Durham County NC

Slave Narrative of Cy Hart

Interviewer: Daisy Whaley Person Interviewed: Cy Hart Location: Durham, North Carolina Age: 78 Ephram Hart was my pappy and my mammy’s name was Nellie. He belonged to Marse Ephram Hart. One day Marse Hart took some of his niggers to de slave market an’ my pappy was took along too. When he was put on de block an’ sold Marse Paul Cameron bought him. Den Marse Hart felt so sorry to think he done let my pappy be sold dat he tried to buy him back from Marse Paul, an’ offered him more den Marse Paul paid for him. But … Read more

George M. Temple

Private, 120th Inf., 30th Div., Co. M. Born in Durham County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Temple. Entered the service May 15, 1917, at Durham, N.C. Was sent to Camp Sevier, S. C., and from there to Camp Merritt. Sailed for France May 17, 1918. Fought on the Hindenburg Line, near Dicky Bush, at St. Quentin Drive. Received shrapnel wound in the left arm Sept. 29, 1918. Sent to American Base Hospital No. 204 at Winchester, Eng. Returned to the USA Dec. 16, 1918. Mustered out at Camp Greene Feb. 28, 1919.

Slave Narrative of Sarah Anne Green

Interviewer: Travis Jordan Person Interviewed: Sarah Anne Green Location: Durham County, North Carolina Age: 78 My mammy an’ pappy wuz Anderson an’ Hannah Watson. We fus’ belonged to Marse Billy an’ Mis Roby Watson, but when Marse Billy’s daughter, Mis’ Susie ma’ied young Marse Billy Headen, Ole Marse give her me, an’ my mammy an’ my pappy for er weddin’ gif’. So, I growed up as Sarah Anne Headen. My pappy had blue eyes. Dey wuz jus’ like Marse Billy’s eyes, kaze Ole Marse wuz pappy’s marster an’ his pappy too. Ole Marse wuz called Hickory Billy, dey called him … Read more

Charles D. Crabtree

1st Class Private, 56th Pioneer Inf., Co. M. Born in Durham County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Crabtree. Entered the service Aug. 3, 1918, at Durham, N.C. Was sent to Camp Wadsworth, S. C. Transferred to Camp Merritt and sailed to France Sept. 4, 1918. Fought at Meuse-Argonne offensive; with Army of Occupation in Germany six months. Returned to USA June 22, 1919, and was mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., July 6, 1919.

Slave Narrative of Sarah Debro

Interviewer: Travis Jordan Person Interviewed: Sarah Debro Location: Durham, North Carolina Age: 90 Years I was bawn in Orange County way back some time in de fifties. Mis Polly White Cain an’ Marse Docter Cain was my white folks. Marse Cain’s plantation joined Mistah Paul Cameron’s land. Marse Cain owned so many niggers dat he didn’ know his own slaves when he met dem in de road. Sometimes he would stop dem an’ say: ‘Whose niggers am you?’ Dey’d say, ‘We’s Marse Cain’s niggers.’ Den he would say, ‘I’se Marse Cain,’ and drive on. Marse Cain was good to his … Read more

J. L. Lockhart

Sergt., Inf., 33rd Officers’ T. S., Camp Gordon, Ga. Born in Durham County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. L. Y. Lockhart. Entered the service at Durham, N.C., April 25, 1918. Was sent to Camp Jackson, S. C., and from there to Camp Sevier, S. C. Transferred to Camp Gordon, Ga. Promoted to rank of Sergt. Sept. 10, 1918. Was in the Officers’ Training School at time armistice was signed. Mustered out at Camp Gordon Dec. 7, 1918.

James A. Bullock

Wagoner, 326th Ambl. Corps, 82nd Div.; of Durham County; son of Mr. A. A. and Mrs. Mary A. Bullock. Entered service June 7, 1917, at Durham, N.C. Sent to Ft. Thomas. Transferred to Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga., then to Camp Gordon. Sailed for France May 18, 1918. Fought at St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and other fronts. Gassed at Argonne Oct. On Lazny Sector; Toul Sector. On detached service while in France S. S. U. 647 with the French. Was under constant fire for thirty-five days without relief in Meuse-Argonne Sector. Returned to USA May 6, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., … Read more

James L. Hessee

Corpl., Inf., 120th, Co. M, 30th Div.; of Durham County; born Feb. 22, 1897; son of J. H. and Mrs. Lena Neese Hessee. Entered service May 26, 1917, at Durham, N.C. Sent to Camp Sevier, S. C., July 25, 1917. Sailed for France May 28, 1918. Fought at Ypres, Bethune, St. Quentin, Bellicourt. Made supreme sacrifice at Bellicourt, Sept. 29, 1918. Was buried at American Cemetery, Bony-Aisne, in Grave 188, Plot H, Row 8. He enlisted in National guard and was drilled in Durham two months before going to camp.

Slave Narrative of Fanny Cannady

Interviewer: Travis Jordan Person Interviewed: Fanny Cannady Location: Durham County, North Carolina Age: 79 I don’ ‘member much ’bout de sojers an’ de fightin’ in de war kaze I wuzn’ much more den six years ole at de surrender, but I do ‘member how Marse Jordan Moss shot Leonard Allen, one of his slaves. I ain’t never forgot dat. My mammy an’ pappy, Silo an’ Fanny Moss belonged to Marse Jordan an’ Mis’ Sally Moss. Dey had ’bout three hundred niggahs an’ mos’ of dem worked in de cotton fields. Marse Jordan wuz hard on his niggahs. He worked dem … Read more

Fred Kerr

Private, 120th Inf., Co. M, 30th Div. Born in Durham County, Sept. 15, 1897; son of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Kerr. Entered the service at Durham, N.C., June 1, 1917. Was sent to Camp Sevier, S. C. Sailed for France, May 28, 1918. Fought at Ypres, Bethune, St. Quentin, Bellicourt. Killed at Bellicourt Sept. 29, 1918. Buried in American Cemetery, Bony, Aisne, France. Enlisted for service on Mexican border. Was discharged and re-enlisted for World War.

