Wilson Daily Times, 18 May 1948.
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In the 1930 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: John Brown, 34; wife Dora, 34; and children Cora, 15, David and William, 12, George, 9, Elmer, 6, and John Jr., 11 months.
In the 1940 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Dora Brown, 44; children Cora, 24, David, 22, George, 18, Elmer, 15, Baby Ruth, 11, Riley, 3, and Mary, 7; granddaughters Marjorie, 2, and Wilma Doris Brown, 3 months; and sister Penina Hilliard, 28.
Wilson Daily Times, 7 June 1976.
This photo of members of the Community Senior Citizens Club was taken well after the period covered by Black Wide-Awake. However, it depicts a generation of elders — mostly born in the 1890s to the 1910s — who helped build the community we honor here:
Margaret Powell, Estelle Cooper, Mary Leach, Lula M. Hayes, Ernestine Shepard, Essie Corbett, Mabel Bennett, Elizabeth Faison, Nora Reid, Maria Delaney, Mena Bailey, Bertha Carroll, Ophelia Adams, Rossie Bryant, Mary Howell, Allie M. Harris, Sarah Bryant, Marie Owens, Naomi Hunter, Effie Battle, Lela Hilliard, Janie Mitchell, Menorah Rodgers, Eva Brooks, William Clark, Vicia Thompson, Millie Ellis, Louise Perry, Estelle Darden, Effie Dawson, Callie Darden, Rosa Lucas, William Taylor, and William Lane.
A prosperous set of families with the surname Gay appear in Wilson County records within the first ten years of freedom. Were they one extended family? Unrelated families who adopted the same surname, perhaps from a former enslaver? (And if so, whom?)
Here’s what we know about them:
Anthony Gay and Catherine Speight registered their 22-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace on 25 August 1866.
On 9 August 1868, Spencer Gay, son of Anthony and Catherine Gay, married Adeline Barnes, daughter of Baalam and Jinny Barnes, in Wilson County.
In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: blacksmith Antney Gay, 44; wife Catherine, 40; and children Laura, 20, Thomas, 20, and Francis, 2 [adjacent to Spencer Gay’s household and one household away from Charles Gay’s.]
On 16 February 1871, for $250, Spencer Gay and his mother Catherine Gay sold R.J. and Sallie Taylor a three-quarter acre parcel of land near the fork of the old plank road and the Barefoot road [today’s Nash Street and South Pender Street.] The Gays had not registered a deed for the purchase of this land. See Deed Book 4, page 454.
On 30 April 1872, for $25, Anthony and Catherine Gay and Spencer and Adline Gay sold Esther McGowan a lot on the east side of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad on the old plank road. Deed Book 6, page 183.
Anthony Gay was still alive when Charles Gay was murdered in 1874, but died before 1880.
In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: widow Cathren Gay, 52; son Thomas, 28, laborer; daughter-in-law Julia, 27, laundress; boarder Anna Bone, 59; [grand]son Nelson, 6; and daughter Frances, 14 [next door to son Spencer’s widow Adeline Gay and family.]
Also: in the 1880 census of North Wilson township, Wilson County: Willie Gay, 32, hireling; wife Catherine, 30; and children Phillis, 12, Anthony, 10, Henrietta, 8, Nancy, 6, Catherine, 4, and John, 2. [Willie Gay was likely the son of Anthony and Catherine Gay.]
Charles Gay and Emly Gay registered their three-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace on 9 August 1866.
In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Charles Gay, 35; wife Emma, 25; children Charles, 5, and Mary, 1; and lodgers Rich’d Harper, 20, and Haywood Watson, 17.
Charles Gay was murdered in 1874.
See Charles Gay, above.
Emma Gay, sometimes referred to as Emily Gay, bought property as early as December 1874. See Deed Book 9, page 522.
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Emma Gay, 35; children Charlie, 15, a steam-mill worker, Mary, 11, Etheldred, 8, and Willie, 6; plus a boarder Fannie Thompson, 19, cook.
On 4 February 1892, Henry C. Rountree, 44, married Emma Gay, 44, at the bride’s residence in Wilson. Presbyterian minister L.J. Melton performed the ceremony, and witnesses were Edward Pool, Mark Blount and S.H. Vick.
On 29 October 1902, Willie Gay, 27, son of Charles Gay and Emma Rountree, married Mary Johnson, 22, daughter of Edmund Johnson and Bertha Johnson, at Henry Johnson‘s. H.S. Phillips applied for the license, and Missionary Baptist minister Fred M. Davis performed the ceremony in the presence of Cain Artis, Charles S. Thomas, and Robert E. Artis.
