Wilson Daily Times, 19 January 1945.
- John Newsome
Newsome
Studio shots, no. 225: Stephen Newsome.
Stephen Newsome (1872-??).
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In the 1880 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, North Carolina: farmer Thomas Newsome, 43; wife Annie, 30; and children Laffeyette, 10, Stephen, 8, Susan, 5, William, 2, and Leurel, 6 months.
On 14 March 1892, Stephen Newsom, 20, married Winnie Coley, 20, at Peter Coley‘s in Wayne County.
In the 1900 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Steven Newsome, 27; wife Winnie, 27; and children Nina, 7, Sarah, 5, Rachel, 3, Willie, 1, and Etta, 3 months.
In the 1910 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Stephen Newsome, 40; wife Winnie, 39; and children Nina, 17, Sarah, 15, Rachael, 13, William, 11, Etta, 9, Edwin and Fred, 8, Gertrude, 7, Peter, 4, and Martha, 2.
In the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Stephen Newsome, 48; wife Winnie, 48; and children Ed and Fred, 18, Gertrude, 16, Martha, Pete, 14, Lou, 17, James, 10, and John, 8.
Sarah Exum died 9 December 1921 in Nahunta township, Wayne County. Per her death certificate, she was born 25 February 1895 in Wayne County to Stephen Newsome and Willie Newsome; was married to William Exum; and was buried on the Jones Place, Wayne County.
Nina Ward died 14 March 1927 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 35 years old; was born in Wayne County to Stephen Newsome and Winnie Coley; was married to James E. Ward; lived at “rear of Nash”; and was buried in Jones Cemetery, Wayne County.
In the 1930 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Stephen Newsome, 58; wife Winnie, 57; children Tom, 20, James, 18, Johnie, 15; and grandchildren Lalah, 14, Chess, 6, and E[illegible] L. Ward, 3.
Etta Grice died 19 May 1952 in Stantonsburg, Nahunta township, Wayne County. Per her death certificate, she was born 2 October 1899 in Wilson County to Stephen Newsome and Winnie Coley and was a widow. William Davis was information.
Detail of photo courtesy of Ancestry.com user Jonathan Artis.
The seeds of Black Wide-Awake.
For more about the cases, see these posts about Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project, J.C. Farmer and Lee Locus. More about Otis Newsome to come.
Cemeteries, no. 28: the Bynum-Williamson cemetery.
I searched unsuccessfully for this cemetery a couple of years ago — it was the wrong time of year. In summer it’s hidden from the street by tobacco or corn or whatever tall crop is growing, but it’s readily visible in December. (The thick growth just behind the graves shelters Cedar Creek, a tributary of Black Creek.)
The oldest marked grave is that of
- Moses Bynum
Moses Bynum 1825-1885 Gone but not forgotten
- James Grice
James Grice Born 1850 Died Sep 23 1925 Gone but not forgotten
In the 1870 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: James Grice, 17, farm apprentice in the household of Thomas Woodard, 38.
In the 1880 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: James Grice, 30; wife Leatha J., 34; and children Mary, 11, Loney W., 8, and Joseph, 4.
In the 1900 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: James Grice, 50, farm laborer; wife Jane L., 49; and children Mary, 35, Lonney, 28, Sarah A., 17, and James L., 12.
In the 1910 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: on West Railroad Street, James Grice, 59, farmer; wife Eliza, 52; daughter Mary,; and granddaughter Hattie,
In the 1920 census of lack Creek township, Wilson County: Eroy A. Grice, 40; wife Clyde, 33; James, 69; Hattie Wood, 40, and Walter Wood, 12.
James Grice died 23 September 1925 in Black Creek township. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1850 in Wilson County to James Grice and Thanney Keen; was a tenant farmer for Johnson Daniel; and was the widower of Litha Grice. Eroy Grice of Black Creek was informant.
- Turner Williamson
Father Tunner Williamson Born Jan. 18. 1860 Died Oct. 22, 1937 Gone but not forgotten.
See here.
- Turner Williamson, Jr.
