Farmer

Update: the estate of Moses Farmer Sr.

When I first examined the estate file of Moses Farmer Sr., who died in 1844, I missed this recitation of names of the people he enslaved — Marina (purchased at his direction), Reuben, London, Luke, Glasgow, Dick, Harry, Thomas, Washington, Greene, Valentine, Rachel, Charity, Caroline, Alice, Nelly, Elva, America, Fortune, big Rose, Chain, Jinny, Ofie, Daniel, Jason, Watson, Drewry, Chain, Venus, little Rose, Sylvia, Maria, Warren, Nan, and [blank.] Per the terms of Farmer’s will, all but “Big Chainny” were to be sold.

——

  • Reuben — Reuben Farmer. In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Reuben Farmer, 68, Nancy, 71, and Luke Farmer, 11.
  • London
  • Luke
  • Glasgow — on 11 August 1866, Glasco Farmer and Clary Farmer registered their 20-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace. In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Glasses Farmer, 49; wife Clara, 36; Morning, 17, Haywood, 18, Rosa, 15, Ferby, 3, and Louisa Farmer, 9 months; and Mae Barnes, 7.
  • Dick
  • Harry
  • Thomas — in 1866, Thomas Farmer and Polly Woodard registered their ten-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace. In the 1870 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Thomas Farmer, 40; wife Mary, 34; and children April, 13, Liberty, 4, and Eliza, 1.
  • Washington — Washington Farmer. His wife Waity Harris and children were enslaved by a different owner.
  • Greene
  • Valentine — Valentine Farmer. Per his daughter Martha Farmer Ruffin, Valentine’s parents were Reuben and Nancy Farmer. His wife Quinnie and children were enslaved by Robert Bynum. Val Farmer and his parents remained within the white Farmer family after Moses Farmer’s death.
  • Rachel — in 1866, Warren Farmer and Rachel Farmer registered their ten-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace.
  • Charity
  • Caroline
  • Olive
  • Nelly — Nellie Farmer. In the 1870 census of Joyners township, Wilson County: Nellie Farmer, 62; Mary, 47; and Joshua, 22. In the 1880 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Nelly Farmer, 75; grandsons George, 20, Drewry, 17, and Berry, 17; and great-granddaughter Martha A. Parker, 8.
  • Elva — in 1866, Hilliard Farmer and Elva Farmer registered their two-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace. In the 1870 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farm laborer Hilliard Farmer, 30; wife Elery, 29; and children Jason, 4, and Adeline, 12.
  • America — possibly, in the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Sydnor Campbell, 48; wife America, 40; York, 16, Thomas, 12, Pennina, 7, Reuben, 5, Nelly, 3, Lawrence, 2, and Nancy, 1; and stepdaughters Maggie Woodard, 12, and R. Rountree, 18. (The death certificates of Lawrence Campbell and Pennina Campbell Williams list their mother’s maiden name as Farmer. Several of America Campbell’s children bear names found in the community enslaved by Moses Farmer, including Thomas, Reuben, Nelly, Nancy, and Elva.)
  • Fortune
  • Big Rose
  • Chain
  • Jinny — in 1866, Jenny Farmer and John Farmer registered their 13-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace.
  • Ofie
  • Daniel
  • Jason — in 1866, Jason Farmer and Candis Gay registered their seven-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace. In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Jason Farmer, 33, farm laborer; wife Candas, 29; and children Florence, 9, Isiah, 6, and George, 4.
  • Watson
  • Drewry
  • Chain
  • Venus — in 1866, Venice Farmer and Arch Barnes registered their  cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace. Perhaps: in the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Rosa Farmer, 35, and children Gray, 16, Turner, 17, Mary, 16, Thomas, 13, Daniel, 12, Leah, 10, Jefferson, 8, Louisa, 10 months, and Anna, 3, plus Arche Barnes, 73, cooper (if so, Venus likely died 1866-1870.)
  • Little Rose — perhaps, in the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Rosa Farmer, 35, and children Gray, 16, Turner, 17, Mary, 16, Thomas, 13, Daniel, 12, Leah, 10, Jefferson, 8, Louisa, 10 months, and Anna, 3, plus Arche Barnes, 73, cooper.
  • Sylvia
  • Maria
  • Warren — in 1866, Warren Farmer and Rachel Farmer registered their ten-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace.
  • Nan — see Reuben, above.

