In the 1920 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: on S.H. Crocker Farm Road, tenant farmer, John Whitehead, 37; wife Nellie, 36; children E.K., 16, William H., 13, Anna V.O., 7, Anna Nula, 5, and J.B., 4; and great-uncle[?] Josh Whitehead.
In the 1930 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: on Highway 91, express laborer [no first name] Whitehead, 49; wife Ella, 45; and children Anna V., 17, Nora, 16, John, 14, and William, 24. All were born in Georgia except Ella [Nellie], who was born in North Carolina.
In the 1940 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: widow Nellie Whitehead, 56; son J.B., 24, truck driver for a contractor; daughter Anna Hagans, 27, tobacco company stemmer; son-in-law Henry Hagans, 32, town garbage remover; and daughter Elnora Whitehead, 26.
John Baptist Whitehead registered for the World War II draft in Wilson in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 25 December 1915 in Chester, Georgia; lived at Route 4, Box 39, Wilson; worked for Imperial Tobacco, Barnes Street; and his contact was his mother, Nellie Whitehead.
Applications for military headstones reveal that these men were buried in one of the three cemeteries known collectively as “Rountree.” Of the veterans below, only Willie Gay’s grave marker has been found.
John Melton
In the 1900 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: John Melton, 42, wife Lucy, 45, sons John, 16, and Samuel A., 13.
In the 1910 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: John Melton, 51, wife Lucy, 55, son Johnnie Jr., 24, boarder James Dudley, 20, and grandson Sam Melton, 12.
On 29 October 1917, John Melton, 26, of Wilson, married Cora Barnes, 25, of Wilson. Rev. Fred M. Davis performed the ceremony in the presence of Linnie Wilson, M.H. Wilson, and Lorena E. Gregg.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: house carpenter John Melton, 28, wife Cora, 26, with son Robert O., 1, and cousin Della Griswill, 24.
Albert Battle
On 28 December 1917, Albert Battle, 31, of Wayne County, son of Albert and Annie Battle, married Hannah Pate, 30, of Stantonsburg, daughter of John and Vinie Pate, in Wilson County. Rev. S.J. Brown, a Freewill Baptist minister, at P.P. Barnes’ house in Stantonsburg in the presence of Smithie Barnes, P.P. Barnes, and Rosa Battle.
In the 1920 census of Great Swamp, Wayne County: Albert Battle, 33, wife Hannah, 31, and daughter Linday, 12, on Pikeville and Fremont Road.
In the 1930 census of Great Swamp, Wayne County: Albert Battle, 43, wife Hannah, 39, sister-in-law Smythia, 45, nieces and nephews Odie, 18, Flossie M., 17, Hettie B., 10, Beatrice, 7, Viola, 6, and James O. Battle, 3.
Albert Battle died 19 March 1936 in Fremont, Wayne County. Per his death certificate, he was born 9 March 1886 in Edgecombe County to Albert Battle and Dossie Ann Drake; worked as a laborer; was married; and was buried in Wilson. Hannah Battle of Fremont was informant.
Larry Hooks
In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Larry Hooks, 20, listed a prisoner in the county stockade on Wiggins Mill Road.
Lary Hooks, 27, registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born 10 May 1890 in Fremont, North Carolina, and worked as a “convict on road” in the Nashville road district. He was married and described as medium height and stout with brown eyes and black hair.
Larry Hooks died 3 August 1936 in Wilson’s Mercy Hospital. Per his death certificate, he was married to Sarah Hooks; was born about 1890 in Wayne County to Charlie Hooks and Melvina Reid of Wayne County; and worked as a common laborer. Charlie Hooks of Elm City, North Carolina, was informant.
Willie Gay
In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Emma Gay, 35, and children Charlie, 15, steam mill worker, Mary, 11, Etheldred, 8, and Willie, 6, plus boarder Fannie Thompson, 19, cook.
On 8 January 1894, Willie Gay, 18, son of Charles and Emma Gay, married Mary Bunn, 21, daughter of Dick and Mary Bunn, at Willie Gay’s house in Wilson. Presbyterian minister L.J. Melton performed the ceremony in the presence of W.M. Phillips, L.A. Moore, and C.C. Williams.
Probably, in the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: day laborer William Gay, 26, a widower, living alone.
On 29 October 1902, Willie Gay, 27, married Mary Johnson, 22, in Wilson. Missionary Baptist ministerFred M. Davis performed the ceremony in the presence of Cain Artis, Chas. S. Thomas, and Robt. E. Artis.
On 23 March 1906, William Gay, 33, son of Charles and Emma Gay, married Augustus McNeil, 30, daughter of Peter and Emily Patterson of Fayetteville, North Carolina, at William Gay’s house in Wilson. Rev. Fred M. Davis performs the ceremony in the presence of J.E. Fanner, Robert Stricklin, and Charlie Fain.
Possibly, in the 1940 census of Kecoughtan, Elizabeth City County, Virginia: Willie Gay, 66, born in North Carolina, patient at Veterans Administration facility.
N.B.: Gay, who served 1898-99, was a veteran of the Spanish American War.
Robert Crocker Harris
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1018 Wainwright Street, farmer Moses Dupree, 50; wife Henrietta, 48, nurse for private family; grandson Robert Harris, 8; and roomer Virginia Humphreys, 54, cosmetics peddler.
In 1942, Robert Crocker Harris registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. His draft card reports that he was born 6 June 1922 in Wilson County; resided at 1018 Wainwright Street; listed Henriette Dupree of that address as his contact person; and worked as a tobacco farm aide.
