Greensboro Daily News, 17 May 1939.
The “Wilson County negro” was a nine year-old boy.
Ned Kent was born 1 January 1930 in Wilson County to Isiah Kent and Clyde Pettieford; lived at Route 1, Wilson; and was a student. He was taken to Woodard-Herring Hospital, where he was pronounced dead of a fractured skull.
Hertford County Herald, 16 July 1942.
Bessie Mae Williams was actually just over three years old when she was struck on Wilson-Pinetops highway (now known as N.C. Highway 42) by a driver on the wrong side of the road. She lingered for two days at Mercy Hospital before succumbing to a brain injury.
I have not been able to determine if the driver, Mrs. J.J. Taylor, was charged.
——
In the 1940 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Willie Williams, 30; wife Lucy, 22; and daughters Maggie L., 4, and Bessie M., infant.
Goldsboro News-Argus, 20 October 1931.
Death certificates reveal that John Howard and Ardelia Whitley Howard‘s children Rosevelt Howard, born 8 March 1928, and Mary Ida Howard, born 8 February 1931, died in the fire. Ardelia Howard was pregnant when she rushed into the house to try to save her children. She gave birth the following February 8 to Martha Lee Howard. Tragically, that child died in September 1933 of colitis.
——
In the 1930 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: farm laborer John Howard, 25; wife Ardelia, 20; and sons Herman, 3, and Rosavelt, 1.
Wilson Daily Times, 26 April 1937.
——
When 17 month-old John Jones Jr. died of malaria and meningitis in 1916, he was buried at “Jones Schoolhouse.”
Jones Schoolhouse? Was there a cemetery at Jones Hill School? Or was this the cemetery for Jones Hill Primitive Baptist Church, which was close by the school?
John Jones’ father William Anderson Jones was the son of Nathan and Joanna Jones and grandson of Joseph and Zilla Locus Jones, and thus a member of the large extended Jones family with roots as free people of color in Nash County. Many are buried in the Jones Hill cemetery, which seems the most likely location for this baby’s grave. (Another of William and Amanda Rowe Jones’ children — William Thomas Jones — was buried in New Vester church cemetery in 1915, as was Amanda Jones after her death in Wake County in 1927.)
Three year-old Isaac Bridges died of kidney disease on 7 April 1895 in Kenton County, Kentucky. Per his death certificate, he was born in Wilson, North Carolina, to Esta Bridges and Andrew Bardon; had lived [in Covington] for one year; lived in Ellison House; and was buried in Linden Grove Cemetery.
Isaac’s mother Esther Bridges died of tuberculosis on 1 July 1895 in Saint Elizabeth Hospital, Covington, Kentucky. Her age was birthplace were unknown; she was a widow; she worked as a domestic; and was buried in Linden Grove.
I’ve spoken of the database I am developing of likely burials in Vick, Odd Fellows, and Rountree Cemeteries. My spreadsheet draws upon death certificates, obituaries, and other sources — most distressingly imprecise. The term “Rountree Cemetery” on these documents may refer to Vick, Odd Fellows, or Rountree. Some documents broadly refer only to burial in Wilson. However, in the absence of official burial records for any of the cemeteries, we make do.
This series honors the men, women, and children who never had grave markers, or whose stones have been lost or stolen or destroyed. Graves believed to be in Vick Cemetery, which the City of Wilson stripped of remaining markers in 1996, will be identified with a Vick Cemetery logo.
Angelet Anderson died 10 March 1945 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 9 March 1945 to Hubert Hamilton and Gianell Anderson; lived at 213 Manchester Street; and was buried in Rountree Cemetery. Alberta Anderson was informant.
The Morning Star (Wilmington, N.C.), 3 June 1876.
——
Wormseed oil, or oil of chenopodrem, was a treatment for intestinal parasites. Described as a “pale yellow liquid with an unpleasant odor and a bitter, burning taste,” wormseed oil worked by paralyzing the worm and was frequently toxic.
On 4 August 1931, siblings Mary and Willie Mincey were struck by lightning and killed instantly in Wilson.
Willie Mincey’s death certificate is identical to his sister’s except for his name and age — 7. I have found no details of their deaths in available local newspapers.
——
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 507 Stantonsburg Street, James Mincey, 26, fertilizer plant laborer; wife Lucinda, 22, tobacco factory stemmer; and children Mary N., 8, Willie, 7, and James Jr., 6.
Wilson Daily Times, 9 March 1948.
Wilson Daily Times, 10 March 1948.
Alfonzo Ruffin died 7 March 1948 at Mercy Hospital. Per his death certificate, he was born 19 February 1942 in Wilson to Joseph Haney and Queenie Ruffin; lived at 409 Young Alley; and was buried in William Chapel Cemetery. Queenie Barnes was informant.