Wayne County NC

The last will and testament of Charity Pope (1858).

William Pope died intestate in about 1857. He lived on the south side of Contentnea Creek, in the Black Creek area, in either Wayne or Wilson County. He left a widow and six children (and grandchildren of a seventh) and a complicated estate. Records indicate that Pope died possessed of ten enslaved people — Isaac, Mary, Nancy, Green, Zilpha, Rachel, Bryant, Patsy, Maria, and Ellis.

On 6 November 1858, William’s widow Charity Pope, who lived in Wilson County, executed a last will and testament that included this provision:

“[T]o my esteemed friend William Thompson one third part of my right and title & interest as one of the distributees of my late husband William Pope in and to Negroes Isaac, Patsy, Zilpha, Mary, Nancy, Green, Rachel, Bryant [and] Ellis ….” The remaining two-thirds interest was to go to her daughters Martha and Elizabeth Pope.

 

In 1 December 1859, well before Charity Pope’s death, all the people WilliamPope had enslaved were sold at court-ordered auction. They went to seven different purchasers, most of whom — Benjamin H. Bardin, Edwin G. Clark, James Newsome, James D. Barnes, and Charity Pope — lived in Wilson County.

Charity Pope purchased Patsy and her children Ellis and Maria, the newborn, for $1205.00. On credit.

In the meantime, in January 1860, estate administrator Simon Hooks paid Charity Pope for “keeping” Patsy for the year 1857. (The other enslaved people were hired out.) Per their agreement, Pope was to receive fifty dollars for her service, plus an additional ten dollars “if the negro woman brought a child during [the] year.” In other words, Pope was to be rewarded if the pregnant Patsy safely delivered (and thereby increased the value of her husband’s estate.)

Estate of William Pope (1856), Will of Charity Pope (1858), North Carolina Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998, http://www.ancestry.com

The roots of many Wilson County Artises, no. 7: Celia Artis.

Before Wilson County was founded in 1855, the area around Black Creek was part of Wayne County. Celia Artis, a free woman of color, is listed as a head of household in the 1840 census of Black Creek district of Wayne County. Though it’s not certain that she lived in what is now Wilson County, her listing in proximity to white planters Stephen Woodard and Bunyan Barnes, who definitely lived in Wilson County territory, suggests so.

1840 federal census of Wayne County, North Carolina.

Celia’s family and Adam T. Artis’ family were among several sets of Artises living in or adjacent to northeastern Wayne County in the antebellum era, and members both intermarried and otherwise interacted with each other regularly. At least eight sets of Celia Artis’ descendants were living in Wilson County by the early 1900s, so I include a summary of her life here.

Celia Artis was born just before 1800, probably in northeastern Wayne County or what is now southern Wilson County. Nothing is known of her parentage or early life. She gave birth to at least six children and married an enslaved man called Simon Pig, who was the father of some or all of them.

In 1823, she gave control over her oldest children to two white neighbors, brothers (or father and son) Elias and Jesse Coleman, in a dangerously worded deed that exceeded the scope of typical apprenticeship indentures:

This indenture this 16th day of August 1823 between Celia Artis of the County of Wayne and state of North Carolina of the one part, and Elias and Jesse Coleman of the other part (witnesseth) that I the said Celia Artis have for an in consideration of having four of my children raised in a becoming [illegible], by these presence indenture the said four children (to viz) Eliza, Ceatha, Zilpha, and Simon Artis to the said Elias and Jesse Coleman to be their own right and property until the said four children arives at the age of twenty one years old and I do by virtue of these presents give and grant all my right and power over said children the above term of time, unto the said Elias and Jesse Coleman their heirs and assigns, until the above-named children arives to the aforementioned etc., and I do further give unto the said Elias and Jesse Coleman all power of recovering from any person or persons all my right to said children — the [illegible] of time whatsoever in whereof I the said Celia Artis have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written,    Celia X Artis.