The last will and testament of Jennie Farmer Braswell.

In a will signed 21 May 1907, Jennie Braswell left all her personal and real estate to her sister Venus Farmer.

——

In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: widow Rhoda Farmer, 70; daughter Jennie Braswell, 40, widow; daughter Martha Wooten, 28; grandchildren Howard, 17, Rena, 15, Lulu, 13, Minnie, 7, Walter, 10, and Lily [Wooten?], 20; and Dennis A. Thadis, 33.

Will of Jennie Braswell (1907), North Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998, http://www.ancestry.com.

Johnnie Farmer writes home, no. 1.

Virginia Pou Doughton Papers, housed in the North Carolina State Archives’ Private Collections, contain dozens of letters written by an African-American man named Johnnie Farmer, who had worked as butler and cook for Doughton’s grandparents, Floyd S. and Elizabeth Barnes Davis. (Farmer’s mother, Bettie Farmer, and sister, Emma Farmer, also worked as servants for the Davises.) Farmer, a World War I veteran, had been hospitalized at the Veterans Administration hospital in Kecoughtan, Virginia, apparently for complications from diabetes.

Farmer’s letters make reference to several Davis family members, including Miss Lizzie (Elizabeth B. Davis), Miss Helen (Virginia Doughton’s aunt by marriage, Helen Patterson Davis), Mr. Frank (her uncle, Frank Barnes Davis), and Sammy Pou (Doughton, herself, by a childhood nickname.) Miss Harris was likely Alice Barnes Wright Harriss, who lived next door to the Davises at 701 West Nash Street and was Lizzie B. Davis’ sister.

In this letter to Lizzie Davis, written sometime in 1941, Farmer laments being flat on his back and unable to get around, expresses cautious optimism about the condition of his feet, and asks Davis not to share his update.

Ward 3 Room 363     1941

Miss Lizzie I know theease has bin werren you all to deth and it hasen warred you all half a bad as it has warred you know lenying flalt of you back and cant get up and get around to do nothen for your self it is a hard job to get enny baurdy to do enny thing for yo now; write miss Hellen about my foot now i realy dont wornt you all to write the Doc a boud of corse he haven tould me so but I got infore machen from the nurs and the

she said she did not know theeair was a little life comming back in it and she said as long as you see som kind of life in it ther was some so dont say enny thing to enny baurdy at hom and dont write the doc for if you all d he will come stratt to me and give me the Devel a bout it i gave the Dcoc the blanker [about?] three [??] and there  is not bout one doc on this warrd and thear is a 300 mens he have to look at and i ask him to day and he said he would look after them

Just a soon a he could as warred as I am I haven eve got the blanks to thank [think?] I wont to day againg not to say enny thing about the foot untell you hear from me again tell Mr Flank I got his letter and yours togather will write him when i feal like up tell Miss Harris I am goinge to write hear soon i got enny more to say this time write when ever you feal like got a real long lettler from Sammey Pou sure did enjoy readin it Johnnie Farmer

——

In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer George Farmer, 51; wife Bettie, 46; and children George W., 21, Miner, 19, Aulander, 18, Willie, 17, Johnny, 15, and Emma, 12.

In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: laborer George Farmer, 71; wife Bettie, 62; and children John, 18, and Emma, 16.

George Farmer died 4 April 1918 in Wilson township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was 88 years old; was born in Wilson County to Harry Farmer and Betty Crumley; was married to Betty Farmer; worked as a farmer; and was buried in the Masonic Cemetery. William Farmer was informant.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Bynum Street, widow Bettie Farmer, 56; daughter Emma, 23, cook, and son Johnnie, 25, butler.

Emma Farmer died 12 October 1926 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 28 years old; was born in Wilson County to George Farmer and Betty Crumble; was single; lived at 808 West Broad Street; and worked as a cook for Mrs. Jas. H. Pou. John Farmer was informant, and she was buried in Wilson, N.C. [probably Vick Cemetery.]

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 705 West Nash, owned and valued at $20,000, widow Elizabeth B. Davis, 59; son Frank B., 35; daughter-in-law Hellen P., 34; grandchildren Frank B. Jr., 13, and Hellen P., 4; and servants Jollie [sic], 40, and Bettie Farmer, 72.

