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Dare Co., N.C. People
[Photographs submitted by Ray McDonald Midgett]

 


Seldon Ray & Annabelle (McDonald) Midgett

   Seldon Ray Midgett was born in Rodanthe, NC on June 11, 1912 to William Gray Midgett and Margaret Ann V. Meekins.  Seldon married Annabelle McDonald in 1940.  Annabelle was born on May 12, 1919 in Reidsville, Ga. and passed away in Elizabeth City, NC on Aug. 31, 1993.  Seldon and Annabelle had two children: Glenda Joyce Midgett and Ray McDonald Midgett.  Seldon died in Elizabeth City, NC on Feb. 29, 1972 and is buried in the Manteo Cemetery in Manteo, NC.
   Seldon entered the Coast Guard at St. Simons Island, Georgia and was discharged at Norfolk, Va. on May 25, 1942 because of physical disability.  His discharge papers indicate that he had blue eyes, black hair, stood 6'1" tall and weighed 210 lbs.  He held the grade of Surfman.  Apparently, during his short stay in the Coast Guard, he was instrumental in saving lives.  This letter of thanks was sent to him in the summer of 1939.  [In an e-mail from Ray McDonald Midgett received on April 23, 2012, he says "Dad was in his second enlistment in the Coast Guard when he lost hearing in one ear and was hospitalized for some time due to the blast from a navy ship's large guns, while serving on a navy transport ship in the northern Atlantic (Iceland/Greenland) during the war."]

Margaret Ann (Meekins) Midgett


Margaret Ann V. (Meekins) Midgett, wife of William Gray Midgett, at home place in Manteo, NC (current site of Assembly of God Church) is seen here holding her granddaughter, Glenda Joyce (Midgett) Etheridge, daughter of Seldon Ray Midgett. The year is 1941.  Margaret was born at Rodanthe, NC on Apr. 13, 1877 to Anthony L. Meekins and Mary Williams Douglass.  Margaret died August 6, 1944 of heart disease and is buried in the Manteo Cemetery in Manteo, NC. [see her death certificate]

Neighborhood Friends

Leroy Midgett


Leroy Midgett (1906-1952) crabbing a line just north of the old Manteo Bridge in 1950. The old crab lines, in those days, would run from 1 to 2 miles long with strips of "pickled bull-lip" tied every 3 feet. The line was anchored on the starting end and buoyed on the end.  It was run out of a barrel of bull lip juice. Note the old shad boat with the fish box sitting on the stern as Leroy ran the line out.  The fish box was tossed overboard to steady the boat as it ran down the line to dip the crabs.  The dip net was made from chicken wire.  The old wooden barrels would hold 100 lbs of crabs. Note the runner which held the crab line as he dipped the crabs....the engine box covering the gasoline engine....and his "oil clothes" which kept him dry.  The Manteo Bridge in the background.

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