Vines

Louisa Hagans fights for her horse.

In 1888, Louisa Staton Hagans filed suit against Applewhite Lane & Company, alleging that the company had wrongfully foreclosed on a horse belonging to her, not her in-laws. Hagans, her deceased husband’s mother, sister, and brother-in-law had lived on the same rented farm. Mariah Hagans and her son-in-law Moses Vick had entered into a chattel mortgage agreement with farm suppliers Applewhite Lane and Company. The families worked the farm together, but without Clem Hagans’ labor could not make a crop and they relinquished their property. At issue were some equipment and a bay mare named Daisy, which Louisa Hagans claimed belonged to her husband Clem, not his mother Mariah Hagans, and thus should not have been taken. She sought $150 in damages.

The transcripts of testimony, lightly edited for clarity:

Louisa Hagans vs. Applewhite Lane &c.  } Evidence for Plaintiff

George Stated [Staton?] being duly sworn testified. Lived last year and year before with S.H. Whitley & year before lived in Edgecombe. Knew Clem Hagans, was husband of Plaintiff Louisa Hagans. He moved to Wilson about four years ago. He had a colt which he brought with him. His father give the colt to him. Helped his father pay a debt of $300. Give his colt in payment. Offered to buy the colt. Said can’t sell him. Had let Clem have him, couldn’t sell him. He moved up here about four years ago. Died last year. He and Louisa was living together as husband & wife. She owned this colt when he died.

X Ex [cross-examination] Came with his father about four years ago. I brought the colt. Colt was in Clem’s father’s stable when in Edgecombe. Clem lived with his mother since they lived in Wilson. Was to help pay his father out of debt. Clem said to his father. Father you won’t give him to me. Was call as a witness to agreement that he was to let him have the colt on condition that he helped him pay the debt. He did help. His father, son if you will help me pay out of debt, I will make you present of this colt. Clem said father, you won’t do it. He called me as a witness to it. Clem went on he and his wife and worked that that year out. And his father paid out of debt. Put it on his account book that it was Clems colt and called me as a witness to it. That was the last I heard of it. It was about four years ago.

Re Direct, I brought the colt to Wilson. It was Clems colt, I had no doubt about it.

J.E.N. Gorham testified. Clem Hagans and his family stayed on my place last year. I made the arrangements with Clem. His mother Mariah Hagans lived on the same land. He said he had team enough to cultivate a two horse farm. Clem owned the younger horse & his mother the old one. Clem died in Sept last on my place.

X Ex. Took no mortgage on his stock. He refused to mortgage his own horse and said he had no right to mortgage the other. They all worked together on the same farm.

Report of Commissioners to lay off Louisa Hagans years support marked “A” offered in evidence by plaintiff, including one bay horse valued at $150. See Exhibit marked “A”.

Mariah Hagans testified. I am the mother of Clem Hagans. My husband had been dead nearly 4 years. Will be 4 years next old Christmas. We lived in Edgecomb County with Mr. Edmundson before coming to Wilson. Clem Hagans died in Sept last year. Clem left a horse, plows, weeding hoes & shovel and a cotton planter as his property. The young horse was the one his father promised to give him. I was living with Mr. Gorham when Clem died. All lived in same field. I and my daughter & Mose Vines her husband lived together. Clem & his wife & children lived at the other place. I owned a horse which was kept where he kept his own. I moved to Mr. Frank Lanes after leaving Mr. Gorhams place. I made an arrangement to trade with Applewhite Lane & Co. Gave them a mortgage signed by me and Mose. When I mortgaged my horse Mr. Lane said I mortgaged both. My understanding was when I made the mortgage that I mortgaged mine and Mose mortgaged Louisa’s horse. After Clems death Louisa continued to live at same place.

Ex. This was the horse the old man my husband promised to give Clem. He had no right to give the horse. He and all the horses were mine. I claim all the property. My son always claimed the horse because I and my husband promised to give it to him. I give the charge of it while he lived to him, and he said before his death if you can’t all agree, for me to sell the horse and keep the money for the children. We all lived together before my husband died. My son died the next day after talking about the horse. He said at the time he was going to die. Have no children living. Six grandchildren. Louisa & her children have been living with me this year. I supported them from Mr. Lanes Store, or Applewhite Lane &c. Told Louisa last summer the horse was mortgaged. It was necessary to mortgage it to get support for her & her children. Louisa did most of the trading. I went only ones [sic]. All carried on the farm together. All this property including the horse I had the possession of and the control over it. Louisa was present when Mr. Lane took the horse and did not object. I and Louisa were present when the horse was sold. We made no objection.

