domestic violence

Dobson kills wife over skirt.

Wilson Daily Times, 29 May 1928.

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  • Charley Dobson

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Dobson Charles (c) firemn First Natl Bk Bldg h 707 E Vance

On 23 December 1936, Charlie Dobson, 58, of Wilson, son of George and Betsy Dobson, married Sue Ellis, 37, of Wilson, daughter of Robert and Lula Ellis, at the home of A.M.E. Zion minister John A. Barnes in Wilson. John A. Barnes Jr., Frank W. Barnes, and Wade Barnes were witnesses.

Charlie Dobson died 5 October 1953 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 69 years old; was born in Duplin County, N.C., to George Dobson and Bessie Savage; worked in farming; was divorced; and was buried in Duplin County.

  • Hannah Dobson

Hannah Dobson died 26 May 1928 at “Wilson Col. Hospital.” Per her death certificate, she was 26 years old; was born in Onslow County, N.C., to Thomas Rhodes and Sarah E. Lee; was married to Charlie Dobson; and was buried in Shepherds Cemetery, Onslow County. Willie Rhodes of Verona, N.C., was informant.

Did Texas kill his wife?

Wilson Daily Times, 24 November 1911.

That first sentence is difficult to untangle, but my take-away is that Texas Faison of Wilson was believed to have killed his wife (who lived in Richmond, Virginia, but regularly moved between there and Wilson?) in Richmond.

  • Texas Faison — “Texas” was a common nickname in the era, and I suspect it suggested less a place of origin than a certain swagger. I have not found him in local records.

Murder, then suicide in county jail.

Wilson Daily Times, 7 March 1950.

Wilson Daily Times, 9 March 1950.

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In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: street laborer George Bryant, 42; wife Jane, 32; and children George, 14, Walter, 11, Floyd, 7, Luther, 4, Rosa Vell, 2, and Nathaniel, 3 months.

In the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer George Briant, 52; wife Jane, 42; and children Floyd, 17, Luther, 15, Sister, 11, Nathaniel, 9, and Willie, 6.

In the 1930 census of Jackson township, Nash County, N.C.: farmer George Bryant, 61; wife Jane, 51; and children Luther, 24, Nathaniel, 18, and Eugene, 8.

In the 1940 census of Glisson township, Duplin County, N.C.: farm laborer Nathan Bryant, 30, and wife Eula Mae, 25.

Nathaniel Bryant registered for the World War II draft in Duplin County, N.C., in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 4 February 1910 in Wilson County; his contact was wife Eula Mae Bryant, Mount Olive, Duplin County, N.C.; and he worked for farmer Lizzie Herring.

Eula Mae Bryant died 3 March 1950 at her home at 1002 Wainwright Avenue, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 3 December 1913 in Duplin County, N.C., to Rose(?) Everett and Virginia Branch; was married; and worked in farming. The cause of her death: “hemorrhage (massive) due to 5 1/2 inch knife wound to lower left abdomen.”

Nathaniel Bryant died 7 March 1950 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 7 February 1910 in Wilson to George Bryant and Janie Lucas; was a widower; lived at 1002 Wainwright Avenue; worked as a laborer for the City of Wilson; and was buried in Granite Point Cemetery.

Young woman fatally stabbed by ex-boyfriend.

Wilson Daily Times, 25 February 1949.

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  • Charlie Bennette — In 1942, Charlie Bennette registered for the World War II draft in 1942. Per his registration card, he was born 30 May 1903 in New Zion, South Carolina; lived at 113 S. (A.C.L) Railroad Street, Wilson; his contact was Adeline Fleming, New Zion, N.C.; and he worked at Marine Barracks, Jacksonville, N.C. In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 654 Wiggins Street, tobacco factory machine operator Charlie Bennett, 48, widower, and lodger Annie M. Williams, 19, maid.
  • Irene Sethem — Irene Sessoms died 23 February 1949 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 November 1925 in Johnston County, N.C., to Z.S. Sessoms and Louella Williams; lived at 113 Pettigrew Street, Wilson; was not married; and worked as a laborer. She died of hemorrhage and shock after a knife wound to her right carotid artery.

Ben Reid survived; Nolia Reid did not.

Wilson Daily Times, 6 May 1921.

This brief report fails to name Nolia Reid as the murdered woman or to state the first name of the man — her husband — who killed her. He was Ben Reid.

Nolia Reid died 1 May 1921 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 19 years old; was born in Wilson to George Best and Louisa Farmer; worked as a laundress; lived on Nash Street; and was married to Ben Reid. She died of “homicide–stab wound.” Her uncle Thomas Farmer was informant. She was buried in Wilson [likely, Vick Cemetery.]

The notorious John Shallington.

John Shallington was hanged on 12 April 1878 in Greene County, North Carolina, for the murder of his step-daughter Serena (or Lorena) Thompson. According to news accounts, Shallington and Thompson had been in a relationship (consensual?) for two to three years, and he had shot her in a fit of jealousy. Shallington fled and was on the lam for several weeks, pursued by both black and white vigilantes before being arrested in Wilson County.

An “esteemed correspondent,” apparently enthralled with Shallington’s person and exploits, provided breathy details — his ownership during his enslavement in Wilson County; his reputation for violence, craftiness, and superhuman strength; his physical description; his impassiveness at trial. As later reported, Shallington was hanged in front of a crowd of 2000 people in Snow Hill after asking from the gallows to be baptized.

Goldsboro Messenger, 11 April 1878.

Howard shoots and injures three.

Wilson Daily Times, 10 December 1945.

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In the 1910 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: on Howards Path, farmer William Howard, 26; wife Lula A., 26; and children Percy Lee, 3, and Essie May, 11 months.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Atlantic Street, Lucy Howard, 35, and children Parcy, 13, Lizzie, 9, Lola Bell, 8, William, 6, Aurtha P., 4, and Walter L., 3.

In the 1925 New York state census, Percy Howard is listed as a waiter living at Forest Hills Inn, Station Square, Queens. 

On 4 March 1926, Percy Howard and Marie Robinson were married in Wilson.

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Howard Percy (c; Marie) barber E L Artis h 717 E Green. [Ernest L. Artis‘ barbershop was at 517 East Nash Street.]

In the 1930 census of Manhattan, New York, New York, Percy Howard, 23, born in North Carolina, billiard parlor porter, was a lodger at 746 Saint Nicholas.

In the 1940 census of Manhattan, New York, New York, Percy L. Howard, 34, and wife Frances, 28, were lodgers at 119 West 115th Street.

In 1940, Percy Lee Howard registered for the World War II draft in Manhattan, New York, New York. Per his registration card, he was born 16 May 1906 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 119 West 115 Street (also, 267 West 114 Street #1, 267 West 114 Street #3W); his contact was mother Lulu Ennie Howard; and he was self-employed. The registrar noted that Howard’s “left facial muscles paralyzed from stroke.”

Wilson Daily Times, 7 February 1946.

Percy Lee Howard’s obituary was published in the Wilson Daily Times on 19 December 1968. He died in New York City.

J. Barnes burns down family house.

Wilson Daily Times, 1 October 1945.

  • Johnny Barnes
  • Howard Barrett

In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: widower Howard Barrett, 44; children William A., 16 [a daughter], Ines, 14, Beatrice, 12, and Thelma Lee, 10; and grandson Howard, 5.

In the 1950 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: widower Howard Barrett, 53; daughter Willia Barnes, 26; and grandchildren Howard Barrett, 16, and Barbara, 9, Johnnie F., 6, Joseph, 5, and Judy, 4.