Eatman

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.

The estate of Arnold Peele (1873).

We read here of half-brothers Jack Williamson and Willis Barnes, who were sons of Toney Eatmon. We now have evidence of another brother of Williamson, Arnold Peele.

Both Arnold Peele and his wife Hannah Eatmon Peele died in 1873.

On 10 July 1873, Jack Williamson renounced his intention to serve as administrator of Arnold Peele’s estate and requested that public administrator Larry D. Farmer serve instead.

The same day, Farmer applied for and was granted letters of administration. By his estimate, Peele’s estate was worth about $200 and his heirs were Jack Williamson, Charity Bynum, (who likely was his sister), and Joseph Farmer, executor of the estate of Hannah Peele. (Arnold Peele had no known living children, and the omission of Willis Barnes as an heir suggests that Peel and Williamson were maternal siblings.)

Receipt from L.D. Farmer to Isabell Eatman for “attending to stock &c of Arnold Peel,” dated 30 July 1873.

On 30 July 1873, L.D. Farmer offered Arnold Peele’s personal property for sale at auction. Isabella Eatmon, who may have been his stepdaughter, bid most often, winning numerous small household items. Among the neighbors who forked over small sums for various goods were John Kates [Cates], Sam Locust, Jack Williamson, Jacob Jones, and Orren Taborn. The entire sale netted only $215.55.

Hannah Peele died with a will, but I have not found a copy. Isabelle Eatmon, who presumably was her daughter, was her sole legatee and was paid out on 22 December 1873. (Hannah Eatmon Peele also had a son, Benjamin Eatmon, who seems to have predeceased her.)

On 26 September 1876, Sampson Bailey of Monticello, Arkansas, filed acknowledgement of receipt of the payout made to his wife, Charity “Cherry” Bailey.

——

On 23 August 1866, Arnold Peel married Hannah Eatmond in Wilson County.

On 11 December 1868, Benjamin Eatman, son of Benjamin Winbun and Hanna Eatman, married Dina Locus, daughter of Gains and Zina Locus, in Wilson County.

In the 1870 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: Arnand Peel, 39, farm laborer; wife Hannah, 40; and Hannah Jr., 14.

The estate of Theophilus Eatmon (1851).

Eatmons (also “Eatman”) settled in what is now the Rock Ridge area of Wilson County by the mid-1700s. They are thought to descend from brothers John and Thomas Eatmon, but exact relationships between various Eatmon lines, which often intermarried, are murky.

This post is the second in a series featuring documents from Eatmon/Eatman family estate files. [Sidenote: Evidence suggests Theophilus Eatmon was my great-great-great-great-grandfather via a son, Toney Eatmon, he fathered with an unknown free woman of color. Unsurprisingly, Toney did not inherit from him.]

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On 4 October 1848, Theophilus Eatmon drafted a will that, among other things, distributed his enslaved property:

  • to wife Beedy Eatmon, a woman named Fan
  • to daughter Nicy Eatmon, Vilet and Elisa
  • to daughter Charity Dalton, Betty and Rachel
  • to daughter Elisha Eatmon, Jack, Leace, and Pink
  • to daughter Tempy Eatmon, Marge and Belford
  • to son Marshel Eatmon, Atsey

On 25 May 1849, Eatmon executed a codicil: Betty was to go his granddaughter Caroline Boykin, wife of Willie Boykin.

Theophilus Eatmon died in 1851 in what is now western Wilson County. As was customary, the community of enslaved people living on his farm were dispersed among family and neighbors under hire agreements. As the March 1851 account of hire of slaves below shows, Eatmon enslaved more than the eleven people named in his will; those unnamed, including Bob, Reuben, Willis, Anaca and her children, and Mary and her children, were to be sold. The estate file does not contain records of such sales, however.

