Reconstruction

28 Books for 28 days.

Twenty-eight books I recommend to contextualize the history and culture of Wilson County, North Carolina,’s African-American people, in no particular order. Search for a review of one book every day this Black History Month. You’ve got the rest of the year to read them.

  1. Spoonbread and Strawberry Wine: Recipes and Reminiscences of a Family, Norma Jean and Carole Darden (1978)
  2. African-American Music Trails of Eastern North Carolina, Beverly Patterson and Sarah Bryan (2013)
  3. Greater Freedom: the Evolution of the Civil Rights Struggle in Wilson, North Carolina, Charles W. McKinney Jr. (2010)
  4. Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments: Intimate Stories of Social Upheaval, Saidiya Hartman (2019)
  5. The Place You Love Is Gone: Progress Hits Home, Melissa Holbrook Pierson (2006)
  6. Hidden History: African American Cemeteries in Central Virginia, Lynn Rainville (2014)
  7. Throwed Away: Failures of Progress in Eastern North Carolina, Linda Flowers (1990)
  8. The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism, Edward E. Baptist (2014)
  9. Sherrod Village: A Memoir, Barbara Williams Lewis (2014)
  10. Elm City: A Negro Community in Action, C.L. Spellman (1942)
  11. Race and Politics in North Carolina 1872-1901: The Black Second, Eric Anderson (1980)
  12. No Justice No Peace, Algernon McNeil (2015)
  13. The Rise of a Southern Town, Wilson, North Carolina 1849-1920, Patrick M. Valentine (2002)
  14. Jim Crow in North Carolina: The Legislative Program from 1865 to 1920, Richard A. Paschal (2020)
  15. To Walk About in Freedom: The Long Emancipation of Priscilla Joyner, Carole Emberton (2022)
  16. Ed Mitchell’s Barbeque, Ed and Ryan Mitchell (2023)
  17. Cemetery Citizens: Reclaiming the Past and Working for Justice in American Burial Grounds, Adam Rosenblatt (2024)
  18. ‘Make the Gig’: The History of the Monitors, John Harris (2024)
  19. In the Pines: A Lynching, A Lie, A Reckoning, Grace Elizabeth Hale (2023)
  20. Black Folks: The Roots of the Black Working Class, Blair LM Kelley (2023)
  21. Civil Rights History from the Ground Up: Local Struggles, A National Movement, Emilye Crosby, ed. (2011)
  22. Historic Wilson in Vintage Postcards, J. Robert Boykin III (2003)
  23. Slavery in North Carolina 1748-1775, Marvin L. Michael Kay and Lorin Lee Cary (2000)
  24. From a Cat House to the White House: The Story of an African-American Chef, Jesse Pender (2007)
  25. Wilmington’s Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy, David Zucchino (2020)
  26. North Carolina’s Free People of Color 1715-1885, Warren E. Milteer Jr. (2020)
  27. George Henry White: An Even Chance in the Game of Life, Benjamin Justesen (2001)
  28. History of African Americans in North Carolina, Jeffrey J. Crow, Paul D. Escott, and Flora J. Hadley Watelington (2002)

The apprenticeship of Dewitt, Charles, George, and Ike.

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.

Freedmen’s Bureau research.

Congress established the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands (Freedmen’s Bureau) in 1865 to assist millions of formerly enslaved black people (and impoverished whites) in the aftermath of the Civil War. The Bureau provided immediate relief in the form of food, clothing, and fuel; managed confiscated or abandoned land; established schools for African Americans; legalized marriages; negotiated labor contracts; and investigated and adjudicated disputes involving freed people.

Millions of Bureau records, including invaluable correspondence by and about freed men, women and children; labor arrangements; marriage records; and various reports are available for genealogical research via Familysearch.org, Ancestry.com, the National Archives, and the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture. Many records have been digitized and indexed; many have not.

Researching Wilson County residents in Freedmen’s Bureau is complicated by geography. There was no Bureau office in Wilson, so those who sought the Bureau’s services had to apply to offices nearby. Wilson was officially under the jurisdiction of the Goldsboro Bureau office, and most relevant documents are found there. However, people who lived north of the town of Wilson, especially in the area of what is now Elm City, often looked to the Rocky Mount office.

The map above shows the locations of the five offices closest to Wilson County. A thorough search for documents of genealogical interest should touch Goldsboro, Rocky Mount, Kinston, Smithfield, and Raleigh.

Black Radicals jailed and tortured.

In 1868, Robert Hilliard Farmer and Haywood White were among 11 “d—d black Radicals” crammed into a tiny jail cell, threatened, given meagre portions of over-salted meat and deprived of water, and viciously beaten because they would not support the Democratic party. White’s cry, under torture, that he had already sworn an oath to support the Constitution and the Union hints that the men may have been members of the Union, or Loyal, League, which formed across the South during Reconstruction to mobilize freedmen to register to vote and to vote Republican. About ten days before this story broke in the Raleigh Standard, Bill Grimes, local president of the League, had been jailed in Wilson for allegedly burning down the house of a white man who had shot a black man named David Ruffin.

