Wilson County

Sharp loses government insurance policy.

Wilson Daily Times, 27 December 1918.

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In the 1870 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Benj’n Artis, 46, farm laborer; wife Phebee, 42; and children Mary, 2, Julia, 6, Sarah, 17, Debby, 18, and Benjamin, 20.

In the 1880 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Oren Sharp, 26; wife Debby, 25; and children Lary, 2, Thomas, 4 months, and James, 8.

In the 1900 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Orren Sharpe, 46; wife Debby, 45; and children Robert, 17, Media, 14, William Ann, 9, Gray, 7, Roscoe, 3, and Jessie, newborn.

In the 1910 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: on Plank Road, farmer Orren Sharpe, 57; wife Delphia, 55; and children Medie, 30, Winnie, 17, Robert, 27, Gray, 16, Williamann, 14, James, 15, and Rome, 12.

In 1917, Roman Sharp registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 23 March 1896 in Wilson County; worked as a farmer; was single; and supported his father and mother.

Ferabia Sharp died 20 February 1919 in Gardners township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 66 years old; was born in Gardners township to Ben Arthis and Fabia Artis; was married; and Orange Sharp was informant. [This is clearly Debbie Artis Sharp. Was she named Ferebee after her mother and given “Debbie” as a nickname?]

Meddie Sharp died 1 October 1919 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 36 years old; was born in Wilson County to Orange Sharp and Debby Artis; and was married to Winnie [sic] Sharp.

Arn Sharpe, 66, widower; sons Larry, 40, and Roman, 23; daughter-in-law Bessie, 22; grandson H. Willie, 2; and sister-in-law Sarah Bynum, 65.

Robert Sharpe died 17 January 1947 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 22 January 1881 in Wilson County to Orange Sharpe and Debbie Artis; was married to Annie Sharpe; worked as a farmer; and was buried in Barnes Cemetery, Wilson County.

Larry Sharpe died 4 October 1953 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 77 years old; was born in Wilson County to Orange Sharpe and Debbie Artis; was married to Bessie Sharpe; and was buried in Simon Barnes Cemetery, Wilson County.

Gray Sharpe Sr. died 22 January 1961 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 30 October 1889 in Wilson County to Owens Sharpe; was married to Mary Sharpe; worked as a farmer; and was buried in Barnes Cemetery, Wilson County.

Annie Sharpe Barnes died 20 January 1974 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 27 May 1891 to Orin Sharpe and Debbie Sharpe; was a widow; and lived at 110 South Carroll Street, Wilson.

 

Teacher Carrow’s troubles (and a mysterious school in Black Creek.)

The Daily Journal (Wilmington, N.C.), 16 September 1876.

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Wait. What?

Who was Mary Carrow? Who was Charles Smith? And what (and where) was the Black Creek Male and Female Institute “for colored boys and girls”???

I have found only two Mary Carrows in Wilson County during the time period — a mother and daughter, both white, listed in the 1880 census of the Town of Wilson. The daughter, Mary Estelle Carrow, wasn’t born until in 1879. Her mother Mary Dew Carrow, born about 1853, was married to John B. Carrow, a grocer and barkeep.

However, in the 1880 census of Goldsboro, Wayne County, there is a Mary Carrow, 52, white, “teaching.” This Mary Carrow operated a private primary school in Goldsboro in the late 1870s and was a much-loved teacher at Goldsboro’s graded school from 1881 until her death in 1899.

Goldsboro Argus, 28 August 1879.

This Mary Carrow was not a “young colored lady,” and I have not yet found anyone who could be the one hired to teach in Black Creek.

Charles Smith, formerly principal of Wilson Academy, was born about 1855, and married Virginia Barnes (or Winstead), sister of Braswell R. Winstead. Smith gave his occupation as minister in the 1880 when his brother-in-law, who lived in his household, was a teacher.

Wilson Advance, 10 September 1880.

In the 1870 census of Town of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer William Smith, 27; wife Temperance, 31; son Charles, 20, farm laborer; and Nancy Brown, 51.

On 28 August 1874, Charles Smith, 22, married Jennie Barnes, 17, in Wilson County.

