Kirby

The division of the Nannie Kirby Richardson property.

In 1973, William Kirby‘s widow Nannie Shaw Kirby Richardson divided their land among their heirs — Roxanna Kirby Exum, Hobbie Lee Kirby, William Henry Kirby, Willie Kilmer Williams, Sarah Kirby Wiggs, Nettie Kirby Forsythe, Queen Kirby Newsome, and Harvey Isaac Kirby. Each received two lots, e.g. 2 and 2-A. The Kirby family cemetery is represented by the small rectangle at the top of lot 4. Much of the land remains in the hands of Kirby descendants.

Plat Book 13, pages 38-39, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

The obituary of Isaac Kirby of Camden, New Jersey.

Courier-Post (Camden, N.J.), 2 November 1959.

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In the 1900 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Isaac S. Kirby, 58; wife Mary, 54; and sons Leroy A., 21, William, 14, and Isaac R., 13.

In the 1910 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer William Kirby, 23; wife Nannie, 20; daughter Fredie M., 5 months; mother Mary, 66, widow; boarder [and brother] Leroy, 32; and brother Ransom, 23.

In 1918, Ransome Kirby registered for the World War I draft in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Per his registration card, he was born 7 April 1882; lived at “Penn RR Camp,” Butler and Sepviva Streets, Philadelphia; worked as a cook for Pennsylvania Railroad; and his nearest relative was Mary Kirby, Kenly, N.C.

In 1926, Ransome Kirby and Albert Jones married in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In late 1926, Ransom Kirby’s barbershop was one of eleven homes and businesses raided by Camden police looking for illegal alcohol. He was later acquitted of the charge.

The Courier (Camden, N.J.), 1 December 1926.

In the 1929 Camden, New Jersey, city directory:

In the 1930 census of Lawnside, Camden County, New Jersey: Clarence [sic] Kirby, 40, barber, born in N.C.; wife Alberta, 37, born in Virginia; and son Eugene, 2, born in Pennsylvania.

In the 1940 census of Woodbury, Gloucester County, New Jersey: at 444 South Broad, barber Ramson H. Kirby, 53, and son Eugene, 2.

In 1942, Isaac Ransome Kirby registered for the World War II draft in Gloucester County, New Jersey. Per his registration card, he was born 7 April 1887 in Kenly, N.C.; lived at 438 Mantua Avenue, Woodbury, Gloucester County; his contact was William Kirby, R.F.D. #3, Kenly; and he was self-employed at 438 Mantua Avenue.

In the 1950 census of Woodbury, Gloucester County, New Jersey: widower Isaac Kirby, 60, barbershop proprietor.

The last will and testament of Pitts Kirby (1864).

On 3 November 1864, Pitts Kirby of Wilson County executed a detailed will disposing of his worldly goods. Kirby lived on the far southwest edge of the county, within a mile or two of the Johnston County line.

In addition, Kirby directed that his “Negro Boy Isaac” be hired out until his youngest child reached age eighteen “& then to be Sold & Equally Divided among all of my Children.”

Pitts Kirby didn’t die for more than a decade and, in any event, Ellick and Isaac were emancipated six months after this will was drafted.

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The 1860 slave schedule of Kirbys district, Wilson County, lists Pitts Kirby with two enslaved young men, a 19 year-old and a 17 year-old — Ellick and Isaac. (Or Isaac and Ellick.)

On 6 May 1866, Alexander Kirby and Martha Perry registered their cohabitation with the Johnston County clerk, thereby legitimating their marriage, which had taken place in June 1861.

On 2 May 1867, Isaac Kirby and Mary Barnes were married in Johnston County, North Carolina.

In the 1870 census of Beulah township, Johnston County, N.C.: farmer Isaac Kirby, 30, and wife Mary, 18, farm laborer. He claimed $50/real estate and $125/personal estate.

In the 1870 census of Beulah township, Johnston County, N.C.: Alexander Kirby, 30, farm laborer; wife Martha, 30; and five children Allen, 8, Willis, 6, Neely, 3, James, 2, and Mary, 3 months. [The eldest two children were born in slavery on the farm on which their mother was enslaved.]

In the 1880 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Isaac Kirby, 41; wife Mary, 25; and sons Willis, 14, and Leroy, 1.

In the 1880 census of Beulah township, Johnston County: farmer Alic Kirby, 43; wife Martha J., 40; and children Clarkey, 21, Willis, 17, Milley J., 14, James A., 12, Mary, 10, Martha A., 8, Martha A., 7, Sarah E., 6, Evaline, 3, Lewis Z., 2, and Leroy, 10 months.

