Peele

The estate of Arnold Peele (1873).

We read here of half-brothers Jack Williamson and Willis Barnes, who were sons of Toney Eatmon. We now have evidence of another brother of Williamson, Arnold Peele.

Both Arnold Peele and his wife Hannah Eatmon Peele died in 1873.

On 10 July 1873, Jack Williamson renounced his intention to serve as administrator of Arnold Peele’s estate and requested that public administrator Larry D. Farmer serve instead.

The same day, Farmer applied for and was granted letters of administration. By his estimate, Peele’s estate was worth about $200 and his heirs were Jack Williamson, Charity Bynum, (who likely was his sister), and Joseph Farmer, executor of the estate of Hannah Peele. (Arnold Peele had no known living children, and the omission of Willis Barnes as an heir suggests that Peel and Williamson were maternal siblings.)

Receipt from L.D. Farmer to Isabell Eatman for “attending to stock &c of Arnold Peel,” dated 30 July 1873.

On 30 July 1873, L.D. Farmer offered Arnold Peele’s personal property for sale at auction. Isabella Eatmon, who may have been his stepdaughter, bid most often, winning numerous small household items. Among the neighbors who forked over small sums for various goods were John Kates [Cates], Sam Locust, Jack Williamson, Jacob Jones, and Orren Taborn. The entire sale netted only $215.55.

Hannah Peele died with a will, but I have not found a copy. Isabelle Eatmon, who presumably was her daughter, was her sole legatee and was paid out on 22 December 1873. (Hannah Eatmon Peele also had a son, Benjamin Eatmon, who seems to have predeceased her.)

On 26 September 1876, Sampson Bailey of Monticello, Arkansas, filed acknowledgement of receipt of the payout made to his wife, Charity “Cherry” Bailey.

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On 23 August 1866, Arnold Peel married Hannah Eatmond in Wilson County.

On 11 December 1868, Benjamin Eatman, son of Benjamin Winbun and Hanna Eatman, married Dina Locus, daughter of Gains and Zina Locus, in Wilson County.

In the 1870 census of Taylor township, Wilson County: Arnand Peel, 39, farm laborer; wife Hannah, 40; and Hannah Jr., 14.

Williamson v. Williamson, 57 N.C. 272 (1858).

This case was filed in Wilson County Court of Equity by Garry Williamson and Jesse Fulgham, executors of the will of Thomas Williamson, concerning the distribution of certain enslaved people for whom Williamson claimed ownership. The principle question posed to the North Carolina Supreme Court was whether enslaved children, born before Williamson died, passed with their mothers to the designated legatees. “The general rule is clearly settled that the bequest simply of a female slave and her increase passes the mother only, and not the increase which she may have had before the will was executed, or between that time and the death of the testator.” An exception would be where the testator’s intent to include the children can be inferred from a reference to the enslaved woman having previously been in the possession of the legatee. Otherwise, the children become part of the “residue,” i.e. property to be liquidated and the proceeds equally divided among legatees.

The chart below summarizes the fates of 26 of the enslaved people — all women and children — that Thomas Williamson owned. It is a stark encapsulation of the devastating impact of slavery on African-American families. And where were their men? An examination of Williamson’s will, drafted in August 1852, reveals further separation. Thomas Williamson had separately bequeathed Turner, Patrick and Dennis to his wife Keziah Williamson, and Jack to son Garry Williamson.