Despite the “own right and property” language, Celia did not exactly sell her children, but what drove her to this extreme measure? Celia was not legally married and, as a result, her children were subject to involuntary apprenticeship until age 21. This strongly worded deed records her determination to guard her children from uncertain fates by placing them under the control of men she trusted, rather than those selected by a court. Despite the deed’s verbiage, it is possible that the children continued to live with their mother during their indenture. Certainly, Celia, unlike many free women of color, had the wherewithal to care for them, as evidenced by her purchase of 10 acres in Wayne County from Spias Ward in 1833. Wayne County deeds further show purchases of 124 acres and 24 acres from William Thompson in 1850 and 1855.

By 1840, Celia Artis was head of a household of eight free people of color in Black Creek district, Wayne County, comprising one woman aged 36-54 [Celia]; three girls aged 10-23 [Eliza, Leatha, Zilpha]; one girl under 10 [unknown]; two boys aged 10-23 [Calvin and Simon]; and one boy under 10 [Thomas].

In the 1850 census, she was enumerated on the North Side of the Neuse, Wayne County, as a 50 year-old with children Eliza, 34, Zilpha, 28, Thomas, 15, and Calvin, 20, plus 6 year-old Lumiser, who was Eliza’s daughter. Celia is credited with owning $600 of real property (deeds for most of which went unrecorded), and the agricultural schedule for that year details her wealth:

  • Celia Artis.  50 improved acres, 700 unimproved acres, value $600. Implements valued at $25. 2 horses. 1 ass or mule. 1 ox. 21 other cattle. 40 sheep. 500 swine. 500 bushels of Indian corn. 100 lbs. of rice. 2 lbs. of tobacco. 100 lbs. of wool. 100 bushels of peas and beans. 200 bushels of sweet potatoes.

Celia Artis also appears in the 1850 Wayne County slave schedule, which records her ownership of her husband:

1850 slave schedule of Wayne County, North Carolina.

In 1860, surprisingly, the census taker named that husband, Simon Pig Artis, as the head of household. However, if he’d been freed formally, there’s no record of it. Simon is also listed as the 70 year-old owner of $800 of real property and $430 of personal property — all undoubtedly purchased by Celia. Their household included son Thomas, daughter Zilpha, and granddaughters Lumizah, 17, and Penninah, 11.

1860 federal census of Wayne County, North Carolina.

A 1863 Confederate field map shows “C. Artis” just off the roads that are now NC-222 and Watery Branch Church Road.

The family’s cemetery remains on that land, as seen in the Google Street View below. A Primitive Baptist church, Diggs Chapel, and an early African-American school, Diggs School, once stood nearby.

Neither Celia nor Simon appears in the 1870 census. However, it seems likely that Celia was alive for at least a few more years, as her estate was not opened until 1879. It was surprisingly small, suggesting that she had distributed most her land and valuables (or otherwise lost them) before her death. Son Thomas is listed as the sole heir to her $200 estate.

Known Wilson County descendants of Celia Artis (and the child from whom they descend) include Edgar H. Diggs and children (Eliza); Rommie Diggs Sr. and descendants (Eliza); Sallie Artis Shackleford and descendants (Eliza); brothers Kemmy A. Sherrod and O. Royal Sherrod (Eliza); Rommie Newsome (Eliza); siblings Beulah Artis Exum Best, Francis Artis Edmundson, and Adam H. Artis (Eliza); Daisy Baker Hobbs (Leatha Ann); and Haywood W. Baker and descendants (including son John H.W. Baker) (Leatha Ann).

“Map of a part of eastern North Carolina from a map in progress compiled from surveys and reconnaissances” (1863), Jeremy Francis Gilmer Papers #276, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Diggs leases farmland in home county.

Edgar H. Diggs, a long-time barber in Wilson, was born into a family with deep roots in northern Wayne County, N.C., just across the county line from  Stantonsburg (in Wilson County). In September 1934, Diggs entered into a ten-year lease with his uncle, Willie Diggs, for the farm Willie Diggs had inherited from his mother Frances Diggs.

Deed book 226, page 297, Wayne County Register of Deeds Office, Goldsboro, N.C.

Under the terms of the lease, Edgar Diggs was permitted to use all the wood he needed to run the farm and to cut as much timber as needed for maintenance of buildings and fences. He was also permitted the sublet the property provided he gave his uncle notice and paid his $100 yearly rent in advance.

Lt. H.P. Exum, Tuskegee Airman.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 24 February 1945.

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In the 1930 census of Eureka, Nahunta township, Wayne County: farmer John E. Artis, 41; wife Cora, 39; and children Virginia D., 17, Ed R., 13, Oscar O., 11, Mary L., 10, Hurvin P., 9, Devaughn, 7, Olga M., 4, and Erman D., 2.

In the 1940 census of Nahunta township, Wayne County: farmer John Ed Exum, 51, and children Hervin, 18, Devon, 17, Ossie Mae, 14, Erman D., 12, and John Collins Exum, 8.

In 1942, Herven Percy Exum registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 6 November 1921 in Eureka, N.C.; lived at 611 East Green Street, Wilson; his contact was C.E. Artis, 571 East Nash Street; and he worked for undertaker C.E. Artis, 571 East Nash Street, Wilson.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 28 October 1944.

Journal and Guide (Norfolk, Va.), 11 November 1944.

Lt. Exum’s obituary appeared in the Washington Post with a clear copy of his photo in flying goggles.

[Sidenotes: Exum’s ancestors had lived in or adjacent to northeastern Wayne County for generations. His mother Cora Artis Exum was the daughter of Noah Artis and Lucinda Artis (later Sherrod), who were first cousins, as was not uncommon at the time. His father John Ed Exum was the son of George B. Exum, who had been enslaved in Wayne County, and Pernicey Hobbs Artis, who was born free in Johnston County. The uncle for whom Exum worked was his father’s half-brother, Columbus E. Artis. I have not been able to determine who the Bahamian or the Cherokee were.]

The Artis-Bunch family reunion.

You know I love a good family reunion — and especially one to which I have ties. I’ve blogged about the descendants of Adam Toussaint Artis, a free man of color whose large farm lay just a few miles outside Stantonsburg toward Eureka. Though these Artises are technically a Wayne County family, their multiple Wilson County links more than qualify them for a spotlight here.

This past weekend, the Artis-Bunch family reunion gathered on ancestral land — still in the family — to celebrate each other. This set of Adam Artis’ descendants spring from his son Henry J.B. Artis, to whom I am related via both Artis and Aldridge ancestors. The Bunches have close ties to the Black Creek area of Wilson County, as we’ve seen here and here.

Many thanks to cousin Melissa Walker-Mack for sharing these photos!

Jones stabbed to death on farmworker truck.

Goldsboro News-Argus, 28 May 1932.

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  • Hattie Jones — per her death certificate, Hattie Jones died 28 May 1932 in Goldsboro, Wayne County, N.C.; was 25 years old; was married; and was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Goldsboro. Cause of death: “killed by a stab in throat; homicide.”
  • Walter Powell

The obituary of Odell Artis of Washington, D.C.

Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), 3 May 1958.

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Odell Artis was born and reared in the Eureka area of northeast Wayne County, North Carolina, as was his wife, Lizzie Olivia Diggs Artis. However, the couple married in Wilson, where both had numerous relatives. When Odell Artis died in Washington, D.C., in 1958, his body was returned to Wilson for his funeral and burial.

Odell Artis was a grandson of Adam T. Artis and had several aunts and uncles living in Wilson County. His brother Leslie Artis (who married Olivia Diggs Artis’ cousin Minnie Diggs) also owned property in Wilson and Wilson County.

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On 20 January 1921, Odell Artis of Wayne County, son of Napoleon and Sally Artis, married Olivia Diggs of Wilson County, daughter of Suler Diggs, in Wilson. A.M.E. Zion minister B.P. Coward performed the ceremony in the presence of Edgar Diggs, Alma E. Brooks, and S.A. Coward.