Re D. The only right Clem had to the horse was by word of mouth from his father. I could have taken the horse away at any time but I did not. It was generally understood that the horse belonged to Clem while he lived. At his death it was to come back to me. I bought the mother of the colt from my old master. Give $185 for her and raised this colt from her. My husband was sold out one. They sold everything except the mother of this hours. She was not sold because she belonged to me. I never raised any objection to the colt going to Clem as long as he lived. Didn’t consider I had any reason to raise any objection, because he lived with me and I got the benefits of the horses labor. I raised no objection after his death, but I raise it now. I have had possession of the horse heretofore. The reason I said Louisa traded the most was because I sent her after the things, provisions, &c. Mr. Lane said when he took the horse that he would put her in the pasture. Neither of us raised any objection. I was told to come to town but did not know what was to be done until I got here. Don’t know whether Louisa was present when the horse was sold, but we both had been at the place when he was to be sold and knew he was to be sold. We were both within hearing when the horse was sold. Louisa is hard of hearing and I don’t know whether she heard or not.

X Ex. Louisa traded at the store after she knew the horse was mortgaged . I sent her there.

Defendants Evidence

Mr HB Lane being duly sworn testified. I wrote the mortgage offered in evidence marked “B.” That’s it contains the horse in dispute. Mariah Hagans mortgages the horse to Applewhite Lane & Co. She represented that the horse was her property. I advanced her supplies upon the faith of the property mortgaged. I advanced her about $270. I took possession of the property, she voluntarily surrendered it. She said she could not finish the crop and preferred giving the property up then. We advertised the property according to the mortgage for 30 days and sold it at the Court House door in Wilson. The property brought $134.50. Horse brought $40. Good crowd present. Several bids made. Horse was in bad condition. I bought all the property for the firm. They have it now. They allowed $70 for the work done on the crop. Leaving $200 due on account of the stock. Notified her of sale & Louisa came with her. Neither made objection to the sale. Louisa did the trading. Mariah came once. They all lived together. After the first bill, the bill was mostly for necessary provisions &c for themselves & horses. Bought feed for two horses.

X Ex. Mariah represented she had two horses to secure the advances. Got Moses to sign to convey his interest in the crop. I bought the property because I thought it was worth more. Sold 2 horses and 2 iron axle carts & gear. Took charge of no other property.

Mariah Hagans was recalled. These two carts were bought in 1886 when we were staying at Mr. Calvin Woodards. Clem bought them, one for himself and one for me. Never have claimed her cart, that belonged to him, but I claim the horse. Kept all together when we lived at Gorham’s. Don’t know whether Louisa objected to the sale of the cart. When Clem authorized me to sell the horse and other property, he said nothing about the cart. Never was any division of the carts. Used that cart this year. Clem left everything in my charge when he died. I owned one and Clem owned the other. We owned them in conjunction.

Louisa Hagans. There were two carts. One that had blue wheels belonged to my husband Clem Hagans. The one with red wheels was called Mariah’s cart. Clem left when he died 1 cart 1 horse 2 plows 1 cotton planter a hoe & shovel

X Ex. He claimed the blue cart.

Louisa Hagans’ attorney, John F. Bruton, reached a settlement with Applewhite Lane’s attorneys, F.A. and S.A. Woodard. Applewhite Lane would pay her $18, but were awarded the property and court costs. By time Hagans paid the court and Bruton’s fees, she likely came away with little.

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  • Louisa Hagans

In the 1870 census of Lower Conetoe township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: farmer Willis Staton, 35; wife Sarah, 35; and children Joseph, 13, Louisa, 9, Rachel, 8, Sherrod, 7, and Sherman, 4.

In the 1880 census of Tarboro township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: Louisa Staton, 21, farm laborer; Daniel Pitman, 10; [Louisa’s] son Willie Staton, 1; and John Carson, 21, farm laborer.

On 5 March 1882, Clem Hagans, 21, son of Hilliard and Mariah Hagans, married Louisa Staton, 23, daughter of Willis and Sarah Staton, in Pitt County, N.C.

In the 1910 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Lue Hagans, 48, widow, farm laborer; daughter Sarah, 23; [grandchildren?] Geneva, 6, Mahaley, 4, Mildred, 2, and “no name,” 4 months; and granddaughter Ida Banes, 17.

Louisa Hagans died 17 July 1930 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 70 years old; was born in Edgecombe County to Willis and Sarah Staton; was a widow; worked in farming; and was buried in Wilson [probably, Vick Cemetery.]

