Wilson Daily Times, 29 November 1918.
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In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Raleigh Road, farmer Simon Horne, 53; wife Nancy, 43; children Louisa, 22, Matha, 18, Benjamin, 17, Minnie, 14, Annie B., 12, Darling, 10, Thomas, 8, William, 6, and Tobe, 4; grandson Freeman, 4 months; and mother-in-law Bunny Barnes, 78, widow.
London’s Church was London’s Primitive Baptist Church.
Oscar Bullock (1878-1972).
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In the 1880 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer John Bullock, 25; wife Elizabeth, 22; and children Oscar, 2, and Connie, 7 months.
In the 1900 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: Robert Edwards, 29, farmer; wife Charity, 32; children James, 4, Elizabeth, 2, and Becky, 8 months; and boarder Oscar Bullock. [All were described as white, but were African-American.]
On 17 January 1906, Oscar Bullock, 27, and Agnes Horne, 19, married in Wilson County.
In the 1910 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Oscar Bullock, 30; wife Agnes, 24; and children David, 3, and John C., 1.
In 1918, Oscar Bullock registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 15 April 1874; resided on Route 1, Fountain, Wilson County; worked as a farmer for Romain Langley; his “right leg [was] born broke”; and his nearest relative was Agnes Bullock.
In the 1920 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Oscar Bullock, 48; wife Aggie, 45l children Dave, 14, John, 12, Fetie, 10, Daisy, 8, Agnes, 6, Minnie, 4, and Polly, 1; niece Mary Horn, 5; and John Horn, 3.
Agnes Bullock died 27 April 1925 in Saratoga township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born in 1882 to Essex Horne and was married to Dave [sic] Bullock. Dave Bullock was informant.
In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farm laborer Oscar Bulluck, 65; wife Martha, 57; daughter Ethel, 17; and step-grandchildren Lewis, 28, Elberta, 23, Elmer Marie, 3, and Henry Lee Newton, 2.
Oscar Bullock died 15 July 1962 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1872 in Edgecombe County; was a widower; lived at 1705 Washington Street Extension; had worked as a farmer; and was buried in Bullock cemetery, Fountain, North Carolina. Elder Dave Bullock was informant.
Photo courtesy of Cynthia Bullock Hines.
The counties in which these Wilson County natives died are all in south Georgia and suggest migration to work in the naval stores industry after North Carolina’s longleaf pines were tapped out.
In the 1870 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farm laborer Abraham Horne, 45, with Jefferson, 30, Gray, 15, Lettuce, 17, Rayford, 13, Jeff Davis, 8, and Milburn Horne, 6; and Martha Holland, 14.
In the 1880 census of District 384, Dodge County, Georgia: Columbus Barnes, 24; Gray Horne, 22; Samuel Jenkins, 18; Alfred Caruthers, 20; and Everett Farmer, 20. All were described as laborers, and all were born in North Carolina except Caruthers, who was a native Georgian.
On 12 December 1893, Joseph Grey Horn married Tena Small in Glynn County, Georgia.
In the 1920 census of Militia District 1356, Glynn County, Georgia: farmer Joe Horne, 74; wife Clementina, 42; daughter Rosalee Henry, 2 [sic]; and grandson Edwin Henry, 3 months.
Joseph Horne died 22 June 1924 in Southern Junction, Glynn County, Georgia; was about 59 years old; was born in Wilson, N.C., to Abraham Horne and an unnamed mother; was married; worked as a laborer; and was buried in Freeman Rest cemetery. Clementine Horne was informant.
In the 1930 census of Militia District 1356, Glynn County, Georgia: widow Climentine Horn, 48, farm laborer; daughter Rosalee Club, 24, widow; and grandson Edwin Hinry, 10.
In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Warren Thorne, 28; wife Rachel, 28; and children Louisa, 16, Stephen, 15, Rosa, 5, Grant, 4, John, 3, and Patsey, 10 months.