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street, minister Charles Smith, 26; wife Virginia, 22; and children Arminta, 7, John T., 3, and Charles H., 1; and brother-in-law Braswell Winstead, 20, teaching school.

Charles H. Smith went on to become a prominent A.M.E. Zion minister. B.R. Winstead remained in Wilson all his life as a close associate of Samuel H. Vick.

Most mysterious is Black Creek Male and Female Institute, about which I have found nothing at all.

The roots of many Wilson County Artises, no. 6: Richard Artis.

I wrote here of Vicey Artis, a free woman of color, and Solomon Williams, an enslaved man, whose marriage in Greene (or perhaps Wayne) County, North Carolina, produced eleven children. Though only one — the busy Primitive Baptist elder Jonah Williams — actually lived in Wilson, descendants of several others are in Wilson County even today.

Richard Artis was the youngest of Vicey and Solomon’s sons. He married Susannah Yelverton Hall Yelverton, and their children were Lucinda, Emma, Ivory L., Louisa, Richard Jr., Susan A., Jonah, Charity, Cora P., Frances, John Henry, and Walter C. Artis. Richard Artis and his children lived primarily in Wayne and Greene Counties — except Emma Artis Dawson Reid, who lived in the Black Creek area for a few years — but many of their children moved (permanently or temporarily) into Wilson County. These included Susan Artis Cooper’s sons James Elijah Cooper (1907-1995) and John Hardy Cooper (1909-1979); Jonah Artis’ sons Milford Odell Artis (1918-2001) and Jonah Artis Jr. (1927-2015); Cora Artis Exum’s son Herven P. Exum (1921-2013); and Ivory L. Artis’ son Claude Artis (1917-1979).

Photo courtesy of Teresa C. Artis.

Hardy Lassiter of Baltimore (and his brother Henry Lassiter.)

We have read of Hardy Lassiter, a free man of color born about 1780, who died in what is now Wilson County in 1853. Hardy Lassiter had a son, Hardy Lassiter Jr. (1828-?), but also had grandsons, great-grandsons, and even great-great-grandsons named Hardy Lassiter, who carried his name out across the United States.

We have already met Hardy Lassiter (1864-1928), who migrated to Arkansas as an Exoduster. This man was the son of Green Lassiter, nephew of Hardy Lassiter Jr., and grandson of Hardy Lassiter Sr. 1864 Hardy’s son Hardy Lassiter was born about 1886, just before the family went west. We also met the Hardy Lassiter, son of Silas Lassiter, who migrated to Georgia.

Here, yet another Hardy Lassiter, this one the son of John Henry Lassiter, who was a brother to Green and Silas Lassiter.

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  • Hardy Lassiter

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: drayman John Lassiter, 50; wife Isabella, 33, wash woman; and children and grandchildren Ida, 17, Henry G., 9, Marcellus, 7, Hardy, 5, and Ora, 7 months.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Stantonsburg Road, John H. Lassiter, 57, and children and grandchildren Marcellious, 18, Hardie, 16, and Oeta, 14, all odd jobs laborers.

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Lassiter Hardy (c) lab h 644 Wiggins

In the 1940 census of Baltimore, Maryland: WPA laborer Henry Lassiter, 52; wife Nettie, cook; children Alberta, 18, and Lillian, 17; brother Hardy Lassiter, 44, WPA laborer; wife Adlenna, 40, laundress; roomer Edgar Molock, 18; sister-in-law Almeater Jones, 35, cook; and nieces Martha Weaver, 15, and Katie Powell, 20.

In 1942, Hardy Lassiter registered for the World War II draft in Baltimore, Maryland. Per his registration card, he was born 15 December 1896 in Wilson, North Carolina; lived at 1511 West Mulberry Street, Baltimore; his contact was Lena Lassiter, same address; and he worked for Mrs. B. Dunning, Curtis Bay, Ord. Depot, Maryland.

In the 1950 census of Baltimore, Maryland: laborer Hardy Lassiter, 54; wife Lena, 53, domestic; and Emma Lassiter, 83, widow.

Hardy Lassiter died 12 September 1960 in Baltimore. As a World War I veteran, he was buried in Baltimore National Cemetery.

  • Henry Lassiter

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: drayman John Lassiter, 50; wife Isabella, 33, wash woman; and children and grandchildren Ida, 17, Henry G., 9, Marcellus, 7, Hardy, 5, and Ora, 7 months.

