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

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.

Wallace R. Pulley

1st Class Private, 120th Inf., Co. M, 30th Div. Born in Durham County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. Z. T. Pulley. Husband of Mrs. Lela May Pulley. Entered the service May 30, 1917, at Durham, N.C. Was sent to Camp Sevier, S. C., and from there to Camp Merritt. Sailed for France May 12, 1918. Fought at Ypres, Belgium, Bellicourt, France, Vaux Andigny. Wounded at Bohain. Returned to the USA April 14, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Jackson, S. C., April 17, 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.

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

H. T. Saunders

Yeoman 1st Class, Navy. Born in Durham County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. P. L. Saunders. Entered the service at Raleigh, N.C., June 14, 1917. Was sent to Newport, R. I. Made four trips across on Imperator. On transport duty. Was at Naval Air Supply Base, France for 11 months. Was also on U. S. S. Leviathan on transport duty. From there went to U. S. Naval Base at Pauillac, France. Was on Imperator after leaving France. Mustered out at Hampton Roads, Va., Oct. 8, 1919.

Clarence W. Andrews

Sergt. Major, Tank Corps, O. A. R. D. Born in Durham County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Andrews. Entered the service Feb. 12, 1917, at Durham, N.C. Was sent to Gettysburg, Pa. Sailed for France Sept. 10, 1918. Fought at Argonne Forest, Stenay, Sedan. Gassed at Stenay, Nov. 10, 1918; sent to Base Hospital No. 11. Returned to USA April 5, 1919, and was mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., April 11, 1919.

Pearl S. Porter

Wagoner, 120th Supply Co., 30th Div. Born in Durham County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Porter. Husband of Ruth Daugherty Porter. Entered the service at Durham, N.C., Aug. 15, 1916. Was sent to Camp Sevier, S. C., and from there to Camp Merritt, N. J. Sailed for France May 12, 1918. Fought at Ypres, Belgium, St. Quentin, Hindenburg Line. Returned to USA March 11, 1919; landed at Charleston, S. C. Was mustered out at Camp Jackson, S. C., March 18, 1919. Served on the Mexican border five months.

Charlie V. Wilkins

Mechanic, Co. M, 30th Div., 120th Regt.; of Durham County; son of C. B. and Mrs. D. Wilkins. Entered service in 1917 at Durham, N.C. Sent to Camp Sevier, S. C. Sailed for France May 17, 1918. Killed at Battle of Hindenburg Line Sept. 29, 1918. Buried at Bony Aisne, No. 636, American Cemetery.

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.

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.

Franklin Samuel Pearce

Sergt., Med. Dept., Base Hospital No. 67, Office Chief Surgeon; of Durham County; son of W. T. and Mrs. Carrie Pearce. Entered service June 3, 1917, at White Plains, N. Y. Sent to Camp Crane, Allentown, Pa., June 3, 1917. Sailed for France July 6, 1917. Promoted to rank of 1st Class Private July 1, 1917; Corpl. Sept. 1, 1917; Sergt. Feb. 1, 1918. Mustered out at Camp Dix Sept. 19, 1918.

Eno Indians

The Eno tribe, likely of Siouan linguistic stock, was historically situated along the Eno River in present-day Orange and Durham Counties, North Carolina. Their exact origins remain unclear, with some doubts raised about their classification due to unique characteristics. Closely associated with the Shakori tribe, the Eno shared a village named Adshusheer, located near modern-day Hillsboro. First mentioned in 1645, they were noted for resisting Spanish advances and later appeared in colonial records as part of a confederation with other tribes like the Saponi and Occaneechi. By 1714, they began migrating toward Virginia, eventually settling in South Carolina, where they likely merged with the Catawba. The tribe’s name endures in several geographic features, including the Eno River and Enoree River, reflecting their historical presence in the region.

Adshusheer Tribe

Adshusheer Indians. There is but a single mention of the Adshusheer. Lawson tells of “the Shoccorie Indians, mixed with the Enoe and those of the nation of the Adshusheer, ruled by Enoe Will, a Shocorrie,”

Chesley A. Anderson

1st Class Private, Engineers, Co. C, 42nd Div., 117th Engineers. Born in Durham County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. R. C. and Anderson. Entered the service July 25, 1917, at Durham, N.C. Was sent to Camp Sevier, S. C., and from there to Camp Mills, N. Y. Sailed for France Oct. 18, 1917. Fought at Luneville Sector, Baccarat Sector, Marne, St. Mihiel, Argonne. Returned to USA April 28th and was mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., May 12, 1919.

Wyatt T. Dixon

Sergt., 113th F. Artly., Btry. C, 30th Div. Born in Durham County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Dixon. Entered the service June 18, 1917, at Durham, N.C. Was sent to Camp Sevier, S. C., and from there to Camp Mills, N. J. Overseas to France, June 13, 1918. Fought at St. Mihiel, Argonne Forest, Woevre Sector. Mustered out at Camp Jackson, S. C., March 28, 1919.

John L. Markham

Sergt., 137th F. A., Batt. F, 81st Div.; of Durham County; son of John L. and Mrs. Ella B. Markham. Entered service Sept. 18, 1917, at Durham, N.C. Sent to Camp Jackson, S. C. Transferred to Camp Mills, N. Y. Sailed for France Aug. 28, 1918. Promoted to Sergt. Oct. 11, 1918. Sailed from Brest, May 27, 1919. Arrived in USA June 8, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., June 21, 1919.

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

V. R. Suitt

1st Class Private, 113th F. A., Btry C, 30th Div. Born in Durham County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Suitt. Entered the service Aug. 20, 1917, at Durham, N.C. Was sent to Camp Sevier, S. C., and from there to Camp Mills, L. I., N. Y. Sailed for France. Fought at St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Woevre Sector. Returned to USA March 19, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Jackson March 28, 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.