Zorah News, January 17, 1927

The following is from the New Bernian of January 18, 1927:

ZORAH, Jan. 17--Miss Eloise Wiley of this section spent the weekend with Miss Madie Bell Franks at Ernul.
  Guy Wetherington of Hallsboro spent Saturday night and Sunday with his mother, Mrs. H.B. Wetherington.
  Miss Mae Ipock of Jasper, who is teaching school at Clayton [sic, should be Caton], spent the week-end at home.
  Mr. and Mrs. L.M. Sutton were visitors at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Toler Sunday evening.
  Henry Wetherington and son, Lewis, who are working at Havelock spent the week-end at home.
  Misses Oleta, Ora, and Mary Gray Wetherington were visitors at the home of Mrs. Nannie Toler Sunday evening.
  A large crowd attended Sunday school at New Haven church Sunday afternoon.
  Several new families have recently moved to this community.
  Mr. and Mrs. Bill Toler were visitors at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Toler Sunday afternoon.

About a week later, the following article appeared (New Bernian, January 26, 1927):

ZORAH, Jan. 25--Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Toler and daughter, Thelma, spent Sunday at Bridgeton.
  Mr. and Mrs. Bill Toler spent the week-end at Spring Garden.
  Dalton Roberson, Mack Norman, Albert Morris, Hodil Norman [Hudie? Norman], and Hyman Stubbs were visitors at New Haven Church Sunday afternoon.
  Luther Lane, Miss Sena Knox and Miss Edna Whitford motored to Edwards Sunday.
  Miss Mae Ipock returned home Sunday evening.
  Mr. and Mrs. Jessie Rowe of Beaufort County spent Sunday afternoon at Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Stilley's home.
  Holmes Turner of New Bern passed this section en route to C.B. Wetherington's home.
  Mr. and Mrs. Luther Sutton of Vanceboro spent Sunday  at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Norman.
  T.E. Whitford and son, Edgar, motored to Edwards Sunday morning.
  There will be a minstrel show and a box party combined at Coyton [sic, should be Caton] School Saturday Jan. 29. All are invited.
  Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Wetherington spent Sunday evening at the home of Mrs. H.B. Wetherington.
  Henry Wetherington and son left Monday morning for Havelock.

Eloise Wiley was the daughter of John Redding Wiley and Effie B. Price and was born about 1914, while Madie Bell Franks was the daughter of Daniel R. Franks. [1930 census records for Pamlico and Craven Counties].
  Guy Wetherington was the son of Henry Bryan Wetherington and Laura Toler. He was born in 1894 and died in 1948.
  I don't have much information on Mae Ipock, other than she was a teacher.
  L.M. Sutton married Dorcas Knox. Bill Toler married Nan Ipock.
  Henry Willis Wetherington and son Louis Henry Wetherington worked with North Carolina Pulp Company.
  Misses Oleta, Ora and Mary Gray Wetherington were the daughters of Henry Willis Wetherington.
  Bill and Nan Ipock Toler were visiting his sister, Tom and Lucy Toler Toler.

Beginning with the second article, James Robert Toler and Celia H. Stilley Toler and daughter Thelma went to Bridgeton.
  Bill and Nan Ipock Toler went to Spring Garden, probably visiting some of Aunt Nan's family.
  Dalton Roberson later married Gladys Sutton; Albert Morris is possibly the son of Ed and Augusta Jones Morris; Hudie Norman was son of John Henry and Victoria Toler Norman; while nothing further is known about Hyman Stubbs.
  Luther Lane married Essie Knox, the sister of Sina Knox. Edna Whitford is probably Edna Earle Whitford, daughter of David Purifoy Whitford and Grace Leona Price.
  Mae Ipock (see above comments).
  Jesse and Sina Stilley Rowe lived in Blounts Creek and were visiting her brother Joshua Stilley and his wife Penny Toler Stilley.
  I'm not sure who Holmes Turner is, but he was visiting Charlie Bryan Wetherington, son of Henry Bryan Wetherington.
  Luther Sutton (see above L.M. Sutton) was visiting George Norman, no further information on him.
  T.E. Whitford should be I.E. (Ira E.) and his son Edgar.
  The other families mentioned in the article are identified above.
 

