Wilson Times, 10 July 1923.
Rev. John A. Mebane did not go easy.
Court Actions
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.
Convicting White Caps.
As late as 1897, black men could still sit on Wilson County juries hearing cases charges brought against white men.
In State vs. Pharaoh Rowe, James Montgomery, J.V. Lamm, and John Bone, the jury included James J. Jones, Louis Townsend, Lee Moore, and Scott Johnson.
On 9 February 1897, the jury found the defendants guilty. They were White Caps, members of extralegal vigilante groups that targeted not only black people, but white people who flouted moral standards or otherwise defied the group norms. Just months before this trial, Pharoah Rowe had been shot in the stomach when a band of his confederates sought to tear down the fence of a white Lucama man’s fence who had opposed a road project.
Wilson Advance, 11 February 1897.
In June 1896, a man who had been initiated into the White Caps by defendant James Montgomery testified that he had been told the group “was a good thing for the country, in that it saved expenses by attending to those who made themselves obnoxious to the community” and that “their signs were a peculiar whistling and the passing of the hand across the face.”
Montgomery’s good word notwithstanding, these vigilantes were looked down upon by Wilson County’s white elite, and the White Cap era seems to have been short-lived.
Haywood Sauls and wife Betsey Sauls vs. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company.
In May 1911, Betsey Sauls took the extraordinary step of suing Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company for serious injuries she suffered at Black Creek depot. The law firm of James H. Pou and William A. Finch, well-known in the state for their high-profile civil and criminal litigation, filed on her behalf (and her husband Haywood Sauls‘, as was required by law for married women at the time.)
In a nutshell, on 3 May 1909, Betsey Sauls bought a train ticket to travel from Wilson to Black Creek. The train overshot the depot at Black Creek, but announced “All off for Black Creek!” as usual. As Sauls attempted to disembark, she fell from the train and was injured.
Pou and Finch asserted that by stopping beyond the usual location, Sauls was forced to step down from an excessive height and near a side track with sharp, exposed sills (the long, heavy timbers used as a foundation for crossties.) As Sauls stepped down, the train suddenly began to move backward, throwing Sauls to the ground.
Pou and Finch further asserted that A.C.L.R.R. had failed to provide a stepstool customarily provided for older passengers faced with a higher-than-usual descent.
Sauls was 65 to 70 years old, was “corpulent,” and not used to train travel. The knee injuries she sustained were serious, painful, and — she believed — permanent. She had difficulty walking and sleeping, could not work, and was forced to use a stick or crutch. She also had back and hip pain.
Sauls was now “an invalid and sufferer” of both physical and mental anguish. She could not visit family, friends, or church and had incurred considerable expense for medical treatment.
Sauls sought $5000 in damages.
In a brief, spare decision, the judge G.S. Ferguson awarded Sauls $500 (roughly $17,000 in 2026 dollars.)
Civil Action Papers, Wilson County (N.C.) Court Records (1909), http://www.familysearch.org.
Innocent man convicted on bloodhound error.
Greensboro Record, 26 June 1938.
Tuh.
Louisa Hagans fights for her horse.
In 1888, Louisa Staton Hagans filed suit against Applewhite Lane & Company, alleging that the company had wrongfully foreclosed on a horse belonging to her, not her in-laws. Hagans, her deceased husband’s mother, sister, and brother-in-law had lived on the same rented farm. Mariah Hagans and her son-in-law Moses Vick had entered into a chattel mortgage agreement with farm suppliers Applewhite Lane and Company. The families worked the farm together, but without Clem Hagans’ labor could not make a crop and they relinquished their property. At issue were some equipment and a bay mare named Daisy, which Louisa Hagans claimed belonged to her husband Clem, not his mother Mariah Hagans, and thus should not have been taken. She sought $150 in damages.