In the 1900 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Isaac S. Kirby, 58; wife Mary, 54; and sons Leroy A., 21, William, 14, and Isaac R., 13.

In the 1900 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: day laborer Alex Kirby, 61; wife Martha J., 60; sons Amos, 18, and Obie, 12; and grandson Wiley, 5.

It appears that both Isaac S. Kirby and Alexander Kirby died between 1900 and 1910. Were they brothers?

Cemeteries, no. 39: the William and Nannie Shaw Kirby cemetery.

The Kirby family’s cemetery is off Revell Road a mile or so north of Kenly. It stands on land that remains within the family.

In the 1900 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer Isaac S. Kirby, 58; wife Mary, 54; and sons Leroy A., 21, William, 14, and Isaac R., 13.

In the 1900 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer David H. Shaw, 37; wife Roxey A., 34; and children Herbert, 16, Nettie, 15, Willie F., 14, Nannie F., 10, Hattie C., 8, Estella, 5, Lemon L., 4, John C., 4, Henry S., 3, Joseph L., 1, and Luthor, 1 month.

On 17 January 1909, William Kirby, 24, of Springhill township, son of Isaac and Mary Kirby, married Nannie Shaw, 19, of Springhill township, daughter of David and Roxie Shaw. Missionary Baptist minister W.H. Mitchiner performed the ceremony at the bride’s father’s house.

In the 1910 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer William Kirby, 23; wife Nannie, 20; daughter Fredie M., 5 months; mother Mary, 66, widow; boarder Leroy, 32; and brother Ransom, 23.

In 1918, William Kirby registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 24 July 1884; lived at Route 3, Kenly; was a self-employed farmer; and his nearest relative was Nannie Kirby.

In the 1920 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: “near section of the Kenly and Wilson Road,” farmer William Kirby, 35; wife Nannie, 30; children Frader, 9, James, 8, Elizabeth, 6, Sarah, 4, John Q., 2, and John D., 3 months; nephew Jessie, 6; nieces Fannie and Annie, 4; and mother Mary, 60, widow.

In the 1930 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: on property owned and valued at $6000, farmer William Kirby, 45; wife Nannie, 41; and children James D., 19, Freeda M., 20, Elizabeth, 18, Sarah, 15, Roxana E., 13, William H., 11, Queene E., 9, Hobby L., 8, Isaac H., 5, Nettie, 2, and Willie K., 2 month.

James Kirby died 1 October 1934 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 23 years old; was born in Wilson County to William Kirby and Nannie Shaw; was married to Mary Kirby; and worked as a barber.

The double headstone of William H. and Nannie S. Kirby.

In the 1940 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer William Kirby, 55; wife Nannie, 52; children Hobby Lee, 17, Havey Isa, 15, Nettie, 13, Willie K., 13, and Roxia A., 22; niece Lucille Shaw, 18; and lodger Jr. Barnes, 4.

In 1943, Harvey Isaac Kirby registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Perhis registration card, he was born 1 March 1925 in Wilson County; lived at Route 3, Kenly, Wilson County; his contact was Nannie Kirby; and he worked on his father William Kirby’s farm.

William Kirby died 5 June 1943 in Springhill township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was 58 years old; was born in Wilson County to Isaac Kirby and Mary Barnes; was married to Nannie Kirby; and was buried in the family cemetery by C.E. Artis. William Henry Kirby was informant.

On 20 May 1950, James Richardson, 65, of Wilson, son of Dick and Topsie Richardson, married Nannie Kirby, 62, daughter of Dave and Roxie Shaw, in Wilson. Missionary Baptist minister F.F. Battle performed the ceremony.

These vernacular concrete headstones mark the graves of two children of William and Nannie Kirby who died as young adults. Their father’s original headstone, of a similar concrete make, now leans against the chainlink fence.

Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson, February 2026.

In memoriam: Roxanna Kirby Exum.

Wilson Daily Times, 17 December 2009.

Roxanna Kirby Exum was a nurse at Mercy Hospital from the early 1940s until it closed in 1964.

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In the 1930 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: on property owned and valued at $6000, farmer William Kirby, 45; wife Nannie, 41; and children James D., 19, Freeda M., 20, Elizabeth, 18, Sarah, 15, Roxana E., 13, William H., 11, Queene E., 9, Hobby L., 8, Isaac H., 5, Nettie, 2, and Willie K., 2 month.