Zorah News, January 16, 1904

The following is from the New Bern Daily Journal of January 19, 1904:

  ZORAH, January 16th.
  Mr. I.R. Whitford of this place, has been elected keeper of the Neuse River bridge.
  Miss Amanda Whitford and Mr. J.R. Wiley went to Clayroot last Saturday.
  Larry Alston, the little son of Mr. D.P. Whitford, caused his people considerable anxiety last week by putting a bean in his nose.
  The recent bad weather has caused our schools to stop several days.
  Mrs. Mary Tunstall is quite sick with grip. Dr. Primrose of New Bern is attending her.
  Mrs. W.D. Toler is in quite a critical condition. She has been lying unconscious since Friday noon. Her recovery is doubtful.
  Mr. Jas. O. Wiley and sister, Miss Rosa, are visiting their sister Mrs. R.E. Lathinghouse, near Vanceboro.
  Mr. and Mrs. B.C. Whitford went to New Bern yesterday to visit their son, Mr. J.R. Whitford.
  Mr. Ransom Booth of Pollocksville is visiting at Zorah.
  The young people of our place had a very enjoyable dance at Mr. W.R. Arthur's last night.

  I.R. Whitford is Ira Romonas Whitford (1880-1948), son of Bryan Cox Whitford and Margaret Jane Wiley. He is probably the J.R. Whitford in the 8th paragraph that B.C. Whitford is going to see in New Bern.
  Amanda Rhesa Whitford (1877-1965) was the daughter of Stephen Edward Whitford and Artemisia Tuten. J.R. Wiley is probably John Redding Wiley (1877-1961), son of Azariah Wiley and Ellen Ann Stilley.
  Larry Alston Whitford continued his love for botany as a long-time professor at North Carolina State University.
  Mary Tunstall (1828-1906) was the widow of Alfred B. Tunstall (1828?-1903). She was the daughter of Calvin Morris and Sallie Reel. Both Mary and Alfred are buried in High Bridge Cemetery.
  Mrs. W.D. Toler (nee Sarah "Sally" Knox) was the daughter of William R. "Bill" and Dorcas Knox. She married William David "Willie" Toler. She died January 17, 1904, from complications following childbirth. The child also died. Both were buried in "Bethel Burying Ground" (now High Bridge Cemetery), but were later re-interred at the Knox Family Cemetery.
  James O'Neal (O'Neill) Wiley, Rosa Wiley, and Mrs. R.E. Laughinghouse (Nancy "Nannie" Wiley), were the children of Azariah F. Wiley and Ellen Ann "Nellie" Stilley, and the siblings of John Redding Wiley mentioned above.
  Ransom Booth was the son of Merritt Booth and the brother of Julia Booth (married Fred Willis Toler) and Claud Booth (and others).
  W.R. Arthur was William Roberson Arthur (1867-1929). He married Nancy Pauline O'Neal.

Zorah News, January 4, 1904

  The following article is from the New Bern Daily Journal of January 6, 1904:

  Christmas passed of[f] very pleasantly at our place. Dancing seemed to have been the order of the day among the young people, there being as many as five during the holidays.
  Among our older, hunting was the chief source of amusement. Mr. A.D. Whitford killed a fine deer, others killing squirrels, birds, etc., in considerable numbers.
  Among the visitors at Zorah during the holidays not already mentioned were Mr. Herbert Stilley and Miss Bettie Knox of Washington, Messrs. Arthur Simpson and Amos Bell of Onslow County, Mr. Paul O'Neal of Kinston and Mr. Jno. M. Whitford of Kinston, Miss Clara Mills of Blounts Creek, Mr. T.A. Tuten and Miss Ruth Adams of Edward, Mr. Gales Yates and Mr. Peter Hill and sister, Miss Viney, all of Gilead, Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Harris and family of Vanceboro, and Hon. I.W. Miller and family of Alliance.
  Mr. G.A. Whitford made a business trip to Greenville last week.
  Mr. E.G. Wise of Pamlico was at Zorah Friday.
  Mr. D.M. Peel has recently moved from here to Mr. Fred Rowe's place near New Bern.
  Our place is coming to the front in the way of marriages just now. Mr. Robert Toler and Miss Celia Stilley both of this place were happily married yesterday by Mr. J.H. O'Neal, justice of the peace.
  Another wedding was reported but we do not know whether it took place.