The estate did not settle smoothly. A lawsuit by Theophilus’ granddaughter Aquilla Eatmon triggered a countersuit by Eatmon’s executor Absalom B. Baines against Aquilla and a neighbor named Hardy W. Boykin. Per depositions given by Boykin and Aquilla, Aquilla and her cousin Caroline Eatmon had cared for their grandfather in his old age. In 1844, Theophilus, who was illiterate, called Boykin to his house to write up two promissory notes. Though he had promised the girls “a negro each,” he decided to give them $400 instead, which “would buy a tolerable good one” or even “a pretty good one” once the amount accrued some interest. Believing they would be upset, Theophilus wanted to keep these gifts secret from his children. With some misgivings, Boykin drafted the documents and gave them to Caroline’s mother Charity Dalton for safekeeping. (Boykin was anxious not to antagonize the Eatmon children, but generally did Theophilus’ bidding. He described the old man as a competent farmer who owned more than 20 slaves and 2000 acres and only occasionally drank to excess.) A few years later, upset about Caroline’s choice of husband, Theophilus sought to pull the notes back. Caroline snatched her note, put in her bosom, and declared she had been promised a negro and did not think she ought to give it up. Aquilla also refused to return her note. Theophilus settled with Caroline per the terms of his 1849 codicil, but left nothing for Aquilla and never paid her note.

——

In the 1850 slave schedule of Nash County, Theophilus Eatmon claimed 19 enslaved people: women aged 45 [Fanny?], 35, 24, 21, and 20; girls aged 15, 12, 11, 10, 8, 6, and one month; men aged 25 and 19 [Robert?]; and boys aged 15 [Jack?], 11, 10 [Willis?], 7 [Joseph?], and 5. The imbalance in the numbers of men and women suggests relationships off-plantation for most.

I have found relatively little evidence of the post-emancipation lives of Theophilus Eatmon’s enslaved community.

  • Jack

Jack Williamson was a son of Toney Eatmon. Born about 1835, his mother was Hester Williamson. Was he the Jack listed above? Likely not, as evidence established that Jack was owned by Thomas Williamson, then Thomas’ son Garry Williamson.

  • Bob

On 29 August 1866, Robert Eatmon and Viney Eatmon registered their seven-year cohabitation with a Nash County justice of the peace.

In the 1870 census of Chesterfield township, Nash County: farmer Robt. Eatmon, 38; wife Vinah, 35; Turner Eatmon, 65; Lannie [Fannie] Eatmon, 60; Willis, 30, Joseph, 18, Henry A., 10, Reuben, 6, and Mahala Eatmon, 3.

In the 1880 census of Bailey township, Nash County: farmer Robt. Eatmon, 52; wife Viny, 38; father Crawford Eatmon, 71; mother Fanny Eatmon, 82; nephew Rubin, 15, and niece Hellen, 13. [It does not appear that Crawford Eatmon, who may be the same person as Turner above, was enslaved by Theophilus.]

In the 1900 census of Bailey township, Nash County: farmer Robert Eatmon, 67; wife Vinie, 50; and niece Lizzie, 14.

  • Reuben
  • Belford
  • Ga[illegible] L[illegible]
  • Atsey
  • Rachel and child
  • Mary and child
  • Vilet and Lisa

In 1860, Theophilus Eatmon’s daughter Elisha Eatmon (also referred to in records as Selitia or Delitia) was accused harboring an enslaved girl named Violet who had run away from Berkley Cone. Is this the same Violet?

Or: in the 1880 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: farmer Lewis Freeman, about 55; wife Katy, about 25; and Violet Eatman, about 78.

  • Willis

(My great-great-grandfather ) Willis Barnes, born about 1841, was also a son of Toney Eatmon. Is this him? Probably not. Though about the same age, my Willis was a married man with several children by 1870, unlike Willis Eatmon.

In the 1870 census of Chesterfield township, Nash County: farmer Robt. Eatmon, 38; wife Vinah, 35; Turner Eatmon, 65; Lannie [Fannie] Eatmon, 60; Willis, 30, Joseph, 18, Henry A., 10, Reuben, 6, and Mahala Eatmon, 3.

  • Betty
  • Anaca and three children
  • Fanny and child Marge

Fanny Eatmon had at least two children, Robert, born about 1832, and Margie Ann, birth year unknown. Robert reared Margie Ann’s children Reuben, born about 1863, and Mahala/Helen, born about 1867. Henry Eatmon also may have been Margie’s son.

In the 1870 census of Chesterfield township, Nash County: farmer Robt. Eatmon, 38; wife Vinah, 35; Turner Eatmon, 65; Lannie [Fannie] Eatmon, 60; Willis, 30, Joseph, 18, Henry A., 10, Reuben, 6, and Mahala Eatmon, 3.

