Edmundson

The estate of Wright Edmundson (1861).

Wright Edmondson, who lived on 1800 acres on Toisnot Swamp, was one of the largest slaveholders in Wilson County. Like most wealthy men of his time and place, he died with lengthy lists of both debtors and creditors, and the probate of his estate was considerably complicated by his failure to make a will and his many gifts to his children of slaves and other property a decade or so before he died on Christmas Eve 1860.

This list of “Names of all the slaves of the estate of W. Edmondson at his death except the increase of such as were advanced by him” includes 96 people. The subsets of people indicated by dividing lines represent some of the groups distributed together. Were they groupings random? Did they comprise nuclear families?

The 96 were: Esther, Cassel, Mariah, James, Edmond, Sarah, Lucy, Louis, Isaac, Lucindy, Bil, Silvy, Josh, Charles, Elith, Willis, Arthur, Esther, Rose, Howel, Eliza, Henry, Pheby, and Epsy; Sarah, Frank, Ann, Levy, Isaac, Edny and child, Tom, Jesse, Liza, Byrum, Peggy, Mary, Manuel, Arthur, Lewis, Mary, Jane, Lewis, Ruben, Mary (yellow), Sherard, Gatsy, Elias, Jason, Burt, Riley, Margaret, Nancy, Anica, Laura, Sampson, Emily, Calvin, Caroline, Julia, Dick, Patrick, Kate, Beck, Allen, Luvinia, London, Henry, Dury, Sarah, Adline, Haywood, Betsey, Lizz, John, Ephraim, Aaron, Gray, Winny, Morrison, Ben, Alsy, Violet, Bob, Hilyard, Ester, Pherby and child, Levi, Mac, Samuel, Arnold, Synthia, Ellen, Fondney, and Claricy.

Rufus W. Edmundson acknowledged that in 1842 he had received three enslaved people from his father along with land, work animals, two carts, and food staples. Curiously, none of the enslaved were named. Rather, they were “1 Negro Fellow likely age about 21 years …,” “1 [Negroe] Woman” about 18 years old, and “1 [Negroe] Boye” about 12.

Redmond S. Petway acknowledged receipt, on behalf of his wife Elizabeth Jane Edmundson, of Easter, Edmon, Jim, Cassel, and Mariah in December 1843 and March 1844.

Garry Edmundson confirmed that in 1843 his “Pa” had given him Bill, age 23 (but a “boy”); Silvy, age 26 (but a “girl”); Josh, age 10; Charles, age 7; and Elitha, an infant. He took the opportunity to grade Bill as medium quality; Silvy and Josh as inferior; and the youngest children as “likely,” i.e. strong and healthy.

In 1853, William L. Quarles, on behalf of his wife Caroline Edmundson, had received Rose, about 20, likely; Howell, 8 or 9, likely; Eliza, 8 or 9, ordinary; and Henry, 23 or 24, average. In 1855, he had received Phiby, 8, diseased (“did not recover”), and Epsy, 8, likely.

John F. Sanders (husband of Martha Edmundson) affirmed that in 1848 he had received Lewis; Lucy, 14, Sary, 13, Isaac, 7, and Lucinda, 6 (plus a mule and some cash.) All except Lewis were described as “likely.”

The rest of Edmundson’s children and his widow Susan Edmundson “took charge” of certain slaves before the estate was divided. Zilly Edmundson claimed Mary, Ann, Frank, Manuel, and little Mary. Penelope Edmundson snagged Alcy, Ester, Bob, Arthur, and Violet. Susan W. Edmundson took Cate, Beck, Patrick, Allen, and Luvinia. James P. Edmundson claimed Dury, Allen, Lun, Tom, and Lear. Their mother took Sherard, Gatsey, Jason, Sampson, Elias, Burt, Riley, Aniky and child Laura, Nancy, and Margaret.

