Among the properties upon whichAndrew and Mary Townsenddefaulted in 1940 was a parcel described as “a lot on the southern edge of Banks Street where Banks crosses a ditch that runs south into the Hominy Swamp canal, purchased from O.L.W. and Cynthia Smith, recorded in Book 111, page 361.”
The Townsends ran a grocery store in the block, alongside a one-story wooden house and Trinity A.M.E. Zion church. Across the street, rail spurs from the Norfolk & Southern Rail Road ran to a tobacco factory and two coal and wood yards.
Here is the “southern edge of Banks Street” today, looking toward Mercer Street. The block is empty.
And here, still, is the ditch that runs south into Hominy Swamp.
Ed Johnson — Edward Johnson died 15 April 1924 (two weeks after his store burned.) Per his death certificate, he was born 12 February 1869 in Durham County, N.C., to Martin Johnson and Francies Burks of Durham County; was married to Rachel Jane Johnson; was a self-employed grocery merchant; and lived at 406 East Hines Street. His wife Rachel Johnson was the daughter of his landlord Lewis Townsend.
Louis Townsend — Lewis W. Townsend and his brother Andrew J. Townsend operated groceries together and separately in the warehouse district southwest of downtown Wilson.
A deed of trust is essentially an agreement between a lender and a borrower to give legal title to a property to a neutral third party who will serve as a trustee. The trustee holds the property until the borrower pays off the debt owed to the lender. During the period of repayment, the borrower keeps the actual or equitable title to the property and generally maintains full responsibility for the premises. The trustee, however, holds the legal title to the property and is empowered to sell the property to satisfy the debt if the borrower defaults. Once the sale is complete, the trustee will distribute the proceeds between the borrower and the lender. The lender gets whatever funds are required to satisfy the debt, and the borrower receives anything in excess of that amount.
On 15 January 1940, the Wilson Daily Times published a notice of sale of six properties belonging to Andrew J. and Mary L. Townsend, who had defaulted on the terms of a deed of trust filed in 1938:
(1) adjoining the property of Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church, H.W. Farrior, and Owen Smith a lot on Banks Street purchased from O.L.W. and Cynthia Smith, recorded in Book 85, page 398, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office;
(2) a lot on the southern edge of Banks Street where Banks crosses a ditch that runs south into the Hominy Swamp canal, purchased from O.L.W. and Cynthia Smith, recorded in Book 111, page 361;
(3) adjoining the property of Louis W. Townsend, Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church and H.W. Farrior, a lot on the western side of Goldsboro Street and south of Banks Street, on the same ditch as above, purchased from O.L.W. and Cynthia Smith, recorded in Book 98, page 179;
(4) lot 14 in the Winona subdivision on Mercer Street (map recorded at Book 68, page 457) purchased from S.H. and Annie M. Vick and recorded at Book 116, page 273;
(5) adjoining the lands of John and Mary Lewis and S.H. Vick, a 50′ by 100′ lot on Mercer Street (lot 16 of Winona subdivision) purchased from S.H. and Annie M. Vick and recorded at Book 172, page 24; and
(6) lot 15 on the plat of Winona subdivision, a 50′ by 100′ lot on Mercer Street purchased from S.H. Vick and recorded at Book 68, page 457.
——
Andrew J. Townsend — in the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Andrew Townsend, 58, section hand for N.S. [Norfolk Southern railroad]; wife Lula, 49, tobacco factory laborer; children Lewis, 27, Rachel, 22, Louisa, 18, Christine, 16, Odell, 15, Hazel, 13, and Minnie Ruth, 11; and granddaughter Maybelle, 3.
Louis W. Townsend — Louis Townsend died 12 March 1932 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 29 February 1853 in Person County, N.C., to Dempsey Townsend and Margaret Thorp; lived at 408 East Hines Street, Wilson; was the widower of Henrietta Townsend; was a day laborer for a tobacco manufacturing company. Informant was Rachael Dixson, Wilson, N.C.
Brothers Lewis W. and Andrew J. Townsend migrated to Wilson from Granville County, North Carolina. Both settled and operated small grocery stores in the area near the southern stretch of Wilson’s tobacco factories in the Hines, Banks and Mercer Streets area. Lewis named a son Andrew J. Townsend after his brother.
——
In the 1870 census of Oak Hill township, Granville County, North Carolina: Demsy Townsend, 39, blacksmith; wife Leatha, 30; and children Thomas, 18, Lewis, 16, Mary J., 14, Crawford, 13, Andrew, 10, and Alx, 1.
In the 1912 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Townsend Andrew J (T Bros) h Goldsboro cor Bank. Also, Townsend Bros (Andrew J and Lewis W), grocers Goldsboro cor Bank
A.J. Townsend, 51, of Wilson, was issued a license to marry Mary Lewis, 48, of Wilson, on 16 October 1915.
Virginia Mae Artis was born 6 January 1916 in Lucama, Cross Roads township, Wilson County, to Andrew J. Townsend, age not listed, born in N.C., a mechanic, and Emma Artis, 36, born in Robeson County, a cook.
In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Townsend Andrew J (c; Mary) bro 210 Banks h 1003 Mercer.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Mercer Street, Andrew Townsend, 51, grocery merchant, and wife Mary, 52, tobacco factory worker.