On 23 March 1906, William Gay, 33, son of Charles and Emma Gay, married Augustus McNeil, 30, daughter of Peter and Emily Patterson, in Wilson. Missionary Baptist minister Fred M. Davis performed the ceremony in the presence of J.E. Farmer, Robert Strickland, and Charlie Farmer.
Henry C. Rountree died 24 September 1916 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1848 in North Carolina to Jessie Artis and Becker Artis; was married; worked as a dealer in groceries; and was buried in Wilson. Emma Rountree was informant.
Emma Rountree died 25 June 1917 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was about 65 years old; was born in Greene County, N.C., to unidentified parents; was a widow; and was buried in Wilson County [probably, Vick Cemetery]. Lizzie Whitfield was informant.
Mary Strickland died 16 December 1936 in the Wilson County Home. Per her death certificate, she was 67 years old; was born in Wilson to Charley Gay and Emma Artis; was a widow; and was buried in Wilson. Will Gay was informant.
Willie Gay died 25 May 1940 at the Veterans Administration hospital in Kecoughtan, Virginia. Per his death certificate, he was born 10 February 1874 in Wilson, N.C., to Charles Gay and Emma Byrum, both of Greene County, N.C.; was divorced; was a veteran of the Spanish American War; was a railroad worker; and lived at 526 Smith Street, Wilson.
Dred Gay died 26 January 1950 in the Wilson County Home. Per his death certificate, he was born 1 January 1870 in Wilson County to Emma Gay; was a widower; and worked as a laborer.
Samuel, Albert, and Daniel Gay were the sons of Harriet Gay and Amos Thigpen (or Edmundson).
Sam Gay, son of Amos Thigpen and Harriet Gay, married Alice Bryant, daughter of Louisa Bryant, on 10 February 1870 in Wilson. P.E. Hines performed the ceremony.
On 20 January 1870, Daniel Gay, son of Amos Edmundson and Harriet Gay, married July Taylor, daughter of Alfred Robbins and Trecy Taylor, in Wilson.
In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Samuel Gay, 24, wife Alice, 20, and brother Albert, 21.
In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Daniel Gay, 20, and wife Julia, 20.
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm worker Samuel Gay, 27, wife Allice, 25, and children Blanch, 8, Louizah, 7, Edgar, 4, Charlie, 3, and Mamie, 1 month.
In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: south of the Plank Road, Daniel Gay, 28; wife Judie, 24; and daughters Mary, 9, and Creacy, 6.
Albert and Daniel Gay appear to have died before 1900.
In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Sam Gay, 54; wife Alice, 50; and children Charlie C., 23, Edgar B., 25, Lucy, 17, Samuel, 14, Albert and Beatrice, 10, and Lily, 4.
On 27 April 1904, John Stones, 30, of Wilson, married Mary Gay, 25, of Wilson, daughter of Daniel and Julia Gay, both deceased. A.D. Dawson applied for the license, and A.M.E. Zion minister H.C. Phillips performed the ceremony at the home of W.H. Kittrell in the presence of Kittrell, Mary Kittrell, and Charles Dawson.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Samuel Gay, 65, wife Alice, 55, and children Albert, 20, and Lilly, 15.
Samuel Gay died 1 February 1919 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per his death certificate: he was 73 years old, married to Allace Gay, resided at 620 Green Street, worked as tenant farmer for W.E. Warren, and was born in Wilson County. Charley Gay [his son] was informant.
Mary Stone died 19 November 1932 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 58 years old; was born in Wilson to Daniel Gay and Julia Gay; was a widow; worked as a cook; lived at 402 Viola Street; and was buried in Wilson [probably, Vick Cemetery.] Emma Davis, 418 East Green, was informant.
Candis Gay and Jason Farmer registered their 22-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace on 25 August 1866.
In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Jason Farmer, 33; wife Candis, 29; and children Florance, 9, Isiah, 6, and George 4.
In the 1880 census of North Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Jason Farmer, 43; wife Candas, 43; and children Florrance, 17, Isaiah, 13, George W., 11, Jessee, 9, Jason, 6, Jennie, 4, and Mayland, 2,
Candis Gay Farmer died before 1891, when her husband remarried.
In the 1860 slave schedule of Wilson County, Edgecombe County native William M. Gay reported enslaving 21 people — men and boys aged and women and girls aged .
But also in the 1860 slave schedule of Wilson township, Wilson County: Thomas Gay reported enslaving 8 people — six men and boys aged 1 to 24 and a woman and girl aged 7 and 28.
Many thanks to Democratic Women of Wilson County for the invitation to talk last night about the history and mission of Lane Street Project.
Wilson Daily Times, 16 May 1935.
I did not find a death certificate for Rosa Woodard and assume she survived Frank Barnes‘ murder attempt.
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 8 March 1947.
