was a school girl; and lived in Wilson County. She had suffered a skull fracture after being struck by a car.

In the 1940 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer John Battle, 59; wife Lutory, 50; children Estelle, 17, Augustus, 15, Harvey, 13, Luberta, 8, and Alberta, 7; son-in-law Leondus Speight, 26, and granddaughter Katherine Speight, 4.

In the 1950 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer John H. Battle, 70; wife Lulorie, 60; and children Agustus, 25, Harvey L., 22, Lubortha, 18, and Aberta, 16.

John Hardy Battle died 9 March 1962 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 8 July 1878 in Wilson County to Haywood Battle and Eliza Battle; lived near Lucama; worked in farming; was married to Lutory Battle; and was buried in Mary Grove cemetery.

Lutory Battle died 22 April 1964 in Lucama, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 12 February 1890 in Wilson County to Wilbert [last name unknown] and Janie Field; was married to John Hardy Battle; and was buried in Mary Grove Cemetery.

Apprentice 1896, Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

The apprenticeship of James William, Mary Ellen, Minerva S., and Laura Anderson (1895).

On 3 December 1895, Clerk of Superior Court J.D. Bardin apprenticed James William Anderson, age 4 years, 2 months, and 4 days; Mary Ellen Anderson, age 2 years and 7 days; Minerva S. Anderson, age 7 years, 7 months, and 11 days; and Laura Anderson, age 6 years, 6 months, and 4 days, to Redmon Barnes until they were 18 years old.

I have not found the Anderson children in other records. Redmond Barnes perhaps was this man.

Apprentice 1895, Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

Farmer shoots boys in watermelon patch.

Wilson Times, 30 July 1918.

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In the 1910 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Henry Dudley, 55; wife Fannie, 34; and children Maggie, 24, William L., 20, Rosa, 18, William H., 15, Jacob A., 13, Naoma, 11, Leroy, 8, Dorena, 5, and Bessie M., 2.

In the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Henry Dudley, 63; wife Fannie, 43; and children Leroy, 17, Darlena, 15, Bessie, 11, Franny B., 9, and Ernest, 6.

Young Kent struck and killed by automobile.

Greensboro Daily News, 17 May 1939.

The “Wilson County negro” was a nine year-old boy.

Ned Kent was born 1 January 1930 in Wilson County to Isiah Kent and Clyde Pettieford; lived at Route 1, Wilson; and was a student. He was taken to Woodard-Herring Hospital, where he was pronounced dead of a fractured skull.