Turner Jr., husband of Bessie Mae Williamson May 13, 1902 June 14, 1945 A light from our household is gone
Turner Williamson died 14 June 1945 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Per his death certificate, he was born 13 May 1902 in Wilson to Turner Williamson and Margaret Barnes; was married to Bessie Williamson, age 37; worked as an auto mechanic; lived at 601 North 53rd Street, Philadelphia; and was buried in Wilson.
- James White
James White Feb 8, 1877 Apr 4, 1950 At rest
Jim White died 4 April 1950 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 73 years old; was born in Craven County, N.C., to Rennie White; was married; worked as a carpenter; and was buried in Bynum cemetery. Effie White was informant.
- Chaney Brooks
Chaney Brooks died Nov, 12, 1941 Age 66 Yrs. Gone But Not Forgotten
Chanie Brooks died 12 December 1940 in Black Creek township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 78 years old; was born in Wilson County to Bryant Barden and Annis Barden; was married to Walter Brooks; and was buried in Bynum’s cemetery near Lucama. Informant was Tom Dawson.
- Olive Bynum Braswell
Mother Ollie Braswell Dec. 2, 1870 Mar. 7, 1950 Gone But Not Forgotten
In the 1880 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Calvin Bynum, 31; wife Pherabe, 28; and children Olive, 9, Fannie, 7, Martha Ann, 5, Joseph, 2, and Benjamin, 3 months.
Luther Braswell, 20, of Wilson County, son of George and Adline Braswell, married Olive Bynum, 21, of Wilson County, daughter of Calvin and Ferebe Bynum, on 10 April 1894 at Calvin Bynum’s in Cross Road township. Witnesses were Gray Newsome, Henry Dudley and [illegible] Newsome.
In the 1900 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County: Luther Braswell, 27, farmer; wife Oliff, 28; Lewis, 5, Frank, 3, and Luther, 10 months.
In the 1910 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Luther Braswell, 37; wife Olif, 38; and children Lewis, 15, Frank, 12, Luther, 10, Oscar, 8, Gertrude, 6, Victoria, 2, and Calvin, 11 months.
In the 1920 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: Luther Braswell, 47; wife Ollie, 48; and children Oscar, 18, Gertrude, 15, and Victoria, 12. Next door: Luther Braswell Jr., 20, and wife Estella, 20. Also, Lewis Braswell, 24, wife Chany, 28, and children James, 2, and Carry, 8 months. Also, Frank Braswell, 22, and wife Etta, 19.
In the 1930 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Luther Braswell, 30; wife Estell, 26; mother Olif, 57; and sister Victoria, 22.
Olie Braswell died 7 March 1950 at 604 Spring Street, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 2 December 1870 in Wilson County to Calvin Bynum; was widowed; and was buried in Newsome cemetery, WIlson County. Victoria Messick of Wilson was informant.
- Willie Newsome
Father Willie Newsome May 17, 1959 Gone But Not Forgotten
On [illegible] October 1926, Willie Newsom, of Cross Roads, son of Amos and Martha Newsom, married Mittie Taylor, 20, daughter of Frank Taylor and Hattie Joyner. Elder Robert Edwards performed the ceremony in the presence of Jethro Dickerson, Benjamin Bynum and Geo. Sutton.
In the 1940 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: Willie Newsome, 48; wife Mittie, 32; and children Lessie, 11, Hattie, 9, Mattie, 7, and Yvone, 2.
Willie Newsome died 17 May 1959 at 1312 Washington Street, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 18 April 1895 in Wilson County to Amos Newsome; was married to Mittie Newsome; was a farmer; and was buried in a family cemetery in Lucama.
- William L. Barnes
William L. Barnes June 16, 1889 Feb. 17, 1941
Nancy Newsome Baker of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Indianapolis News, 30 November 1952.
——
In the 1880 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Toney Newsome, 61; wife Jane, 41; and children Benjamin, 20, Mary, 13, Gastin, 11, and Nancy, 8.
On 17 April 1889, Benjamin Baker, 20, of Cross Roads township, son of Ephriam and Margaret Baker, married Nancy Newsom, 18, of Cross Roads township, daughter of Tony and Jane Newsom, in Cross Roads township.
In the 1900 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: widow Nancy Baker, 30, farmhand, and children Sarah J., 9, Tony, 7, and Stella, 3.
