Births Deaths Marriages, Free People of Color, North Carolina, Paternal Kin, Photographs

Joshua & Amelia Aldridge Brewington.

Joshua Brewington, son of Raiford Brewington and Bathsheba Manuel Brewington, was born in 1846 in Sampson County and died in 1931 in Wayne County. His wife, Amelia Aldridge Brewington, daughter of Robert Aldridge and Mary Eliza Balkcum Aldridge was born in 1855 in Sampson County and died in 1895 in Wayne County. Their children were: Tilithia Brewington King Godbold Dabney (1878-1965), Bashua M. Brewington (1879-1899), Hattie Bell Brewington Davis (1880-1981), Mattie Amelia Brewington Braswell (1883-1952), Elijah Coleman Brewington (1886), Amelia Brewington (1888), Lundy Brewington (1891-1914), Toney Cemore Brewington (1894-1973), and Murine Brewington (1895).

Joshua and Amelia Brewington are buried in the cemetery of the First Congregational Church, Dudley, North Carolina.

“Sleep on and take thy rest.”

——

Photo by Lisa Y. Henderson, August 2010.

Births Deaths Marriages, Enslaved People, Free People of Color, North Carolina, Other Documents, Paternal Kin

The estate of Solomon Williams.

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, found among Solomon’s estate papers, names son Jonah as administrator and lists his and Vicey’s six surviving children and the heirs of their deceased children.

Little is known about Solomon. He was born about 1800. A few slaveowning Williams families lived in Vicey Artis’ vicinity in Greene County, but there is no evidence to link Solomon to them. He appears in the 1870 and 1880 censuses of Nahunta township, Wayne County, heading households comprised of his daughters and their children, and is recorded as father on the marriage licenses of daughter Lomisy (Loumiza) Williams and son Adam Artis and the death certificates of children Jonah Williams, Richard Artis and Delila Exum.

Free People of Color, North Carolina, Other Documents, Paternal Kin

Honorary commissioner.

In a nod to his relative political and economic clout, Napoleon Hagans was named an Honorary Commissioner of the 1884 World Industrial and Cotton Centennial. (The certificate is little hard to read, but that’s his name at the center fold.) According to the official program, Hon. H.K. Bruce [sic, this was surely Blanche K. Bruce, Republican Senator for Missouri 1875-1881] was Chief of Department, Colored Exhibits, and North Carolina’s “Honorary State Commissioners (Colored)” were J.S. Leary of Fayetteville and Jno. H. Williamson of Louisburg.

The 1884 World’s Fair was held in New Orleans, Louisiana, at a time when nearly one third of all cotton produced in the United States was handled in that port city. The Cotton Planters Association first advanced the idea for the fair, dubbed “World Cotton Centennial” because 1784 marked the earliest surviving record of export of a shipment of cotton from the United States to England.

The U.S. Congress lent $1 million to the Fair’s directors and gave $300,000 for the construction of a large Government & State Exhibits Hall on the site. However, the planning and construction of the fair was marked by corruption and scandals, and the Louisiana state treasurer absconded abroad with $1.7 million of state money, including most of the fair’s budget.

Despite such serious financial difficulties, the Fair succeeded in offering many attractions to visitors. It covered 249 acres stretching from Saint Charles Avenue to the Mississippi River and could be entered directly by railway, steamboat, or ocean-going ship. The main building enclosed 33 acres and was then the largest roofed structure ever constructed. The building was illuminated with 5,000 electric lights – still a novelty at the time and said to be ten times the number then existing in the rest of New Orleans. There was also a Horticultural Hall, an observation tower with electric elevators, and working examples of multiple designs of experimental electric street-cars. The Mexican exhibit was particularly lavish and popular, constructed at a cost of $200,000 dollars, and featuring a huge brass band that was a great hit locally.

On December 16, 1884, two weeks behind schedule, President Chester Arthur opened the Fair via telegraph. It closed on June 2, 1885. In an unsuccessful attempt to recover financial losses, the grounds and structures were reused for the North Central & South American Exposition from November 1885 to March 1886. Thereafter the structures were publicly auctioned off, most going only for their worth in scrap.

The site today is Audubon Park and Audubon Zoo in Uptown New Orleans.

