Sauls

Haywood Sauls and wife Betsey Sauls vs. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company.

In May 1911, Betsey Sauls took the extraordinary step of suing Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company for serious injuries she suffered at Black Creek depot. The law firm of James H. Pou and William A. Finch, well-known in the state for their high-profile civil and criminal litigation, filed on her behalf (and her husband Haywood Sauls‘, as was required by law for married women at the time.)

In a nutshell, on 3 May 1909, Betsey Sauls bought a train ticket to travel from Wilson to Black Creek. The train overshot the depot at Black Creek, but announced “All off for Black Creek!” as usual. As Sauls attempted to disembark, she fell from the train and was injured.

Pou and Finch asserted that by stopping beyond the usual location, Sauls was forced to step down from an excessive height and near a side track with sharp, exposed sills (the long, heavy timbers used as a foundation for crossties.) As Sauls stepped down, the train suddenly began to move backward, throwing Sauls to the ground.

Pou and Finch further asserted that A.C.L.R.R. had failed to provide a stepstool customarily provided for older passengers faced with a higher-than-usual descent.

Sauls was 65 to 70 years old, was “corpulent,” and not used to train travel. The knee injuries she sustained were serious, painful, and — she believed — permanent. She had difficulty walking and sleeping, could not work, and was forced to use a stick or crutch. She also had back and hip pain.

Sauls was now “an invalid and sufferer” of both physical and mental anguish. She could not visit family, friends, or church and had incurred considerable expense for medical treatment.

Sauls sought $5000 in damages.

In a brief, spare decision, the judge G.S. Ferguson awarded Sauls $500 (roughly $17,000 in 2026 dollars.)

Civil Action Papers, Wilson County (N.C.) Court Records (1909), http://www.familysearch.org.

Haywood Sauls passes century mark?

Winston-Salem (N.C.) Sentinel, 15 October 1923.

Claims of ages of one hundred or more raise my eyebrow. They are unreliable enough to warrant cross-checking with other sources.

Tracing Haywood Sauls proved an unexpected challenge. Available records reveal more than one man named Haywood Sauls in the area.

Lee H. Sauls claimed Haywood was born 17 February 1821 according to family records. (Do those records still exist???) Lee Sauls’ grandfather Etheldred Sauls (1801-1859) lived in the Nahunta area of northeastern Wayne County, but had close ties just across the county line in Black Creek township. Etheldred Sauls executed a will and died in 1859. The will named 19 enslaved people, including Haywood, whose age was not listed. Haywood was allotted to Etheldred’s son Lawrence J. Sauls for the benefit of daughter Elizabeth Sauls Becton.

On 29 August 1866, formerly enslaved Haywood Sauls and Fannie Newsome registered their four-year cohabitation in Wayne County, North Carolina. Another Haywood Sauls registered a 40-year cohabitation with Lidia Sherrard in the same county on 2 September 1866.

In 1868, James P. Hooks, son of Solomon and Sarah Hooks, married Mariah Sauls, daughter of Hawood and Silvey Sauls, in Wayne County. James P. Hooks changed his name to Patrick Sherrod by the 1870 census. He, Mariah, and a child lived next door to “Howard,” 80, and Lindy Sauls, 65, in Goldsboro, Wayne County, that year. I believe Howard and Lindy are the Haywood and Lidia who married in September 1866. By 1880, Howard/Haywood apparently was deceased, but Sidney Sauls is listed with Patrick and Maria Sherrod. Celia Williams may have been another of this Haywood. She died 20 November 1913 in Township #13, Edgecombe County. Per her death certificate, she was born 20 November 1851 in Wayne County to Hawood Sauls and Sidney Sherod. This Haywood Sauls does not appear to be the man referred to in the article.

In 1874, Haywood Sauls and his wife Fannie were named among the heirs of his father-in-law Elijah Cox.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: wagon driver Haywood Sauls, 46, and wife Fannie, 56.

Fannie apparently died 1880-1890 and, on 12 April 1890, Haywood Sauls and Lishia Yelverton were married in Wayne County.

Lishia died soon after and, on 23 May 1893, Haywood Sauls, 50, of Black Creek township, and Bettie Saunders, 45, were married at Haywood Sauls’ residence in Black Creek.

In the 1900 census of Fremont, Nahunta township, Wayne County: farmer Haywood Sauls, 66; wife Bettie, 53; and daughter Delber, 15.

In the 1910 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: farmer Haywood Sauls, 74, and wife Betsey, 60.

In May 1912, Betsey Sauls executed a will leaving her property to her husband Haywood Sauls and son Frank Sanders. [Betsey Sauls had received a significant settlement in a tort suit a few years prior. More about this later.]

