Edgecombe County NC

The sale of Arthur, Richmond, Celia and her child Winny, and Lydia.

James W. Bridgers died without a will in the spring of 1850 in what was then Edgecombe County. (He and his family lived near Shallingtons Mill, adjacent to James Barnes, David Shallington, and Eli Robbins.) He left a widow, Millicent Freeman Bridgers, and eight children, adults William F. Bridgers, Reddin Bridgers, Thomas Bridgers, and Mary Ann Bridgers Barnes (wife of James W. Bridgers), and minors John Bridgers, Sally Ann Bridgers, Joseph Bridgers, and Edwin Bridgers.

James Barnes (a “miller”) was appointed administrator of the estate. After settlement of all debts, there remained five enslaved people — Arthur, Richmond, Celia, Lydia, and Winny. William F. Bridgers had paid off the purchase of some of the enslaved people. All the children wished to divide the enslaved people equitably, which was not possible without liquidation by sale, which they petitioned a court to approve.

John G. Williams was appointed commissioner to sell the five on six months’ credit with interest from date of sale. On Christmas Eve day, 1852, Williams opened bidding at the Bridgers’ house. Arthur was “nocked off” to Allen May for $701.15. David Williams bought Rich for $687. James W. Barnes bought Celia and her child Winny for $665, and William Thomas was high bidder for Lydia at $307. Thus, a small community, perhaps of kinspeople, was torn four ways.

 

Keeping the Atkinson-Battle-Farmer stories alive.

Kudos to Samuel Joyner, who has published a volume detailing the “who, where, when” of more than seven generations of his Atkinson, Battle, and Farmer lines. These surnames that will be familiar to African-American Wilson County researchers. This 500+ page book is available via Amazon.com.

The last will and testament of Jacob S. Barnes (1857).

On 11 November 1857, Jacob S. Barnes of Edgecombe County (present-day Gardners township in Wilson County) executed a will in which he bequeathed, among other things:

  • to wife Fanny Barnes Debby, Bob, George, William, Silvey, Manda, Sarah, Belcher, Deller, Dolly, Dick, Jo, Willis, Henry, Easter, Mary, and their increase

  • also to wife Fanny, for her lifetime, a negro girl Jane (to go to Jacob Bass after Fanny Barnes’ death)
  • to Julian Bass, for her lifetime, Nancy, Piety, Martha, and John (to go to her children after her death)

North Carolina Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998, http://www.ancestry.com.

The last will and testament of Daniel Land (1851).

In a will dated 29 March 1851, Daniel Land left his wife Martha a life estate in, among items, four enslaved people — Jason, Violet, Boston, and Venus. (Land lived in a section of Edgecombe County that became Wilson County in 1855. Interestingly, in the 1850 census of Edgecombe County, Land, whose occupation was “overseer of the poor,” claimed no slaves.)

Land’s estate was inventoried and sold on 21 December 1857. The administrator made note of the property passed via the terms of his will.

However, his remaining enslaved people were sold on twelve months’ credit: Louis, Mary and her child George, John, Cherry and her child Lonzo, and Caroline.

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  • Jason Land

On 21 August 1866, Jason Land and Caroline Pender registered their four-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace.

  • Venus Armstrong Drake

In late December 1867 or very early January 1868, Thomas Drake, son of Thomas Avent and Lucinda Drake, applied for a marriage in Wilson to marry Venis Armstrong, daughter of Mary Armstrong. The license was not returned.

In the 1880 census of Town of Toisnot, Wilson County: railroad worker Thomas Drake, 34, wife Venus, 28, and children Jane, 9, Isaac, 7, John T., 3, and an unnamed infant, 1 month.

In the 1900 census of Elm City, Toisnot township, Wilson County: on Broad Street, farmer Thomas Drake, 55; wife Virginia [Venus], 46; and children Mattie, 20, cook, Ernest, 15, and Clarence, 11.

In the 1910 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Tom Drake, 65, wife Venus, 62, and  daughter Pearl, 10.

Venus Drake died 5 February 1917 in Elm City, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was about 55 years old; was a midwife; was born in Edgecombe County to Amos Braswell and Mary Braswell; and was buried in [Elm City] “col. cemetery.” Tom Drake was informant.

  • Mary Land Braswell

In 1866, Mary Land and Amos Braswell registered their 14-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace.

