02/27/1868. Semi-Weekly Standard, NC. "OBITUARY NOTICE - Died in this City, on the 24 inst, at the residence of her son, B. H. Norris, Mrs. Dorcas Norris, in the 82d year of her age. The deceased was born in Pitt County, N. C., on the 10th day of February, 1786, but at the time of her death was a citizen of Harnett County. She leaves behind three children and twenty-six grand-children to mourn their loss. She had been a constant member of the Primitive Baptist Church for many years, during which times she gave constant evidence of her consistent Christian chancier "Thou art gone to the grave, but we will not deplore this, Since God was thy ransom, thy guardian, thy light; He gave thee. He took thee, and his will restores thee; And death has no sting, since the Saviour hath died." 11/16/1893. Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC. "AWFUL DOUBLE TRAGEDY IN PITT - Two Neighbors Quarrel About Land and in an Encounter Each Kill the Other. Grenville, N. C., Nov. 13 - This morning an awful double tragedy occurred in Swift Creek township, this county, ten miles from Greenville. Abner Slaughter and J. H. Smith, neighbors and well-to-do farmers, have been disputing ownership of land. This morning Smith, accompanied by his father, G. F. Smith, went where Slaughter was cutting rails and ordered the work stopped. Slaughter refused, when Smith shot him. The two men clinched and emptied their pistols into each other. During the shooting, G. F. Smith beat slaughter on the head with a rod of iron. J. H. Smith and Slaughter were both killed. G. F. Smith has been committed to jail. The tragedy caused great excitement." 12/19/1895. Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC. "HAYDN-BOYD - A Brother of Mr. Robert Haydn Weds One of Pitt's Handsomest Women. Greenville, Dec. 18 - At 6 o'clock this morning at the bride's home in Greenville, Mr. W. T. Haydn, of Washington City, and Miss Elizabeth Boyd were married. They took the morning train to spend a few days at Old Point, and will reach Washington Saturday. Mr. Haydn is a brother of Mr. Robt. Haydn, who once edited the Charlotte Chronicle. This bride is one of Pitt's handsomest women. Pitt is breaking the record in marriages this week. In three days 21 licenses have been issued." NOTE: I wonder who made the decision that she was the most handsome women in Pitt County. As they say, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Never-the-less, she must have been a real looker. 10/18/1896. Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC. "The Reflector says Ed. Butts, a white man of Pitt County, got helplessly drunk in Greenville Monday night and about midnight was locked up by the police. Next morning he was found dead in the lock-up." Bill Bland