Slavery

Joyous Juneteenth 2026!

Though it’s not a precise reckoning, the 1870 federal census is the closest account we have of who was emancipated in Wilson County five years earlier. The 310 surnames inscribed above are those reported to the census taker by the newly freed (and a few freeborn).

We need no one’s permission to honor and amplify the memory of our forebears, and we needn’t wait for the government to teach us their stories and struggles. Today, we celebrate freedom, resilience, and the enduring legacies of the men, women, and children these names represent.

Pour one for the ancestors this Juneteenth!

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Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19th and a federal holiday since 2021, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. It marks the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the end of the Civil War and slavery—more than two months after Appomattox Court House and two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Signal Boost: Lives of the Greene County United States Colored Troops.

Far fewer men escaped Wilson County to join the U.S. Colored Troops, but the close ties between southeastern Wilson County and western Greene County will make this talk by my friend Trisha Blount especially interesting to Wilson County researchers.

Register here From Enslavement to Reconstruction: Lives of the Greene County USCT before June 30.

Plantation House Series: James Reddick Barnes house.

The James Reddick Barnes house, built between 1850 and 1860, stands well back off the road in Saratoga township, southeast of Wilson. It is not registered with the National Register of Historic Places.

In the 1860 slave schedule, James R. Barnes reported enslaving 41 people and controlling another 32 as trustee for minors. (Though unnamed in the census, those minors included the Isaac Scarborough heirs.) In June 1856, two people he jointly owned with others, Cate and Sherard, were sold at auction at a toll house on White Oak Swamp. As high bidder, Barnes was able to buy them back.

In 1950 and 1960, the Wilson Daily Times ran articles on historic Wilson County houses, most of which had anchored plantations. The James R. Barnes house was featured twice.

Wilson Daily Times, 10 January 1950.

Ten years later, the house’s history had stretched a bit. Now the claim was that the house itself, rather than the land, had passed through seven generations from John Barnes. However, Barnes died in 1789 and his grandson Reddick Barnes in 1835, and great-grandson James Reddick Barnes actually built the house. (Also note the incorrect suffixes added to the names of the owners, i.e. III, IV, and VI. They are the result of the reporter’s incorrect interpretation of the owner’s generation of ownership, as spelled out in the 1950 Times article.)

Wilson Daily Times, 8 January 1960.

 

Were the Gays one family?

A prosperous set of families with the surname Gay appear in Wilson County records within the first ten years of freedom. Were they one extended family? Unrelated families who adopted the same surname, perhaps from a former enslaver? (And if so, whom?)

Here’s what we know about them:

  • Anthony Gay

Anthony Gay and Catherine Speight registered their 22-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace on 25 August 1866.

On 9 August 1868, Spencer Gay, son of Anthony and Catherine Gay, married Adeline Barnes, daughter of Baalam and Jinny Barnes, in Wilson County.

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: blacksmith Antney Gay, 44; wife Catherine, 40; and children Laura, 20, Thomas, 20, and Francis, 2 [adjacent to Spencer Gay’s household and one household away from Charles Gay’s.]

On 16 February 1871, for $250, Spencer Gay and his mother Catherine Gay sold R.J. and Sallie Taylor a three-quarter acre parcel of land near the fork of the old plank road and the Barefoot road [today’s Nash Street and South Pender Street.] The Gays had not registered a deed for the purchase of this land. See Deed Book 4, page 454.

On 30 April 1872, for $25, Anthony and Catherine Gay and Spencer and Adline Gay sold Esther McGowan a lot on the east side of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad on the old plank road. Deed Book 6, page 183.

Anthony Gay was still alive when Charles Gay was murdered in 1874, but died before 1880.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: widow Cathren Gay, 52; son Thomas, 28, laborer; daughter-in-law Julia, 27, laundress; boarder Anna Bone, 59; [grand]son Nelson, 6; and daughter Frances, 14 [next door to son Spencer’s widow Adeline Gay and family.]

Also: in the 1880 census of North Wilson township, Wilson County: Willie Gay, 32, hireling; wife Catherine, 30; and children Phillis, 12, Anthony, 10, Henrietta, 8, Nancy, 6, Catherine, 4, and John, 2. [Willie Gay was likely the son of Anthony and Catherine Gay.]

  • Charles Gay

Charles Gay and Emly Gay registered their three-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace on 9 August 1866.

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Charles Gay, 35; wife Emma, 25; children Charles, 5, and Mary, 1; and lodgers Rich’d Harper, 20, and Haywood Watson, 17.

Charles Gay was murdered in 1874.

  • Emma Gay (or Artis or Byrum) Gay Rountree

See Charles Gay, above.

Emma Gay, sometimes referred to as Emily Gay, bought property as early as December 1874. See Deed Book 9, page 522.