Adapted from World Cotton Centennial, www.wikipedia.org. Copy of certificate courtesy of William E. Hagans.

North Carolina, Other Documents, Paternal Kin

Infant baptisms.

From the records of the First Congregational Church of Dudley NC, an excerpt from a list of infant baptisms that reveals the centrality of the Henderson family in the church’s early congregation. In 1896, two of the nine babies baptized were siblings Minnie and Daniel Simmons, born in 1887 and 1895, children of Hillary and Ann Elizabeth Henderson Simmons.

The following year, Hendersons comprised two-thirds of the infants baptized. Clement Manuel (1897) was the grandson of Edward and Susan Henderson Wynn. (His parents were Alonzo and Sallie Wynn Manuel.) Bessie and Jesse Henderson, born in 1891 and 1893, were children of my great-great-grandmother Loudie Henderson, and Hattie Jacobs (1895) was Sarah Henderson Jacobs‘ daughter.

——

Copy of entry made from originals held by First Congregational Church, Dudley NC.

Births Deaths Marriages, North Carolina, Paternal Kin

Eureka, no. 1.

In an old notebook, I found this comment scribbled in 1988:

“Polly Ann Price married Lewis Martin at Calvin Dail’s house. Calvin Dail’s wife was Susan Price. Polly and Susan were near enough in age to be sisters.”

Lewis H. Martin and Polly Ann Price‘s son was Joseph “Buck” Martin, father of my great-grandmother Bessie and her brother Jack Henderson. I have not given them much thought over the years, it is true. Tapping into the research of others, I have long been able to extend Lewis Martin’s lines back a few generations into Caseys, Lewises, Grants, Utleys and Selfs. Polly Ann’s parentage was a mystery, though, a full stop, and I never got beyond wondering if Susan Dail was a key.

Five minutes on the internet today — searching for Susan Price Dail — and, voila, she and Mary “Polly” Ann were indeed sisters, and their parents were James Price (1805-circa1870) and Margaret Herring (1809-1898). Several Ancestry.com family trees claim the couple, but posit differing — and occasionally impossible — individuals as their parents. I’ll examine the possibilities soon. (And hope a revelation comes in fewer than 25 years!)

Births Deaths Marriages, North Carolina, Other Documents, Paternal Kin

North Carolina death certificates: ALDRIDGE, part 1.

North Carolina did not require death certificates until 1914. The following abstracts relate to the first three generations of Aldridges whose deaths were recorded by law.

Wife of Robert Aldridge (1819-1899):

Eliza Aldridge. Died 29 Jan 1824, Brogden, Wayne County, of influenza. Colored. Widow of Robert Aldridge. Born 29 February 1829, Duplin County, to unknown father and “Nancy ?” Buried near Dudley. Informant, Joseph Aldridge.

Children of George W. Aldridge (1851-??), son of Robert and Eliza Balkcum Aldridge:

Prince Albert Aldridge. Died 15 May 1953, Wilson, of terminal uremia. Negro. Married. Plasterer. Born 11 January 1902, Wayne County, to George Aldridge and Dora Green. Buried family cemetery, Wilson County. Informant, Mrs. Annie Aldridge.

Blanchard Aldridge. Died 4 February 1965, Fremont, Wayne County, of organic brain syndrome. Negro. Never married. Barber. World War I veteran. Born 1 July 1897 in NC to George Aldridge and Dora Green. Buried Fremont. Informant, Reka Morrisey.

Wife and children of John W. Aldridge (1853-1910), son of Robert and Eliza Balkcum Aldridge:

Vicy Aldrich. Died 13 Feb 1927 at 8:30 a.m. Doctor noted “Only saw her one time, the day before she died. Probably apoplexy.” Colored. Born 30 Sep 1862 in Eureka, Wayne County, to Adam T. Artis and Frances Hagans of Wayne County NC. Widow of John Aldrich. Buried 14 Feb 1927, Aldrich cemetery, Dudley NC. Undertaker: Artis & Freeman, Wilson NC. Informant, John J. Aldridge.

Amanda Newsome. Died 6 November 1918, Great Swamp, Wayne County, of influenza and pneumonia “contributing pregnancy & childbirth.” Colored. Married. Born 23 December 1891, Wayne County, to John Aldridge and Vicy Aldridge. Buried Dudley. Informant, Lonnie Newsome.