  A.D. Whitford could be Addison Purifoy Whitford (Addie...A.D.?), otherwise I can locate no Whitford with initials A.D.
  According to the 1900 Census for Washington, Beaufort County, Herbert M. Stilley was the son of Thomas E. and Pauline Stilley, and lived at 412 North Second Street in Washington. Herbert was born in February 1889. Living in the same household was Bettie Knox (single), born in January 1850, and was a "Servant" of the Stilley household. [Year: 1900; Census Place:  Washington,  Beaufort,  North Carolina; Roll: 1182; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 0011; FHL microfilm: 1241182. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.] Bettie was probably Elizabeth Knox, William R. (Bill) Knox's sister, and aunt of Charles B. (Charlie) Knox.
  I am not sure of the connection with Arthur Simpson, Amos Bell of Onslow County or. Paul O'Neal of Kinston. O'Neal may have been related to the O'Neal family who lived on the Hill's Neck Road near McRay Whitford's present home. Nor am I sure of the connection with Clara Mills.
  Jno. M. Whitford is John Malcolm Whitford, son of Lewis David Whitford and Rosa Keul Tuten Whitford.
   T.A. Tuten may be Thomas Atkins Tuten, son of Thomas A.E. Tuten and nephew of Rosa K. Tuten Whitford. Gales Yates was a son of Josephine Tuten Yates and also a nephew of Rosa K. Tuten Whitford. Peter and Viney (Lovina) Hill were neighbors of Gales Yates in 1900, but I am unsure of who Ruth Adams is, or Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Harris, I.W. Miller, or E.G. Wise, at present.
  G.A. Whitford is Gilbert Arthur Whitford (Sr.), son of Bryan Cox Whitford and Margaret Jane Wiley.
  D.M. Peel[e] is Duncan McRae Peele married Emma Knox (in 1895). Emma was the daughter of Bill and Dorcas Knox, and sister of Charles B. Knox.
  Robert Toler is James Robert Toler, son of James Lawrence Toler and Sina Ann Dunn. Celia Stilley is the daughter of William Joyner Stilley and Elizabeth Taylor Dunn (sister of Sina).
 
 
 

Playing Games

     Recently, I've been thinking about games I played with my cousins at Gran's house. We mostly played during the summer months, but also would play any weekend we happened to be there (which was almost every weekend).
     Before any game was played, we needed to find out who was "It". Any number of counting games was used to determine this. Some of the ones I remember are:

Eenie, meenie, miney, mo
Catch a Tiger by the toe or Catch a rabbit by his toe
If he hollers let him go
Eenie, meenie, miney, mo.

Another was:

Wire, briar, lumber, lock
Three geese in a flock
One flew east
One flew west
One flew over Bonnie Bluebird's nest
And went to the old black smutty home.

Then there was:

Engine, engine, Number Nine
Going down Chicago line
If the train should jump the track
Do you want your money back?

Whoever the count landed on would say, "Yes" or "No", then that was spelled out with:

Y-E-S spells "yes" and you are not it. 

or

N-O spells "no" and you are not it

That continued until one person remained, who was "It."
Or one of the more graphic counting chants:

My mama and your mama
Were hanging out clothes.
My mama hit your mama 
In her big nose,
What color was the blood?

Whoever the count landed on would say a color (for example, blue) and that color was spelled out, like:

B-L-U-E spells "blue" and you are not it.