In the 1940 census of Center township, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana: at 1058 Traub Avenue, Nancy Baker, 70, and Sarha Gregory, 70 [sic], boarders. Both women were born in North Carolina.
Nancy Baker died 28 November 1952 at her home at 908 South Penn Street, Indianapolis. Per her death certificate, she was born 18 August 1880 in Wilson County, N.C., to Tonie Newson; was a widow; and was buried in New Crown cemetery. Stella Maxwell was informant.
Sarah Gregory died 30 December 1966 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. Per her death certificate, she was born 1 March 1891 in North Carolina to Benny Baker and Nancy Newsome and worked as a hotel maid.
Stella Maxwell died 17 October 2000 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. Per her death certificate, she was born 24 April 1900 to Ernest Thomlingson and Nancy Newson in Wilson, N.C.; was widowed; and was buried in New Crown cemetery.
Finding the Newsomes’ resting place.
By Drew C. Wilson, Wilson Times, 29 June 2018.
Brian Grawburg stops his pickup truck at the end of a farm path between an old hedgerow and a field off Radford Road.
“There it is,” Grawburg says, pointing to the underbrush where two flat marble headstones have come into view.
The 72-year-old retiree is on a search for hidden and overgrown cemeteries in Wilson County.
Grawburg erects a ladder in the bed of his truck, climbs up and points his camera at the graves. He makes a couple of pictures with a 1937 Leica rangefinder and climbs down to note the cemetery’s location with a modern GPS tracker.
These are the gravestones of Amos and Martha Newsome, husband and wife, who called Wilson County home in the late 1800s. A neighbor across the road had told Grawburg about the graveyard’s existence, and this was his second visit to the spot. Upon closer inspection, Grawburg notes the presence of another grave a few feet deeper into the woods.
Hidden behind a shield of Virginia creeper, smilax and scuppernong grape vines is a marble obelisk not quite waist-high. The face of the monument is clean and the inscription is clear.
“Edna Newsom, 1846 to 1913, Kind angels watch her sleeping dust.”
“It’s a very nice stone,” Grawburg comments. “That one we’re going to have to carefully look at.”
Despite the difference in the last name spelling, Grawburg wonders if Edna might be Amos’ mother, but he’s not sure.
“Martha died in 1902, and he’s 1919,” Grawburg said. “That is certainly where we will have to get more information.”
Grawburg says he can’t wait to tell Joan Howell that he has found another headstone.
MAKING A LIST
Joan Howell has compiled four books on Wilson County cemeteries. The first one was completed in 1993, and she is currently working on her fifth. All were projects supported by the Wilson County Genealogical Society with information supplied by the group’s members.
It is Howell’s work and old Work Progress Administration surveys from the 1930s that offer hints as to where Grawburg may find the forgotten cemeteries.
The Wilson resident will sometimes wear boots to protect his shins from snakes and ticks and take along clippers to cut back “vines from hell” as he calls them.
Grawburg is building a photographic record of deceased Wilson County residents.
He’s not interested in the cemeteries that are neatly kept. Those are the ones that are already well-known.
Grawburg is interested in finding the ones that have been overgrown and rest in little patches of woods in farm fields, at the edges of subdivisions, anywhere that Mother Nature has waged a battle to reclaim the plots.
“It doesn’t take long,” Grawburg said.
A cemetery can go from being well-maintained to overgrown in a matter of a few years.
“This is top priority because they are becoming nonexistent,” Howell said.
An example is the B. Ellis cemetery in a small plot hidden by trees and overgrowth that is unseen by passing traffic off Forest Hills Road in Wilson.
“There are 35 people in there, and you don’t know there is a single one in there,” Grawburg said. “That cemetery is right there.”
Grawburg said with 16 cemeteries Howell recently found and added to the list, there are about 260 known cemeteries in Wilson County.
There are estimates that there could be another couple of hundred cemeteries that are not documented in the county.
‘IT’S EXCITING’
At age 85 and after two hip replacements, Howell still puts on her “snake boots” and heads into the woods to search.
