Barnes

Dick Pender and Joshua Barnes.

From the obituary of General Joshua Barnes, Zion’s Landmark, vol. 24, no. 3, 15 December 1890:

“A great benefactor as well as a special friend of so many individuals, General Barnes, in the 78th year of his age on the 13th day of October, 1890, at the residence of his son in law, Mr. A. Branch of Wilson, lingering only a few weeks, after a second attack of paralysis, with no indications of pain, gently breathed out the last of his mortal existence.

…

“He spent his entire life in this community — was aggressive in style, turning up things rather than waiting for them to turn up; and in spite of his liberality and charitableness, this world’s goods continued to accumulate around him; and although in consequence of the late war his loss in slaves and other property was immense, he was nevertheless left in possession of a handsome estate.

…

“Early in life he embraced the Primitive Baptist doctrine … [and] about 14 years ago at Toisnot Bridge near Wilson, by Elder P.D. Gold and Elder Wm. Woodard and Dick Pender, the faithful colored janitor, he together with his brother Wm. Barnes Jr., were immersed. Considering his weight some 250 pounds, that he was so helpless his entire left side still being paralized, and that he had to be baptized in an invalid’s chair, the baptism was considered a most remarkable one. …”

……

  • Dick Pender — Pender was sexton of Wilson Primitive Baptist Church.

The estate of Harriett Barnes Parks.

We read Harriett Parks‘ will here. After her death in late 1896, John A. Gaston was duly appointed executor of her estate.

From December 1896 through 25 September 1897, Gaston reported income from rent payments made by tenants Ennis Thompson and Christiana Taylor. Gaston paid out ten dollars for Parks’ coffin and forty-five cents for a ticket for Parks’ daughter Allie Kate Barnes.

In addition, Gaston paid an unnamed person one dollar for digging Parks’ grave [which was mostly likely in Oakdale Cemetery]; a dollar for use of a horse and buggy for her funeral; and $1.25 for the whitewashing of her house.

From 27 September 1897 through 22 March 1900, Gaston received rent payments from Christina (or Christiana) Taylor, Allen Morgan, and Annie Williams. He paid forty cents for a lock; $1.30 for lights; another $1.25 for whitewashing; one dollar for cleaning out a well; and a dollar for a well bucket. Gaston paid Parks’ daughter Allie Kate $5.00 and her son Harvey G. Barnes $6.25.

Wilson, N.C., Probate Estate Files 1854-1959, http://www.familysearch.org.

The last will and testament of Ned Barnes.

Ned Barnes dictated his last will and testament on 2 March 1885, leaving a lifetime interest in all his property to his wife Margaret Barnes and thereafter to their children, who were all minors. Barnes was not even 40 years old, which suggests that despite his “sound mind,” he was not well physically.

Will Book 2, page 359, Wilson County

Barnes died within days, and Charles Battle was duly appointed executor of his estate. Margaret Barnes “dissented from [Barnes’] will,” and J.A. Tynes and Daniel Vick were appointed to assess the estate and assign her a year’s support.

Tynes and Vick filed their report on 30 March 1885, setting aside $113.20 worth of items on hand for Margaret Barnes. The amount fell far short of the total she was due.

Charles Battle filed an inventory of Barnes’ belongings on 3 June 1885. He noted that Barnes’ “cotton planter belongs to the partnership of Barnes & Clark.” [Harry Clark, who was a neighbor? What kind of partnership?]

Battle filed a final account in March 1887, reflecting transactions made in December 1885. On the 26th, he had sold $147 worth of items, including a hundred-dollar horse.

Two days later, he disbursed $198.46.

——

On 12 August 1869, Ned Bunn [sic], son of Abner and Mary Webb, married Margaret Edmondson, daughter of Shed and Gatsey Edmondson, in Wilson.

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Gatsey Edmondson, 40; Becton, 18, Riley, 17, Nancy, 14, and Elias Edmondson, 21; Ned Barnes, 22, and wife Margarett, 19.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Ned Barnes, 34; wife Margarett, 35; and children Luvenia, 9, Franklin, 8, Walter, 10, Sarah Eliza, 7, and Caroline, 5.

