Women

William Hines Beauty Shoppe.

Wilson Daily Times, 11 August 1933.

In 1933, William Hines expanded his personal grooming business to include a beauty parlor at 130 South Goldsboro Street. Mattie Royal managed the shop, and my strong assumption is that, like his barber shop, it catered to a white clientele.

Wilson Daily Times, 13 March 1934.

 

Bill of sale for Syphax, Jim, Mose, and Cherry.

Deed book 1, pages 612, Wilson County Register of Deeds, Wilson, North Carolina.

Whereas at the Spring Term A.D. 1860 of the court of Equity for Wilson County NC a decree was made in the suit of Sabra Parker & others to the Court confirming the sale of Slaves Syphax Jim & Mose & ordering James W. Davis as trustee of the plaintiff another slave in the stead & whereas the said James W. Davis by & with the consent of the plaintiff has contracted with Alexander Eatman for the purchase of a slave by the name of Cherry as a substitute which bargain & purchase has been approved & confirmed by the said court of Equity Now therefore the said Alexander Eatman for & in consideration of the sum of twelve hundred Dollars in hand paid the receipt of which by the said Eatman is this day acknowledges has bargained sold & conveyed & by these presents doth bargain sell & convey unto the said James W. Davis trustee as aforesaid slave Cherry to have & to hold according to the decree of the court of Equity aforesaid & the said Alexander Eatman does hereby warrant the title to said Negroe & that she is sound  June 19th 1860  Alexander Eatman {seal}

P.W. Barnes

The Execution of the foregoing Bill of Sale is proven before me by P.W. Barnes the subscribing witness thereto August 14th 1860    T.E. Davis Clerk of Wilson Court

Record for Registration August 14th 1860  A.J. Brown Regr

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Some context for this transaction is provided in this post and post, but it is difficult to fully understand what is happening here. Edgecombe County planter Weeks Parker died in January 1844, leaving a widow, Sabra Hearn Parker, and three children, Margaret H. Parker Battle, Simmons B. Parker, and Henrietta Parker Battle. (Another son, Dr. John H. Parker, who had migrated to Florida, died while his father’s estate was in probate. Syphax, Jim, and Moses were among the 30 enslaved people Weeks Parker bequeathed to Margaret Battle, wife of Amos Johnston Battle. The Parker heirs fought amongst themselves and with the estate’s administrators over the handling of the estate, and Emancipation eventually intervened to prevent a final distribution of all of Weeks Parker’s immense wealth. In the meantime, there were partial distributions here and there, as well as sales of unsatisfactory slaves and purchases of replacements. That appears to be what happened in this situation, though it’s not clear who Cherry replaced. 

What I am fairly certain of, however, is that Cherry was my great-great-grandmother.

In 1986, I wrote legendary local Hugh B. Johnston Jr. for help tracing my enslaved ancestors, Willis Barnes and Cherry Battle, who registered their six-year cohabitation in Wilson County in 1866. Johnston wrote back promptly, opining that Cherry had been “a slave belonging to the noted Reverend Amos Johnston Battle of Wilson, whose wife owned a small farm north of Wilson not far from the [Joshua] Barnes plantation.” [More about this letter later.]

Willis and Cherry Battle went on to have at least nine children, whose marriage licenses and death certificates list their mother’s maiden name as Cherry Battle, but just as often name her as Cherry Eatmon

In 1860, Alexander Eatmon, a Nash County farmer, sold 18 year-old Cherry to Margaret H. Battle. The young woman went to live at Walnut Hill, Battle’s farm just north of Wilson. Shortly after, Cherry married Willis, who is believed to have been enslaved on Joshua Barnes‘ neighboring plantation. Their eldest child, Rachel Barnes Taylor, was my great-grandmother.

Snaps, no. 103: Hattie Barnes Reid.

Hattie Barnes Reid (1900-1990).

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In the 1900 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Wiley Barnes, 20; wife Sarah, 21; and children Etta G., 2, and Hattie M., 3 months.

In the 1910 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Wiley Barnes, 30; wife Sarah, 29; and children Etta, 11, Hattie, 10, James Q., 9, Lily, 8, Willie, 7, Thomas, 3, Clara, 2, and Mema, 2 months.

