Baptist church

First Baptist Church of Lucama.

From the website of First Baptist Church of Lucama:

“The Founders of this church in the 1800’s were given a vision from God. The vision was to establish a black Baptist church in Lucama for the purpose of winning souls to Christ. They built this church on the Solid Rock, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  They knew that all other grounds would be sinking sand.
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“Some might say ‘why is it so important to know the history of this church?’ Well, it is important so we can look back and see how the Lord has blessed this church through the years. After looking back, we can then give thanks to our Father for all he has done for our church. We can recall and we can visualize just how great, how powerful, how wonderful he is and how his precious Holy Spirit continues to dwell with us today.

“The first services were held under a bush shelter made of a few planks and a top made out of bushes; just enough protection to keep out the rain, snow, and sun in the summer. These pioneers were Brother John Hardy and Sister Lutoria Battle, Sister Mary E. Morgan, Brother Elias Barnes, Rev. Needham Dew, Sister Mabel Austin, Brother Rufus Kent and Brother John Newkirk. Soon the first building was erected and stood beside the railroad in downtown Lucama. After a few years, a lot was purchased and the church moved because of noise from the trains.  In 1917, the cornerstone was laid at the new and our present location. First Missionary Baptist Church of Lucama celebrated 80 Years of praising God for his blessing’s in the year of 1997 (Specific dates of the bush shelter were not recorded).”

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  • John Hardy Battle

In the 1880 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Eliza Battle, 21, and sons Lummy, 6, John H., 4, and J. Hardy, 2.

In the 1900 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: day laborer Columbus Battle, 24; wife Minnie, 20; and brother John H., 23, day laborer.

On 9 November 1905, John H. Battle, 20, of Cross Roads township, married Lutora Fields, 18, in Lucama, Wilson County.

In the 1910 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer John H. Battle, 28; wife Loutorie, 24; and Johnie L., 2.

In the 1920 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer John H. Battle, 39; wife Lutoria F., 30; and children John L., 16, Lenetta, 7, Bessie L., 5, Mary L., 3, Thurman, 1, and Armetta, 2 months.

In the 1930 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer John H. Battle, 49; wife Loutoria, 40; children Johnie L., 21, Nettie, 19, Bessie L., 16, Mary L., 15, Roosevelt, 14, Armettie, 11, Alphnza, 8, Estelle, 7, Augustus, 4, and Harvey L., 2.

In the 1940 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer John Battle, 59; wife Lutory, 50; children Estell, 17, Augustus, 15, Harvey, 13, Luberta, 8, Alberta, 7; son-in-law Leondus Speight, 26, and granddaughter Katherine, 4.

In the 1950 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer John H. Battle, 70; wife Lulorie, 60; and children Agustus, 25, Harvey L., 22, Lubortha, 18, and Aberta, 16.

John Hardy Battle died 9 March 1962 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 8 July 1878 in Wilson County to Haywood Battle and Eliza Battle; lived near Lucama; worked in farming; was married to Lutory Battle; and was buried in Mary Grove cemetery.

  • Lutoria Battle

In the 1900 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Washington Fields, 60; wife Julia, 53; daughters Chrischanie, 25, Amanda, 15, and Lutory, 10; grandson Peter, 10; and granddaughters Julia, 5, and Lillie, 7 months.

On 9 November 1905, John H. Battle, 20, of Cross Roads township, married Lutora Fields, 18, in Lucama, Wilson County.

In the 1910 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer John H. Battle, 28; wife Loutorie, 24; and Johnie L., 2.

In the 1920 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer John H. Battle, 39; wife Lutoria F., 30; and children John L., 16, Lenetta, 7, Bessie L., 5, Mary L., 3, Thurman, 1, and Armetta, 2 months.

In the 1930 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer John H. Battle, 49; wife Loutoria, 40; children Johnie L., 21, Nettie, 19, Bessie L., 16, Mary L., 15, Roosevelt, 14, Armettie, 11, Alphnza, 8, Estelle, 7, Augustus, 4, and Harvey L., 2.

In the 1940 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer John Battle, 59; wife Lutory, 50; children Estell, 17, Augustus, 15, Harvey, 13, Luberta, 8, Alberta, 7; son-in-law Leondus Speight, 26, and granddaughter Katherine, 4.

In the 1950 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer John H. Battle, 70; wife Lulorie, 60; and children Agustus, 25, Harvey L., 22, Lubortha, 18, and Aberta, 16.

John Hardy Battle died 9 March 1962 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 8 July 1878 in Wilson County to Haywood Battle and Eliza Battle; lived near Lucama; worked in farming; was married to Lutory Battle; and was buried in Mary Grove cemetery.

