FORGOTTEN PLACES IN PITT COUNTY—PART V Rochdale and Other Places Near Bell Arthur The following is a small history of some of the villages and communities that once lay in Beaver Dam Township, now called Bell Arthur Township. In 1900 Rochdale (or Cobb’s Store) was considered the social and commercial center of Beaver Dam Township. It was located on the Stantonsburg Road, eight miles west of Greenville or nearly six miles east of Farmville. Cobbdale, which was a large stock farm occupied by B. P. Cobb, was located about one mile north of Rochdale, and Arthur (now Bell Arthur) was 1œ miles south. Smithtown was 1œ miles northeast of Rochdale, and Marltown was three miles south. Poketink (or Nicholstown) was located about four miles southeast of Rochdale, and Grimmersburg was about four miles south. Now that I have you thoroughly lost, I want to begin talking about Cobb’s Store (or Rochdale). About the year 1872, J. C. Cobb erected a little store on his farm and had each of his boys work in it to gain business experience. The store grew and was a successful business and his sons went on to own their own stores. By 1888, the store was known as J. C. Cobb and Son; Robert J. Cobb remained with his father as a junior partner. On June 28, 1888, a post office was established in Cobb’s Store known as Rochdale with Robert J. Cobb as postmaster. The post office remained there until October 1891 when the post office was closed. The post office was opened again in August 1894 with Charles L. Tyson as postmaster, but was closed in January 1897. Cobb’s Store was eventually sold to C. D. Smith which was probably when the Rochdale office reopened the second time. Very little is known about the Rochdale area other than it was a farming community. At Smithtown, the seat of the Ivy Smith, Mills Smith, and Jesse L. Smith families, there stood a schoolhouse known as Smith’s Schoolhouse. Built by 1869, it became the social center of the community. It was here that religious services were held several times a week, Sunday school was held each Sunday, and choir practice was held one night a week. Some of the remembered teachers at Smith’s Schoolhouse between 1907 and 1910 were Miss May Brooks, Miss Dell Clement, Miss Mary Joyner, Miss Rebecca Evans, Mrs. D. K. Smith, and Miss Lena E. Gary. Besides the religious ceremonies, Smith’s Schoolhouse was the site for public and political gatherings. There was also a Woman’s Betterment Association which held basket parties at the schoolhouse to raise money to help fund the school. The Association helped buy the schoolhouse an organ in 1908, with Mrs. L. W. Smith as the first organist. In September 1907, the Norfolk and Southern Railroad built a rail line through Beaver Dam Township and opened a station there known as Cobbdale, since it was near Cobbdale stock farm. The station was moved to Arthur a few years later. In April 1909, the Rochdale and Smithtown boys organized a debating society, known as the Phoenix Debating Society, that met every Friday night. In November 1909, a farm club was organized at Smith’s Schoolhouse by G. C. Hedgepeth of Nash County, and by 1910 the Rochdale boys had organized a baseball team. In January 1910, C. D. Smith almost lost his store by fire. It seems that Mrs. Smith, who clerked in the store for her husband, went out to pick up wood to put in the heater late one night and saw a lot of smoke. She looked to the top of the store and saw flames coming through the shingles near the stove flue. She rushed to the store and gathered up all the books and valuable papers and then gave the alarm. In a few minutes a dozen men had arrived and soon had a line of buckets going from the well to the roof. With persistence the fire was put out and damage to the store was mainly by water on the goods. In March 1911 the Dramatic Club of Smithtown presented a drama in Smith’s Schoolhouse, the proceeds going for the benefit of the Christian Church in Arthur. The final end of Rochdale came when, in February 1912, the old store once known as Cobb’s Store and later as C. D. Smith’s Store was moved to Arthur by L. A. Fulford. Arthur soon became a bustling town and Rochdale began to fade into just a place name in the forgotten past of Pitt County. —Roger Kammerer Greenville Times July 31, 1996

I figured it out. Thanks, Roger. Paula Baker Researching Cole, Wilkerson, Norman, and White in Georgia, South Carolina, and Louisiana and Baker, Tyson, Manning, and Stocks in North Carolina "We are not free, separate, and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way." Thomas Mann --------------------------------- Yahoo! Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs.Try it free.

