Braswell

The obituary of Mollie Braswell Talley.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 July 1944.

——

In the 1880 census of Lower Town Creek township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: laborer George Braswell, 28; wife Adline, 25; children James R., 10, Geo. L., 7, and Mollie, 2; Sol Knight, 22, laborer; and Walter Whitfield, 32, laborer.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer George Braswell, 52; wife Adeline, 47; children Mollie, 22, Mattie, 18, Caroline, 16, Victoria, 13, Melvina, 12, Dora, 10, and Ernest, 9; and grandchildren James, 3, and Frederick, 3 months.

On 9 September 1900, Frank Bynum, 32, of Wilson County, Frank Bynum, 32, of Wilson County, son of Peter and Elizabeth Bynum, married Mollie Braswell, 22, daughter of George and Adaline Braswell, in Wilson township, Wilson County. John Artis applied for the license, and Primitive Baptist minister J.F. Farmer performed the ceremony in the presence of Anthony Vick, Charles Hagans, and London Woodard.

Walter Talley, 45, of Old Fields, married Mollie Barnes, 45, of Old Fields, on 15 July 1925.

In the 1928 Wilson, N.C., city directory: Talley Walter (c; Mollie) mill hd 806 S Lodge

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Walter Tally, 50, lumber mill laborer, and wife Molly, 60.

Walter Talley died 17 May 1941 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 13 January 1885 in Wayne County, N.C.; lived at 503 East Banks Street, Wilson; worked as a laborer; was married to Mollie Talley; and was buried in Rountree Cemetery [probably, Vick Cemetery.]

In 1942, James Braswell registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 23 February 1898 in Wilson County; lived at 503 Banks Street, Wilson; his contact was Molly Talley, 503 Banks; and he worked for Williams Lumber Company.

Mollie Talley died 13 July 1944 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 7 April 1880 in Edgecombe County, N.C., to George and Adeline Braswell; lived at 604 South Lodge; was the widow of Walter Talley; and was buried in Rest Haven Cemetery. James Braswell was informant.

Private Arthur Braswell, stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas.

——

In the 1930 census of Upper Town Creek township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: George Braswell, 41; wife Lizzie, 35; and children Cornelius, 15, James, 13, Eloise, 10, Arthur, 8, Rena, 5, Ollin, 3, and Walter, 1.

In the 1940 census of Olds township, Greene County, N.C.: farmer George Braswell, 54; wife Lizzie, 42; children James, 23, Luther [sic], 18, Reaner, 16, Arland, 13, Walter, 12, Everlina, 8, and Julious, 4; and lodger Richard Sutton, 43. The family reported having lived in Wilson County in 1935.

In 1942, Arthur Braswell registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 21 October 1921 in Wilson County; lived at Route 3, Wilson; his contact was Dick Suggs; and he worked for Dick Suggs.

On 7 February 1952, Arthur Braswell, 29, of Sims, son of Lizzie Braswell, married Viola Ward, 19, of Sims, daughter of Moses and Rosetta Bynum Ward, in Wilson. 

Image courtesy of Veterans of World War II Wilson County, spiral-bound volume, Wilson County Public Library.

Braswell’s 19 children.

Wilson Daily Times, 2 November 1939.

——

In the 1910 census of Pikeville township, Wayne County, N.C.: Isaiah Braswell, 48, farmer; wife Belia, 47; children Thomas, 20, Lena, 14, Julia, 12, Mary, 10, and Blonie, 7; and brother Marcus, 23.

On 14 March 1912, Thomas Braswell and Minnie Cox were married at Billie Smith’s place in Pikeville, Wayne County.

In the 1920 census of Nahunta township, Wilson County: farmer Thomas Braswell, 30; wife Minnie, 26; and children Sadie, 10, Missie, 9, Aira, 7, Sallie, 1, Mary, newborn, Ira, 6, Kennon [Kennell], 5, and Roland, 3.