In the 1870 census of California township, Pitt County, N.C.: farmhand Amos Braswell, 40; wife Mary, 35; children John, 17, and Polly, 15; and Fereby Bassett, 28.

  • Lewis Land

In the 1870 census of Joyners township, Wilson County: Lewis Land, 30, farm laborer; wife Martha, 29; and Winnie, 10, and Charles, 2.

North Carolina Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998, http://www.ancestry.com.

Affidavits of good behavior, no. 1.

NOTE: I found these documents before my trip to Aberdeen. They, in fact, spurred me to go.

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I’ve been hunting for digitized evidence of the trade of Wilson County slavers like Wyatt Moye, Robert S. Adams, Stephenton Page Jr., and Joshua Barnes in Aberdeen, Mississippi. I finally found some in a deed book dated 1847-1850. (Wilson County, of course, had not yet formed, but these and other traders lived or had lived in parts of Edgecombe, Nash, Wayne, or Johnston Counties that are now Wilson County.) These registered affidavits attest to the affiants’ personal acquaintance with an enslaved person who had been sent from North Carolina to Mississippi for further sale.

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Deed Record 13, page 643. Chancery Clerk’s Office, Monroe County, Mississippi.

Know all men by these presents that we Zadock Peacock and Washington M. Stanton, Citizens and free holders of the State of North Carolina & County of Edgecombe hereby certify we are acquainted a negro woman by the name of Beady that Wyatt Moye sent to Mississippi by Stephenton Page, Junior, that said Slave is about nineteen years of age, very tall black slave, furthermore certify said Slave has never been guilty of convicted of arson Burglary or felony in Said State within our knowledge or belief. Given under our hands & Seals Feby 28th 1849.    /s/ Zadoc Peacock, W.M. Stanton

Deed Record 13, page 644. Chancery Clerk’s Office, Monroe County, Mississippi.

Know all men by these presents that we Josh Barnes and L.D. Farmer, citizens and free holders of the County of Edgecombe & State of North Carolina do hereby certify we are acquainted with negro boy about Seventeen or Eighteen years of age, a very black Slave weighs about one hundred & twenty or thirty pounds said Slave Joshua was sold by Delpha Wiggins to Moye & Adams furthermore that said Slave has not been guilty or convicted of murder arson Burglary or other felony within our knowledge or belief in said State. Signed this 27th day of  Feby 1849.    /s/Joshua Barnes, L.D. Farmer

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  • Zadock Peacock — Zadock Peacock (1790-1852) lived in the Saratoga area. He was a slaveowner, but does not appear to have been a trader.
  • Washington M. Stanton — Washington May Stanton (1808-1854) lived in the Stantonsburg area. He was a committed slaveowner, but does not appear to have been a trader.
  • Wyatt Moye — Moye was a former sheriff of Greene County, N.C.; the North Carolina state legislator who introduced the bill to incorporate the Town of Wilson; and, notoriously, a slave trader and money lender. He seems to have settled in Monroe County, Mississippi, full time shortly around 1850, but spent his last decade between his Aberdeen home and his business concerns in Saint Mary Parish, Louisiana.
  • Stephenton Page Jr. — Page probably lived in the Saratoga area. He is listed in the 1850 census of Edgecombe County as a constable. Page worked as an agent or factor with Moye & Adams, but in 1850 went to court in a dispute with them over their share of proceeds from a slave sale he handled in Mississippi.
  • Joshua Barnes — “Father of Wilson County.” Farmer and state legislator, Barnes was a large-scale slaveowner and was involved in the numerous sales of enslaved people south via the United States’ internal slave trade.
  • L.D. Farmer — Larry Dew Farmer (1818-1887). Farmer appears in the 1850 census of Edgecombe County. By 1860, Farmer lived in the Town  of Wilson and reported to the censustaker that he owned $32,350 in personal property, most in the form of enslaved people.
  • Delpha Wiggins — Delphia Wiggins appears as a 22 year-old in the household of her kinsman Larry D. Farmer in the 1850 census of Edgecombe County. The timing of her sale of Joshua, shortly after her 21st birthday, suggests he represented her share of inheritance from her father Blake H. Wiggins, who died in 1828. She had no use for a teenaged farmhand, and the best prices were down south.
  • Moye & Adams — Wyatt Moye and Robert S. Adams were partners in this slave-selling firm, which was based in Aberdeen, Mississippi.

Documents reproduced at www.familysearch.org.