In the 1880 census of Bailey township, Nash County: farmer Robt. Eatmon, 52; wife Viny, 38; father Crawford Eatmon, 71; mother Fanny Eatmon, 82; nephew Rubin, 15, and niece Hellen, 13.

On 30 November 1884, George Smith, 22, of Wake County, son of Lucy Smith (now Debnam), married Ellen [sic] Eatman, 17, of Wake County, daughter of Margia Ann Eatman (now [illegible]), in Marks Creek, Wake County. Robert Eatmon, Helen’s uncle, gave permission for the ceremony.

In addition to their blood relationship, Helen Eatmon had been bound as an apprentice to her uncle Robert Eatmon.

Reuben Eatman died in Bailey township, Nash County, on 4 June 1922. Per his death certificate, he was 57 years old; his mother was Margie Eatman; he was married; and he worked as a farmer. He was buried in Wilson County. Frank Eatman was informant.

Estate File of Theophilus Eatmon (1851), Nash County, North Carolina Estate Files 1663-1979, http://www.familysearch.org; North Carolina, U.S. Marriage Records 1741-2011, http://www.ancestry.com.

Barnes marriages and deaths.

In August 1866, Willis Barnes and Cherry Battle registered their six-year marriage with a Wilson County justice of the peace. Willis likely had been enslaved by Joshua Barnes of Wilson County. Cherry had been enslaved by Alexander Eatmon of Nash County, then sold in 1860 to Margaret H. Battle of Wilson County.

The couple had at least nine children, most of whom lived to adulthood. An examination of the children’s marriage license applications and birth certificates reveals the varied and sometimes conflicting ways personal information, especially names, were recorded in official records.

  • Rachel Barnes Taylor

On 21 Sep 1882, H.G. Whitehead applied for a marriage license for Mike Taylor of Wilson, aged 20, colored, son of John Taylor and unknown mother, both living, and Rachel Barnes of Wilson, age 19, colored, parents unknown, father dead, mother’s status not given. Whitehead was a wealthy white farmer for whom Taylor likely worked, and his utter lack of familiarity with the couple’s families (and disinterest in correcting the lack) is reflected in the bad information he provided. Mike Taylor’s father’s name was Green Taylor, not John, and his mother was Phereby Taylor. (It makes no sense Mike’s mother was described as living, but unknown.) Whitehead knew nothing at all about Rachel’s parents and described her “unknown” father as dead (Willis Barnes lived until 1914), and her mother as a complete cipher, though Cherry Barnes was alive into the 1890s.

On the same day, Louis Croom, Baptist minister, married Taylor and Barnes in Wilson in the presence of W.T. Battle and Edman Pool. [Was W.T. Battle related to Rachel?  Was he the W. Turner Battle who married Louvina Knight in Wilson on 24 May 1875? A man named Turner was among the enslaved people Margaret H. Battle received from her father Weeks Parker’s estate. Edmund Pool, of course, was the legendary founder of the Red Hot Hose & Reel Company.]

Rachel Barnes Taylor died 2 October 1925 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, her parents were Willis Barnes and Cherry Barnes.

  • Wesley Barnes

Wesley Barnes, called “Sylvester” Barnes on his marriage application, married Ella Mercer on 4 June 1885 in Wilson County. His parents’ names are not listed.

Wesley Barnes died 20 January 1919 in Wilson township. His death certificate lists his parents as Willis Barnes and Cherry Eatmon.

  • Jesse Barnes

Jesse Barnes, 21, son of Willis Barnes and Cherry Barnes, married Mary Mag Mercer on 3 April 1889 in Wilson. Mercer was the sister of Jesse’s brother Wesley’s wife Ella Mercer Barnes. The official witnesses to the marriage were Jesse’s brothers Wesley and Ned Barnes.

Jesse Barnes died 25 January 1916 in Wilson. His death certificate lists his parents as Willis Barnes and Cherry Barnes.

  • Ned Barnes

Ned Barnes appeared in the 1880 census and on his marriage license as “Edward,” but by 1900 he is invariably referred to as “Ned,” the name he passed on to his son. On 29 October 1891, he and Louisa Gay were married in Wilson. Their marriage record does not list their parents’ names.

