Letters

A surprise encounter with A.I. slop.

Fairly regularly, I receive emails from readers asking about a family I’ve blogged about or someone they’re researching. For the most part, I’m not able to undertake in-depth unpaid research, but I’m always happy to take quick looks, make suggestions, and offer encouragement.

Yesterday I received such an email. The writer was asking about a person who lived from 1820 to 1905, perhaps in Wilson County. She provided the man’s mother’s name and even the names of his grandparents. I was surprised that she had identified ancestors dating back to the late 1700s, given that she was asking if this man were enslaved or free, about the availability of “plantation records,” and did not seem sure where he lived. We had a brief back and forth in which she disclosed that her information came from Ancestry.com, and I cautioned her about relying on bad, unsourced data. I also noted that there was a white man with the same name living around the same time in Greene County, and facts of his life may have been erroneously attributed to her ancestor, who was likely enslaved.

She then sent this. (I’ve done her the courtesy of redacting identifying information.)

I read it two or three times in puzzlement. Was she forwarding an earlier response I’d sent her, like months ago, but had forgotten?

No. A search of my Gmail account confirmed that I’d never corresponded with her before yesterday.

I read it again. I have a distinctive writing style, and this ain’t it.

This is AI-generated.

Based on our brief email exchange, M. created a letter written as if I had responded to her. And then she sent it to me. I emailed her to ask, essentially, “WTF?” No response. And I blocked her.

Black Wide-Awake exists to connect folks with their families. I’m always thrilled when my posts find their people, and I’ve experienced innumerable beautiful moments of discovery and collaboration with the Wilson County diaspora. This exchange, however, was weird and unpleasant. I sat on publishing this post long enough for my anger to fade, but I’m sharing as a caution about the fakery that can swirl about in genealogy spaces.

Advertised letters, July 1881.

Wilson Advance, 22 July 1881.

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  • Ned Barnes — three adult Ned Barneses are listed in the 1880 census of Wilson County. All were black men, including this one, who was likely my great-great-great-grandfather.
  • Noah Best — though not marked as “colored,” Noah Best was a black man.
  • James Hagans — the three James Haganses found in the 1880 census of Wilson County were young children.
  • Peter Moore — though not marked as “col.”, possibly, in the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Peter Moore, 49; wife Cordelia, 42; and sons Sidney, 17, and Henry, 10.
  • Mollie Peacock — Mollie Peacock is not listed in the 1880 census of Wilson County. (Though Mollie Peacock Bynum, who was white, is.)
  • Albert Parker — Albert Parker is not listed in the 1880 census of Wilson County.
  • Anderson White — though not marked as “col.”, possibly, in the 1880 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Anderson White, 25; wife Cornelia, 22; and children Samuel, 4, Elizabeth, 1, and Richard, 1 month.
  • Sarah Ward — four Sarah Wards appear in the 1880 census of Wilson County, three adult. All were black, including this one.

Viola Beamon weighs in on relationships.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 24 September 1927.

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In the 1920 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Josh Flemmin, 38; wife Lizzie, 26; children Wade, 10, Clifton, 7, Dydie, 5, and Antabelle, 3; and stepchildren Viola, 10, Susie, 4, and Simm J. Beaman, 2.

In the 1930 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Josh Flemming, 47; wife Lizzie, 37; and children Viola, 19, Clifton, 17, Dida, 15, Sudie, 14, Archie B., 13, Esie, 12, Josh Jr., 9, Lizzie, 7, Mary, 5, Douglas, 2, and Gernas, 7 months.

On 16 November 1935, Hubert McPhail, 27, of Wilson County, son of Andrew and Mary McPhail, married Viola Beaman, 25, of Wilson County, daughter of Willie and Lizzie Beaman, in Nash County, North Carolina.

Viola B. McPhail died 16 June 1948 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 11 June 1910 in Greene County to Willie Beamon and Lizzie Jones; was married to Hubert McPhail; and was buried in Rountree Cemetery [probably Vick Cemetery.]

S.H. Vick’s letters to John C. Dancy.

This catalogue of twelve years of correspondence received by John C. Dancy contains nearly a dozen letters from Samuel H. Vick.

The summaries of the letters are somewhat vague; I am searching for the originals.

The first, dated 21 April 1899, makes reference to a reference for “Dr. Price,” who I jumped to conclude was Rev. Joseph C. Price. Price died in 1893, though, so, no.

In the second, from 21 January 1902, Vick asked Dancy for help finding work for Grant Foster, who was “out of business,” noting that Foster was “a good penman and thoroughly competent.” Foster was a butcher, and we have evidence that he operated a shop both before and after this letter was written.

Both Vick and Dancy held political appointments, and Vick’s 21 May 1902 letter suggests they leaned on each other for support, privately and when “intercession” was called for.

On 13 November 1902, Vick wrote the first in a series of letters (and a telegram) to Dancy about his fight to retain his postmaster seat.

On 17 January 1903, Vick acknowledged the risk to Dancy of involvement on Vick’s behalf and urged cautious action.

Now out of office, Vick’s 26 and 28 September 1906 letter touched on Odd Fellows politicking. Without context, this summary is difficult to interpret, but clearly makes reference to Vick getting Dancy to represent Zion Hall Lodge No. 5952, Wilson’s Grabneck-area Odd Fellows lodge.

On 26 November 1906, Vick sent another letter about the Odd Fellows, this time inviting Dancy to an all-expense-paid anniversary observation.

Vick’s 26 September 1910 letter refers to high drama at the Biennial Movable Committee of G.U.O.O.F involving internal politics. He also asks Dancy to look into “that matter” for “Henry,” who, presumably, was Vick’s brother William Henry Vick, who was practicing pharmacy in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1910.

