Wake County NC

Slave Narrative of Julia Crenshaw

Interviewer: Mary A. Hicks Person Interviewed: Julia Crenshaw Location: North Carolina As Julia Crenshaw recalled her mother’s story. My mammy wuz named Jane an’ my pappy wuz named Richard. Dey belonged ter Lawyer R. J. Lewis in Raleigh, dar whar Peace Institute am ter day. Mammy said dat de white folkses wuz good ter dem an’ gib ’em good food an’ clothes. She wuz de cook, an’ fer thirty years atter de war she cooked at Peace. Before de Yankees come Mr. Lewis said, dat he dreamed dat de yard wuz full uv dem an’ he wuz deef. When dey … Read more

Slave Narrative of Midge Burnett

Interviewer: Mary A. Hicks Person Interviewed: Midge Burnett Location: 1300 S. Bloodworth Street, Raleigh, North Carolina Age: 80 Plantation Life In Georgia An interview with Midge Burnett, 80 years old, of 1300 S. Bloodworth Street, Raleigh, North Carolina. I wus borned in Georgia eighty years ago, de son of Jim an’ Henretta Burnett an’ de slave of Marse William Joyner. I wurked on de farm durin’ slavery times, among de cotton, corn, an’ sugar cane. De wurk wusn’t so hard an’ we had plenty of time ter have fun an’ ter git inter meanness, dat’s why Marse William had ter … Read more

George Earnhardt

Corpl., 21st Co., F. Art., Med. Corps, 5th Div.; of Wake County; son of D. L. and Mrs. Frances Earnhardt. Entered service May 17, 1917 at Raleigh, N.C. Sent to Ft. Thomas, Ky. Transferred to Ft. Sam Houston. Sailed for France June 13, 1918. Fought at St. Mihiel, Argonne, Frappelle. Mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., July, 1919.

Slave Narrative of Georgianna Foster

Interviewer: T. Pat Matthews Person Interviewed:  Georgianna Foster Location: 1308 Poole Road, Route #2., Raleigh, North Carolina Date of Birth: 1861 I wus born in 1861. I jes’ can ‘member de Yankees comin’ through, but I ‘members dere wus a lot of ’em wearin’ blue clothes. I wus born at Kerney Upchurch’s plantation twelve miles from Raleigh. He wus my marster an’ Missus Enny wus his wife. My father wus named Axiom Wilder and my mother wus Mancy Wilder. De most I know ’bout slavery dey tole it to me. I ‘members I run when de Yankees come close to me. … Read more

Narrative – Lunsford Lane

The small city of Raleigh, North Carolina, it is known, is the capital of the State, situated in the interior, and containing about thirty six hundred inhabitants. Here lived MR. SHERWOOD HAYWOOD, a man of considerable respectability, a planter, and the cashier of a bank. He owned three plantations, at the distances respectively of seventy-five, thirty, and three miles from his residence in Raleigh. He owned in all about two hundred and fifty slaves, among the rest my mother, who was a house servant to her master, and of course a resident in the city. My father was a slave … Read more

Slave Narrative of Sarah Harris

Interviewer: Mary A. Hicks Person Interviewed: Sarah Harris Date of Interview: May 19, 1937 Location: North Carolina Date of Birth: April 1861 Interviewed May 19, 1937. Sarah Harris is my name. I wuz borned April 1861, on the plantation of Master John William Walton. My father wuz name Frank Walton and my mother wuz name Flora Walton. My brothers wuz name Lang and Johnny. My sisters: Hannah, Mary, Ellen, Violet and Annie. My grandmother wuz name Ellen Walton. She wuz 104 years old when she died. My mother wuz 103 years old when she died; she has been dead 3 … Read more

Dr. Henry Otis Lineberger

Captain, Dental Corps, Base Hospital No. 65. Born in Wake County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Lineberger. Entered the service at Raleigh, N.C., Feb. 10, 1918. Was sent to camp at Philadelphia, Pa., and transferred to Ft. McPherson, Ga. Promoted to rank of Capt. June 10, 1918. Sailed overseas Sept. 13, 1918. Returned to the USA Aug. 6, 1919, and mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., Aug. 27, 1919.

Curtis W. Stephenson

Wagoner, 120th Inf., Supply Co., 30th Div. Born in Wake County; the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Stephenson. Entered the service June 19, 1916, at Durham, N.C. Was sent to Camp Bickett and from there to Camp Sevier, S. C. Transferred to Camp Merritt, N. J., and sailed for France May 12, 1918. Fought at Ypres, Hindenburg Line, Bellicourt, Nauroy, Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, 1918, Premont. Returned to the USA April 11, 1919. Mustered out at Camp Jackson, S. C., April 18, 1919. Served on the Mexican border for six months. Additional battles in which he fought … Read more

Joseph B. Woodleaf

Private 1st Class, Co. F, 42nd Div., 165th Reg.; of Wake County; son of Henry C. and Mrs. Pattie Irene Woodleaf; born April 12, 1894. Entered service May 25, 1918, at Wake Forest, N.C. Sent to Camp Jackson, then to Camp Sevier, then to Camp Upton. Sailed for France July 31, 1918. Fought at St. Mihiel and Argonne Forest. Killed at Argonne Forest Oct. 17, 1918. Buried in France where he fell.