Lutory Battle died 22 April 1964 in Lucama, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 12 February 1890 in Wilson County to Wilbert [last name unknown] and Janie Field; was married to John Hardy Battle; worked in farming; and lived near Lucama. Hester Chatman was informant.

  • Mary E. Morgan

On 1 January 1891, William Morgan married Mary Sanders in Johnston County, N.C.

In the 1900 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: day laborer William Morgan, 35; wife Mary, 24; and children Annie, 8, Beattrice, 6, Mamie, 2, and Willie, 5 months.

In the 1910 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer William Morgan, 48; wife Mary E., 30; and children Anna, 15, Beattrice, 14, Mamie, 10, Willie, 8, Thomas, 5, and Johnie, 2 months.

In the 1920 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer William Morgan, 54; wife Mary S., 45; and sons Willie, 18, and Tommie, 12.

In the 1930 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: Mary E. Morgan, 53; husband William, 64; and grandson George Cole, 11.

In the 1940 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: widow Mary Morgan, 65, and son  Willie, 27.

In the 1950 census of Lucama, Cross Roads township, Wilson County: on Goldsboro Street, widow Mary Morgan, 74, and son Thomas, 40, presser at dry cleaning plant.

Mary Elizabeth Morgan died 18 November 1955 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 1879 in Wake County, N.C., to William Sanders and Sallie [maiden name unknown]; was a widow; lived near Lucama; was unemployed; and was buried in Pate Cemetery. Anna Coley, Lucama, was informant.

  • Elias Barnes

On 18 December 1898, Elias Barnes, 22, of Wilson County, son of Simon and Elvy Barnes, married Ida Gold, 30, of Wilson County, daughter of Rayford Coley and Smithy Barnes, at Simon Barnes’ residence in Springhill township, Wilson County.

In the 1910 census of Lucama, Cross Roads township, Wilson County: on Main Street, farm laborer Elias Barnes, 34, and wife Ida, 41.

In the 1880 census of Spring Hill township, Wilson County: Elbert Kent, 36, farmer; wife Rebeca, 29; and children Mary, 10, Rufus, 9, Saraha, 7, Flournes J., 6, Martha M., 4, and Pharrow, 1.

On 3 August 1896, Rufus Kent, 25, of Cross Roads township, married Maggie Wells, 18, of Cross Roads township, in Cross Roads.

In the 1900 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: railroad laborer Rufus Kent, 29, and wife Maggie, 20.

In the 1910 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: railroad laborer Rufus Kent, 40; wife Maggie, 28; and children Lena, 7, Beattrice, 5, Eligah, 4, and Lemichael, 1.

Rufus Kent died 8 May 1915 in Lucama, Cross Roads township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 18 March 1867 in Oldfields township to Elbert Kent and Rebecca Barnes; was married; worked as a farmer; and was buried in Lamm graveyard. Joe Kent was informant.

  • John Newkirk

Colored Baptist churches.

The 1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory listed six “colored” Baptist churches in the town of Wilson:

  • First Baptist, whose pastor was Rev. Fred M. Davis, was one of the predecessors of today’s Jackson Chapel First Missionary Baptist Church. Its location was described as Barnes Street near Spruce, but these streets do not intersect, and “Spruce” was perhaps a misprint for Spring Street.
  • Rev. H.H. Neil was pastor of a Free Will Baptist church at the corner of Manchester and Suggs Streets.
  • The Free Will Baptist at the corner of Vance and Elba Streets was the original location of Piney Grove. Its pastor, Rev. Alfred Carmen, lived in Greenville, North Carolina.
  • The Missionary Baptist church at the corner of Barnes and Grace Streets was the original Jackson Chapel. (Wilson Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, founded in 1910, now stands at the site.) Its pastor is listed as Rev. Fred M. Rogers, but I strongly suspect this is an error, and the church’s pastor was Rev. Fred M. Davis.
  • Pilgrims Rest Primitive Baptist Church stood on Green Street at Elba Street, led by Rev. Abram Wooten.
  • Rev. James G. Coppedge was pastor of Second Missionary Baptist Church near Young Springs, which was

The obituary of Rev. Fred M. Davis.

Wilson Daily Times, 6 July 1951.

