Wilson Advance, 13 August 1880.
——
Probably, in the 1850 census, Nash County: Berry Locust, 50, wife Beedy, 45, and children Arthur, 25, Eliza, 18, Hepsy A., 16, Ivah, 15, Alsey, 12, Henry, 10, and Seymore, 8.
In the 1860 census, Coopers, Nash County: Berry Locus, 65, wife Beaddy, 60, and daughter Hepsey, 23.
A Veteran of the Civil War.
Henry Locus, 70 years of age, a subscriber to the Times, and a worthy colored man living near Bailey, N.C., was in to see us today and knowing that he was the cook with the company of volunteers raised by Captain Jesse Barnes, we had an interesting conversation. The company took with them two cooks, Henry and his brother Nathan. Nathan is dead but Henry is well and hearty and the father of 19 children, the youngest thirty.
To the question, “How many grand children have you?” Henry replied: “Lord, I couldn’t begin to tell. Some of them has as many as nine already and some of my children are way down South and others are somewhere else, and I just can’t keep up with them.”
Henry informed us he staid with the command for two years until “grub” became scarce and hard to get and “I signed by position” and came home to work in the iron mine in the upper edge of this county.
Henry thinks he is entitled to a pension, and when we suggested that he was not a soldier, he replied that cooking was just as necessary as fighting. [Remainder of article missing.]
Wilson Daily Times, 10 April 1911.
In the 1850 census of Nash County, Lucy Locust, 25, and children Nathan, 12, Henry, 8, Goodson, 6, Nelly, 4, and Mary J., 5.
[Sidenote: A hat tip to J. Robert Boykin III, who transcribed this article for the May 2014 issue of Trees of Wilson, the excellent journal of the Wilson County Genealogical Society. Boykin noted that the “company of volunteers” was known as the Wilson Light Infantry and mustered in as Company F, 4th Regiment, North Carolina State Troops.]
To the Honorable the Senate & House of Representatives of the State of North Carolina, Greeting
The petition of your servant, who is a free man of color, humbly shews that he is desirous of changing his status and of selling himself to Mr. D. H. Bridgers, so as to reduce himself to a state of slavery and that he may have the protection and support of a master, would humbly pray your honorable body that you would pass some law that would enable him to give legal effect and force to his desire, And your Petitioner will always pray &c Abisha X Locus
State of North Carolina, Wayne County } I Jno. R. Hood an acting Justice of the Pace for Wayne County hereby certify that Abisha Locus, a free man of color and a resident of Wayne County voluntarily came before me and signed the above petition of his own free will & accord. Given under my hand and seal this 31st day of August. /s/ John R. Hood
General Assembly Session Records, August-September 1861, box 1, North Carolina State Archives.
In the 1860 census in Cross Roads, Wayne County: B. Locas, 50, distiller, Jonas Capps, 18, and Tilissa Capps, 16, in the household of Henderson Bridgers, 33. No occupation is listed for Bridgers, but he claimed $12,000 in real property and $12,250 in personal property.
MARTIN JOHN LOCUS (1843-1926) and DELPHIA TAYLOR LOCUS (1850-1923). Martin was the son of Martin Locus and Eliza Brantley Locus of southeastern Nash and later western Wilson County. Delphia was the daughter of Dempsey Taylor and Eliza Pace Taylor of northern Nash County.
In the 1860 census of Winsteads, Nash County: Dempsey Taylor, 46, wife Liza, 44, and children Margaret A.W., 10, Delphia A., 10, Rildy A.R., 8, and Joel R., 6.
John Locus. Died 22 December 1926, Taylors, Wilson County. Colored. Widower. Farmer. Age 83 years, 4 months, 19 days. Born Wilson County to unknown father and Eliza Locus of Nash County. Buried family cemetery, Wilson County. Informant, John Locus Jr., Wilson County.
[Hat tip to Europe Ahmad Farmer.]
James A. Locuss, cook, Co. F, 51 Reg’t North Carolina Infantry (State Troops). Appears on Company Muster Roll of the organization named above for Nov & Dec 1864. Enlisted 31 October 1864 at Richmond, by W. Hamilton for duration of the war.
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]
At April Court 1778, Jesse Booth, Sylvia Booth, Henry Tayborn, the first two “base begotten” children of Priscilla Booth, the last the orphan of Henry Tayburn deceased, fees pd. Indenture to be prepared again next ct.
At July Court 1779, ordered that Isham Locas, 3, Martha Locas, 4, and Burwell Locas, 2 months, base-begotten children, were bound to Lazarus Pope to learn the art and mystery of planters for the boys and carding & spinning for the girl.
At October Court 1779, ordered that Lucy Locust, 3, Henry Locust, 6, and Joshua Locust, 2, base born children of Mary Locust, were bound to George Jackson, the boys to learn the “art and mystery” of planters and the girl, carding and spinning.
At August Court 1792, Chany Locus, 4, base-born child of Sarah Locus, was bound to Jacob Barnes until 18 to learn to card and spin.