Walter J. Barbee

Sergt., Air Service, 483rd Aero Co.; of Durham County; son of W. A. and Mrs. P. E. Barbee. Husband of Mrs. V. I. Barbee. Entered service Dec. 14, 1917, at Durham, N.C. Sent to Camp Meade, Md. Transferred to Morrison, Va. Sailed for France March. 4, 1918. Promoted to rank of Sergt. April 1, 1918. Returned to U. S. Feb. 8, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., Feb. 26, 1919.

Slave Narrative of Viney Baker

Interviewer: Mary A. Hicks Person Interviewed: Viney Baker Location: S. Harrington Street, Raleigh, North Carolina Age: 78 An interview with Viney Baker 78 of S. Harrington Street, Raleigh. My mammy wuz Hannah Murry an’ so fur as I know I ain’t got no father, do’ I reckon dat he wuz de plantation stock nigger. I wuz borned in Virginia as yo’ mought say ter my marster Mr. S. L. Allen. We moved when I wuz little ter Durham County whar we fared bad. We ain’t had nothin’ much ter eat an’ ter w’ar. He had a hundert slaves an’ I … Read more

Marion Sims Johnson

Corpl., Bugler, 120th Inf., Co. M, 30th Div. Born in Durham County; son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Johnson. Entered the service Aug. 5, 1917, at Durham, N.C. Was sent to Camp Sevier, S. C. Sailed for France from Boston. Fought at Bellicourt, Hindenburg Line. Gassed at Hindenburg Line Oct. 20, 1918. Was sent to Hospital, Le Treport, France. Died March 16, 1919, at Le Mans. Buried at Grand Le Mans. Death caused by bronchial pneumonia. Was prepared to sail for U. S. when he died.

John L. Sink

1st Class Private, 30th Div., 119th Inf., Co. H. Born in Durham County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Sink; husband of Mrs. Maud Sink. Entered the service at Durham, N.C., Sept. 18, 1917. Was sent to Camp Jackson, S. C., and from there to Camp Sevier, S. C. Transferred to Camp Merritt. Sailed for France May 11, 1918. Fought at the Hindenburg Line, Kimmel Hill, Belgium. Received shell wound in back and right leg. Was sent to 317 U. S. Base Hospital, Dartford, England. Returned to USA April 2, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Jackson April 9, … Read more

Frank H. Barbour

Sergeant, Transport Service; of Durham County; son of O. T. and Mrs. Mamie Barbour. Entered service May 7, 1917, at Ft. Slocum, N. Y. Sent to Submarine Base, N. J., Aug. 1, 1917. Promoted to rank of Sergt. Jan. 18, 1918. Mustered out at Camp Merritt, N. J., Aug. 30, 1919.

Marion B. Fowler

2nd Lt., 141st Inf., 36th Div., Co. I. Born in Durham County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Fowler. Entered the service May 15, 1918, at Chapel Hill, N.C. Was sent to Camp Sevier, S. C., and from there to Camp Gordon, Ga. Sailed for France Sept. 26, 1918. Promoted to rank of 2nd Lt., Aug. 28, 1918. Returned to USA June 8, 1919, and was mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., June 12, 1919.

Fred C. Cole

Private, 113th F. A., Bty. C, 30th Div. Born in Durham County; son of Mr. and Mrs. James Cole. Husband of Mrs. Lettie Cole. Entered the service June 17, 1917, at Durham, N.C. Was sent to Camp Sevier, S. C. Transferred to New York. Sailed for France May, 1918. Fought at St. Mihiel, Argonne Forest. Returned to USA March 23, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Jackson, S. C., March 31, 1919.

Douglas Morris Beves

Private, Machine Gun Co. 314, 79th Div., 314th Reg.; of Durham County; son of T. M. and Mrs. Mollie Beves. Husband of Mrs. Alice Kime Beves. Entered service May 28, 1918, at Durham, N.C. Sent to Camp Jackson, S. C., May 29, 1918. Transferred to Camp Sevier, S. C., to Camp Mills, N. J. Sailed for France Oct. 1, 1918. Fought at Meuse Sector. Sailed from St. Nazaire, May 16th, landed in New York, May 26, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Dix, N. J., May 31, 1919.

Thomas W. Cates

1st Class Private, 113th F. A., Btry. C, 30th Div. Born in Durham County; son of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Cates. Husband of Mrs. Elizabeth Eaton Cates. Entered service at Durham, N.C., Sept. 19, 1917. Was sent to Camp Sevier, S. C. Transferred to Camp Merritt. Sailed for France May 8, 1918. Fought at St. Mihiel, Argonne, Woevre, Toul. Returned to USA March 18, 1919; landed at Newport News, Va. Mustered out at Camp Jackson, S. C., March 28, 1919.

Cornelius William Stephenson

Sergt., 119th Inf., Co. M, 30th Div. Born in Durham County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Stephenson. Husband of Mrs. Lizzie Stephenson. Entered the service at Durham, N.C., June 19, 1916. Was sent to Camp Sevier, S. C., and from there to Camp Merritt. Sailed for France May 2, 1918. Fought on the Hindenburg Line. Gassed at Bellicourt Oct. 3rd. Fought at Ypres Aug. 4th to 10th and Aug. 17th to Sept. 2nd; Bellicourt from Sept. 29th to Oct. 3rd; at St. Souplet Oct. 9th to 11th and Oct. 17th to 20th. Returned to USA April 1, … Read more