Nash County

Harboring.

The solicitor of the 1860 fall term of Wilson County Superior Court presented to the grand jury a charge against Delitia Eatmon for harboring a slave, Violet, who was owned by Berkley Cone.

In the 1860 census of Sullivants district, Nash County, Berkley Cone was a 45 year-old farmer whose household included a 10 year-old mulatto boy named Richard Locus, who was probably an involuntary apprentice. The 1860 slave schedule of Nash County lists Cone as the owner of a single enslaved person — a 15 year-old mulatto girl, presumably Violet.

Delitia (or, more likely, Selitia) Eatmon was born about 1810 in what was then Nash County. She and her children are listed in her parents’ household in the 1850 census of Nash, but by 1860 she headed her own household in Oldfields township, Wilson County. She, too, owned enslaved people as reported in the 1860 Wilson County slave schedule. Five, who appear to have been an elderly woman, her daughter, and that daughter’s three children.

Who was Violet to Selitia Eatmon? Why would Eatmon have kept and concealed Violet from Berkley Cone? Were Eatmon’s slaves Violet’s family? Had she been with Eatmon the entire six months between the census enumeration and the grand jury panel? Longer? Had she run because she missed her family? To avoid Cone’s close attention to her teenaged body? To thwart sale?

Berkley Cone and J. Calvin Narron appeared before the grand jury to offer testimony. Whatever they swore to, it was not enough. “Not a true bill,” said the jury. No indictment.

Harboring a Slave (1860), Slave Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

Crossing the Divide: A Quick Case Study in Tracing an African-American Family

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Jonah L. Ricks, Wilson, 1953.

Jonah Lewis Ricks was born near Bailey, Nash County, in 1885. His mother, Nancy Jones Ricks, was born about 1865 in western Wilson County to Jacob and Milly Powell Jones, both born into free families of color. (Jacob was a grandson of Bethana Jones.) Jonah’s father was Joseph Ricks.

Several of Joseph Ricks’ descendants, including Jonah, migrated to Wilson and Elm City and beyond beginning in the 1930s. Joseph’s death certificate, filed in Nash County in 1949, asserts that he was born about 1876 in Nash County to Square [sic] and Nicey Ricks. However, the censuses of 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 consistently list 1860 as his birth year.

What follows is a summary of research I conducted to pierce the veil of slavery and shed light on Joseph Ricks’ family just before and after Emancipation.

Initially, I was unable to find either Joseph Ricks or his parents in the 1870 and 1880 censuses. However, I had found a Kinchen R. Ricks (1858-1915) whose Nash County death certificate listed his parents as Squire Ricks and Nicie Braswell, so I looked for him instead. In the 1880 census of Jackson township, Nash County, 22 year-old Kenchin Ricks appears as a servant in the household of Marmaduke Ricks. Next door is this household: Sqare Perry, wife Nicy, and their children, including 18 year-old Joseph. I went back ten years to 1870 to find, in Chesterfield township, Nash County: Esqire Perry, 52, wife Nicey, 47, and children Primus, 22, Willie, 18, Mary J., 16, Rebecca, 13, Kinchen, 11, Joseph, 9, Robert, 8, and Matilda, 6. Also sharing the household were Judy Finch, 19, and her 7 month-old Nancy, and Sham Freeman, 63, Silva, 58, Mary, 25, and Rosa Freeman, 18. Thus I determined that Joseph Ricks was known as Joseph Perry as a child.  His parents were known as Squire and Nicey Perry and, I later learned, all of his siblings except brother Kinchen retained the surname Perry.

Squire Perry was born circa 1815, according to census records. His wife Nicey was born circa 1824. As neither appears in censuses earlier than 1870, I assumed that both were born slaves. I consulted Timothy Rackley’s volumes on Nash County estate divisions and slave cohabitations and discovered records of the division of the estate of Clabourn Finch, which was conducted 18 December 1849.  Finch’s property, which included slaves Jacob, Benjamin, Squire, Sam, Henry, Gilbert, Adam, Primus, and Nicy and her child, was divided among his heirs.  Squire, valued at $550, went to Finch’s daughter Betsy and her husband Jacob Strickland.  Nicy and child, valued at $700, went to Finch’s daughter Nicy and her husband Marmaduke Ricks. Thus, the family was divided during the last decade and a half of slavery.

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Page from the estate of Clabourn Finch, Nash County, 1849. The enslaved people distributed to his heirs at November Term of court differ slightly from those listed in this inventory.

The 1850 slave census of Nash County shows Jacob Strickland as the owner of four slaves and Marmaduke Ricks as the owner of ten. The 1860 slave census of Sullivants township, Nash County, lists him as the owner of 18 slaves.

Among post-Emancipation Nash County cohabitation records, I discovered that, on 19 August 1866, Esquire Strickland and Nicey Ricks registered their 22-year marriage with a Nash County Justice of the Peace.  At the time they reunited, each was using the surname of his or her most recent former owner. By the 1870 census, however, as noted above, Squire had settled upon Perry.