Eyeballing the records, I estimate that Rev. Fred M. Davis performed more weddings among African-Americans in Wilson in the first half of the twentieth century than any minister of any denomination. He served as pastor of several of the city’s Black Missionary Baptist churches and was recognized among the “who’s who” of African-American Baptist leaders in North Carolina. Rev. Davis’ obituary reveals the breadth of his influence across eastern North Carolina, pastoring churches in Scotland Neck, Mount Olive, Clinton, Dunn, and Goldsboro, as well as several in Wilson and Elm City. The obituary also identifies Rev. Davis as one of the young Wilson freedmen, like Samuel H. Vick, Daniel C. Suggs, and Braswell R. Winstead, who left home to attend Pennsylvania’s Lincoln University.

Good Hope celebrates Rev. Stallings.

Wilson Daily Times, 22 December 1948.

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In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Gilbert Stallings, 44; wife Georgiana, 40; and children James, 19, Lena, 17, Gilbert Jr., 14, and Leonard, 6.

In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Stallings Jas D msgr h 610 Robinson [Roberson]

In 1918, James D. Stallings registered for the World War I draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 24 January 1880; lived at 136 Ashe Street; worked as a blacksmith for Hackney Brothers; and Lena Perry was his nearest relative. 

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 639 Wiggins, owned and valued at $2000, widow Cora Morris, 46, private cook, and roomers Carrie H. Scott, 22, and James Stallings, 45, plumber for Wiggins Plumbing.

On 28 November 1936, James D. Stallings, 49, of Wilson, son of Gilbert and Georgia Stallings, married Daisey Rowland, 37, of Wilson County, daughter of Adam and Ella Rowland, in Nash County, North Carolina.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: plumber James Stallings, 62, and wife Daisy, 38, tobacco factory laborer. 

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 701 Wiggins, plumber’s helper James Stallings, 64; wife Daisy R., 48, house cleaning; and adopted son Thomas Hinnant, 8.

James D. Stallings died 23 May 1972 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 24 January 1888 in Wilson to Gifford Stallings and Mary Washington; was married to Daisey Vick; lived at 702 Norris Street; and was a retired plumber. 

Rooted in Faith: the 160 Year History of First African Baptist Church.

Not Wilson, but 25 miles down the road (and I’m sure with a Wilson link or two if I dug hard enough.) I hope to be able to take in this Wayne County Museum exhibit about venerable First African Baptist Church. Please add it to your Black History Month doings!

Vick delivers address in Scotland Neck.

In 1896, Samuel H. Vick delivered the keynote address at the laying of the cornerstone for Shiloh Baptist Church in Scotland Neck, Halifax County, North Carolina. The church, which still meets, was built “under the auspices” of Scotland Neck’s Little Kehukee Lodge No. 3492, Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, established four years earlier.

The Commonwealth (Scotland Neck, N.C.), 27 August 1896.

Sandy Fork Missionary Baptist Church.

I’d seen numerous references to a Sandy Fork Baptist Church in Wilson County, but was confused because the church I found by that name is a mile or so across the line in Nash County. Even more confusingly, Sandy Fork’s cemetery is on Old Bailey Highway, more than a mile from the church. 

Sandy Fork Missionary Baptist Church off Hornes Church Road in Wilson County.

Lisa Winstead-Stokes clarified the matter for me. Originally, there was a single Sandy Fork church, and a faction broke away to found “Little” Sandy Fork, also known “new” Sandy Fork Missionary Baptist Church of Wilson County. 

Neither the little nor big church is located at the original site of the church, which was near the crossroads just south of Sandy Fork cemetery. Annie Eatmon Locus is regarded as the first “mother” of the new church, which was built on land conveyed by her and her husband Asa “Ace” Locus to church trustees L. Blackwell, Wesley Strickland, Herbert Taylor, and Ace Locus on 18 October 1917.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, March 2023; aerial (without annotations) courtesy of Google Maps. 

A special Sunday service.

Wilson Daily Times, 11 November 1936.

As signaled by the use of the honorifics “Mrs.” and “Miss,” Lula Craft and Dovie Adams were white women. The “Stantonsburg colored school house” was on Macon Street near North Whitley Street. Saint Luke Free Will Baptist and Travelers Rest Primitive Baptist were, more or less, “back of” the school, but  I am not familiar with an Ebenezer Baptist in Stantonsburg.

John H. Skinner, pastor, educator and journalist.