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Emma Gay, 35; children Charlie, 15, a steam-mill worker, Mary, 11, Etheldred, 8, and Willie, 6; plus a boarder Fannie Thompson, 19, cook.

On 4 February 1892, Henry C. Rountree, 44, married Emma Gay, 44, at the bride’s residence in Wilson. Presbyterian minister L.J. Melton performed the ceremony, and witnesses were Edward Pool, Mark Blount and S.H. Vick.

On 29 October 1902, Willie Gay, 27, son of Charles Gay and Emma Rountree, married Mary Johnson, 22, daughter of Edmund Johnson and Bertha Johnson, at Henry Johnson‘s. H.S. Phillips applied for the license, and Missionary Baptist minister Fred M. Davis performed the ceremony in the presence of Cain Artis, Charles S. Thomas, and Robert E. Artis.

On 23 March 1906, William Gay, 33, son of Charles and Emma Gay, married Augustus McNeil, 30, daughter of Peter and Emily Patterson, in Wilson. Missionary Baptist minister Fred M. Davis performed the ceremony in the presence of J.E. Farmer, Robert Strickland, and Charlie Farmer.

Henry C. Rountree died 24 September 1916 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1848 in  North Carolina to Jessie Artis and Becker Artis; was married; worked as a dealer in groceries; and was buried in Wilson. Emma Rountree was informant.

Emma Rountree died 25 June 1917 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was about 65 years old; was born in Greene County, N.C., to unidentified parents; was a widow; and was buried in Wilson County [probably, Vick Cemetery]. Lizzie Whitfield was informant.

Mary Strickland died 16 December 1936 in the Wilson County Home. Per her death certificate, she was 67 years old; was born in Wilson to Charley Gay and Emma Artis; was a widow; and was buried in Wilson. Will Gay was informant.

Willie Gay died 25 May 1940 at the Veterans Administration hospital in Kecoughtan, Virginia. Per his death certificate, he was born 10 February 1874 in Wilson, N.C., to Charles Gay and Emma Byrum, both of Greene County, N.C.; was divorced; was a veteran of the Spanish American War; was a railroad worker; and lived at 526 Smith Street, Wilson.

Dred Gay died 26 January 1950 in the Wilson County Home. Per his death certificate, he was born 1 January 1870 in Wilson County to Emma Gay; was a widower; and worked as a laborer.

  • Samuel, Albert, and Daniel Gay

Samuel, Albert, and Daniel Gay were the sons of Harriet Gay and Amos Thigpen (or Edmundson).

Sam Gay, son of Amos Thigpen and Harriet Gay, married Alice Bryant, daughter of Louisa Bryant, on 10 February 1870 in Wilson. P.E. Hines performed the ceremony.

On 20 January 1870, Daniel Gay, son of Amos Edmundson and Harriet Gay, married July Taylor, daughter of Alfred Robbins and Trecy Taylor, in Wilson.

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Samuel Gay, 24, wife Alice, 20, and brother Albert, 21.

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Daniel Gay, 20, and wife Julia, 20.

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm worker Samuel Gay, 27, wife Allice, 25, and children Blanch, 8, Louizah, 7, Edgar, 4, Charlie, 3, and Mamie, 1 month.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: south of the Plank Road, Daniel Gay, 28; wife Judie, 24; and daughters Mary, 9, and Creacy, 6.

Albert and Daniel Gay appear to have died before 1900.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Sam Gay, 54; wife Alice, 50; and children Charlie C., 23, Edgar B., 25, Lucy, 17, Samuel, 14, Albert and Beatrice, 10, and Lily, 4.

On 27 April 1904, John Stones, 30, of Wilson, married Mary Gay, 25, of Wilson, daughter of Daniel and Julia Gay, both deceased. A.D. Dawson applied for the license, and A.M.E. Zion minister H.C. Phillips performed the ceremony at the home of W.H. Kittrell in the presence of Kittrell, Mary Kittrell, and Charles Dawson.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Samuel Gay, 65, wife Alice, 55, and children Albert, 20, and Lilly, 15.

Samuel Gay died 1 February 1919 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per his death certificate: he was 73 years old, married to Allace Gay, resided at 620 Green Street, worked as tenant farmer for W.E. Warren, and was born in Wilson County. Charley Gay [his son] was informant.

Mary Stone died 19 November 1932 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 58 years old; was born in Wilson to Daniel Gay and Julia Gay; was a widow; worked as a cook; lived at 402 Viola Street; and was buried in Wilson [probably, Vick Cemetery.] Emma Davis, 418 East Green, was informant.

  • Candis Gay

Candis Gay and Jason Farmer registered their 22-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace on 25 August 1866.

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Jason Farmer, 33; wife Candis, 29; and children Florance, 9, Isiah, 6, and George 4.