The transcripts of testimony, lightly edited for clarity:
Louisa Hagans vs. Applewhite Lane &c. } Evidence for Plaintiff
George Stated [Staton?] being duly sworn testified. Lived last year and year before with S.H. Whitley & year before lived in Edgecombe. Knew Clem Hagans, was husband of Plaintiff Louisa Hagans. He moved to Wilson about four years ago. He had a colt which he brought with him. His father give the colt to him. Helped his father pay a debt of $300. Give his colt in payment. Offered to buy the colt. Said can’t sell him. Had let Clem have him, couldn’t sell him. He moved up here about four years ago. Died last year. He and Louisa was living together as husband & wife. She owned this colt when he died.
X Ex [cross-examination] Came with his father about four years ago. I brought the colt. Colt was in Clem’s father’s stable when in Edgecombe. Clem lived with his mother since they lived in Wilson. Was to help pay his father out of debt. Clem said to his father. Father you won’t give him to me. Was call as a witness to agreement that he was to let him have the colt on condition that he helped him pay the debt. He did help. His father, son if you will help me pay out of debt, I will make you present of this colt. Clem said father, you won’t do it. He called me as a witness to it. Clem went on he and his wife and worked that that year out. And his father paid out of debt. Put it on his account book that it was Clems colt and called me as a witness to it. That was the last I heard of it. It was about four years ago.
Re Direct, I brought the colt to Wilson. It was Clems colt, I had no doubt about it.
J.E.N. Gorham testified. Clem Hagans and his family stayed on my place last year. I made the arrangements with Clem. His mother Mariah Hagans lived on the same land. He said he had team enough to cultivate a two horse farm. Clem owned the younger horse & his mother the old one. Clem died in Sept last on my place.
X Ex. Took no mortgage on his stock. He refused to mortgage his own horse and said he had no right to mortgage the other. They all worked together on the same farm.
Report of Commissioners to lay off Louisa Hagans years support marked “A” offered in evidence by plaintiff, including one bay horse valued at $150. See Exhibit marked “A”.
Mariah Hagans testified. I am the mother of Clem Hagans. My husband had been dead nearly 4 years. Will be 4 years next old Christmas. We lived in Edgecomb County with Mr. Edmundson before coming to Wilson. Clem Hagans died in Sept last year. Clem left a horse, plows, weeding hoes & shovel and a cotton planter as his property. The young horse was the one his father promised to give him. I was living with Mr. Gorham when Clem died. All lived in same field. I and my daughter & Mose Vines her husband lived together. Clem & his wife & children lived at the other place. I owned a horse which was kept where he kept his own. I moved to Mr. Frank Lanes after leaving Mr. Gorhams place. I made an arrangement to trade with Applewhite Lane & Co. Gave them a mortgage signed by me and Mose. When I mortgaged my horse Mr. Lane said I mortgaged both. My understanding was when I made the mortgage that I mortgaged mine and Mose mortgaged Louisa’s horse. After Clems death Louisa continued to live at same place.
Ex. This was the horse the old man my husband promised to give Clem. He had no right to give the horse. He and all the horses were mine. I claim all the property. My son always claimed the horse because I and my husband promised to give it to him. I give the charge of it while he lived to him, and he said before his death if you can’t all agree, for me to sell the horse and keep the money for the children. We all lived together before my husband died. My son died the next day after talking about the horse. He said at the time he was going to die. Have no children living. Six grandchildren. Louisa & her children have been living with me this year. I supported them from Mr. Lanes Store, or Applewhite Lane &c. Told Louisa last summer the horse was mortgaged. It was necessary to mortgage it to get support for her & her children. Louisa did most of the trading. I went only ones [sic]. All carried on the farm together. All this property including the horse I had the possession of and the control over it. Louisa was present when Mr. Lane took the horse and did not object. I and Louisa were present when the horse was sold. We made no objection.