On 29 November 1919, Vester Reid, 21, of Stantonsburg, son of William and Bettie Reid, married Hattie Barnes, 19, of Stantonsburg, daughter of Wiley and Sarah Barnes, in Wilson County.

In the 1920 census of Stantonsburg, Wilson County: on Stantonsburg & Saratoga Road, tenant farmer William Reid, 63; wife Bettie, 52; and daughter Iantha M., 25; sons Council, 23, and Vester, 21; Vester’s wife Hattie, 19; son Gorum, 17; daughter Mater, 14; daughter(?) Marion, 7; and son(?) Melab(?), 1.

In the 1930 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County, N.C.: farmer Sylvester Reid, 33; wife Hattie, 28; children Cary, 8, Mavis, 7, Thelma, 6, Gladys, 5, Gertrude, 4, and Lena, 2; and sister-in-law Lillie Barnes, 25.

In the 1940 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Vestus Reid, 43; wife Hattie, 38; and children Mavis P., 19, Thelma, 17, Gladys, 15, Gertie, 13, Lena Mae, 11, W. Vestus Jr., 9, Lettris, 6, and Jesse Lee, 1.

In the 1950 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: brick layer Vester Reed, 52; wife Hattie, 50; children Girdres, 21, William, 19, and Lorena, 17; and grandchildren Mary E., 9, Nathaniel, 8, Clara L., 6, and Ray C., 5.

Vester Reid died 27 October 1956 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 7 March 1897 in Wayne County, N.C., to Wiley and Bettie Reid; lived in Stantonsburg; worked as a carpenter; and was married to Hattie Reid, Stantonsburg.

Photo courtesy of Ancestry.com user lisaholness1.

Studio shots, no. 212: Minnie Bell Florence Barnes Bolton.

Minnie Bell Florence Barnes Bolton (1905-1986) at Sparrow’s Beach, a Black-owned resort on Maryland’s Annapolis Neck Peninsula that catered to African-American families across the mid-Atlantic states.

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In the 1910 census of Dothan, Houston County, Alabama: washwoman Lizzie Larry, 37, widow, and children Florence A., 15, Jeff, 12, Anna B., 11, Claudie, 9, Thomas, 8, Rosa B., 6, and Minnie B., 3.

On 1 January 1918, Ardella Florence, 24, of Wilson, daughter of Dave and Lizzie Larry of Alabama, married Jackson Matthews, 22, of Wilson, son of Precious and Sarah Matthews of Alabama.

In the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Jackson Matthews, 24, farmer; wife Adelle, 24; daughter Minnie, 12; and brother Adol, 19; all born in Alabama.

Om 25 December 1923, James M. Barnes, 23, of Black Creek, married Minnie Bell Florence, 19, of Black Creek, in Black Creek. Primitive Baptist elder Robert Edwards performed the ceremony in the presence of L.E. Grice, Murray Dew, and Calvin Woodard.

In the 1930 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: laborer James M. Barnes, 29; wife Minnie, 23; and son James, 5.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 405 Pine Street, private family cook Minnie B. Barnes, 24 [sic], and son James, 15.

In the 1950 census of Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland: at 1032 Monument Street, 2nd Floor, domestic worker Minnie Barnes, 42, separated, born in Alabama, and son James, 26, born in North Carolina, laborer at bathtub manufacturing company.

Anita Patti Brown in recital.

Noted soprano Anita Patti Brown criss-crossed the country (and even South America) in the 1910’s, performing in twice in Wilson in 1914.

Wilson Daily Times, 31 March 1914. 

Presbyterian minister Halley B. Taylor penned a glowing review of Brown’s March concert, lauding her exemplary styling and voice “peculiarly rich and full and completely under control. He also praised the local talent on the bill, pointedly assigning honorifics to “Miss Barnes and Mrs. Whitted as vocal soloists, Mrs. Forbes as violinist, Messrs. Barnes, Thomas, Tennessee and Whitted as quartette, Miss Shepard as elocutionist and Misses Lander and Fitts and others as pianists ….”

