mother and son

George A. Spell wandered from home.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 16 April 1938.

——

On 18 June 1913, Nerus Spell, 21, and Nancy Taylor, 21, were married in Wilson. Baptist minister Fred M. Davis performed the ceremony in the presence of Viola Strickland and Tincy Jones.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 510 South Lodge, tobacco factory cooper Nero Spells, 28; wife Nancy, 25, servant; and son George, 5.

In the 1928 Wilson, N.C., city directory: Spell Nancy (c) h 508 S Lodge

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 508 South Lodge, owned and valued at $3000, widow Nancy T. Spell, 35, private family cook; son George A., 15, tobacco factory worker; and daughter Mary C., 2.

In 1940, George A. Spell registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 27 May 1915 in Wilson, N.C.; lived at 508 South Lodge; his contact was aunt Mancy Bell, 508 South Lodge; and he worked at Watson Tobacco Company

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 508 South Lodge, Nancy Spell, 45; daughter Mary, 25; son Louis, 12; and lodgers Jordan Taylor, 65, Marshal McCormick, 27, and Carl Brown, 35.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 508 South Lodge, Nancy Spell, 54, and son George, 34.

The death of little Isaac Bridges.

Three year-old Isaac Bridges died of kidney disease on 7 April 1895 in Kenton County, Kentucky. Per his death certificate, he was born in Wilson, North Carolina, to Esta Bridges and Andrew Bardon; had lived [in Covington] for one year; lived in Ellison House; and was buried in Linden Grove Cemetery.

Isaac’s mother Esther Bridges died of tuberculosis on 1 July 1895 in Saint Elizabeth Hospital, Covington, Kentucky. Her age was birthplace were unknown; she was a widow; she worked as a domestic; and was buried in Linden Grove.

Studio shots, no. 220: Rosa Pitt Battle and Frank Pitt.

It’s always wonderful when readers share photographs of the men and women of Black Wide-Awake. Special thanks to Belinda Pitt-Bulluck for these images of her grandmother Rosa Pitt Battle and father Frank Pitt.

Rosa Pitt Battle (1884-1919).

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Pettigrew Street, farmer William Pitts, 34; wife Violet, 25; and children Ailsey, 10, Martha, 5, Hattie, 3; and Laura, 10 months.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widow Violet Pit, 50, washing, and children Martha, 24, washing, Hattie, 22, cooking, Lula, 21, cooking, Ben, 19, tobacco stemmer, Carry, 12, cooking, Rosa, 16, nurse, Meaner, 11, Jenney, 5, and Edward, 2.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: laundress Violett Pitt, 58; daughters Lula, 28, Matha, 34, and Hattie, 30; and grandchildren Mary, 10, Harvey, 8, Frank, 7, Lizzie, 6, Jonie, 18, and William, 9; and daughter Mena, 20.

On 7 November 1915, Ed Battle, 24, of Wilson, son of Allan and Mariah Battle, married Rosa Pitt, 24, of Wilson, daughter of Bill and Viola Pitt, in Wilson. Shade Hines applied for the license, and A.M.E. Zion minister B.P. Coward performed the ceremony in the presence of Frank Barnes, Leonard Kornegay, and B[illegible] Edmundson.

Rosa Pitt Battle died 26 December 1919 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 2 January 1884 in Wilson County, N.C, to William Pitt and Violet Edmundson; was married to Eddie Battle; and lived at 804 Vance. Mena Pitt was informant.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 804 Vance, widow Violet Pitt, 70, and daughters Elise, 45, Lula, 39, Mena, 29, and Elizabeth, 16.

Elsie Pitt died 19 June 1938 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born in 1875 in Wilson to William Pitt of Nash County and Violet Emerson [Edmundson] of Wilson County; was single; lived at 903 East Vance; and was buried in Wilson [probably in Vick Cemetery, but possibly the newly opened Rest Haven.] Ximena Martinez was informant.

Rosa Pitt Battle’s son, Frank Pitt (1902-1980).

In 1942, Frank Pitt registered for the World War II draft in Brooklyn, New York. Per his registration card, he was born 7 June 1902 in Wilson; lived at 574 Baltic Street [crossed out and 2199 East 55th Street, Cleveland, Ohio, added]; his contact was Carrie Deshert, 201 West 121st Street, Apartment 23, New York; and he worked for Subway Advertising Company, Brooklyn.

Frank Pitt. 

Photos courtesy of Belinda Pitt-Bulluck.

He owes my mother $700.

Joyners Depot Wilson County N.C.

April 8th 1867

Gen Daniel E. Sickles

Sir

I appeal to you for advice. Please give me the desired advice and tell me what course to pursue and ever believe me to be your obt svnt.

Last year my mother rented a farm of B.D. Rice Esqr in Nash County. He (Rice) was to find the team, and Mother the hands and board for them. All went on smoth during the year until the crop was made and housed. When that was done Esqr Rice then refused to settle with her (Mother) fairly and squarely, according to the contract.

The business has been placed in my hands to settle and I have tried all ways to settle with him honorably and I can not have it settle neither by law nor a compromise. He (Rice) is now due Mother not far from seven hundred dollars. Please advise me what course to pursue by so doing you would confer on me an everlasting favor never to be forgotten so long as any thing Earthly remains. In housing the crop he would not let her have her part.

I am Sir with great Respect, Your obt Srvt

Jerry Pridgen, Freedman

Address me [at] Joyners Depot

——

Joyners Depot is now known as Elm City. Neither Rice nor Pridgen appears in the 1870 federal census of Wilson or Nash County NC. However, 32 year-old Bryant D. Rice is listed in the 1860 census of Winsteads township, Nash County NC.

Freedmen Bureau Records of Field Offices, 1863-1878 [database on-line], http://www.ancestry.com.