Wayne County | Fourth Generation Inclusive

February 19, 2013

William & Pennie Winn Simmons.

WILLIAM and PENNIE WINN SIMMONS. William Simmons was born about 1837 in Sampson County to James Simmons and Winnie Medlin Simmons. Pennie Winn, born about 1844, probably in Wayne County, was the daughter of Gray Winn and Sallie Greenfield Winn.

In the 1850 census of Northern District, Sampson County: James Simmons, 52, ditcher, wife Winney, 40, and children Nancy, 17, Bryant, 15, William, 13, and Martha, 11.

In the 1850 census of South Side of the Neuse, Wayne County: Sally Winn, 30, and children Betsey, 14, Edw’d J., 12, Eliza, 10, Penny, 6, Ally, 4, and Washington, 1.

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February 17, 2013

Nathan R. Brewington.

NATHAN R. BREWINGTON, born 1 April 1859 in Sampson County, was the son of Raiford Brewington and Bashaba Manuel Brewington. He married Abbie Jane Jacobs, daughter of Jesse A. Jacobs and Abigail Gilliam Jacobs, and died 11 December 1910 near Dudley, Wayne County. He is buried in the Congregational Church cemetery there. “We loved him but Jesus loved him best.”

Photograph taken by Lisa Y. Henderson, 2010.

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February 12, 2013

Free-Issue Death Certificates: JACOBS.

James Edward Jacobs. Died 17 January 1926, Fayetteville, Cross Creek Cumberland County. Indian. Married to Mrs. Margaret Jacobs. Cooper. Age 76. Born in NC to Jessie Jacobs and Abbie Jacobs. Buried Brookside. Informant, Mrs. J.E. Colston.

John Jacobs. Died 16 June 1922, Dudley, Brogden, Wayne County. Colored. Married. Age about 67. Miller (corn mill.) Born Sampson County to Jesse Jacobs and Abbie (no last name), both of Sampson County. Buried Dudley NC. Informant, Willie Carter.

Francis Carter. Died 26 September 1937, Brogden, Wayne County. Colored. Widow of Marshall Carter. Age 78. Born Sampson County to Jesse Jacobs and Abbie Strickland, both of Sampson County. Informant, Granger S. Carter.

Abbie Jane Brewington. Died 16 Jan 1933, Dunn, Harnett County. Colored. Widow of Nathan Brewington. Age 71. Born Sampson County to Jesse Jacobs and Abbie Jane Jacobs, both of Sampson County. Buried Wilkins cemetery. Informant, Rena Goodman (daughter), Dunn NC.

Jessie Adam Jacobs. Died 6 July 1926, Wilson, Wilson County at “Col Hospital.” Colored. Married to Sarah Jacobs. Resided 303 Elba Street. Day laborer, janitor, city schools. Born 25 December 1863, Sampson County, to Jessie A. Jacobs and Abbie Jacobs, both of Sampson County. Buried Dudley NC. Informant, Sarah Jacobs.

In the 1860 census of Honeycutts, Sampson County: Jesse Jacobs, 43, farmer; wife Abba, 41, and children Edward J., 14, Betsey A., 13, John R., 11, Martha, 8, Solomon, 6, Jesse, 4, and Abba J. Jacobs, 6, plus William, 10, Eliza, 8, and John Jacobs, 6; all mulatto. Jesse reported owning $2884 real property and $816 personal property, making him the wealthiest free person of color in the county.

Jessie Jacobs. Died 4 March 1914, N. Clinton, Sampson County. Indian. (Colored marked through.) Married. Farmer. Born 9 February 1854, Sampson County, to Arch Jacobs and Tempie Manuel. Buried Honeycutts township.

Enos Jacobs. Died 5 October, 1925, Honeycutts, Sampson County. Indian Married to Miltildia Jacobs. About 83. Farmer. Born Sampson County to Archie Jacobs of Pender County and Tempie Manuel. Buried New Bethel cemetery. Informant, C.O. Jacobs, Honeycutts.