Wilson Daily Times, __ October 1914.

Oak Park (Ill.) Oak Leaves, 15 May 1915.

Studio shots, no. 211: Adele Lawrey Florence Matthews.

Adele Lawrey Florence Matthews (1890-1960).

Migration into Wilson County from Alabama was relatively unusual. However, Adele Lawrey Florence arrived around the time of World War I (as did Jackson Matthews, whom she would marry in Wilson), and a few years later her mother Lizzie Lofton Lawrey (also spelled Larry), siblings, and grandmother Amanda Lofton also came. The family remained in Wilson for a few decades before migrating further north to Baltimore, Maryland.

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In the 1900 census of Precint 6 Rutledge, Crenshaw County, Alabama: day laborer Dave Lowery, 45; wifee Lizzie, 40; and children Addell, 10, Jeff D., 8, Annie Bell, 7, Claudie, 4, and Thomas, 1.

On 2 May 1904, Adele Lairy married Jink Florence in Crenshaw County, Alabama.

In the 1910 census of Dothan, Houston County, Alabama: washwoman Lizzie Larry, 37, widow, and children Florence A., 15, Jeff, 12, Anna B., 11, Claudie, 9, Thomas, 8, Rosa B., 6, and Minnie B., 3.

On 1 January 1918, Ardella Florence, 24, of Wilson, daughter of Dave and Lizzie Larry of Alabama, married Jackson Matthews, 22, of Wilson, son of Precious and Sarah Matthews of Alabama.

In the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Jackson Matthews, 24, farmer; wife Adelle, 24; daughter Minnie, 12; and brother Adol, 19; all born in Alabama.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 405 Pine Street, laundress Adele Matthews, 45, and lodger Sarah McMullen, 23.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 204 Lee Street, Lizzie Larry, 49, widow; mother Mandy Lofty, 100, widow, born in Virginia; daughter Anabel Larry, 28, laundress; and grandsons John H., 12, and M.C., 13. All the Larrys were born in Alabama. [In the 1920 census of Bradleyton township, Crenshaw County, Alabama: Filbert Lofton, 75, farmer, and wife Mandie, 85, born in Virginia. Mandy Lofton had most likely been carried south during slavery and had made a reverse migration of sorts.]

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 204 Lee Street, Annabel Larry, 36, laundress, and mother Lizzie, 65, both born in Alabama.

Photo courtesy of Ancestry.com user Barnes_PA.

Snaps, no. 102: Ramon J. and Ximena Pitt Martinez.

It’s always wonderful when readers share photographs of the men and women of Black Wide-Awake. Special thanks to Belinda Pitt-Bulluck for these images of her great-aunt Ximena Pitt Martinez and great-uncle Ramon Martinez!

Ximena Pitt Martinez (1896-1973).

Ramon Jose Martinez (1900-1973) on the front porch of 903 East Vance Street. He may have been the only Afro-Argentinian ever to live in Wilson.

Charles Bowden, Ximena P. Martinez, R. Jose Martinez.

 

Watch the girls score!

Wilson Daily Times, 2 February 1940.

In 1940, after leadership by boys proved uninspired, girls took over Wilbanks 4-H Club, which met at Wilbanks Colored School.

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  • Odessa Hardy — in the 1940 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: widow Viola Hardy, 36, farm helper, and children Odesa, 15, Albert, 13, and Arthur L., 10.
  • Cora Lee McNair — Cora McNair traveled a few miles from Edgecombe County to 4-H Club in Wilson County. In the 1940 census of Lower Town Creek township, Edgecombe County: William McNair, 70; wife Marina, 50; daughters Mary, 18, and Cora, 12, and extended family.
  • Mamie Dell Sharp — in the 1940 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Allen Sharp, 64; wife Mary, 56; son Mark, 27; daughter-in-law Clara, 23; and grandchildren Odel, 17, Roosevelt, 16, Mammie D., 14, Suddie M., 5, Barbara G., 3, Rudolph, 2, and Eugene, 8 months.
  • Willie Atkinson 
  • Mary Lee Weaver — in the 1940 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Ephram Weaver, 71, farmer; wife Carrie, 65; children Annie, 28, Mattie, 25, and Jessie, 20; granddaughter Mary L., 12; and lodger John Taylor, 18.
  • Jane E. Boyd —Jane Amos Boyd.