Finally, the remaining unclaimed enslaved people were divided — “Drawn for by all children after setting apart certain slaves for equalizing advancements and certain slaves taken charge of by the widow.”

James Edmundson received Henry, Sarah, and Haywood, valued at $1800. Rufus Edmundson received Lizzie, Gray, Winny, Ann, and Betsey valued at $1675. John F. Saunders received Reuben, Cintha, Ellen, Fonzy, and Claricy, valued at $1850. Redmond S. Petway received Isaac, Edny, Eliza, Jesse, and Byron, valued at $1950. William L. Quarles received Calvin, Caroline, and Julia Ann, valued at $2150. Zillah Edmundson received Mary, Jane, Lewis, and Arnold, valued at $1500. Penelope Edmundson received Levi, Feriby, Mac, and Sam, valued at $1800. Susan Edmundson received Ephraim and Emily and her child, valued at $1900. Garry Edmundson received Ben, Sarah and her child, and Hilliard, valued at $1950.

The only black person who received anything of value among the multitude of transactions needed to resolve Edmundson’s estate was Sherrod, a “servant,” i.e. enslaved man. Sherrod filed a claim against the estate, asserting that Edmundson owed him nine dollars. As an enslaved person, Sherrod was incapable of entering into a binding contract, but Rufus W. Edmundson paid him nonetheless. On Christmas Day 1861.

We recognize several of the people distributed among Wright Edmundson’s wife and children as people he obtained in a controversial series of transactions with Abner Eason circa 1830: Sampson, born about 1811; Nancy (1806) and her daughter Phereby (1825); London (1827), Henry, and Sherrod. Edmundson also owned Nancy’s later-born children Alfred, Rose, Calvin, Nanna, Ann, and Howell, and Phereby’s daughter Lucinda.

Relatively few freedpeople in Wilson County adopted the surname Edmundson after Emancipation, and it is difficult to trace forward more than a handful of the men, women, and children Wright Edmundson held.

These couples registered cohabitations with Wilson County justices of the peace in 1866: Benjamin Edmundson* and Alsa Edmundson*, 12 years; Ephraim Edmundson* and Gatsey Rodgers, 3 years; John Edmundson* and Marie Edmundson, 1 year; Safronia Edmundson and Henry Peacock; Bettie Edmundson and Arthur Barnes, 17 years; Dewey Edmundson* and Solomon Woodard, 4 years; Gatsy Edmundson* and Sherard Ham, 24 years; Kate Edmundson* and Mason Bass, 4 years; Mary Edmundson* and Amos Ellis, 18 years. I have marked with an asterisk those couples that appear to have been held by Wright Edmundson.

The families I have found:

  • Benjamin and Alsa Edmundson and daughter Violet Edmundson Pitt

In the 1870 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, North Carolina: Ben Edmundson, 55, farm laborer; wife Alsa, 39; and Violet, 18. [Alsa and Violet went to Penelope Edmundson, above. Ben went to Garry Edmundson.]

On 24 January 1871, Violet Edmundson married William Pitts in Wayne County.

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street, farmer William Pitts, 34; wife Violet, 25; and children Ailsey, 10, Martha, 5, Hattie, 3; and Laura, 10 months.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Ben Edmonson, 77, drayman; wife Elsy, 71; and boarder [granddaughter] Elsy Pitt, 25, “cooking”.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Violet Pit, 50, washing, and children Martha, 24, washing, Hattie, 22, cooking, Lula, 21, cooking, Ben, 19, tobacco stemmer, Carry, 12, cooking, Rosa, 16, nurse, Meaner, 11, Jenney, 5, and Edward, 2.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: laundress Violett Pitt, 58; daughters Lula, 28, Matha, 34, and Hattie, 30; and grandchildren Mary, 10, Harvey, 8, Frank, 7, Lizzie, 6, Jonie, 18, and William, 9; and daughter Mena, 20.