Lulu Aldridge. Died 16 November 1919, Brogden, of “exhaustion from mania.” Colored. Single. Born 1884. Worked “on farm of her father.” Born Brogden township to J.W. Aldridge and Vici Artis. Buried Dudley. Informant, J.J. Aldridge.

John Aldridge. Died 13 April 1964, Goldsboro, of acute myocardial infarction. Indian. Widower of Ora Aldridge. Retired farmer. Born 14 December 1887, Wayne County, to J.W. Aldridge and Vicy Artis. Buried Congregational cemetery. Informant, Cecelia Saunders.

Ora Bell Adridge. Died 26 April 1961, Goldsboro, of cerebral thrombosis “secondary to removal of infected gallbladder.” Colored. Married to John Aldridge. Born 22 February 1895, Wayne County, to James L. Mozingo and Bettie Johnson. Buried, church cemetery. Informant, John Aldridge.

Francis Newsome. Died 14 March 1961, Dudley, of cerebral hemorrhage. Negro. Widow of Lonnie Newsome. Born 14 May 1887, Wayne County, to John Aldridge and Luvicey Artis. Buried New Aldridge cemetery near Gold Park Lake. Informant, Mrs. Lenora Henderson.

Lenora Christine Henderson. Died 29 November 1961, Goldsboro, of cerebral embolism. Resided Dudley. Negro. Widow of Henry L. Henderson. Born 22 August 1903, Wayne County, to John William Aldridge and Luevicey Artis. Buried Congregational cemetery. Informant, H.B. Henderson.

Matthew Aldridge (1857-1920), son of Robert and Eliza Balkcum Aldridge, and children:

Mathew Aldridge. Died 6 May 1920, Goldsboro, of cerebral apoplexy. Colored. Married to Fanny Aldridge. Age 64 years, 2 months, 28 days. Merchant “for his own benefit.” Born Goldsboro NC to Robert Aldridge and Liazzy Borkins, both of Wayne County. Buried Elmwood cemetery. Informant, Levi Kennedy.

Daisy Williams Couch. Died 2 Jan 1954, at home at 63 Madison Avenue, Asheville NC, of coronary thrombosis due to myocardial infarct (chronic nephritis contributing). Negro. Married to J.C. Couch. Born 28 Sep 1890, Goldsboro NC, to Matthew Aldridge and Fannie Kennedy. Buried Goldsboro NC.

Children of Amanda Aldridge Artis (1860-1899), daughter of Robert and Eliza Balkcum Aldridge:

Annie Deliah Sauls. Died 1 October 1957, Stantonsburg, Wayne County, of “evidently a heart attack – had been having trouble for past twelve months with angina – she worked all day slipped off of chair and was dead when I got there.” Negro. Married to William Sauls. Born 19 July 1897, Wayne County, to Adam T. Artis Sr. and Mandy Aldridge. Buried Forte cemetery, Wayne County. Informant, Adam T. Artis.

Columbus Estelle Artis. Died 18 March 1973, Wilson, of generalized arteriosclerosis. Negro. Married to Ruby Barber. Retired undertaker. Resided 611 E. Green Street. Birn 28 August 1886 to Adam T. Artis and Manda Aldridge. Buried Rest Haven cemetery, Wilson. Informant, Mrs. Ruby B. Artis.

Lillie B. Pridgen. Died 27 May 1935, Jason, Greene County NC, “acute dilatation of heart” secondary to “old heart disease, mittral stenosis, pregnancy, acute nephritis.” Spouse of Chester Pridgen. Residence, R#1, Lagrange NC. “Housework in own home.” Born 10 Feb 1894, Wayne County NC to Adam Artis and Amanda Aldridge. Informant, Chester Pridgen. Buried Greene County 29 May 1935.

June Scott Artis. Died 2 June 1973, Stantonsburg, Wilson County, of chronic myocarditis. Farmer. Black. Married to Ethel Becton. Born 23 November 1895 to Adam Artis and Mandy Aldridge. Buried Artis cemetery, Wayne County. Informant, Mrs. Ethel B. Artis.