The obituary of Jarrett Staton.

Norfolk Ledger-Star, 4 March 1915.

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In the 1870 census of Deep Run township, Edgecombe County, North Carolina: farmer Jarrett Staton, 34; wife Penina, 32; and children Henry, 18, William, 15, Louisa, 12, Nancy, 10, Hoyt, 7, and Ida, 4.

In the 1880 census of Deep Run township, Edgecombe County, North Carolina: farmer Jarrett Staton, 42; wife Penina, 32; and children Nancy, 19, Hoyt, 16, Ietta, 14, Jarrett, 9, and Leander, 6.

On 4 January 1899, Jarrett Staton, 60, of Edgecombe County, son of Rena Staton, married Mary Jane Knight, 30, of Edgecombe County, in No. 2 township, Edgecombe County.

On 9 August  1907, Jarrett Staton, 68, of Edgecombe County, married Mary Ellen Alsbrook, 35, of Edgecombe County, in Edgecombe County.

In the 1900 census of Deep Creek township, Edgecombe County: Jarrett Staton, 64; wife Mary J., 38; and grandsons William, 17, and Jarrett Langley, 21.

In the 1910 census of Deep Creek township, Edgecombe County: farmer Jarrett Staton, 70; wife Mary, 37; and children Ida, 18, Pattie, 17, and Carrol, 1.

On 25 January 1915, Jarette Staton, about 80, died in Wilson. Per his death certificate,  he was born in North Carolina, but informant J.Z. Staton could provide little additional information.

On 28 February 1937, Jarrett Z. Staton died in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he resided at 905 Viola Street; was 66 years old; was born in Edgecombe County to Jarrett Staton and Penina Thomas; was divorced; and had worked as a laborer. Informant was [his sister] Nancy Staton Boykin, 812 East Viola Street.

Nancy S. Boykins died 12 December 1946. Per her death certificate, she was 88 years old; was born in Edgecombe County to Jarrett Staton and Pennina [last name unknown]; resided at 812 East Viola; was a retired midwife; and was buried in Rountree cemetery. Nina Pitts of East Vance Street was informant.

Ietta R.M. Reid died 14 February 1951 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 12 August 1867 in Edgecombe County to Jainett [sic] Staton; was a widow; and was a retired teacher. Odessa Reid was informant. [Ietta R.M. Staton married veterinarian Elijah Reid of Wilson.]

 

The sale of Milly (1855).

In June 1855, Stephenton Page Jr. of Wilson County, a slave dealer, conveyed a 19 year-old enslaved woman named Milly in trust to John Norfleet of Edgecombe County for the sole use of Zilla Ann Peel, “free from the control or management of [her husband] Henry W. Peel”. Page warranted that Milly was “sound in every respect, her eyes excepted which are known by both the parties to be defective, the defect being or supposed to be short or near sightedness.” The deed was registered in Edgecombe County in March 1859.

Deed book 27, page 856, Edgecombe County Register of Deeds, Tarboro, N.C.

 

Signal Boost: Freedom Hill, a documentary.

Edgecombe County’s Freedom Organization invites us to watch eastern North Carolina filmmaker Resita Cox‘s award-winning documentary “Freedom Hill: An All-Black Town on the Edge of Climate Change,” which tells the powerful story of Princeville, North Carolina.

Read about links between Wilson and Princeville here.

Signal Boost: Freedom Organization’s cemetery project.

Among its many initiatives, Edgecombe County’s Freedom Organization has been working to restore Princeville’s Wilson Cemetery, the resting place of many of that historic community’s early residents. Many hands make light work, and I share here news of their next Community Conversation. The event falls on the Saturday between Lane Street Project’s two February service days, so you can make all three!

JOIN FREEDOM ORG AT THE NEXT COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
February 15, 2025, 12:00pm – 2:30pm
Princeville Town Hall
201 S. Main Street, Princeville, NC 27886

“Through our Wilson Cemetery Restoration Project, we’re working to restore and preserve sacred community landmarks. By mapping unmarked burial sites and clearing historic spaces, we’re ensuring that these stories remain part of our shared cultural heritage.

“Stay tuned for updates and ways to get involved. Together, we can honor the past and protect it for future generations.”

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For more information about Freedom Org and its work in community economic development, agriculture, and historic and cultural preservation, see http://www.freedomorg.org and follow them on Instagram @freedomorgnc.