In the 1880 census of North Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Jason Farmer, 43; wife Candas, 43; and children Florrance, 17, Isaiah, 13, George W., 11, Jessee, 9, Jason, 6, Jennie, 4, and Mayland, 2,

Candis Gay Farmer died before 1891, when her husband remarried.

  • The possible enslaver(s)

In the 1860 slave schedule of Wilson County, Edgecombe County native William M. Gay reported enslaving 21 people — men and boys aged and women and girls aged .

But also in the 1860 slave schedule of Wilson township, Wilson County: Thomas Gay reported enslaving 8 people — six men and boys aged 1 to 24 and a woman and girl aged 7 and 28.

Lane Street Project: Colbert Cemetery, Calhoun, Georgia.

Though I will always be of Wilson, I have lived in Atlanta nearly all of my adult life. It is very much “home” for me, too, and is a bottomless well of African-American culture and history that often informs the way I process research and work related to Black Wide-Awake and Lane Street Project.

I’ve begun visiting metro Atlanta’s historic African-American burial grounds. How have they weathered exploding population growth, shifting demographics, outmigration, land loss, and other pressures? The eighth in a series — Colbert (formerly Calvary) Cemetery in Calhoun, Georgia.

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Colbert Cemetery, also known as Calvary, lies at the top of a hill at the end of steep road on the edge of Calhoun, Georgia. Calhoun, a town of about 16,000, is in far north Georgia on land that once held the capital of the Cherokee Nation. As is typical of the area, its African-American population is low — only about 7%. Early in the twentieth century, this percentage dropped from about 15% with the exodus created by the Great Migration.

In 1841, Atlanta founder and railroad tycoon Richard Peters bought 4000 acres in Gordon County. He worked 2500 acres with enslaved African Americans and set aside a burial ground for them on this site. About 1910, Peters’ children deeded the cemetery to trustees for use by Calhoun’s Black community, many of whom were descended from people enslaved at Peters Plantation.

The Porches are one of the largest families buried at Colbert. Both J.L. and Sina Porch were born enslaved. 

You know I love a vernacular grave marker. Here are two of a set of three similar “stones.”

These embossed markers, likely provided by a funeral home, mostly date from the 1930s to 1950s.

One of a relatively few fieldstone markers.

Seventy miles up the road from Atlanta, an Eldren Bailey marker.

The cemetery was active as recently as 2016 and is a much-visited space.

Squire Frix appears as a ten year-old farm laborer in the 1870 federal census of the Town of Calhoun living as part of the household of white insurance agent Joseph W. Malone.

Like Odd Fellows Cemetery, Colbert is dotted with yucca plants marking grave sites.

Unusually, several bronze military markers were installed upright, rather than flats designed.

Caroline Heard was about 75 years old when she died in 1921.

In the valley below, new construction wraps around the base of the hill. Gordon County Civic Club, which oversees Colbert Cemetery, is engaged in protracted litigation against the developer, asserting that the subdivision may encroach on hidden graves.

Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, May 2026.

Saratoga township enslavers.

The 1860 slave schedule is the only known surviving, contemporaneous list of the men and women who enslaved black people in Wilson County. It is not a list of the enslaved themselves, as none are named in that census. Rather, the schedule described people by “color” (black or mulatto), sex, and age.

Organized by township, this series will set forth these enslavers, the number of people they held in 1860, and the ages of the youngest and oldest people held. Where possible, I will also name people known to be enslaved by each person. They may or may not correspond to people described in the 1860 slave schedule. The paucity of such identifications is heartbreaking, and I continue to search.

Saratoga district (roughly today’s Saratoga and Stantonsburg townships) was the southern end of Edgecombe County prior to 1855. The 1860 slave schedule lists 69 enslavers in this section of Wilson County, the largest of whom, William Barnes, held 79 people in bondage and controlled another 26 as a trustee. This area, spanning the southeast from the borders of present-day Pitt and Greene to Wayne, was the epicenter of slavery in Wilson County.

Hickman Ellis — 23, ages 1 to 55 years

  • Hannah, Jim, Netty, Aaron, Rose, Mary, Hannah, Old Peter and Old Chaney, Jack, Margaret, Elvy, Hewel, Tempy, Peter, Harriet, Gray, Hardy, Chaney and child Isaac, Eliza, John, Milbry and child Betsy, and Nancy

J.J. [John J.] Lane — 10, ages 8 months to 28 years

Annie Exum — 3, ages 15 to 40 years

William Felton — 12, ages 1 to 40 years

  • Piney, Esther

Thomas J. Gardner [constable of Saratoga] — 1, age 55 years

Drewry Joyner — 9, ages 9 to 70 years

Elizabeth Eason — 3, ages 3 to 26 years

W.J. [William J.] Moore — 4, ages 2 to 22 years

Starkey Howard — 6, ages 1 to 36 years

L.S. Dilda — 1, age 31 years

John Thigpen — 2, ages 17 and 44 years

Nancy Scarboro — 10, ages 2 to 50 years

Seth Tyson — 1, age 45 years

Seth Tyson, in trust — 6, ages 2 to 20 years

Edwin Whitley — 1, age 55 years

G.W. [George W.] Stanton — 7, ages 3 to 72 years

G.T. [Gatsey] Stanton — 7, ages 4 months to 70 years

  • Harry, Violet, Eliza and child, Ben, Dan, and Edy.