In the 1860 census of Dismal, Sampson County: Archibal Jacobs, 40; wife Temperance J. Jacobs, 32; and children Enos, 13, Mary J., 11, Jesse, 6, Cathrine, 4, and Sarah C., 8 months.

Lizzie Jacobs Collier. Died 27 Nov 1922, Dudley, Brogden, Wayne County. Colored. Widow of William Collier. About 59 years old. Born Sampson County to Gabriel Jacobs and Kitsy Manuel, both of Sampson County. Buried Dudley NC. Informant Mrs. Jessie Simmons.

Mary Jacobs. Died 17 January 1926, Honeycutts, Sampson County. Indian. Widow. About 91. Born Sampson County to unknown father and Clarkie Barefoot. Buried Brewington graveyard. Informant, Hardie Goodwin.

Fransis Emaline Williams. Born 12 May 1919, Dismal, Sampson County. Croatan Indian. Married. Born 21 December 1861. Farming. Born Sampson County to Samuel Jacobs of Pender County and Mary Barefoot of Sampson County. Informant, Ransom Williams, Delway NC.

In the 1860 census of Dismal, Sampson County: Samuel Jacobs, 35, turpentine laborer, mulatto. In the 1870 census of Dismal, Sampson County: Samuel Jacob, 50; wife Mary, 35; and children James C., 10, Francis, 7, Martha, 4, and George A., 1.

Mathew J. Jacobs. Died 9 March 1924, N. Clinton, Sampson County. Negro. Married. Farmer. About 70 years old. Born Sampson County to Lewis Jacobs and Marah Jacobs. Buried Goodman cemetery. Informant, Jim Jacobs.

James Jacobs. Died 19 June 1935, Franches Creek, Kelly, Bladen County. Colored. Married to Josephine Royal. Age 75. Farmer. Born Sampson County to Louis Jacobs and unknown mother. Informant, Alfred Fenner, Kelly NC.

Henry Jacobs. Died 20 March 1927, Halls, Sampson County. Colored. Married to Chillie Ann Goodman. About 65 years old. Farmer. Born Sampson County to Louis Jacobs and unnamed mother. Buried Bradshaw cemetery. Informant, Bill Jacobs.

Martin Jacobs. Died 24 November 1933, Halls, Sampson County. Colored. Widowed. Age 69. Farmer. Born Sampson County to Lewis Jacobs of Pender County and Maria Jacobs of Sampson County. Informant, Mr. A.C. West, Clinton NC.

In the 1860 census of Dismal, Sampson County: Lewis Jacobs, 33, turpentine laborer; wife Maria, 35; and children Marthew J., 5, Martha A., 3, Athy A., 12, and Celia C., 7; all mulatto.

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February 11, 2013

Adam Toussaint Artis.

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.

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February 10, 2013

I worked for it.

TESTIMONY OF NAPOLEON HIGGINS.

NAPOLEON HIGGINS, colored, sworn and examined. By Senator Vance:

Question: Where do you reside? – Answer. Near Goldsborough. I don’t stay in Goldsborough, but it is my county seat. I live fifteen miles from town.

Q. What is your occupation? – A. I am farming.

Q. Do you farm your own land? – A. Yes, sir.

Q. How much do you own? – A. Four hundred and eighty-five acres.

Q. How did you get it? – A. I worked for it.

Q. Were you formerly a slave? – A. No, sir; I was a free man before the war.

…

Q. What did you pay for it? – A. I believe I paid $5,500; and then I have got a little town lot there that I don’t count; but I think it is worth about $500.

…

Q. How much cotton do you raise? – A. I don’t raise as much as I ought to. I only raised fifty-eight bales last year.

Q. What is that worth? – A. I think I got $55 a bale.

Q. How many hands do you work yourself? – A. I generally rent my land. I only worked four last year, and paid the best hand, who fed the mules and tended around the house, ten dollars; and the others I paid ten, and eight, and seven. … I gave them rations; and to a man with a family I gave a garden patch and a house, and a place to raise potatoes.