On 7 November 1915, Ed Battle, 24, of Wilson, son of Allan and Mariah Battle, married Rosa Pitt, 24, of Wilson, daughter of Bill and Viola Pitt, in Wilson. Shade Hines applied for the license, and A.M.E. Zion minister B.P. Coward performed the ceremony in the presence of Frank Barnes, Leonard Kornegay, and B[illegible] Edmundson.

Rosa Pitt Battle died 26 December 1919 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 2 January 1884 in Wilson County, N.C, to William Pitt and Violet Edmundson; was married to Eddie Battle; and lived at 804 Vance. Mena Pitt was informant.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 804 Vance, widow Violet Pitt, 70, and daughters Elise, 45, Lula, 39, Mena, 29, and Elizabeth, 16.

Elsie Pitt died 19 June 1938 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born in 1875 in Wilson to William Pitt of Nash County and Violet Emerson [Edmundson] of Wilson County; was single; lived at 903 East Vance; and was buried in Wilson [probably in Vick Cemetery, but possibly the newly opened Rest Haven.] Ximena Martinez was informant.

  • Ephraim Edmundson

In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Ephram Edmundson, 25, farm laborer; wife Gatsey, 23; and children Mary, 6, and Buck, 4.

In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Gatsey Edmundson, 35; children Buck, 14, Mattie, 12, Louise, 10, Jorden, 8, and Marcellus, 1; and Waity Barnes, 18.

On 4 February 1890, Ephram Edmundson, 45, married Harriet Ruffin, 20, in Wayne County, N.C.

In the 1900 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, N.C.: farmer Lewis Artice, 49; wife Mattie, 46; children Loney, 21, Arthur, 18, Ida, 17, Andrew J., 14, Minnie, 11, Floyd, 8, and Ivey, 26; boarder Ephram Edmundson, 60, widower; and mother-in-law Sarah Evans, 70, widow.

In the 1910 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, N.C.: Ephram Edmundson, 60, and daughters Sarah, 19, Sallie, 16, and Merdy, 1.

Sallie Mayo died 15 January 1943 in Nahunta township, Wayne County. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 April 1894 in Wayne County to Ephrim Edmundson and Harrett Ruffins; was single; and was buried in Lanes cemetery, Stantonsburg.

  • Drury Edmundson Woodard Randall

On 3 April 1866, Solomon Woodard and Dewey Edmundson registered their four-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace.

In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Solomon Woodard, 30, farmer; wife Dewry, 25; and Mary, 3.

Solomon Woodard died early in 1878, and Drury Woodard relinquished administration of his estate to James S. Woodard.

On 25 December 1879, George Randal, 23, married Dury Woodard, 33, in Wilson County.

In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer George Randal, 23; wife Drewry, 34; and stepdaughter Mary, 14.

  • Kate Edmundson Bass

On 12 May 1866, Mason Bass and Kate Edmundson registered their four-year marriage with a Wilson County justice of the peace.

In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Mason Bass, 32; wife Katy, 33; children Spicy, 7, Bettie, 6, Riley, 1, and Nathaniel, 2 months; Mary, 53, Eliza, 28, and Sarah Bass, 16; and Ruffin Barnes, 18.

In the 1880 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Mason Bass, 43; wife Kate, 45; and children Isicy, 17, Bettie, 16, Amanuel, 2, and Mattie, 10 months.

In the 1900 census of Coahoma County, Mississippi: North Carolina-born Mason Bass, 63; wife Katie, 65; children Emanuel, 22, and Amelia, 18; and granddaughter Conelus, 1. Next door: Olie Henry, 45; wife Spicie, 37; and their children Amie, 14, William, 5, and Nathan, 3.

  • Mary Edmundson Ellis

Amos Ellis and Mary Edmundson registered their 18-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace on 2 July 1866.