On 15 July 1914, Henry Lassiter, 22, of Wilson, son of J.H. Lassiter and Isabella [no maiden name], married Frances Pender, 21, of Wilson, daughter of Isaac and Lou Pender, at Isaac Pender’s in Wilson. Primitive Baptist minister Jonah Williams performed the ceremony in the presence of Willie Arrington, Thomas Cooke, and C.H. Barnes.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm operator Henry Lassiter, 29, and wife Francis, 31.

In the 1930 census of Baltimore, Maryland: Henry Lassiter, 38, tub factory laborer; wife Frances, 39, servant; and daughters Alverta, 8, and Lillian, 7.

In the 1940 census of Baltimore, Maryland: WPA laborer Henry Lassiter, 52; wife Nettie, cook; children Alberta, 18, and Lillian, 17; brother Hardy Lassiter, 44, WPA laborer; wife Adlenna, 40, laundress; roomer Edgar Molock, 18; sister-in-law Almeater Jones, 35, cook; and nieces Martha Weaver, 15, and Katie Powell, 20.

In 1942, Henry Lassiter registered for the World War II draft in Baltimore, Maryland. Per his registration card, he was born 5 November 1892 in Wilson, North Carolina; lived at 1511 West Mulberry Street, Baltimore; his contact was Nettie Lassiter, same address; and he worked for Earl Kerns, Gref Company, Fairfield, Maryland.

In the 1950 census of Baltimore, Maryland: Henry Lassiter, 53; wife Nettie, 43; grandchild Ralph, 12; nephew Hardy, 20 [yet another Hardy Lassiter, born in 1929, who had a son Hardy Lassiter Jr. in 1951]; and lodger Mandora Knox, 20.

Henry Lassiter died in July 1966.

Baltimore Afro-American, 2 August 1966.

Chitown, by way of Arkansas.

Direct migration from North Carolina to Chicago was relatively unusual, but many Wilson County Exodusters eventually left Arkansas (or Mississippi) to join the Great Migration to Chicago.

  • Farris Langston

In 1918, Farris Langston registered for the World War I draft in Bolivar County, Mississippi. Per his registration card, he was born 17 December 1884; lived in Rosedale, Bolivar County; worked as a laborer for Refuge Cotton Oil Company; and his contact was Washington Langston, Louisville, Arkansas.

In 1942, Farris Langston registered for the World War II draft in Chicago, Illinois. Per his registration card, he was born 17 December 1884 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 738 East 44th Street, then 5029 Michigan Avenue; his contact was Mrs. Gains, 738 East 44th Street; and he worked for Consumers, 7066 South Chicago.

  • Amos Lewis

Herbert Lewis was born 11 August 1902 in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Per his birth certificate, his father was Amos Lewis, 19, porter, 508 College Street, born in Wilson, N.C., and his mother was Mattie Smith, 14, housewife, 508 College Street, born in Marianna, Arkansas.

In the 1910 census of Marianna township, Lee County, Arkansas: farm laborer Amos Lewis, 35; wife Mattie, 31; and children Herbert, 8, Lessie, 6, N[illegible], 4, and Sam, 2.

In the 1930 census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: Amos Lewis, 47, janitor at Union railroad station; wife Mattie M., 41; daughter Myrtle Latrelle, 20; [son-in-law] Frank C. Latrelle, 28, porter at Walgreen drugstore; and grandson Frank C. Latrelle Jr., 3; nephew Carrel Latrelle, 16; daughter Mattie J. Lewis, 17; roomer Smith Jones, 21; and sister-in-law Anna Griffin, 46.

In 1942, Amos Lewis registered for the World War II draft in Chicago, Illinois. Per his registration card, he was born 30 August 1888 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 5629 Indiana Avenue, Chicago; his contact was Mattie M. Lewis; he had a crippled left hand; and he worked for Rick Walters Cooperage Company, 48 South Hayne, Chicago.

William McK. Coppedge, Philadelphia police.

William McKinley Coppedge, born in 1891, left Wilson County for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when he was in his early twenties. After a few years working as a rigger at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Coppedge joined the Philadelphia Police Department. He remained with the force until his death in 1960.