At May Court 1806, Rich’d Shay, age 1 year, 9 months, a base-born child of color, was bound to Reuben Whitfield until 21.
At May Court 1806, Fanny Jones, 4, base-born child of color, was bound to Zadock Sneed.
Minutes, Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions, Nash County Records, North Carolina State Archives.
RILEY B. SIMMONS was born 4 August 1841 in Duplin or Wayne County to George W. Simmons and Axey Jane Manuel Simmons. He married Penny Bryant in 1864; Matilda Graham in 1895; and Tempsey Locus Boseman in 1914; all in Wayne County. He died 11 July 1924 and is buried in the First Congregational Church cemetery in Dudley, Wayne County.
Photograph by Lisa Y. Henderson, March 2013.
In the 1860 census of Indian Springs, Wayne County: George Simmons, 40, wife Axey J, 38, and children Riley B., 19, Simon, 15, Susan A., 17, George R., 13, Zack, 10, Silvania, 9, Bryant, 7, H.B., 5, and Gen., 2.
In the 1860 census of Indian Springs, Wayne County: Sally Bryant, 40, Penny, 18, Rich’d, 14, and Caroline Bryant, 10. Sally was white; her children, mulatto.
In the 1850 census of Nash County: Rachel Locust, 29, and daughters Sarah, 10, Tincy, 6, and Tilda, 2.
Artimpsey Locus married James Boseman in Nash County on 11 February 1863. In the 1860 census of Buck Swamp, Wayne County: Matthew Aldridge, 50, wife Catharine, 28, and children William, 10, John H., 16, Frances, 7, Delia, 3, and Mary A., 1, plus James Bosmon, 20, who was probably Catharine’s brother.
“Facts in matter of James Lamms Children –
“Joe Horne – Great Grandmother of these children was Ezrit Locas _ She was about [sic] _ I think her father was a white man _ Grandmother was Wealthy Locas Think her father was a white man _ Know mother of children, Jane Lamm. Think her father was a white man _ said to be Van B. Carter _ Father of children James Lamm white _
“H.M. Rowe – Know Ezrit Locas _ she was fully 5/8 white _ her father a white man _ Grandmother is practically white. Her father was a white man. Mother of child, her father was a white man _ Jane Lamm father white _ Jane Lamm Great Grandmother was 5/8 white at least _ Grandmother _ Her father was Dallas Taylor a pure blooded white man _ Mother of child _ Her father pure blooded white man.”
This unsigned handwritten note is found among papers related to the matter of James Lamm v. J.S. Horne, Fred B. Boswell, A.A. Aycock, School Committeemen of Black Creek Township, filed in November Term, 1909, in Wilson County Superior Court. Lamm complained that his children had been barred from the white public school in Black Creek, though they had attended for many years prior. Based on the evidence above, a judge determined that the children, though descended from free women of color, were sufficiently white to attend white schools, and so ordered. School Records, 1909; Wilson County Miscellaneous Records; North Carolina State Archives.
In the 1900 census of Black Creek, Wilson County: James Lamm, born 1837; wife Jane, 1869; and children Robert L., 1890, James C., 1892, Mamie, 1895 and Leona, 1897; all described as white. Nearby: Wealthy Locas, born 1849, single, mother of eight (six living), and her children Zacariah, 1886, and Fannie, 1890; all black.
Jane Carter Lamm died 21 February 1945 in Wilson, Wilson County. Her death certificate lists her parents as Van Carter and Wealthy Joyner, and she is classified as white.
Can Locus. Died 16 Dec 1915, Nahunta, Wayne County. Married. Colored. About 56 years old. Laborer. Born Wayne County to Calos Hegans and Wait Locus. Buried in family burial ground. Informant, Bud Locust, Stantonsburg.
In the 1870 census of Nahunta, Wayne County: Raiford Coley, 70, Waity Locus, 55, Dewitt, 15, Candus, 12, and Wiley, 10. See also “Babies’ Daddies” post for the 1857 bastardy action involving Waity Locus and Calvin Hagans.
Syth Locus. Died 15 Oct 1921, Black Creek, Wilson County. Married to Melvina Locus. Colored. Farmer. Age 90. Born in Virginia to John Locus and Nancy [no last name]. Informant, Mary Locus, Black Creek.
John Locus. Died 22 Dec 1926, Taylors, Wilson County. Colored. Widow. Age 83. Farmer. Born Wilson County to unknown father and Eliza Locus. Buried family cemetery. Informant, John Locus Jr.
Susie Locus. Died 8 Jan 1922, Coopers, Nash County. Resided Spring Hope. Colored. Single. Born 1850 to Berry Locus and Beaty Locus. Buried Allen burial ground. Informant, Newsome Bryant.
In the 1860 census of Coopers, Nash County: Berry Locus, 65, wife Beaddy, 60, and Hepsey Locus, 23.
Acy Locus. Died 14 Jul 1958, Rocky Mount, Nash County. Resided Wilson County. Colored. Born Oct 1860, Wilson County to Martin Locus and Eliza Brantley. Buried family cemetery, Wilson County.
Fourth Generation Inclusive 