migration to Connecticut

The obituary of Fletcher Pierce of Greencastle, Pennsylvania.

Public Opinion (Chambersburg, Penna.), 18 April 1952.

Public Opinion (Chambersburg, Penna.), 19 April 1952.

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This is not the Fletcher F. Pierce who left Wilson to settle in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Also, there is conflicting evidence of this Fletcher Pierce‘s birthplace. His draft registrations show Franklin County, North Carolina, but his death certificate and obituary list Wilson, North Carolina.

In 1917, Fletcher Pearce registered for the World War I draft in New Britain, Connecticut. Per his registration card, he was born 5 February 1890 in Franklin, North Carolina lived at 60 Chestnut, New Britain; and worked as a chauffeur for F.P. Upson.

In the 1920 census of New Britain, Hartford County, Connecticut: Fletcher Pierce, 29, chauffeur, born in N.C.; wife Para, 35, born in Virginia; children Suzie, 2, and Clara, 5 months; and brothers Sam, 36, and Bethel Pierce, 32, both machinists in a hardware factory.

In the 1930 census of Manhattan, New York County, New York: on Saint Nicholas Place, Fletcher Pierce, 41, trucking chauffeur, and wife Elizabeth, 42.

In 1942, Fletcher Pierce registered for the World War II draft in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. Per his registration card, he was born 5 February 1889 in Franklinton, North Carolina; was married to Elizabeth Pierce; lived at R.D. #1, Clark’s Summit; and worked for John L. Ryan.

Fletcher Pierce died 18 April 1952 in Greencastle, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Per his death certificate, he was born 5 February 1889 in Wilson, N.C., to Allen and Mary Jane Pierce; was married; lived at 36 West Franklin Street, Greencastle; worked as a laborer in a machine shop; and was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

The obituary of Clinton Watson.

Wilson Daily Times, 28 January 1949.

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In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Willis Watson, 29; wife Mamie, 34; and children Perneicy, 7, Clinton, 5, McCartney, 4, and Rosa L., 2.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 913 Vance, W.P.A. laborer Willis Watson, 42; wife Mamie, 43; and children Bernice A., 16, Clinton, 15, McCarthy, 14, Rosa Lee, 12, Alfonso, 9, Naomi, 6, and Marion K., 2.

In 1942, Clinton Watson registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 12 May 1924 in Johnston County and lived at 913 East Vance Street, Wilson.

Clinton Watson died 26 January 1949 in Meriden, Connecticut.

The Journal (Meriden, Conn.), 27 January 1949.

Lewis, former sailor, hangs himself.

Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 2 July 1910.

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Possibly, in the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Clarisea Lewis, 43, widow, farmer; and children Emma, 18,, 15, Gertrude, 12, Whit, 10, George, 8, Mattie, 6, and Hattie, 3.

In the 1910 census of Connecticut State Prison, Wethersfield town, Hartford County, Connecticut: Edward Lewis, 25, prisoner, born in N.C., does not work; “This man is insane.”

The Government Hospital for the Insane was later known as Saint Elizabeths Hospital.

Other suns: Connecticut.

Connecticut drew a share of the Great Migration, with Wilson County migrants settling mostly in greater Hartford or in cities along the Long Island Sound coastline.

  • Artis, Silas A., New Haven, bef. 1917
  • Dyson, Jake and Catherine Dyson and son James A., New Britain, ca. 1917
  • Batts, Frank, and Jennie Jones Batts, and children James, Ernest, and John, Portland, Middlesex and New Haven, bef. 1924
  • McDaniel, Fred A., Stratford, bef. 1930 (prior, in New York)
  • Coley, George, New Haven, bef. 1935
  • Artis, John L., Albert Artis and Isaac L. Sellars, brothers, Greenwich, bef. 1940
  • Gaston, John L., New Haven, bef. 1942
  • Norfleet, Samuel, Kensington, bef. 1942
  • Norfleet, James, New Britain, bef. 1942
  • Carter, M. Elmer, Hartford, bef. 1942 (prior, in Penna. and N.Y.)
  • Williams, Willie, Fairfield, bef. 1942
  • Jones, Raymond, New Haven, bef. 1942
  • Jones, John, New Haven, bef. 1942
  • Jones, Joseph G., New Haven, bef. 1942
  • Smith, James W., New London, bef. 1944
  • Hodge, James L., New Haven, bef. 1947

Negro doing well in the North.

During one of his annual visits home to Wilson, the News & Observer published a short feature on Silas Alexander Artis, who had once worked turning the power press at the Wilson Daily Times., a paper once operated by N.&O. founder Josephus Daniels. After leaving the paper, Artis attended Brick Agricultural, Industrial and Normal Institute in northern Edgecombe County before migrating North.

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News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 22 June 1922.

Was Silas A. Artis the son of Fereby Barnes Artis Barnes and her first husband, Benjamin Artis? If so, in the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farm laborer Willis Barnes, 60; [his second] wife Fereby, 51; and [Fereby’s] children Morris, 20, Artis [sic], 16, Silas, 14, Wade, 12; and Fereby’s mother Rose Barnes, 50. (Though the surname of Fereby’s children was listed as Barnes, it was in fact Artis.)

In 1917, S. Alexander Artis registered for the World War I draft in New Haven, Connecticut. Per his registration card, he was born 4 July 1886 in New Orleans, Louisiana; resided at 171 Dixwell Street, New Haven; worked as a stationary fireman for Cauder Rubber Company, New Haven; and had “defective eyes.”

In the 1920 census of New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut: at 58 Hudson Street, rubber shop fireman Silas A. Artis, 34, born in Connecticut; wife Baptiste, 38; daughters Sila, 2, and Frances, 1; and Pearley Reeves, 24.

In the 1930 census of New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut: at 647 Orchard Street, houseman Silas A. Artis, 44, born North Carolina; wife Baptiste, 50; and daughters Sila, 13, and Frances, 11.

In 1942, Silas A. Artis registered for the World War II draft in New Haven. Per her registration card, he was born 4 July 1886 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 9 Northeast Drive, New Haven; worked for City of New Haven Park Department; and his contact was Sila A. Artis, 9 Northeast.

Silas A. Artis died in New Haven, Connecticut, on 13 August 1977.

New Haven Independent, 5 May 2009.