Wilson County

Williamson High School, eight years later.

Williamson High School opened in 1941 as the third post-elementary school for black children in Wilson County. I first visited in 2017. The six-room cinderblock school is still standing, though almost completely hidden from the road by encircling sweet gums and wax myrtles. Inside, the floor of the central hallway has collapsed at the west end of the school, but otherwise the interior seems about the same.

Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, October 2024.

Beaufort County voter registrations.

Beaufort County voter registration records from the 1890s reveal significant migration into the county from elsewhere in eastern North Carolina, Wilson County included.

  • David Barnes

Age 22 years; laborer; born in Wilson County; registered in Tranters Creek, 17 October 1896.

  • Gatlin Barnes

Age 54 years; farmer; born in Wilson County; registered in Tranters Creek, 10 October 1896.

In the 1900 census of Washington, Beaufort County: farmer Gatlin Barnes, 54; wife Jane, 45; and widowed sister Sarah, 75.

In the 1910 census of Washington, Beaufort County: farmer Gatlin Barnes, 65; wife Jane, 50; son David, 23; and widowed sister Sarah, 70.

  • James H. Barnes

Age 29 years; farmer; born in Wilson County; registered in Tranters Creek, 10 October 1896.

  • Edward Blount

Age about 30 years; laborer; born in Wilson County; registered in Third Ward, Washington, 2o September 1896.

  • Daniel Bone

Age 21; laborer; born in Wilson County; moved to Beaufort County from Wilson County; registered in Third Ward, Washington, 22 October 1898.

  • George Bynum

Age 28; farmer; born in Wilson County; registered in Aurora, 30 September 1890.

In the 1880 census of Richland township, Beaufort County: farmer Benj. Bynum, 43; wife Charlotte, 38; and children George, 21, John, 14, Lina, 12, Riley, 9, Randall, 7, Ida, 5, and Wilsey, 2.

On 15 April 1907, George Bynum, 45, married Cora Jennette, 18, in Craven County. Witnesses to the ceremony included Riley Bynum.

In the 1910 census of New Bern, Craven County: on Smith Street, odd jobs laborer George Bynum, 48; wife Cora, 24; and daughter Florney, 8 months.

In the 1920 census of Richland township, Beaufort County: on Brown Place Road, George Bynum, 60; wife Cora, 36; and children Florence, 10, Annie, 7, and Wilton, 3 months.

In the 1930 census of Richland township, Beaufort County: on Sandy Landing Road, laborer George Bynum, 60; wife Cora, 39; and children Annie, 18, Jessie, 4, and Florence, 21.

In the 1940 census of Richland township, Beaufort County: at Hickory Point, George Bynum, 72; wife Cora, 55, laborer; and son Jessie, 14.

In the 1950 census of Richland township, Beaufort County: George Bynum, 98; wife Cora, 56; and son Jesse, 25.

George Bynum died 20 November 1954 in Richland, Beaufort County. Per his death certificate, he was born 6 March 1875 in Wilson County to Charlotte Hams; was married; lived in Richland; worked as a common laborer; and was buried in Ardelia Cemetery, Beaufort. Jessie Bynum was informant.

  • John Dixon

Age 29; farmer; born in Wilson County; registered in Aurora, 15 October 1896.

  • E.G. Hays

Age 33; farmer; born in Wilson County; resided in Aurora; registered 30 September 1890; “left.”

  • Freeman Hines

Age 24; laborer; born in Wilson County; registered in Third Ward, Washington, 15 October 1892.

  • William O’Farrow

Age 29; farmer; born in Wilson County; registered in Third Ward, Washington, 22 October 1898.

  • John J. Taylor

Age 25; carpenter; born in Wilson County: registered in Third Ward, Washington, 26 September 1896.

  • Zebulon V. Thorne 

Age 22 years; laborer; born in Wilson County; registered in Beaufort, 1 October 1898.

In the 1880 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Adline Thorn, 40, and children and grandchildren Jane, 19, Charley, 14, William, 9, Preston, 5, Zebulon V., 3, and Candis, 2.

On 21 December 1898, Z.V. Thorne, 22, married Maggie Linton, 19, in Beaufort County.

In the 1900 census of Richland, Beaufort County: Vance Thorn, 23; wife Maggie, 21; mother Jane, 39; aunt Hattie, 20; uncle Moses, 16; and aunt Mamie, 13.