…

Q. How did you start [your farm]? – A. I rented a farm and started on two government horses. I went to the tightest man I know and got him to help me. I rented from Mr. Exam out there.

Senate Report 693, 2nd Session, 46th Congress: Proceedings of the Select Committee of the United States Senate to Investigate the Causes of the Removal of the Negroes from the Southern States to the Northern States, Washington DC, beginning Tuesday, 9 March 1880.

Napoleon Hagans (not Higgins) testified before a Senate Select Committee investigating the migration of hundreds of “colored people” from the South to Indiana in the late 1870s. Hagans testified about the source of his relative wealth (above), as well his opinion of the political climate for colored men in his part of North Carolina.

Napoleon Hagans, 6, was apprenticed in 1845 to William Thompson. Apprenticeship Records, Wayne County Records, North Carolina State Archives. In the 1850 census of North of Neuse, Wayne County, Aaron Seaberry, 32 year-old black farmhand, with wife Louisa, [stepson] Napoleon [Hagans], daughter Frances, and 17 year-old Celia Seaberry. In a duplicate listing, also North of the Neuse: Leacy Hagans, 55, with probable grandson Napoleon Hagans, 10.

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February 10, 2013

Frances Jacobs Carter.

FRANCES JACOBS CARTER was born about 1861 in Sampson County to Jesse Adam Jacobs (ca1820-1902) and Abigail Gilliam Jacobs (ca1820-?). She married Marshall Archie Carter (1860-1922), son of William and Mary Carter, and died in 1937 in Wayne County. Jesse A. Jacobs, Jr., was her brother.

In the 1870 census of Sampson County: Jessey Jacobs, 50, farmer; wife Abigiel, 50; and children John R., 20, Martha, 17, Soloman, 15, Jessey, 13, Abigiel J., 11, and Margett F., 9; all mulatto.

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February 6, 2013

He emigrated to Georgia and tried to take her and her children with him.

State of North Carolina Wayne County June 2^nd 1853 Charity Bryant after Duly Sworn Deposith and Says as follows (viz) that She has Been acquainted with Fareby Simmons a free woman of Colour for the last Sixty years or theirabout and She lived with a certain William Burnham as an apprentice and after her time was Expired with Burnham She Still Remaind their with Burnham untwell he Sold out to Emigrate to the State of Georgia and wanted to Stip Said Fariby Simons off and hir children off with him and John Beck Thomas Wright William Gully Sollomon Rouse and Others and Established hir freedom and Burnham went of to the State of Georgia with his own Slaves and left fariby Simons and hir children to enjoy their freedom that was proven Hannah Simons a Daughter of Said Fariby was Bound as an apprintice to Betsey Burnham who afterwords intermarried with Thomas Simpson they Give up Said hanah as a free Girl and they have Remaind and past as free coulerd people ever since further the Deponant Sayeth Not Charity X Bryant June the 2^nd Sworn to and Subscribed to Before me the Day & date first Written George Flowers JP

Records of Slaves and Free Persons of Color, Wayne County Records, North Carolina State Archives.

Nearly forty years after this statement was made, Charity Bryant’s granddaughter Minta Bryant Brown, a woman of color, sued one of Fereby Simmons’ descendants to take possession of a parcel of land.

February 6, 2013

Surname swap, no. 4.

In the 1850 census, South Side of the Neuse, Wayne County: John Stafford, 48, hireling; Hannah Stafford, 45; and Caroline, 9, Boswell, 3, and Betsey Stafford, 6 months.

But in the 1860 census, Indian Springs, Wayne County: Annis Brooks, 51; children Caroline, 20, Basil, 14, and Elizabeth Brooks, 10; and grandson Hatch Brooks, 2 months.

That Caroline and Basil Brooks were apprenticed in Wayne County in 1853 suggests that their parents were unmarried. W.H. (Willon Hatch) Brooks’ death certificate, filed in Bertie County after his 12 May 1925 death, lists his parents as Wright Casey and Caline Brooks. However, the death certificates of Roland Greenfield, Harriett Ann Greenfield and Mary Susan Greenfield list their mother’s maiden name as Elizabeth (or Lillie) Stafford and only her son Joe Ingram Greenfield’s lists her as Elizabeth Brooks.