Robert Aldridge Jr. (1866-1940), son of Robert and Eliza Balkcum Aldridge, his wife and children:

Robert Aldridge. Died 29 August 1940, Dudley, Wayne County, or “uremia chronic nephritis.” Colored. Widower of Polly Aldridge. Age 70. Farmer on his land. Born Wayne County to Robert Aldridge of Sampson County and Eliza Baucam of Wayne County. Buried Brogden township. Informant, Paul Aldridge.

Polly Aldridge. Died 12 March 1928. Brogden, Wayne County, of arterial hypertension and valvular heart disease. Colored. Married to Robert Aldridge. Age 58. Born Wayne County to Neddham Grantham and Lucy Grantham, both of Wayne County. Buried Augustus Chapel. Informant, Robert Aldridge.

Paul Aldridge. Died 8 June 1947, Brogden, Wayne County, of pulmonary congestion and tuberculosis. Colored. Married to Eliza Aldridge. Farmer. Born 16 May 1913, Wayne County, to Robert Aldridge and Pollie Aldridge, both of Wayne County. Buried Aldridge cemetery, Wayne County. Informant, Mrs. Eliza Aldridge.

Lula Aldridge Smith. Died 8 Apr 1966, cerebral vascular accident, NC Memorial Hospital, Chapel Hill, Orange County NC. Resided 205 Caldwell Street, Chapel Hill NC. Born 20 Feb 1895, Wayne County NC to Robert Aldridge and Polly Grantham. Married to James Smith. Buried 11 Apr 1866, Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery.

Joseph Aldridge (1869-1934), son of Robert and Eliza Balkcum Aldridge, and children:

Joseph Aldridge. Died 6 September 1934, Goldsboro, of cardiovascular renal disease. Resided 208 Bright Street, Goldsboro. Colored. Married to Martha Aldridge. Farmer. Age 64. Born Wayne County to Robert Aldridge of Wayne County and Eliza Barkins of Sampson County. Buried Brogden township. Informant, Allen Aldridge.

Allen Aldridge. Died 21 November 1969, Goldsboro, of cerebrovascular thrombosis. Negro. Married to Ida Bell Evans. Resided 509 Bunche Drive. Chef. Born 2 September 1908 to Joseph Aldridge and Luberta Manley. Buried Aldridge cemetery. Informant, Mrs. Ida Bell Aldridge.

Births Deaths Marriages, North Carolina, Other Documents, Paternal Kin

North Carolina death certificates: HENDERSON.

North Carolina did not require death certificates until 1914. The following abstracts relate to the first two generations of Hendersons whose deaths were recorded by law.

Spouse and children of Lewis Henderson (1836-1912), son of James Henderson and (Sallie?) Skipp:

Marguriet Henderson. Died 17 July 1915, Brogden, Wayne County of unknown causes. Black. Age 82. Born Sampson County to an unknown father and Margaret Bowkin. Informant, Lucian Henderson.

Lution Hinderson. Died 22 June 1934, Brogden, Wayne County, of cerebral hemorrhage. Colored. Married to Susan Hinderson. Age 75 years, 3 months. Farmer. Born Wayne County to Louis Hinderson of Wayne County and Maggie Hill of Sampson County. Informant, Jonnie Carter, Dudley. Buried in Dudley.

Sarah Jacobs Silver. Died 8 Jan 1938, Selma, Johnston County NC, of probable heart disease (“dead when seen.”) Age about 55 years old [actually, 62.] Born Wayne County NC to Lewis Henderson and Margaret Carter, both of Wayne County. Informant, Hattie Jacobs, 303 Elba Street, Wilson NC. C.E. Artis, undertaker. Buried in Wayne County NC on 12 Jan 1938.

Spouse and children of James Henry Henderson (1838-1920), son of James Henderson and (Sallie?) Skipp:

Amelia Brazzell. Died 26 Mar 1914, Goldsboro NC, uremic convulsions (contributing: operation for ryosalprism[?]). Age 37. Married. Born Wayne County NC to Jim Henderson (born Greene County) and Francis Henderson (born Greene County). Informant, E.L. Henderson, Goldsboro NC. Buried 27 Mar 1914, Jason NC.

James Henderson. Died 21 Jun 1920, Faison, Duplin County NC, 12:15 a.m., acute gastro-enteric colitis. Wife, Laura Henderson. Carpenter. Age 80. Born Onslow County NC to James Henderson and Sallie Henderson, both of NC. Buried 22 Jun 1920.

