Military

Pvt. Roosevelt Batts recovers in the South Pacific.

Wilson Daily Times, 19 May 1945.

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In the 1930 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Amos Batts, 29; wife Elizabeth, 29; and children Arlettie, 10, James, 8, Roosevelt, 7, and Amos Lee, 5.

In the 1940 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: widow Elizabeth Batts, 42, farmer, and sons James H., 19, Rosevelt, 16, and Leander, 12. [Amos Leander Batts died while in service.]

Roosevelt Batts registered for the draft in 1940.

In the 1950 census of New York, New York County, New York: Roosevelt Batts, 25, and wife Hattie Margaret, 25, secretary, roomers in 331 Quincy Street.

Roosevelt Batts died 17 September 1986 and was buried in Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton, New York.

Dock Royall’s honorable discharge.

Dock Royall relocated to Wilson from Sampson County, N.C., after his service in World War I. 

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On 10 August 1928, Dockery Royall, 28, of Wilson, married Ossie Mae Jenkins, 25, in Wilson. Walter M. Foster applied for the license, and Baptist minister B.F. Jordan performed the ceremony.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 321 Hackney, Doc Royall, 34, body plant laborer, and wife Ossie May, 26, cook.

Dock Royall died 31 March 1938 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 14 September 1898 in Sampson County, N.C., to Samuel and Rachel Royall; was married to Ossie Mae Royall; worked as a mechanic at Hackney Body Company; and was buried in Wilson [probably Vick, but possibly Rest Haven, Cemetery.]

Enlistment (1919), Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh.

Cpl. James Holden, also known as Harris, recuperates in England.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 July 1944.

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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Manchester Street, widow Mamie Holden, 31, tobacco factory worker, and children Daisy, 8, and James, 1.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Mamie Holton, 51; son James Harris, 24; and nieces and nephews Daisy Mitchell, 27, and her children Gerlean, 4, Mamie, 9, Willie Jr., 12, and Thelma, 7.

In 1940, James Harris registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 2 June 1918 in Wilson; lived at 622 Suggs Heights, Wilson; his contact was mother Mamie Holden, same address; and he worked for Liggett & Meyers Tobacco Company.

Corporal Lonnie Jackson, somewhere in the Atlantic.

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In the 1930 census of Jackson township, Nash County, N.C.: farmer Lonnie Farmer, 31; wife Jessie, 30; and children Lonnie, 9, Ruth, 7, Rubie, 5, and Robert, 3.

In 1942, Lonnie Junior Jackson registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 2 July 1920 in Wilson; lived at 519 Smith Street, Wilson; his contact was Jesse Jackson, 519 Smith; and he worked for Pridgen Grocery Store, 424 East Nash Street.

Private Lonnie Jackson.

Photo courtesy of Ancestry.com user Shaniece Ricks.

Private First Class Clarence Jones, in the Sicilian theatre.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 513 N & S Street, owned and valued at $1000, cook Olivia Simmons, 59; daughter Estella Jones, 29, laundress; her children Olivia, 11, and Clarence Jones, 9; relative Rosa Simmons, 25, tobacco factory laborer; and daughter Reta Simmons, 15.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 513 Norfolk Street, cook Olivia Simmons, 72; daughter Estelle Jones, 45, laundress; her children Olivia, 22, and Clarence Jones, 20, both retrying factory laborers; and grandson Severentty McMillion, 9.

In 1940, Clarence Jones registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 15 November 1918 in Wilson; lived at 513 Norfolk Street, Wilson; his mother was Estella Jones; and he worked for Export Tobacco Company, Mercer Street, Wilson.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 513 Norfolk Street, Olivia Summers [sic], 84; daughters Estella Jones, 58, and Rosa Summers, 56; grandchildren Olivia, 32, and Clarence Jones, 31; and great-grandson Bobby Jones, 9.

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.

Charles Gay Jr. returns from overseas duty.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 July 1944.

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In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Charlie Gay, 28, wife Ella, 28, and Charlie, 18 months.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Charley Gay, 39, ice house laborer; wife Ella, 30; and sons Charlie Jr., 11, and Edgar, 7.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Chas. B. Gay, 52, hotel janitor, wife Ella J., 48, laundress, and children Chas. Jr., 21, bellboy, and Ednor R., 17.

In 1940, Charles Benjamin Gay Jr. registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 9 June 1908 in Wilson; lived at 623 East Green Street; his contact was Charles Benjamin Gay Sr., 807 East Viola Street; and he worked for W.T. Clark Tobacco Company.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Lucy Sherood, 58, hotel maid; lodger Charlie Gay, 78; and lodger’s son Charlie Gay Jr., 42, hotel hall boy.

Charles Benjamin Gay Jr. died 29 December 1974 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 9 June 1908 to Charles B. Gay Jr. and Ella Tate; lived at 623 East Green Street; was a widower; and worked as a bellhop at Cherry Hotel.

Private Tom Barnes, Company B, 14th Heavy Artillery.

Within weeks of the Confederate surrender, Tom Barnes voluntarily enlisted in United States Army in New Bern, North Carolina. 

Barnes joined Company B of the 14th Heavy Artillery, United States Colored Troops. The company descriptive book described him as 18 years old; five feet four inches tall; with black complexion, eyes, and hair. He was born in Wilson County and worked as a farmer. 

It’s not clear if Barnes freed himself prior to the end of the war or took off immediately after Emancipation. The muster contains a curious remark: “Enlisted previous to G.O. No. 38 C.S. Dept. of N.C. stopping recruiting & has never been mustered in until the present time.”

In May 1865, the Civil War was over, but the Union Army still needed men to secure the South, guard strategic coastal forts, and maintain order. However, because the war was winding down, the federal War Department ordered local departments to strictly regulate and taper off recruitment. Under Major General John Schofield’s Union Department of North Carolina, General Orders No. 38 (Current Series, 1865) authorized recruitment and enlistment protocols during this transitional post-surrender period.
 
G.O. Number 38 granted mustering officers in New Bern the explicit authority to accept Tom Barnes and other newly freed men into federal service in an army of occupation, even as other parts of the Union Army were preparing to demobilize. Stationed at defense sites like Fort Macon (near Beaufort, North Carolina) and the fortifications around New Bern, Company B was tasked with rebuilding and guarding North Carolina’s coast. The unit spent the rest of 1865 and early 1866 dismantling Confederate defenses, guarding government property, and protecting newly freed communities during the earliest days of Reconstruction. The 14th U.S.C.T. was formally mustered out of military service in December 1865.
 
I have not found trace of Tom Barnes after his military service.