Calendar of the John C. Dancy Correspondence 1898-1910, The Michigan Historical Records Survey Project (1941), Division of Community Service Programs, Works Project Administration, www.hathitrust.org.

Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Chatham Observer (Pittsboro, N.C.), 4 November 1903.

Five years after North Carolina Mutual and Provident Association‘s founding in Durham, James E. Shepard and Samuel H. Vick were among the incorporators of Carolina Mutual Life Insurance. (Shepherd would found North Carolina Central University six years after this.)

The company’s letterhead reveals Shepard and Vick’s titles and Carolina Mutual’s other officers: President William G. Pearson of Durham; Secretary-Treasurer J.A. Dodson of Durham; Auditor Henry E. Hagans of Goldsboro, and Medical Director Dr. Charles H. Shepard of Durham. Shepard, Pearson, and Dodson were founders of Durham’s Mechanic and Farmers Bank, and central figures in the establishment of Durham’s Black Wall Street.

Lenoir [County, North Carolina] Court Records 1907=1908, http://www.familysearch.org.

 

“A friend of justice” complains about the Freedmen’s Bureau.

In 1866, Freedman’s Bureau officials in Raleigh investigated an anonymous complaint alleging corruption and mismanagement by a Wilson hotelkeeper engaged by the Goldsboro Bureau chief George O. Glavis to distribute clothing and blankets to freedmen in Wilson. Though the report below blandly sets out John J. Lutts‘ venality, the investigator’s astonishment at Lutts’ dishonesty peeks through. In a nutshell, Lutts spent lavishly on himself and his family, sold only some of the goods consigned to him, applied the proceeds to his personal debts, then presented Glavis with a bill for money owed. The investigation also disclosed that a local police officer, perhaps with Glavis’ permission, was skimming money off the top of fines collected pursuant to Bureau judgments. Lutts, a Pennsylvania native, had served as a Confederate officer in a Maryland regiment, and had arrived in North Carolina during the war. Misconduct aside, he and his family appear in the 1870 census of Wilson, where he was described as keeper of the Wilson Hotel.

Anonymous. “A Friend to Justice.” Wilson, N.C. June 4, 1866.

Makes charges against the Agent of the Bureau at Goldsboro. E.B.[?].285. Endrt. of Col. Brady Supt. Cent. Dist. Respectfully returned to Col. C.A. Colley A.A.G. — In compliance with your endorsement of the 22, Ult. I proceeded to Wilson, N.C. the 23, Ult. and continued until the 26 ult. the investigation of the charges made against an Officer of the Bureau in the Sub. Dist. of Goldsboro, in the within Anonymous Communication to the War Dept. I find that sometime in Feb. 1866. Chaplain Glavis sent clothing and blankets to J.J. Lutts an Hotel keeper at Wilson to be sold at auction and private sale. This clothing (I am told) was sent to Chap. Glavis by the National Freedmen’s Aid Society of New York for distribution and sale to freedmen in his sub dist. According to the invoices sent said Lutts by Chap. Glavis the value of the clothing amounted to $273.25 besides the blankets which latter were marked U.S. The invoices of the clothing you will find herewith marked A.-B.-C. and E.- together with a certified copy of a Private letter from Chap. Glavis to said Lutts in relation to this clothing and the amount of money if sold for, marked “D.” Also a true copy of the testimony taken during the investigation. The cash sales for Blankets and clothing sold by Lutts for Chap. Glavis are $111.90 — sold and charged on the books of Lutts for Blankets and clothing $42.25 making the total sales at Wilson so far as I could learn $154.15 which latter amount Lutts placed to the credit of Chap. Glavis and charged him as follows — viz. Cash $76.00 _ Eggs $16.00 _ Smoking pipe $15.00 _ Turkey $2.00 _ Tobacco $1.50 _ Telegraph 65/100 _ Chairs $3.50 _ Boots $10.00 _ Brandy $10.00 Board of Wife, child & servant $25.00 _ Board of himself, wife and child $9.00 _ Express package 50/100 _ Chickens $1.75 _ Total $170.90 _ Deduct sales clothing & Blankets $154.15 _ Balance $16.75 which leaves a balance due Lutts by Chap. Glavis of Sixteen and 75/100 dollars ($16.75) I found in possession of Mr. Lutts, who I found had no disposition to conceal the fact, 25 women skirts, 17 shirts, 38 jackets, and 6 pairs of blankets which I directed him to hold subject to the order of Major Stickney Asst. Supt. Sub List. of Goldsboro, my own order or that of a Superior officer of the Bureau. I further found that $45.00 had been collected (for fines imposed by Chap. Glavis) through a member of the local police of Wilson Co. named H.D. Patton and who was detailed by the Capt. of said local police for this purpose, this man Patton was allowed to collect in addition to the fines and judgements imposed by Chap. Glavis ten (10) dollars in each case for his services. Your attention is invited to the testimony of Mr. Thomas Hadley a citizen of Wilson who complains that he was, by Chap. Glavis, compelled to pay $90.00 unjustly and without a fair trial, and that instead of paying said $90.00 to the complainant “Gilley” a colored woman, she received only $40. while $50. was retained by the officer Patton. Patton testifies that he kept $25.00 for his services by order of Chap. Glavis, and paid $65.00 to the colored woman Gilly. _ This $90.00 was rendered against Mr. Hadley for money “supposed” to be due this woman “Gilly” _ not a fine _ Respectfully submitted. _ Respectfully returned to Maj. Genl. Howard, Comr. with attention invited to endorsement of Col. A,G. Brady Supt. Cent. List. & accompanying papers. B.R.F.& A.L.Hd. Ins. Asst. Come. /s/ Jno. C. Robinson, Bvt. Maj. Genl. Asst. Comr.

Raleigh, N.C. July 9 N.C.