real property

The Barneses sell property to the School Board.

Plat Book 4, page 51.

On 30 September 1946, Dr. B.O. Barnes and his wife Flossie H. Barnes sold the Board of Trustees of Wilson City Schools a tract bordered by North Reid Street, East Vance Street, an unopened section of North Vick Street, and an unopened section of Crowell Street. Deed Book 326, page 43.

As the Google Maps aerial below shows, the property is adjacent to land on which the former Vick Elementary School sits. (Vick had opened ten years earlier.) Ultimately, however, much of it was sold to developers who built a row of houses in the 800 block of East Vance Street.

Petition by the Best heirs to partition land, part 1.

North Carolina    }    Superior Court

Wilson County    }

David Crocket Best and Germima Best

vs.

William Best, Dennis Best, Frank Best, John Best, Angeline Best, Richard Best, and Mary Jane Best

Petition to sell land for partition.

To the Superior Court, Wilson County

The petitioners complain and allege:

  1. That on the 5 day of September, 1898, Joel P. Price and wife executed and delivered unto David Crocket Best and wife, Caroline Best, a deed conveying unto them a life estate in and to the lands hereinafter described, with remainder in fee to George Best and Germima Best and their heirs, said deed being recorded in book 49 on page 29 Wilson County Registry,
  2. That Caroline Best died during the year 1905; that George Best died during the year 1904, without issue, he never having married,
  3. That Germima Best, Hillary Best, Dennis Best, Frank Best, Richard Best, John Best, Angeline Best and Mary Jane Best are the only brothers and sisters of the said George Best, deceased, and as such are his heirs at law and are entitled to the interest of the said George Best deceased, in the lands hereinafter described; that all of said brothers and sisters are now living and all of them, except Germima Best, who resides in Wilson, N.C., are non residents of the State of North Carolina,
  4. That the petitioner, together with the defendants, are tenants in common, and are seized in fee simple and are now in the possession of that certain lot or parcel of land lying and being situate in the town of Wilson Wilson County, North Carolina, adjoining the lots of Jack Wells and others, and described as follows, to wit: Beginning at a point in the public road, leading from Wilson to Wiggins Mill, in Dr. Albert Anderson’s corner, thence South with said road 105 feet, thence east parallel with said Anderson’s line 105 feet, thence north parallel with said road 105 feet, cornering in Dr. Albert Anderson’s line, thence west with said Anderson’s line 105 feet to the beginning, containing one quarter of an acre, more or less, the same being situate in the east side of said road, and being the same land conveyed by Joel P. Price and wife to David Crocket Best and others by deed recorded in book 49 on page 29, Wilson County Registry,
  5. That the interest of the petitioners and the defendants in said land are as follows, viz: David Crocket Best is entitled to the whole of said land for life; Germima Best, in her own right, is entitled to one half, eight sixteenths, and as sister and heir of George Best, deceased, is entitled to one sixteenth, making her interest nine-sixteenths; that Hillory Best, Dennis Best, Frank Best, John Best, Richard Best, Angeline Best and Mary Jane Best, are each entitled to one-sixteenth, all of their interest being subject to the life estate of the said David Crocket Best,
  6. That all of the above named persons, both plaintiffs and defendants, are more than twenty one years of age,
  7. That the petitioners desire to hold their interest in said lands, or the process thereof, in severalty,
  8. That an actual partition of said lands cannot be made without injury to the parties interested, owing to the small quantity of land to which each would be entitled by a division,

Wherefore, the petitioners pray that the court will appoint some suitable person to sell said lands, after due advertisement, to the highest bidder for Cash, and report his proceedings in report to said sale within ten days after said sale into the office of the Court.   Jany 5 1906   W.A. Finch Atty for Petitioners

…

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In the 1870 census of Saulston township, Wayne County: farm laborer Crocket Best, 35; wife Caroline, 30; children Hilry, 12, Dennis, 10, Frank, 8, Anjaline, 6, John, 4, and Richard, 6 months; plus Milley, 20, and Bedy Best, 17.

In the 1880 census of New Hope township, Wayne County: farmer Crocket Best, 44; wife Caroline, 42; children Dennis, 20, Franklin, 18, Angeline, 15, John, 12, Richard, 9, Rachel, 6, Mary, 4, and Jamimie, 1; and aunt Rachel Best, 80.

In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: carpenter Crocket Best, 64; wife Caroline, 62; daughter Mary, 23; and granddaughters Elizabeth, 2, and Loretta, 8.

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: widower Crocket Best, 87; daughter Mamie, 30, cook; grandson Buster B., 5; and Bennett Stanton, 47.

Harry Barnes vs. Charity Robbins.

In May 1907, a Superior Court clerk issued a summons to Charity Robbins to appear in court to answer a complaint filed by Harry Barnes. Barnes was contesting ownership of a lot on the north side of Pine Street, adjoining lots owned by Pennie Bynum, Miley Barnes, and S.H. Vick.

Barnes requested and was granted permission to file his suit as a pauper, asserting that he was unable to pay costs associated with pursuing his case. I could not determine the outcome of this litigation.