“It’s exciting,” Howell said. “I feel like I’m doing something worthwhile. Some people don’t know where their grandmothers and their grandfathers are. I just love doing this. I lament the fact that I am not as able as I once was.”
Grawburg and Howell will often meet in the genealogical room of the Wilson County Public Library to share notes. On Thursday, Howell spread out a United States Geological Survey topographical map with handwritten notations marking cemeteries that had been located.
“I don’t put anything on the map until I find the cemetery, and then I give it a name,” Howell said.
Howell said locating gravestones is vital to filling in Wilson County’s history.
“Death certificates didn’t begin to be recorded until 1913, and then they were spotty. So this is a means of recording people who might not have been noted elsewhere,” Howell said. “It is a way of preserving history and family information.”
Grawburg and Howell said there have been rare instances where farmers have driven implements over cemeteries, knocking over gravestones, and have even taken them away from the actual graves.
“That is distressing to me,” Grawburg said.
It is also a violation of state law, he added.
When Grawburg finds a grave, he wonders who the person was, how he ended up there and what he died from, particularly the children who are interred.
“Did they have scarlet fever? Did they have measles? I think about that,” Grawburg said. “Why did they die? Why so young?”
Grawburg traveled to upstate New York to locate his own relatives.
“I think about my reaction when I found my great-great-great-great-grandfather and you say, ‘Geez, I’m standing on the grave where we’re related.’ There is just something cool about that,” Grawburg said. “Not everybody sees that, but it is kind of neat to say that there’s a connection.”
Grawburg hopes that living Wilson County residents might have the same experience after their ancestors’ graves have been located.
He said there is the joy of saving somebody’s heritage regardless of the fact that he is not a relative.
“I don’t know Amos Newsome,” Grawburg said. “I don’t know anything about him. I don’t know any of his family. I have no connection to him whatsoever. None. Well, somebody does.”
Both Grawburg and Howell said tips from the public about the locations of lost cemeteries are valuable in the search.
“If they would show me where the cemeteries are, that would be helpful,” Howell said. “This is such a large project and I don’t know when we will ever get through with it.”
People interested in the project may contact Grawburg by email at archive@myglnc.com.
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Benjamin Newsome and Edna Newsome registered their 16-year cohabitation in Wilson County in 1866.
In the 1870 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Benjamin Newsom, 50; wife Edna, 31; and children Amos, 10, Gray, 18, Pennina, 16, Mary, 13, Louisa, 9, Larry, 7, and Joseph, 5.
In the 1880 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Benjamin Newsome, 53; wife Edna, 40; and children Oliver, 21, Amos, 19, Gray, 18, Penelope, 6, and Mary, 2.
On 23 December 1883, Amos Newsom, 23, married Martha Ann Barnes, 22, in Wilson County.
After Benjamin Newsome’s death in 1893, Edna Newsome applied for letters of administration for his estate. A Report of Commissioners valued his personal estate (excluding land) at $400. At his death, he had owned a safe; a bureau and its contents; four beds, [bed]steads and contents; another bed and bedstead; two trunks; a sewing machine; a table; a clock; eight chairs; a stove and contents; two more tables and contents; a lard stand; another safe and contents; a saw; three trays; two jugs; a jar; two pots; a tub; two buckets; one lot of corn (about 15 barrels); two stacks of fodder; two mules; one wagon and gear; one cart; farm tools; a barrel of syrup; two wheels; a loom; four bushels of pears; two bushels of wheat; nine hogs; 150 bushels of potatoes; 150 bushels of cotton seed; seven geese; 25 chickens; 500 pounds of tobacco; and 1200 pounds of seed cotton.
On 31 January 1900, Edna Newsome, 55, of Cross Roads, married Ishmael Wilder, 60, of Springhill township, at Newsome’s residence. W.H. Horton, “minister of the Christian denom.,” performed the ceremony in the presence of Grant Farmer, W.T. Barnes, and L.H. Newsome.
In the 1900 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: Ishmael Wilder, 63; wife Edney, 55; and daughter Clara, 26.
In the 1910 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Joseph L. Newsom, 34; wife Virginia L., 34; mother Edna, 65; and sister Mary E., 42.