In the 1910 census of Richland, Beaufort County: farmer Zebulon V. Thorne, 34; wife Maggie, [no age listed]; daughters Mary Jane, 8, Bertha, 6, Hattie, 4, Flossie, 3, and Rosabel, 3 months; mother Jane, [no age]; and boarder Sandy Stepheson, 16.

In 1918, Zeblon Vance Thorne registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 16 August 1874; lived in Bath, Beaufort County; was a self-employed farmer; and his contact was wife Mag Thorne.

Zebulon Vance Thorne died 17 March 1927 in Bath township, Beaufort County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 3 August 1876 in Wilson County near Elm City; was married to Mary E. Thorne; lived in Bath; and worked as a farmer. [Zeb Thorne’s headstone features the Odd Fellows’ three links.]

  • Gideon Scott

Age 43 years; fisherman; born in Wilson County; registered in Tranters Creek, 3 October 1896.

  • John H. Ward

Age 54; carpenter; born in Wilson County; moved to Beaufort County from Pitt County; registered in Third Ward, Washington, on 29 October 1898.

John H. Ward died 3 August 1936 in Washington, Beaufort County. Per his death certificate, he was 85 years old; was the widower of Hannah Ward; lived on 9th Street; and worked as a carpenter.

Beaufort County Voter Registration 1892-1898, North Carolina Voter Registers and Certificates of Registration 1843-1965, http://www.familysearch.org.

Moyton Lodge #5101 buys a lot.

In 1909, Moyton Lodge #5101 — the Stantonsburg-area Odd Fellows — bought a lot at the corner of Broad Avenue and South Yelverton Street. Did they ever build a lodge hall there?

——

STANTONSBURG LAND & IMP. CO.

TO

MOYTON LODGE #5101 OF THE O. F. OF WILSON CO.

(DEED)

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, WILSON COUNTY }

THIS DEED, Made this the 28 day of December, 1909, by the Stantonsburg Land and Improvement Company, a Corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of North Carolina, party of the first part, and S.H. Burney, G.W. Applewhite, A.J.S. Edwards, C.B. Best, J.H. Edwards, Joseph Jones, Sr., and W.H. Hall, Trustees of Moyton Lodge  No. 5101 of the G.U.O. of O.F. of Wilson County, State of N. C., parties of the second part,

WITNESSETH: THAT the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of One Hundred and Twenty-Five Dollars to it paid, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, has bargained and sold, and by these presents does bargain, sell and convey to the said parties of the second part and their successors in Office, a certain tract or parcel of land in Stantonsburg Township, Wilson County, State of North Carolina; being known as lot No. 12 in block 23 of a town site laid out and plotted for said party of the first part, said plot being recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Wilson County in Book …., page ….. and more particularly described as follows, to-wit:

Beginning at the corner of Broad Ave. and ….. St., and runs North 150 feet, corners, thence East 50 ft. to corner of lot No. 11, thence South 150 ft. to Broad Ave., thence West with Broad Ave 50 ft. to the beginning.

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the aforesaid tract or lot of land and all privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging to the said party of the second part, Trustees as aforesaid, and their successors in Office, to their only use and behoof forever.

And the said party of the first part covenant that it is seized of said premises in fee and has a good right to convey the same in fee simple; that the same is free and clear from all incumbrances, and that it will warrant and defend the title to the same against the lawful claims of all persons whomsoever.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF the said Stantonsburg Land and Improvement Company has caused its name to be hereunto signed by its president, attested by its Secretary, and its corporate seal hereto affixed, all by order of its Board of Directors, this the day and year first above written.

Stantonsburg Land & Improvement Co.

BY: S. H. Crocker, President.

Attest: H. E. Thompson, Secretary

Broad and Yelverton today. Bethel A.M.E. Zion is visible at the other end of the block.

