Women

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.

 

Myrtle Jones is queen of Handel’s Chorus.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 11 September 1937.

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  • Myrtle Jones

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 808 East Nash, Butler Jones, 39, painter; wife Myrtle, 36; and children Gertrude, 12, Louise, 6, Joseph, 5, Ruth M., 3, and Willard, 3 months.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1011 East Nash, owned and valued at $2500, Buller Jones, 49, building painter; wife Myrtle, 46; and children Gertrude, 23, cook, Louise, 16, Joseph, 15, Myrtle, 11, William, 9, and John, 8.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1011 East Nash, Butler Jones, 59, painter; wife Myrtie, 51; sons Joseph, 25, Willard, 20, and John, 19, all painters; and William Tabron, 26, janitor at Carolina Theatre, wife Myrtie Tabron, 21, and daughter Patsy, 3 months.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1011 East Nash Street, painter Butler Jones, 69; wife Myrtie, 67; son John H., 27, and his wife Lizzie M., 28; son-in-law William L. Tabron, 35; wife Myrtie, 30; and daughters Patsy, 10, and Julia, 9.

The obituary of Marjarena Bunn, age 98.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.,) 25 April 1942.

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In the 1870 census of Upper Town Creek township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: Margiana Smith, 12, domestic servant in the household of Benjamin Mills, 33, black.

On 28 October 1874, Amos Bunn, 22, married Morgann Gowins, 20, in Edgecombe County.

In the 1880 census of Upper Town Creek township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: blacksmith Amos Bunn, 26; wife Morgia, 23; children Matilda, 3, John Henry, 2, and Amos, 11 months; and servant Mary Sharp, 16.

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.

In the 1910 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer Amos B. Bunn, 58; wife Margeanner, 45; and children Sudie, 23, Sam, 19, Lender, 17, and Ed Mc., 14.

In the 1920 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Winstead Road, Amos Bunn, 65; wife Anna, 48; and sons Junie, 24, Lundie, 23; and Ed, 22.

Marganna Bunn died 8 April 1942 in Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 23 March 1853 in Thelma [sic], N.C.; was the widow of Amos Bunn; and was buried in Elm City Cemetery. Mitilda Clark, 1405 North 18th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was informant.

Sudie Bunn Johnson died 8 April 1947 in Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 8 April 1888 in Wilson County to Amos Bunn of Wilson County and Margie Anna Jones of Halifax County; was married to Bennie Johnson; and was buried in Elm City Cemetery.

Happy 100th birthday, Inez Dickerson Bell!

Sending extra-special 100th birthday wishes to Inez Dickerson Bell! Mrs. Bell was my parents’ neighbor for more than 40 years. The last time I saw her, just before the pandemic, we were at K&W Restaurant, and she slipped me a ten-dollar bill for a little spending change.

Today, her family, friends, and sorors of Delta Sigma Theta will celebrate her long and accomplished life at a gathering at Saint John A.M.E. Zion, the church she has attended all her life. Best wishes, Mrs. Bell!

Wilson Daily Times, 22 September 1986.

 

UPDATE:

Mrs. Bell at her birthday party!

 

Happy 100th birthday, Amanda Mitchell Cameron!

Sending extra-special 100th birthday wishes to the beautiful, warm, charming Amanda Gray Mitchell Cameron!

Mrs. Cameron lives independently on the land she grew up on and is always so generous with her time and memories of the Elm City area, Frederick Douglass High School, and her family’s fight for educational and economic opportunity. She is a treasure!

Ethel Coley retires after 40+ years of teaching.

Wilson Daily Times, 6 May 1971.

Long-time teacher Ethel Moye Coley‘s early education came at Wilson Training School, also known as the Independent School or Industrial School — the school the Black community founded after leaving Wilson Colored Graded School in protest in 1918.

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In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 459 Goldsboro Street, widowed laundress Della Moye, 31, with her children Albert, 17, twins Hattie and Mattie, 9, and Ethel, 2.

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Moye Ethel (c) student h 420 E Green

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: laundress Delia A. Moye, 50; grandson William A., 12; Zophey Sills, 25, cook; and Ethel M. Moye, 19.

On 29 December 1933, John A. Cain Jr., 24, of Durham, son of John A. Cain Sr. and Georgeanna Cain, married Ethel Moye, 24, of Wilson, daughter of Boston Moye and Delia Moye, in Raleigh, Wake County, N.C.

On 18 August 1944, Ethel Mae Moye, 35, daughter of O.L.W. Smith and Della Smith [sic], married David H. Coley, 49, son of W.H. and Luanna Coley, in Wilson. A.M.E. Zion minister W.A. Hilliard performed the ceremony in the presence of C.L. Darden, Norma Darden and Mrs. Ambrose Floyd.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1207 Washington Street, David H. Coley, 56, barber, and wife Ethel Cain Coley, 40, primary teacher/principal at rural school.

Wilson Daily Times, 27 February 1987.

Dobson kills wife over skirt.

Wilson Daily Times, 29 May 1928.

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  • Charley Dobson

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Dobson Charles (c) firemn First Natl Bk Bldg h 707 E Vance

On 23 December 1936, Charlie Dobson, 58, of Wilson, son of George and Betsy Dobson, married Sue Ellis, 37, of Wilson, daughter of Robert and Lula Ellis, at the home of A.M.E. Zion minister John A. Barnes in Wilson. John A. Barnes Jr., Frank W. Barnes, and Wade Barnes were witnesses.

Charlie Dobson died 5 October 1953 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 69 years old; was born in Duplin County, N.C., to George Dobson and Bessie Savage; worked in farming; was divorced; and was buried in Duplin County.

  • Hannah Dobson

Hannah Dobson died 26 May 1928 at “Wilson Col. Hospital.” Per her death certificate, she was 26 years old; was born in Onslow County, N.C., to Thomas Rhodes and Sarah E. Lee; was married to Charlie Dobson; and was buried in Shepherds Cemetery, Onslow County. Willie Rhodes of Verona, N.C., was informant.

Witnesses to divorce.

Haywood Freeman, Sidney Freeman, Nettie M. Vick, Hagar Edwards, and Mary Ward were called as witnesses to the divorce action filed by Charles H. Smith against his wife Virginia Smith.

Haywood and Sidney Freeman were the father and brother of Joseph Freeman, who was named as one of the men with whom Jenny Smith allegedly committed adultery. Hagar Edwards’ home in Greene County was the site of an alleged tryst. The focus of Nettie Vick and Mary Ward’s anticipated testimony is not known.

Three witnesses requested that their witness fees be paid over to someone else — in two cases, the man for whom they testified, Charles H. Smith himself. At a minimum, this request would raise an eyebrow today.

“please pay to C.H. Smith what is due me as a witness in his case”

“please pay to C.H. Smith the amount due me as a witness in his case”

Nettie M. Vick requested that her fee go to her brother W. Henry Vick. (Samuel H. Vick was another of her brothers.)

“please pay to Henry Vick the amount due Nettie Vick Witness of C.H. Smith case”