In the 1870 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: next door to Isom and Patience Ellis, farm laborer Amos P. Ellis, 47; wife Mary 40; and children Adeline, 23, Authur, 19, Learh, 17, Mary, 15, Jane, 11, and Lewis, 10; plus Authur, 65, and Betsey Barnes, 60.

  • Levi and Phenly [Phereby?] Edmundson and children Allen, Mack, Samuel, and infant

This family went to Penelope Edmundson as a partially intact group, without their oldest children. Son Allen, for example, was placed with Susan Edmundson.

In 1867, Levi Edmundson, son of Dick and Peggy Barnes, married Ferly Edmundson, daughter of Ned Amerson and Nancy Edmundson, in Wilson County. [Nancy and her daughter Phenly/Pherly/Phereby came to Wright Edmundson from Abner Eason. Phenly had a daughter Lucinda, and Nancy’s additional children included Alfred, Rose, Calvin, Nanna, Ann, and Howell.]

In the 1870 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Levi Edmondson, 55; wife Phenly, 47; and children Mack, 16, Samuel, 13, Milly, 10, Cora, 8, and Dock, 5.

In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Pheny Edmundson, 60, and children Mack, 24, Allen, 28, Lumilar, Doctor, 15, and Albert, 10.

On 23 December 1880, Allen Edmundson, 30, son of Levi and Fearby Edmundson, married Vicy Woodard, 29, daughter of Bright Thompson and Bidie Thompson, at Benjamin Woodard‘s residence in Wilson County. D.G.W. Ward performed the ceremony.

On 3 November 1883, Mack Edmundson, 26, married Harrett Newsom, 24, in Stantonsburg, Wilson County,

In the 1900 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County: farmer Mack Edmundson, 44; wife Harriet, 38; and children Levy, 16, Annah, 13, Mack, 9, Arthur, 7, Cora, 5, and Albert, 3.

On 26 February 1907, Mack Edmundson, 50, son of Levi and P[illegible] Edmundson, married Fannie Wooten, 40, daughter of Irvin and Bedie Exum, in Wayne County.

In the 1910 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County: farmer Mack Edmundson, 54; wife Fannie, 44; and children Mack, 19, Arthur, 16, Cora, 15, Albert, 13, and Almeter, 11.

On 17 February 1915, Mack Edmondson, 22, of Wayne County, son of Mack Edmondson and Harriet [no maiden name], married Pearline Taylor, 19, of Black Creek, daughter of Arnold and Alice Taylor, at Arnold Taylor’s in Black Creek, Wilson County. Walter H. Artis, John H. Artis, and Edward Artis were witnesses.

Cora Artis died 16 October 1936 in Nahunta, Wayne County. Per his death certificate, she was born 1894 in Wayne County to Mack and Harriet Edmundson and was married to Walter Artis.

Mack Edmundson died 6 May 1961 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Per his death certificate, he was born 5 May 1891 in North Carolina to Mack Edmundson and was married to Pauline Edmundson.

Almeter Edmundson Dickerson died 2 August 1975 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 20 February 1902 to Mack Edmundson and Ferbie(?) Edmundson; was married to Fred Dickerson; and resided at 308 Finch Street.

Estate File of Wright Edmundson, Wilson County, N.C., U.S. Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998, http://www.ancestry.com.

Edmundson claims ownership.

“Underwritten by a ‘We the People’ grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, The Race and Slavery Petitions Project was a cooperative venture between the Dr. Loren Schweninger’s Race and Slavery Petitions Project and the Electronic Resources and Information Technology Department of University Libraries at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The Project offers a searchable database of detailed personal information about slaves, slaveholders, and free people of color. Designed as a tool for scholars, historians, teachers, students, genealogists, and interested citizens, the site provides access to information gathered and analyzed over an eighteen-year period from petitions to southern legislatures and country courts filed between 1775 and 1867 in the fifteen slaveholding states in the United States and the District of Columbia.