Lewis Henderson. Died 20 June 1932, cerebral tumor (non-malignant), Mount Olive, Wayne County NC. Colored. Married to Hattie Henderson. Age 46 “as near as known.” Born in NC to Jim Henderson and Francis Henderson, both of Wayne County. Buried 20 Jun 1932, Saint Luke. Informant, Hattie Henderson.

Ira Henderson. Died 22 Oct 1946, E. Hillsboro, Mount Olive NC, of bronchopneumonia (due to broncho asthma.) Colored. Married to Johnie Henderson. Carpenter. Born 3 Aug 1881, Wayne County NC to Jim Henderson and Francis Henderson, both of Wayne County NC. Informant, Mrs. Johnnie Henderson, Box 243, E. Hillsboro St., Mount Olive. Buried 25 Oct 1946, Mount Olive NC.

Elias Henderson. Died 14 Nov 1953, Wayne Memorial Hospital, Goldsboro NC, of uremia. Resided Miller’s Chapel section, Goldsboro NC. Negro. Married. Born 24 May 1888, Wayne County NC to Jim Henderson and Laura (last name unknown). Farmer. Informant, Jazelle Henderson, Goldsboro NC. Buried 17 Nov 1953, Lane’s, Wayne County NC.

Georgetta Elliott. Died 8 Sep 1972, LaGrange, Lenoir County NC, coronary occlusion. Negro. Widowed. Born 12 Aug 1894 to Jim Henry Henderson and Frances Sauls. Informant, Mackie B. Williams, 406 Forbes Street, LaGrange NC. Buried 10 Sep 1972, LaGrange cemetery, LaGrange NC.

Spouse and children of Alexander Henderson (1860-1916), son of James Henderson and Louisa Armwood Henderson:

Alexr Henderson. Died 13 June 1916, Goldsboro, Wayne County, of phthis pulmonalis. Colored. Married. Age 56. Born Wayne County to Stephen Henderson and unknown mother. Buried Elmwood cemetery. Informant, Mary Henderson.

Mary J. Henderson. Died 7 September 1926, Goldsboro, Wayne County, of strangulated umbilical hernia. Widow. Age 60. Born Simpson [sic] County to unknown parents. Buried Elmwood cemetery by James Guess. Informant, Will Henderson.

Theodore Henderson. Died 15 November 1936, Goldsboro, Wayne County, “from knife wounds.” Married to Bettie Henderson. Age 45. Common laborer. Born Duplin County to Elix Henderson and Mary Odom, both of Wayne County. Buried Elmwood cemetery by James Guess. Informant, Willie Henderson.

Will Henderson. Died 6 Dec 1959, 712 N. John Street, Goldsboro NC, of cerebral apoplexy. Negro. Married. Minister. Born 1 Dec 1878, to Alaxander Henderson and Mary Odom. Married to Susie B. Henderson. Informant, Margaret Brown, 826 N. Center, Goldsboro NC. Buried 9 Dec 1959, Lightner cemetery, Wayne County NC.

Spouse and children of John Henry Henderson (1861-1924), son of James Henderson and Louisa Armwood Henderson:

John Henderson. Died 8 August 1924, Goldsboro, Wayne County, of pulmonary tuberculosis. Colored. Married. Age 63. Farmer. Born Sampson County to James Henderson of Onslow County and [blank] Armwood of Sampson County. Buried Dudley NC. Informant, Sarrah Henderson.

Sarah Henderson. Died 12 June 1930, Dudley, Wayne County, “cause not known — sudden supposed to be acute indigestion.” Widowed. Colored. Age 62. Daughter of Bryant and Bettie Simmons. Buried in Dudley by James Guess. Informant, Henry Henderson.

Henry Henderson. Died 19 Oct 1942, en route to hospital in Goldsboro NC, “found dead in car, supposed heart attack.” Born 23 May 1901, Dudley NC, to John Henderson and Sarah Simmons. Laborer. Informant, Lenora Henderson. Buried Congregational Church cemetery, Wayne County NC.