H.M. [Henry M.] Thompson — 21, ages 8 months to 24 years

Alvin Bagley — 4, ages 1 to 26 years

John A. Rodgers — 15, ages 8 months to 60 years

William Barnes Sr. — 26, ages 1 to 63 years

J.J. Bynum — 9, ages 8 to 38 years

Reuben Bynum — 21, ages 2 to 85 years

Reuben Bynum, in trust — 29, ages 1 to 60 years

Willie [Wiley] Sims — 30, ages 1 to 52 years

Wright Edmundson — 63, ages 1 to 48 years

David Batts — 1, age 14 years

Penelope Ellis — 19, ages 1 to 75 years

Sallie Applewhite — 32, ages 3 months to 65 years

Temperance Ellis — 1, age 13 years

Robert A. Ellis, in trust — 5, ages 4 to 50 years

G.J. Felps — 2, ages 10 and 17 years

Laura Felps — 2, ages 12 and 14 years

Rebecca Stanton — 1, age 49 years

Sallie Stanton — 2, ages 8 and 27 years

Julia Stanton — 2, ages 15 and 18 years

William C. Ellis — 13, ages 4 to 38 years

J.N. Amason — 2, ages 10 and 70 years

James B. Peacock — 4, ages 1 to 18 years

Sarah Peacock — 8, ages 1 month to 60 years

Jonathan Applewhite — 5, ages 4 to 80 years

Orpa Applewhite — 2, ages 10 and 18 years

Celia Applewhite — 1, age 20 years

W.H. [William H.] Applewhite — 2, ages 8 and 38 years

J.H. [James H.] Armstrong — 10, ages 6 to 55 years

Augustin Farmer, in trust — 2, ages 45 and 70 years

Rufus Edmundson — 35, ages 1 to 38 years

Warren Woodard — 21, ages 1 to 53 years

Washington Barnes — 5, ages 12 to 50 years

Winifred Bass — 2, ages 7 to 22 years

Jacob Barnes, in trust — 7, ages 2 to 45 years

Eliza Bass — 5, ages 8 months to 60 years

Joseph Peacock — 4, ages 10 to 44 years

Sarah Peacock — 8, ages 1 month to 60 years

Mahaly Barnes — 13, ages 4 months to 52 years

Macon Moye — 21, ages 2 months to 80 years

C.C. [Calvin C.] Peacock — 13, ages 4 to 25 years

John Wilkinson — 3, ages 20 to 55 years

John Hardy — 1, age 12 years

R.W. [Dr. Robert W.] King — 7, ages 2 to 35 years

E.G. [Edwin G.] Whitley — 28, ages 2 months to 67 years

Penelope Anderson — 4, ages 4 to 40 years

  • Olive, Larrow, Rose, Ellen, Evaline, Rody, Lucy the child of Olive, Jack, Ben, Judy, and Anaky

Edwin Barnes — 48, ages 3 months to 50 years

Edwin Barnes, in trust — 15, ages 1 month to 35 years

  • Dinah, Mason, Dick, Jane, Caroline, Handy, Grace, Pearce, Beck, Peg, Delpha, Turner, Lucy, Ginny, and Hester

William Barnes — 79, ages 1 month to 60 years

William Barnes, in trust — 26, ages 2 to 56 years

The estate of Elisha Felton (1858).

When Elisha Felton made out his will in 1854, he made no mention of enslaved people. Rather, after making several cash bequests, he directed that the remainder of his property be sold. Felton, who lived in the White Oak area, died in 1858, his son William Felton and James Barnes handled his estate of Elisha Felton. Estate records reveal that Felton and Barnes sold three women at two sales in the liquidation of the elder Felton’s estate..

At a sale held 22 October 1858, Felton and Barnes sold Piney and Louezer to Rubin Felton and Patrick Byrum.

At a sale held 19 March 1859, Esther, who was either very elderly or disabled, was sold for $68.75 to Byrum.

Elisha Felton Estate File, Wilson County, N.C., U.S. Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998, http://www.ancestry.com.

The estate of Wright Edmundson (1861).