In the 1880 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Lewis Woodard, 36; wife Bashaby, 32; son Henry, 16, farm laborer; and servant Grant Thorn, 14.
In the 1900 census of Arabi village, Dooly County, Georgia: turpentine laborer Grant Thorn, 35, born in North Carolina, and wife Evie, 35.
In the 1910 census of Militia District 762, Crisp County, Georgia: turpentine laborer Grant Thomas, 45, born in North Carolina; wife Julia, 28; and daughter Florie M., 9; sister-in-law Dina Shivers, 40, private family cook, and niece Adel Shivers, 18, public school teacher.
In the 1920 census of Arabi township, Crisp County, Georgia: in Turpentine Quarters, naval stores laborer Grant T. Thorn, 55, born in North Carolina; wife Julia, 36; and children Grant T., Jr., 7, and Evans L., 4.
Grant Thorn died 10 May 1925 in Arabi, Crisp County, Georgia. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1859 in Wilson County, N.C., to Warren Thorn and Rachal Thorn; worked as a farmer; and was buried in Little Rock Cemetery, Arabi. John Thorn was informant.
In 1940, Evans Lawton Thornes registered for the World War II draft in Palm Beach County, Florida. Per his registration card, he was born 1 February 1915 in Arabi, Georgia; lived at 2126 Contentment Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida; his contact was mother Julia Thornes; and worked for John Zennie, West Palm Beach
In 1941, G.T. Thornes registered for the World War II draft in Crisp County. Per his registration card, he was born 17 July 1912 in Crisp County; lived at R.F.D. No. 2, Arabi, Crisp County; his contact was mother Julia Ray Thornes; and worked for H.W. Hamilton, Arabi, Crisp County.
In the 1920 census of District 1157, Berrien County, Georgia: farmer Joe W. Burgess, 50; wife Lucy, 48; nephews Brie, 10, and Jim, 8; and nieces Minnie, 16, and Agnes Perry, 13.
Lucy Burgess died 20 March 1926 in Nashville, Berrien County, Georgia. Per her death certificate, she was 52 years old; was born in Wilson County, N.C., to Trim Body and Jennie [maiden name not listed]; was married; and worked as a cook. J.N. Burgess was informant.
Lizzie Bradley died 6 October 1924 in Fort Mudge, Ware County, Georgia. Per her death certificate, she was born 28 May 1882 in Wilson, N.C., to Ike Williams and an unnamed mother; was married to R.B. Bradley; and worked as a domestic. Mattie Williams was informant.
In the 1900 census of Smiths township, Laurens County, Georgia: farmer Allen Mercer, 40, farmer; wife Bettie, 44; son Willie, 18; and daughter Anna, 14.
In the 1910 census of Smiths township, Laurens County, Georgia: farmer Allen Mercer, 50, born in North Carolina, and wife Bettie, 52, born in Virginia.
Allen Mercy [Mercer] died 22 April 1922 in Dublin, Laurens County, Georgia. Per his death certificate, he was 65 years old; was born in Wilson, N.C., to John and Sarah Mercy; was a widower; and worked as a ditcher. Johnny Mercy was informant.
In the 1900 census of Abbeville, Wilcox County, Georgia; Alison Atwater[?], 60; wife Mollie, 45; stepson Daniel Barnes, 21; and grandsons Mager Shaws, 13, and Richard Barnes, 4. All were born in North Carolina except Richard, who was born in Georgia.
Daniel Barnes died 23 November 1920 in Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Georgia. Per her death certificate, he was 42 years old; was born in Wilson County, North Carolina, to Daniel Barnes and Mollie [maiden name not given]; was married; lived in Osierfield, Georgia; and was buried in Abbeville, Wilcox County, Georgia. Lawyer Davis was informant.
The early edition of the Daily Times reported that Raymond Horne‘s body had been found in dense woods near Saratoga. The man had been missing for two weeks.
Wilson Daily Times, 2 November 1942.
