free people of color

The roots of many Wilson County Artises, no. 7: Celia Artis.

Before Wilson County was founded in 1855, the area around Black Creek was part of Wayne County. Celia Artis, a free woman of color, is listed as a head of household in the 1840 census of Black Creek district of Wayne County. Though it’s not certain that she lived in what is now Wilson County, her listing in proximity to white planters Stephen Woodard and Bunyan Barnes, who definitely lived in Wilson County territory, suggests so.

1840 federal census of Wayne County, North Carolina.

Celia’s family and Adam T. Artis’ family were among several sets of Artises living in or adjacent to northeastern Wayne County in the antebellum era, and members both intermarried and otherwise interacted with each other regularly. At least eight sets of Celia Artis’ descendants were living in Wilson County by the early 1900s, so I include a summary of her life here.

Celia Artis was born just before 1800, probably in northeastern Wayne County or what is now southern Wilson County. Nothing is known of her parentage or early life. She gave birth to at least six children and married an enslaved man called Simon Pig, who was the father of some or all of them.

In 1823, she gave control over her oldest children to two white neighbors, brothers (or father and son) Elias and Jesse Coleman, in a dangerously worded deed that exceeded the scope of typical apprenticeship indentures:

This indenture this 16th day of August 1823 between Celia Artis of the County of Wayne and state of North Carolina of the one part, and Elias and Jesse Coleman of the other part (witnesseth) that I the said Celia Artis have for an in consideration of having four of my children raised in a becoming [illegible], by these presence indenture the said four children (to viz) Eliza, Ceatha, Zilpha, and Simon Artis to the said Elias and Jesse Coleman to be their own right and property until the said four children arives at the age of twenty one years old and I do by virtue of these presents give and grant all my right and power over said children the above term of time, unto the said Elias and Jesse Coleman their heirs and assigns, until the above-named children arives to the aforementioned etc., and I do further give unto the said Elias and Jesse Coleman all power of recovering from any person or persons all my right to said children — the [illegible] of time whatsoever in whereof I the said Celia Artis have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written,    Celia X Artis.

Despite the “own right and property” language, Celia did not exactly sell her children, but what drove her to this extreme measure? Celia was not legally married and, as a result, her children were subject to involuntary apprenticeship until age 21. This strongly worded deed records her determination to guard her children from uncertain fates by placing them under the control of men she trusted, rather than those selected by a court. Despite the deed’s verbiage, it is possible that the children continued to live with their mother during their indenture. Certainly, Celia, unlike many free women of color, had the wherewithal to care for them, as evidenced by her purchase of 10 acres in Wayne County from Spias Ward in 1833. Wayne County deeds further show purchases of 124 acres and 24 acres from William Thompson in 1850 and 1855.

By 1840, Celia Artis was head of a household of eight free people of color in Black Creek district, Wayne County, comprising one woman aged 36-54 [Celia]; three girls aged 10-23 [Eliza, Leatha, Zilpha]; one girl under 10 [unknown]; two boys aged 10-23 [Calvin and Simon]; and one boy under 10 [Thomas].

In the 1850 census, she was enumerated on the North Side of the Neuse, Wayne County, as a 50 year-old with children Eliza, 34, Zilpha, 28, Thomas, 15, and Calvin, 20, plus 6 year-old Lumiser, who was Eliza’s daughter. Celia is credited with owning $600 of real property (deeds for most of which went unrecorded), and the agricultural schedule for that year details her wealth:

  • Celia Artis.  50 improved acres, 700 unimproved acres, value $600. Implements valued at $25. 2 horses. 1 ass or mule. 1 ox. 21 other cattle. 40 sheep. 500 swine. 500 bushels of Indian corn. 100 lbs. of rice. 2 lbs. of tobacco. 100 lbs. of wool. 100 bushels of peas and beans. 200 bushels of sweet potatoes.

Celia Artis also appears in the 1850 Wayne County slave schedule, which records her ownership of her husband:

1850 slave schedule of Wayne County, North Carolina.

In 1860, surprisingly, the census taker named that husband, Simon Pig Artis, as the head of household. However, if he’d been freed formally, there’s no record of it. Simon is also listed as the 70 year-old owner of $800 of real property and $430 of personal property — all undoubtedly purchased by Celia. Their household included son Thomas, daughter Zilpha, and granddaughters Lumizah, 17, and Penninah, 11.

1860 federal census of Wayne County, North Carolina.

A 1863 Confederate field map shows “C. Artis” just off the roads that are now NC-222 and Watery Branch Church Road.

The family’s cemetery remains on that land, as seen in the Google Street View below. A Primitive Baptist church, Diggs Chapel, and an early African-American school, Diggs School, once stood nearby.

Neither Celia nor Simon appears in the 1870 census. However, it seems likely that Celia was alive for at least a few more years, as her estate was not opened until 1879. It was surprisingly small, suggesting that she had distributed most her land and valuables (or otherwise lost them) before her death. Son Thomas is listed as the sole heir to her $200 estate.