Sarah Powell died 27 June 1939 in Wilson, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was 43 years old; was born in Edgecombe County to Clem Hagans and Louisa Staton; lived at 114 South East Street, Wilson; was the widow of Henry Powell; and was buried in Wilson [probably, Vick Cemetery.] Mahalie Stokes, Winston-Salem, N.C., was informant.

  • Clem Hagans

In the 1870 census of Tarboro township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: Hilliard Haigins, 43; wife Maria, 35; children Mahela and Clarence, 13, and Clem, 8; and Daniel Hagans, 26, farm laborer.

In the 1880 census of Tarboro township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: farmer Hilliard Hagans, 53; wife Maria, 50; daughter Mahala, 24, son Clem, 17; nephew Daniel, 35; and granddaughters Martha, 6, and Martha, 4. [Next door: Louisa Staton, 21, farm laborer; Daniel Pitman, 10; [Louisa’s] son Willie Staton, 1; and John Carson, 21, farm laborer.]

On 5 March 1882, Clem Hagans, 21, son of Hilliard and Mariah Hagans, married Louisa Staton, 23, daughter of Willis and Sarah Staton, in Pitt County, N.C.

  • Mariah Hagans

In the 1870 census of Tarboro township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: Hilliard Haigins, 43; wife Maria, 35; children Mahela and Clarence, 13, and Clem, 8; and Daniel Hagans, 26, farm laborer.

In the 1880 census of Tarboro township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: farmer Hilliard Hagans, 53; wife Maria, 50; daughter Mahala, 24, son Clem, 17; nephew Daniel, 35; and granddaughters Martha, 6, and Martha, 4. [Next door: Louisa Staton, 21, farm laborer; Daniel Pitman, 10; [Louisa’s] son Willie Staton, 1; and John Carson, 21, farm laborer.]

  • Moses Vines

On 12 May 1886, Moses Vines 23, of Wilson County, married Mahala Hagans, 25, of Wilson County, in Wilson.

Chattel Mortgages 1858-1889, Wilson County Records, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh.

The obituary of Hagar Vines.

Wilson Daily Times, 21 November 1942.

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In the 1930 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Josephine Vines, 35, and her children Oscar, 18, Hagar, 16, Clyde, 13, and Artella, 7, all farm laborers.

In the 1940 census of Margate City, Atlantic County, New Jersey: Hagar Vines, 23, maid, in the household of Carl Surran. (Vines indicated she had lived in Wilson, North Carolina, in 1935.

Howell Vines, Co. B, 14th Regiment, U.S.C.T.

We met Howell Vines here, when he complained to a Freedmen’s Bureau official that J.E. Totten had taken his military discharge papers in a fraud scheme. Totten lived in Wilson County, but it was not clear to me if Vines lived in Wilson or Edgecombe. I recently obtained a copy of his wife’s widow’s pension file, which establishes his domicile in the Old Sparta area of southwest Edgecombe. Nonetheless, I am featuring Vines here because of his close ties to Wilson County and the depth and poignancy of the personal information the file contains.

To start, here is the precious discharge paper Vines fought to recover. It establishes that he had enlisted in Company B, 14th Regiment of the United States Colored Heavy Artillery and was discharged at Fort Macon, North Carolina, on 11 December 1865. Vines was 39 years old, had been born in Edgecombe County, was five feet nine inches tall, and dark-skinned.

Howell Vines and Lucilla Eason married first in Edgecombe County while enslaved in 1854, then legalized their union in 1866. Lucilla Vines produced this certified copy of their cohabitation registration.

Vines died 6 June 1881. Ten years later, his wife Lucilla Vines applied for a widow’s pension, calling as supporting witnesses friends, neighbors, fellow soldiers, and even her former enslaver. She hired A.R. Bridgers, Jr., “Attorney at Law and Solicitor of Pension Claims,” to represent her and on 9 May 1892 Bridgers wrote Commissioner of Pensions Green B. Raum seeking action on Vines’ claim. Bridgers described her as “a poor flicted woman destitute of support and soly dependant on her children to sustain her through life,” adding, “She also has a son who is not a sound bodied person.”

Vines’ application included a joint declaration by several of her supporters. An unknown person testified to Howell Vines’ early legal status, stating that Howell had originally been owned by the heirs of Pollie Ruffin and drawn by John Vines in a division of property. Howell had remained John Vines’ property until freed. Benjamin Ruffin, age 81, testified that he had known Howell Vines all his life — “I was sent after the midwife when he was born.”