Roger, It's so complicated, I can't figure out how to use it and I'm pretty computer saavy. Paula Baker Researching Cole, Wilkerson, Norman, and White in Georgia, South Carolina, and Louisiana and Baker, Tyson, Manning, and Stocks in North Carolina "We are not free, separate, and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way." Thomas Mann --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.

I left off two names from previous posting. Mary Hill was born April 13, 1773 Baptized in infancy Confirmed May 25, 1844 in Washington by Bishop IVES Died Nov 9, 1848 (my note: The Bishop's name was IVES. Rev. ________ Hill, a Methodist minister, baptized Reading Tyre who was born May 11, 1792 He was confirmed in in 1831 by Bishop IVES There was an early IVES family that lived near Grifton. Do not know if any connection.

Folks, For anyone interessted in the Algonkians of Coastal Carolina, please visit http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~jmack/algonqin/algonqin.htm John McGowan

Bill, have you come across any BRAGGs in Beaufort County? My husband's ancestor, Sidney Ann BRAGG (1823-1883), reportedly married George Washington Taylor of Carteret County in Little Washington. We aren't sure if Sidney Ann was from the Ocracoke BRAGGs or the BRAGGs from further inland. Jo Prytherch ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Kittrell" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2006 10:22 PM Subject: [NC-PCFR] TRINITY CHURCH, CHOCOWINITY > Source: Trinity Church Parish Register Various Years > transcribed by Beaufort County Genealogical Society > > Rachael Ginn was born Dec 21, 1781 Baptized in infancy by Methodist > minister. Confirmed by Bp. Ravenscroft Died Nov 17, 1847 > > Miss Sarah H. Hill April 20, 1851 (only date shown) > > > ==== NC-PCFR Mailing List ==== > Post to this mail list at: [email protected] > Visit the PCFR website at http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncpcfr > Browse our rich collection of old family photographs, private documents, > and public records. > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx >

Bill, I am looking for more information on the wife of Edward Williams (b. abt 1775). Her name was Tryphena (or Trefina, various spellings) --- last name unknown, born 1778. According to family information, both Edward and Tryphena were born in Pitt County, and migrated to Hayward Co, TN (western TN) in the 1820's. Have you run across a "Tryphena" (not a common name) in any of the early church records that you have been working on? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Roger Settlemire e-mail: [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: Bill Kittrell [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, July 31, 2006 7:31 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [NC-PCFR] TRINITY CHURCH, CHOCOWINITY I left off two names from previous posting. Mary Hill was born April 13, 1773 Baptized in infancy Confirmed May 25, 1844 in Washington by Bishop IVES Died Nov 9, 1848 (my note: The Bishop's name was IVES. Rev. ________ Hill, a Methodist minister, baptized Reading Tyre who was born May 11, 1792 He was confirmed in in 1831 by Bishop IVES There was an early IVES family that lived near Grifton. Do not know if any connection. ==== NC-PCFR Mailing List ==== Post to this mail list at: [email protected] Visit the PCFR website at http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncpcfr Browse our rich collection of old family photographs, private documents, and public records. ============================== View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find marriage announcements and more. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.5/403 - Release Date: 7/28/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.5/403 - Release Date: 7/28/2006

1820 official census date was August 7th 1830 official census date was June 1 1840 official census date was June 1 The information recorded for these years was collected over an extended period of time ranging from 12 to 18 months, but the data given was supposed to be accurate as of the official census date for that year. As far as I know there is no way to determine the exact date that a certain family was enumerated. Tracy ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, July 31, 2006 3:49 AM Subject: [NC-PCFR] Date 1820, 1830 & 1840 Census taken in Greene County, NC > Does anyone KNOW the dates that the 1820, 1830 & 1840 Census's were taken > in Greene County, NC OR how I can find out? > > Debbie > > > ==== NC-PCFR Mailing List ==== > Post to this mail list at: [email protected] > Visit the PCFR website at http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncpcfr > Browse our rich collection of old family photographs, private documents, > and public records. > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > >

Does anyone KNOW the dates that the 1820, 1830 & 1840 Census's were taken in Greene County, NC OR how I can find out? Debbie