Then the old stand-by:

One potato, two potato, three potato, four
Five potato, six potato, seven potato, or (possibly more)

 Then there was:

Ink pink, sky blue
All out, but you.

Or, finally, we would use:

Bubble gum, bubble gum in a dish
How many pieces do you wish?

The person the count landed on would say a number; that number was counted with "And you are not it" tacked on the end.
     Once we determined who was it, the games began.

Hide and Go Seek

     First there was Hide and Go seek. The person who was "It" would stay on base (usually Gran's front porch) and count to 100, while everyone else went and hid. Once the person had counted to 100, he (or she) yelled, "Ready or not, here I come!" Play continued until everyone reached base, or "It" caught someone before reaching home.

Mr. Spider

     Then there was Mr. Spider. Whoever was "It" would go to the fence near the road while everyone else on the front porch would decide what they were. They could be types of toys, kinds of cars, brands of candy, types of animals, etc. Once everyone had decided on an item, they all called "Mr. Spider". Whoever was "Mr. Spider" would come to home base, and say "What are you selling?" The spokesman for the players would say whatever their category was, for example, "Animals." Mr. Spider would then guess types of animals until one was called which a player had named. That player then had to run to the fence and back before Mr. Spider caught him. If caught, that player became Mr. Spider, and play resumed with another round.

Red Devil

     Red Devil was similar to Mr. Spider, except the players on the porch were always colors. Red Devil was at the fence while the players determined their color. Once everyone had stated their color, someone would stand with their back to Red Devil (playing the door), while everyone else chanted,
"Red Devil, Red Devil, Come knock on my Door."
     Red Devil would come and "knock" on the back of the person playing the door. The Door would turn and ask, "What do you want?" Red Devil would reply, "Colors." "What Color?" replied the Door. Then Red Devil would guess colors until a color that a player had chosen was called. That player then ran to the fence and back before Red Devil caught him. If caught, that person would become Red Devil; otherwise, the same Red Devil would remain.

     Other games we played will be explored at another time.

Ancient News--April 27, 1916

The Sun Journal published the following on April 27, 1916:

ZORAH NEWS.

Zorah, April 27--We are having some windy weather now.
Mr. and Mrs.W.H. Caton and children of Dover were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. L.B. Caton Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Charley Caton were the guest of Mr. L.B. Caton Sunday.
Mr. Columbus Booth was the guest of Miss Annie Taylor Sunday afternoon, and her sister Miss Bessie was the guest of Miss Katie Gaskins a short while Sunday.
Mr. Thad Boyd of Truitt was the guest of Mr. Jesse Gaskins Saturday night and Sunday. Come again.
Mr. Mack Norman, Miss Katie Gaskins, Miss Bessie Norman, and Miss Oma Gaskins called to see Misses Janie and Annie Taylor Sunday evening.
Mr. Guy Wetherington came to Penciltucky Sunday and broke his new buggy. Ha! ha!
Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Gaskins called to see their son, Mr. Elbert Gaskins, at Broad Creek Sunday.
Mrs. M.E. Toler called to see Mrs. I.W. Toler Sunday afternoon.
Mr. Addie Stilley passed through Penciltucky Sunday en route to Truitt.
Mr. Mack Norman was the guest of Miss Katie Gaskins Saturday night.
There was a great alarm in Zorah when the wedding bells rung on the 16th. We are expecting them to ring again at the same place soon.
A large crowd of girls from Zorah attended the ball game at Truitt Saturday afternoon and report a nice time. The boys are expecting to play a match game Friday evening. Everybody is welcome to attend.
Let us hear from our sweetheart at Truitt. Wake up Truitt.
DARLING BLUE EYES.

  Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Caton were William Harvey and Myrtie Holton Caton. They were visiting his parents, Lewis Bryan and Arnecia Toler Caton. Charley and Amanda Cayton Caton were also visiting his parents.

  Columbus Booth was the son of Merritt and Mary Smith Booth. He was visiting Annie Toler (not Taylor). She and Bessie (and Janie) were the daughters of Abram Lincoln and Mary Norman Toler.