Wright Edmondson, who lived on 1800 acres on Toisnot Swamp, was one of the largest slaveholders in Wilson County. Like most wealthy men of his time and place, he died with lengthy lists of both debtors and creditors, and the probate of his estate was considerably complicated by his failure to make a will and his many gifts to his children of slaves and other property a decade or so before he died on Christmas Eve 1860.

This list of “Names of all the slaves of the estate of W. Edmondson at his death except the increase of such as were advanced by him” includes 96 people. The subsets of people indicated by dividing lines represent some of the groups distributed together. Were they groupings random? Did they comprise nuclear families?

The 96 were: Esther, Cassel, Mariah, James, Edmond, Sarah, Lucy, Louis, Isaac, Lucindy, Bil, Silvy, Josh, Charles, Elith, Willis, Arthur, Esther, Rose, Howel, Eliza, Henry, Pheby, and Epsy; Sarah, Frank, Ann, Levy, Isaac, Edny and child, Tom, Jesse, Liza, Byrum, Peggy, Mary, Manuel, Arthur, Lewis, Mary, Jane, Lewis, Ruben, Mary (yellow), Sherard, Gatsy, Elias, Jason, Burt, Riley, Margaret, Nancy, Anica, Laura, Sampson, Emily, Calvin, Caroline, Julia, Dick, Patrick, Kate, Beck, Allen, Luvinia, London, Henry, Dury, Sarah, Adline, Haywood, Betsey, Lizz, John, Ephraim, Aaron, Gray, Winny, Morrison, Ben, Alsy, Violet, Bob, Hilyard, Ester, Pherby and child, Levi, Mac, Samuel, Arnold, Synthia, Ellen, Fondney, and Claricy.

Rufus W. Edmundson acknowledged that in 1842 he had received three enslaved people from his father along with land, work animals, two carts, and food staples. Curiously, none of the enslaved were named. Rather, they were “1 Negro Fellow likely age about 21 years …,” “1 [Negroe] Woman” about 18 years old, and “1 [Negroe] Boye” about 12.

Redmond S. Petway acknowledged receipt, on behalf of his wife Elizabeth Jane Edmundson, of Easter, Edmon, Jim, Cassel, and Mariah in December 1843 and March 1844.

Garry Edmundson confirmed that in 1843 his “Pa” had given him Bill, age 23 (but a “boy”); Silvy, age 26 (but a “girl”); Josh, age 10; Charles, age 7; and Elitha, an infant. He took the opportunity to grade Bill as medium quality; Silvy and Josh as inferior; and the youngest children as “likely,” i.e. strong and healthy.

In 1853, William L. Quarles, on behalf of his wife Caroline Edmundson, had received Rose, about 20, likely; Howell, 8 or 9, likely; Eliza, 8 or 9, ordinary; and Henry, 23 or 24, average. In 1855, he had received Phiby, 8, diseased (“did not recover”), and Epsy, 8, likely.

John F. Sanders (husband of Martha Edmundson) affirmed that in 1848 he had received Lewis; Lucy, 14, Sary, 13, Isaac, 7, and Lucinda, 6 (plus a mule and some cash.) All except Lewis were described as “likely.”

The rest of Edmundson’s children and his widow Susan Edmundson “took charge” of certain slaves before the estate was divided. Zilly Edmundson claimed Mary, Ann, Frank, Manuel, and little Mary. Penelope Edmundson snagged Alcy, Ester, Bob, Arthur, and Violet. Susan W. Edmundson took Cate, Beck, Patrick, Allen, and Luvinia. James P. Edmundson claimed Dury, Allen, Lun, Tom, and Lear. Their mother took Sherard, Gatsey, Jason, Sampson, Elias, Burt, Riley, Aniky and child Laura, Nancy, and Margaret.

Finally, the remaining unclaimed enslaved people were divided — “Drawn for by all children after setting apart certain slaves for equalizing advancements and certain slaves taken charge of by the widow.”

James Edmundson received Henry, Sarah, and Haywood, valued at $1800. Rufus Edmundson received Lizzie, Gray, Winny, Ann, and Betsey valued at $1675. John F. Saunders received Reuben, Cintha, Ellen, Fonzy, and Claricy, valued at $1850. Redmond S. Petway received Isaac, Edny, Eliza, Jesse, and Byron, valued at $1950. William L. Quarles received Calvin, Caroline, and Julia Ann, valued at $2150. Zillah Edmundson received Mary, Jane, Lewis, and Arnold, valued at $1500. Penelope Edmundson received Levi, Feriby, Mac, and Sam, valued at $1800. Susan Edmundson received Ephraim and Emily and her child, valued at $1900. Garry Edmundson received Ben, Sarah and her child, and Hilliard, valued at $1950.

