The best-preserved of the early twentieth-century African-American county schools, Mitchell School, is gone. Built about 1919 on what is now Lake Wilson Road, the building was demolished in recent weeks.
Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, July 2025.
Wilson County
Butler Jones, juror.
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 17 July 1937.
In 1937, an African-American man selected to serve on a Superior Court jury was the stuff of newspaper articles.
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Funeral Program Friday: Victoria Scarborough Notree.
A reader, Antoinette Dickens, recently emailed me a copy of her great-great-grandmother’s funeral program. Victoria Scarborough Notree was born in Wilson County and, like dozens, maybe hundreds, of others, migrated to Arkansas with her family circa 1890.
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In the 1880 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Charles Bynum, 59; wife Bunney, 50; and children Mary, 23, Daniel, 20, Henry, 18, Herbert, 16, Adiline, 14, and Charles, 10.
In the 1880 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Jason Scarboro, 20, servant. [Likely, in the household of white farmer Devro Whitley, next door.]
On 14 October 1886, Jason Scarborough, 26, married Adline Bynum, 21, at Charles Bynum’s in the presence of Haywood Bynum, David Bynum, and Charles Bynum. (Justice of the Peace Seth H. Tyson performed the ceremony, which indicates it likely took place in the Saratoga area.)
In the 1900 census of Owen township, Saline County, Arkansas: Jason Scarber, 46; wife Adline, 36; and children Ella, 16, Jessie, 16, Victoria, 11, Hugh, 8, Arch, 7, Joe, 6, Cora, 4, and Florence, 1. The five youngest children were born in Arkansas; the rest of the family, including Victoria, in North Carolina.
In the 1910 census of Lafayette township, Lonoke County, Arkansas: farmer Albert Maxwell, 46; wife Ellah, 25, born in N.C.; children Ray, 7, Virginia, 5, and Albert, 8 months; and sister-in-law Victoria Scarber, 21, born in N.C.
On 18 October 1910, Ed Notree, 34, married Victoria Scarborough in Lonoke County, Arkansas.
In the 1920 census of Walls township, Lonoke County, Arkansas: farmer Edd Notree, 46; wife Victoria, 25, born in N.C.; and children Alice, 9, Little Edd, 5, Pankie, 3, and Johnie, 7 months.
In the 1930 census of Lafayette township, Lonoke County, Arkansas: farmer Ed Notree, 45; wife Victoria, 38, born in N.C.; and children Ed Jr., 15, Pinkie, 13, and Johnie, 9.
In the 1940 census of Keo, Lonoke County, Arkansas: on Fordyce Street, Ed Notree, 64, farm laborer; wife Victoria, 50; “s-son” T.B. Mahone, 7; and sister Littie Phillips, 45.
Annie Bell Notree died 3 April 1941 in Little Rock, Big Rock township, Pulaski County, Arkansas. Per her death certificate, she was born 24 December 1922 to Eddie Notree and Victoria Scoggins; lived at 1718 Cedar Street, Little Rock; and was a schoolgirl.
In 1942, John Notree registered for the World War II draft in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Per his registration card, he was born 21 April 1922 in Little Rock, Arkansas; lived at 5529 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago; his contact was Mrs. V. Notree, 1468 Randolph Street, Chicago; and he worked for Penfield Oil Company.
In the 1950 census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: Victoria Q. Notree, 55, maid, widow, born in N.C., and daughter Allie M., 16.
Thank you, Antoinette!
North Carolinians celebrate anniversary in New Jersey.
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 2 November 1940.
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On 14 September 1926, Lee Joyner, 25, son of Willard and Kate Joyner, married Sarah Ray, 20, daughter of Sarah Bertha Ray, in Wilson. Presbyterian minister A.H. George performed the ceremony in the presence of Severina Mitchell, Sallie Coley, and C.L. Darden.
An unnamed male child was stillborn to Lee Joyner of Greenville, N.C., and Sarah Ray, of Fayetteville, N.C., on 20 November 1928 in Wilson. The baby was buried in Rountree Cemetery [probably Vick Cemetery.] Informant was Sarah Joyner, 1105 Atlantic Street, Wilson.
In the 1930 census of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey: plasterer Lee Joyner, 29; wife Sarah, 24; and daughter Willie-Grae, 2, all born in North Carolina.
In the 1940 census of Bloomfield, Essex County, New Jersey: mason/building conractor Lee Joiner, 39; wife Sarah, 33; and children Willie Grace, 12, and Thomas Lee, 9.
In 1942, Lee Jackson Joyner registered for the World War II draft in Essex County, New Jersey. Per his registration card, he was born 6 October 1900 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 436 Broughton Avenue, Bloomfield, Essex County; his contact was Sarah Joyner; and he worked for Brookdale Homes, Bloomfield, N.J.
In the 1950 census of Belleville, Essex County, New Jersey: Lee J. Joyner, 49, plasterer; wife Sarah A., 41; and daughter Wil-gre, 22, department store cashier.
Freeman receives master’s degree.
Wilson Arts weaves a better tomorrow with Juneteenth activity.