It is probably not coincidence that another of Clabourn Finch’s daughters, Ann C., was married to a Perry. Clabourn Finch’s slaves were divided among his children at his death and may have been further sold or traded within the family. At present, Squire’s reason for choosing Perry rather than Ricks or Strickland is not clear, nor is the basis for Joseph Ricks’ report on his brother Kinchen’s death certificate that their mother’s maiden was Braswell. Similarly, the reason that two of their sons, Kinchen and Joseph, reverted to Ricks is unclear.

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Original photograph and funeral program in my possession. Federal population schedules; North Carolina Certificates of Death filed in Nash and Wilson Counties; Timothy W. Rackley, Nash County North Carolina Division of Estate Slaves & Cohabitation Record 1862-1866; Rackley, Nash County North Carolina Division of Estate Slaves 1829-1861; North Carolina Wills and Estates, 1665-1998 [database on-line], http://www.ancestry.com.

“Philis can choose whom she will live with”: the last will and testament of Jethro Harrison (1811).

In the name of God Amen

I Jethro Harrison of the County of Nash & State of North Carolina on this 20th Day of April in the year of our Lord 1811, do Make and ordaine Publish & Declare this to be my Last Will and Testement In manner and form following Viz.

Item  I give unto my son William Harrison five Hundred acers of land that I bought of William & Jethro Philips, a line to be Run East and West so as to leave that Number of acers North of my Manner Plantation; one Negro Man namd Dick and one Brandey Still to him and his heirs forever.

Item  I give unto my son Jethro Harrison the Land and Plantation whereon I Now live as far as the south pronge of the Spring Branch one negro woman namd Grace and one Brandey Still that is set up on the lands one horse bridle and sadle two cows three Ewes and two Lambs two sows and piggs one fetheur Beed and furniture and the Boefutt that is in the house to him and his heirs forever.

Item  I give unto my son Dempsey Harrison the Lands that I Bought of John Sanders and all the Remainder of my Land not as yet given a Line to be Run up the Afore sd. Spring Branch to my Back Line and one negro man namd Dave and my Blacksmith tools to him and his heirs forever.

Item  I give unto my Daughter Nancy Horn one Negro Boy that she has in her procession namd Ben and one Negro woman namd Hannah to hur and hur heirs forever.

Item  I give unto my Daughter Polly Grice one Negro boy that she has in her possession namd Hardey and one Negro woman namd Ginney to hur and hur heirs forever.

Item  I give unto my Daughter Temperance Holden one Negro girl that she has in her Possession namd Silvea and one negro boy namd Washington to hur and hur heirs forever.

Item  I give unto my Daughter Elizebeth Harrison one Negro Woman namd Seleth and one Negro Boy named Jacob, two cows & calves, three ewes and lambs, one bed and furniture to her and her heirs forever.

Item  I give unto my Daughter Milbreay Harrison one Negro woman namd Jane and one Negro man namd Jack three ewes and lambs two cows and calves one beed and furniture to her and her heirs forever.

Item  I give unto my Two Grandsons James & Jethro Ricks sons of my Daughter Morning Ricks Dsd. Fiftey Dollars each to be all that I now give them or hereafter them and their heirs forever.

I likewise give unto my two daughters Elizebeth and Milbreay one Negro girl named Sarah to be divided Equaly among them.

My will is that my old Negro Woman named Philis be at Liberty to choose which of my children she will live with and if it is thought she is not able to Work sufficient to maintain her self that the one she chuseth to live with shall be allowed a sum of money out of my estate for the support of sd. negro during her Life time.

My will and desire further is that after my Just Debts and Leguces be paid that the Remainder of my property be Equley divided among all my Children then Living.

My will further is that Henry Atkins William Horn and William Moore or any Two of them be Appinted to attend the sale of my property and bid of such of my property as they may think proper for my two daughters that is underage Elizabeth & Milbray Harrison & not to be liable to any loss for any stock or any other article that they may bid of for sd. daughters and I do hereby constitute ordain and appoint my son William Harrison Charles Coleman and William White my whole and sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testament Ratifying this and no other to be my last Will and Testament in Wintness Whereof Thence I have herunto set my hand and seal the Day and Date Above Writing. /s/ Jethro Harrison {seal}

Signed Sealed and delivered by the Sd. Jethro Harrison the Testator in the Presence of us who were Presence at the Time of Sealing & Delivery of Same    Hardy Horn, Willis (X) Morriss, Roxanne (X) Brantley

——

Jethro Harrison’s land was in what is now Wilson County.

North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 [database on-line], Ancestry.com.

The last will and testament of Dollison Powell. (Plus pre-nup.)

North Carolina, Wilson County.

I, DOLLISON POWELL, desiring to make disposition of my property in the event of my death, do make, declare and publish this last will and testament:

ITEM I. After my death, my children and my wife, if I have one living then, shall see to it that I am decently buried and see to it that all debts that I owe, including burial expenses are paid.