  Katie Gaskins was the daughter of John R. and Lizzy Toler Gaskins. Jesse Gaskins was their son, and Oma (Omie/Naomi) was their daughter. 

Mack and Bessie Norman were the children of John H. and Victoria (known as Puss John Henry) Toler Norman.

  Addie Stilley was the son of Jesse and Elizabeth Rice Stilley.

  As for the location of Penciltucky, the best anyone can figure is that it was down what is now the Cayton Road. This mention is the closest description of a location for Penciltucky that I can find..."Addie Stilley passed through Penciltucky en route to Truitt." Uncle Jesse Stilley (and family) lived at one time near R.W. Stilley's place, in the area where Jonathan Hannah had his trailer before he moved to the back of the Philpot field. If Addie Stilley passed through Penciltucky on the way to Truitt, he would have to have gone either down the Cayton Road or Purifoy Road to get to Truitt (Spring Hope Church area).

  For the alarm at the wedding, see my previous post on the wedding of Miss Mary Knox to Mr. Mack Wetherington.

[Posting updated to show that Katie Gaskins was the daughter of John R. Gaskins. She moved to Lenoir County and married George Washington Buck. In my records, I had she died young, but I discovered today that she lived until 1953.]

Ancient News, April 1916, An April Wedding 95 years ago

The following was found in the Sun Journal for April 18, 1916:

ALLEGES PERJURY IN CONNECTION WITH MARRIAGE LICENSE

S.E. Jones, of Zorah, Told the Register Miss Knox Was Eighteen.

MAN UNDER ARREST IS NOT THE BRIDEGROOM

  When S.E. Jones, of Zorah, this county, came over to New Bern last Saturday morning and told Register of Deeds S.H. Fowler that Miss Mary Knox, also of Zorah and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Knox of that place, was eighteen years of age and that he desired to secure a license permitting her to become the bride of Mr. Mack Wetherington, he probably did not think he would face a jury at the next term of Craven Court and explain why he said the young woman was eighteen years of age when she is only fifteen. However, such he will do.
  Mr. Jones secured the License and the wedding took place Sunday night at Ernul, being performed by 'Squire C.J. Heath. The parents of the bride, when they heard of the affair, decided to do about and they did, in fact their doing resulted in a warrant being sworn out for Jones charging him with perjury and today he appeared before 'Squire C.K. Hancock, this county, to answer to the charge.
  The bride's parents swore that she was fifteen years of age, that her birthday occurred last March and that it was their belief that the whole scheme was a concocted plan. Mr. Jones testified to the effect that he thought the bride was of age, that she had told him so and that he had no reason to believe otherwise.
  The affair culminated in 'Squire Hancock finding probable cause and binding Jones over to court under a bond of one hundred dollars, which he gave.

S.E. Jones was Shady Elcaney Jones, son of Azariah Jones and Sarah Jane Toler. He was born in Beaufort County in 1889 and died in 1936. He married first Nellie Jane Booth (1886-1929) in 1909, and in 1930 married Mary Emma Clemmand Ward. [The Jones Family of Blounts Creek by P.A. Jones, Jr., p. 137]

Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Knox were Charles Bryan Knox and Armetta Toler Knox.

Miss Mary Knox married Mr. Mack Wetherington (son of Henry B. and Laura Toler Wetherington) on 16 April 1916, 95 years ago on the day of this posting.

Martin Whitford Family Bible

Whitford-Smith-Whitehurst-Spite Family Bible

Original in possession of W. Richard Faulkner, Salisbury, NC, April 2011. 

Transcribed by Victor T. Jones, Jr., from photographs provided by W. Richard Faulkner, and from viewing the original. 

[New Testament Page]
The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Newly Translated out of the Original Greek: And with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. By His Majesties Special Command. Appointed to be Read in Churches. Oxford: Printed by John Baskett, Printer to the University, M DCC XXIII [i.e. 1723] 
[penciled in near bottom of page]
Nancy mother of H.P. Whitehurst
Daughter of Martin Whitford. 