The late edition disclosed Payton “Pate” Atkinson‘s confession in the crime, and his retraction of an allegation that Dock Rose had helped.
Wilson Daily Times, 3 November 1942.
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In the 1910 census of Olds township, Greene County, N.C.: Danil E. Atkinson, 44; wife Patsy, 34; and children Cornealous, 10; Masendy, 16; Birther, 8; Peyton, 7; Ginnie, 4; and Lueser, 8 months.
In the 1920 census of Carrs township, Greene County: farmer Daniel Adkison, 54; wife Pattie, 48; and children Cornelius, 20, Bertha, 18, Patten, 15, Jennie, 13, Louise, 10, Frances, 7, and John H., 5.
On 13 September 1924, Payton Atkinson, 21, married Della Ward, 18, in Pitt County, N.C.
In the 1930 census of Ormonds township, Greene County: farmer Paten Atkinson, 25; wife Della, 22; and children Sadie H., 4, Paten Jr., 2, and James L., 1.
Payton Atkinson registered twice for the World War II draft. In February 1942, he registered in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 25 January 1903 in Greene County, N.C.; lived at Route 3, Box 125, Walstonsburg, Saratoga township; his contact was Jesse Galloway; and he worked for Rufus Beaman. He registered again in 1943, reporting that he was born 25 January 1904 in Greene County and his contact was brother Cornelius Atkinson. The card was marked “Canc. Jan. 31, 1944 Dup Reg.”
Payton Atkinson died 8 October 1969 in Farmville, Pitt County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 6 January 1904 to Daniel Atkinson and Patsey Edwards; was a farmer; and was a widower. Fannie Ellis was informant.
On 24 February 1921, Raymond L. Horne, 23, of Edgecombe County, N.C., son of William and Dora Horne, married Dora Barnes, 22, of Edgecombe County, daughter of Benjamin and Nora Barnes, in Township Number 3, Edgecombe County.
In February 1942, Raymond Horne registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 1 January 1902 in Greene County, N.C.; lived in Saratoga township, Wilson County; and worked for Drew Horton, Saratoga township. He signed his card with an X. The card is marked “Cancelled — Dead — Oct. 19, 1942.”
Raymond Horne died 19 October 1942 in Saratoga township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born 23 April 1900 in Pitt County, N.C., to Will Horne and Dora Barrett; was married to Genevia Horne; worked in farming; and was buried in Rountree cemetery, Wilson. “Homicide gunshot wound of neck.”
In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farm laborer Doc Rose, 45; wife Sara, 33; mother-in-law Mary Beaman, 70, widow; niece Alice Lane, 23; and cousin Essie Lee Rose, 4 months. The family reported living in Greene County five years earlier.
Four year-old Bud Horne‘s cause of death is unfathomable: “It is supposed this child swallowed matches, fire was flaming from his mouth when discovered.”
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In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Lodge Street, brickyard laborer Richard Horne, 59; wife Lizzie, 60, laundress; children Elizabeth, 17, Mary, 15, and Emma, 8; and granddaughter Rosa, 1.
In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: also on Lodge Street, widow Adeline Suggs, 48, and her children Alex, 18, Pattie, 15, and Fannie, 14.
Primitive Baptist churches organized themselves in associations, and African-American congregations in Wilson County were members of several, including Turner Swamp Primitive Baptist Association and Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Association.
In November 1918, the Eighth Annual Session of the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Association met at Stony Creek Church in Nash County. On the first day, the delegates voted to hold the next year’s session at Corner Line Church in Wilson County. The published minutes noted that Bethlehem P.B.A.’s member churches had been members of Radicue P.B.A. until 1910, when “trouble arose” between Elder A. Wooten and Elder N. Johnson of Few-In-Number Church in Edgecombe County. The men could not (or would not) agree to resolve the matter via ordinary channels, “[t]herefore, we the church at Few-In-Number, would not give up for our member to be tried in such an disorderly way. This is why they call us in disorder. We hope the Lord will show our brethren their wrong. This done by order of the church, assisted by five other churches joining us.” In other words, six churches broke with Radicue to form their own Association.
