post office

Advertised letters, July 1881.

Wilson Advance, 22 July 1881.

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  • Ned Barnes — three adult Ned Barneses are listed in the 1880 census of Wilson County. All were black men, including this one, who was likely my great-great-great-grandfather.
  • Noah Best — though not marked as “colored,” Noah Best was a black man.
  • James Hagans — the three James Haganses found in the 1880 census of Wilson County were young children.
  • Peter Moore — though not marked as “col.”, possibly, in the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Peter Moore, 49; wife Cordelia, 42; and sons Sidney, 17, and Henry, 10.
  • Mollie Peacock — Mollie Peacock is not listed in the 1880 census of Wilson County. (Though Mollie Peacock Bynum, who was white, is.)
  • Albert Parker — Albert Parker is not listed in the 1880 census of Wilson County.
  • Anderson White — though not marked as “col.”, possibly, in the 1880 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Anderson White, 25; wife Cornelia, 22; and children Samuel, 4, Elizabeth, 1, and Richard, 1 month.
  • Sarah Ward — four Sarah Wards appear in the 1880 census of Wilson County, three adult. All were black, including this one.

More letters at the post office.

Wilson Advance, 26 August 1881.

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  • Dennis Avent
  • Caroline Best — in the 1870 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Shepard Best, 32, and wife Caroline Best, 32. In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Caroline Best, 36, is listed as a servant in the Spring Street household of Mildred Gordon, 53.
  • Amos Barnes — in the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: hireling Amos Barnes, 25; wife Patsey, 24; and Mary E., 2.
  • Ella Thomas

A post office that is a credit to the town.

The Morning Post (Raleigh, N.C.), 4 January 1902.

Samuel H. Vick‘s post office was located on the ground floor of the newly built Seabrook Hotel. We met Vick’s assistants Braswell R. Winstead and Levy H. Peacock here.

News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 8 April 1902.

The 1903 Sanborn map of Wilson describes the Seabrook as a boarding house and shows the post office on the right side of the building’s ground floor. The site is now a parking lot.

Sanborn fire insurance map, page 4, Wilson, N.C., 1903.

Slapped a colored girl.

Slapping black women was epidemic in Wilson in the first few decades of the 20th century. Here, W.D. Ruffin was ordered into court for slapping a “colored girl,” known only by her surname Reid, who allegedly pushed ahead of him in a line at the post office. Clerk W.O. Flowers complained that “the older colored people are more respectful and will wait their turn but that a number of negro boys and girls make themselves obnoxious by endeavoring to shove their way ahead of some one else.” He claimed he was waiting in line when Reid pushed in. He told her he was in front; she argued that she had a right to be there. Ruffin: “Be quiet.” Reid stood her ground, and Ruffin “brushed her cheek with his hand.”

Wilson Times, 9 July 1919.

 

Sam Vick and his assistants.

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Wilson Mirror, 26 February 1890.

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Wilson Mirror, 1 April 1891.

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Wilson Mirror, 11 August 1891.

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Raleigh Morning Post, 14 July 1898.

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Raleigh Morning Post, 8 April 1903.

  • Samuel H. Vick
  • Braswell R. Winstead
  • Levi H. Peacock
  • Jim Thorp — On 22 March 1900, James J. Thorp, 22, of Wilson, son of Edy Thorp, married Hattie Bunn, 17, daughter of Joshua and Emma Bunn, at Joshua Bunn‘s house in Wilson. Richard Renfrow applied for the license, and Baptist minister Fred M. Davis performed the ceremony in the presence of Hilliard Ellis, Levi Jones and Phyllis Ellis. In the 1912 Wilson city directory, James Thorp, insurance agent, is listed at 654 Viola Street.
  • Fannie McGowan — on 30 August 1905, at the bride’s residence on Vance Street, Henry Matt Daniel, 40, son of Dave and Flora Daniel, married Flora McGowan, 28, parents unknown. A.M.E. Zion minister N.D. King performed the ceremony in the presence of L.A. Moore, J.S. Spell, and Mack Sharp.

Letters remaining at the post office.

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Wilson Advance, 21 May 1880.

  • Hester Barnes — perhaps, in the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: housekeeper Hester Barnes, 24, with children Lindy M., 3, and Dennis, 1.
  • Norfleet Joyner
  • James Jordan

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Wilson Advance, 17 September 1880.

  • Diana Durding — Dinah Scarborough Darden
  • Emma Gay
  • Alger Vaughn — in the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Sarah Dardin, 57, Virginia-born son-in-law Algia Vaughn, 23, daughter Mittie, 22, and grandchildren Joseph, 8, Sarah, 6, and Macinda Vaughn, 8 months.

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Wilson Advance, 21 January 1881.

  • Betsy Dawson
  • Mack Dozier — in the 1880 census of Jackson, Nash County: Mack Dozier, 32, wife Elizabeth, 22, and mother Charlotte Williams, 55. In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: painter Mack Dozier, 60, wife Elibeth, 48, children Julia, 17, and Sid, 15, and mother Charlott, 89. Elizabeth worked in washing and Sid as a tobacco stemmer.

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Wilson Advance, 11 March 1881.

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Wilson Advance, 8 September 1882.

  • Jack Cohen
  • Elick Moore