In the 1930 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Thomas Braswell, 39; wife Minne, 37; and children Ira, 16, Kennen, 15, Roland, 14, Sallie, 12, Pennie, 10, Irene, 9, Hessie C., 7, Allen, 6, Hazel, 5, Bessie, 3, Leslie, 2, and William T., 10 months.

In the 1950 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Thomas Braswell, 60; wife Minnie C., 57; children Minnie, 19, Grant, 17, and Matthew, 14; and grandchildren Ira Jr., 12, Jean, 4, and Delois, 2.

Thomas Braswell died 30 March 1954 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 2 October 1888 in Wayne County to Isaac Braswell and Belia Ann Coley; was married to Minnie Braswell; and worked as a farmer.

“Just a pow-pow wid his gun.”

Wilson Daily Times, 8 October 1912.

——

In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer George Braswell, 52; wife Adeline, 47; children Mollie, 22, Mattie, 18, Caroline, 16, Victoria, 13, Melvina, 12, Cora, 10, and Ernest, 9; and grandchildren James, 3, and Frederick, 3 months.

On 24 October 1912, Ernest Braswell, 20, of Wilson, son of W. and Adeline Braswell, married Teenie Sims, 17, of Gardners township, daughter of Caesar and Adeline Sims, at Caesar Sims’ in Gardner’s.

In the 1920 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Ernest Braswell, 27; wife Tinie, 22; daughter Lillian, 7; and brother Willie, 21.

  • Rufus Whitley

On 8 September 1898, Rufus Whitley, 26, of Stantonsburg, son of John and Isabella Whitley, married Mattie Pree, 23, of Wilson, daughter of Ben and Bettie Pree, in Gardners township.

In the 1900 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Rufus Whitley, 25; wife Mattie, 25; daughters Caroline, 7, and Isabella, 3 months; and brother-in-law Wiley Dupree, 19.

In the 1910 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: Rufus Whitley, 37; wife Mattie, 30; and children Mattie, 8, Wiley, 3, and Rufus B., 3 months.

In the 1920 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: Rufus Whitley, 49; wife Mattie, 45; and children Wiley, 13, Benjamin, 12, Bettie, 7, and Lizzie, 11 months.

In the 1930 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: Rufus Whitley, 59; wife Mattie, 52; and children Ben, 20, Bettie A., 18, Lizzie J., 11, and Matta B., 6; and lodger Jesse King, 22.

  • “the King boys,” Tart, Otto, Jack, Marcellus, Sylvester and Lum

In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Shandy King, 24; wife Nancy, 23; and sons Zadock, 3, and Jackson, 1.

In the 1900 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Shandy King, 51; wife Nancy, 49; and children Marcellus, 19, Shandy, 16, Mahala, 14, Columbus, 12, Sylvester, 10, Otto, 7, and Harriett, 6.

In 1917, Sylvester King registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born in March 1891 in Wilson County, N.C.; farmed for W.F. Woodard; and was single.

In 1917, Columbus King registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 13 July 1890 in Wilson County; lived in Stantonsburg; was single; and was a farm laborer for W.T. Harrison. He was short and stout, with brown eyes and black hair.

In 1918, Otto King registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born in 22 March 1891 in Wilson County, N.C.; farmed for Charley Walston; and was single.

On 2 February 1922, Sylvester King, 28, of Wilson, son of Shandy and Nancy King, married Etta Mitchell, 23, of Wilson, daughter of Jim and Martha Fields, in Wilson. Disciples minister J.W. Pitt performed the ceremony in the presence of Wesley Bullock, Walter Bullock, and Tom Jones.

Sylvester King died 26 June 1930 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1890 in Wilson County to Shandie King and Nancy Anderson; was single; and worked as a tenant farmer for Chester Jordan. He was buried in Wilson. Informant was York King.

Plantation House Series: Callie S. Braswell house, known as Hawthorne.

Hawthorne was one of four antebellum plantation houses included in the Upper Town Creek Rural Historic District. Forty years after nomination, none are standing.

Hawthorne in 1980.