“The Race and Slavery Petitions Project contains detailed information on about 150,000 individuals, including slaves, free people of color, and whites, extracted from 2,975 legislative petitions and 14,512 county court petitions, as well as from a wide range of related documents, including wills, inventories, deeds, bills of sale, depositions, court proceedings, amended petitions, among others. Buried in these documents are the names and other data on roughly 80,000 slaves, 8,000 free people of color, and 62,000 whites, both slave owners and non-slave owners.”

Here’s document set 0686 (Accession #21284312): “Edgecombe County, North Carolina. In February 1830, Abner Eason borrowed $500 from Wright Edmondson,” signing a note for payment. In May 1830, Eason recalls, Edmondson asked him to put a lien on ‘Certain negroes,’ including Sampson, Nancy and her three children Fereby [Phereby], China [Chainy], and London to secure the note, offering him an additional $300 discounted at 20 percent. In early August 1830, Eason recalls, Edmondson told him to give him a ‘right to his negroes & let him have them to work & pay the interest on the money.’ In late August 1830, Eason recalls, Edmondson said that Nancy was afraid that her two children, Henry and Sherrod, would be sold to a speculator, and Edmondson proposed that the boys be exchanged for his slave Milly and he would pay Eason $240, the boys being worth about $500 and Milly $260. To all this Eason agreed. More than a decade later, Eason seeks to pay his debt and retrieve his slaves but Edmondson claims ownership. Eason brings suit.”

I immediately recognized Abner Eason and Wright Edmondson as slaveholding men who lived in the Saratoga-Stantonsburg area and requested a copy of the file. Many thanks to Project Director Richard Cox, who responded quickly with this file and a related one. More to come!

State vs. Sidney Edmundson.

In December 1866, someone reported swore to two justices of the peace that Amanda Edmundson, who was unmarried, had given birth to a child. When questioned, Edmundson admitted the birth and named Sidney Edmundson as the child’s father. 

I have found neither in Wilson County records. 

Bastardy Bonds, 1866, Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

Runaway truck kills toddler.

Wilson Daily Times, 19 August 1949.

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Hattie McMillian was only 15 months old when she was struck by John Lee Edmundson‘s truck. The impact fractured her skull, and she died within minutes. Per her death certificate, the little girl was born 6 March 1948 in Wilson to Neil and Mary McMillian; lived at 615 Taylor Street; and was buried in Moses cemetery, Pender County, N.C.

Taylor’s Alley no longer exist. It was a short block running between the railroad and Maury Street in the shadow of a stemmery and cotton oil mills.

Wilson_CSP_6B_12, U.S.D.A. Photograph Collection, State Archives of North Carolina.

Snaps, no. 70: Frances L.J.S. Edmundson.

Frances Jones Smith Edmundson and Katie Hill, undated but probably early 1970s. (Are they standing in front of a school?)
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In the 1870 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County: Lewis Speight, 34; wife Kezzie, 36; and son Bill, 1.

In the 1880 census of Speights Bridge township, Greene County: Lewis Speight, 34; wife Cuzzie, 30; and children Edward, 10, Violet, 8, Annie, 6, and Mirtie, 2.

Jos. J. Jones, 38, and Violet Speight, 22, were married 17 June 1896 in Wilson County. O.L.W. Smith performed the ceremony in the presence of Burt Ellis, Annie E. Speight, and Louisa Washington.

In the 1900 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Joseph Jones, 40, farmer; wife Violet, 27; and children Agnes, 13, and Anna, 12. [The children’s ages appear to be in error and should be 3 and 2.]

On 23 April 1902, Cuzzy Speight filed a widow’s application #765144 for the pension of Lewis Speight, who had served in an unknown unit of the United States Colored Troops.

In the 1910 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Joseph Jones, 55, farmer; wife Violet, 36; and children Agnes, 11, Roscoe, 10, Frances, 6, William H., 4, and Benjamin, 2.