Death Certificates, Register of Deeds Office, Wayne County Courthouse. Federal Population Schedules.

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February 6, 2013

Deep-rooted and virtuous prejudices.

State of North Carolina, Wayne County } At a Superior Court of Law began and held for the County of Wayne at the Court House in Waynesborough the first Monday after the fourth Monday of March 1828. Appeared there and then into Court Jesse Barden, and by his attorney Lewis D. Henry Esq’r., filed the following Petition under the act of 1827 –

North Carolina, Wayne County } To the Honorable the Judge of the Superior Court of Law for Said County – The Petition of Jesse Barden, Humbly Shews that he is a Citizen of this County, That he intermarried with one Ann Mariah Bradberry about the Month of April in the Year 1827, That at the time he married her he cherished a fond affection for her and believed her to be good woman, and that she would make an excellent wife, That at the time of their marriage She had a child, which he believed was his own and had been begotten by him before their intermarriage, That her Conduct and Manners were so artfully devised during their Courtship, that he entertained the opinion She was a virtuous woman and that she had never departed from the path of Moral rectitude but in the instance alluded to, and then from the excess of an ardent and imprudent passion for himself, That shortly after their intermarriage however, your Petitioner discovered that Child So born before their marriage was a black child, to his utter Horror and astonishment, and which has Completely ruined his peace and Happiness for life, That as soon as Your Petitioner was Satisfied of the Colour of the Child and of the artful wiles that the said Ann Mariah had employed during their courtship to decoy him with the Conjugal Connection, by protestations of affection that she had made to him from time to time. He was so overcome with her perfidity that he not only broke off all connection with her, but has turned her from his House.

He prays Your Honor therefore that these facts may be inquired into and that he may be divorced from the bonds of Matrimony with the said Ann Mariah his wife, and such other and further relief as You may think proper.

This affiant swears that the facts Set forth in this Petition are true to the Best of his knowledge and belief and that the Said Complaint is not made out of Levity or Collusion between him and his said wife and for the mere purpose of being freed and Separated from each other. /s/ Jesse Barden

Sworn to Subscribed before me the 3^rd day of April 1828. Rob’t Strange

Whereupon it was ordered by the Court that a Subpoena and Copy of the Petition issue to the defendant returnable to the next Term which was done and the Sheriff of Wayne made return thereon that the defendant was not to be found [in] his County. After which It was ordered by the Court that an alias subp’a and copy of Petition issue to defendant returnable to Spring Term of Said Court 1829, which was issued.

This matter reached the North Carolina Supreme Court in Jesse Barden v. Ann M. Barden, 14 NC 548 (1832). In distinguishing the case from another decided the same term, Justice Thomas Ruffin noted that “in so young an infant, whose mother was white, it might not be in the power of an ordinary man, from inspection of the face and other uncovered parts of the body, to discover the tinge, although it were so deep as to lead to the belief now, that it is the issue of a father of full African blood.” The case was remanded to ascertain (1) that the child was mixed race; (2) that both Bardens were white; (3) that Jesse Barden believed at the time of his marriage that the child was white; (4) that his belief was based on Ann Mariah’s misrepresentations; and (5) that the child’s “real color” was not obvious. If all were true, Barden was entitled to a divorce. “This is a concession to the deep rooted and virtuous prejudices of the community on this subject.”

February 5, 2013

Frances C. Aldridge Randall.

FRANCES C. “Fannie” ALDRIDGE RANDALL, born 1872 in Wayne County, married Robert H. Locust (1859-after 1930, later known as George Randall) in 1890, and died in Washington DC in 1917. She was the daughter of Robert and Mary Eliza Balkcum Aldridge, and sister of, among others, Mathew W. Aldridge and George W. Aldridge.

Photo courtesy of F.R. Randall.

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