Per the National Register of Historic Places Inventory — Nomination Form for Upper Town Creek Rural Historic District, prepared by Kate Ohno in 1982, the family of Callie (or Cally) S. Braswell (1828-1893) were long prominent in this area of the county. Braswell began acquiring land in the 1840s, and bought his home site around 1853. He married Martha Ann Trevathan in 1855, and the couple probably built Hawthorne shortly after.

At the November 1847 term of Superior Court, heirs of Benjamin Braswell, which included Callie S. Braswell, filed a petition for the division of the elder Braswell’s slaves. The petition names Lewis, Zilly, Amy, Warren, Amos, Lettice, Albert, Boston, Esther, Arden, Prissy, Charlotte, Eliza, Drew, Hilliard, John, Elisha, and Lina as the group to be divided. The court appointed W.D. Petway and David Williams, among others, to set values and apportion them, but no report identifying each heirs’ allotment can be found in Braswell’s estate file.

In the 1850 slave schedule of Edgecombe County, Cally S. Braswell is listed with ten enslaved people — women and girls aged 80, 30, 20, 6, and 1, and men and boys aged 18, 13, 10, 8, and 5.

In 1860, the slave schedule recorded twelve enslaved people occupying three houses for Calla S. Braswell: women and girls aged 42, 26, 13, 11, 11, 6, 4,  and 2, and men and boys aged 26, 15, 9, and 9. [The inconsistency in ages suggests considerable turnover during that decade.]

In 1866, Hilliard Braswell and Annis Batts registered their 6-year cohabitation with an Edgecombe County justice of the peace. In the 1870 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Hilliard Braswell, 29, farm laborer; wife Anniss, 41; and son Gray, 4; with Austin, 16, and Frank Batts, 13. Next door: Boston Braswell, 29, farm laborer; wife Eliza, 38; son Henry, 10; and Georgeana Jenkins, 15. In 1866, Boston Braswell and Eliza Williams had registered their 5-year cohabitation with an Edgecombe County justice of the peace.

In 1866, Amos Braswell and Lettis Braswell registered their 12-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace. In the 1870 census of Upper Town Creek township, Edgecombe County: Amos Braswell, 44, farm laborer; wife Lettace, 36; and children Sophy A., 16, William Ann, 15, Amanda, 13, Burtin, 7, Willis, 5, Jordan, 3, and Arden, 2.

In 1866, Pricilla Braswell and James Armstrong registered their two-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace. In the 1870 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Augustus Armstrong, 30, wife Pricilla, 22, and children Sallie, 4, Stella, 2, and William, 4 months. [Is James Armstrong the same person as Augustus Armstrong? Augustus was the son of Quinnie Braswell, who registered his 33-year marriage to Venus Braswell in 1866.]

Former site of Hawthorne, off East Langley Road near the Edgecombe County line.

The last will and testament of Jennie Farmer Braswell.

In a will signed 21 May 1907, Jennie Braswell left all her personal and real estate to her sister Venus Farmer.

——

In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: widow Rhoda Farmer, 70; daughter Jennie Braswell, 40, widow; daughter Martha Wooten, 28; grandchildren Howard, 17, Rena, 15, Lulu, 13, Minnie, 7, Walter, 10, and Lily [Wooten?], 20; and Dennis A. Thadis, 33.

Will of Jennie Braswell (1907), North Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998, http://www.ancestry.com.

In loving memory of Cornelius Braswell.

Wilson Daily Times, 30 July 1992.

——

In the 1920 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Geo. Braswell, 25; wife Lizzie, 21; and children Cornelia, 5 [Cornelius, erroneously listed as a daughter], James, 4, and Elouise, 4 months.

In the 1930 census of Upper Town Creek township, Edgecombe County: farmer George Braswell, 41; wife Lizzie, 35; and children Cornelius, 15, James, 13, Eloise, 10, Arthur, 8, Rena, 5, Ollin, 3, and Walter, 23 months.

In 1941, Cornelius Braswell registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 26 May 1914 in Wayne County, N.C.; his contact was mother Lizzie Braswell; he lived on Route 3, Wilson; was employed by “(SH & P.W.C.) Prisoner until Feb. 20 1941,” Prison Camp 406, Wilson.