Estate of Ned Barnes (1885), Wilson County, North Carolina Estate Files 1663-1979, http://www.familysearch.org; note that documents from the estate of a different Ned Barnes, who also died in 1885 (but was married to Della Barnes) are intermingled in this file.

Clues from the estate of Ned Barnes.

I have written of my great-great-grandfather Willis Barnes and his daughter Rachel Barnes Taylor, my great-grandmother. Rachel’s mother appears variously in records as Cherry Battle or Cherry Eatmon. She shows up in the 1870 and 1880 censuses; in the death certificates of five of her children; and on the marriage licenses of three.

Today, I discovered a document that I believe identifies Cherry Battle/Eatmon’s father. Two Black men named Ned Barnes died in Wilson County in 1885. Their estate records, unfortunately, are commingled in a single file. One Ned Barnes, born about 1847, was married to a woman named Margaret Edmondson. The other, born about 1820, married Della Barnes after another relationship that produced several children.

Here’s what caught my eye:

“R.W. King, Administrator of Ned Barnes deceased vs. Della Barnes, N.B. Herring, Braswell Eatman, Cherry Barnes, Waity Eatman, Turner Eatman, David Hagans, Willis Barnes, James Moore, heirs at law and parties in interest.”

Della Barnes was Ned Barnes’ widow. Needham B. Herring was a party in interest by virtue of a claim to Della Barnes’ property. (N.B. Herring was a well-known white physician in Wilson.) Braswell Eatman, Cherry Barnes, Waity Eatman, Turner Eatman, and David Hagans were heirs at law — Ned’s children and/or grandchildren. Willis Barnes, as Cherry Barnes’ husband, was a party in interest. I’m not sure who James Moore was but, presumably, he was a party in interest.

Ned Barnes’ liquid assets were insufficient to cover his obligations, and his chief asset — a 36-acre parcel — was sold.

——

  • Ned Barnes

In the 1870 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Ned Barnes, 48, farm laborer.

On 19 October 1874, Ned Barnes married Della Barnes in Wilson.

In the 1880 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer Ned Barnes, 66; wife Della, 37; and [step]son Allen, 18.

  • Della Barnes

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer John J. Barnes, 49; Della, 26; and Allen, 8.

In the 1880 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: farmer Ned Barnes, 66; wife Della, 37; and [step]son Allen, 18.

  • Braswell Eatmon

On 4 April 1872, Braswell Eatmon married Louisa Boykin at Joshua Barnes’ in Wilson County.

Probably: in the 1880 census of Raleigh township, Wake County, N.C.: Braswell Eatman, 39, servant.

  • Cherry Barnes

In August 1866, Willis Barnes and Cherry Battle registered their six-year marriage with a Wilson County justice of the peace.

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Willis Barnes, 30; wife Cherry, 25; and children Rachel, 7, West, 5, Jesse, 2, and Ned, 5 months.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Willis Barnes, 42; wife Cherey, 20 [sic]; stepdaughter[?] Rachel Battle, 17; children Wesley, 15, Jesse, 13, Ned, 11, Eddie, 7, and Mary Barnes, 4; niece Ellen Battle, 2; and son Willey Barnes, 1.

[Note: Cherry Barnes’ children included a son Ned and a daughter Cintha. (See below.)]

  • Waity Eatman

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Cinthia Eatmon, 40, with Luke, 23, Turner, 20, Wady, 18, and David Eatmon, 6. [They did not marry, but was Cinthia Eatmon the mother of Ned Barnes’ children? (And thus my great-great-grandmother?)]

  • Turner Eatman

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Cinthia Eatmon, 40, with Luke, 23, Turner, 20, Wady, 18, and David Eatmon, 6. [Next door: Morrison and Martha Woodard, whose daughter Cherry married Turner Eatmon.]

On 9 April 1873, Turner Eatmon, 22, married Cherry Woodard, 18, in Wilson.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Turner Eatmon, 30; wife Cherry, 23; and brother David, 15.