Will Farmer died 7 April 1938 in Wilson after an auto accident near Goldsboro, Wayne County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was 51 years old; was born in Wilson County to George farmer and Betty Crummel; was married to Eula Farmer; lived at 903 East Green Street; and worked as a hotel porter. He was buried in Wilson, N.C. [probably Vick Cemetery.]

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 714 Stronach Street, Johnny Farmer, 50, cook, and widowed mother Bettie Farmer, 85.

Arlanda Farmer died 14 March 1940 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 55 years old; was born in Wilson County to George Farmer and Bettie Crumble; was married to Marsha Farmer; worked as a truck driver for Carolina Ice Company; and was a veteran. He was buried in Wilson, N.C. [probably Vick Cemetery.]

Johnie Farmer died 30 March 1944 at the Veterans Administration hospital in Kecoughtan, Elizabeth City County, Virginia. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1893 to George Farmer and Betty Crowell; his usual residence was 714 Stronach Alley, Wilson; and his body was returned to Wilson for burial.

Bettie Cromartie Farmer died 23 July 1945 at her home at 913 Faison Street, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 5 August 1857 in Edgecombe County, N.C.; was widowed; and was buried in the Masonic cemetery.

Johnny Farmer Letters, 1941-1944, Virginia Pou Doughton Family Papers, P.C. 1981.1, Private Collections, State Archives of North Carolina.

Winners of the cotton contest.

The calendar in this photograph dates it to January 1949. It depicts ten men — four African-American — standing in what appears to be the lobby or a wide hallway of an office building. One man is accepting a document, perhaps a check, from another. I don’t have any other context for the image and don’t know the identity of any of the men.

[Update, 25 May 2023: John Hackney provided the essential clue — the man at far right is his grandfather Tom Bridgers. With that information, I was able to find an article in the 8 January 1949 issue of the Daily Times. At the Wilson Chamber of Commerce’s farm aware program, on behalf of Kiwanis Club, Bridgers presented awards to winners in the “cotton contest” — W.P. Proctor of Stantonsburg; John Farmer, Rufus Brewer, and Charlie Batts of Elm City; Tom Morris, E.G. Lindsey, Hardy Hooks, Henry Trevathan, James Faison, and Joe Hester of Wilson. The photo above, taken by a Chamber photographer, did not run with the article. I’ve amended the title of this post.]

Photo courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.

A register of births of enslaved children, part 2.

The North Carolina State Archives’ Private Collections holds a remarkable and exceedingly rare document within the Virginia Pou Davis Doughton Papers. A small booklet, comprised of thirteen hand-sewn pages, holds list after list of the birthdates of enslaved women and the children they bore.

The provenance of the manuscript is unclear. The finding aid describes it as “Slaves of Bynum or Farmer Family in Edgecombe or Wilson Counties, 1825-1865.” I speculated in part 1 that the booklet belonged to Turner or Robert Bynum, Virginia’s Doughton’s maternal ancestors, both of whom were substantial slaveholders. The entry below regarding Quinnie and her children confirms that. (See link for daughter Pattie, who migrated to Arkansas and, as an elderly woman, sat for an interview with a Federal Writers Project worker.) Note that some log entries continue beyond the end of slavery, suggesting that some families remained with the Bynums as sharecroppers or tenant farmers.

——

Catherine was born in [blank.] Laura was born in June 1852. Emily dead was born in Dec. 1860. Isabella was born 13th Dec. 1862. Alice was born Feb. 12th 1865.

Tom‘s account is $28.60.

In the 1870 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farm laborer Samuel Bynum, 36; wife Catherine, 37; and children Laura, 17, Alice, 4, Isaac, 3, and Henry, 2.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm worker Samuel Bynum, 56; wife Cathron, 45; and children Alice, 14, Isaac, 12, Henry, 10, Patsy, 9, John, 6, Flaurence, 6, and Franklin, 2.

——

Quinny was born the [??] 1839. Clara her child was born Aug the 1, 1857. Pattie was born June 1859. Isaac was born Feb. 28 1861. Nannie was born Dec. 25th 1862. Leah was born Dec. 10th 1864. Dallas was born July 8th 1866. Mattie was born 1868. Carrie was born 28 Sept 1870. Delsy was born 1872. Mary Jane was born 1874. Eliza was born 1876. Charlie was born 1878.