Ned Barnes died 1 December 1912 in Raleigh, Wake County, N.C. His death certificate lists his father as Willis Barnes and his mother as unknown. His wife Louisa surely knew her mother-in-law’s name, but their daughter Mattie Barnes was informant, and she apparently did not.

  • Mary Barnes Barnes Jones

Mary Barnes, 18, daughter of Willis Barnes and Cherry Barnes, married Pearce Barnes, 26, son of Robert and Hannah Barnes, on 14 September 1893 at “Gen. [Joshua] Barnes Plantation” in Wilson County.

Mary Barnes and Henry Jones, both 41, were married in Wilson on 24 December 1917. Almost exactly two years later, Mary Jones was dead. Her death certificate lists her parents as Willis Barnes and Cherry Battle. Her sister Rachel Taylor was informant.

  • William “Willie” Barnes

Willie Barnes married Hattie Best on 31 December 1902 at Hattie’s father Orren Best’s house in Grabneck, Wilson. Per their marriage license, Willie Barnes was the son of Willis Barnes and Cherry Barnes; his brother Jesse Barnes applied for the license.

Witness Charles B. Gay was the brother-in-law of Willie’s brother Ned Barnes.

  • Cintha Barnes Perry

Sentha Barnes married Henry S. Perry on 14 September 1899 in Wilson. Their marriage license lists her father, Willis Barnes, but applicant F.A. Fenderson described her mother as unknown. This marriage was reported in the Wilson Daily Times.

Cintha Perry died about 1909.

  • Edgar Barnes

Edgar Barnes, 21, of Wilson, son of Willis Barnes and Cherry Barnes, married Mary Hill, 19, daughter of Joe Hill and Anna Hill, at Saint John A.M.E. Zion in Wilson on 4 October 1909.

On 24 September 1921, Edgar Barnes, 27, of Greenville, son of Willis Barnes and Cherry Barnes, married Delia Hawkins, 22, daughter of Will Hawkins and Ella Hawkins, in Greenville, Pitt County.

Edgar Barnes died 6 April 1940 at the Veterans Hospital in Kecoughtan, Elizabeth City County, Virginia. His death certificate lists his parents as Willis Barnes and Cherry Eatman, both of Wilson County.

Connecting dots.

I’ve been at this a long time, folks. And sometimes it takes a long time to make the dots connect.

In 1986, renowned local historian Hugh B. Johnston Jr. told me he believed (1) Willis Barnes had been enslaved by Joshua Barnes (or some of “that set” north of Toisnot Swamp; (2) he was “suspicious” of Toney and Annie Eatmon as Willis Barnes’ parents; and (3) Cherry Battle Barnes “no doubt” had been enslaved by Amos J. Battle and lived on a farm owned by Battle’s wife.

This week, I made the connection that supports (3). In 1860, as a result of litigation arising from the settlement of the estate of Weeks Parker, a wealthy Edgecombe County planter, a trustee purchased from Alexander Eatmon an enslaved young woman named Cherry, who joined a group of enslaved people bequeathed to Parker’s daughter Margaret H. Parker Battle — Amos J. Battle’s wife. I found the bill of sale in deed books at the Wilson County courthouse.

The jury’s still out on (1), as the only evidence I have at this point is the proximity of Willis Barnes’ household (#180) to Joshua Barnes’ (#188) in the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County. As to (2), I have discussed freeborn Toney Eatmon elsewhere, and the strong DNA links I have to descendants of both Theophilus Eatmon, his putative father, and Nelson Eatmon, his putative brother. Annie was an enslaved woman who apparently died before 1870 and about whom I have no additional information.

Bill of sale for Syphax, Jim, Mose, and Cherry.

Deed book 1, pages 612, Wilson County Register of Deeds, Wilson, North Carolina.