Charles Vines testified that he had known both Howell Vines and his parents and, while Howell may have gone by the name of his first owners at some point, John Vines was his last master. Ruffin and Charles Vines jointly asserted that they had known Lucilla Vines her whole life, as well as her parents; that she and Howell Vines were married by their owners’ consent; and Howell Vines was “allowed time Saturday night to go see his wife and reasonable time to get home Monday morning.”

In 1866, the couple got a “twenty-five cent license” to remarry under North Carolina’s cohabitation law and lived together until Howell’s death. They had 12 children, five of whom were still living — twins James and Jenny, born 17 October 1855; Lucy, born 27 July 1858; Sarah, born 24 February 1868; and Charles, born 1 April 1870.

Charles Vines and Ruffin asserted that Lucilla Vines was born in 1836 in Edgecombe County, but cite a younger age for Howell than that set forth on his discharge paper. Howell worked as a farmer and was never married to any woman other than Lucilla, whom they described as “flicted” — afflicted — with a large wen on her neck.

Lucilla Vines herself swore that she had known her husband since childhood; that they had married with consent; that they had not had an address during the War (“being slaves had no need of any Post office”); and Howell Vines died of disease contracted while a soldier.

On 31 October 1891, J.E. Eason wrote a note on Lucilla Vines’ behalf, oddly claiming that Evans “beloning to me and I have owened her all of her life.” (J.E. Eason added her X to a similar document four months later in which she modified her claim to assert only that “Lucilla Eason was once a slave of mine.”)

In August 1893, 63 year-old Charles Vines again testified, stating “that he has known Howell Vines all of his life they both belonged to the same white man John Vines, we both ran off the same time to become soldiers.” Charles Vines was rejected (he “was not found a solid man”) and went North, but Howell Vines enlisted. Charles encountered Howell in New Bern, North Carolina, during the War, and Howell told him he had contracted “camp cough.” He was never a well man after.

In October 1898, 58 year-old Dock Baker of Saratoga, Wilson County, testified that he, too, had known Howell Vines all his life. Baker had enlisted in Company B three months before Vines, and they were “comrid soldiers.” Howell had enlisted as a healthy man, but after working months building breastworks, lifting heavy logs, and throwing up dirt, Vines had been “taken down sick” and hospitalized for a month. Thereafter, he could not do much and was given light duty as a cook. Baker could not recall the name of Vines’ condition, but had seen him so ill with “cramp colic” that “it appeared as though it would draw him double.”

Allen Vines swore that he had known both Howell and Lucilla Vines about 45 years; that he and Howell had both belonged to John A. Vines; that he and Howell were not related, but his mother was Lucilla’s mother’s first cousin; and that Lucilla had belonged to Jackie Eliza Eason. Allen Vines was “standing by” when John A. Vines pronounced Howell and Lucilla man and wife. He also attended Howell Vines’ funeral.

James Vines authenticated his father’s discharge paper. “Prior to the war my mother with us children all lived on Miss Eason’s farm & father lived on John Vines’ farm but visited us every week.” “When Miss Eason (white) came to die last July she did not will my mother any thing but she willed me 180 acres of land for my lifetime & then to my two sisters Lucy & Jennie for life and then to their heirs but the executor Joseph Cobb sold the land to pay the debts of the estate.” [Per her estate file, Jacquea Eason died owning $40 in assets (other than land) and $500 in debt. James Vines and his sister Lucy Vines and Jenny Vines Johnson were her sole heirs. Benjamin F. Eagles bought Eason’s land when it went to auction.]

Watson Vines testified that “Howell Vines lingered four or five years before his death; and he was subject to fainting. I was with him when he died, and he had the running off the bowels constantly and died with the same. He continued to wicken down by the running off  the bowels and died June 6, 1881. I superintend over his burring.”

Lucilla Vines was awarded a widow’s pension of $8 per month.

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  • Dock Baker

In the 1870 census of Cokey township, Edgecombe County: farm laborer Doctor Baker, 27; wife Charlotte, 19; and children Richard, 6, and Louisa, 3.

In the 1880 census of Cocoa township, Edgecombe County: farm laborer Dock Baker, 45; wife Charlot, 35; and children Richard, 16, Louiser, 13, Marke, 9, Martha, 7, and Mary, 3.

Probably, on 19 February 1887, Dock Baker, 35, married Ellen Knight, 30, in Saratoga township, Wilson County.

Probably, on 21 August 1892, Dock Baker, 45, resident of Saratoga, married Ester Lewis, 23, of Saratoga, in Wilson County.