In the 1940 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer William Kirby, 55; wife Nannie, 52; children Hobby Lee, 17, Havey Isa, 15, Nettie, 13, Willie K., 13, and Roxia A., 22; niece Lucille Shaw, 18; and lodger Jr. Barnes, 4.

Per their marriage license, Levell Exum and Roxanna Eva Kirby, both 25, were married 7 March 1943 in Johnston County, N.C. Primitive Baptist minister David Bynum lived near Lucama, in Wilson County, however, as did Mamie B. Williamson and David Bynum Jr.

Another Odd Fellows cemetery!

We saw here that a half-dozen or more African-American Odd Fellows lodges were scattered around Wilson County in the early 1900s. Two were in the town of Wilson — Mount Hebron, whose lodge was in the 500 block of East Nash, and Zion Hall, which was in the Grabneck community. Others were in unclear locations in or near Stantonsburg, Black Creek, and Lucama, and three were at locations completely unknown.

I stumbled on a clue today.

While running down a loose end related to Saint Delight Original Free Will Baptist church, at (2), my cursor paused on the square outlined in blue, at (1). I glanced at the owner of this lot. Odd Fellows Society?!? And with the same generic Bishop L.N. Forbes Street address as the Lane Street Project’s Odd Fellows Cemetery. Per the tax record for this parcel, this is a cemetery. [The parcels marked (4) are also cemeteries — Saint Delight’s original cemetery and an expansion lot acquired in 1993. I believe (3) is the lot on which Kirby’s Crossing School once stood.]

Which Odd Fellows lodge was this? And large enough to establish its own cemetery? Wow!

A plat map showing a division of property for the Lucian Kirby heirs, filed in 1992, answers the question. Here’s a detail:

Plat Book 22, page 220, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

The key identifies the owner of (3) as Lucama Odd Fellows Grand United Order No. 3501. (This may be a typo, as other documents record the lodge number as 3561.)

I don’t have access to Deed Book 51 online, but I’ll run to the courthouse for it next time I’m in Wilson. (The Bishop L.N. Forbes mailing address for recent tax records for this property is clearly a recent clerical add-in. It’s erroneous, and serves no purpose other than to cloud the picture. The address is insufficient for mail delivery; there is no mailbox; and, in any event, both cemeteries are tax-exempt.) I’ll also need to take another look at the cemetery, which I assumed belonged to the church when I photographed it in September 2017.

Here’s a clue I missed:

James A. Kirby‘s fallen headstone shows the Odd Fellows’ linked chain symbol, marked F-L-T. Lucama Lodge was chartered in 1892, and Kirby may have been among the original members.

Lucama news, March 1943.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 20 March 1943.

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  • Roxanna Kirby Exum

In the 1940 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: farmer William Kirby, 55; wife Nannie, 52; children Hobby Lee, 17, Havey Isa, 15, Nettie, 13, Willie K., 13, and Roxia A., 22; niece Lucille Shaw, 18; and lodger Jr. Barnes, 4.

Per their marriage license, Levell Exum and Roxanna Eva Kirby, both 25, were married 7 March 1943 in Johnston County, N.C. Primitive Baptist minister David Bynum lived near Lucama, in Wilson County, however, as did Mamie B. Williamson and David Bynum Jr.

  • Pvt. Daniel Vick

Daniel Vick registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 3 January 1917 in Wilson; his contact was mother Bethaniel Allen; he lived at Mount 1, Lucama; and he worked for farmer Joe Moore, Lucama.

  • Paul Morgan
  • Bettie Bess

Unemployment fraud?

On 30 April 1938, the Pittsburgh Courier reported that three African-American Wilson women were facing fraud and misrepresentation charges connected with unemployment compensation applications. Though the details of their alleged crimes are not listed, the article notes that several others had recently been penalized after refusing employment in strawberry fields.

Pittsburgh Courier, 30 April 1938.

  • Maggie Rogers — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: perhaps, at 705 Dew Street, high school lunchroom cook Maggie Rogers, 40, and her sons Phillip Henry, 18, a tobacco factory laborer, Millard Jr., 16, and Coach V., 14.
  • Lena Kirby
  • Tiny Hobbs Jefferson — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: fertilizer plant laborer Tom Jefferson, 43; wife Tiny, 32; and children George, 12, Lena, 10, Tom Jr., 4, and Momynise, 2.