Henry C. Lassiter of Wilson was a member of the B Class in Howard University’s Normal School in 1889-90.
As the catalog below noted, Classes A and B were designed to bring students up to readiness to for entry into the Normal or Preparatory schools.
Howard University Catalog of Officers and Students from March 1889 to March 1890, U.S. School Catalogs, 1765-1935 [database on-line], http://www.ancestry.com.
Elder Jonah Williams (1841-1915) was involved in the establishment of nearly every church in the Turner Swamp Primitive Baptist Association, including Turner Swamp (1897), Barnes (1898), Little Union (1899), and Rocky Mount (1908). Turner Swamp still meets at or near its original location just north of Eureka in Wayne County. Barnes Chapel was close to Stantonsburg, in southwest Wilson County. Little Union Primitive Baptist Church, which is under reconstruction, was in the Town Creek area east of Elm City. I have not been able to find current references to Rocky Mount Primitive Baptist Church. London’s Church, now inside city limits, was then just north of the town of Wilson. The church is closely associated with London Woodard, an enslaved man who was purchased by his free-born wife, Penny Lassiter. Just after the Civil War, London, who had been a staunch member of Toisnot Primitive Baptist Church, founded an African-American congregation, which reorganized as an independent Primitive Baptist congregation in 1897.
Barnes Church, near Stantonsburg.
Elder Williams participated in five Association annual sessions before his death, and the minutes of two survive, including the 1914 session excerpted below.
State of North Carolina, Wilson County }
On this the 24 day of April 1866 the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for said County proceeded to take examination of Delpha Locus whereupon she declares upon her oath that she has bin deliverd of a Child which child is a bastard and liable to become chargeable to said County her child Edwin is a male bastard of the age of two years and eight month old being less than three years old,
She further declares that Nathan A. Blackwell is the father of her said child. Delpha (X) Locus
Taken and subscribed before me Jos. F. Mercer {seal}
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It appears that Edwin was reared by his father. In the 1870 census of Black Creek, Wilson County: 31 year-old farm laborer Nathan Blackwell, 42 year-old Mary Blackwell, and 6 year-old Edwin Blackwell. Ten years later, however: Nathan Blackwell, 40; his wife Mary Blackwell, 55; 36 year-old servant Delpha Lassiter; Harriet Lassiter, 14, and Nathan Lassiter, 4; Charlotte Baker, 70; and Edwin Blackwell, 17.
Delpha Lassiter and Delpha Locus were the same person. She was also known as Delpha Simpson, daughter of Orpah Simpson Lassiter, and married Matthew Lassiter (brother of her stepfather Silas Lassiter) on 7 December 1866 in Wilson County. They appear in the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Mathew Lassiter, 47, Delphy, 24, Harret, 3, infant, 1 month, and Thomas Lassiter, 2.
On 12 May 1889 in Gardners township, Wilson County, Ed Blackwell, 27, son of Axum [sic] Blackwell and Delpha Locus, married Cherry Farmer, 24, daughter of Rhoda Bynum.
Nathan Blackwell and Delphia Lassiter married 30 January 1890 in Wilson County. In the 1900 census of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana: 59 year-old day laborer Nathan Blackwell; wife Delpha, 53; daughter-in-law [stepdaughter?] Harriet, 33; and Harriet’s children James, 16, Jonas, 13, Martha, 11, and Peter, 10. Delpha Blackwell died 2 April 1902 in Indianapolis.
Bastardy Bonds, 1866, Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh.
North-Carolina Free Press (Tarboro), 24 January 1832.
$25 REWARD.
RAN AWAY from the Subscriber, in May Court week last, a bright mulatto boy named JOHN, about 19 or 20 years of age, 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high, thick set and well built – he has a scar under his jaw, (I think the left jaw,) and thick ankles. He is a shrewd fellow, and will perhaps alter his name and attempt to pass as a free man. His father is a free negro, named Hardy Lassiter, living on Toisnot. The above reward will be given for John’s apprehension, if delivered to me in Edgecombe county, or secured in any jail so that I can get him again. All persons are hereby forbid harboring, employing, carrying off said boy, under the penalty of law. SAMUEL FARMER. Nov. 28, 1831.
Hardy Lassiter’s will was proved at May Term, 1853, of Edgecombe County Court shortly after he died. Hardy’s will did not make provision for his wife Obedience “Bedie” Lassiter, and she sued for dower:
I Hardy Laseter of the County of Edgecomb and State of N. Carolina now being of sound mind and memory, but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence, do make and declare this my Last will and Testament in manner and form following – that is to Say –
First. I give and bequeath unto my son Silas Laseter all that tract of Land where he now Lives known by the name of the Tomlinson tract containing Eighty one acres more or less adjoining the Lands of Benj Sims and I Give and bequeath unto my Sons Mathew Green & Hardy Laseter all my Tract of Land whereon I now Live to be eaqually divided between them. And it is my will and desire that the said Lands shall be divide in to three equeal Shears & for my son Hardy Laseter to have his shear whereon the House now stand, as the dowery part. And I begive and bequeath unto my son Silas on sorrel mare by the name of Bony. And I give unto my son Mathew one Sorril Horse Name Doctor I also give unto my son green one Sorrel Horse one bay mare by the name of bunch. I Also give unto my daughter Treacy fifty dollars in money from the proceeds of my affects
And I give unto my Daughter Penny or her heirs fifty dollars from the proceeds of my affects. I also give unto my Daughter Sally Artice fifty Dollars out of the proceeds of my effects and I Also give unto my Daughter Rachel One feather bed & furniture the one Known as the bed I occupy my self. And one cow by the name time. And thirty Dollars in Money from the proceeds of my affects.
I Also give unto my Little grand Daughter Elvey Laseter Ten Dollars of the proceeds of my affects And it is my will & desire that all my parishable property to be sold except what I have alredy mentioned in this my Last Will & Testament. And after each one of my Daughters Receiving the amts here set apart for them the Balance to be equally divided between my four Daughters & my Little grand Daughter Elvey according to each ones shear
And I do hereby Constitute and appoint my John W. Farmer my Lawful executor to all my intents and purposes to execute this my Last and Testament according to the true intent and meaning of this [illegible] and every part & Clause thereof, hereby revoking and declareing utterly void all other wills and Testament by men heretofor made in witness I hereto sit my hand and seal this day 9 October 1851. Test William Tomlinson, Josiah Farmer Hardy X Laseter
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This ad was placed during probate in an attempt to locate Hardy Lassiter’s daughter Sally Lassiter Artis.
Tarborough Southerner, 24 September 1853.
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In the 1850 census of Edgecombe County: Hardy Laster, 73, wife Beady, 54, and children Mathew, 26, Silas, 26, Green, 25, Hardy, 21, and Rachel, 20; all described as mulatto. Hardy reported owning $650 of real property.
In 1860, Penny Lassiter headed a household in Gardners township, Wilson County, and Silas, Matthew and Green Lassiter headed households in Wilson township, Wilson County.
Wills, Edgecombe County Records, North Carolina State Archives.