Spouse and children of Nancy Henderson Smith Diggs (1865-1944), daughter of James Henderson and Louisa Armwood Henderson:

Willie Smith. Died 29 Jul 1912, nephritis, Goldsboro NC. Born 9 Aug 1900, Goldsboro NC, to I.R. Smith and Nancy Henderson, both born in Mount Olive NC. Informant, C[?].M. Smith, 100 Smith Street, Goldsboro NC. Buried 3 Jul 1912, Elmwood cemetery, Goldsboro NC.

Isham Smith. Died 12 May 1914, 10:20 p.m., State Hospital, Fork township, Wayne County NC, of cerebral hemorrhage. Age 56. Undertaker. Educational attainments: “Read & write.” Parents unknown. Married. Buried in Goldsboro, NC. Informant, W.W. Faison, M.D., Goldsboro NC.

Ernest Smith. Died 5 Oct 1918, 7:00 p.m., Goldsboro NC, of lobar pneumonia (influenza). Colored. Married. Barber. Born 11 July 1888 to Isham Smith and Nancy Henerson [sic]. Informant, Nancy Smith, 100 Smith Street. Buried 8 Oct 1918, Elwood cemetery, Goldsboro NC, by James Guess, undertaker.

Nancy Smith. Died 11 Dec 1944, 4:30 a.m., fracture of pelvis (“fell off bed”), 309 Smith Street, Goldsboro NC. Born 7 Feb 1890, Mount Olive NC to Jim and Eliza Henderson. Widowed. Informant, Mrs. E. Hall, 309 Smith Street, Goldsboro NC. Buried 17 Dec 1944, Elmwood cemetery, Goldsboro NC, by James Guess [her son-in-law.]

Annie Guess. Died 8 Aug 1953, Goldsboro NC, of coronary insufficiency and aortic insufficiency. Colored. Married. Born 11 Sep 1890, Goldsboro NC, to Issam Smith and Nancy Henderson. Informant, James Guess Sr., Goldsboro NC. Buried 11 Aug 1953, Elmwood cemetery, Goldsboro NC, by James Guess, undertaker.

Births Deaths Marriages, Free People of Color, North Carolina, Other Documents, Paternal Kin

Chears and bee gums.

Per the “Account of the Sale of the property of Matthew Aldridg Deceased sold by Joseph Hollowell Adm. on a credit of six months, Nov 20^th 1868,” his widow, Catherine Boseman (or Simmons) Aldridge, purchased five “chears”, cart wheels and an axle, two tables (one small), two beds and furniture, “one cubbard & contents,” a clock, a gun, “3 Bee Gumes & work bench,” a tub dipper, kitchen furniture, a blind mare and two beehives. Green Simmons, George Simmons and David Winn purchased tools, and “Robbert Aldridg,” who likely was Matthew Aldridge’s brother, bought the fourth and fifth beehive choices. A note on William Carter for a $27.50 debt, due 1 January 1869, was described as doubtful. The Application for Letters of Administration in the file notes that Aldridge’s heirs were John Henry Aldridge, Wm. Aldridge, Frances Aldridge, Della Aldridge, Mary Ann Aldridge, Joanna Aldridge, and James Thomas Aldridge.

William Aldridge was one of the founders of the First Congregational Church of Dudley, and Frances Aldridge Wynn and Mary Ann Aldridge Baker’s descendants were prominent members of the church for several generations. John H. Aldridge had a daughter, Nina Frances Faison Hardy, who played an important role in my grandmother’s young life. More about Aunt Nina later.

Births Deaths Marriages, Land, North Carolina, Paternal Kin

Coley v. Artis.

At the heart of Wayne County Superior Court proceedings stemming from the suit in J.F. Coley v. Tom Artis (1908) was a dispute over 30 acres of land. Thomas “Tom Pig” Artis began renting the property in 1881 from W.J. Exum. In 1892, Exum’s widow Mary sold it to Napoleon “Pole” Hagans. In 1896, after Napoleon’s death, the land passed to his sons Henry and William S. Hagans, and in 1899 Henry sold his interest to his brother. In 1908, William S. Hagans sold the 30 acres to J.F. Coley. Coley filed suit when Tom Artis laid claim to it, arguing that Napoleon had sold it to him. Tom claimed that the 800 lbs. of cotton he tendered to Napoleon Hagans (and later, his son William) was interest on a mortgage, but William Hagans and other witnesses maintained that the payment was rent.