Whereas at the Spring Term A.D. 1860 of the court of Equity for Wilson County NC a decree was made in the suit of Sabra Parker & others to the Court confirming the sale of Slaves Syphax Jim & Mose & ordering James W. Davis as trustee of the plaintiff another slave in the stead & whereas the said James W. Davis by & with the consent of the plaintiff has contracted with Alexander Eatman for the purchase of a slave by the name of Cherry as a substitute which bargain & purchase has been approved & confirmed by the said court of Equity Now therefore the said Alexander Eatman for & in consideration of the sum of twelve hundred Dollars in hand paid the receipt of which by the said Eatman is this day acknowledges has bargained sold & conveyed & by these presents doth bargain sell & convey unto the said James W. Davis trustee as aforesaid slave Cherry to have & to hold according to the decree of the court of Equity aforesaid & the said Alexander Eatman does hereby warrant the title to said Negroe & that she is sound  June 19th 1860  Alexander Eatman {seal}

P.W. Barnes

The Execution of the foregoing Bill of Sale is proven before me by P.W. Barnes the subscribing witness thereto August 14th 1860    T.E. Davis Clerk of Wilson Court

Record for Registration August 14th 1860  A.J. Brown Regr

——

Some context for this transaction is provided in this post and post, but it is difficult to fully understand what is happening here. Edgecombe County planter Weeks Parker died in January 1844, leaving a widow, Sabra Hearn Parker, and three children, Margaret H. Parker Battle, Simmons B. Parker, and Henrietta Parker Battle. (Another son, Dr. John H. Parker, who had migrated to Florida, died while his father’s estate was in probate. Syphax, Jim, and Moses were among the 30 enslaved people Weeks Parker bequeathed to Margaret Battle, wife of Amos Johnston Battle. The Parker heirs fought amongst themselves and with the estate’s administrators over the handling of the estate, and Emancipation eventually intervened to prevent a final distribution of all of Weeks Parker’s immense wealth. In the meantime, there were partial distributions here and there, as well as sales of unsatisfactory slaves and purchases of replacements. That appears to be what happened in this situation, though it’s not clear who Cherry replaced. 

What I am fairly certain of, however, is that Cherry was my great-great-grandmother.

In 1986, I wrote legendary local Hugh B. Johnston Jr. for help tracing my enslaved ancestors, Willis Barnes and Cherry Battle, who registered their six-year cohabitation in Wilson County in 1866. Johnston wrote back promptly, opining that Cherry had been “a slave belonging to the noted Reverend Amos Johnston Battle of Wilson, whose wife owned a small farm north of Wilson not far from the [Joshua] Barnes plantation.” [More about this letter later.]

Willis and Cherry Battle went on to have at least nine children, whose marriage licenses and death certificates list their mother’s maiden name as Cherry Battle, but just as often name her as Cherry Eatmon. 

In 1860, Alexander Eatmon, a Nash County farmer, sold 18 year-old Cherry to a trustee, who passed her on to Margaret H. Battle. The young woman went to live at Walnut Hill, Battle’s farm just north of Wilson. Shortly after, Cherry married Willis, who is believed to have been enslaved on Joshua Barnes‘ neighboring plantation. Their eldest child, Rachel Barnes Taylor, was my great-grandmother.

Studio shots, no. 206: Bessie Eatmon Howard.

Bessie Eatmon Howard  (1898-1971).

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In the 1900 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: farm laborer Henry Eatmon, 25; wife Mahala A., 21; and daughter Bessie, 1.

In the 1910 census of Oldfields township, Wilson County: farmer Henry Eatmon, 35; wife Hally A., 35; children Bessie, 12, Wade, 7, and Mack, 2; and hired man Willie Durden, 17.

On 14 November 1919, Willie Howard, 22, of Nash County, N.C., married Bessie Eatmon, 20, of Nash County, in Taylor township, Wilson County. Duncan Eatmon was a witness.

In the 1920 census of Jackson township, Nash County: farmer Willie Howard, 22, and wife Bessie, 21.

In the 1930 census of Ferrells township, Nash County: farmer Willie Howard, 34; wife Bessie, 31; and children Vester, 9, Ruby, 8, Exie M., 6, Lee, 5, Roman, 2, and Madeline, 8 months.

In the 1940 census of Ferrells township, Nash County: farmer Willie Howard, 48; wife Bessie, 39; and children Vester, 20, Ruby, 18, Ellabe, 13, Roma, 12, Magaleen, 10, W.H. Jr., 7, Bessie, 6, and Carilene, 3.

In the 1950 census of Ferrells township, Nash County: farmer Willie Howard, 52; wife Bessie, 48; and children Romer, 22, W.H. Jr., 17, Bessie Ann, 14, and Caroline, 12.

