We saw here the last will and testament of James A. Barnes, who died childless and dispersed 20 enslaved people among an array of relatives. What do we know of the 20? Not much.
- Tom (to wife Sarah Barnes for her lifetime, then to choose his owner)
- Mary (to wife Sarah Barnes, then to nephew Theophilus Bass)
- Esther (to wife Sarah Barnes, then to nephew Theophilus Bass)
On 11 August 1866, Howell Darden and Easter Bass registered their cohabitation with a county justice of the peace and thereby legalized their 18-year marriage.
In the 1870 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Howard Darden, 47, farm laborer; wife Esther, 38; and children Warren, 20, Eliza, 18, Martin, 17, Toby, 12, and Crawford, 1.
On 22 December 1871, Martin Darden, son of Howell Darden and Esther Jordan, married Jane Dew, daughter of Haywood and Jane Dew, at H. Dew’s in Wilson County.
On 29 December 1892, Henry Dortch, 52, of Wilson, son of Isaac Thorne and Bedie Artis, married Eliza Darden, 42, at Crawford Darden‘s in Wilson County. Free Will Baptist minister Daniel Blount performed, and Frank Woodard, Warren Darden, and Isom Sutton witnessed the ceremony.
Martin Darden died 22 December 1926 in Kenansville township, Duplin County. Per his death certificate, he was 74 years old; was married to Jane Darden; was born in Wilson County to Howard and Easter Darden; and worked as a farmer and blacksmith. Howard Darden of Fremont was informant.
- Charles (to wife Sarah Barnes, then to nephew Theophilus Bass)
In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Charles Bass, 41.
On 16 January 1880, Charles Bass, 51, married Rhoda A. Jordan, 23, at C. Bass’ [probably Charles Bass] residence. Justice of the Peace David G.W. Ward performed the ceremony.
In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Charles Bass, 51; wife Rhoda, 23; and an unnamed four month-old infant daughter. [This child was Cornelia Bass Reddick.]
In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Charles Bass, 71, widower, and son James, 10.
- Amos (to wife Sarah Barnes)
- Bob (to wife Sarah Barnes)
- Silvia (to wife Sarah Barnes)
- Ransom (to wife Sarah Barnes)
- Rose (to wife Sarah Barnes)
- Dinah (to Martha Tomberlin)
- Jack (to McKinley Darden’s daughter Tresy Darden)
Perhaps, on 19 January 1869, Jack Darden married Vina Artist in Wayne County, N.C.
- Howell (to McKinley Darden)
On 11 August 1866, Howell Darden and Easter Bass registered their cohabitation with a county justice of the peace and thereby legalized their 18-year marriage.
In the 1870 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Howard Darden, 47, farm laborer; wife Esther, 38; and children Warren, 20, Eliza, 18, Martin, 17, Toby, 12, and Crawford, 1.
On 22 December 1871, Martin Darden, son of Howell Darden and Esther Jordan, married Jane Dew, daughter of Haywood and Jane Dew, at H. Dew’s in Wilson County.
Martin Darden died 22 December 1926 in Kenansville township, Duplin County. Per his death certificate, he was 74 years old; was married to Jane Darden; was born in Wilson County to Howard and Easter Darden; and worked as a farmer and blacksmith. Howard Darden of Fremont was informant.
- Irvin (to sister Beedy Woodard in Georgia)
Obedience Barnes Woodard appears in the 1850 census of Dooly County, Georgia, as Obedience Woodard, a 65 year-old head of household in the 1850 census of Dooly County, Georgia. I have found no trace of Irvin.
- Jordan (to Eliza Bass, widow of James Bass)
In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Jordan Bass, 68; Rodah, 39; George, 24; Amos, 23; Etheldred, 17; and Frederick, 12.
- Rindy (jointly to George Washington Bass, Thomas Warren Bass, and Jesse Jackson Bass, the sons of Theophilus Bass, deceased)
- Abraham (jointly to George Washington Bass, Thomas Warren Bass, and Jesse Jackson Bass, the sons of Theophilus Bass, deceased; to James B. Bass, then to George W. Bass)
- Rhody (jointly to George Washington Bass, Thomas Warren Bass, and Jesse Jackson Bass, the sons of Theophilus Bass, deceased; to James B. Bass, then to Jesse Bass)
- Alexander (jointly to George Washington Bass, Thomas Warren Bass, and Jesse Jackson Bass, the sons of Theophilus Bass, deceased)
- Bob (jointly to George Washington Bass, Thomas Warren Bass, and Jesse Jackson Bass, the sons of Theophilus Bass, deceased; to James B. Bass, then to Jesse Bass)
- Gatsey (sold)