Re D. The only right Clem had to the horse was by word of mouth from his father. I could have taken the horse away at any time but I did not. It was generally understood that the horse belonged to Clem while he lived. At his death it was to come back to me. I bought the mother of the colt from my old master. Give $185 for her and raised this colt from her. My husband was sold out one. They sold everything except the mother of this hours. She was not sold because she belonged to me. I never raised any objection to the colt going to Clem as long as he lived. Didn’t consider I had any reason to raise any objection, because he lived with me and I got the benefits of the horses labor. I raised no objection after his death, but I raise it now. I have had possession of the horse heretofore. The reason I said Louisa traded the most was because I sent her after the things, provisions, &c. Mr. Lane said when he took the horse that he would put her in the pasture. Neither of us raised any objection. I was told to come to town but did not know what was to be done until I got here. Don’t know whether Louisa was present when the horse was sold, but we both had been at the place when he was to be sold and knew he was to be sold. We were both within hearing when the horse was sold. Louisa is hard of hearing and I don’t know whether she heard or not.
X Ex. Louisa traded at the store after she knew the horse was mortgaged . I sent her there.
Defendants Evidence
Mr HB Lane being duly sworn testified. I wrote the mortgage offered in evidence marked “B.” That’s it contains the horse in dispute. Mariah Hagans mortgages the horse to Applewhite Lane & Co. She represented that the horse was her property. I advanced her supplies upon the faith of the property mortgaged. I advanced her about $270. I took possession of the property, she voluntarily surrendered it. She said she could not finish the crop and preferred giving the property up then. We advertised the property according to the mortgage for 30 days and sold it at the Court House door in Wilson. The property brought $134.50. Horse brought $40. Good crowd present. Several bids made. Horse was in bad condition. I bought all the property for the firm. They have it now. They allowed $70 for the work done on the crop. Leaving $200 due on account of the stock. Notified her of sale & Louisa came with her. Neither made objection to the sale. Louisa did the trading. Mariah came once. They all lived together. After the first bill, the bill was mostly for necessary provisions &c for themselves & horses. Bought feed for two horses.
X Ex. Mariah represented she had two horses to secure the advances. Got Moses to sign to convey his interest in the crop. I bought the property because I thought it was worth more. Sold 2 horses and 2 iron axle carts & gear. Took charge of no other property.
Mariah Hagans was recalled. These two carts were bought in 1886 when we were staying at Mr. Calvin Woodards. Clem bought them, one for himself and one for me. Never have claimed her cart, that belonged to him, but I claim the horse. Kept all together when we lived at Gorham’s. Don’t know whether Louisa objected to the sale of the cart. When Clem authorized me to sell the horse and other property, he said nothing about the cart. Never was any division of the carts. Used that cart this year. Clem left everything in my charge when he died. I owned one and Clem owned the other. We owned them in conjunction.
Louisa Hagans. There were two carts. One that had blue wheels belonged to my husband Clem Hagans. The one with red wheels was called Mariah’s cart. Clem left when he died 1 cart 1 horse 2 plows 1 cotton planter a hoe & shovel
X Ex. He claimed the blue cart.
Louisa Hagans’ attorney, John F. Bruton, reached a settlement with Applewhite Lane’s attorneys, F.A. and S.A. Woodard. Applewhite Lane would pay her $18, but were awarded the property and court costs. By time Hagans paid the court and Bruton’s fees, she likely came away with little.
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- Louisa Hagans
In the 1870 census of Lower Conetoe township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: farmer Willis Staton, 35; wife Sarah, 35; and children Joseph, 13, Louisa, 9, Rachel, 8, Sherrod, 7, and Sherman, 4.
In the 1880 census of Tarboro township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: Louisa Staton, 21, farm laborer; Daniel Pitman, 10; [Louisa’s] son Willie Staton, 1; and John Carson, 21, farm laborer.
On 5 March 1882, Clem Hagans, 21, son of Hilliard and Mariah Hagans, married Louisa Staton, 23, daughter of Willis and Sarah Staton, in Pitt County, N.C.