The minutes’ Table of Statistics reveals three Wilson County churches in the new Association: Conner [Corner] Line, New Hope, and Traveler’s Rest. Elder S. Buston [Samuel Burston] of Sharpsburg helmed Corner Line, and Wiley Barnes and Peter Barnes were delegates to the Session from that church. The church reported having baptized no new members the previous year, but receiving one by profession of faith for a total membership of 16. New Hope had no sitting elder, but was represented by A. Horne and Kelley Johnson. The church had received one new member by profession, another by letter (from his or her home church), and had 14 total members. Traveler’s Rest was led by Elder J.H. Winston of Pinetops (in Edgecombe County) and was represented by B.F. Davis and Nathan Lucas. Though the church had only six members, it had baptized one the previous year and received two by profession. It had also dismissed two members.
From Minutes of the Eighth Annual Session of the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Association Held With the Stony Creek Church, Nash County, N.C. (1918).
Edgecombe County’s Living Hope church hosted the 11th annual session in 1921. Elder Burston was moderator, and Brother Wiley Barnes was one of two men chosen “to stand to preach for the people.” That evening, Brother Barnes sang the hymn on page 490 (of an unnamed hymnal)* and preached from Acts 9:2 — “And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.”
In October 1923, Bethlehem P.B.A. convened at Wilson County’s little Travelers Rest Primitive Baptist Church.
Cover, Minutes of the Eighth Annual Session of the Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Association Held With the Traveller’s Rest Church, Wilson County, N.C. (1923).
Elder Burston was again appointed moderator, and Brother Wiley Barnes was one of two men chosen to preach. On Saturday morning, Brother Barnes sang the hymn on page 530 and preached from Ezekiel 36:3 — “Therefore prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people.”
As always, the Association closed its Session with its touching “Circular Letter”:
In 1925, Bethlehem P.B.A. held its annual meeting at Bethlehem Church in Edgecombe County. The Association favorably received a request from Diggs Chapel (in northeast Wayne County, just over the Wilson county line) to join the Association. Wiley Barnes of nearby Stantonsburg had been elevated to Elder and led this congregation.
The Association returned to Corner Line in October 1927. Elder Burston preached the introductory sermon from I Corinthians 1:1. Elder Barnes lined a hymn and preached from Exodus 3:7-8 — “7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; 8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.” In 1927, Corner Line had 18 members; New Hope, 17; and Traveler’s Rest, 15. The delegates chose New Hope, “nine miles from Elm City and ten miles from Wilson,” for the next meeting.
Elder Burston died in 1930. Elder Wiley Barnes took over leadership of Corner Line and New Hope, in addition to Diggs Chapel. J.H. Winstead of Tarboro headed Traveler’s Rest.
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I have not identified the locations of Traveler’s Rest and New Hope Primitive Baptist Churches.
*[Update: The hymnal may have been Hymn and Tune Book for Use in the Old School or Primitive Baptist Churches, compiled by Silas H. Durand and P.G. Lester and first published in 1886. The scores of the hymns include both shape-note and conventional notation.]
[Update: see here information about Travelers Rest, which was in Stantonsburg.]
Minutes digitized at Divinity Archive, a project of Duke University Divinity School Library and partner institutions.
Wilson Daily Times, 3 December 1918.
In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Raleigh Road, farmer Simon Horne, 53; wife Nancy, 43; children Louisa, 22, Matha, 18, Benjamin, 17, Minnie, 14, Annie B., 12, Darling, 10, Thomas, 8, William, 6, and Tobe, 4; grandson Freeman, 4 months; and mother-in-law Bunny Barnes, 78, widow.
Front of Benjamin Horne’s draft registration card.
Army transport passenger list.
U.S. Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939, database on-line, http://www.ancestry.com.