In the 1920 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Joseph J. Jones, 58, tenant farmer; wife Violet, 45; and children Rosco, 19, Frances, 15, William H., 14, Benjamin, 12, and Lizzie Beth, 8; and mother-in-law Cuzzie Ward, 65.

On 29 January 1924, Rosco Jones, 22, of Stantonsburg, son of Joe and Violet Jones, married Lavinia Hagins, 20, daughter of Dave and Almena Hagans, at the home of “Mr. J.J. Jones” in Stantonsburg. A.J. Rhoades, A.M.E. Zion minister, performed the ceremony in the presence of Joe Ward, M.V. Reid and Mena Winstead.

On 3 February 1924, William Jones, 21, of Stantonsburg, son of Joseph and Violet Jones, married Mena Winstead, 18, daughter of Will Hall and Amanda W. Williams, at Mena Winstead’s residence. J.F. Ward, A.M.E. Zion minister, performed the ceremony in the presence of Lavenia Jones, Joe Ward and Alexander Ellis.

Roscoe Jones died 29 July 1928 in Stantonsburg, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 10 June 1900 in Wilson County to Joseph J. Jones of Wilson County and Violet Speight of Greene County, and was a farmer.

Frances Jones, 25, married Robert Speight, 40, on 9 December 1928 in Stantonsburg. A.M.E. Zion minister J.F. Wardperformed the ceremony at the Missionary Baptist church.

In the 1930 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Robert Speight, 48; wife Frances, 26; and son Albert, 4.

In the 1930 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Benjamin Speight, 20; father Lewis, 73; mother Violet, 55; sister Elizabeth, 18; and grandmother Cuzzie Ward, 80, widow.

Violet Jones died 25 January 1931 in Saratoga township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born in 1876; was married to Joseph Jones; was born in Wilson County to Lewis Speights and Cussey Speights; and farmed.

Agnes Beamans died 23 November 1931 in Saratoga township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 35 years old; was born in Wilson County to Joseph Jones and Violet Speights; and was married to Jasper Beaman.

Causey Ward died 13 July 1932 in Saratoga township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 90 years old; was born in Greene County; and was the widow of Lam Ward. [I have not found the marriage license for Cuzzey Speight and Lam Ward.]

On 9 December 1932, Ben Jones, 21, of Saratoga, son of Joseph and Violet Jones, married Irene Speight, 18, of Saratoga, daughter of Marie Speight. C.D. Ward, A.M.E. Zion minister, performed the ceremony at his home in the presence of Ernest Barnes, Elizabeth Jones and Mary Speight.

William Henry Jones died 1 September 1934 in Stantonsburg township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 31 January 1905 in Wilson County to Joseph Jones and Violet Speight; was married to Minnie Jones; worked as a truck driver; and his informant was Benjamin Jones.

Frances Speight, 50, daughter of Joe Jones and Violet Speight, married Hadie Edmundson, 54, son of Rufus Edmundson and Eva Rice Edmundson, on 15 July 1956 in Wilson.

Frances Louise Speight Edmundson died 14 June 1976 in Stantonsburg, Wilson County. Her death certificate lists her birth date as 12 October 1905 [but it was likely 1903]. Her parents were Joseph Jones and Violet Speight Jones of Stantonsburg, Wilson County.

Elizabeth Barnes Turner died 1 June 1992. She was born 1 January 1912 to Joseph Jones and Violet Speight.

Katie Hill was likely Katie Brown Hill, who was born in 1908 to Leroy Brown and Fannie Levester in Greene County and died in Wilson County in 1996.

Many thanks to Tiyatti Speight for sharing this family photograph.

Edmundson and Dew wed.

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Wilson Daily Times, 21 February 1896.

In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: Nelson Barnes, 51, farm laborer; wife Angy, 56; children Margaret, 22, Dred, 20, Thomas, 13, “epilepsy;” Mack, 11, Puss, 9, and Roscoe, 7; and John Edmundson, 24, farm laborer.

