Turner

921 Atlantic Street.

The one hundred ninety-ninth in a series of posts highlighting buildings in East Wilson Historic District, a national historic district located in Wilson, North Carolina. As originally approved, the district encompasses 858 contributing buildings and two contributing structures in a historically African-American section of Wilson. (A significant number have since been lost.) The district was developed between about 1890 to 1940 and includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Bungalow/American Craftsman, and Shotgun-style architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District: “ca. 1913; 1 story; Queen Anne Cottage with double-pile, hip-roofed form, projecting front wing, intact turned-post porch; good example of the type.”

In the 1930 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 921 Atlanta, rented for $20/month, Jasper Turner, 42, sawmill sawyer; wife Mary, 37; and children Isodel, 17, Ruth, 16, Floyd, 12, and Therman, 10.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 921 Atlantic, farmer Weslie Swinson, 59; wife Addie, 53, tobacco factory stemmer; and children John H., 35, Contentnea Guano laborer, Willis, 30, “Darden Funeral-tobacco factory,” Iola, 20, tobacco factory stemmer, Odessa, 18, tobacco factory stemmer, and Doris, 15.

In 1940, Willie Lee Swinson registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 1 August 1907 in Greene County, N.C.; lived at 921 Atlantic; his contact was wife Isadell Swinson, 804 East Green Street; and he worked for Boyd Clark at Carolina Warehouse on Tarboro Street. 

In the Hill’s 1941 Wilson, N.C., city directory: Swinson Wesley (c; Addie) h 921 Atlantic av

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Wesley Swinson, 67; wife Addie B., 62; and son Willie, 41, chauffeur for local tobacco buyer.

Wesley Swinson died 3 August 1953 at his home at 921 Atlantic Street. Per his death certificate, he was born 7 November 1883 in Greene County to Aaron Swinson and Sarah Taylor; was married to Addie Swinson; lived at 921 Atlantic; and worked as a laborer. 

Wilson Daily Times, 3 August 1953.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, August 2024.

917 Atlantic Street.

The one hundred ninety-fifth in a series of posts highlighting buildings in East Wilson Historic District, a national historic district located in Wilson, North Carolina. As originally approved, the district encompasses 858 contributing buildings and two contributing structures in a historically African-American section of Wilson. (A significant number have since been lost.) The district was developed between about 1890 to 1940 and includes notable examples of Queen Anne, Bungalow/American Craftsman, and Shotgun-style architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

As described in the nomination form for the East Wilson Historic District: “ca. 1913; 1 story; Queen Anne cottage with double-pile, hip-roofed form, projecting front wing; remodeled with aluminum siding and metal porch posts.”

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In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Turner Jasper (c; Madie) mill hd h 917 Atlanta

In the 1930 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Bynum Dudley (c; Olie) barber h 917 Atlantic av

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 917 Atlantic, barber Dudley Bynum, 49, and wife Ola, 45, laundress at Hotel Cherry.

In the 1941 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Bynum Dudley (c; Oleona) barber Wm Hines h 917 Atlantic

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: Oleona R. Bynum, 55; husband Dudley Bynum, 59; and lodger Cora Parker, 51, widow.

Wilson Daily Times, 24 October 1959.

Oleonia Brooks Bynum died 21 October 1959 in Chapel Hill, Orange County, North Carolina. Per her death certificate, she was born 8 June 1893 to Dennis Brooks and Mary Ann Helms; was married to Dudley Bynum; and lived at 917 Atlantic Street, Wilson.

Wilson Daily Times, 19 July 1962.

Dudley Bynum died 19 July 1962 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per his death certificate, he was born August 1889 in Wilson County to Berry Bynum and Loddie [no maiden name]; lived at 917 Atlantic Street; was a widower; was a barber; and was buried in Masonic Cemetery. Lydia B. Knight, 311 Manchester Street, was informant.

Wilson Daily Times, 15 August 1962.

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, September 2024.

They are my grandchildren.

In response to John J. Pender’s claim to three African-American children, Jenny Robbins sent a sworn statement to the Freedmen’s Bureau. Reading between the lines suggests that Pender’s bald claim that Toney Robbins was not the children’s grandfather split hairs. They were, it seems, Jenny Robbins’ grandchildren by blood and Toney Robbins’ by marriage. Note that Robbins gives their surname as Turner, not Pender as set forth in the 1870 census and in J.J. Pender’s claim.

I Jenny Robbins wife of Toney Robbins do certify on oath that Dellah Ann Sylva Ann and Jacob Turner three infant children now in the possession of J.J. Pender of the county of Wilson state of North Carolina are my grand children and do further swear that my daughter Amy the mother of the said three children is and was dead when they were set free that I am the nearest kin now living to the said infants and wish to have the management control and raising of the same which he the said J.J. Pender haves and will not allow me to take or have anything to do with them     Jenny (X) Robbins

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 21st day of August 1867 James Wiggins J.P.

Witness D.W. Weaver, Moses (X) Morris Col., Haywood (X) Batts

Plece let me hear from you soon

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Former policeman James Wiggins also weighed in in support of Ginny Pender/Jenny Robbins’ claim for custody of her children. (The date of his letter is puzzling, as it more than a year and a half before Robbins’ above. It gives a sense, however, of the protracted fight Toney and Jenny Robbins waged for her grandchildren.)

North Carolina Freedmen’s Bureau Field Office Records, 1863-1872, Goldsboro (subassistant commissioner), Roll 15, Letters Received Jan 1867-Feb 1868; North Carolina Freedmen’s Bureau Field Office Records, 1863-1872, Goldsboro (subassistant commissioner), Roll 15, Unregistered Letters Received Aug 1865-Feb 1868, http://www.familysearch.org