Karmella, Hi again! The library here in Edgecombe has an unpublished thesis by Mr. Joe Mobley, who as far as I know is the only person to have ever done in-depth research on the history of Princeville. He also wrote an article based on this thesis for the North Carolina Historical Review, and we have that too. Recently, local historian Monika Fleming compiled a list of Princeville residents from the 1880, 1900, and 1910 census, and we also have that. Other related items we own are copies of newspaper articles about past/present floods and many articles on other aspects of Princeville, and histories of Princeville compiled for the county's bicentennial and the town's centennial celebrations. I don't remember ever seeing a mention that anyone died in any flood in Princeville. It is in a prime flood plain, though, and as you say, has been flooded over and over again. (Parts of Tarboro, as well.) The most recent flood, from Hurricane Floyd, was the worst ever recorded. The worst prior to that was 1919. Trying to do genealogical research on people in Princeville (and historical research on some aspects of the town) can be a nightmare simply because good records were not kept, and those that were (as well as people's personal effects that could be of value historically) tended to be destroyed in the floods. (Census and courthouse records are generally intact, though.) We are missing a 10 year span of the local paper from 1910-1920, and can only assume the flood of 1919 had something to do with it. Also, floods tend to wash up graves, making finding where people are buried hard. Hundreds floated out of their resting places in the Floyd flood and many were reinterred in a different place if they could not be readily identified. Hope that info helps...please contact me off list and let me know what you'd like photocopied and I can send it to you. Traci the Librarian _________________________________________________________ From: Karmella Haynes <kh_art@yahoo.com> To: NCEDGECO-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [NCEDGECO] Princeville, Edgecombe Co. Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 10:20:50 -0700 (PDT) X-Message: #1 Message-ID: <20010419172050.40764.qmail@web13801.mail.yahoo.com> Greetings list, How may I go about gathering historical info about the citizens of Princeville, a black town in Edgecombe? I didn't even know such a town existed until a I did a search. I need something more in depth besides just a general history. I found that there was a flood there in 1889 (as well as 1800, 1919, etc.). My ancestor Tom Knight left NC circa 1890, and settled in MS (the census shows other people from NC living close by ...they have other surnames that show in the Edgecombe census). One of the people in his household is widowed. Four of his children are not living. Maybe someone was lost in the flood? An old newspaper would be of great help, especially if people died in that flood. Thank you, ---Karmella Haynes _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com