Roger, Is there any way to get copies of this newspaper? Thanks, Lisa

Thanks Roger for the info. I'll pass it along! Lisa

Source: Trinity Church Parish Register Various Years transcribed by Beaufort County Genealogical Society Rachael Ginn was born Dec 21, 1781 Baptized in infancy by Methodist minister. Confirmed by Bp. Ravenscroft Died Nov 17, 1847 Miss Sarah H. Hill April 20, 1851 (only date shown)

Some time back I was able to obtain a picture of the old Bell Arthur School. It was a very impressive building. The pictures shows people out front with some old model cars. This picture had to be in the 1930s. Unable to identify any of the people. I went to school there from 1943 to 1946. I attend a reunion of the school this year. They are planning another one in two years. It was a great affaor amd enjoyed seeing people I had not seen since the 1940s. They had pictures of some of the early classes. Bill

A HISTORY OF BELL ARTHUR Bell Arthur, originally known as Arthur, is a small community in western Pitt County that came to life when the Norfolk and Southern Railroad built a line through the area in 1907. It seems that the town of Arthur began when two businessmen from Greenville, L. C. Arthur and C. T. Munford, bought what was known as “old Becton farm” and began dividing the land and selling lots when the railroad came through. In September 1907 a station opened there, known first as Cobbdale and later as Arthur. The railroad station was only a platform with no shelter. In July 1908 the village of Arthur was described in the local newspaper as becoming a place of means. They had eight trains some days and the place had one store, three or four residences, one steam mill to saw wood and gin cotton, and a dry kiln connected with the mill. Later that year Robert Strickland built the second store in Arthur. In early 1910, the Free Will Baptists purchased a lot, built a church, and moved their congregation from Mays’ Chapel to Arthur. B. F. Crawford also donated a lot in Arthur to the Disciples Church and they too built and moved their congregation from Smiths’ Schoolhouse. It is remembered that the Free Will Baptists would have large baptisms at Blue Banks on the Tar River. In December 1910 a firm known as Joyner and Wilson at Arthur advertised that they had dissolved their co-partnership. The town was formally incorporated under the name Arthur on March 6, 1911, with the following officers: J. R. Nichols, mayor; J. W. Crawford, R. J. Tugwell, and B. V. Crawford, commissioners. The town consisted of only 38 people. C. D. Smith ran the saw and planing mill, and J. R. Nichols ran a blacksmith shop. The merchants in town were J. A. Matthews, H. B. Turner, J. S. Fulford, J. R. Strickland, and Bob Willoughby. In 1914 Arthur had a population of 81, Wilkerson and White had a store, and S. M. Faulkner was the Arthur agent for the Norfolk and Southern Railroad. Some time after incorporation, Arthur had a town jail. It stood under a large oak tree and was said to be no more than six feet by six feet in diameter. When not occupied by some offender, the doors remained unlocked, which seemed to suit a local drunk just fine. When he was on a binge, he would go the jail and, if it wasn’t occupied, he would go in and sleep it off. Another story is told about the time a prisoner used his pocket knife to whittle his way to freedom. Another got out somehow and as a prank put the mayor’s dog inside the jail to finish his unexpired term. In 1915 Arthur got some unwanted notoriety across the state in the person called “Gar Gar Edwards,” a three-year-old boy who smoked cigars. The son of Mrs. E. S. Edwards, the child curiously began smoking cigars after a stroke of paralysis when it was one year old. It was said the child had to have his cigars every day to keep him quiet. In January 1918 the new Arthur public school opened, being the first consolidated school in Pitt County and described as the best rural school building in the state at the time. In 1920 the population of Arthur was 104 and by 1930 the number had risen to 131. On April 15, 1932, practically the entire business district of Arthur was destroyed by fire. Five of the six stores in town burned down and the sixth was badly damaged. The stores destroyed were R. S. Willoughby’s, Mack Smith’s, and John Hemby’s. Two of the stores were not in operation. Also destroyed was the post office which was located in Mack Smith’s store. On May 3, 1933, the town of Arthur was reincorporated and the name was changed to “Bell Arthur.” There are several stories why the name was changed, but the accepted version is that Joe Joyner who had a mill in Arthur had a pretty wife named Carabelle and they named the town for her. In the late 1930s there was a music club which had monthly meetings in the Bell Arthur area. Members included Mrs. Bruce Strickland (teacher), Olive May, Edith Tyson, Janie Gray Hemby, Beulah Rasberry, Bettie Stancill, Mary Elizabeth Worthington, Mrs. W. B. Crawford, and Myrtle and Lillian Harris. In 1940 the population of Bell Arthur was 181. By 1946 the railroad station had been done away with and moved. In 1956 the town lost its charter, and a few years later the school closed. In 1964 there were about 240 people living in the village of Bell Arthur. There were three stores in town run by Raymond Webb, D. E. Baker, and D. L. Baker. The volunteer fire department (which began in 1962) had two engines and 20 registered volunteer firemen under Chief Raymond Webb. Mrs. Raymond Webb was postmistress and the town had several active church and social organizations. —Roger Kammerer Greenville Times July 16, 1997