Bessie Howard died 20 March 1971 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 11 September 1899 to Hand Eatmon and Hallie [maiden name unknown]; was married to Willie Howard; and lived at Route 2, Middlesex, Nash County.

Photo courtesy of Ancestry.com user howardm49.

The estate of Joel Eatmon (1851).

Eatmons (also “Eatman”) settled in what is now the Rock Ridge area of Wilson County by the mid-1700s. They are thought to descend from brothers John and Thomas Eatmon, but exact relationships between various Eatmon lines, which often intermarried, are murky.

This post is the first in a series featuring documents from Eatmon/Eatman family estate files.

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Joel Eatmon, son of John and Ruth Ruffin Eatmon, was born about 1780 in Nash County, N.C., and died 7 July 1851 in Nash County, N.C. Eatmon’s estate opened shortly after. Pending inventory and distribution of his assets, several of the enslaved people he had held were hired out to neighbors:

“The acount of the higher of the neroes of Joel Eatmans discease highered the 3 of March 1852”

Nathan Williams hired Reddick for a year for $56.50; Cornelius Jordan Sr. hired Sewel for $56.25 and Clary for $37.50; and Alexander Baker hired Haywood for $36.75.

Eatmon’s estate paid Alexander Eatmon $85.00 for “maintainance” of Charity and her four children, and Bertley Well $46.25 to care for Easter and her four children.

On 8 July 1851, the court approved the distribution of Eatmon’s enslaved property. Daughter Sally Eatmon drew Sowell, valued at $800; son Peter Eatmon drew Reddick, valued at $750; son Alexander Eatmon drew Haywood, $675; son-in-law John Eatmon, on behalf of his wife Elizabeth Eatmon Eatmon, drew Clary and Zilla, $912.50; son Amos Eatmon drew Easter, Ben, and Vilet, $837.50; son-in-law Barney B. Person, on behalf of wife Piety Eatmon Person, Charity, Delpha, Hawkins, and Wester, $825; and the heirs of Amy Eatmon Williams, Dolly, Barbary, and Milbry, $900.

——

In the 1850 slave schedule of Nash County, North Carolina, Joel Eatmon reported nine enslaved people — a 52 year-old man, a 41 year-old woman, a 35 year-old woman, a 19 year-old young man, a 14 year-old boy, a 13 year-old girl, a 10 year-old boy, and 5 and 8 year-old girls.

  • Reddick and Charity

In the 1870 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: farmer Redick Eatmon, 40, and wife Charity, 39.

In the 1880 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: farmer Reddic Eatmon, 49; wife Charity, 48; and hireling Casana Wiggins, 14.

Estate File of Joel Eatmon, North Carolina Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998, http://www.ancestry.com.

The Benjamin and Tinner Howard Ellis family.

Benjamin Ellis, Mollie Brantley Howard Brown and Tinner Howard Ellis. Mollie Brown’s first husband, Kenyon Howard, son of Deal and Nancy Blackwell Howard, was Tinner Ellis’ uncle.

“As far back as my husband, Benjamin Ellis, and I can trace our family, it leads us to Wilson County. My great-grandfather Nelson Eatman was born issue-free about the year 1800. Fortunately, from that point on there was no slavery on my side of the family. He had a daughter named Roady who married Deal Howard. From that marriage was born a son, also named Deal Howard who married my mother, Nancy Blackwell. My grandmother on my mother’s side was named Nancy Blackwell. During the early part of the 19th century there were still many Indians in and around the eastern North Carolina region. One tribe known as the Cherokees still have a reservation in western North Carolina. It is through that tribe that I trace my mother’s heritage.

“My husband’s grandfather Hillard Ellis was born here in 1825, on the Roundtree Plantation. His mother and father were Africans who had been brought to America and sold in the slave market to the Roundtree family. Hillard Ellis had a brother named Warren Roundtree who took the slave name, and as a result, many Ellis’ and Roundtree’s are related. Hillard Ellis married Fairiby Roundtree who was also a slave on the Roundtree farm. To that union were born fourteen children — one of which was my husband’s father named Hillard who was born in 1865. Around the turn of the century and for many years thereafter he was one of only two blacksmiths in the Town of Wilson. Hillard married Cora Williams. Cora’s parents were Nellie Locust and Austin Williams. Austin was a slave on the McWilliams farm and Nellie was issue-free. My husband’s Uncle Warren’s son, Henry Ellis was the first black in Wilson County killed while serving his country in the first world war. His name is found in the Wilson County courthouse among those honored for serving their country.