This is the family of Quinnie Harrison Farmer, whose husband Valentine Farmer was enslaved on a different plantation.

In the 1870 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Vance [Valentine] Farmer, 40, wife Quinnie, 30, and children Clara, 13, Patsey [Martha], 11, Isaac, 10, Nancy, 8, Leah, 6, and Mattie, 2.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Bullie [Vallie] Farmer, 50, wife Qunnia, 46, and children Patsie, 21, Isaac, 20, Nannie, 18, Lera, 16, Mattie, 10, Caroline, 8, Bettie, 6, Mary J., 4, Charles, 3, and Sarah E., 2, plus Nancy Farmer, 90.

——

Eliza was born in Jan. 1825. Children. George was born in 1846. Billy was born in [blank]. John was born in [blank]. Robert was born in 1858. Fanny was born 26 Sept 1860.

On 31 October 1869, George Bynum, son of Thos. Drake and Eliza Bynum, married Puss [Tamar] Artice, daughter of Arch and Rosa Artice, at Arch Artice’s.

In the 1870 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Archabald Artis, 70; wife Rosa, 34; Tamer Bynum, 23, and [her husband] George, 25.

In the 1880 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer George Bynum, 35; wife Tamer, 30; and child Arch, 7, Roser, 6, Lesey, 4, and Robert, 3 months.

In 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer George Bynum, 59; wife Tamer, 54; sons Robert, 18, farm laborer, and Jesse, 13; daughter Leesy McCoy, 22; son-in-law Willie McCoy, 25, farm laborer; and grandchildren Joseph, 2, and Lossie, 1; and Walter Taborn, 17, farm laborer.

Slaves — Bynum or Farmer Families, Edgecombe, Wilson Counties, 1825-1865, P.C. 1981.3; Virginia Pou Doughton Family Papers, Private Collections, State Archives of North Carolina. Thanks to Jennifer Johnson for bringing this collection to my attention. 

The sale of Teresea, aged 16 or 17.

On 17 February 1821, Jonathan Ellis sold John Farmer “one negro girl about Sixteen or Seventeen years of age by the name of Teresea ….”

Recall that in 1853 John Farmer’s widow Nancy inherited a woman named Treasy from her husband’s estate. The Treasy named in John Farmer’s estate is likely the Teresea above, documented at the time of her purchase.

Dempsey and Jesse Barnes Papers, Hugh Johnston Collection, North Carolina Memory, lib.digitalnc.org.

The estate of John Farmer.

As Hugh B. Johnston put it, “John Farmer lost his mind in 1824 and had spells of irrationality until the end of his life.” “It is said,” he wrote, “that John Farmer was rather violent sometimes, and his family was then forced to chain him in the log corn crib near the public road a short distance east of Wilson on the present highway 42.” Until his death in 1852, Farmer’s affairs were managed by a series of legal guardians, the last of whom was Joshua Barnes. Despite allegation that an early guardian was a wastrel, by all appearances the estate was well cared-for, and Farmer’s healthy assets included twenty enslaved people.

On 3 January 1853, a committee met at James D. Barnes’ house in Wilson to divide Farmer’s enslaved people among his ten heirs — nine adult children and his widow. The value of each share was $1057.50, and getting as close as possible to that amount was the driving factor in determining who was paired with whom. Not kinship.  Surely some of the people named in this list were children, perhaps quite small, separated from their immediate families. (Overs and unders, by the way, were fixed with cash exchanges.)

  • Lot No. 1 — Henry and Fanny, $1450, to Arthur Bardin for wife Lency Farmer Bardin
  • Lot No. 2 — Dick and Minters, $1350, to Blunt Bulluck for wife Polly Farmer Bulluck
  • Lot No. 3 — Sarah and Amos, $1075, to Thomas Yelverton for wife Nancy Farmer Yelverton
  • Lot No. 4 — Peter and Caesar, $1025, to John W. Wilkins and wife Delphia Farmer Wilkins
  • Lot No. 5 — Joe and Ned, $975, to George T. Yelverton and wife Edith Farmer Yelverton
  • Lot No. 6 — Jim and Dorcas, $925, to Jesse Farmer
  • Lot No. 7 — Grace and Elvin, $1000, to John Farmer
  • Lot No. 8 — Julia and Penny, $900, to William D. Farmer
  • Lot No. 9 — Will and Cherry, $900, to Isaac B. Farmer
  • Lot No. 10 — Abram and Treasy, $975, to Nancy Farmer, John Farmer’s widow

Shortly after the distribution, Isaac Farmer, John’s son and administrator, paid Daniel Hocott ten dollars for “keeping Negro woman Julian while lying in with her child Penny.” Julia and Penny then, who went to William D. Farmer, were a mother and infant.