Bettie/Betsey Sauls died within months, and her husband quickly remarried. On 5 September 1912, Haywood Sauls, 77, of Wayne County, married Frances Davis, 40, of Wayne County, in Fremont, Nahunta township, Wayne County.

In the 1920 census of Buck Swamp township, Wayne County, N.C.: farmer Marcellus Sauls, 53; wife Fannie, 46; and father Haywood, 83, widower. [Marcellus Sauls died 19 December 1937 in Cross Roads township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was 70 years old

Over the next few years, a few human-interest articles appeared in North Carolina newspapers noting Haywood Sauls’ great age and revealing his penchant for baseball and the Tobs. One mentions Sauls selling photographs of himself at the 1923 Wilson County fair. (Do any survive??)

News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 11 October 1923.

Wilson Mirror, 21 October 1924.

News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 27 April 1925. 

Greensboro (N.C.) Daily News, 29 April 1925.

Heywood Sauls died 8 January 1927 in the Wilson County Home, Wilson township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was 101 years old; was a widower; and was buried in Wilson County.

Sauls’ death certificate places his birth in 1825, a few years after the February 1821 claim. However, census and marriage records indicate a birth year between 1834 and 1843, averaging 1836. This would have made Haywood Sauls actually about 90 when he died in early 1927, still an extraordinary age for a man who’d grown to adulthood in slavery.

The public school lot for the colored race?

On 1 February 1912, 11 Wayne and Greene County residents — members of an extended family — sold Robert Manuel, also of Wayne County and an in-law, a parcel of land described, in part, as “Lot No. 5 in the Division of the Public School lot for colored race District No. 1” on Stantonsburg and Moyton Road just outside the town of Stantonsburg.

Deed book 97, page 574, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

What was Colored District No. 1? Where are its records? (And those of any other African-American county school districts?) Where on Stantonsburg and Moyton Road  (N.C. 58?) was the public school lot in Stantonsburg? When was the lot divided?

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  • Andrew and Ada Lewis Sauls

In the 1880 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Caleb Sauls, 35; wife Zany, 28; and children Henry, 4, Andrew, 2, and Mollie, 1.

In the 1900 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farmer Caleb Sauls, 51; wife Zany, 45; and children Henry, 23, Andrew, 21, Mollie, 20, Sudie, 18, Emma, 16, and Pet, 12.

In the 1910 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County, N.C.: Andrew Sauls, 31; wife Ada, 20; and children James, 4, Henry, 2, and Ed Rena, 1.

In the 1920 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County: Andrew Sauls, 41; wife Ada. 32; and children James, 14, Henry B., 12, Edrena, 11, William, 8, Lila Bell, 6, Lemon, 5, and Fremon, 2.

Andrew Sauls died 15 October 1930 in Nahunta township, Wayne County. Per his death certificate, he was born in 1880 in Wilson County to Calop Sauls and Zanie Butler; was married to Ada Lewis Sauls; and worked in farming. I.W. Lee handled his burial in Yelverton graveyard.

  • Henry and Emma Artis Sauls

In the 1910 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County:

In the 1920 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County:

Henry Sauls died 17 September 1922 in Nahunta township, Wayne County. Per his death certificate, he was born 25 January 1877 in Wilson County to Caleb Sauls and Zanie [maiden name unknown] and was married to Emma Sauls. Andrew Sauls was informant.

Emma Sauls died 27 January 1924 in Stantonsburg, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 3 April 1886 in Wilson County to John Cheatam and Sarah Artis; and was the widow of Henry Sauls.

  • Oliver and Annie Woodard

In the 1900 census of Bull Head township, Greene County: Oliver Woodard, 39; wife Ellar, 33; and children Willie, 18, John, 16, Jessie, 8, and Annie, 4.

On 20 May 1905, Oliver Woodard, 43, of Greene County, son of Barton and Sena Woodard, married Annie Sutton, 45, of Wayne County, in Wayne County.

In the 1910 census of Bull Head township, Greene County: Oliver Woodard, 50; wife Annie, 47; and son Jessie, 19. Next door:

In the 1920 census of Bull Head township, Greene County: farmer Oliver Woodard, 58, and wife Annie, 56. Next door: Exum Woodard, 44; mother Senia, 90; sister Martha, 48; and niece Annie, 15.

Oliver Woodard died 14 May 1929 in Saulston township, Wayne County. Per his death certificate, he was about 75 years old and worked as a farmer.

Greensboro Daily News, 17 May 1929.

  • Robert and Smithia Manuel

In 1870 census of Snow Hill township, Greene County: Baden Woodard, 49, farm laborer; wife Serenia, 40; and children Jesse, 16, Smithy, 19, Amos, 18, Mitchel, 13, Ollin, 10, Mary, 3, Mike, 6, and John, 1.

