The obituary of George H. Barnes of Baltimore, Maryland.

Baltimore Sun, 26 February 1972.

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In the 1928 Baltimore, Maryland, city directory: Barnes Geo H hlpr r1016 Park av

In the 1930 census of Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland: George H. Barnes, 21, stevedore on wharf, and wife Cecilia M., 24, restaurant maid.

In 1940, George H. Barnes registered for the World War II draft in Baltimore County, Maryland. Per his registration card, he was born 16 September 1910 in Wilson; lived at 901 Park Avenue, Baltimore; his contact was wife Catherine Barnes; and he worked for Gas & Electric Company.

Final report of the estate of James Ed. Smith.

James Edward Smith died of complications from an auto accident, and his wife Annie B. Smith applied for letters of administration on 25 March 1925. She described his estate as a house and lot worth about $3000; four vacant lots worth about $300; and personal property worth about $800. His heirs were his wife, a brother, two sisters, and a “1/2 nephew.”

On 24 March 1927, Annie B. Smith filed a final administrator’s report, noting that she had received $37.00 from the sales of a revolver, watch, tools, and an “old car,” and had disbursed $40.00 to attorney Glenn S. McBrayer, Dr. Michael E. Dubissette, and the clerk of Superior Court.

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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Washington Street, laborer James Smith, 49, and wife Annie, 36.

James Edward Smith died 7 March 1925 in Wilson township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 21 January 1981 in Columbia, South Carolina; was married to Annie B. Smith; lived on East Nash Street; was a garage owner; and was buried in Hillsboro [sic], North Carolina. Annie B. Smith was informant.

Record of Settlements, Volume 5, 1923-1931, Wilson County Superior Court, North Carolina Division of Archives and History.

The obituary of Lee Watson of Lexington, Kentucky.

Lexington Herald, 5 August 1966.

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An index to death certificates states that Lee Watson was 62 years old at death. I have found no other record for him in Lexington.

Perhaps: on 19 October 1916, Lee Watson, 25, of Nash County, son of Louis and Sallie Watson, married Polly Ann Davis, 23, of Oldfields township, Wilson County, daughter of John and Betsey Davis, at John Dortch’s in Oldfields. Baptist minister J.R. Hinnant performed the ceremony.

Three children, whose mother is dead.

The Goldsboro field office of the Freedmen’s Bureau also received a recommendation that three newly freed African-American children be bound to Stephen Privette, who was probably their former enslaver.

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Wilson N.C. Dec 5th 1865

Commissioner of the Freedmen at Goldsboro

Sir. Mr. Stephen Privette of the County have three children whose mother are dead, they have no legal father, Mr. Privette is a good man & would treat them, kindly, and I would recommend him as being a sutable man to have them bound to.    W.J. Bullock Capt. G.P.Y.

North Carolina Freedmen’s Bureau Field Office Records, 1863-1872, Goldsboro (Subassistant Commissioner), Roll 17 Applications for Relief, Mar 1865-Aug 1867.

The obituary of Ivey T. Atkinson of Dayton, Ohio.

The Journal-Herald (Dayton, Oh.), 2 January 1956.

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In the 1900 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Thomas Atkinson, 26; wife Zillie, 29; and children Luella, 8, Ivey T., 5, Stephen C., 3, and Quillie J., 1.

In the 1910 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Thomas Atkinson, 37; wife Zillie, 38; and children Louella, 16, Ivory T., 14, Stephen C., 13, Aquilla J., 12, Jaydee, 10, Lottie M., 7, John K., 5, Charles X., 3, and Pearlie, 7 months.

In the 1920 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Thomas Atkinson, 47; wife Zillie, 49; and children Ivory, 24, Lottie M., 16, Kinchen, 15, Charles, 3, Pearl, 11, Ramon, 9, Mattie, 7, and Annie L., 4.

On 4 April 1920, Ivey Atkinson, 25, of Springhill township, son of S.T. and Zillie Atkinson, married Minnie Pearce, 22, of Springhill township, daughter of Tom and Ruthie Pearce, in Wilson.

On 5 December 1945, Ivy Thomas Atkinson, 51, widower, born in Wilson, N.C., to Stephen T. Atkinson and Lillie Barnes, resident of Buckroe Beach, Virginia, married Edna Florence Smith, 45, divorced, born in Phoebus, Virginia, to Jesse Smith and Lena Jackson, in Elizabeth City County, Virginia.