In the 1910 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: farmer Amos Newsom, 55; [second] wife Frances, 30; and children Lena, 21, Mamie, 17, Mattie, 14, Linettie, 5, Clevland, 2, Willie, 20, and Albert, 18.
Amos Newsom died 8 June 1919 in Cross Roads township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1859 in Wilson County to Benjamin and Edna Newsom of Wilson County; was married to Francis Newsom; owned his farm; and was buried in the “country.” Informant was Larry Newsome.
Image of estate document available at North Carolina Wills and Estates, 1665-1998 [database on-line], http://www.ancestry.com.
The obituary of Sarah Jane Gregory.
Indianapolis Recorder, 14 January 1967.
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Sarah Baker, born 1892, daughter of Benny Baker and Nancy Newsom, married Joseph Gregory on 25 November 1912 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
In the 1920 census of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana: at 1564 Park Avenue, rear, rented for $20/month, Kentucky-born Joe Gregory, 48, laborer, and wife Sarah, 45, servant, born in Tennessee [sic].
In the 1930 census of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana: at 1564 Park Avenue, rear, rented for $20/month, Kentucky-born Joe Gregory, 59, gardener, and wife Sarah, 31, maid, born in North Carolina.
The last wills and testaments of Joel Newsom Sr. and Jr.
In the name of God amen I Joel Newsom Senr of the State of No. Carolina & County of Wayne being in a low State of Health but of Perfect mind & memory do make & ordain this my last will & Testament in manner & form as follow towit —
Item — I lend unto my wif Pennellopy Newsom one half my plantation whereon I now live with half the west room of my Dwelling house & Kitchin — also one feather berd & furniture half dozin siting chears two Puter dishes two Basons haf Dozen Plates the Iron ware that belongs to the Ketchen a sufficent quantity of Corn & fodder as will serve her & her family one year & a sufficient quantity of Provision as will last her & family the same term & two Cows & Calves two Sows & Pigs also the sum of fifty dollars to purches her a Horse — also Two negroes (to wit) Tom & Nel — also as much cotton flax & wool as Shall be sufficient to serve her & family for one year also four Ews also two Plow hoes two weading hoes one ax & one grubbing hoe — the above named Property I lend unto my wife during her natural life or widowhood & after her death or widow hood it it my will & desire that the whole be Sold & be disposed of as I Shall hereafter direct
…
Item I give & bequeath unto my son Joel Newsom all the tract of Land on the south Side of the March Branch & negro Sam to him & his heirs for ever
…
… I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 26th Sept 1818 attest — Joel X Newsom Benjn. Simms, Stephen Woodard
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In the name of God, Amen, I Joel Newsom of the county of wayne and State of No Carolina being in a low state of health, but in sound mind and memory, do make and ordain this to be my last will and Testament, as follows – (viz)
Item, 1st, I Give and bequeath unto my son Larry Newsom, all my lands lying on the south side of black Creek (i.e.) the lands whereon I formaly, the lands whereon Sally Daniel now lives, and also the lands I purchased of Willis Garner and also a tract of piney land adjoining the tract I bought of Willis Garner, I also give and bequeath unto my Son Larry Newsom, four negroes (viz) Harry, Allen, Ben, and Tom, to him and his heirs forever ….
…
Item 2nd I lend unto my daughter, Zilpha Daniel and my son in law Jap. Daniel, my lands I bought of Elisha Daniel, lying between black Creek and Cotentna creek, with the exception of the fruit that may grow in the orchard on said lands, untill my Grand son Larry Daniel, son of Jas. & Zilpha Dan’l arrives to the age of twenty one years, I also lend unto my daughter Zilpha Daniel one negro girl named Hanner during her lifetime ….
…
Item 3rd I Give and bequeath unto my son James Newsom my tract of land whereon I now live lying on the north side of black creek also three negroe boys (viz) Tony, Will and Sam ….
…
Item 5th I give and bequeath unto my sister Patience Pearce a negro Girl by the name of Dill, to her and her heirs forever
…
Signed Sealed and acknowledged in the presence of us – John Rowe, Burket Barnes Joel Newsom Augt. 14th 1837
——
The Newsoms lived in the Black Creek area of Wayne County, which became part of the new Wilson County in 1855.