New-York Tribune, 19 September 1868.

——

  • Robert Hilliard Farmer
  • Haywood White

On 14 September 1869, Haywood White, son of Benj. and Selie White, married Martha Daniel, daughter of Dennis and Exie Daniel, in Wilson County.

In the 1870 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farm laborer Haywood White, 26; wife Martha, 17; son Robert, 11 months; and Noah Tyson, 21, farm laborer.

Perhaps, in the 1880 census of Jamesville, Martin County, N.C.: laborer Haywood White, 40; wife Martha, 30; and sons Alexandria, 15, and Elisha, 12.

On 13 April 1910, Haywood White, 60, of Black Creek township, married Luetta Oggins, 40, of Black Creek township, at White’s house.

In the 1910 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: laborer Haywood White, 65, and wife Rosetta, 37. Haywood reported having been married three times; Rosetta, twice.

Haywood White died 14 March 1914 in Black Creek township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 22 November 1840 in South Carolina; was married; and worked as a farmer. B.S. Jordan of Wilson was informant.

Rev. Phillips?

We’ve met Rev. Henry C. Phillips, who arrived in Wilson from Edgecombe County in the late 1880s. This 1868 letter was written to a Freedmen’s Bureau official by a Henry C. Phillips, “a teacher of the Colored Children in the Hookerton village” in Greene County.

Was this the same man? His signature in the letter is very different than it appears on numerous marriage licenses 20 to 30 years later, when it is bold and assured and even a bit flamboyant. In 1868, however, Phillips would have been just a few years out of slavery, with relatively few chances to practice his penmanship. As an ordained A.M.E. Zion minister, Phillips, however, had daily opportunities to strengthen and polish his handwriting.

 

“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.

Three children, whose mother is dead.

The Goldsboro field office of the Freedmen’s Bureau also received a recommendation that three newly freed African-American children be bound to Stephen Privette, who was probably their former enslaver.

——

Wilson N.C. Dec 5th 1865

Commissioner of the Freedmen at Goldsboro

Sir. Mr. Stephen Privette of the County have three children whose mother are dead, they have no legal father, Mr. Privette is a good man & would treat them, kindly, and I would recommend him as being a sutable man to have them bound to.    W.J. Bullock Capt. G.P.Y.

North Carolina Freedmen’s Bureau Field Office Records, 1863-1872, Goldsboro (Subassistant Commissioner), Roll 17 Applications for Relief, Mar 1865-Aug 1867.

Allen A. Hines of Temperance Hall (and Toisnot.)

We’ve met Frank M. Hines, the young Edgecombe County register of deeds who attended Lincoln University with Samuel H. Vick and other young lions of Wilson. Hines’ hometown is listed in Lincoln’s 1882-83 catalog as Toisnot, i.e. Elm City. Similarly, Shaw University’s combined 1878-82 catalog includes A.A. Hines of Toisnot as a student in its Classical Department.

A.A. Hines, in fact, was Frank M. Hines’ elder brother (and both were sisters to Susan Hines Pyatt.) As they claimed a Wilson County residence, we claim them.

In the 1870 census of Cokey township, Edgecombe County: domestic servant Hannah Hines, 42, and children Harriet, 21, Susan, 17, Sarah, 11, Jerry, 13, Frank, 7, and Allen, 20, farmer.

On 26 May 1872, Allen Hines married Amanda Baker in Edgecombe County.

However, Amanda Baker Hines remarried in 1878 in Edgecombe County. Curiously, her and her husband’s household two years later included her former husband. In the 1880 census of Lower Town Creek township, Edgecombe County: Elbert Mordecai, 28; wife Amanda, 25; children Lewis, 7, Katherine, 5, and George, 1; and Allen Hines, 24 laborer. [Louis and Catherine were Allen Hines’ children.]

In 1883, a newspaper brief lists Allen Hines as a Edgecombe County grand juror. In the 19 August 1886 edition of the Greensboro North State, reporting on Edgecombe County’s Republican convention. A.A. Hines is named as a member of the committee on credentials (with W. Lee Person), and Frank M. Hines was nominated as county register of deeds. Jarrett Staton was appointed delegate to the judicial convention.

Allen Hines’ brother Frank died in 1889. His estate consisted of a small lot in Rocky Mount, and his heirs were Sallie Norris (wife of Ed Norris), Susan Pyatt (wife of Booker Pyatt), Harriet Barnes (wife of Demus Barnes), John Hines, and Louis and Catherine Hines, the children of Allen Hines, deceased. Allen Hines’ slender estate file contains a single sheet — his brother John’s 1892 application for guardianship for his niece and nephew, whose estate was valued at $175. (Their mother, stepfather, and half-siblings migrated to East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, in the late 1890s.)