An NCGenWeb/USGenWeb Project
From the May 15, 1902 issue of The Times newspaper or Richmond, VA.
Norfolk, Va., May 14 – Mr. Dennis Simmons, of Williamston, N.C., a prominent lumberman and active member of the North Carolina Pine Association, died at St. Vincent’s Hospital yesterday after an illness of only four days. The remains were this morning forwarded via the Atlantic Coast Line to Williamston for internment.
WorldVitalRecords recently added to their collection the book, Marriages of Bertie County, North Carolina: 1762-1868.
Martin County was formed from what used to be a part of Bertie County, so this may be an interesting source to check for relatives. You can access the database online at http://is.gd/xTgZ. WorldVitalRecords provides free access for the first 10 days, after that, a subscription is required. If online access is not an option, check to see if it is at a library near you.
From the 12 Nov 1903 issue of the Kinston Free Press newspaper of Kinston, Lenoir County, North Carolina
Thinking a rifle was not loaded, Zach Jackson, a clerk in Hamilton, sent a ball crashing through the head of Abe Sherrod, a colored man, of good reputation. The darky may live. The citizens of Hamilton subscribed $300 for Abe’s benefit, which indicates the substantial esteem in which the man is held.
From the 12 Nov 1903 issue of the Kinston Free Press newspaper of Kinston, Lenoir County, NC
Williamston, Dated Nov. 10 – This morning at three o’clock the handsome residence of Hon. Wilson G. Lamb, on Smithwick street, was found to be on fire. The family were sleeping on the second floor and were aroused by the smell of smoke, which was so dense that the stairway was found with difficulty. Miss Mayo Lamb, with rare presence of mind, groped her way through the smoke and heat down the stair and carried her little niece to a place of safety then returned to show the way to others who were still above the stairs. The loss was about $1,500 by damage to the house and furniture.
Charlotte Observer – March 9, 1913
News was received here yesterday of the death of Mr. Justus Everett, who lived just below Palmyra, in Martin County, which occurred Thursday night from the effects of ptomaine poisoning contracted through drinking a small glass of cider from his stock in his store. He was violently ill for three or four days, and the physicians could do nothing to relieve him.
Mr. Everett was one of the most prominent farmers of eastern North Carolina, a man whose judgment was relied upon by his neighbors, practical, sane and industrious. By economy and industry he had accumulated an estate of about $50,000, starting in life with nothing.
A wife and nine children of a former marriage survive him. Of his sons, Mr. R.O. Everett of Durham is known as one of the State’s most promising young lawyers. Mr. S. Justus Everett of Greensboro is also a prominent attorney.
The funeral occurred at Spring Green Primitive Baptist Church, near his home, this morning, Elder T.M. Lawrence of Hamilton conducting the service.
Source: “Justus Everett.” Charlotte Observer [Charlotte, NC] 9 Apr. 1913. GenealogyBank.
One of the collections on Footnote are the Southern Claims Commission records; these are records of people who had items taken by the U.S. government during the civil war and more than 20,000 claims were filed nationwide. As of today, there were only three claims from individuals in Martin County:
Henry Churchill Hardison of Williamston
Living in Williamston, at the time of his claim in 1872, Henry was 40 years old and had been residing in Martin County for 20 years. Among the items taken from him included fodder, over two thousand pounds of pork, and “one good horse”
From his testimony, I learned that Henry had a brother in the Confederate army. His witnesses for his claim were
Nancy J. Padgyett of Jamesville
Her taken property included pork, chicken, sweet potatoes and cooking utensils. It was taken by Col. Franklin of Plymouth. She was 43 at the time of the claim.
From her claim, it states that her husband died in August of 1863 and they had 4 children whose ages were between 7 and 15.
Her witnesses were
Alfred Jordan of Williamston
Alfred was 53 at the time of his claim. He was from Williamston, but right around the time of the war lived in Bertie County for 4 years and in Washington County for 2 years. He was born in Chowan County, NC. The names of Alfred’s witnesses is difficult for me to read, but names mentioned in his claim include Simon Swain, Stephen Jordan (no relation), F.C. Miller, John G. Mitchell, William S. Ward, Alfred’s wife, Fanny Jordon, and Alfred’s son Joseph C. Jordan. His property taken included turkeys, chickens, sweet potatoes, corn, a young horse, and a hog.
These claims commissions are interesting records to check out!
Charlotte Observer
April 10, 1900
He Died at His Home at Davidson College Yesterday Afternoon
At 7:45 o’clock last evening, Rev. William Perry Williams died at his home at Davidson, after a few weeks’ illness. The direct cause of his death was an attack of pneumonia.
Mr. Williams was 67 years old. He leaves a widow, a son, Mr. P. H. Williams, of Charlotte, and a daughter, Miss May Williams, head nurse at the Private Hospital in this city. He was a native of the town of Williamston, Martin county, and was a man of more ordinary native ability. He got his education by hard work, and while not a college-bred man, was a <…>scholar, and was an attractive talker and writer on the times of his early boyhood.
At the time of his death Mr. Williams was grand lecturer of the Masonic order of the State. His remains will be interred with Masonic honors. The arrangements for the funeral home have not been completed, though it is thought that the services will be conducted at the Methodist church in Davidson.
Mis May Williams, who has been visiting in Martin county, was called home by telegram yesterday, spent last night in Charlotte, and this morning she and her brother will go to Davidson for the funeral.
Courtesy of Genealogybank
From the Jul-Sep 1911 issue of the Journal of the National Medical Association (Volume 3, No. 3, pg. 249).
Miss I.L. Price, Class of 1911, Tuskegee Institute Hospital, is engaged in private duty nursing at Williamston, N.C., and states that she receives $20.00 per week for her services.
From the book “Everetts of Martin County, North Carolina” by Robert L. Everett. This book is available online from the Family History Library here.