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In the 1910 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: farmer Samuel Alston, 38; wife Carrie, 31; son Moses, 9; and nephew-in-law William Coppage, 18, farm laborer.

William McK. Coppedge, elevator [operator], born 7 June 1891 in North Carolina to Herbert and Martha Arrington Coppedge, married Lena Robinson, 19, born 15 June 1897 to Charles and Susie Harrison Robinson, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1915.

Doria Elnora Coppedge was born 30 August 1915 in Philadelphia. Per her birth certificate, her parents were William McKinley Coppedge, 23, and Sarah Lena Robinson, 23, both of 1726 South Bancroft Street.

In 1917, William M. Coppedge registered for the World War I draft in Philadelphia. Per his registration card, he was born 7 June 1891 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 1726 South Bancroft; worked as a rigger helper at the Navy Yard; and had a wife and two children. [Coppedge’s firm, flowing signature reveals a solid education.]

In the 1920 census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: William Coppedge, 28, rigger at United States Navy Yard; wife Lenia, 24; children Doris E., 4, Loyd R., 3, and Arthur S., 1; and uncle Forge Coppedge, 46.

In the 1930 census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: William Coppedge, 38, city policeman; wife Lena, 32; and children Doris, 14, Lloyd, 13, Arthur, 12, Elaine, 9, Margaret, 5, and Vera, 2.

Philadelphia Inquirer, 11 February 1933.

In the 1940 census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: William Coppadge, 48; wife Lena, 42; and children Loyd, 23, Elaine, 19, Margaret, 15, and Vera, 12.

In 1942, William McKingley Coppedge registered for the World War II draft in Philadelphia. Per his registration card, he was born 7 June 1891 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 1819 North 17th Street, Philadelphia; his contact was wife Lena A. Coppedge; and he worked for the City of Philadelphia Bureau of Police.

In the 1950 census of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania: William Mc. Coppedge, 58, city police officer; wife Lena, 51, operator at automat restaurant; son Loyd, 33; daughter Vera, 22, music teacher with own business; and daughter Doris McNeal, 35.

William M. Coppedge died 4 June 1960 in Philadelphia. Per his death certificate, he was born 7 June 1891 in North Carolina; was married to Lena A. Coppedge; and worked as a police officer.

Seeking Mary Sutton and family.

Pittsburgh Courier, 30 April 1949.

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The Curries, natives of Robeson County, North Carolina, were only briefly Wilson County residents. When Katie Currie, 24, daughter of Worth and Isabelle McKinnon Currie, married John Adams, 24, in Halifax County, Virginia, she reported Wilson as her birthplace. The couple lived in Durham, North Carolina.

The Mary Sutton sought appears to have been the mother of Javotte Sutton Green. The Suttons moved from Wilson to Durham between 1922 and 1930.

Two negro houses.

On 9 December 1835, James Tartt leased David Shallington for nine years two acres on which Shallington was to build “a log house with a good Shingle roof and plank floor also tw[o] negros houses, crib and smoke house …”

In the 1840 census of Edgecombe County, North Carolina, David Shallington claimed ten enslaved people. [Shallington lived in what is now Joyners township, Wilson County, close to the modern Edgecombe County line.]

In the 1850 slave schedule of Edgecombe County, Shallington again reported ten enslaved people — eight men and boys aged 30, 18, 16, 12, 11, 6, 5, and 2; a woman aged 25; and a girl aged 3.

By 1860, Shallington had relocated to the coast to North Creek township, Beaufort County, North Carolina. The slave schedule reported him with six men and boys aged 50, 30, 28, 25, 23, and 20; a woman aged 26; and a girl aged 14.

We have met two of the men enslaved by David Pender Shallington — John Shallington and Union veteran Daniel Shallington.

Deed Book 22, page 370, Edgecombe County Register of Deeds Office, Tarboro, North Carolina. 

Auction of Nelson Eatmon’s personal property.

Wilson Advance, 16 September 1881.

Nelson Eatmon, born free in what was then Nash County (and likely brother to my great-great-great-grandfather Toney Eatmon) died without a will in 1881. Attorney Frederick A. Woodard was appointed administrator of his estate, which included 300 acres of land in Old Fields township.