——

To date, I have no evidence of family ties among the other distributed pairs, but we have met Henry before. He secured his own freedom by leaving Arthur and Lency Bardin’s farm, making his way to the coast, and enlisting in the United States Colored Troops.

Thomas and Nancy Yelverton and George and Edith Yelverton lived in the Pikeville area of northern Wayne County, North Carolina. Amos Yelverton married Martha Coley on 12 January 1867 in Wayne County. He and his family are found in the 1870 census of Pikeville township. Ned Yelverton enlisted with the United States Colored Troops in Goldsboro in April 1865. He married Gustin Faison; they are found in Wayne County census records.

Peter may have been Peter Wilkins, who married Julia Wilkins in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, on 12 August 1866. They are found in the 1870 and 1880 censuses of Sparta township, Edgecombe County.

Caesar Wilkins, son of Samuel Horn and Sarah Farmer, married Bina Barnes, daughter of Benjamin Barnes and Violet Barnes, in 26 January 1871 in Wilson County. (Caesar’s mother, perhaps, was the Sarah who went to Thomas and Nancy Yelverton with Amos.)

Abram, who remained with Nancy Farmer, was Abram Farmer, whom we met here and here. Abram Farmer was baptized at Toisnot Primitive Baptist Church in 1842 and joined the church about 1870. Abram Farmer and Cherry Bridges registered their 11-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace in 1866. In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Abraham Farmer, 57; wife Cherry Farmer, 54; Jane Farmer, 16; Caroline Armstrong, 30, and her children Gray, 6, Thadeus, 4, and John, 2 months; and farm laborer York Gill, 35. (Was Cherry Bridges the Cherry who went to Isaac B. Farmer? Perhaps.)

John Farmer Estate (1852), Edgecombe County, North Carolina Estate Files 1663-1979, http://www.familysearch.org; Johnston, Hugh, “Looking Backward,” Wilson Daily Times, 2 January 1960.

“I haven’t freed you yet.”

Hugh B. Johnston, writing as “An Old Reporter,” wrote dozens of genealogy columns for the Daily Times and Rocky Mount Telegram. His piece about Jesse Farmer relayed two anecdotes highlighting the violent treatment of enslaved people.

In the first, after naming the eight people Jesse and Mary Batts Farmer enslaved near present-day Elm City — Nellie, Clarkey, Ailsey, Dinah, Jim, Jerry, Hilliard, and Cindy — Johnston recounts Dinah’s reaction to Emancipation. “I understand that I’d been freed,” she told Jesse Farmer. “Well, I haven’t freed you yet,” he responded, and beat her.

The second incident occurred during the Civil War. A free woman of color named Clarkey had just died, and her body lay in a cabin at the edge of the yard. Jim O’Neal, overseer on a neighboring plantation, arrived with several people enslaved by Dr. George Sugg. O’Neal accused Jerry of having stolen one of his hogs with Bill, an enslaved man standing “nearly naked and bound with leather straps.” Mary Batts Farmer defended Jerry and declared he would not be beaten. When O’Neal threatened to do so anyway, Mary Farmer told Jerry to defend himself. He grabbed an ax and walked away, and despite orders, the enslaved men with O’Neal refused to follow. O’Neal then took Bill under the lean-to of Clarkey’s cabin and forced the others to beat him with switches “until he almost smoked.”

Rocky Mount Telegram, 14 March 1956.

  • Jerry Farmer

In 1866, Jerry Farmer and Kate Sugs registered their two-year cohabitation with a Wilson County justice of the peace.

In the 1870 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: Jerry Farmer, 26, and wife Kate, 26.

In the 1880 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farm laborer Jerry Farmer, 37, widower.

On 10 January 1884, Jerry Farmer, 39, married Annice Pender, 23, at Abram Sharpe’s. Charles Barnes, Haywood Batts, and Haywood Pender were witnesses.