Slave Narrative of Betty Foreman Chessier

Person Interviewed: Betty Foreman Chessier Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Place of Birth: Raleigh, North Carolina Date of Birth: July 11, 1843 Age: 94 I was born July 11, 1843 in Raleigh, N. C. My mother was named Melinda Manley, the slave of Governor Manley of North Carolina, and my father was named Arnold Foreman, slave of Bob and John Foreman, two young masters. They come over from Arkansas to visit my master and my pappy and mammy met and got married, ‘though my pappy only seen my mammy in the summer when his masters come to visit our master and … Read more

H. O. Clark

2nd Lt., F. A., 335 Co., 87th Div. Son of M. S. and Frances C. Clark, of Wake County. Entered service Aug. 27, 1917. Sent to Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga. Transferred to Camp Pike, Ark., then to Camp Jackson, then to Ft. Sill, Okla. Promoted to 2nd Lt. Nov. 27, 1917. Mustered out at Ft. Sill, Okla., March 26, 1919.

Biographical Sketch of Jones, Julia, Mrs.

Mrs. Julia Jones, daughter of Judge C. C. Dyer, was born in Fort Bend County in 1839. Her father was a native of Tennessee and was born at Dyersburg January 29, 1799, and came to Texas with William Stafford in 1824. In this same year he married Sarah Stafford, who was born February 5, 1809, near Raleigh, North Carolina, Judge Dyer had twelve in family six boys and six girls. He lived to quite an old age, served as county judge of Fort Bend County, and died in 1864 on his farm on the east side of the Brazos River, … Read more

Slave Narrative of John Beckwith

Interviewer: Mary A. Hicks Person Interviewed: John Beckwith Location: Cary, North Carolina Age: 83 When The Yankees Came An Interview with John Beckwith 83, of Cary. I reckon dat I wuz ’bout nine years old at de surrender, but we warn’t happy an’ we stayed on dar till my parents died. My pappy wuz named Green an’ my mammy wuz named Molly, an’ we belonged ter Mr. Joe Edwards, Mr. Marion Gully, an’ Mr. Hilliard Beckwith, as de missus married all of ’em. Dar wuz twenty-one other slaves, an’ we got beat ever’ onct in a while. When dey told … Read more

Slave Narrative of Lucy Ann Dunn

Interviewer: Mary A. Hicks Person Interviewed: Lucy Ann Dunn Location: 220 Cannon Street, Raleigh, North Carolina Age: 90 Occupation: House girl Aunt Lucy’s Love Story An interview with 90 years old, 220 Cannon Street, Raleigh, N. C. My pappy, Dempsey, my mammy, Rachel an’ my brothers an’ sisters an’ me all belonged ter Marse Peterson Dunn of Neuse, here in Wake County. Dar wus five of us chilluns, Allen, Charles, Corina, Madora an’ me, all borned before de war. My mammy wus de cook, an’ fur back as I ‘members almost, I wus a house girl. I fanned flies offen … Read more

Slave Narrative of George Eatman

Interviewer: Mary A. Hicks Person Interviewed: George Eatman Date of Interview: May 18, 1937 Location: Cary, North Carolina, R. #1 Age: 93 I belonged ter Mr. Gus Eatman who lived at de ole Templeton place on de Durham highway back as fer as I can ‘member. I doan r’member my mammy an’ pappy case dey wuz sold ‘fore I knowed anything. I raised myself an’ I reckon dat I done a fair job uv it. De marster an’ missus wuz good to dere twenty-five slaves an’ we ain’t neber got no bad whuppin’s. I doan ‘member much playin’ an’ such … Read more

Slave Narrative of Jane Arrington

Interviewer: T. Pat Matthews Person Interviewed: Jane Arrington Location: 301 Fowle Street, Raleigh, North Carolina Date of Birth: December 18, 1852 Age: 84 I ort to be able to tell sumpin cause I wus twelve years old when dey had de surrender right up here in Raleigh. If I live to see dis coming December I will be eighty five years old. I was born on the 18th of December 1852. I belonged to Jackson May of Nash County. I wus born on de plantation near Tar River. Jackson May never married until I wus of a great big girl. … Read more

W. A. Scarboro

Corpl., Aviation Co. 7; of Wake County; son of Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Scarboro. Entered service July 31, 1918, at Wendell, N.C. Sent to Kelly Field, Texas, transferred to Buffalo, N. Y., then to Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. Promoted to rank of Corpl. September, 1918. Mustered out at Ft. Sam Houston March 31, 1919.

Slave Narrative of Willis Cozart

Interviewer: Mary A. Hicks Person Interviewed: Willis Cozart Date of Interview: May 12, 1937 Location: Zebulon, North Carolina Place of Birth: Pearson County NC Date of Birth: June 11, 1845 Age: 92 An Interview by Mary A. Hicks with Willis Cozart of Zebulon, (Wake Co. N. C.) Age 92. May 12, 1937. No mam, Mistress, I doan want ter ride in no automobile, thank you, I’se done walked these three miles frum Zebulon an’ walkin’ is what has kept me goin’ all dese years. Yes’m I’se a bachelor an’ I wuz borned on June 11, 1845 in Person County. My … Read more

Slave Narrative of Emma Blalock

Interviewer: T. Pat Matthews Person Interviewed: Emma Blalock Location: 529 Bannon Avenue, Raleigh, North Carolina Age: 88 I shore do ‘member de Yankees wid dere blue uniforms wid brass buttons on ’em. I wus too small to work any but I played in de yard wid my oldes’ sister, Katie. She is dead long ago. My mother belonged to ole man John Griffith an’ I belonged to him. His plantation wus down here at Auburn in Wake County. My father wus named Edmund Rand. He belonged to Mr. Nat Rand. He lived in Auburn. De plantations wus not fur apart. … Read more

Truman G. Williams

Private 1st Class, Med. Corps, Co. Base Hospital No. 65; of Wake County; son of L. D. and Mrs. Alice Williams. Entered service March 1, 1918, at Raleigh, N.C. Sent to Ft. McPherson. Sailed for France Sept. 15, 1918. Returned to USA May 29, 1919, at New York. Mustered out at Camp Lee, Va., June 21, 1919.