In the 1880 census of Bull Head township, Greene County: Robert Manuel, 18, laborer, heading a household comprised of himself and Samuel and Martha A.E. Webber and their children, who were white.

On 20 March 1884, Robert Manuel, 54, of Greene County, married Smitha Woodard, 3o, of Greene County, daughter of Barden and Seney Woodard, at Barden Woodard’s in Snow Hill township, Greene County. Oliver Woodard was among the witnesses.

In the 1930 census of Bull Head township, Greene County: Mary Newal, 54, widow; grandson Arthur, 12; mother Smithy Manuel, 82; and niece Mary Woodard, 10.

Smithie Manuely died 15 March 1936 in Bull Head township, Greene County. Per her death certificate, she was born 1845 in Wilson County to Oliver Woodard of Greene County and Smithie Woodard of Wilson County and was the widow of Bob Manuel.

  • Amos and Nollan Woodard

In the 1880 census of Bull Head township, Greene County: Borton Woodard, 59; wife Smithy, 54; children Rena, 30, Amos, 25, Marshal, 18, Zacharia, 15, and Sarah, 12; and grandchildren Amos Jr., 10, Mary, 6, and Charles, 5.

  • Exum Woodard

In 1870 census of Snow Hill township, Greene County: Baden Woodard, 49, farm laborer; wife Serenia, 40; and children Jesse, 16, Smithy, 19, Amos, 18, Mitchel, 13, Ollin, 10, Mary, 3, Mike, 6, and John, 1.

In the 1880 census of Bull Head township, Greene County: Borton Woodard, 59; wife Smithy, 54; children Rena, 30, Amos, 25, Marshal, 18, Zacharia, 15, and Sarah, 12; and grandchildren Amos Jr., 10, Mary, 6, and Charles, 5.

On 8 January 1891, Exum Woodard, 23, son of Benjamin Bardner and Sena Woodard, married Emma Applewhite, 18, daughter of Dock Applewhite, in Greene County.

In the 1900 census of Bull Head township, Greene County: farmer Exum Woodard, 34; mother Thenia, 61; nephew Joe, 14; niece Lucie, 13; and stepsister Michel, 45.

In the 1910 census of Bull Head township, Greene County: farmer Exum Woodard, 44; mother Senia, 90; sister Martha, 48; and niece Annie, 15.

In the 1920 census of Bull head township, Greene County: farmer Exum Woodard, 55; sister Martha, 61; and niece Annie, 23.

The obituary of Annie P. Williams.

Wilson Daily Times, 11 March 1950.

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In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 317 North Hackney Street, Annie Sauls, 30, laundress; father Will Odom, 50; and lodger Flora Terry, 30, and her son Rudolph Terry, newborn.

Annie Pearl Williams died 9 March 1950 at her home at 110 Ash Street, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 23 December 1910 in Georgia to Will Odom and Martha Bullock; was married; and was a factory worker. Roosevelt Williams was informant.

The obituary of Jordan Sauls, farmer and nonagenarian.

Wilson Daily Times, 20 May 1940.

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On 17 September 1873, Jordan Sauls married Serena Fort in Wayne County.

In the 1880 census of Saulston township, Wayne County: farmer Jordan Sauls, 27; wife Serena, 33; and children Elizabeth, 13, Ichabod, 10, and James Fort, 7; Emma, 6, Dortch, 5, and Isabel, 9 months; and Loumiser Sauls, 21, and [her?] children Oda, 5, and Anna, 1.

In the 1900 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farm laborer Jordan Sauls, 50, widower.

On 25 December 1906, Jordan Sauls, 52, of Wayne County, son of Charles and Smithy Sauls, marred Mary Davis, 39, of Wayne County, daughter of Ellis and Hester Fort, at Mary Davis’ in Nahunta, Wayne County.

In the 1910 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County: Jorden Sauls, 53; wife Mary, 45; children Hester, 19, Betsey, 17, Thomas, 15, George, 10, Eliza, 8, Pearly, 6, Ben, 4, Blossey, 9 months, and Ellis, 21; and grandchildren Emma, 4, and Rena Davis, 2.

In the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: on Black Creek and Stantonsburg Road, farmer Jordan Sauls, 74; wife Mary, 47; and children Lina, 18, Ben, 15, Blossie, 19, and George, 5.

On 10 January 1925, John Tyson, 23, son of Red and Alberta Tyson, married Lizzie Sauls, 20, daughter of Jordan and Mary Sauls, in Wilson County.

On 21 September 1925, Herbert Tyson, 23, son of Ed and Mell T. Tyson, married Blossie Sauls, 16, daughter of Jordan and Mary Sauls, in Wilson County. 

