Calvin Blount vs. Effie Blount.

On 9 July 1904, Calvin Blount, 67, of Wilson married Effie Hinnant, 28, of Lucama, in Wilson. Missionary Baptist minister William Baker performed the ceremony at Emma Barnes’ home in the presence of Moses Dupree, Washington Suggs, and Ben Wooten.

This May-December romance did not last. At May Term 1909, a Wilson County Superior Court judge granted Calvin Blount a divorce from Effie Blount on the grounds of adultery.

Orders & Decrees Volume 2; Wilson County Court Records 1904-1916, http://www.familysearch.org.

Another episode in the annals of voter suppression.

Wilson Daily Times, 4 June 1930.

Thirty-nine Black voters were hauled before Wilson County elections officials after their registrations as Democrats were challenged “because they are negroes and want to vote against Simmons.” Simmons was Furnifold M. Simmons, United States Senator and Father of Black Disenfranchisement. [There is a story behind this story that is surely worth telling. Who was organizing this strategy — if in fact Black voters were changing party affiliations in an attempt to thwart Simmons’ nomination?]

State vs. Spencer Gay.

To stave off responsibility for caring for poor women and their children, unwed mothers were regularly brought before justices of the peace to answer sharp questions about their circumstances.

On 4 September 1868, Ann Ruff admitted to Wilson County justice of the peace F.W. Taylor that she had given birth out of wedlock, and the child’s father was Spencer Gay. Taylor ordered that Gay be arrested and taken to a justice to answer Ruff’s charge.

The next day, Gay appeared before Taylor with his father Anthony Gay and James W. Davis and posted a two hundred-dollar bond to guarantee his appearance in court.

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  • Spencer Gay

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: farm laborer Spellman Moore, 24; wife Jane, 22; children William, 2, and Walter, 1 month; Adeline Gay, 20; and husband Spencer Gay, 20, farm laborer.

Spencer Gay is listed in the 1880 mortality schedule for Wilson, Wilson County, having died of consumption in February. He was a brick yard laborer.

  • Ann Ruff

On 4 October 1884, William Dailey, 45, married Ann Ruff, 31, in Wilson.

The Wilson County roots of Bishop J. Delano Ellis.

Bishop Jesse Delano Ellis II of the Pentecostal Church of Christ was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Jesse Lee Ellis, a migrant from Wilson County, North Carolina, and Lucy Mae Harris Ellis.

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In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 508 East Walnut Street, ice plant laborer Calvin Ellis, 33; wife Matha, 29; and son Jessie L., 10; plus roomers Wilson Webb, 47, a Contentnea Guano laborer, wife Victoria, 40, and daughter Minnie Webb, 2.

In the 1940 census 0f Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: domestic Martha Ellis, 39, widow; sister Lucy Lucas, 33; and son Jessie, 20, coal yard laborer. In 1935, Martha Ellis had lived in Atlantic City, New Jersey; Lucas, in Philadelphia; and Jesse Ellis in Wilson, North Carolina.

In 1940, Jesse Lee Ellis registered for the World War II draft in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Per his registration card, he was born 18 August 1919 in Wilson, N.C.; his contact was mother Martha Ellis; and he worked for the 1355th Company, Civilian Conservation Corps, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Jesse and Lucy Mae Ellis, presumably at their 1943 wedding in Philadelphia.

In the 1950 census of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Martha Ellis, 49, widow; son Jesse L. 30, stevedore on docks; daughter-in-law Lucy Mae, 21; and grandsons Jesse D., 5, James B., 1, and John C., born in November [1949].

In 1950, Jesse L. Ellis applied for World War II compensation in Pennsylvania. Per his application, he was born 18 August 1919 in Wilson; lived at 616 Mercy Street, Philadelphia; and his dates of service were 22 June 1942 to 26 March 1943.

Photo courtesy of Ancestry.com user Dawn Speaks. 

Back of the house at an oyster saloon.

Julius C. Rhodes and G.M. Smith were partners in Smith & Rhodes, a Goldsboro Street oyster bar, saloon, and billiard parlor. Rhodes died intestate in December 1886, setting off a battle for the equitable distribution of the business’ assets. Rhodes’ estate file contains pages and pages of testimony from employees, associates, and even his physician about Rhodes’ alcoholism, his excessive generosity, and the free withdrawal and commingling of funds that marked Smith & Rhodes’ affairs and offer a rare glimpse into the workings of a late nineteenth-century Wilson social space.

Rhodes lived in rooms at the rear of the store and took his meals in its restaurant. Full board cost $12.50 to $16 a month, but Samuel Farmer paid in firewood. Rhodes kept a private gaming room upstairs, which was not profitable. He gave away shots of whiskey on Sundays to regular customers — many showed up for “treats” after church. He also gave out loans from the cash drawer.

