Deed book 49, page 560, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, Wilson.
On 1 September 1903, the Trustees for the A.M.E. Church of Lucama paid W.R. Davis and wife Neppie Davis $25 for a quarter-acre lot on Main Street in Lucama.
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There is no longer an African Methodist Episcopal church in Lucama. Is anyone familiar with this one? Where was it on Main Street?
Friendship Primitive Baptist Church trustee Ransom Howell made two purchases on behalf of the church in just over two weeks in 1901.
On September 13, Isaac and Jackanna Rich sold the church for $12.50 an acre and a half on the north side of the railroad “except timber” rights. If the church later decided to sell the property, the Riches were to receive a right of first refusal.
Deed book 49, page 308, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office.
On October 1, L.R. and Mary Lamm sold the church for $25 a one-acre parcel on the “road leading from Black Creek road to Wilson” “on condition that if said Church shall go down or cease to exist,” the land would go to adjoining property holder W.H. Tomlinson.
Deed book 49, page 316, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office.
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In the 1880 census of Black Creek township, Wilson County: Ransom Howell, 31, farmer; wife Barbry, 28; children Alice, 3, Tobias, 8, and Diannah, 2; and Andrew Bass, 24.
In the 1900 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: farmer Ransom Howell, 51; wife Barbara, 47; and children Dina, 22, William, 19, Mary A., 18, Janettie, 16, Lucinda, 14, James R., 9, Sarah E., 6, and John D., 3.
In the 1910 census of Crossroads township, Wilson County: farmer Ransom Howell, 61; wife Barbara, 58; and children Janettie, 26, James R., 19, and John D., 13.
Dinah Bynum died 4 June 1940 in Crossroads township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 6 March 1881 in Wilson County to Ransom Howell and Bobbie Howell; was married to Benj. Bynum; and was buried in Newsome cemetery, Wilson County.
James Howell died 28 October 1945 in Sharpsburg, Nash County, N.C. Per his death certificate, he was born 1 April 1893 in Wilson County to Ransom Howell and Bobbie Woodard; was married to Lena Howell; worked as a farmer; and was buried in Rest Haven. Nettie M. Howell was informant.
Wilson Daily Times, 1 June 1911.
News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 12 September 1911.
I haven’t been able to determine whether one-armed Henry Howard was a Wilson County native.
In the spring of 1913, an anonymous Lucama resident, a woman, wrote a scornful letter to the editor, complaining of blind tigers operating with impunity nearby. Two of the five on Route 1, she noted, were operated by African-Americans.
Wilson Daily Times, 3 April 1913.
Abstracts of deeds recording the purchase of real property by African-American churches and lodges in Wilson County:
Deed book 121, page 381, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office.
As this Google Maps image shows, First Baptist Church still stands just outside Lucama. Its parcel is considerably larger than a quarter-acre and may include the land on which Lucama Colored School formerly sat.
Friendship Baptist Church, just outside Lucama, is a long-time member of the Union Primitive Baptist Association.
Photograph by Lisa Y. Henderson, July 2016.
Coroner’s report of the Inquest held over Dennis Williams (Col.), Dec. 19th, 1899
North Carolina, Wilson County }
Record of the examination of witnesses at the Inquest over the dead body of Dennis Williams (col)
The examination of W.D. Crocker M.D., Arch’d Robinson, W.M. Mumford, Edmund Williamson, John Henry, Horton Wells, Jason Wells (col), Alfred Moore taken before the undersigned, Coroner of said County, this 18th day of December 1899 at the Court House in Wilson, upon the body of Dennis Williams then lying dead, to-wit Archibald Robinson, being duly sworn says:
I went down to Mr. Moore’s Thursday night a little after dark. Mr. Moore not at home, but stayed there until a little after eight, went out and hurried towards home, just as I got close to the grave yard I heard a noise sound like some one struggling, I thought at first some one was trying to scare me heard noise about 100 years from Mr. Mumfords house. Saw man laying beside road, just a got against him I turned to left but walked by his feet and look down to see if I knew him, but made no stop. I met Edmund WmSon between where man was lying and Mr. Mumfords house. Just as I crossed the bridge I met him he spoke and I spoke and I stop after I passed him to see if he could recognize him and he stop and called to me that here is a man that seemed to be drunk or hurt come back and see if we can see what is to matter with him. I came back to injured man and found that Edmond knew him and found that he was injured. I and Mr. Mumford went to the depot and let some of the [illegible] Dr. W.D. Crocker went to see him. They took him up and carried him over to a vacant house about 350 years away where the doctor dressed his wounds. The man was total unconscience and stayed so, as far as I heard. Don’t know anything more about it. Archibald (X) Robinson
Edmund Williamson being duly sworn says:
I was acquainted with Dennis Williams. Did not recognize him that night at first, but did afterwards. There was right much blood on ground, where he was found. Do not know why he was there. Edmund (X) Williamson.
