In 1860, Wayne County Court of Pleas & Quarters Sessions bound James Newsom, 7, and Norfleet Newsom, 5, to Barny D. Yelverton to serve as apprentices.
But, in the 1860 census of Davis, Wayne County: Barney Yelverton’s household includes Nervy Artis, 27, and sons James Artis, 6, and Norphlet Artis, 4.
$50 Reward. RAN AWAY from the subscriber about 6 years ago, a negro man named JACOB. He is about 35 years of age, 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high, about the common color, tolerably active, has narrow feet, and a small scar over one of his eyes. It is probably he has altered his name, as he frequently passes from Stantonsburg to Newbern. He has a free wife by the name of Rancy Artis, living near Stantonsburg, & it is likely he attempts to pass for a free man. The above reward will be given to any person who shall deliver said Negro to me, living five miles about Stantonsburg, or confine him in Jail, so that I get him again. All masters of vessels are forwarned carrying him off. JOEL NEWSOM. Wayne county, Aug. 7
Raleigh Register and North Carolina Weekly Advertiser, 19 November 1824.
ADAM TOUSSAINT ARTIS died 94 years ago today. His tombstone tilts, wedged between trees, in a tiny family plot on land still owned by his descendants near Eureka, Wayne County.
[Sidenote: He was my great-great-great-grandfather. — LYH]
Photograph by Lisa Y. Henderson, 2011.
Henry Artis. Died 7 Dec 1925, Mount Olive, Duplin County. Colored. Married. Age 73. Farmer. Born Wayne County to Abson Artis and Liza Artis, both of Wayne County. Buried Dudley NC. Informant, Anna Artis.
Smitha McNeill. Died 22 Nov 1924, Averasboro, Harnett County. “Burned to death in burning building.” Colored. Widowed. About 69 years old. Born in NC to Raleigh Seaberry and Emmaline [last name unknown.] Buried Dunn cemetery. Informant, Alex Cagle.
Madison Seaberry. Died 7 Apr 1923, Averasboro, Harnett County. Indian. Married to Frances Seaberry. Born 29 July 1846 to Raleigh Seaberry and Emily Emmanuel. Buried Carter Cemetery. Informant, Raleigh Seaberry, Linden NC.
Dred Hagins. Died 6 June 1927, Speights Bridge, Greene County. Colored. Widow of Martha Hagins. Farmer. Born 1854, Wilson County to Wilson Hagins and unknown mother. Informant, Louis Hagins, Walstonburg.
An Inventory of the Estate of Archebell Artis
7 head of Cattle 1 wooden Dish 1 Fether Bed 3 knives 1 par of Sisers 7 Head of Sheep 1 pare of Shew buckles 1 Stone Gug 1 plow hoe 25 head of hogs 1 pott 1 puter dish 3 Spoons 1 testament 1 meal Sifter 1 Ax 1 Gubing hoes 1 weeding ho 2 warter pails 1 pigen 1 Basket 5 rows of pins one five hundred Slay 1 pair of Cotton Cards 2 Deer Skin 1 Bell.
Johnston County November Court 1782 this Inventory was Exhibited on oath in Open Court by Stephen Powell the Adms’r and admitted to record. Wm. Ward Clk.
———-
An Account of the Sale of the Estate of Archebell Artis Desed in Specie 10th of December 1782.
Mary Artis – 1 Feather bedd £1.0.6, 1 pot & hooks, 1 pale, 1 peggon, 3 spoons, 3 knives, 1 pr cards & puter dish 1 wooden d’o 1 pair buckles 1 Heffer £5.13.6
Stephen Powell Jr. – 1 ax 1 Testament £1.3.6, 7 head of sheep £9.5.-, 1 cow and yearling £3.5.-, 4 head hogs £2.10.-
Estate Books, Johnston County Records, North Carolina State Archives.
Vicey Artis, a free woman of color, and Solomon Williams, a slave, had eleven children together — Zilpha Artis Wilson, Adam Toussaint Artis, Jane Artis Artis, Loumiza Artis Artis, Charity Artis, Lewis Artis, Jonah Williams, Jethro Artis, Jesse Artis, Richard Artis and Delilah Williams Exum — before they were able to marry legally. On 31 August 1866, they registered their 35-year cohabitation in Wayne County. Vicey died soon after, but Solomon lived until 1883. The document above, listing his and Vicey’s six surviving children and heirs of their deceased children, is found among his estate papers, now held at the North Carolina State Archives.