In the 1922 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Townsend Andrew J (c) grocer Banks nr Goldsboro h 1003 S Mercer
In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Townsend Andrew J (c) gro Bank nr S Goldsboro h 1003 Mercer
In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Townsend Andrew J (c; Mary) gro 104 Banks h 1003 Mercer
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 1003 Mercer Street, owned and valued at $600, merchant Andrew Townsend, 65, and wife Mary, 40.
In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 522 Banks Street, rented for $12/month, A.J. Townsend, 77, clerk and owner retail grocery.
Mary Lewis Townsend died 13 August 1942 at Mercy Hospital in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 75 years old; was married to Andrew Townsend; lived at 1005 Mercer Street; was born in Wilson County to Alexander and Morning Barron; and was buried in Rountree Cemetery. Informant was Andrew J. Townsend, 522 Banks Street, Wilson.
Andrew Jackson Townsend died 20 August 1947 at Mercy Hospital, Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 85 years old; was born on Pearson [Person] County, N.C., to Dempsey Townsend and Margaret [maiden name unknown]; was a merchant; lived at 522 Banks Street; and was buried in Rountree Cemetery [probably, actually Odd Fellows Cemetery]. Rachel Deaxon, 406 Hines Street, Wilson, was informant. [Rachel Townsend Dixon was A.J. Townsend’s great-niece, daughter of his nephew Andrew J. Townsend.]
Mena Townsend Faison‘s funeral was held 16 August 1981 at London Primitive Baptist Church. Elder Lonnie Barnes performed the service.
Will Faison, 24, of Wilson, and Mena Townsend, 19, of Wilson, daughter of Louis Townsend, were married 15 August 1912 in Wilson. Missionary Baptist minister William Baker performed the ceremony in the presence of Rosa Greene, Ora Bunch and Josie Strickland.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Banks Street, tobacco factory worker Willie Banks, 31; wife Mena, 26; and children Edward, 6, Willie Mae, 4, Addie, 2, and Adell, 7 months.
Mabel Eliza Faison died 25 December 1929 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was 17 years old; a school girl; single; and was born in Wilson to Willie Faison and Mena Townsend. Informant was Maggie Katis.
Henry Cornelius Faison registered for the World War II draft in Wilson in 1942. Per his registration card, he was born 22 February 1921 in Wilson; lived at 504 Banks Street; his contact was Meana Faison; and he worked for Export Tobacco Company. Ethel L. Hines was registrar.
In the 1957 Newark, New Jersey, city directory: Faison William (Mena) longshoreman h 146 S 9th
Thanks to Lisa R.W. Sloan for sharing this funeral program from a family collection.
In the 1870 census of Oak Hill township, Granville County, North Carolina: Demsy Townsend, 39, blacksmith; wife Leatha, 30; and children Thomas, 18, Lewis, 16, Mary J., 14, Crawford, 13, Andrew, 10, and Alx, 1.
Lewis Townsend married Ritta Thorp on 28 December 1876 in Granville County.
In the 1880 census of Walnut Grove township, Granville County: George Hobgood, 46, farmer, and Louis Townsend, 25, servant, works on farm.
In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: day laborer William Barnett, 21, wife Mollie, 19, father Lewis Townsend, 46, and mother Henrietta Townsend, 44.
Will Faison, 24, of Wilson, and Mena Townsend, 19, of Wilson, daughter of Louis Townsend, were married 15 August 1912 in Wilson. Missionary Baptist minister William Baker performed the ceremony in the presence of Rosa Greene, Ora Bunch and Josie Strickland.
In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 419 Hines Street, tobacco contractor Lewis Townsend, 62; wife Henretta, 60; and children Alzie Townsend, 22, tobacco factory worker, and Geneva Brown, 24; son-in-law George, 26, garage mechanic; and Ester, 1, George Jr., 4, and Martha, 2.
In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 408 East Hines, owned and valued at $1200, Will Gardner, 42, ice plant laborer; wife Mary, 42, and son Levi, 18; plus Henretta 73, and Lewis Townsend, 80.
Henrietta Townsend died 13 January 1932 in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born October 1856 in Granville County to Haywood and Rachel Thorpe, both of Person County; was married to Louis Townsend; and lived at 406 East Hines. Informant was Rachel Dixon, 406 East Hines.
Louis Townsend died 12 July 1932 in Wilson (five months after his wife). Per his death certificate, he was born 29 February 1853 in Person County to Demptsey Townsend and Margaret Thorp; was a widower; had worked as a day laborer for a tobacco manufacturing company; and lived at 408 East Hines. Informant was Racheal Dixson.
Thomas Townsend died 26 February 1959 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 6 November 1885 in Person County, North Carolina, to Louis Townsend and Henerietta Thorpe; lived at 406 East Hines, Wilson; and worked as a laborer. Informant was Racheal Dixon, 406 East Hines.
Andrew Townsend died 2 January 1960 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 2 January 1881 in Person County to Lewis Townsend and Henritta Thorpe; was a widower; lived at 525 South Spring Street; and was a laborer. Informant was Minnie Merrill, 525 South Spring.
