Coroner Wood held an inquest yesterday over the dead body of a free colored man, named Jordan Howard, employed at the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad, who came to his death from the effects of a shot from a pistol, accidentally discharged, on Saturday last, while in the hands of Mr. Strouse, who keeps a store above the Railroad. The man died on Monday.
The verdict of the jury completely exonerates Mr. Strouse from any blame in the matter.
Wilmington Journal, 2 May 1856.
Coroner Wood held an inquest yesterday over the dead body of a free colored man, named Jordan Howard, employed at the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad, who came to his death from the effects of a shot from a pistol, accidentally discharged, on Saturday last, while in the hands of Mr. Strouse, who keeps a store above the Railroad. The man died on Monday.
The verdict of the jury completely exonerates Mr. Strouse from any blame in the matter.
Wilmington Journal, 2 May 1856.
NORTH CAROLINA, WILSON COUNTY }
I, Wilmouth Eatman of the aforesaid county and state being of sound mind and desposing memory, but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence do make and declare this my last will and testament.
FIRST: My executor, hereinafter named shall give my body a decent burial suitable to the wishes of my relatives and friends and pay all funeral and burial expenses to-gether with all my just debts out of the first monies which may come into his hands belonging to my estate.
SECOND: I give and devise to my four children Joe Eatman, Magaret Locus, Kinion Eatman, and Annie Locus, wife of Acie Locus, Joitly and equally to share and share alike in the devision of same of the proceeds thereof, the lands conveyed to me by Deal Howard which said deed is duly recorded in book 24 page 195 Register Deeds Office Wilson County, said lands being situated in the said County and state, Taylors Township adjoining the lands of John B. Thompson, Wood Eatman, Deal Howard, the mark Mathews land et als. And bounded as follows to-wit: Beginning at a Gum in the big branch, thence south 2 ½ west to a stake in John B. Thompson line thence north 87 ½ west 69 poles to a stake in said Thompson’s line, thence south 2 ½ east to a black gum in said big branch, thence down said branch to the beginning containing forty one and one fourth acres, more or less.
THIRD: I give and devise to my son Kinion Eatman and my daughter Annie Locus, wife of Acie Locus Joitly and equally to share and share alike in the lands of proceeds thereof all my right title and interested in that certain track of land conveyed to me and Robt. Eatman by Bettie Mathews (See book 57 page 23 Wilson County Register of Deeds Office, The lands being situated in said county and state Taylor Township adjoining the lands of D.E. Mathews Zealous Howard Etals and bounded as fellows: to-wit: Beginning at a corner pine in Bettie Mathews Line, thence up nash road to another corner in the D.E. Mathews line, thence south along said line Zealous Howard line, thence nearly east along the canal to Ed. Farmer’s line thence north along Farmer’s line to the beginning estimated to be about 11 or 12 acres more or less.
FOURTH: I give and bequeath to my said son Robt. Eatman and my daughter Annie Locus, wife of Acie Locus, equally all my personal property of each and every description which I may own at my death, including money on hand, house hold and kitchen furniture, stock, crops, choses in action, to be equally divided between my two said children Kinion and Annie by mu Executor hereinafter named.
FIFTH: It is my will and desire that my executor hereinafter named may either have the lands herein devised to my said children partetioned and allotted to each in severalty, or sold and the monies arising from said sale equally divided as their respective interest appears. Said division of lands or money to be determined according to the wishes of the majority of my said children.
It is my further will and desire that should either one of my said children above named die without issue or legal heirs, or children then and in that event it is my will and desire that said share is shares devised or bequeathed to my said said child or children shall go and be equally divided between my living children and their lawful heirs.
SIXTH. I hereby constitute and appoint my trusty friends and legal adviser J.A. Farmer my lawful Executor to all interest and purposes to execute this my last will and testament to the time intent and morning of same, and every part thereof hereby revoking and declaring utterly void and all other will and testament by me heretofore made.
In witness whereof, I the said Wilmouth Eatman do hereunto set my hand and seal this 10th day of April 1911. Wilmouth X Eatman
Will Book 5, page 79. Office of Clerk of Superior Court, Wilson County Courthouse, Wilson.
In the 1850 census of Nash County: Nelson Eatman, 54, farmer, wife Rinda, 33, and children Rhoda, 12, Wilmot, 12, Princy, 10, Ginny, 8, Smithy, 6, and Alford, 4. In the 1870 census of Taylor, Wilson County: Nelson Eatmon, 53, farmer; wife Marinda, 50; daughter Welmouth, 31, and her children William, 13, Robert, 11, Margaret, 10, Crawford, 4, and Missouri, 7 months; and children Gremsey, 25, Alfred, 23, Emily, 16, Nelson, 13, and Jarman, 11. In the 1880 census of Taylors township, Wilson County: Wilmoth Eatmon, 46, and children Joseph 24, Robt., 22, Kenan, 7, and Anna, 2, living among a cluster of Eatmons, Howards and Locuses. [Sidenote: Wilmouth Eatman’s sister Rhoda Eatman married Zealous “Deal” Howard. – LYH]
NOTICE.
By virtue of a decree of the Superior Court of Wilson county, rendered January 5th, 1882, I will sell at the Court House door in Wilson Monday the 6th day of February 1882, the lands whereof Nelson Eatman died seized, consisting of three tracts adjoining the lands of M.M. Mathews, Deal Howard, William Taylor and others, containing three hundred acres more or less. Terms: one thousand dollars cash, balance on credit of eight months. Title reserved till payment of all the purchase money. F.A. WOODARD, Adm.
Wilson Advance, 3 February 1882.
In the 1860 census of Wilson County: Nelson Eatman, 50, farmer, wife Morinda, 45, and children Elizabeth, 20, Ginsey, 18, Smithy, 17, Alfred, 14, Nelson, 5, Emily, 7, and Jarman, 2.
Frances Howard v. Sarah Howard, 51 NC 235 (1858).
In about 1818, Miles Howard, then a slave, “without other ceremony, took for his wife, by consent of his master” a slave named Matilda, who belonged to a Mr. Burt. Miles was immediately thereafter emancipated, bought Matilda, and had a daughter named Frances. Miles freed Matilda, and they had seven more children, Robert, Eliza, Miles, Charles, Lucy, Ann and Thomas, before Matilda died. A few years later, Miles married a free woman of color “with due ceremony” and had four children, Sarah, John, Nancy and Andrew. In 1836, Frances was emancipated by an Act of the State Legislature. After Miles’ death, his children by Matilda claimed their share of Miles’ estate, but his children by the free woman of color claimed to be Miles’ sole heirs. Halifax County Superior Court found for the defendants, and plaintiffs appealed. After an exegesis on slave marriage, the state Supreme Court held that, because thet did not marry legally once freed, neither Frances nor the rest of Matilda’s children were legitimate. “It is the misfortune of their children that they neglected or refused [to marry lawfully], for no court can avert the consequences.” Judgment for Sarah and her full siblings.
The 1850 census of Halifax County shows Miles Howard (51), who was a barber, wife Caroline (25) and children Frances (25), Charles (17), Lucy (11), Thos. (8), Sarah (4), John (2) and Nancy (5 mos.) Son Miles Jr. (23), also a barber, lived nearby.
Fourth Generation Inclusive 