In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Lue Hagans, 48, widow, farm laborer; daughter Sarah, 23; [grandchildren?] Geneva, 6, Mahaley, 4, Mildred, 2, and “no name,” 4 months; and granddaughter Ida Banes, 17.
Louisa Hagans died 17 July 1930 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 70 years old; was born in Edgecombe County to Willis and Sarah Staton; was a widow; worked in farming; and was buried in Wilson [probably, Vick Cemetery.]
Sarah Powell died 27 June 1939 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 43 years old; was born in Edgecombe County to Clem Hagans and Louisa Staton; lived at 114 South East Street, Wilson; was the widow of Henry Powell; and was buried in Wilson [probably, Vick Cemetery.] Mahalie Stokes, Winston-Salem, N.C., was informant.
- Clem Hagans
In the 1870 census of Tarboro township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: Hilliard Haigins, 43; wife Maria, 35; children Mahela and Clarence, 13, and Clem, 8; and Daniel Hagans, 26, farm laborer.
In the 1880 census of Tarboro township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: farmer Hilliard Hagans, 53; wife Maria, 50; daughter Mahala, 24, son Clem, 17; nephew Daniel, 35; and granddaughters Martha, 6, and Martha, 4. [Next door: Louisa Staton, 21, farm laborer; Daniel Pitman, 10; [Louisa’s] son Willie Staton, 1; and John Carson, 21, farm laborer.]
On 5 March 1882, Clem Hagans, 21, son of Hilliard and Mariah Hagans, married Louisa Staton, 23, daughter of Willis and Sarah Staton, in Pitt County, N.C.
- Mariah Hagans
In the 1870 census of Tarboro township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: Hilliard Haigins, 43; wife Maria, 35; children Mahela and Clarence, 13, and Clem, 8; and Daniel Hagans, 26, farm laborer.
In the 1880 census of Tarboro township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: farmer Hilliard Hagans, 53; wife Maria, 50; daughter Mahala, 24, son Clem, 17; nephew Daniel, 35; and granddaughters Martha, 6, and Martha, 4. [Next door: Louisa Staton, 21, farm laborer; Daniel Pitman, 10; [Louisa’s] son Willie Staton, 1; and John Carson, 21, farm laborer.]
- Moses Vines
On 12 May 1886, Moses Vines 23, of Wilson County, married Mahala Hagans, 25, of Wilson County, in Wilson.
Chattel Mortgages 1858-1889, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh.
The apprenticeship of Patsy and Treasy Whitaker (1895).
On 15 July 1895, Clerk of Superior Court J.D. Bardin apprenticed Patsy Whitaker, 11, and Treasy Whitaker, 5 1/2, to Alford Jordan until they were 18 years old.
Alford Jordan was a black man, and the four of his neighbors — Nathan, Hardy, Perry, and Shade Bass — were called upon to vouch for his character: “Alfred Jordan has been living in our neighborhood Several years. He has a family of children and we never have heard of his cruelly treating them. Some of his children are grown and we never have heard any charges brought against them. Since Alfred moved into our neighborhood he has conducted himself fairly well so far as we know.”
In the 1900 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Alfred Jordan, 56; wife Cherry, 50; children Sallie, 14, Jannie, 12, George and Mary, 9; and Albert, 8; stepchildren [sic] William, 26, Frances, 20, Patsy, 17, and Creasy Farmer, 10; and brother [actually, son] Benjamin Jordan, 35.
When Dr. T.L. Brooks reported vaccinations in the Black Creek area in 1902, he listed Patsy Whitaker and Cresy Whitaker.
On 2 December 1908, E.F. Hooker, 19, of Wayne County, and Patsy Whitaker, 21, of Black Creek township, applied for a Wilson County marriage license.