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In the 1900 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: shoemaker Watson Cooper, 40; wife Fannie, 34; and daughters Savanah M., 15, Minnie, 12, Eva, 10, Mamie A., 6, and Ether P., 2.
In the 1910 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: Watson J. Cooper, 51; wife Fannie, 43; and children Minnie, 20, Eva, 16, Mamie, 13, Ethel, 11, Lubia, 8, and James, 5.
On 12 June 1912, Willie Shirley, 21, of Toisnot township, son of A.S. and Lizzie Shirley, married Mamie Cooper, 18, of Toisnot township, daughter of Watt and Fannie Cooper, at Fannie Cooper’s house. Buck Locus applied for the license in Wilson County.
In the 1912 Rocky Mount, N.C., city directory: Shirley Mamie (c) laundress h 210 Dunn
In the 1940 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: widow Fannie Cooper, 73, cook; daughter Mamie Bunn, 45, widow, and granddaughter Susie, 7.
Was a mother buried here?
We will never know, but today we remember and honor all the mothers buried in Vick, Odd Fellows, and Rountree Cemeteries, and vow to continue the search for all lost graves in these grounds.
Photos of the disturbed gravesite in Vick Cemetery and bits of its marble surround taken May 2026 by Lisa Y. Henderson.
The Afro-American (Baltimore, Md.), 30 May 1953.
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In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Saratoga Road, Jesse Barnes, 37, farmer; wife Sarah, 31, public school teacher; and children Lucresia, 16, Ned, 14, Nancy, 12, Lemon, 11, Jessie Bell, 10, Maggie May, 7, and Ardenia, 5.
In the 1920 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Saratoga Road, farmer Jesse Barnes, 46; wife Sarah, 47; and children Ned, 23, Nancy, 22, Lemon, 20, Jessie Belle, 18, Maggie, 15, Ardenia, 13, Frank, 11, James, 6, and Mildred, 3.
On 17 September 1924, Jonah Pender, 24, of Wilson, married Ardenna Barnes, 20, of Wilson, daughter of Jesse R. Barnes, in Wilson. Presbyterian minister A.H. George performed the ceremony, and James O. Bunn, Mack Jones, and Rosa J. Hussey witnessed.
Comodore Pender died 17 December 1925 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 25 November 1925 in Wilson to Jonah Pender and Ardena Barnes; lived at 718 Viola; and was buried in Barnes Cemetery, Wilson.
In the 1930 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Lane Street, Johnnie Pender, 29, tobacco factory laborer; wife Ardena, 24; and children Robert L., 5, Therado [Theodore], 4, Henry T., 3, Louvena, 18 months, and Katie, 1 month.
In the 1940 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: widow Ardelia Pender, 33, tobacco factory laborer, and children Robert, 16, grocery store delivery boy, Theodore, 15, Henry, 13, and Luvenia, 11.
Theodore Pender died 4 November 1944 in Goldsboro, Wayne County. Per his death certificate, he was born 25 November 1925 in Wilson to Jonah Pender and Ardelia Barnes; was single; lived at 1016 Robinson [Roberson]; and worked for J.C. Penney Company.
In 1945, Richard Henry Terry Pender registered for the World War II in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 31 August 1927 in Wilson County; lived at 1016 Robertson [Roberson] Street; his contact was Ardelia Pender; and worked for Bissette Drug Company, Nash Street.
In the 1950 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: at 1016 Roberson, widow Ardelia Pender, 45, and children Richard, 23, operates washer at laundry, Luvenia, 20, Katie, 17, Dorothy, 15, Jessie, 16, grocery store clerk, Paul, 15, grocery store clerk, Harry, 12, and James, 11.
Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 24 September 1927.
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In the 1920 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Josh Flemmin, 38; wife Lizzie, 26; children Wade, 10, Clifton, 7, Dydie, 5, and Antabelle, 3; and stepchildren Viola, 10, Susie, 4, and Simm J. Beaman, 2.
In the 1930 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Josh Flemming, 47; wife Lizzie, 37; and children Viola, 19, Clifton, 17, Dida, 15, Sudie, 14, Archie B., 13, Esie, 12, Josh Jr., 9, Lizzie, 7, Mary, 5, Douglas, 2, and Gernas, 7 months.
On 16 November 1935, Hubert McPhail, 27, of Wilson County, son of Andrew and Mary McPhail, married Viola Beaman, 25, of Wilson County, daughter of Willie and Lizzie Beaman, in Nash County, North Carolina.
Viola B. McPhail died 16 June 1948 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 11 June 1910 in Greene County to Willie Beamon and Lizzie Jones; was married to Hubert McPhail; and was buried in Rountree Cemetery [probably Vick Cemetery.]