In the 1850 census of Bull Head district, Greene County, Vicy Artess is listed with children Zilpha, Louis, Jonah, Jethro, and Richard Artess. Next door, her and Solomon’s children Adam, Charity and Jane appear in the household of Silas Bryant, to whom they apparently were apprenticed.
On 4 October 1835, Henderson Artis married Nancy Wilkins in Northampton County.
In the 1850 census of Northampton County: Nancy Artis, 35, with children Narcissa, 8, William, 5, and Cherry, 3.
In the 1860 census of Jefferson, Logan County, Ohio: Henderson Artis, 43, wife Nancy, 36, and children Narcissa, 15, William, 13, and Charity, 12. Henderson was a farmer and all were born in NC.
State of No Ca, Johnston County }
Personally appeared before me one of the Justices of the peace in and for said county William Bryan of said county and state and having been duly sworn doth on his oath declare and say, that in the times of out Revolutionary War free negroes and mulattoes mustered in the ranks with white men in said State, at least in that part of the State in which he then resided, and in which Holiday Hethcock then resided, to wit in the county of Johnston. This affiant has frequently mustered in company with said free negroes and mulattoes, and he believes he has mustered with the Said Holiday Hethcock, That class of persons were equally liable to draft, and frequently volunteered in the Public Service. This affiant was in the army a short time at Wilmington at the time Craig was near that place, and remembers that one mulatto was in his company as a common soldier whose name Archibald Artis. This affiant has always known the said Holiday Hethcock, and has always understood that he was in the army of the Revolution.
Sworn to and subscribed this 29th day of November 1834. William Bryan
From the file of Holiday Hethcock, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, National Archives and Records Administration.
Adam T. Artis. Died 10 Feb 1919, Nahunta, Wayne County. Colored. Married. Born 19 Jul 1831. Farmer. Parents unknown. Buried in Artis graveyard. Informant, Frank Reid.
Richard Artis Sr. Died 12 Feb 1923, Great Swamp, Wayne County. Colored. Married. Farmer. Born 1850 in Wayne County to Solomon Artis and Sar[illegible]. Informant, Richard Artis Jr.
In the 1850 census of Greene County: Adam Artess, 18, Jane, 17, and Charity Artess, 13, in the household of white farmer Silas Bryant. Next door, their mother and siblings: Vicy Artess, 40, Zilphy, 22, Louis, 8, Jonah, 7, Jethro, 5, and Richard, 1. [Sidenote: Adam Toussaint Artis was my great-great-great-grandfather. — LYH]
John Artis. Died 30 Aug 1839, Greene County. Born 1859, Fremont. Widower of Lucy Artis. Son of Alford Artis and Eliza Edmondson. Farmer. Informant, John Eddie Artis.
W.B. Artis. Died 20 Nov 1911, Goldsboro. Resided 510 E. Spruce Street. Colored. Married. Barber. Age about 65. Son of Henderson Artis and unknown mother. Informant, William B. Artis, Jr.
Wealthy Artis. Died 10 Nov 1928, Nahunta, Wayne County. Colored. Widow. Farmer. Born Wilson County to unknown parents. Buried Jones cemetery. Informant, Richard Artis.
In the 1860 census of Nahunta, Wayne County: Asberry, 14, Nancy A., 17, Richard, 11, Welthy, 7, and Simson Artis, 1, in the household of white farmer Burket Barnes.
Susiannah Artis. Died 11 Sept 1931, Nahunta, Wayne County. Widow of Richard Artis Sr. Age 74. Farmer. Born Wilson County to unknown and Nicy Linch of Wilson County. Informant, Richard Artis Jr.
George Artis. Died 26 Jul 1928, Brogden, Wayne County. Colored. Married to Annie Artis. Age unknown. Born Wayne County to Abcent Artis and Mary Eliza Artis.
In the 1860 census of Buck Swamp, Wayne County: Absalom Artis, 32, wife Eliza, 22, children John F., 4, James W., 2, and George W., 3 mos., plus Mary, 35, Henry, 16, and Bunyan Mitchell, 14.
North Carolina Death Certificates; US population schedules.
WILLIAM MARSHALL ARTIS was born in 1875 near Eureka, Wayne County, to Adam T. Artis (1831-1919) and Frances Seaberry Artis (1845-1878). He lived and farmed in the area all his life and died in 1945.
[Sidenote: Louvicey Artis Aldridge was William M. Artis’ sister.]
Fourth Generation Inclusive 