Robert Croker Harris died 21 June 1952 in Durham, North Carolina. Per his death certificate, he was born 6 June 1922 in Wilson County to Willie Harris and Smithie Dupree; was married; worked as an orderly at Duke Hospital; and resided at 613 Fayetteville Street. Detective W.H. Upchurch was informant. Cause of death: “Abdominal hemorrhage; two pistol shot wounds of back; shot while being arrested for disorderly conduct & resisting arrest — officer exonerated by grand jury.”
On 30 March 1918, the Wilson County Draft Board inducted these 25 African-American men into military service and ordered them sent to Camp Grant, Illinois, for basic training.
Jimmie Pender registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born in December 1888 in Georgia, resided on a rural free delivery route outside Wilson, worked as a railway laborer for Norfolk Southern Railway Company, and had a wife and child. He was of medium height and stout, with black eyes and hair. He signed his card with an X.
William Gaston registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born in 1896 in Elm City, resided in Elm City, farmed for P.C. Cobb near Elm City, and was married. He was tall and slender, with dark blue(?) eyes and black hair. He signed his card with an X.
Charlie Rice registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born in 25 June 1886 in Danville, Virginia; resided at 522 East Nash Street, Wilson; was a laborer for W.T. Clarke in Wilson; and was single. He was tall and slender, with black eyes and hair. He signed his card with an X.
Julius Franklin Freeman registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born in 9 December 1887 in Wilson; resided on Nash Road, R.F.D. #4, Wilson; worked as a brickmason for H.T. Crittenden in Wilson; and was single. He was of medium height and weight, with brown eyes and black hair. He signed his card ‘Julius F. Freeman.’
Will Dixon registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born in 1896 in Farmville, North Carolina; resided in Stantonsburg; was a laborer at W.L. Russell Box Company; and was single. He was short and of medium weight, with black eyes and black hair. He signed his card with an X.
Luther Williams registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born in6 June 1890 in Wilson County; resided in Walstonsburg; was a laborer on H.H. Walston Jr.’s farm; and was single. He was of medium height and weight, with dark brown eyes and black hair. He signed his card with an X.
Eddie Dew registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born in May 1896 in Wilson County; resided at 617 Darden, Wilson; was a laborer for John B. Deans, Wilson; and was single. He was slender, with dark eyes and hair. He signed his card ‘Eddie Dew.’
Mancie Gaston registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born 10 June 1892 in Elm City, resided in Elm City, worked as a barber for G.A. Gaston in Elm City, and was single. He was of medium height and weight, with dark brown eyes and black hair. He signed his card ‘Mancie Gaston.’
Moses Parker registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born in 31 August 1889 in Nash County; resided at 305 Barnes Street, Wilson; was a hack driver for Crockett & Aikens, a stable on Barnes Street; and was single. He was tall and of medium build, with dark eyes and hair. He signed his card ‘Moses Parker.’
Alonza Coley registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born 8 September 1890 in Pikeville, Wayne County; resided at 105 East Street, Wilson; worked as a carpenter for Barney Reid “in the Town of Wilson”; and was single. He was tall and of medium build, with dark eyes and hair. He signed his card ‘Alonzo Coley.’
Dave McPhail registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born in April 1896 in Wade [sic, Wayne? Wake?] County; resided in Darden’s Alley, Wilson; worked as an auto driver for S.H. Vick in Wilson; and was single. He was of medium height and weight, with black eyes and hair. He signed his card with an X.
Augustus Gaston registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born 28 March 1894 in Elm City, resided in Elm City, worked as a barber for G.A. Gaston in Elm City, and was single. He was of medium height and weight, with dark brown eyes and black hair. He signed his card ‘Augustus Gaston.’
Ernest Moore registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born in August 1894 in Greenville, North Carolina; resided at 517 Nash Street, Wilson; worked as a laborer for C.E. Moore in Wilson; and was single. He was of medium height and weight, with black eyes and black hair, and had rheumatism. He signed his card with an X.
Hayes Boatman registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born in 23 August 1896 in Raeford, North Carolina; resided on Hines Street, Wilson; was a box factory employee for W.J. Russell Box Company, Wilson; and was single. He was of medium height and slender, with black eyes and black hair. He signed his card with an X.
Julius Rountree registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born in 4 March 1895 in Greenville, North Carolina; resided in Wilson; worked as a mechanic for Samuel Vick in Wilson; and had a wife and child. He was tall and of medium build, with brown eyes and dark hair. He signed his card ‘Julius Rountree.’
Roscoe Williams registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born in 28 December 1895 in Wilson; resided on Vance Street, Wilson; was an unemployed laborer; and was single. He was tall and of medium build, with brown eyes and black hair. He signed his card ‘Roscoe Williams.’
Orlando Farmer registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born in 5 November 1886 in Wilson; resided at 643 Nash Street, Wilson; was a drayman for Boykin Grocery Company, Wilson; and was single. He was tall and stout, with brown eyes and black hair. He signed his card ‘Olander Farmer.’
John Tyler registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born in 26 March 1895 in Charleston, West Virginia; resided in Darden’s Alley, Wilson; worked as a barber for Charlie Knight, Wilson; and was single. He was of medium height and weight, with black eyes and black hair. He signed his card with an X.
John Hardy Ellis registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. Per his registration card, he was born in 10 January 1895 in Wilson County; resided in Stantonsburg; was a section hand for Norfolk Southern R.R. Company; and was single. He was of medium height and weight, with dark eyes and hair and had “one finger off on right hand.” He signed his card ‘John Hardy Elies.’
U.S. Lists of Men Ordered to Report to Local Board for Military Duty, 1917-1918, [database on-line], http://www.ancestry.com; U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line], http://www.ancestry.com.