“Both my husband and I are from very large families. I had four sisters and nine brothers and my husband had several brothers and one sister. We were raised as children in Wilson County and went to Howard elementary school. My husband also attended “graded” school in Wilson. We were married in 1921 and from our union were born seven children: Raleigh, Ezamae, Emma Lee, Tiner Mae, Mabel, Beulah and Benjamin. We have twenty-one grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. We still maintain the Ellis cemetery on a piece of land formerly owned by Hillard Ellis, Sr. Also the Ellis Chapel Church off Route 58 was named after Hillard Ellis, Sr., who donated the land to the church around the turn of the century.”

——

  • For more on the Hilliard Ellis family, see here and here.
  • For more on the Nelson Eatmon family, see here.
  • For more on the Zealous “Deal” Howard family, see here.
  • Re the Blackwells:

Asberry Blackwell married Nancy Taylor on 2 October 1845 in Nash County.

In the 1850 census of Nash County: Asberry Blackwell, 25 [listed alone.]

In the 1860 census of Kirby’s district, Wilson County: Asberry Blackwell, 45, turpentine laborer, Nancy, 30, farm laborer, Charity, 14, Drucilla, 9, Albert, 7, Appy, 7, Zilpha, 4, Obedience, 3, and Asberry, 2 months.

On 10 April 1882, Deal Howard, 21, married Nancy Blackwell, 24, in Taylors township, Wilson County.

In the 1900 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: farmer Deal Howard, 38; wife Nancy, 39; and children John, 16, Christian, 14, Oscar, 11, Ettie, 10, Albert, 7, Thomas, 5, Alvin, 3, Herman, 1, and Tiner, 0.

In the 1910 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: on Horne’s Road, farmer Zelius Howard Jr., 49; wife Nancy, 49; and children Albert, 17, Thomas, 15, Alvin, 13, Herman, 11, Tina, 9, Florence, 7, and Ella, 5.

In the 1920 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: Deal Howard, 58; wife Nancy, 60; and Albert, 28, Herman, 22, Tiner, 19, and Florence, 17.

In the 1930 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: Albert Howard, 35, farmer; mother Nancy, 75; and James, 11, and Tommie Howard, 9.

Nancy Howard died 30 June 1931 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 61 years old; was born in Wilson County to Nancy Blackwell and a father unknown to the informant; was married to Deal Howard; lived at Route 2, Wilson; and worked as a laundress. Informant was Thomas Howard, 318 Finch Street, Wilson.

  • Re the Williamses:

Austin Williams, son of Ben and Merica Williams, married Cornelia Taylor, daughter of Isaac Taylor and Lena Locus, on 10 May 1868 in Wilson County.

In the 1870 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: Austen Williams, 34, farm laborer; wife Cornelius, 24; and daughter Cora Lee, 1.

In the 1880 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: Austin Williams, 41, farmer; wife Nobly, 30; and children Cora L., 11, Charley A., 8, Benjamin and Isaac, 4, and Minnie, 8 months.

  • Re Warren Rountree:

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Warren Rountree, 40, farm laborer; wife Sarah, 32; and children Florence, 18, Rhebecca, 17, Mary, 11, Howell, 7, Sallie, 5, Lou, 2, and Warren Jr., 20.

Warren Rountree died in late fall 1871. In November of that year, R.J. Taylor was appointed administrator of his estate.

Text and photo courtesy of History of Wilson County, North Carolina (1985).

Spicie Eatman dies.

Wilson Daily Times, 26 January 1944.

In the 1940 census of Bailey township, Nash County: on Finch Perry Road, farmer James Terrel, 60; wife Della, 58; children Luther, 26, Jessie D., 24, and Millard, 15; grandson Robert, 14; and lodge Spicy Eatmon, 99, an old age pensioner.

Spicie Eatman died in the Wilson County Home and was buried at New Vester. Her death certificate identified her mother as Gracie Flowers.

[Sidenote: I know nothing more about Spicie Eatman. I can say unequivocally, however, that the twenty years she spent enslaved were not the sum total of her long life.]