Children

Lucama School observes Negro History Week.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 9 March 1929.

Kudos to the teachers of Lucama School!

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  • Cora W. Farmer — in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 701 East Green Street, George Farmer, 55, porter for A.C.L.R.R.; wife Cora, 51, school teacher; daughters Lena, 20, teacher, and Janie L., 23, department store elevator girl; stepdaughter Cora M. Washington, 21 (marked as “absent”); mother-in-law Lou Miller, 75; and boarders Mildred Norfleet, 23, courthouse elevator girl; and Amos Moor, 35, hotel porter. [Janie, in fact, was Cora’s daughter and George’s step-daughter.]
  • Emma Williams — in the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 912 East Nash, Frank Williams, 50, building mechanic; wife Emma, 36, schoolteacher; and step-children Norwood, 21, odd jobs laborer, Mabel, 16, and Johnie Brewington, 14.
  • Lela M. Washington — in the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Washington Lelia (c) sch tchr r 305 Moore
  • Irene W. Lucas — in the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Lucas Irene (c) sch tchr h 701 E Green [Irene Washington Lucas was the daughter of Cora M. Washington Farmer, above.]

 

Happy Valentine’s Day 2026!

We moved into 1401 Carolina Street just before my first birthday and left just before my tenth. I haven’t been inside this little brick house in nearly 50 years, but I can describe its every detail, inside and out. My deep connection to my community and its people was forged in those first ten years. Safe in the nest of my knowledge-seeking, passion-encouraging family, I flourished — a sensitive, inquisitive, observant child.

Today, Black Wide-Awake celebrates foundational love! Cheers to Beverly and Rederick Henderson and the East Wilson that made me!

Teresa Parker’s son.

The 1840 census of Black Creek district, Wayne County (which largely became Black Creek district, Wilson County, in 1855) includes a type of household that may surprise some — white women with mixed race children. Though rare in antebellum Wilson County, such households were not uncommon in neighboring counties like Wayne and Nash.

Teresa Parker was the head of a household that consisted of one white male aged 10-14, one white female aged 30-39, one white female aged 70-79, and 1 free colored male under age 10. Teresa was likely the woman in her 30s. The elder woman was probably her mother or grandmother. The younger boy was Teresa’s son Tarrel W. Parker. The elder boy probably was, too.

Teresa Parker apparently died between 1840 and 1850. Tarrel Parker is not found in 1850, but appears in the 1860 census in Black Creek township as a 23 year-old farm laborer in the household of white farmer Elias Farrell. (The other boy has not been further identified.) Tarrel Parker named his first child, Trecy, born about 1874, after his mother.

The apprenticeship of Dewitt, Charles, George, and Ike (1866).

On 11 January 1866, Malvina E. Rountree entered into an agreement with the Goldsboro District Office of the Freedmen’s Bureau to indenture four orphaned children — Dewitt, 13, Charles, 10, George, 8, and Ike, 6.

Malvina Gill Rountree was the widow of Jonathan D. Rountree, who died in 1865. By time the 1870 census was counted, none of these children were in her household.

The apprenticeship of Jennie and Ella Daniel (1883).

On 9 June 1883, a Wilson County Probate Court judge ordered 9 year-old Jennie Daniel and 7 year-old Ella Daniel bound as apprentices to Prince Daniel until they reached 21 years of age. She was to be trained in housekeeping.

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In the 1880 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: farmer Prince Daniel, 67, and wife Absley, 44. Next door: farm laborer Isaac Daniel, 23 (who was probably Prince and Ansley’s son); his wife Zilla, 24; and their daughters Virginia, 5, Ella Jane, 3, and Mobelia, 3 months.)

United States Indenture and Manumission Records, 1780-1939, database at https://familysearch.org.

Lane Street Project: thanks again, homeschoolers!

In thanks for their dedication to caring for Odd Fellows Cemetery and learning from elders about the history of their community, I created Children of Lane Street Project badges for the young preservationists of the Homeschoolers Honoring Ancestors chapter of Tarheel Junior Historians.

Yesterday morning, Senior Force members Castonoble Hooks and Briggs Sherwood were on hand at the students’ regular library visit to award their badges. A big thanks to all the H.H.A. kids — and their parents, for nurturing their curiosity and love of history and inviting us to today’s ceremony!

 

Christmas reflection.

Miss Edie Bell. Aunt Pet. Aunt Minnie. Aunt Alice. Aunt Nora Lee. Aunt Lula Mae. Holiday dinners in my childhood were often spent at tables prepared by these amazing women, the grandmother and great-aunts of my cousins Monica Ellis Barnes and Tracey Ellis Leon. 

I cherish warm memories of these generous women and the delicious meals they prepared — and of me, my sister, and cousins, safe and loved and well-fed.

Christmas brings joy, but also floods of memories of those we can no longer hug or break bread with. I held quiet space yesterday for memories of my grandmother and father and uncle and the Barnes sisters, and all who no longer sit with us in Wilson or wherever we once shared a table. I hope you were able to find joy and beauty in Christmas this year, and I pray for a better 2026 for all of us.