Known Wilson County descendants of Celia Artis (and the child from whom they descend) include Edgar H. Diggs and children (Eliza); Rommie Diggs Sr. and descendants (Eliza); Sallie Artis Shackleford and descendants (Eliza); brothers Kemmy A. Sherrod and O. Royal Sherrod (Eliza); Rommie Newsome (Eliza); siblings Beulah Artis Exum Best, Francis Artis Edmundson, and Adam H. Artis (Eliza); Daisy Baker Hobbs (Leatha Ann); and Haywood W. Baker and descendants (including son John H.W. Baker) (Leatha Ann).

“Map of a part of eastern North Carolina from a map in progress compiled from surveys and reconnaissances” (1863), Jeremy Francis Gilmer Papers #276, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Wishing the Artis Family a great reunion!

Today, another branch of my Artis family — descendants of James C. Artis — is gathering in Wilson for their annual reunion.

James Cleveland Artis was the son of Jonah and Fannie Newsome Artis and the grandson of Richard Artis, who was the youngest brother of my great-great-great-grandfather Adam T. Artis. Though primarily based in Greene County, N.C., Richard Artis’ descendants moved back and forth across the Greene-Wilson county line between Stantonsburg and Walstonburg.

I wish my cousins a fantastic reunion and applaud their commitment to keep family ties strong and to maintain traditions.

Many thanks to Sondra Artis for sharing this photo.

[Update: The Artis Family Reunion was a resounding success! Douglas Horne and Sondra Artis share these photos of the J.C. Artis (top) and Jonah Artis Jr. (bottom) branches of the family.

Signal Boost: Un/Bound, Free Black Virginians, 1619-1865.

“Through powerful objects and first-person accounts, this exhibition explores the lives of free Black Virginians from the arrival of the first captive Africans in 1619 to the abolition of slavery in 1865. Learn about how Virginia’s people of color achieved their freedom, established communities, and persevered within a legal system that recognized them as free but not equal.”

For more information, see here.

Did Blackwell conceal his assets?

On 30 November 1856, Mabrey Hinnant petitioned a Wilson County justice of the peace for assistance in obtaining full satisfaction from Asberry Blackwell for a seventy-dollar court judgment.

“This day came Mabrey Hinnant before me John Nichols one of the Justices of the peas for said county and taketh oath that he believes that the defendant has not property sufichant to satisfy said Judgment which the ptr Mabrey Hinnant has latley obtained against the Defendant Asberry Blackwell for the sum of seventy Dollars and intrest and cost which can be reched by a fieri facias and has property money or Effects which can not be reched by a fieri facias or has fraudilently conseld his property money or efects  Sworn to and subscribed before me this 30th day of Novb 1856  Mabrey (X) Hinnant”

[A fieri facias, or fi fa, Latin for “cause it to be done,” is a court order that instructs a sheriff to seize and sell a debtor’s property to pay off a debt.]

——

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, wife Nancy, 30, farm laborer, and children Charity, 14, Drucilla, 9, Albert, 7, Appy, 7, Zilpha, 4, Obedience, 3, and Asberry, 2 months.

The apprenticeship of James Mitchell, also known as James Artice.

During Wilson County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions’ January Term 1858, the clerk made this entry in court minutes:

“Ordered by the court that James Mitchell alias (James Artice) aged Five years Son of Susan Mitchell be bound apprentice to Bryant L. Barnes upon his entering into Bond with John Dew as surety (Bond filed)”

James Mitchell’s alias suggests he also used his father’s surname, at least in childhood, as was not uncommon among free children of color whose parents were not formally married. “Artice” is a variant spelling of Artis, the name of a large free family of color in the Wayne/Greene/Edgecombe/Wilson County area.

——

In the 1860 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Susan Mitchell, 26, washing, and children James, 10, Annie, 7, and George Mitchell, 2.

In the 1870 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Stella Best, 12, Claudius Little, 14, Mary Parker, 15, Henrietta Knight, 19, and Charlotte Adams, 16, all domestic servants; James Mitchell, 19, store porter; and Harriet Dunstan, 18, domestic servant. [This household was listed next to Robert Taylor, a white farmer and miller who claimed $20,000 in real property and may have been their employer.]

Selling liquor to slaves.

Selling liquor to enslaved people was a crime so common that Superior Court kept forms specially worded for indictments. At Fall Term 1857, a solicitor signed off on a charge against John Caligan for selling a “pint of spiritous liquors” to “a slave named Joshua the property of Josiah Rawls.”

The same year, a grand jury considered a charge against Henry Locus, a free man of color, for buying liquor for an enslaved man. Another enslaved man, Reddick, was a witness to the alleged crime.

Selling to a Slave (1857), Wilson County Slave Records 1834-1863, www. familysearch.org.

Application to sell Nelson Eatmon’s property.

On 1 September 1881, attorney Frederick A. Woodard, administrator, filed a petition to sell Nelson Eatmon‘s personal property for cash. The sale went forward on September 30, netting $180.50 for an assortment of farm tools, household furnishings, and two mules.

Wilson County [North Carolina] Record of Accounts 1875-1884, http://www.familysearch.org.

Deans vs. the Jones heirs: the peril of heir property, illustrated.