SKINNER, JOHN HENRY — Clergyman — b. Sept. 13, 1867, Wilson, N.C.; s. A. and Mary (Barnes) Skinner; educ St. Augustine Normal Sch., Raleigh, N.C.; A.B. State Normal Sch., Fayetteville, N.C., 1881; A.B. Tuskegee Institute, Ala., 1922; D.D. Baptist Coll., 1922; A.M. Am. Correspondence Coll., South Daniel, N.Y., 1896; m. J.H. Lane, Dec. 30, 1895 (deceased 1902); four children, Lena, b. Nov. 11, 1896; Lillie May, b. Oct. 5, 1897; Claude, b. Sept. 10, 1898; Flossie Pearl, b. Nov. 11, 1899; second marriage, Nelissa Peterson (deceased); one child, Mary V., b. 1910; third marriage, Mrs. Florence Dew; taught, Pub. Sch. Wilson County, for four years; established The Fremont Enterprise; taught in Wayne County, N.C., for fourteen years; taught in Green[e] County, N.C., for eighteen years; founded the Baptist College, Kenly, N.C., 1920; President of same, 1920-present; Associate Editor, City Paper, Kenly, N.C., 1926-present; Principal, Graded Schools, Kenly, N.C., 1926-present; General Moderator of two conferences for the sixth term, mem A.F. & A.M. Knights of Pythias; Pol. Republican; Relig. F.W. Baptist; Address, Kenly, N.C.

He began teaching when fourteen years of age and has been a teacher since 1881. He managed a newspaper in Freemont, N.C., for two years, teaching at the same time in Wayne County, holding then a First Grade Certificate. Was Dean of teachers in Greene County for ten years, resigning to found the Baptist College, of which he has been President since 1920.

The Baptist College began its work in 1909 in Fremont, N.C., and later was moved to Kenly, N.C. It held two months’ sessions each summer until 1920 when under the supervision of Rev. Skinner it began its eight months’ sessions.

The purpose of the school is to train young men and women in the elements of an English education, to prepare them for teaching and provide a Theological course. There are a number of buildings and a dormitory for boys and girls.

Joseph J. Boris, ed., Who’s Who in Colored America, vol. 1 (1927).

——

Teachers and students of the Original Free Will Baptist School, also known as Skinner’s College, circa 1923. John H. Skinner is at far right. Skinner was also principal of Kenly Colored Graded School, a Rosenwald school. Photo courtesy of Johnston County Heritage Center.

In the 1870 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Aaron Skinner, 37, carpenter; wife Mary, 25; and son John, 9; domestic servant Esther Barnes, 21; and Willie Battle, 2.

J.H. Skinner, 24, of Wayne County, son of Aaron and Mary Skinner of Virginia, married J.A. Lane, 23, of Wayne County, daughter of Amos and Penny Lane, on 30 December 1885 in Nahunta township, Wayne County.

In the 1900 census of Fremont, Wayne County, N.C.: school teacher John H. Skinner, 37; wife Jackan, 36; and children Adie L., 12, Lillie M., 10, Claud, 8, and Clasie, 4.

On Christmas Day 1904, J.H. Skinner, 41, married Ida Artice, 25, in Greene County, N.C.

In the 1910 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, N.C.: public school teacher John H. Skinner, 49; wife Ida, 38; and children Lillie, 20, Claudie, 17, and Flosey, 14.

On 7 September 1913, J.H. Skinner, 45, of Johnston County, married Melisa Peterson, 20, of Johnston County, in Beulah township, Johnston County.

On 17 May 1919, Richard Swinson applied for a marriage license in Greene County for J.H. Skinner, 51, of Greene County, and Rosa L. Ellison, 27, of Greene County, daughter of Harvey and Laura Ellison. The license was not returned.

In the 1930 census of Beulah township Johnston County, N.C.: on Matthew Donal Street, widower John H. Skinner, 60, teacher at Brower(?) School.

On 10 May 1930, J.H. Skinner, 60, of Kenly, son of Adam and Mary Skinner, married Elizabeth Williams, 45, of Kenly, daughter of Dock and Mary Parker, in Kenly, Johnston County, N.C.

J.H. Skinner died 16 November 1937 in Kenly, Beulah township, Johnston County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1851 in Wilson to Aaron Skinner and Mary Barnes; was married to Elizabeth Williams Skinner; and worked as a teacher and minister.

I have not been able to find more about Skinner’s Fremont Enterprise or City Paper. Excerpts from columns Skinner contributed to the Kenly Observer in 1926 are quoted in Research Report: Tools for Assessing the Significance and Integrity of North Carolina’s Rosenwald Schools and Comprehensive Investigation of Rosenwald Schools In Edgecombe, Halifax, Johnston, Nash, Wayne and Wilson Counties (2007) and will be examined in detail in another post, as will a former student’s memories of the school published in the Kenly News in 1985.

T. Johnson and D. Barbour, Images of America: Johnston County (1997); hat tip to J. Robert Boykin III for the lead.