Among the witnesses were cooks Andrew Pearce and Burt Bowser. Pearce testified that Rhodes ate at the store, but only about one small meal day. (His mother often sent him chicken soup and pickles.) Smith did not eat there often, but ate more than Pearce when he did. Smith had a private family residence, and mostly ate at the restaurant during the busy season. [From other testimony, we know that was fall.] Pearce sometimes went to Smith’s house to get vegetables for the restaurant. The lamp oil and coal Rhodes used in his rooms came from the firm’s supplies.

Burt Bowser preceded Pearce as cook. His testimony was brief: he cooked special meals for Rhodes; Smith ate at the restaurant more often than Rhodes; and Smith sometimes supplied vegetables to the restaurant.

Peter Taylor was subpoenaed to testimony, but either did not appear or was not called. Dave Barnes is briefly named as someone who “kept” the gaming room. This may have been Dave Barnes who was later a porter at Briggs Hotel. Hilliard Ellis was named as owing a small debt to the firm. Rhodes’ widow and administrator Louisa Rhodes filed an account in March 1889 that noted a payment of $2.50 to barber Alfred Robinson and $1.50 to blacksmith Charles Battle.

Estate of J.C. Rhodes (1887), Wilson County Probate Estate Case Files, 1954-1959, http://www.familysearch.org.

Studio shots, no. 246: Ora Renfrow Parker.

Ora Renfrow Parker (1899-??).

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In the 1900 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer John Rentfrow, 40; wife Marguaratt, 37; and children Franklin, 19, John T., 15, Mattie H., 12, Fannie, 10, Clinton, 7, and Oria, 1.

W.H. Parker, 24, of Springhill township, son of Nancy Parker, married Ora Renfrow, 19, of Old Fields township, daughter of John and Margarette Renfrow, on 6 January 1918 in Old Fields. G.W. Carter applied for the license.

In the 1920 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer William H. Parker, 26; wife Ora, 21; and son Clovis, 10 months.

In the 1930 census of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: at 3905 Folsom Street, railroad porter Henry Parker, 36; wife Ora, 31; and children Clovis, 11, Tarrel, 9, Dorothy, 7, and Henry, 5.

In the 1940 census of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: at 3905 Folsom Street, Pullman Company porter Henry Parker, 45; wife Ora, 40; and children Clovis, 21, retail store porter, Henry, 18, truck driver, and Dorthy, 17.

In 1942, William Henry Parker registered for the World War II draft in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Per his registration card, he resided at 3905 Folsom Street; was born 26 December 1894 in Wilson County, North Carolina; worked for the Pullman Company, P.R.R. 30th Street Station, Philadelphia; and his contact person was Mrs. Ora Parker.

In the 1950 census of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: at 3905 Folsom, William H. Parker, 56, watch repair; wife Ora, 51; and sons Clovis H., 31, studio ceramic artist, and Henry J., 24, shoemaker.

Photo courtesy of Ancestry.com user Sierra Barrett.

Incentives for initiations into the Order of Ethiopians.

We first encountered the Patriotic Order of Ethiopians of America here. Below, a series of agreements detailing financial incentives paid to its organizers.

  • the Imperial Grand Lodge of P.O.E.A. and Glenn S. McBrayer

McBrayer, a South Carolina native and graduate of Howard University Law School, was Wilson’s first Black attorney. In this agreement, the Lodge acknowledged that McBrayer had “spent much of his time, life and energy” into the organization’s creation and, “as founder and promoter [had] furnished the finance with which to bring the … order into being.” In consideration of these services and money advanced, McBrayer was to receive five cents for every member initiated into the order and smaller amounts for Grand Lodge and Princess Circle Auxiliary members and others for various periods of time. President John A. Mebane, secretary Michael E. DuBissette, trustee John S. Spell, and McBrayer himself signed. D.C. Yancey notarized the document.

Deed book 76, page 378, Hertford County Register of Deeds Office, Winton, North Carolina.

  • P.O.E.A. and John Alexander Mebane of Pasquotank County

Mebane was to deliver to the Grand Lodge “a copy of the Rituals and the Modus Operandi … and designs for the Paraphernalia, Regalia, ensigns, designs, escutcheons and seals” in exchange for various per capita sums.

Deed book 76, page 379, Hertford County Register of Deeds Office, Winton, North Carolina.

  • P.O.E.A. and McBrayer

McBrayer agreed to accept the position of Deputy-at-Large and “to set up lodgings int he several States and Territories” in exchange for certain per capita payments.

Deed book 76, page 382, Hertford County Register of Deeds Office, Winton, North Carolina.

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.