File #520895, Application of Luciller Vines for Widow’s Pension, National Archives and Records Administration.

The Lord told me to.

Wilson Daily Times, 22 November 1948.

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In the 1900 census of Otter Creek township, Edgecombe County, N.C.: Joseph Wooten, 38; wife Chaney, 28; and children Cora, 11, James, 6, Lossie, 4, and Nora, 1.

In the 1900 census of Sparta township, Edgecombe County: Watt Vines, 30; wife Emma, 29; and children Eddie, 11, Patsey, 5, Junius, 3, and Yettie, 3 months. 

In the 1910 census of Otter Creek township, Edgecombe County: Joseph Wooten, 50; wife Chaney, 40; and children James, 17, Lossie, 15, Jacob, 11, Mark, 9, and Andrew J., 1.

On 27 January 1915, James Wooten, 21, of Edgecombe County, son of Joe and Chaney Wooten, married Yettie Vines, 18, of Saratoga, daughter of Watson and Emma Vines, in Saratoga. Joe Wooten applied for the license, and Primitive Baptist minister Ruffin Hyman performed the ceremony in the presence of C.C. Vines, J.J. Vines, and Miles E. Reid.

In the 1920 census of Otter Creek township, Edgecombe County: James Wooten, 25, and wife Yettie.

In the 1930 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: James Wooten, 36; wife Yattie, 30; and William J., 7.

In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Jim Wooten 45; wife Hattie, 39; sister Mary Bullock, 50; and cousins Melba M., 9, and Ada R. Edwards, 6.

The 8 December 1948 Daily Times reported that Yettie Wooten, an “aging colored woman,” had been sentences to ten to fifteen years in state prison, with a recommendation that she placed in the division for the criminally insane. 

Yettie Vines Wooten died 9 October 1990 in Wilson. 

Totten defrauds veteran freedmen.

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In September 1867, Major William A. Cutler passed a report up the chain to his superior in the Freedmen’s Bureau.”… J.E. Totten at Joyners N.C. [Elm City] has been defrauding Freedmen by obtaining from them their “Discharges” from the U.S. Army by false representations …”

Bureau R.F.&A.L., Office Asst.Sub.Asst.Com., Rocky Mount, N.C., Sept. 6th, 1867.

Maj. C.E. Compton, Sub. Asst. Com., Goldsboro, N.C.

Major:

Howell Vine (colored) gave me the enclosed receipt, & I feel it my duty to send it to you, as he is anxious to obtain his discharge papers again.

From his statement it seems that he was deceived at the time he gave them into the hands of J.E. Totten and thought that Totten was sent by the Bureau to look after the interest of the freed people.

You will learn by the note written by Cd. Frank H. Bennett (register) that this not the only case of the kind.

I sent a note to the county clerk of Wilson county to find whether Totten had obtained the county seal to the certificate on the back of the claim.

I enclose the letter which I received in reply to the note.

I have the honor to be, Very Respectfully Your Obdt. svt, Wm. A. Cutler, Maj. & A.S.A.C.

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Though his encounter with J.E. Totten apparently took place in Wilson County, and the Bureau made inquiries with the Wilson County clerk, it is not clear whether Howell Vines ever actually lived in the county. Joseph Totten, 29, is listed as a store clerk in the 1870 census of Joyners township, Wilson County, living in the household of Joseph Conte, 52, “g & gd march retl” [grocery and dry goods merchant retail].

Per muster records, Howell Vine (or Vines) enlisted in Company B, 14th Regiment, U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery, on 21 March 1864 in Washington, North Carolina. He was described as 32 years of age; five feet nine inches tall; with black complexion, black eyes and wooly hair. He reported being born in Edgecombe County.

In the 1870 census of Sparta township, Edgecombe County: farmer Howell Vines, 36; wife Priscilla, 35; and children James and Jenny, 14, Lucy, 12, Sarah, 2, and  Charlie, 1.

In the 1880 census of Sparta township, Edgecombe County: farmer Howell Vines, 52; wife Cillar, 42; and children James and Jennie, 24, Lucy, 21, Sarah, 13, and Charlie, 10.

Lucilla Vines applied for a widow’s pension on 20 July 1891.

North Carolina Freedmen’s Bureau Field Office Records, 1863-1872, Goldsboro (subassistant commissioner), Roll 15, Letters sent, vols. 1-2, February 1867-February 1868, http://www.familysearch.org; U.S. Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1863-1865 [database on-line], http://www.ancestry.com.