——

  • S.H. Burney — probably, in the 1910 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: on Ruffin Bridge Road, farmer Henry Burney, 60; wife Hannah, 40; daughter Lillie Applewhite, 23; and grandsons John H., 8, and Marlvin Applewhite, 7.
  • G.W. Applewhite
  • A.J.S. Edwards — probably, in the 1900 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Alcinda J. Edwards, 46; wife Virginia A., 53; son John H., 25; and daughter-in-law, Nelie A., 17.
  • C.B. Best — is this Clarence B. Best?
  • J.H. Edwards — probably, in the 1910 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: on Ruffin Bridge Road, farmer John Edwards, 35; wife Maddie, 23; children Martha A., 9, Mary, 7, Julia, 6, John H., 5, and Joseph, 2; sister-in-law Ida Artis, 24, and nieces Amelia, 5, Salena, 2, and Rennie Artis, 2 months.
  • Joseph Jones, Sr. — in the 1910 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: on Morton [Moyton] Road, farmer Joseph Jones, 53; wife Violet, 36; and children Agnes, 11, Roscoe, 10, Frances, 6, William H., 4, and Benjamin, 2.
  • W.H. Hall — William H. Hall Sr. or William H. Hall Jr.

Deed book 91, page 381, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson; photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, October 2025.

Where we worked: resort hotels.

Many young men traveled north for seasonal work at resort hotels in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and the Pennsylvania Poconos.

  • Walter Blount, waiter; Saint Charles Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1917
  • Ernest E. Boyd, waiter; Strand Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1917

Hotel Strand, Atlantic City, N.J. Image courtesy of westjersyhistory.org.

  • Arlando R. Dawson, waiter; Girard Hotel, New York, New York, 1918
  • Charlie Gay, dishwasher; Pennsylvania Assembly Hotel, Pocono Pines, Pennsylvania, 1918

Assembly Lodge, Pocono Pines, Pa. Image courtesy of mrlocalhistory.org.

  • Alexander B. Joyner, chair pusher; Shill Company, Atlantic City New Jersey, 1917
  • Joseph Speight, bellhop; Lorraine Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1918
  • Frank Taylor, porter; Hotel Yarmouth, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1918
  • James T. Taylor, bellhop; Yarmouth Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1917
  • (maybe) William Kelley Cane Thigpen, waiter in kitchen; Johnstown, Pennsylvania, 1917

Sunny South. Cotton Picking.

It’s hard to read, but “Wilson N C” is written in the cotton plants just below the four women and five children. The reverse of the postcard is labeled “Foust’s Ground Floor Studio, Wilson, N.C.” and carries a Wilson postmark with a partially illegible date — MAR 10 190_.”

Copy courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.

Cemeteries, no. 35: the Ned and Lydia Kent family.

I arrived just as the last few cowboys and cowgirls were packing up from the 36th annual Bounty Hunters Saddle Club trail ride. Sullivan Road, which dead ends in a peninsula jutting into Buckhorn Reservoir, is about as far west as you can get in Wilson County. I had not expected to wander the Kent Family Cemetery to neighs and nickers, but it was a pleasant surprise.

This active cemetery is beautifully maintained, with about 50 marked graves. A large red cedar and several old boxwoods shield the oldest burials. 

We’ve met Ned Kent — most recently here. Kent owned 159 acres near the Johnston County line north of present-day N.C. Highway 42. Per the terms of his will, two acres were set aside for a family cemetery:

The rest of his land largely remains in the hands of his descendants. 

Ned Kent Died July 22, 1940 Age 84

The headstone of son and daughter-in-law Charlie and Victoria Kent is a nice Clarence B. Best piece. 

Kent Charlie Nov. 10, 1888 Sept. 21, 1957 Victoria Sept. 5, 1892 A Devoted Father & Mother

Julia Kent Born 1877 Died Sept 8th 1951 Our Mother Little Budde Love

Mary Jane Boykin Mar. 4, 1879 Feb. 2, 1965 J.H. Boykin May 23, 1878 May 14, 1926

Lydia Kent Died Nov. 5, 1949 Age 92

Sidenote: this house is one of three that appear on the 1952 plat map of the division of Ned Kent’s property. Was it the Kents’ “home house”?

Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, October 2025.

Black Wide-Awake is 10 years old!

Black Wide-Awake simmered on a back burner for years; my first post was titled “At last.” Ten years and almost 7000 posts later, among the greatest joys this blog has brought me are the people I’ve met and relationships I’ve built. I’m grateful for the ways you enrich my understanding of a place I love, and I’m honored to have brought gifts to you. Now more than ever, we have to teach ourselves, tell our own stories, save our own spaces, preserve our own past. Thank you for reading, for supporting, for commenting, for amplifying, for sharing photos and memories, for championing our dead. Black Wilson got something to say!