ITEM II. Whereas, there is a marriage contemplated to take place between me and one Julia Taylor, and desiring to make provision for her in the event said marriage takes place, and int he event she lives longer than I, I give unto the said Julia Taylor for her life,the lands which I now own, being about two and one-quarter (2 1/4) acres, which were sold unto me by S.H. Vick by deed dated November 19, 1908, which deed is recorded in Book 81, at page 406 Wilson County Registry. At her death, I give the said lands unto my son, Howard Powell. I give unto the said Julia Taylor, all the personal property which I may own at my death, to be by her used as long as she lives, and if, at her death there is any left, I give the same to my son, Howard. The provisions which I have herein made for Julia Taylor are not to take effect unless I shall marry her, and she shall be living at my death. The said provisions are made for her with the distinct understanding, as shown by her agreement, hereto attached, that she will take such provisions in full satisfaction of any and all rights by which she may have in and to my property after my death, either by way of dower, year’s support or otherwise.

ITEM III. I give to my son, Howard Powell, the land which I bought from Charles Battle, containing six (6) acres, more or less, and being the lands which were conveyed unto me by deed of Charles Battle, dated October 25, 1902, and recorded in Book 65, at page 174, Wilson County Registry.

ITEM IV. I convey unto my son Dossey Powell, about nine (9) acres of land which were sold to me by Edward Moore by deed dated February 21, 1901, and recorded in Book 58, at page 12, Wilson County Registry. I have borrowed for Dossey Powell about $1,000.00 and have given a mortgage to secure it on the lands which I have herein devised unto him. He is to be charged with the payment of this $1,000.00 and the lands which I have devised unto him is to be charged with the payment of this $1,000.00, such charge to be as an advancement against the said lands, and the lands which I have given to my son Howard, are not to be responsible for this money unless the land which I have given Dossy won’t sell for enough to pay it, after exhausting his own property which is mortgaged for the $1,000.00.

ITEM V. Any debts which I may owe at my death for doctor’s bills, funeral expenses or otherwise, are to be paid from the crops which may be on hand or any other personal property on hand.

ITEM VI. Except as herein provided in the event, I shall die while there is a crop being made, I want the crops on the lands to go the persons to whom the land is given.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of witnesses whose names are hereto subscribed as attesting witnesses, this July 26, 1916.   Dollison (X) Powell {seal}

Signed, sealed and declared by the said Dollison Powell as his last Will and Testament, in our presence, and we at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other, have hereunto set out hands as attesting witnesses to the same, This July 26, 1916.   /s/ H.G. Connor, F.W. Connor

NORTH CAROLINA, WILSON COUNTY.

I, Julia Taylor, hereby agree that in the event I shall marry Dollison Powell, and shall be living at his death, that I will accept the provisions made for me in the foregoing will, in full satisfaction of any and all rights which I may have in and to his property as his widow, whether by day of dower, year’s support or otherwise, and I hereby agree that the said provisions shall be considered as a marriage contract made between us for my benefit.

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this the 26th day of July 1916.  Julia (X) Taylor  {seal}

Witnesses: H.G. Connor, F.W. Connor

——

In the 1850 census of Nash County: 47 year-old turpentine laborer Stephen Powell; wife Synthia, 36; and children Gray, 9, Queen Anne, 8, Dolly, 7, Crockett, 3, and Moab, 1.

In the 1860 census of Winsteads township, Nash County: 50 year-old Stephen Powell; wife Cyntha, 45; and children Gray, 21, Dollerson, 17, Queenanah, 13, Crocket, 12, Matchum, 10, and Frances, 8.

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: 60 year-old farmer Stephen Powell; wife Cinthia, 53; and children Dolison, 27, and Washington, 20; plus Julia Amerson, 15; Mary Taylor, 21; Louisa Powell, 5; and Charles Powell, 1.

On 2 January 1877, Dollison Powell, 34, married Sarah Simms, 30, in Wilson County.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Stephen Powell, 80; wife Cynthia, 60; sons Dollison, 37, Washington, 26, and [grandson?] Charles T., 10,; plus boarder Wilson Hagans, 65.

On 24 February 1882, Dollison Powell, 38, married Sallie Barefoot, 34, at the home of Waity Lynch in Wilson County. Ward Lynch witnessed.

In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Dolison Powell, 58; wife Sallie, 50; and children Dorsey, 15, Wiley, 13, and Howard, 12.

In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County, on Saratoga Road, Dolison Powell, 68, wife Sallie, 62, and son Wiley, 24. Son Howard Powell, 21, lived nearby with wife Geneva, 24, and children Savannah Lee, 19 months, and Sallie V., 1 month.

On 26 July 1916, Dollison Powell, 74, married Julia Taylor, 64, in Wilson County. Rev. B.P. Coward performed the ceremony.

In the 1920 census of Wilson township, Wilson County, on Saratoga Road, Dolison Powell, 78, and wife Julia, 67.

Dolison Powell died 23 December 1925.

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