In the 1910 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: widow Cherry Jordan, 60; children Rosetta, 22, Trecie, 20, Mary and George, 19, and Albert Jordan, 17; and grandchildren Lizina, 4, and Adlina Jordan, 3 months.
Emerson F. and Patsy Hooker eventually migrated to Richmond, Virginia, where Patsy Whitaker Hooker died in 1945. Per her Social Security application, she was born in February 1888 in Wilson County, N.C., to Jacob Whitaker and Viney Jordan.
These records reminds us that we cannot take census entries at face value. Patsy and Creasy Farmer are certainly Patsy and Treasy Whitaker, but (1) their surnames are inconsistent; (2) Treasy’s name is altered; (3) Patsy’s age is slightly off; and (3) they are described as Jordan’s stepchildren (and Treasy as Cherry Jordan’s child.)
Alford Jorden and Cherry Ellis married in August 1884, when he was 40 and she was 35. Given norms of the time, it stands to reason that both had prior marriages. (Per his death certificate, Benjamin Jordan — described as “brother” in the 1900 census — was actually Alford’s son.) The four Jordan children listed in the 1900 census were born after the marriage and presumably were Alford and Cherry’s together. Patsy could have been, but Treasy was too young to have been brought into Cherry’s marriage.
It appears that the Whitaker girls were close kin on their mother’s side to Alford Jordan. Their apprenticeship served essentially as an informal adoption into Alford Jordan’s family.
Apprentice 1895, Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.
The apprenticeship of Alonzo Finch, revisited.
On 3 June 1899, a Wilson County Superior Court clerk ordered brothers Alonzo Finch, 14, and Jack Finch, 5, bound as an apprentice to Zealous Howard. The arrangement proved disastrous for the elder boy.
On 2 October 1902, an attorney submitted a petition to the clerk of Superior Court In the Matter of Alonzo Finch, Apprentice. The document asserted that Finch had served Howard faithfully until forced to leave “by threats or other conduct.” Finch claimed Howard had failed to provide him with adequate clothing, that “outside parties” gave him clothes, and that he often had to work at night to earn money to buy clothes. Further, Howard had not educated him as required per the terms of his indenture, such that Finch “did not know the letters of the alphabet and therefore [was] unable to read and write.” Worse, Howard hired Finch out and took the money the boy earned. Because of Howard’s “cruel treatment,” Finch requested that the indenture be annulled and cancelled.
After hearing the evidence, clerk J.D. Bardin found Howard “morally unfit” and released Alonzo Finch from his indenture.
The apprenticeship of Edward and William H. Fields (1910).
On 26 December 1910, a Wilson County Superior Court judge ordered Edward Fields, 14, and John Henry Fields, 13, bound as apprentices to their maternal grandfather Washington Fields until they reached 18 years of age.
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- Edward Fields
- William Henry Fields
In 1918, William Henry Fields registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born in August 1896 in Wilson County; lived in Lucama; his nearest relative was his grandfather Washington Fields, Lucama; and he worked as a tenant farmer for Ira Barnes.
On 16 November 1918, Wm. H. Fields, 21, of Cross Roads, son of Henry Barnes and Lurindy Fields, married Eliza Woodard, 21, of Cross Roads, daughter of William Woodard, in Wilson County.
In the 1920 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer William H. Fields, 22, and wife Eliza W., 23.
In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 200 East, William H. Fields, 52, “feeding the belt” at local canal mill; wife Liza, 51; niece Dorothy M. Woodard, 13, and nephew John Woodard Jr., 11.
Eliza O. Fields died 2 June 1950 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 4 July 1900 in Wilson County to William Woodard; was married; lived at 200 North East Street; and worked as a tobacco laborer. William Henry Fields was informant.
William Henry Fields died 13 November 1958 in Bailey, Nash County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 1 January 1897 to William Henry Barnes and Marinda Fields; was a widower; and lived at 200 North East Street. Informant was Mattie Newsome, 200 North East Street.
Apprentice 1910, Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.