On 9 February 1896, Jno, Edmunson, 40, of Black Creek, married Sally Ann Dew, 35, of Black Creek, at justice of the peace O.W. Spivey’s in Wilson.

Corner Line Primitive Baptist Church.

Lois Artis Daniels generously shared several photographs of Corner Line Primitive Baptist Church, a congregation active for about 100 years near the town of Saratoga. Her great-great-grandmother Eva Ellis Edmundson Barnes was the first of many family members who belonged to Corner Line, and was married to its long-time pastor, Reverend Wiley Barnes. Daniels’ great-grandmother Ella Jane Edmundson Smith was also a member, as were her daughters Geneva Smith Anderson (Daniels’ grandmother) and Bessie Smith Barnes.

Corner-Line Primitive Baptist Church sign, 1989.

Exterior of Corner-Line Primitive Baptist Church, 2003.

Interior of Corner-Line Primitive Baptist, 1989.

This photo and write-up of Corner Line appear in Robert C. Bainbridge and Kate Ohno’s Wilson, North Carolina: Historic Buildings Inventory (1980).

“The parent institution of Corner Line Primitive Baptist Church was Bartee Church in Stantonsburg Township. In the early twentieth century Bartee Church was abandoned and Thomas and Victoria Felton gave the land and lumber for the construction of the church. The name of the church was inspired by its location at the junction of three separately owned parcels of land. The first pastor was Elder Sam Brystern [Buston], who served the church until his death in 1930. Wiley Barnes was the church’s second pastor, and his son, Tom Barnes, took charge of the church in 1964 and is the present pastor. The Barnes family has historically been active in church affairs and Ellen, grandmother of the present past0r, was one of the first black members of the White Oak Primitive Baptist Church. The church building, like many other Wilson County country churches, is a one-room rectangular building with a gable roof. The gable end entrance consists of double five-panel doors and the six-over-six windows in the side and rear elevations are protected by board and batten shutters.”

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On 20 December 1899, Rufus Edmundson, 24, son of Green Edmundson and Rancy Edmundson, married Eva Ellis, 25, daughter of Laura Hudson, at “Few In Number Church” in Township #8. [Township 8? Were they married in Edgecombe County? The license was issued in Wilson County.] Primitive Baptist minister N.T. Johnson performed the ceremony; Louis Hagins applied for the license.

In the 1900 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Rufus Edmundson, 28; wife Eva, 26; and children Robert, 2, and Alfred, 2 months.

In the 1910 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: on Ellis Road, farmer Rufus Edmonson, 33; wife Eva, 33; and children Ella J., 7, Hada, 6, Sadie, 4, and “son-in-law” [stepson] Robert, 13.

On 2 January 1918, Crum Smith, 19, of Saratoga, son of Ed and Annie Smith, married Ella Edmundson, 18, daughter of Rufus and Eva Edmundson, on J.B. Eason’s farm in Saratoga. Rufus Edmundson applied for the license, and Sam Bynum, Isaa Bynum and James Bynum witnessed.

In the 1920 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Rufus Edmonson, 45; wife Eva, 46; and children Robert, 20, Haden, 17, and Sadie, 15.

In the 1920 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: Crum Smith, 21, wife Ella, 19, and daughter Eva, 1.

In the 1930 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: Rufus Edmundson, 50, and wife Eva, 32.

In the 1930 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: on Highway 91, farmer Crumble Smith, 31; wife Ella, 30; and children Jeneva, 11, Tommy, 10, Minnie, 7, Mary, 5, Bessie, 4, Moses, 2, and Hattie, 1.

Rufus S. Edmundson died 13 May 1934 in Saratoga township. Per his death certificate, he was born in Greene County, North Carolina, to Green Edmundson; was married to Eva Edmundson; and was a farmer. Wiley Barnes was informant.