On 17 July 1953, William Thomas Atkinson, of Dayton, Ohio, born 11 February 1922 in Wilson, N.C., to Ivory T. Atkinson and Minnie Pierce, married Waverly Jackson,

Allen A. Hines of Temperance Hall (and Toisnot.)

We’ve met Frank M. Hines, the young Edgecombe County register of deeds who attended Lincoln University with Samuel H. Vick and other young lions of Wilson. Hines’ hometown is listed in Lincoln’s 1882-83 catalog as Toisnot, i.e. Elm City. Similarly, Shaw University’s combined 1878-82 catalog includes A.A. Hines of Toisnot as a student in its Classical Department.

A.A. Hines, in fact, was Frank M. Hines’ elder brother (and both were sisters to Susan Hines Pyatt.) As they claimed a Wilson County residence, we claim them.

In the 1870 census of Cokey township, Edgecombe County: domestic servant Hannah Hines, 42, and children Harriet, 21, Susan, 17, Sarah, 11, Jerry, 13, Frank, 7, and Allen, 20, farmer.

On 26 May 1872, Allen Hines married Amanda Baker in Edgecombe County.

However, Amanda Baker Hines remarried in 1878 in Edgecombe County. Curiously, her and her husband’s household two years later included her former husband. In the 1880 census of Lower Town Creek township, Edgecombe County: Elbert Mordecai, 28; wife Amanda, 25; children Lewis, 7, Katherine, 5, and George, 1; and Allen Hines, 24 laborer. [Louis and Catherine were Allen Hines’ children.]

In 1883, a newspaper brief lists Allen Hines as a Edgecombe County grand juror. In the 19 August 1886 edition of the Greensboro North State, reporting on Edgecombe County’s Republican convention. A.A. Hines is named as a member of the committee on credentials (with W. Lee Person), and Frank M. Hines was nominated as county register of deeds. Jarrett Staton was appointed delegate to the judicial convention.

Allen Hines’ brother Frank died in 1889. His estate consisted of a small lot in Rocky Mount, and his heirs were Sallie Norris (wife of Ed Norris), Susan Pyatt (wife of Booker Pyatt), Harriet Barnes (wife of Demus Barnes), John Hines, and Louis and Catherine Hines, the children of Allen Hines, deceased. Allen Hines’ slender estate file contains a single sheet — his brother John’s 1892 application for guardianship for his niece and nephew, whose estate was valued at $175. (Their mother, stepfather, and half-siblings migrated to East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, in the late 1890s.)

B.W.A. Historical Marker Series, no. 19: Lofton School.

In this series, which will post on occasional Wednesdays, I populate the landscape of Wilson County with imaginary “historical markers” commemorating people, places, and events significant to African-American history or culture.

We been here.

LOFTON SCHOOL

Probably originally school for white students; converted to Black school. Located near bridge over Contentnea Creek on present-day Downing Rd. Not a Rosenwald School. Closed in 1951 with consolidation of rural schools.

We know little about Lofton School, but for more see here and here and here.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, August 2024.

The obituary of Carrie Jones of Dayton, Ohio.

Dayton Daily News, 29 November 1971.

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In the 1930 census of Durham, Durham County, North Carolina: tobacco factory stemmer Carrie Jones, 27, and children Hester, 12, Carson, 17, and Viola, 14.

In the 1940 census of Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio: Carrie Jones, 40, and children and grandchildren Viola, 22, Hester, 21, Robert, 7, Shirley, 5, Joseph, 1, and Charles, 7 months.

In the 1950 census of Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio: widow Carrie Jones, 49, motor shop maid; daughters Hester Jones, 33, restaurant busgirl, and Viola Byrd, 34; and grandchildren Robert, 18, and Shirley Jones, 14, and Joe Lee, 11, Charles, 10, Emmajean, 9, Jane, 8, Donald, 4, Pauline, 5, and Carol Ann Byrd, newborn.

The death of little Isaac Bridges.

Three year-old Isaac Bridges died of kidney disease on 7 April 1895 in Kenton County, Kentucky. Per his death certificate, he was born in Wilson, North Carolina, to Esta Bridges and Andrew Bardon; had lived [in Covington] for one year; lived in Ellison House; and was buried in Linden Grove Cemetery.

Isaac’s mother Esther Bridges died of tuberculosis on 1 July 1895 in Saint Elizabeth Hospital, Covington, Kentucky. Her age was birthplace were unknown; she was a widow; she worked as a domestic; and was buried in Linden Grove.