I learned just today of Wilson Arts’ Juneteenth activity this year, but it’s never too late to shine spotlights. I reached out to Executive Directive Cathy Brown Hardison to find out more.
“Quilt-making and basket-weaving are traditional cultural practices among American Descendants of Slaves, especially within the Gullah-Geechee communities that span from the Carolinas to northern Florida,” she said. “Ribbon-weaving serves as a nice callback to those traditions—it requires less dexterity and can involve participants of all ages and abilities. We also had a ton of fabric and ribbon on hand, and our set designer built the stand for us—so it really came together as a meaningful community project.”
The weaving wasn’t quite finished at Wilson’s Juneteenth Festival, so visitors to the Farmers & Artisans Market a few days later were given the opportunity to contribute. Since then, the weaving has been installed in the Wilson Arts gallery as a drop-in activity alongside information about Juneteenth. (Given the recent viral video showing workers at a Wilson business making snarky comments about the holiday, this educational outreach is welcome … and sorely needed!)
Kudos to Wilson Arts for offering a Juneteenth activity that wasn’t just a personal takeaway, but a collaborative piece that the whole community could contribute to.
Thank you to Wilson Arts for the images and video!
Studio shots, no. 264: Genetta Bunn Wilkins.
Gennetta Bunn Wilkins (ca. 1885-??).
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In the 1900 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer Amos Bunn, 51; wife Mojano, 40; children Tildy, 24, Amos, 21, William G., 19, Lewis B., 17, Genetta B., 14, Sallie B., 13, Jonas B., 10, Louisannie, 7, Eddie B., 3, and James W., 2; and mother Tobitha, 80, widow.
Photo courtesy of Ancestry.com user veda6700.
Edwards family holds 9th annual reunion in Elm City.
Like clockwork, the Edwards family gathers on the Fourth of July. This past Friday’s reunion was extra-special as the family also celebrated the 100th birthday of Amanda Mitchell Cameron. Mrs. Cameron was present at the very first reunion in 1934 and every reunion since, including this one in 1943:
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 17 July 1943.
Affidavits of good behavior, no. 2.
NOTE: I found these documents before my trip to Aberdeen. They, in fact, spurred me to go.
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I’ve been hunting for digitized evidence of the trade of Wilson County slavers like Wyatt Moye, Robert S. Adams, Stephenton Page Jr., and Joshua Barnes in Aberdeen, Mississippi. I finally found some in a deed book dated 1847-1850. (Wilson County, of course, had not yet formed, but these traders lived or had lived in parts of Edgecombe, Nash, Wayne, or Johnston Counties that are now Wilson County.) These registered affidavits attest to the affiants’ personal acquaintance with an enslaved person who had been sent from North Carolina to Mississippi for further sale.
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Deed Record 13, page 641. Chancery Clerk’s Office, Monroe County, Mississippi.
Know all men by these presents that we Josh. Barnes and Jas. D. Barnes, Citizens & free holders of the County of Edgecomb & State of North Carolina do hereby certify that we are acquainted with negro woman Esther a very black thick set Slave about forty or fifty years of age which Slave Larry D. Farmer sent to Aberdeen, Mississippi, by Robert S. Adams that said Slave has not been guilty or convicted of murder, arson, burglary or felony within our knowledge or belief in said state. Signed with our Seals and dated Feby 27th 1849. /s/ Josh. Barnes, Jas. D. Barnes
Deed Record 13, page 642. Chancery Clerk’s Office, Monroe County, Mississippi.
Know all men by these presents that we Josh. Barnes & Jas. D. Barnes Citizens & free holders of the County of Edgecomb & State of North Carolina do hereby certify that we are acquainted with negro Friday a very black fellow about twenty or twenty five years of age rather awkard and a little open mouthed weighs about one hundred & sixty pounds that William Barnes sent to Aberdeen, Mississippi, furthermore that said Slave has not been guilty or convicted of murder, arson, burglary or other felony within our knowledge or belief in said state aforesaid. Signed this 27th day of Feby 1849. /s/ Josh. Barnes, Jas. D. Barnes
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- Joshua Barnes
- James D. Barnes — James Dew Barnes. In the 1860 census of Wilson County, farmer James D. Barnes reported $62,580 in personal property. The 1860 slave schedule reveals that this property included 34 enslaved people.
- Larry D. Farmer
- Robert S. Adams — Adams was a partner with Wyatt Moye in the slave-trading firm Moye and Adams.
- William Barnes — brother of Joshua Barnes.
Documents reproduced at www.familysearch.org.
The sale of Milly (1855).
In June 1855, Stephenton Page Jr. of Wilson County, a slave dealer, conveyed a 19 year-old enslaved woman named Milly in trust to John Norfleet of Edgecombe County for the sole use of Zilla Ann Peel, “free from the control or management of [her husband] Henry W. Peel”. Page warranted that Milly was “sound in every respect, her eyes excepted which are known by both the parties to be defective, the defect being or supposed to be short or near sightedness.” The deed was registered in Edgecombe County in March 1859.
Deed book 27, page 856, Edgecombe County Register of Deeds, Tarboro, N.C.