The only black person who received anything of value among the multitude of transactions needed to resolve Edmundson’s estate was Sherrod, a “servant,” i.e. enslaved man. Sherrod filed a claim against the estate, asserting that Edmundson owed him nine dollars. As an enslaved person, Sherrod was incapable of entering into a binding contract, but Rufus W. Edmundson paid him nonetheless. On Christmas Day 1861.

We recognize several of the people distributed among Wright Edmundson’s wife and children as people he obtained in a controversial series of transactions with Abner Eason circa 1830: Sampson, born about 1811; Nancy (1806) and her daughter Phereby (1825); London (1827), Henry, and Sherrod. Edmundson also owned Nancy’s later-born children Alfred, Rose, Calvin, Nanna, Ann, and Howell, and Phereby’s daughter Lucinda.

Relatively few freedpeople in Wilson County adopted the surname Edmundson after Emancipation, and it is difficult to trace forward more than a handful of the men, women, and children Wright Edmundson held.

These couples registered cohabitations with Wilson County justices of the peace in 1866: Benjamin Edmundson* and Alsa Edmundson*, 12 years; Ephraim Edmundson* and Gatsey Rodgers, 3 years; John Edmundson* and Marie Edmundson, 1 year; Safronia Edmundson and Henry Peacock; Bettie Edmundson and Arthur Barnes, 17 years; Dewey Edmundson* and Solomon Woodard, 4 years; Gatsy Edmundson* and Sherard Ham, 24 years; Kate Edmundson* and Mason Bass, 4 years; Mary Edmundson* and Amos Ellis, 18 years. I have marked with an asterisk those couples that appear to have been held by Wright Edmundson.

The families I have found:

  • Benjamin and Alsa Edmundson and daughter Violet Edmundson Pitt

In the 1870 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, North Carolina: Ben Edmundson, 55, farm laborer; wife Alsa, 39; and Violet, 18. [Alsa and Violet went to Penelope Edmundson, above. Ben went to Garry Edmundson.]

On 24 January 1871, Violet Edmundson married William Pitts in Wayne County.

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street, farmer William Pitts, 34; wife Violet, 25; and children Ailsey, 10, Martha, 5, Hattie, 3; and Laura, 10 months.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Ben Edmonson, 77, drayman; wife Elsy, 71; and boarder [granddaughter] Elsy Pitt, 25, “cooking”.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Violet Pit, 50, washing, and children Martha, 24, washing, Hattie, 22, cooking, Lula, 21, cooking, Ben, 19, tobacco stemmer, Carry, 12, cooking, Rosa, 16, nurse, Meaner, 11, Jenney, 5, and Edward, 2.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: laundress Violett Pitt, 58; daughters Lula, 28, Matha, 34, and Hattie, 30; and grandchildren Mary, 10, Harvey, 8, Frank, 7, Lizzie, 6, Jonie, 18, and William, 9; and daughter Mena, 20.

On 7 November 1915, Ed Battle, 24, of Wilson, son of Allan and Mariah Battle, married Rosa Pitt, 24, of Wilson, daughter of Bill and Viola Pitt, in Wilson. Shade Hines applied for the license, and A.M.E. Zion minister B.P. Coward performed the ceremony in the presence of Frank Barnes, Leonard Kornegay, and B[illegible] Edmundson.

Rosa Pitt Battle died 26 December 1919 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 2 January 1884 in Wilson County, N.C, to William Pitt and Violet Edmundson; was married to Eddie Battle; and lived at 804 Vance. Mena Pitt was informant.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 804 Vance, widow Violet Pitt, 70, and daughters Elise, 45, Lula, 39, Mena, 29, and Elizabeth, 16.

Elsie Pitt died 19 June 1938 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born in 1875 in Wilson to William Pitt of Nash County and Violet Emerson [Edmundson] of Wilson County; was single; lived at 903 East Vance; and was buried in Wilson [probably in Vick Cemetery, but possibly the newly opened Rest Haven.] Ximena Martinez was informant.

  • Ephraim Edmundson

In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Ephram Edmundson, 25, farm laborer; wife Gatsey, 23; and children Mary, 6, and Buck, 4.

In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Gatsey Edmundson, 35; children Buck, 14, Mattie, 12, Louise, 10, Jorden, 8, and Marcellus, 1; and Waity Barnes, 18.

On 4 February 1890, Ephram Edmundson, 45, married Harriet Ruffin, 20, in Wayne County, N.C.

In the 1900 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, N.C.: farmer Lewis Artice, 49; wife Mattie, 46; children Loney, 21, Arthur, 18, Ida, 17, Andrew J., 14, Minnie, 11, Floyd, 8, and Ivey, 26; boarder Ephram Edmundson, 60, widower; and mother-in-law Sarah Evans, 70, widow.

In the 1910 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, N.C.: Ephram Edmundson, 60, and daughters Sarah, 19, Sallie, 16, and Merdy, 1.