In January 1926, Benjamin Sauls, 20, son of Jordan and Mary Sauls, married Janetta Sutton, 18, daughter of John and Penna Sutton, in Wilson County.

In the 1930 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: farm laborer Jerdan Sauls, 82; wife Mae, 65, farm laborer; daughter Lossie Tyson, 22, cook; and grandchildren Jerdan Jr., 3, and Zebedee Tyson, 1.

In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: John Tyson, 35, farm laborer; wife Lizzie, 38; father-in-law Jordan Sauls, 99; mother-in-law Mary Sauls, 78; and Frank Strickling, 9, “adopted.”

Lizzie Tyson died 19 July 1943 in Bullhead township, Greene County. Per her death certificate, she was born 5 May 1903 in Wayne County to Jurdan Sauls and Mary Davis and was married to John Tyson.

Blossie S. Powell died 2 June 1979 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 1 August 1909 in Wayne County to Jordan Sauls and Mary Fort; was a widow; and lived at 1200 East Nash Street.

The death by drowning of Leander Sauls.

Wilson Daily Times, 10 March 1922.

Wilson Daily Times, 25 March 1922.

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Lee Ander Sauls registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County in 1918. Per his registration card, he was born 11 [illegible] 1899; lived at Route 3, Stantonsburg; was a farm laborer for Claude Foster; his contact was Ivery Artis, Fremont, Wayne County; and he had lost one eye. He signed his card “Leander Sauls.”

On 19 July 1919, Lee Sauls, 21, of Stantonsburg, married Bessie Barnes, 20, of Stantonsburg, in Wilson County.

In the 1920 census of Stantonsburg township, Wilson County: tenant farmer Lee A. Sauls, 21; wife Bessie, 20; children Mary F., 14 months, and John L., 1 month; and mother-in-law Ceilie Barnes, 61, widow.

Leander Sauls died 26 February 1922 in Stantonsburg township, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was 23 years old; was born in Wilson County to Ivey Artis and Emia Sauls; was married; and farmed for W.A. Batts. Eddie Sauls was informant.

The purchase of land for Macedonia.

As we saw here, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church is one of the few surviving early twentieth-century wooden gable-end African-American churches in Wilson County. In 1917, Macedonia trustees R.A. Worrell and Matthew Sauls acted on behalf of the church to purchase the one-half acre lot on which the church was later built. 

Note the reference to the adjoining property — the “public school lot, known as Powell’s school house (col).” Powell School predated the Rosenwald school-era. It was not listed in a recent state survey of early African-American schools in Wilson County.

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In the 1910 census of Cross Roads township, Wilson County: on Goldsboro Road, Matthew Sauls, 43; wife Fannie, 36; and children Sylvester, 15, Nellie, 12, Maggie, 6, Dred, 4, Hattie, 2, and Bessie, 5 months.

In the 1920 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: on W.R. Raper Road, farmer R[ichard] A. Worlds, 40; wife Rachel, 43; and children Bessie, 16, Eddie, 13, Effie, 12, Richard, 10, Iona, 7, Elnora, 6, Viola, 3, and John, 2.

Deed book 111, page 195, Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.

The end of the Red Hots?

In 1938, the city of Wilson professionalized its firefighting operations, converting the white volunteer department to semi-paid status. The Daily Times originally reported that the black volunteer organization, the Red Hots, would be abolished, but here clarified that, while they were being retired from active service, they would continue to send representatives to competitions and state conventions and would be called upon in emergencies.

Wilson Daily Times, 14 July 1938.

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  • Ben Mincey
  • George Coppedge — in the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: brickmason George Coppedge, 34; wife Mittie, 34; and children George Jr., 4, and Elenora, 2.
  • Aaron Best — William Aaron Best died 21 August 1949 at his home at 1009 East Nash Street, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 21 September 1900 in Wilson County to Aaron Best and Nannie Best; was a widower; and had been a laborer at Export Tobacco Company. Audrey Best was informant.
  • Ambrose Floyd — in 1942, Ambrose Floyd registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 4 February 1901 in Lumberton, North Carolina; resided at 1214 East Nash Street; his contact was Clara Smith; and he was employed by Gary Fulghum, 901 Branch Street, United States Post Office.
  • W.J. Howell
  • Henry Sauls — in 1942, Henry Sauls registered for the World War II draft in Wilson. Per his registration card, he was born 10 February 1898 in Black Creek; resided at 21 Carolina Street (mailing address 1114 Carolina Street); his contact was Hattie Davis, 19 Carolina Street; and he worked for W.T. Clark Jr., 1415 West Nash Street, Barnes Street tobacco factory.
  • Louis Thomas — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 715 East Green Street, carpenter Louis Thomas, 53; wife Lillie, 33; and children Louis Jr., 16, Charlie H., 14, and Van Jewel, 12.