marriage

Bertha Bryant becomes Mrs. Dewitt Hawkins.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 24 October 1942.

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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 596 Wainwright Street, tobacco factory laborer Isham Bryant, 27; wife Rossie, 21; and children Beatrice, 5, Bertha, 4, and Inez, 1.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 805 Roberson Street, Isom Bryant, 37, factory laborer; wife Rossie, 32, public school maid; and daughters Beatrice, 15, Bertha, 14, and Inez, 11.

Bertha Bryant married Dewitt Hawkins on 8 September 1942 in New York City. Hawkins died 21 October 1956. Per a Report on Interment, he served in 3294 QM Svc. Co. QMC from 1942 to 1945 as a private first class and was buried in Long Island National Cemetery. His next of kin was Bertha Hawkins, 183-48 Dunlop Avenue, Saint Albans, New York — “Widow Bertha to be buried in the same grave.”

Bertha Bryant Hawkins returned to Wilson and later married Dan Carroll, who owned a popular Nash Street pool room.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Johnson quietly marry.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 8 May 1943.

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In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 903 Nash, lumber company engineer William Barnes, 37; wife Julia, 33; daughters Evelyn, 4, and Mary, 2; and roomer Gladys Jones, 16.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1020 Wainwright, owned and valued at $900, lumber mill laborer William Barnes, 46; wife Julia, 42; and children Evelyn, 13, Mary B., 11, and William Jr., 8.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1020 Wainwright, owned and valued at $1800, cotton mill engineer William Barnes, 58; wife Julia, 55; daughters Evylene, 25, beauty parlor beautician, and Mary, 19; adopted daughter Nebraska, 11.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Wainwright, Evelyn Johnson, 34, beauty shop proprietor, and Johnnie Johnson, 43.

Evelyn Barnes Johnson died 12 May 1957 at her home at 1020 Wainwright Avenue, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 21 December 1914 in Wilson to William Barnes Sr. and Julia Fields; was a beautician; and was married to Monk Johnson. She was buried in the Masonic cemetery, Wilson.

News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 13 May 1957.

DesVigne-Taylor wedding held at Saint Alphonsus.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 3 August 1946.

Edna Gray Taylor married New Orleans native Sidney L. DesVigne Jr. on 12 June 1946 in Wilson. The venue, Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church, apparently was an accommodation for the groom’s faith, as the Taylors were members of Saint John A.M.E. Zion. Hattie Pearce Tate, widow of barber Noah J. Tate, hosted a reception at her home at 307 North Pender Street.

Wilson natives in the bridal party were the bride’s brother Roderick Taylor Jr.; siblings Rosemary Fitts and Howard Fitts Jr.; the bride’s sister Mary Joyce Taylor; and standing at rear, the bride’s father Roderick Taylor Sr.

 

Barnes and Campbell united in matrimony.

Wilson Mirror, 11 April 1894.

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In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Sydnor Campbell, 48; wife America, 40; and children York, 16, Thomas, 12, Pennina, 7, Rueben, 5, Nelly, 3, Lawrence,  2, and Nancy, 1.

In the 1880 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Peter Barnes, 34; wife Emly, 30; and children Mathew, 13, Bolden, 11, John, 6, Mary E., 5, Cofield, 2, and Emly, 1 month.

On 7 April 1894, John T. Barnes, 20, of Wilson County, son of Peter and Emma Barnes, married Nellie Campbell, 19, daughter of Sidney and America Campbell, at the register’s office in Wilson, North Carolina.

On 13 December 1928, William Ellis, 70, of Wilson, son of Bob Ellis and Caroline [maiden name not listed], married Nellie Baker, 65, of Wilson, daughter of Sidney and Emmaline Campbell, at the bride’s residence in Wilson.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 201 West Walnut, Nellie Ellis, 66, stemming machine worker at redrying plant; husband William Ellis, 71; roomer Julia Powell, 82, widow; nephew’s daughter Lizzie Sharpe, 35.

Nellie Baker Ellis died 12 October 1960 at her home at 201 West Walnut Street, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 18 April 1883 in Wilson County to Sidney Campbell and Mikie Farmer; was widowed; and was retired.

Bigamy hearing interrupted for wedding.

Wilson Daily Times, 13 January 1928.

I had to read this a few times before I understood that the couple being married was not named in the piece.

As for James Artis, at age 19 he married Cherry Murphy, 18, on 1 October 1922 in Ormonds township, Greene County, North Carolina. I have not found a license for him and Lena Edwards.

The upcoming nuptials of J.W. Rogers and Mary Elizabeth Thomas.

Raleigh Gazette, 28 August 1897.

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In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: John Rodgers, 30, day laborer; wife Mary E., 22; sister Minnie, 17; and boarder Sallie Barber, 35.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Railroad Street, John Rogers, 33, odd jobs; wife Mary E., 30; public school teacher; daughter Mary J., 2; and sisters Winnie, 22, cook, Ethel T., 12, and Ida E., 8.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: John Rodgers, 49, general laborer, and wife Mary, 38, at 555 [East] Nash Street.

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 546 East Nash, John W. Rogers, 57, janitor at dry goods store; wife Mary R., 47; adopted son Leonard G., 7 (born in the West Indies to West Indian parents); and niece Ernestine Atkinson, 22.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: J. Wesley Rogers, 71, retail candy store operator, and wife Mary, 70, at 546 East Nash Street.

Mary Elizabeth Rogers died 24 May 1950 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 16 April 1878 in Smithfield, N.C., to John Thomas; was married; resided at 546 East Nash Street; and was buried in Thomas cemetery, Johnston County. Informant was Wesley Rogers.

John Wesley Rogers died 19 December 1951 at his home at 546 East Nash Street, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 12 May 1870 in Durham, N.C., to Charles Rogers; was a widower; had worked as a department store porter; and was buried in the Masonic cemetery. Earnestine Coley was informant.

Groom killed an hour after marriage.

Wilson Daily Times, 30 November 1948.

In the 1930 census of Tarboro, Edgecombe County, North Carolina: farmer Robert Fate, 33, born in South Carolina; wife Mionna, 31, also born in South Carolina; children Alice, 17, Willis H., 17, Persey, 11, Geneva, 7, Robert Jr., 5, and May E., 2; mother-in-law Alice Jurant, 55, and father-in-law Melvin Jurant, 56.

In the 1940 census of Mannings township, Nash County, North Carolina: Robert Fate, 43, farmer on rented farm; wife Miona, 39; and Geneva, 16, Robert Junius, 15, Mary Etta, 12, Curtis Lee, 9, and Eddie Lee, 6.

Miorina Fate died 21 September 1947 in Bailey, Nash County. Per her death certificate, she was born 7 October 1901 in Florence, South Carolina, to Will Carter and Alice Green and was married to Robert Fate. 

Robert Fate, 55, of Wilson, married Anna Riley, 45, of Sims, on 29 November 1948 in Wilson.

At 5:45 P.M. the same day, Robert Fate was declared dead, struck by a car on U.S. Highway 264 near Sims. 

Clipping courtesy of J. Robert Boykin III.