Sallie Mayo died 15 January 1943 in Nahunta township, Wayne County. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 April 1894 in Wayne County to Ephrim Edmundson and Harrett Ruffins; was single; and was buried in Lanes cemetery, Stantonsburg.

  • Drury Edmundson Woodard Randall

On 3 April 1866, Solomon Woodard and Dewey Edmundson registered their four-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace.

In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Solomon Woodard, 30, farmer; wife Dewry, 25; and Mary, 3.

Solomon Woodard died early in 1878, and Drury Woodard relinquished administration of his estate to James S. Woodard.

On 25 December 1879, George Randal, 23, married Dury Woodard, 33, in Wilson County.

In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer George Randal, 23; wife Drewry, 34; and stepdaughter Mary, 14.

  • Kate Edmundson Bass

On 12 May 1866, Mason Bass and Kate Edmundson registered their four-year marriage with a Wilson County justice of the peace.

In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Mason Bass, 32; wife Katy, 33; children Spicy, 7, Bettie, 6, Riley, 1, and Nathaniel, 2 months; Mary, 53, Eliza, 28, and Sarah Bass, 16; and Ruffin Barnes, 18.

In the 1880 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Mason Bass, 43; wife Kate, 45; and children Isicy, 17, Bettie, 16, Amanuel, 2, and Mattie, 10 months.

In the 1900 census of Coahoma County, Mississippi: North Carolina-born Mason Bass, 63; wife Katie, 65; children Emanuel, 22, and Amelia, 18; and granddaughter Conelus, 1. Next door: Olie Henry, 45; wife Spicie, 37; and their children Amie, 14, William, 5, and Nathan, 3.

  • Mary Edmundson Ellis

Amos Ellis and Mary Edmundson registered their 18-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace on 2 July 1866.

In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: next door to Isom and Patience Ellis, farm laborer Amos P. Ellis, 47; wife Mary 40; and children Adeline, 23, Authur, 19, Learh, 17, Mary, 15, Jane, 11, and Lewis, 10; plus Authur, 65, and Betsey Barnes, 60.

  • Levi and Phenly [Phereby?] Edmundson and children Allen, Mack, Samuel, and infant

This family went to Penelope Edmundson as a partially intact group, without their oldest children. Son Allen, for example, was placed with Susan Edmundson.

In 1867, Levi Edmundson, son of Dick and Peggy Barnes, married Ferly Edmundson, daughter of Ned Amerson and Nancy Edmundson, in Wilson County. [Nancy and her daughter Phenly/Pherly/Phereby came to Wright Edmundson from Abner Eason. Phenly had a daughter Lucinda, and Nancy’s additional children included Alfred, Rose, Calvin, Nanna, Ann, and Howell.]

In the 1870 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Levi Edmondson, 55; wife Phenly, 47; and children Mack, 16, Samuel, 13, Milly, 10, Cora, 8, and Dock, 5.

In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Pheny Edmundson, 60, and children Mack, 24, Allen, 28, Lumilar, Doctor, 15, and Albert, 10.

On 23 December 1880, Allen Edmundson, 30, son of Levi and Fearby Edmundson, married Vicy Woodard, 29, daughter of Bright Thompson and Bidie Thompson, at Benjamin Woodard‘s residence in Wilson County. D.G.W. Ward performed the ceremony.

On 3 November 1883, Mack Edmundson, 26, married Harrett Newsom, 24, in Stantonsburg, Wilson County,

In the 1900 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County: farmer Mack Edmundson, 44; wife Harriet, 38; and children Levy, 16, Annah, 13, Mack, 9, Arthur, 7, Cora, 5, and Albert, 3.

On 26 February 1907, Mack Edmundson, 50, son of Levi and P[illegible] Edmundson, married Fannie Wooten, 40, daughter of Irvin and Bedie Exum, in Wayne County.

In the 1910 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County: farmer Mack Edmundson, 54; wife Fannie, 44; and children Mack, 19, Arthur, 16, Cora, 15, Albert, 13, and Almeter, 11.

On 17 February 1915, Mack Edmondson, 22, of Wayne County, son of Mack Edmondson and Harriet [no maiden name], married Pearline Taylor, 19, of Black Creek, daughter of Arnold and Alice Taylor, at Arnold Taylor’s in Black Creek, Wilson County. Walter H. Artis, John H. Artis, and Edward Artis were witnesses.

Cora Artis died 16 October 1936 in Nahunta, Wayne County. Per his death certificate, she was born 1894 in Wayne County to Mack and Harriet Edmundson and was married to Walter Artis.

Mack Edmundson died 6 May 1961 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Per his death certificate, he was born 5 May 1891 in North Carolina to Mack Edmundson and was married to Pauline Edmundson.