Wash Mumford, being duly sworn says:
Dennis came up to my house drunk, Thursday night drunk, like he always came, have learn him for 20 years, came to my gate, but Dago wouldn’t let him in. I was out in yard cutting out my beef. I forbid him to come in my yard for he was drunk, he walked off to one side, leaning up against walling. About 8 or 10 minutes, talking to him self. Had some words and he walked away cursing. He was not very offensive and went off as soon as I told him to go. Went off in direction to where he was afterwards found. Heard that he was hurt about 15 minutes after he left my house. I heard him meet some one, and heard him curve some one, and heard other party say he would kill him if he cursed him, and almost immediately afterwards heard blows. Mr. Wells and my son was with me. After I found out he was hurt, took my cart, and help them carry him off and dress his would. Found a bar rail and a fence rail where he was hurt, was blood, and hair on rails. Wash (X) Mumford
Horton Wells, being duly sworn says:
I was at Mr. Mumford, when Dennis same to his house Thursday night. I heard nothing more than Mr. Mumford testified to. /s/ J.H. Wells
Jason Wells, being duly sworn, says:
I am barber, my business is at Lucama. Went home a little early Thursday night. I saw Dennis at depot Thursday. He was drunk. I saw him between sun set and dark, didn’t see him after I went home. Didn’t see him have any money, but heard him say he had some. I took a drink with him, some time in the day he was not drunk then. Never saw him after he was hurt. Jason (X) Wells
Alfred Moore, being duly sworn, says:
The man was found dead about a half miles from my house. /s/ Alfred Moore
Dr. W.D. Crocker, being duly sworn says:
I practice medicine at Lucama I saw Dennis Williams in Lucama Thursday about sun down very drunk and he spoke to me, did not know him at that time. Had him searched next morning, did n’t find any thing except some candy, When I saw him at about half past ten he was unconscience, and had one cut on head near 6 in in length, cut to skull. I couldn’t detect any fracture in skull. He had both arms broken about five in from wrist, one bone in each arm. I think the cause of his death was from the two wounds on the head. I think the wounds were made by a rail. He was never conscience, and his pulse was very week. His folks took him home Friday and he died the next day. He also had a bruise on back of his head. /s/ W.D. Crocker
John Henry Battle, being duly sworn, says:
I live in Lucama, work with Mr. J.L. Hays. I saw Dennis Williams, about dark Thursday night, didnt see him during day. He was going out of town, with a man called Black Jack, coming out towards Barnes cross roads. I thought Dennis was drunk. Black Jack didn’t seem to be as drunk as Dennis, but I though he was drinking, Dennis wanted to go out in the country, and Black Jack didn’t want to go. Don’t know whether he went or no, both seemed to be in good humor. Didn’t see Dennis any more until he was found hurt, and haven’t see Black Jack since. /s/ John Henry Battle
John K. Ruffin, Coroner
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Coroner’s Records, Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.
In the winter of 1902, doctors in Wilson County commenced a vaccination campaign to counter the spread of smallpox across North Carolina. Physicians in the county were paid ten cents per resident inoculated and sent in lists of patients to justify their fees.
Isaac Wilson Lamm, M.D. (1864-1939).
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Office of Isaac W. Lamm, M.D., Practicing Physician
Lucama, N.C. Jan. 20, 1902
Dr. W.S. Anderson,
Wilson, N.C.
Dear Doctor: — I beg leave to make the following report of my vaccinations for the week ending Jan. 18, 1902.
White
[ …]
Colored
Frank Farmer, [gender designations omitted], 85
Lilly Hagans, 17
Frank Shaw, 15
Willie Allen, 10
Easter Dew, 48
Margaret Fields, 22
Louella Adams, 20
Nelly Adams, 17
Lossie Fields, 1 ½
Albert Fields, 3
Eliza Farmer, 46
Siddie Rice, 17
Savannah Rice, 12
Jessie Rice, 10
Ananias Rice, 15
J.A. Rice, 8
Joseph Taylor, 15
J.T. Renfrow, 15
Roscoe Kent, 16
Charley Kent, 12
Bud Kent, 10
Methuselah Kent, 12
Methuselah Creech, 12
Fred Kent, 14
Jesse James Pate, 11
Jack Privette, 11
Walter Newsome, 12
Tony Beckwith, 9
J.F. Thompson, 9
W.H. Bynum, 10
Lecy Dew, 22
Martha Dew, 24
Isaac N. Dew, 57
Edget Dew, 19
Herman Bynum, 12
Condary Adams, 13
Jesse Adams, 8
Yours fraternally, Isaac W. Lamm
154 names $15.40
Allowed — GDG
Photo courtesy of user RooneyK at http://www.ancestry.com. Miscellaneous Records, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives.