Williams

The sale of the personal property of Samuel W. Williams.

This 1901 report of the sale of Samuel W. Williams‘ property offers a peek into the household of a small-town, middle-class African-American merchant at the turn of the twentieth century. Williams was a grocer and the step-father of Charles H. Darden‘s wife Dinah Scarborough Darden. The sale of his home furnishings appears to have gone smoothly. However, the disposal of the house itself, and the lot it stood on, sparked a fight that went all the way to the North Carolina Supreme Court. More on that later.

The nearly 50 men (and three women) who showed up at the sale to spend a few cents to a few dollars included:

  • Simon Barnes
  • S.H. Vick — Samuel H. Vick.
  • S.P. Barnes
  • Geo. Barnes
  • B. Williams — Berry Williams.
  • L. Williams — Louis Williams.
  • J. Powell
  • J. Leach
  • H. Johnson
  • S.B. Barnes
  • J.A. McKnight
  • W. Saucers
  • Paul Goffney
  • J.D. Smith
  • J.A. Moore
  • Alfred Dew
  • Shade Barnes
  • C.H. Darden — Charles H. Darden.
  • Perry Davis
  • James Sommerville — on 14 February 1904, James Summerville, 59, of Wilson, son of William and Frances Summerville, married Lila Henderson, 39, of Wilson, daughter of Stephen and Dicy Henderson, in Wilson. A.M.E. minister P.H. Leach performed the ceremony in the presence of S.D. Henderson, L.V. Leach, and Gray Battle.
  • Dollison Powell
  • Lemon Barnes
  • H.C. Rountree — Henry C. Rountree.
  • Dorsey Powell
  • Daniel Vick
  • Virgil Horne — in the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Virgial Horn, 70; wife Grizzie, 49, washing; and daughters Pattie, 25, and Mezera, 16, both washing.
  • C. Deans
  • R.D. Smith
  • Felix Burden — in the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: drayman Felix Burden, 39; wife Emma, 30, washing; and children Dora, 11, James, 4, and Burnetta, 1.
  • F.S. Simms
  • S.D. Henderson — Sandy D. Henderson.
  • Henry Young — in the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farmer Henry Young, 65; wife Annie, 42; and boarder Pennie Young, 22.
  • William Hagans
  • Mrs. Harriss
  • P. Leach — Patrick Henry Leach. In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: shoemaker Patrick Henry Leach, 61, born in Mississippi to N.C.-born parents, and wife Lavinea, 56.
  • Mrs. Mercer
  • Geo. Harriss — in the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer George W. Harriss, 55; wife Mary, 37; and children Malissa, 10, and William Henry, 20.
  • R.D. Smith
  • Mrs. Perrington — probably, Louisa Scarborough Perrington.
  • J.H. Clark — John H. Clark.
  • [blank] Hoskins — probably, Edward Hoskins. In the 1900 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Edward Hoskins, 51; wife Amy, 47; and children Joseph L., 20, Herbert, 15, David, 13, Miles, 9, Pharebe Ann, 11, John A., 8, Moses T., 5, and Susan Anna, 4.
  • [blank] McKnight
  • M.H. Cotton — Mark H. Cotton.
  • W.W. Sanders
  • R. Hodge — Richard Hodge. In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: carpenter George Hewlin, 53; wife Jane, 42; and Richard Hodge, 29, hod carrier.
  • J.S. Spells — John S. Spell.
  • R.G. Williams

The items purchased: books; spoons; knives; lamps; bedsteads; a map; dishes; saucers; chips; plates; mugs; brushes; a bureau; coats; a clock; glasses; trunks; bags; a safe; a wheel; stoves; lemons; a trap; pipes; beans; a funnel; bowls; a paper roll; a slab; a tank; kegs; buckets; an auger; hatchets; knives; an axe; shot; paper; pants; jars; a square; oil; a tool; chairs; pans; a box; tables; corn; quilts; blankets; feathers; mattresses; kettles; a sugar dish; a lamp; a knife box; a griddle; a saw; pitchers; a slate; a basket; pipes; a watch; and a bed.

All of that netted $27.51. Of that, Braswell R. Winstead pocketed $8.40; G.D. Walston, $14.02; R.C. Jacocks, $3.00; and John H. Clark, $2.09.

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On 20 September 1870, Samuel Williams married Annie Scarbro, daughter of Jack and Zaly Adams, at Ann Scarbro’s in Wilson township. Rev. Laurence Moye performed the ceremony.

In the 1880 census of Wilson, Wilson County: grocer Samuel Williams, 38; wife Ann, 47; and daughter Anna, 9.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: grocer Samuel Williams, 58, widower, and lodgers William Jackson, 36, and William Allen, 25, both tobacco graders.

No need for exodusting.

In March 1880, Wayne County farmer Napoleon Hagans testified before a Senate committee on the migration of African-American farmers out of North Carolina. It was not his last word on the subject. Nine months later, he — or someone writing for him, as he was unlettered — penned a letter to the editor of the local newspaper, recounting his agricultural success and exhorting his “race” to cast down their buckets where they were. His sentiments were echoed by Jonah Williams, his friend, neighbor, sometime pastor, and brother of Hagans’ brother-in-law Adam T. Artis.

Before Williams was setting up Primitive Baptist churches, he farmed 58 acres near Turner Swamp, just north of Eureka (formerly Sauls Cross Roads) in far northeast Wayne County. Though an intelligent man, Like Hagans, Williams was illiterate. Thus, he did not actually write the letter tacitly discouraging Black farmers from joining the exodus to Indiana and other points west and midwest, and we don’t know the circumstances under which he or Hagans agreed to lend their names to this propaganda.

Goldsboro Messenger, 30 December 1880.

Funeral Program Friday: Maggie Lena Cooper (1914-2014).

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In the 1920 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Jerry Williams, 40; wife Mary, 28; and children Edward, 10, Martha, 8, Maggie, 5, and Jerry, 1.

In the 1930 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Jerry Williams, 48; wife Mary, 38; and children Eddie, 21, Martha, 18, Maggie, 14, Jerry Jr., 11, Lucille, 7, Charles, 5, and Nestus, 1.

On 4 February 1939, Tom Farmer, 24, of Gardners township, son of Guston and Matilda Farmer, married Maggie Williams, 23, of Gardners, daughter of Jerry and Mary Williams, in Wilson. Jerry Williams applied for the license.

In the 1940 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Thomas Farmer, 26; wife Maggie, 23; and son Harmon, 2.

In 1940, Thomas Farmer registered for the World War II draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 13 March 1944 in Edgecombe County; lived at Route 4, Wilson; his contact was wife Maggie Farmer; and he was unemployed.

In the 1950 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: farmer Thomas Farmer, 36; wife Maggie, 32; and children Eugene, 14, Herman, 12, Caroline, 4, and Geraldine, 2.

Jim Thomas Farmer died 26 August 1970 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was born 21 March 1914 to Guster and Matilda Williams; was married to Maggie Williams; and lived at 713 Viola Street.

Maggie Leaner Williams Farmer married John Hardy Cooper on 9 May 1972 in Wayne County, North Carolina.

Mother and accomplices believed to have kidnapped boy.

Wilson Daily Times, 19 May 1937.

When 16 year-old John Lane was snatched from one of U.H. Cozart’s fields in May 1937, authorities blamed his mother. Seven years earlier, she had allowed a family named Williams to adopt the boy, and she migrated to Washington, D.C. A radio bulletin went out seeking three men and a women traveling in older model Paige automobile with D.C. tags.

Studio shots, no. 238: Nora Williams Battle.

Nora Williams Battle (1883-1958)

In the 1900 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: widower Levi Williams, 55, widower, and children Maggie, 18, Norah, 16, James, 14, Joseph, 12, Arthur, 10, Walter, 8, Hattie, 6, and Ora, 4.

William Battle, 36, married Nora Williams, 22, in Wilson County on 4 November 1908 in Wilson. Primitive Baptist minister Jonah Williams performed the ceremony in the presence of Dempsey Lassiter, Harvey Mercer, and Jessie Whitehead.

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 609 East Green Street, William Battle, 43; wife Nora, 30; and children Ester, 12, Jessie, 9, William Jr., 7, Aurtha L., 4, and Walter E., 1; and roomers William, 57, widower, and Mary Christmas, 24.

In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 609 East Green, widow Nora Battle, 49, washing; daughter Esther Moye, 30, widow, tobacco factory stemmer; and seven other families.

In the 1950 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 608 East Green, downstairs, widow Nora Battle, 65; son Jessie Battle, 35, cook; daughter Ester Moye, 37, widow, cook; grandchildren Fred Jr., 18, cook, Cornelius, 16, and William A. Moye, 13; and lodgers Arthur Cobb, 59, and Sally Phillips, 75.

Nora Elizabeth Battle died 4 March 1958 at her home at 701 Viola Street in Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 10 February 1890 in Edgecombe County, N.C., to Levi Williams and Harriett Bullock and  was a widow.

Photo courtesy of Ancestry.com user PHILLYEVANS44.

You can do what you please with it.

Sidney Wheeler was only about 17 in 1890. What lead up to this strange transaction?

Deed book 43, page 91, Wilson County Register of Deeds Office.

From Lu Williams to Sidney Wheeler Wilson N.C. January the 8, 1890. Sidney Wheelers I will give you this house an lot of mine you can have it you may Sell it or you can do what you Please with it now I consider my Property your.   [Joseph] Smith, Martha Smith, Lu William

I wondered if Lu Williams was Lula Wheeler, Sidney Wheeler’s wife. However, per their marriage license, Sidney Wheeler, 24, married Lou Armstrong, 20, in Wilson on 23 December 1896. Baptist minister W.T.H. Woodard performed the ceremony in the presence of Richard Renfrow, S.A. Smith, and Janie Booth.

The deed was registered on 19 January 1897. Is the 1890 date in the transfer a misreading of “1896”?

The obituary of Annie P. Williams.

Wilson Daily Times, 11 March 1950.

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In the 1940 census of Wilson, Wilson County: at 317 North Hackney Street, Annie Sauls, 30, laundress; father Will Odom, 50; and lodger Flora Terry, 30, and her son Rudolph Terry, newborn.

Annie Pearl Williams died 9 March 1950 at her home at 110 Ash Street, Wilson. Per her death certificate, she was born 23 December 1910 in Georgia to Will Odom and Martha Bullock; was married; and was a factory worker. Roosevelt Williams was informant.

Berry Williams, cemetery keeper.

The 1908 Wilson city directory lists Berry Williams as the keeper of Oaklawn Cemetery. Oaklawn, also known Oakland and Oakdale, preceded Vick Cemetery as Wilson’s Black public burial ground. It lent its name to Cemetery Street.

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On 13 April 1890, Berry Williams, 33, of Wilson township, son of Gilly Batchelor, married Penina Campbell, 19, of Wilson township, daughter of Sidney and Maggie Campbell, at Walter Ward‘s in Wilson township. Free Will Baptist minister Crocket Best performed the ceremony in the presence of Anthney Vick, Ransom Ruffin, and Hardy Ellis.

In the 1900 census of Wilson, Wilson County: carpenter Berry Williams, 49, and wife Penina, 29.

In the 1908 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Berry (c) keeper Oaklawn Cemetery h 146 Suggs

In the 1910 census of Wilson, Wilson County: farm laborer Berry Williams, 51, and wife Penny, 39.

In the 1912 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Berry (c) carpenter h 146 Suggs [146 Suggs Street, later numbered 701, was at the corner of Suggs and Moore Streets, just north of the cemetery.]

In the 1916 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Berry (c) farmer h 146 Suggs

In the 1920 census of Wilson, Wilson County: on Suggs Street, Berry Williams, 65, and wife Penina, 42, tobacco factory worker.

In the 1920 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Berry (c) laborer h 147 Suggs

In the 1925 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Berry (c) farmer h 701 Suggs

In the 1928 Hill’s Wilson, N.C., city directory: Williams Berry (c; Penina) farmer h 701 Suggs

Berry Williams died 19 November 1929 in Wilson. Per his death certificate, he was 74 years old; was born in Nash County, N.C., to Gillie Batcher; was married to Pennie Williams; lived at 701 Suggs Street; worked as a common laborer; and was buried in Wilson [most likely, in Rountree Cemetery, but possibly Oakdale.]