I have tried to find the item in my notes about Frank Harrington killing someone. I can't find one, unless this is it....."Frank Harrington of Ayden in fight", Farmville Enterprise, Sept. 19, 1924 > >>From: "lisascarola" <[email protected]> >>Reply-To: [email protected] >>To: [email protected] >>Subject: [genpcncfir] Frank Harrington Susie Tripp >>Date: Sun, 30 Jul 2006 13:25:52 -0000 >> >>Hi, >> >>Does anyone have any info on a Frank Harrington, who married Susie May >>Tripp, d/o William Lawrence and Mary A Smith Tripp. I believe Frank was >>born around 1900. He and Susie Had 2 children Mary Magaline Tripp, and >>Dallas Lindberg Tripp. While the children were born Harringtons their >>names were changed after Frank killed a man and went to prison. Any >>info on the crime would be helpful also, I believe it involved a poker >>dispute. Not sure when it took place, maybe the late 1920s, early >>1930's. >>The daughter Mary M, died around age 12, but the son Dallas L, went on >>to marry Mevelyn Brown. >>Also Susie May Tripp went on to marry Walter Leon Williams. >> >>Any help might be useful to some folks I'm trying to help. >> >>Thanks, >>Lisa >> >> >> >> >> >>Pitt County Historical Society: >>http://www.pittcountyhistoricalsociety.com/ >> >>CHRONICLES VOL.II AVAILABLE!! Click here for description and ordering >>information: >>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/genpcncfir/files/ >> >>Click here to view CHRONICLE PHOTO, use SlideShow: >>http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/genpcncfir/lst >> >>RePrint of 1982 Chronicles of Pitt Co Order Form: >>http://www.usgennet.org/usa/nc/county/pitt/Chronicles%20Flyer%20Feb03.htm >> >>Treasure-Trove of PITT Co.NC Genealogical Resources: >>http://www.usgennet.org/usa/nc/county/pitt/ >> >>http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncpcfr/ >> >>We welcome all Archives visitors and invite you to join our dynamic group >>if you are interested in genealogy discussion and research in Pitt and all >>Eastern and Coastal North Carolina counties. >>GenealogyPITT Co NC Friends In Research >>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/genpcncfir >> >>Yahoo! Groups Links >> >><*> To visit your group on the web, go to: >> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/genpcncfir/ >> >><*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: >> [email protected] >> >><*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: >> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ >> >> >> > > > >==== NC-PCFR Mailing List ==== >Post to this mail list at: [email protected] >Visit the PCFR website at http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncpcfr >Browse our rich collection of old family photographs, private documents, >and public records. > >============================== >Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the >areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. >Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx >

Great article Roger! Thanks for sharing it! Do you know the history of the formation of the Methodist Church in Bell Arthur? Walstonburg's Methodist Church was at times sharing a minister with them over the last 40 years. Walstonburg's Church has closed and while it breaks my heart as I was born, christened, raised, baptized and married in that church as were my parents, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers....that my Grandparents helped start...at least there is some comfort in knowing some of the nicer things went to the Bell Arthur church, including a baptismal font donated by Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Chapman (Ramona) Tucker of Greenville in honor of my Grandparents, Isaac and Ruberta Rouse. Debbie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roger E. Kammerer" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2006 5:09 PM Subject: [NC-PCFR] History of Bell Arthur >A HISTORY > OF BELL ARTHUR > > Bell Arthur, originally known as Arthur, is a small community in western > Pitt County that came to life when the Norfolk and Southern Railroad built > a line through the area in 1907. > It seems that the town of Arthur began when two businessmen from > Greenville, L. C. Arthur and C. T. Munford, bought what was known as "old > Becton farm" and began dividing the land and selling lots when the > railroad came through. > In September 1907 a station opened there, known first as Cobbdale and > later as Arthur. The railroad station was only a platform with no > shelter. > In July 1908 the village of Arthur was described in the local newspaper as > becoming a place of means. They had eight trains some days and the place > had one store, three or four residences, one steam mill to saw wood and > gin cotton, and a dry kiln connected with the mill. Later that year > Robert Strickland built the second store in Arthur. > In early 1910, the Free Will Baptists purchased a lot, built a church, and > moved their congregation from Mays' Chapel to Arthur. B. F. Crawford also > donated a lot in Arthur to the Disciples Church and they too built and > moved their congregation from Smiths' Schoolhouse. It is remembered that > the Free Will Baptists would have large baptisms at Blue Banks on the Tar > River. > In December 1910 a firm known as Joyner and Wilson at Arthur advertised > that they had dissolved their co-partnership. > The town was formally incorporated under the name Arthur on March 6, 1911, > with the following officers: J. R. Nichols, mayor; J. W. Crawford, R. J. > Tugwell, and B. V. Crawford, commissioners. The town consisted of only 38 > people. C. D. Smith ran the saw and planing mill, and J. R. Nichols ran a > blacksmith shop. The merchants in town were J. A. Matthews, H. B. Turner, > J. S. Fulford, J. R. Strickland, and Bob Willoughby. > In 1914 Arthur had a population of 81, Wilkerson and White had a store, > and S. M. Faulkner was the Arthur agent for the Norfolk and Southern > Railroad. > Some time after incorporation, Arthur had a town jail. It stood under a > large oak tree and was said to be no more than six feet by six feet in > diameter. When not occupied by some offender, the doors remained > unlocked, which seemed to suit a local drunk just fine. When he was on a > binge, he would go the jail and, if it wasn't occupied, he would go in and > sleep it off. Another story is told about the time a prisoner used his > pocket knife to whittle his way to freedom. Another got out somehow and > as a prank put the mayor's dog inside the jail to finish his unexpired > term. > In 1915 Arthur got some unwanted notoriety across the state in the person > called "Gar Gar Edwards," a three-year-old boy who smoked cigars. The son > of Mrs. E. S. Edwards, the child curiously began smoking cigars after a > stroke of paralysis when it was one year old. It was said the child had > to have his cigars every day to keep him quiet. > In January 1918 the new Arthur public school opened, being the first > consolidated school in Pitt County and described as the best rural school > building in the state at the time. > In 1920 the population of Arthur was 104 and by 1930 the number had risen > to 131. > On April 15, 1932, practically the entire business district of Arthur was > destroyed by fire. Five of the six stores in town burned down and the > sixth was badly damaged. The stores destroyed were R. S. Willoughby's, > Mack Smith's, and John Hemby's. Two of the stores were not in operation. > Also destroyed was the post office which was located in Mack Smith's > store. > On May 3, 1933, the town of Arthur was reincorporated and the name was > changed to "Bell Arthur." There are several stories why the name was > changed, but the accepted version is that Joe Joyner who had a mill in > Arthur had a pretty wife named Carabelle and they named the town for her. > In the late 1930s there was a music club which had monthly meetings in the > Bell Arthur area. Members included Mrs. Bruce Strickland (teacher), Olive > May, Edith Tyson, Janie Gray Hemby, Beulah Rasberry, Bettie Stancill, Mary > Elizabeth Worthington, Mrs. W. B. Crawford, and Myrtle and Lillian Harris. > In 1940 the population of Bell Arthur was 181. By 1946 the railroad > station had been done away with and moved. In 1956 the town lost its > charter, and a few years later the school closed. > In 1964 there were about 240 people living in the village of Bell Arthur. > There were three stores in town run by Raymond Webb, D. E. Baker, and D. > L. Baker. The volunteer fire department (which began in 1962) had two > engines and 20 registered volunteer firemen under Chief Raymond Webb. > Mrs. Raymond Webb was postmistress and the town had several active church > and social organizations. > -Roger Kammerer > Greenville Times > July 16, 1997 > > > > ==== NC-PCFR Mailing List ==== > Post to this mail list at: [email protected] > Visit the PCFR website at http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncpcfr > Browse our rich collection of old family photographs, private documents, > and public records. > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > >

This is what I have on Frank Harrington: James Harrington, b. ca. 1840, d. after 1880; md. Penelope (Penny) Braxton, b. ca. 1840, d. after 1910; dau. of John Braxton. James and Penny had 8 known children; 1) Allen Harrington; md. 1902 to Polly Loraine Braxton 2) Paul Harrington; md. 1890 to Mariah S. White 3) Henry Harrington; md. 1896 to Ella Haddock 4) James Curtis Harrington; md.1) 1880 to Nancy Ann Elizabeth McLawhorn; md.2) 1905 Margaret Ann Forbes 5) Claude Harrington;md. 1899 to Lillie White 6) Arena Harrington; md. John Mills 7) Lovie L. Harrington; md. William O. King 8) William Harrington Then: 2) Paul Harrington, b. May 23, 1868, d. July 27, 1932 from alcoholism; md. on Dec. 21, 1890 in Contentnea Twsp., Pitt Co. to Mariah (Mary) S. White, b. May 8, 1870, d. March 18, 1958, dau. of Sherrod White and Tamer Harris. They had seven known children: a) Hettie Harrington; md. Richard Manning b) Stella Harrington; md. Clyde Styron c) Dewey Harrington d) Frank Harrington; md. Susie Mae Tripp e) Ruth Harrington; md. Early Nobles f) Mary Gold Harrington; md. Clarence Crawford g) Fountain Harrington; md. Geneva Hardee >From: "lisascarola" <[email protected]> >Reply-To: [email protected] >To: [email protected] >Subject: [genpcncfir] Frank Harrington Susie Tripp >Date: Sun, 30 Jul 2006 13:25:52 -0000 > >Hi, > >Does anyone have any info on a Frank Harrington, who married Susie May >Tripp, d/o William Lawrence and Mary A Smith Tripp. I believe Frank was >born around 1900. He and Susie Had 2 children Mary Magaline Tripp, and >Dallas Lindberg Tripp. While the children were born Harringtons their >names were changed after Frank killed a man and went to prison. Any >info on the crime would be helpful also, I believe it involved a poker >dispute. Not sure when it took place, maybe the late 1920s, early >1930's. >The daughter Mary M, died around age 12, but the son Dallas L, went on >to marry Mevelyn Brown. >Also Susie May Tripp went on to marry Walter Leon Williams. > >Any help might be useful to some folks I'm trying to help. > >Thanks, >Lisa > > > > > >Pitt County Historical Society: >http://www.pittcountyhistoricalsociety.com/ > >CHRONICLES VOL.II AVAILABLE!! Click here for description and ordering >information: >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/genpcncfir/files/ > >Click here to view CHRONICLE PHOTO, use SlideShow: >http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/genpcncfir/lst > >RePrint of 1982 Chronicles of Pitt Co Order Form: >http://www.usgennet.org/usa/nc/county/pitt/Chronicles%20Flyer%20Feb03.htm > >Treasure-Trove of PITT Co.NC Genealogical Resources: >http://www.usgennet.org/usa/nc/county/pitt/ > >http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncpcfr/ > >We welcome all Archives visitors and invite you to join our dynamic group >if you are interested in genealogy discussion and research in Pitt and all >Eastern and Coastal North Carolina counties. >GenealogyPITT Co NC Friends In Research >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/genpcncfir > >Yahoo! Groups Links > ><*> To visit your group on the web, go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/genpcncfir/ > ><*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > [email protected] > ><*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > >

----- Original Message ----- From: "Debbie Fields Murphy" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2006 9:57 AM Subject: {not a subscriber} Need Josiah Speight Look UP > If you have a copy of any of William L. "Bill" Murphy's books below, will > you please look for anything on Josiah Speight (1781-bef. 1840), > especially a bible record or will for me... I'm trying to establish his > date of death and the names and birthdates of his children/heirs... > > I have the a copy of "Greene Co. Estate Records 1839-1845", "Greene Co. > Cemetery Inscriptions, 1750-1970", by Mary Virginia Kilpatrick, "History > of Greene Co., N.C." by James M. Creech, "Index to History of Greene > County, N.C.", by Mike Edge and "A Saga of the Speight Families in > America: Selected Biographical Sketches for the First Five Generations > (1614-1850) and A Genealogical Chart of Speight Families (1614-2004)" by > Dr. Charles F. Speight, Jr., "John Fields 1764-1854 And His Descendants", > "Fields, Jones, Smith Family Tree", "The May, Lang, Joyner, Williams > Families of North Carolina" as well as access to all the census records, > etc. through ancestry.com if I can do a lookup for anyone! > > Thanks in advance for any help you can give me! > > Debbie > > Dobbs Co. Bible Records Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, Vol. 4, Vol. 5 > Dobbs Co. Entries and Warrants 1741-1757 > Dobbs Co. Crown Patents 1759-1775 > Dobbs Co. 1780 Tax Lists, 2 Lists, 1 Book > Entries of Claims for Land within the County of Dobbs 1778-1790 > Entries of Claims for Land within the County of Glasgow 1790-1797 > Genealogical Abstracts of Greene Co. Deeds 1776-1860 > Greene Co. Cemetery Records > Greene Co. 1816 Tax List > > > Researching Fields, Speight (5 different lines done back to first Speight > to come to America...if anyone needs info email me, but please be > patient!), Beaman and Sawrey/Sorrow/ various spellings, Lang, Whitley, > Rouse, Braxton, Galloway, Eason, and related lines in Greene, Lenoir and > Pitt Counties and elsewhere. > > *** Paying forward genealogical acts of kindness in memory of Levis Allen > Churchill*** > http://www.legacy.com/reflector/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=16821838 > > >

If you have a copy of any of William L. "Bill" Murphy's books below, will you please look for anything on Josiah Speight (1781-bef. 1840), especially a bible record or will for me... I'm trying to establish his date of death and the names and birthdates of his children/heirs... I have the a copy of "Greene Co. Estate Records 1839-1845", "Greene Co. Cemetery Inscriptions, 1750-1970", by Mary Virginia Kilpatrick, "History of Greene Co., N.C." by James M. Creech, "Index to History of Greene County, N.C.", by Mike Edge and "A Saga of the Speight Families in America: Selected Biographical Sketches for the First Five Generations (1614-1850) and A Genealogical Chart of Speight Families (1614-2004)" by Dr. Charles F. Speight, Jr., "John Fields 1764-1854 And His Descendants", "Fields, Jones, Smith Family Tree", "The May, Lang, Joyner, Williams Families of North Carolina" as well as access to all the census records, etc. through ancestry.com if I can do a lookup for anyone! Thanks in advance for any help you can give me! Debbie Dobbs Co. Bible Records Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, Vol. 4, Vol. 5 Dobbs Co. Entries and Warrants 1741-1757 Dobbs Co. Crown Patents 1759-1775 Dobbs Co. 1780 Tax Lists, 2 Lists, 1 Book Entries of Claims for Land within the County of Dobbs 1778-1790 Entries of Claims for Land within the County of Glasgow 1790-1797 Genealogical Abstracts of Greene Co. Deeds 1776-1860 Greene Co. Cemetery Records Greene Co. 1816 Tax List Researching Fields, Speight (5 different lines done back to first Speight to come to America...if anyone needs info email me, but please be patient!), Beaman and Sawrey/Sorrow/ various spellings, Lang, Whitley, Rouse, Braxton, Galloway, Eason, and related lines in Greene, Lenoir and Pitt Counties and elsewhere. *** Paying forward genealogical acts of kindness in memory of Levis Allen Churchill*** http://www.legacy.com/reflector/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=16821838