The Farmer and Mechanic (Raleigh, N.C.), 10 March 1881.

  • David Hagans, alias David Eatmon

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Cinthia Eatmon, 40, with Luke, 23, Turner, 20, Wady, 18, and David Eatmon, 6.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Turner Eatmon, 30; wife Cherry, 23; and brother David, 15.

Wilson [County, North Carolina] Special Proceedings, http://www.familysearch.org.

Harry Barnes vs. Charity Robbins.

In May 1907, a Superior Court clerk issued a summons to Charity Robbins to appear in court to answer a complaint filed by Harry Barnes. Barnes was contesting ownership of a lot on the north side of Pine Street, adjoining lots owned by Pennie Bynum, Miley Barnes, and S.H. Vick.

Barnes requested and was granted permission to file his suit as a pauper, asserting that he was unable to pay costs associated with pursuing his case. I could not determine the outcome of this litigation.

The final account of the estate of Nunnie Barnes.

My post about Nunnie Barnes‘ striking Odd Fellows Cemetery headstone including details of her estate administration. On 9 September 1922, her administrator filed a final account of receipts and distributions.

The estate received more than $1800 from a savings account at Wilson Trust & Savings Bank. It paid out $408 to C.H. Darden & Son for an undertaker’s bill and funeral expenses. Two different hospitals — Carolina General and Moore-Herring — were paid, as was Wilson Drug Company. Wilson Marble & Granite Company received $67.50 for manufacturing Barnes’ gray-and-white striated grave marker.

Wilson County, North Carolina, Property Settlement Records 1905-1923, http://www.familysearch.org.

The final account of the estate of Della Hines Barnes.

Dr. Boisey O. Barnes was administrator of his mother Della Hines Barnes‘ estate.

Like her sons William Hines and Walter S. Hines, Della Hines Barnes owned multiple tenant houses in Wilson, and monthly rents from and sales of those properties made up the estate’s receipts from January 1936 to June 1937.

A few hundred dollars in disbursements went to repairs and upkeep of Barnes’ properties — water bills, paint, plumbing, electrical, insurance, lumbers, carpenters. The estate paid $100 to Cobb Marble Works for the lovely marker that still stands at Odd Fellows Cemetery’s highest point (and inspired Lane Street Project’s logo) and $100 for “balance on funeral expenses,” which probably went to C.H. Darden & Son. Finally, Della Hines Barnes’ five heirs — sons William and Walter Hines and Boisey and Dave Barnes and granddaughter Charmaine T. White — equally shared a little over $4000 cash. Equivalent to about $90,000 in 2024 money, Barnes’ estate represented a remarkable accumulation of wealth by a woman born into slavery.

Della Hines Barnes’ headstone in Odd Fellows Cemetery.

Wilson County, North Carolina, Property Settlement Records 1932-1937, http://www.familysearch.org; photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, May 2023.

The last will and testament of Leah Ellis Barnes.

Leah Barnes executed her last will and testament in November 1914 with the following provisions:

  • to grandsons Paul and Louis Barnes, her house and lot on Viola Street adjoining the property of J.Z. Staton and Wash Pitt
  • to children Edward Barnes, Maggie Barnes, Mary Jane Lane, and Frank Barnes and grandsons Paul and Louis Barnes, all personal property, to be divided equally
  • Elder Jonah Williams to serve as executor and guardian to Paul and Louis if they were not yet 21 years of age

——

In the 1900 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Laurence Barnes, 53; wife Lizzie [sic], 48;  and children Edwin, 18, Maggie, 15, Frank, 14, and Joseph, 12.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Lela [sic] Barnes, 55, widow, odd jobs laborer; children Edward, 26, wagon factory laborer, and Frank, 25, blacksmith; grandchildren Lewis, 9, and Maggie, 25, servant; and boarder Harry Draughn, 24. Leah Barnes reported that 6 of her 11 children were living.

Lear Barnes died 1 June 1915 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 62 years old; was born in Wilson County to Amos Ellis and Mary Edmundson; was a widow; and was buried in Wilson [likely, Vick Cemetery.] Maggie Barnes was informant.