A lawsuit P.B. Deans filed against the heirs of Willis Jones illustrates the peril of heir property. Jones died without a will, leaving his land to pass collectively to his many children. Five sons — Noel, Henry, Alexander, Willis K., and Payton Jones — sold their one-tenth shares to Patrick B. Deans, a white farmer on the climb. With a claim to half the total shares, Deans successfully petitioned Wilson County Superior Court to force the sale of the property — and push any remaining Joneses off the land.

——

P.B. Deans vs. Shade Jones; Essick Barnes & wife Thany Barnes; Kingsbury Taylor & wife Charity Taylor; Josiah Jones; the heirs at law of Jacob Jones, to wit John Harry Jones, Jesse Jones & wife Eliza; Joseph Powell & wife Charity; Stephen Jones’ heirs, to wit Tempsie Ann, Susan & Maggie; Nathan Jones & wife Diana; Millie Ann, Nancy, and Josiah Jones Jr.

North Carolina, Wilson County} In the Superior Court

To the Honorable, the Superior Court,  The petition of P.B. Deans respectfully showeth unto the court that he with the defendants are tenants in common of a tract of land in Old Fields township County and state aforesaid adjoining the land of the late Gray Lodge, H.J. Deans, Stephen Deans, Mary E. Deans, and B.G. Simpson known as the Thaney Jones land containing the 99 acres more or less

That by reason of the purchase of and the shares of Noel Jones, Henry Jones, Alex Jones, W.K. Jones, and P.A. Jones, he is entitled to 5/10 of said land and the defendants to the other 5/10

That by reason of the seize and situation of the said land and the and the number of shares into which it is to be divided actual partition cannot be made without injury to some of those entitled to share in the same except by sale

That of Jacob Jones’ children, Nancy, Milly and Josiah are infants; and Susan, Tempie and Maggie Jones, children of Stephen Thomas Jones, without any Guardian. That Josiah Jones is resident of South Carolina when last heard from and Kingsberry Taylor and wife Charity are residents of the state of Indiana when last heard from.

The petition therefore prays the Court to appoint a suitable person Guardian ad litem for the infant defendants named to plead answer on demur to the complaint in their behalf and that service be made upon the non residents by publication and for order of sale to me made by a commission to be appointed by the court authorized and empowered to sell convey and distribute proceeds according a further order.

And as in duty bound &c, Geo. W. Blount for Plaintiff   Jul 3 1883

Wilson [County, North Carolina] Probate Estate Case Files 1854-1899, http://www.familysearch.org

Aldridge and Boseman links to Wilson County.

We have seen the notices Guilford Horn published in 1850 seeking the return of a runaway enslaved man named Harry. Horn lived four miles north of Wilson in what was then Edgecombe County (and is now roughly just west of the Bridgestone tire plant.) He suggested that Harry might be “lurking” in the Texas neighborhood of Wilmington, North Carolina, where Sally Bozeman, his free-born wife, had recently moved.

Two years earlier, Guilford Horn had stood as bondsman for John Mathew Aldridge, a free man of color, who applied for a license in Edgecombe County to marry Catherine Bozeman, a free woman of color and likely the sister or close kin of Sally Bozeman.

In the 1850 census of Wilmington, there’s no sign of Sally, but: Matthew Ollage, 28; wife Catharine, 19; and sons William, 6 months, and J.H., 5. [John Henry Aldridge was Mathew Aldridge’s son by a first wife whose first name may’ve been Tabitha. John H. Aldridge’s children James Aldridge and Nina Faison Kornegay Hardy settled in Wilson in the early 1900s.] By 1860, Mathew and Catherine Aldridge were in Buck Swamp township, Wayne County (west of modern Pikeville), closer to his kin in southern Wayne County. Twenty year-old James Bosman lived with them and, like Mathew, worked as a railroad hand.

The roots of many Wilson County Artises, no. 6: Richard Artis.

I wrote here of Vicey Artis, a free woman of color, and Solomon Williams, an enslaved man, whose marriage in Greene (or perhaps Wayne) County, North Carolina, produced eleven children. Though only one — the busy Primitive Baptist elder Jonah Williams — actually lived in Wilson, descendants of several others are in Wilson County even today.

Richard Artis was the youngest of Vicey and Solomon’s sons. He married Susannah Yelverton Hall Yelverton, and their children were Lucinda, Emma, Ivory L., Louisa, Richard Jr., Susan A., Jonah, Charity, Cora P., Frances, John Henry, and Walter C. Artis. Richard Artis and his children lived primarily in Wayne and Greene Counties — except Emma Artis Dawson Reid, who lived in the Black Creek area for a few years — but many of their children moved (permanently or temporarily) into Wilson County. These included Susan Artis Cooper’s sons James Elijah Cooper (1907-1995) and John Hardy Cooper (1909-1979); Jonah Artis’ sons Milford Odell Artis (1918-2001) and Jonah Artis Jr. (1927-2015); Cora Artis Exum’s son Herven P. Exum (1921-2013); and Ivory L. Artis’ son Claude Artis (1917-1979).

Photo courtesy of Teresa C. Artis.