REMEMBERING AMUZU PARK Pitt County possessed only a few watering spots at the turn of the century and they were the sites of large gatherings, dances, picnics, and baseball games. In the early 1900s there was much said in the local newspaper about the absence in Greenville of a park, playground, or place of amusement in the area. By 1920, there was a movement to supply the need and provide a place for wholesome recreation and amusement. In April of 1920, W. P. Clarke, A. T. Tripp, and Claude D. Tunstall formed the Clarke-Tripp Amuzu Company to convert the Forbes Mill Pond, about three miles from downtown Greenville, into a pleasure resort. In May 1920, the Amuzu Park, with Claude Tunstall as manager, built a large dance pavilion, 38 x 60 ft. with the upper portion devoted to dancing and the underneath housing numerous bathrooms for men and women. They installed an dynamo electric plant to carry 125 electric lights, a deep artesian well and a water system with a 2000-gallon tank for showers. They built a 130 ft. pier with electric lights out into the pond and stocked the pond with goggle-eye and speckled perch. They also rented nine steel row boats for recreation. The bed of the mill pond was dragged and cleared of obstructions and a gravel bottom put in. Possessing a nice sand beach, the water depth went from 2 inches to 12 feet. They also had the grounds cleared of brush and nice gravel walks laid out all around in the trees, dotted with picnic tables. But in spite of all the planning and preparation, the park almost didn’t become a reality. In April 1920, the company offered season tickets to see if public sentiment would make the park a success. The beginning season price was $10 per man (plus war tax) and $5 each for a woman (plus tax) and each child over six. Children under six were admitted free of charge. By May 8, 1920, they had sold only 11 tickets and the managers agreed that if by June 1 they had not sold enough tickets, they would refund all monies. Luckily, enough money was raised and the Park opened on Monday, May 31, 1920. When the Park opened, they advertised that it would be open from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. “during the dull summer days and hot summer nights.” The Edmond’s five piece orchestra would play every Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights. A $2000 Wurlitzer player piano would furnish music each afternoon and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights. The dance pavilion was built “high and cool among the treetops, ideal for summertime dancing.” It cost 10 cents to get into the Park, and to dance it cost men 50 cents on Orchestra night and 25 cents on other nights. Ladies were always free. To swim it was 25 cents for men and 10 cents for ladies and children, swimsuits could be rented for 25 cents extra. Mr. Ed Moye, with 8 years of military experience was in charge of the Park and was the life guard and swimming instructor. In June 1920, a bus service was started, leaving The Daily Reflector office on the half hour and leaving the Park on the hour, running between 12:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., with a fare of 25 cents each way. On June 16, the Park held its first square dance, the most popular of the dances held at the Park. The sets were called by Leon Tyson and Zeber Tripp. The fiddlers were Will Forbes and Ed Moore, members of the “Ye Olde Fiddlers Band.” With its popularity, Thursday nights became Square Dance night. It is remembered that Rosser Laughinghouse and Tom Heath also called sets, and other fiddlers included Buck Moore, Tom Stokes, and Levi Evans. Clogging was done between the sets by Ed Vail and Wyatt McGowan to the tunes “Turkey in the Straw,” “Mississippi Sawyer,” and “Arkansas Traveler.” In July, the Park started having Boxing and wrestling bouts every Tuesday night. The advertised “No objectional features or slugging. Ladies Free, men 25 cents and boys 10 cents. Bath tickets entitle each one to a bath that night.” The Amuzu Park had a successful first year and said they had had 46 picnic parties for church groups, Boy and Girl Scouts, business firms and reunions. The second year the park opened on April 29, 1921 and grew to be even more popular. Improvements at the Park included new swings, a slide and cables in the trees for rope climbing. A huge Water Carnival was held on Aug. 19th, which included diving, canoe races and track events. Prizes were gold medals and season tickets to the Park. The Park opened for its third year on May 1, 1922, but they began to have financial trouble. In May 1922, the Pitt County Chapter of the Red Cross Life Saving Corps began using the Amuzu Park as a base to teach area swim instructors. After the end of the season the partners dissolved their co-partnership and in order to satisfy the partners and creditors, the Amuzu Park was sold at public auction in Oct. 1922 to W. P. Clarke for $11, 300. The Park consisted of the grist mill, 12 acres in the mill pond and the 32 acres of woods land and park buildings. On March 30, 1923, the newly formed Greenville Country Club purchased the Amuzu Park land and a part of the Gorman tract adjoining, giving the organization about 106 acres, including the beautiful lake and a rolling piece of ground on the Gorman tract. The Greenville Country Club kept the old Forbes mill and lake until the mill dam was dynamited in 1927 and the pond drained. Roger Kammerer