Almeter Edmundson Dickerson died 2 August 1975 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 20 February 1902 to Mack Edmundson and Ferbie(?) Edmundson; was married to Fred Dickerson; and resided at 308 Finch Street.

Estate File of Wright Edmundson, Wilson County, N.C., U.S. Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998, http://www.ancestry.com.

The estate of James Rentfrow (1856).

James H. Rentfrow, as administrator, handled the estate of James Rentfrow, who died in 1856 in Springhill township, Wilson County. J.H. Rentfrow filed an undated inventory that listed James Rentfrow’s assets as three tracts of land totaling 544 acres and 11 enslaved people — Abram, 50, Sara, 43, Harry, 27, Rose, 24, Dennis, 22, Lunnon, 19, Exum, 14, Haywood, 10, Albert, 7, Doctor, 2, and Isaac, 2.

On 5 November 1857, J.H. Rentfrow negotiated short-term hires for James Rentfrow’s enslaved people. The account, though somewhat vague, identifies some family groups. Rentfrow’s son-in-law Benjamin Parker paid $48 for “1 woman & 4 children.” The woman was Sarah, and the children, identifiable as Haywood, Exum, Albert, and Isaac, were likely her own. Renfrow’s son Hinnant Rentfrow leased “1 woman & 1 child,” otherwise identified as Rose and her son Dock.

On 1 March 1858, J.H. Rentfrow rehired the group, again mostly to Rentfrow’s adult sons and sons-in-law. Harry, Dennis, and Lunnon, as strong young men, commanded the highest least rates — between $81 and $86/year. Abraham, having endured back-breaking labor for four decades, went to Rentfrow’s son Mabry Rentfrow for $35. Rose and Sarah, each with a young child, went for $25, and boys Haywood and Albert, not quite ready to do a man’s work, were picked up for $10.

James and Lutory Renfrow had at least 11 children, and his estate remained open for several years for the benefit of his minor heirs. This receipt shows John T. Renfrow promising to pay $125 for the hire of an unnamed enslaved person, probably a man, in January 1861.

Though Rentfrow’s estate file shows accounts for two property sales, neither show the sale of enslaved people. Presumably, they were leased each year until Emancipation suddenly severed the Rentfrow family’s control.

——

I have had limited success tracing forward the people enslaved by James Rentfrow:

  • Harry Renfrow

In the 1870 mortality schedule of Wilson township, Wilson County: Harry Renfrow, 46, farm laborer, died in October 1869. He had lived in household #73, which was headed by Sarah Renfrow, see below. [Note: a second Harry Renfrow, about the same age, left Wilson County to join the United States Colored Troops. I believe they are different men.]

  • Sarah Renfrow

Sarah Renfrow was the mother of Isaac and Albert Renfrow, likely Haywood and Exum, and possibly Rose Renfrow.

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Sarah Renfrow, 45, with Isaac, 14, Rosa, 30, and Dennis Renfrow, 4, and Lewis Kelly, 23.

In the 1880 census of Town of Wilson, Wilson County: Sarah Renfrow, 45; Albert, 28; and Isaac, 23.

  • Rose Renfrow

Rose Renfrow was the mother of Doctor and, likely, Dennis Renfrow, and may have been married to Dennis Renfrow.

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Sarah Renfrow, 45, with Isaac, 14, Rosa, 30, and Dennis Renfrow, 4, and Lewis Kelly, 23. [This Dennis was born after Emancipation, was likely Rosa’s child, and was almost certainly named after the elder Dennis, who may have been his father.]

  • Isaac Renfrow

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Sarah Renfrow, 45, with Isaac, 14, Rosa, 30, and Dennis Renfrow, 4, and Lewis Kelly, 23. [Note: also in the 1870 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: Penelope Renfrow, 29, farm laborer, and sons Jacob, 16, Esaw, 13, and Isaac, 10, all farm laborers. (This appears to be the family of soldier Harry Renfrow.)]

In the 1880 census of Town of Wilson, Wilson County: Sarah Renfrow, 45; Albert, 28; and Isaac, 23.

On 30 December 1880, Isaac Rentfrow, 23, of Wilson County, son of Sarah Rentfrow, married Bettie Hix, 20, of Wilson, at the bride’s residence in Wilson County. Baptist minister E.H. Ward performed the ceremony in the presence of Eliza Boyette, Alfred Boyette, and Eliza Tyson.

  • Albert Renfrow

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Sarah Renfrow, 45, with Isaac, 14, Rosa, 30, and Dennis Renfrow, 4, and Lewis Kelly, 23.

In the 1880 census of Town of Wilson, Wilson County: Sarah Renfrow, 45; Albert, 28; and Isaac, 23.

Estate File of James Rentfrow, Wilson County, N.C., U.S. Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998, http://www.ancestry.com.