In the 1870 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County, North Carolina, Ben Newsome headed a household that included wife Edna, 31, and children Amos, 10, Gray, 7, Penelope, 6, and Mary, 2. It is likely that Newsome was the Ben referred to Joel Newsom Jr.’s will 33 years earlier. (Note that one of his daughters shared a first name with Joel Newsom Jr.’s mother Penelope.) As required by law, Benjamin Newsome and Edna Newsome registered their 16-year cohabitation in Wilson County in 1866. (Edna was likely considerably older than 31 in 1870.) Harry Newsom, who may have been the Harry listed in Newsome Jr.’s will, registered his ten-year cohabitation with Rachel Woodard in 1866.
Image of original will available at North Carolina Wills and Estates, 1665-1998 [database on-line], http://www.ancestry.com.
The obituary of Joseph Lee Newsome Jr., 102.
“Joseph Lee Newsome, Sr. [sic], age 102, of 1614 Queen St., Wilson, North Carolina, was called home to his eternal rest on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, at his residence. Joseph was the son of the late Joseph Lee Newsome and Jeanette Best Newsome. He was a faithful member of St. Paul Church of Christ, Frank Price Church Rd., Wilson, where he served as a deacon.
“A celebration of his life and work will be held Saturday at 11 am at Tabernacle Temple of Jesus Christ, 1601 Lane St. Ext., Wilson. Elder David Sutton will officiate. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Cemetery.
“A viewing will be held Friday from 3 pm to 5 pm at Carrons Funeral Home. The family will receive friends Friday from 6:30 to 9:30 pm at St. Paul Church of Christ, Frank Price Church Rd., Wilson. They will receive friends other times at the residence of his daughter and son-in-law, Lester & Evangelist Betty Rogers, 5434 First Rd., Wilson, and will assemble there at 10 am on Saturday in preparation for the funeral procession.
“Please remember the Newsome Family in prayer.”
——
J. Lee Newsome, 35, married Virginia Best, 34, on 15 October 1909 in Wilson County.
In the 1920 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: Joe Newsome, 45; wife Vergie B., 44; and children Pervella, 8, Joseph, 6, Ossie, 4, and Ralph, 1.
In the 1930 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: Joseph L. Newsome, 54; [second] wife Pearl, 37; and children Provella, 18, Joseph L., Jr., 16, Ossie M., 14, and Ralph, 12.
Joseph Lee Newsome registered for the World War II draft in 1940. Per his registration card, he was born 18 January 1913; resided in Lucama; was married to Maud L. Newsome; and worked for railroad foreman L.T. Starling.
Obituary online.
A colored man has him.
In 1909, Edna Newsome Wilder hired a lawyer to help her get custody of her grandson, 12 year-old Purley Newsome. Purley’s mother was dead, and his father absent and uninterested. A colored man named Willie Woodard, who was “of no kin” and lived in Black Creek township, had the boy and was ill-treating him.
Judge Charles M. Cooke heard the application for writ of habeas corpus. In a somewhat enigmatically worded Order, Cooke declared that it was “inadvisable” to make a final decision at the time and that Purley’s best interests were served by remaining with Woodard for a year. Edna Wilder and her sons — the boy’s uncles — were permitted to visit him at Woodard’s, and the boy was permitted to visit his grandmother once every three months. The hearing was postponed until September term of court, 1910, and Wilder ordered to pay costs.
I have not been able to identify Purley Newsome or Willie Woodard.
On 31 January 1900, Edna Newsome, 55, married Ishmael Wilder, 60, son of Ben and Clarissa Wilder, at Edna Newsome’s house in Cross Roads township. Rev. W.H. Horton performed the service in the presence of Grant Farmer, W.T. Barnes and L.H. Newsome.
In the 1900 census of Springhill township, Wilson County: Ishmael Wilder, 63; wife Edney, 55; and daughter Clora, 26.
The Wilders’ marriage, the second for both, did not last long. Ishmael Wilder is listed in the 1910 census of Springhill township as a divorced farmer, living alone. Edna Wilder is not found.
Writ of Habeas Corpus to End Child Abuse, Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.