Ella Jane Smith died 23 December 1977 in Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 20 August 1903 in Wilson County to Rufus Edmundson and Eva Rice; resided in Stantonsburg; and her informant was Geneva S. Anderson, 1630 Freeman Street Extension, Wilson.

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Mid-century obituaries for two of Corner Line’s members:

2 1 1947.png

Wilson Daily Times, 1 February 1947.

Wilson Daily Times, 24 December 1952.

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Wilson Daily Times, 17 April 1993.

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Corner Line Primitive Baptist Church is now abandoned, but still stands on Speight School Road near its termination at Highway 264 Alternate. This Google Maps image dates to 2012.

 

The obituary of Lillie Mae Barnes Edmundson, age 99.

Lillie Mae Barnes Edmundson was called home to her eternal rest on Thursday [2 May 2013] at the Wilson Assisted Living. Born to the late Ed and Lula Mae Bullock Barnes in Wilson, North Carolina. She was ninety-nine years old.

Funeral service will be held Monday at 11 am at St. James Disciples of Christ Church, 514 Memorial Church Rd., Fremont, NC. The Rev. Tony Sutton will officiate. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Cemetery, Wilson, NC.

A viewing will be held Monday from 9:45 am to 10:45 am at St. James Church. The family will receive friends at 408 Whitehead Ave., Wilson, at all times and will assemble there one hour prior to service in preparation for the funeral procession.

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In the 1920 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Edwin Barnes, 45; wife Lula, 38; and children William, 10, Rosa, 9, Mary, 8, Berley, 7, Frances, 6, Louisa, 1, and James H., 1.

On 6 April 1935, Walter Williams, 22, of Toisnot township, son of Joe and Josephine Williams, married Lillie Frances Barnes, 21, of Toisnot, daughter of Ed and Lula Barnes, in Wilson. Witnesses were Eddie Barnes, Joe Williams and Lula Barnes.

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Obituary online.

Rufus Edmundson plantation.

The Rufus Edmundson House lies just two blocks off Stantonsburg’s main street, but at the very edge of town. Behind it stretch miles of fields and woodland.

“This antebellum house was built circa 1846 for Rufus Edmundson. … The house is similar to the William Barnes and Ward-Applewhite-Thompson Houses (both in Stantonsburg Township) and the Elias Barnes house (Saratoga township). It stands two stories high and the main block is capped with a shallow hipped roof. Unusual heavy dentils ornament the frieze and the three-bay facade was once sheltered by a double-gallery porch supported by square columns. Although the door leading to the second floor porch has been altered, the original trabeated entrance to the first floor is still intact. A single-story, hipped-roof porch with Doric columns replaced the earlier double-gallery porch in the early twentieth century. On the interior the house is divided by a wide central hall with two rooms to either side. Some original woodwork remains intact including a handsomely curved newel post.”  — Kate Ohno, Wilson County’s Architectural Heritage (1981).

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In the 1860 census of Saratoga township [which included Stantonsburg], Wilson County, Rufus Edmundson’s reported wealth comprised $15,000 in real property and $30,600 in personal property. The 1860 slave schedule parses Edmundson’s wealth — the $30,600  mostly took the form of 34 enslaved men, women and children, aged 1 through 38, who inhabited six dwellings on Edmundson’s farm and toiled for him.

The 1870 census was the first post-Emancipation enumeration. Next door to Rufus Edmundson were Margaret and Bailum Hall and their son John, 4 months. (Balaam Hall, son of James Woodard and Liza Hall, had married Margaret Edmundson, daughter of Proncey Edmundson, on 19 July 1870 in Wilson County.) Next to the Halls was a household comprised of members of several families, including Bertha Edmundson, 20, and Winnie, 12, and Gray Edmundson, 14, who were all listed as farmer’s apprentices. Though close proximity and shared surname, as well as indenture as apprenticed labor, do not guarantee that these young people had been enslaved by Rufus Edmundson, these facts are strong evidence.