The trial transcript is replete with testimony revealing the personal relationships among witnesses. Tom Artis testified that he rented the “Adam Artis place.” William Hagans testified that his father was in feeble health in 1896 when he called him and Henry together “under the cart shelter” to tell them he would not live long and did not know to whom the land would fall. William testified that Pole asked them to let “Pig” stay on as long as he paid rent, and they promised to do so. Tom Franks testified that “Pole was a first-rate business man.” Jonah Williams, Adam Artis’ brother, testified that he borrowed money from Napoleon to open a brickyard in the spring of 1893 and had preached his funeral. He also noted that “Tom married my sister [Loumiza Williams Artis, who was deceased by time of this trial]. He is not a member of my church. I turned him out. He is a Primitive Baptist. I preached Napoleon Hagans’ funeral.” Jesse Artis, another of Adam Artis’ brothers, testified that he had worked on Hagans’ property as a carpenter for 18 years and noted, “I don’t know that Tom and I are any kin, just by marriage.” John Rountree testified that he was a tenant renting from Hagans on thirds. Simon Exum, Delilah Artis‘ husband, testified: “I am no kin to Tom [Artis] as far as I know, except by Adam. His first wife was my wife’s sister.” H.S. Reid testified that he was Tom Artis’ son-in-law.

The court found for Coley and against Artis.

——

Thomas Artis was a son of a free woman of color, Celia Artis, and her enslaved husband, Simon Pig. Though, ultimately, nearly all free colored Artises are descended from a common ancestor in southside Virginia, by the late 1800s knowledge of these remote links had faded. There were dozens of Artis families in Wayne County during the antebellum period, and the relationships between them are unknown. Celia Artis was a close neighbor of Adam Artis, but the families apparently did not regards themselves as kin. Still, they were inextricably intertwined. The Artises, Haganses and Reids had been neighbors in the Eureka area for generations. Celia Artis and Henry S. Reid’s grandmother Rhoda Reid were the wealthiest free women of color in the county. Adam Artis married Napoleon Hagans’ half-sister Frances Seaberry. Adam’s sister Loumiza married Tom Artis, as noted above. Henry S. Reid, son of Washington and Penninah Reid, married Tom Artis’ daughter. Henry’s first cousin Henry Reid, son of John and Mozana Hall Reid, married Adam Artis’ daughter Georgianna Artis. Adam Artis’ son William Marshall Artis and grandson Leslie Artis married Tom Artis’ nieces, Etta and Minnie Diggs. And on and on.

Documents found in file of the Estate of Thomas Artis (1911), Wayne County, North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979, familysearch.org

Civil War, Free People of Color, North Carolina, Paternal Kin

$573.00 allowed.

Under an act of Congress approved March 3, 1871, a three-member commissioners Southern Claims Commission received, examined, and considered the claims of “those citizens who remained loyal adherents to the cause and the Government of the United States during the war, for stores or supplies taken or furnished during the rebellion for the use of the Army of the United States in States proclaimed as in insurrection against the United States.” The commissioners’ principal duties were to satisfy themselves of each claimant’s loyalty and certify the amount, nature, and value of the property taken or furnished.

The files of claimants under this act are rich with personal details, including age and place of birth; residence during the Civil War; occupation; names and ages of family members; names of neighbors; and types of crops grown and animals raised. For free people of color, these records are especially valuable, as there seldom are other sources for this type of information.

Robert Aldridge is my only known direct ancestor to file with the SCC. Indexes show that his claim was assigned number 14,758; that he asserted losses of $832.00; and that, in 1873, he was allowed $573.00 in compensation.

Some years ago, while in Washington DC, I made a beeline up Pennsylvania Avenue to the National Archives to get a look at Robert’s folder. I sat in the research room, a faint smile on my lips, heart rate slightly elevated, alert. And then: “I’m sorry. That file is missing.” Gone. And has been for years, for it was never microfilmed, and even indexes leave blank the summary of its contents.

To think of this still makes me nauseous, as Robert Aldridge is an elusive figure with murky antecedents and obscure dealings. Few of his deeds were recorded, and the extent of his landholdings is unclear. A statement to the SCC — in his own words, precious in and of itself — would have been a goldmine of information.

Scuffalong: Genealogy.

Tag Archives: Wayne County