Wilson Daily Times, 26 September 1980.
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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Park Avenue, gardener Abram Horne, 40; wife Ella, 33; and children Abram Jr., 16, David, 7, and Dazella, 4 months.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: David Horne, 29, living alone, fertilizer plant laborer.
David Horne died 20 September 1980 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 29 February 1912 in Wilson County to Abram Horne and Ella Mae Barnes; resided at 300 North Reid Street, Wilson; was married to Beatrice Batts Horne; and worked as a laborer.
Raleigh Gazette, 2 January 1897.
Pompey Horne and family did not stay long in Wilson. By the 1900 census, they had returned to Rocky Mount, Nash County: on West Railroad Street, wheelwright Pompy Horne, 55; wife Harrett, 47; and children Mattie, 18, Joel, 14, Cornelious, 14, Westry, 12, and Wooddie, 7.
Less than a decade after gaining freedom, Elijah Cox passed away in southern Wilson County. He had assembled a small farm in Cross Roads township, but it would not pass intact to the next generation.
Receipt for reimbursement to Ben Cox, alias Horne, for clothing purchased “for burying father.”
Dr. R.E. Cox filed a claim against the estate for medical care provided in Elijah Cox’s final illness.
In 1874, Patience Cox applied for letters of administration in Wilson County Superior Court for her husband’s estate. His heirs were named as Haywood Sauls and wife Fannie; Sherrod Cox and wife Diana; Simon Dew and wife Telitha; Jerry Everett and wife Jane; Ben Barnes and wife Hester; Ben Cox; William Horne; and Warren Barnes. His estate file reveals that Cox owned about 56 acres at his death and that his debts were estimated at $175. For her support, Patience Cox was allotted barrels of corn, shucks, fodder, cotton seed, cattle, hogs, peas, potatoes, garden tools, plows, and household and kitchen furniture, which essentially wiped out Elijah’s personal property. As a result the court ordered Cox’s land sold to create assets to pay off his debts.
Inventory of Elijah Cox’s estate.
In a final accounting after the sale, heirs received payments of about $16 in February 1876.
Request from Cox’ daughter Fannie Sauls of Fremont, Wayne County, to have her share delivered via her husband Haywood Sauls.
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In 1866, these formerly enslaved couples registered their cohabitations in Wayne County (Haywood Sauls and Fannie Newsome, 4 years) and Wilson County (Simon Dew and Litha King, 18 years, and Benjamin Barnes and Hester Barnes, 20 years.) I have not found cohabitation records for Elijah and Patience or their other children. (Sidenote: the multiple surnames used by Elijah’s children — Cox, Horne, Barnes, King, Newsome — suggests that they had different mothers or were held in slavery by several different owners.)
In the 1870 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: shoemaker Elijah Cox, 66; wife Patience, 65; and children (or grandchildren) Jerry, 11, Clara, 5, and Patience Cox, 3. Cox claimed $150 real estate.
In the 1880 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Ben Jamin Horne, 33; wife Mandy, 26; and children William Henderson, 14, Alvester, 10, Hilliard, 8, Amos, 6, and Louetta Cox, 3; and mother Patience Cox, 70.
In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: wagon driver Haywood Sauls, 46, and wife Fannie, 56.
In the 1880 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Simon Dew, 55; wife Lithy, 48; children Lany, 27, Peter, 25, Lucy, 23, Diannah, 21, Isaih, 20, Hilliard, 18, Hester, 16, Aarch, 14, Liscy, 12, Patience, 10, Sarah, 8, and Simon, 6; and grandchildren Zilpha, 13, Roxie A., 2, and William, 1.
In the 1880 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Benjaim Barnes, 52; wife Hester, 52; and children Ervin, 17, Rebecca, 16, Bettie, 13, Larry, 10, Thomas, 8, and Benjaim, 6.
North Carolina Wills and Estates, 1665-1998 [database on-line], http://www.ancestry.com.