[page 1]
Sarah Smith wife of Thos. Smith was born [illegible] the 19th in the year of our Lord God 1762.  
Nancy Whitford daughter of Marten Whitford and Marry his wife was born the 23 day of march in the year of our Lord & Saviour 1783. 
Betsey Smith daughter of Tho[s Smith] & Sarah his wife was born the [torn] of July, in the yeare of our Lord [&] Saviour 1781. 
John Smith Son of Thomas Smith [torn] his wife was born the 8 day of March [in] the yeare of our Lord & Saviour 1783. 
Polley Smith daughter of Thos. Smith and Sarah his wife was born April the 30 1785. 
Salley Smith daughter of Thos. Smith and Sarah his Wife was born Febury the 7 1788. 
Polley Smith daughter of the Same parents was bornd the 6 day of [faded in photo] 1791. 
Solomn Smith son of the same parents was born June the 5th day 1793. 

[page 2, End of the Apocrypha]
John Whitford son of Martin Whitford and Mary his wife was bornd October the 9, 1766.
One thousand seven hundred & sixty six. 
William Whitford son of Thos: Whitford and Sara his wif was born Novmbear ye 21 day about half an ouer past on oClok in ye aftrn. In year of our Lord God 1752 [photo has year cut off, year provided by W. Richard Faulkner] 
Henrey Purify Whithust Son of Shadrick Whithust and Nancy his wife was Bornd August the 19th day 1813. [Photo has the 9 in 19th cut off, day provided by W. Richard Faulkner] 

[page 3]
Thomas Spite son of Willum Spite and Elesabeth his wif was born Novmbear ye fost day in year of our lord God 1752
& mar marred on November forth day  David Whitford. [year of marriage not given] 

[page 4]
David R. Whitford son of John Whitford and Hollon his wife was bornd July the 30th Day in the year of our Lord—1784. 
Celia Whitford Daughter of John Whitford and Hollon his wife was born the 19th [in gutter of Bible and illegible on photo] of April in the year of our lord [in gutter of Bible]. 
Marten Whitford [smeared]
Martin Whitford Departed this Life November the 16th Day 1804. Aged 70 years and one month. 

[page 5]
Martin Whitford his Book
ana domney 174_ 

[page 6, end page of the Prophets]
God do men this book attend my book and hart Shall never part and this you See remember Me.
Martin Whitford 176[torn] 
Elezabeth Spite daftar of William Spite & Elezabeth his Wife Was born May ye fost in ye year of our Lord 1752. 

[page 6]
[Several entries too faint to read names, dates of 1710 and 1729 stand out.] 
Fanna giddens daughter of Agnes Giddens borned Junerary the 22 1782.
S
Sarah W 

[page 7, page before Tables]
John Whitford Son of Thomas Whitford and Sarah his wife War bornd October the first Day in the year of our Lord 1744.
[An entry written over and very faint.] 
John Whitford and Hollon his wife Was marred Apriel the 11th day 179[in gutter of book] 
John Whitford departed this life October the 8th 1829 about one Oclock in the morning  on Thursday after eleven days illness aged 63 Sixty three years lacking one day. 

[page 8]
[Several faint entries date 1740 legible on one.] 
Omeata boy called Jhon Mergn was born febrary ye 11 1748. Sold to Artar Jonston and is fre at thorty one year old sold by Thomas Whitford. 
Richard Whitford son of John Whitford and Sarah his wife was Bornd Desember the 12 day 1770. 
John Whi
John hear they was Bornd Desember the 18—1759. 

[page 9, page before Index]
John Whitford, Son of Thomas W and Sarah his wife was bornd October the first Day [in] the year of our Lord God 174[4] 
Elezabeth Whitford dafter of Thos. Whitford Was born July ye 24 day in ear of Our Lord God 1732. 
Marten Whitford son of Thos. Whitford and Sara his Wif Was born Otobr Ye fost 1 day in year of our Lord God 1734.