The obituary of Delphia Taylor Lucas.

Wilson Daily Times, 26 February 1923.

Delphia Taylor Lucas was born free in Nash County to Dempsey Taylor and Eliza Pace Taylor.  (“One of the old time darkies” was a bizarre (and utterly offensive) term of approval.)

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In the 1850 census of Nash County: farmer Dempsey Taylor, 35; wife Eliza, 33; and children Margaret A., 4, Sarah, 2, and Delphi, 7 months; and Jane, 12.

In the 1860 census of Winsteads township, Nash County: farmer Dempsey Taylor, 46; wife Liza, 44; and children Margaret A.W., 14, Delphia A., 10, Riley A.R., 8, and Joel R., 6.

In the 1870 census of Chesterfield township, Nash County: farmer John Lucus, 24; wife Dalphia, 20; and son John F., 1.

In the 1880 census of Jackson township, Nash County: John Locus, 30; wife Delpha, 30; and children Frank, 10, Dora, 8, Kenny, 5, Nancy, 4, and Samuel, 9 months.

In the 1900 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: Johnnie Lucus, 43; wife Delpha, 51; children Kinion, 26, Nannie, 24, Edwin, 15, Sidney, 12, and Susan, 9; and grandsons Bunion, 5, and Martin L., 3.

On 20 January 1909, Sidney Lucas, 21, of Taylors, son of John and Delphia Lucas, married Mamie Rountree, 17, of Taylors, daughter of Alex and Watie Rountree, at Emma Rountree’s in Taylors. Missionary Baptist minister William Rodgers performed the ceremony in the presence of James Ross, Pollie Howard, and Emma Lucas.

In the 1910 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: on Howards Path, John Locust, 66; wife Delphia, 64; children Kinyan, 36, and Susie, 19; and grandchildren Bunyan, 15, Luther M., 13, and Roxie, 7 months.

On 15 May 1913, Loyd Simms, 21, of Taylors township, son of Lou Simms, married Susan Locus, 22, of Taylors, daughter of John and Delphia Locus, at the Register of Deeds office in Wilson.

In the 1920 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: John Locus, 77; wife Delphi, 65; son Kennie, 48; and grandchildren Roxie, 11, and Luther, 23.

Delphia Lucas died 24 February 1923 in Taylor township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born in 1849 in Wilson County to Dempsey Taylor of Wilson County and Essie Pace of Nash County; was married to John Lucas; and was buried in a family cemetery. 

The obituary of Carrie Hardy Cox.

Wilson Daily Times, 18 February 1942.

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On 1 January 1925, Jacob Hargrove, 20, of Wilson, son of Duncan and Vinnie Hargrove, married Carrie Mae Hardy, 20, of Wilson, daughter of W.H. Hardy, at the bride’s residence in Wilson. Duncan J. Hargrove applied for the license, and Free Will Baptist minister E.S. Hargrove performed the ceremony in the presence of John Hargrove, Roser Hargrove, and D.J. Hargrove.

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Hargrove Jacob (c; Carrie) lab h 1108 Carolina

On 3 November 1938, Eddie H. Cox, 46, of Wilson, son of Washington and Julia Ann Cox, married Carrie H. Hardy, 33, of Wilson, daughter of Will and Nancy Hardy of Wilson. C.L. Darden applied for the license, and Rev. S. Wilson of Ayden, N.C., performed the ceremony in Wilson in the presence of Richard A.G. Foster and W.H. Phillips of Wilson and H.R. Reaves of Ayden.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 625 Green Street, owned and  valued at $2300, Rev. Eddie H. Cox, 49, minister, and wife Carrie H., 32, registered nurse.

Carrie Hardy Cox died 17 February 1942 at her home at 625 East Green Street. Per her death certificate, she was born 4 May 1907 in Lenoir County, N.C., to Willie Hardy and Nancy Locas; was married to Eddie H. Cox; worked as a nurse; and was buried at Rest Haven Cemetery.

Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.