Studio shots, no. 195: Thelma Braswell Forbes.

Thelma Braswell Forbes, age about 12, as a student at Lucama School, circa 1949.

Thelma Braswell Forbes, who passed away in Wilson last week, graciously shared with Black Wide-Awake her recollections of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. May she rest in peace. 

Many thanks to Dawn Forbes Murphy for sharing this wonderful photograph. 

Cpl. John J. Braswell is stationed in the Pacific.

Wilson Daily Times, 15 May 1945.

——

In the 1930 census of Nahunta, Wayne County, North Carolina: Arthur Braswell, 38; wife Julia, 31; and children John, 10, Mary J., 11, and Charles L., 7.

In 1940, John Junior Braswell registered for the World War II draft in Wayne County, North Carolina. Per his registration card, he was born 6 November 1917 in Wayne County; lived in Fremont, N.C.; his contact was father Arthur Braswell; and he worked for his father.

News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 21 April 1988.

Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church.

I happened unexpectedly upon Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church a few miles east of Lucama. 

The style of the building suggests that it was built circa the turn of the 20th century. The original block of the church consisted of a rectangular, gable-front section with a square tower on the gable end facing the road. Five peaked windows grace each side. The cinder-block wings on each side of the double front door are relatively recent modifications, built to house restrooms. There are also newer additions at rear.

The church is decorated with a large cross fitted with lightbulbs and a cast-iron bell in the yard. Thelma B. Forbes states the bell was rung to announce church services.

When I sought information about this church, my childhood friend Dawn Forbes Murphy informed me her maternal grandfather Kennell Braswell and family had belonged to Macedonia. (Her grandmother Marie Cannady Braswell was a member of Mary Grove Missionary Baptist Church.) Dawn has wonderful memories of attending Macedonia as a child, sitting on wooden benches in summer heat, singing hymns without piano or organ accompaniment, delicious food served at church functions, and lots of love. Dawn’s mother Thelma Braswell Forbes recalls there was once two-room school on the grounds of the church. The school was moved down the road from the church, but may still be standing. Though Mrs. Forbes is not sure when the church was founded, she knows her father Kennell Braswell joined as a child, and eventually his mother Minnie Cox Braswell was mother of the church. The church met only twice a month, so the Braswells attended Mary Grove on alternate Sundays.

Kennell and Marie Cannady Braswell.

In the 1920 census of Nahunta township, Wilson County: farmer Thomas Braswell, 30; wife Minnie, 26; and children Sadie, 10, Missie, 9, Aira, 7, Sallie, 1, Mary, newborn, Ira, 6, Kennon, 5, and Roland, 3.

In the 1930 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Thomas Braswell, 39; wife Minne, 37; and children Ira, 16, Kennen, 15, Roland, 14, Sallie, 12, Pennie, 10, Irene, 9, Hessie C., 7, Allen, 6, Hazel, 5, Bessie, 3, Leslie, 2, and William T., 10 months.

On 28 November 1936, Kennell Braswell, 22, of Lucama, son of Thomas and Minnie Braswell, married Marie Cannaday, 20, of Lucama, daughter of Charlie and Mary Cannaday, in Smithfield, Johnston County. Ossie M. Cannady and Curtis L. Cannady of Lucama were witnesses.

In the 1940 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: South Carolina-born farmer Charlie Cannady, 60; wife Mary, 50; daughter Marie Braswell, 23; son-in-law Kennel Braswell, 24; and grandchildren Minnie M., 2, and Charlie T., 1. Mary and Marie were also born in South Carolina.

In 1940, Kennel Braswell registered for the World War II draft. Per his registration card, he was born 15 September 1916 in Wayne County; his contact was mother Minnie Braswell; and he worked for Ceney Boyex, R.F.D. #2, Wilson.

Kennell Braswell (1914-1992) as a World War II soldier.

Photo of church by Lisa Y. Henderson, December 2019; family photos courtesy of Dawn F. Murphy.