ABSTRACTS of NEWSPAPER ARTICLES for HYDE COUNTY, NC (1955-1992) Submitted for use in the USGenWeb Project Archives by Hyde County NCGenWeb (jmack@bbs.carolina.net) # 9 ABSTRACTS of NEWSPAPER ARTICLES for HYDE COUNTY, NC (1955-1992) THIEVES HIT TWO PLACES IN HYDE On Thursday night of last week, the front door of W.H. SPENCER'S Service Station at Scranton was pried open. In addition to a large quantity of merchandise, $238 in cash was reported missing. Item taken included flour, sugar, milk, tobacco, hose, socks and canned goods. The second robbery occurred on Friday night when the latch was cut off the shop of J.M. LONG near Engelhard. On this occasion the robbers took a heavy duty torch and welder, a tool box of plumbing tools, and a roll of copper wire. Little evidence as to the identity of the thieves has been found. (The Coastland Times - Friday, October 21, 1955; pg. 1) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OCRACOKE PERSONALS Mr. & Mrs. J.L. GARRISH announce the birth of a daughter, Wanda Lee, on October 7th at Morehead City Hospital. Mr. & Mrs. Powers GARRISH announce the birth of a son, Romaine Smith, on October 12th at Sea Level Hospital. Mrs. Gladys WILLIAMS is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Isabel CULLIFER and family at Virginia Beach. (The Coastland Times - Friday, October 21, 1955; pg. 2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGELHARD PERSONALS Mr. & Mrs. Francis COCKS and daughter Dawn of Yorktown, Va., Mr. & Mrs. Bill HARRIS of Chapel Hill, spent the week-end with Mrs. Lyda HARRIS. Mrs. Mildred COX and son Thomas, Jr. of Elizabeth City, visited her parents, Mr. & Mrs. S.D. SPENCER. Ralph ROPER spent a week in Durham and Pilot Mountain where he visited his daughter, Mrs. Henry HARDING. Mrs. Glenn JARVIS spent Thursday in Greenville. She was accompanied by her mother, Mrs. Whitfield WILLIAMS of Swan Quarter. B.C. SPENCER of Norfolk spent the week-end with his mother, Mrs. Eva SPENCER. (The Coastland Times - Friday, October 21, 1955; pg. 2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FAIRFIELD PERSONALS Bobby SWINDELL of E.C.C. in Greenville visited his parents, Mr. & Mrs. C.M. SWINDELL. Miss Betty MANN of E.C.C. in Greenville visited her mother, Mrs. Murry MANN. Mr. & Mrs. J.B. SPENCER and Peggy of Bridgeton, N.J. are visiting her brother-in-law and sister, Mr. & Mrs. T.D. BLAKE. (The Coastland Times - Friday, October 21, 1955; pg. 2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PENSACOLA, FLORIDA Naval Aviation Cadet Andrew A. HOOKER (photo), son of Mrs. Lillie B. SWINDELL of Engelhard, qualified as a carrier pilot after six landings aboard the light aircraft carrier, USS Saipan, in the Gulf of Mexico. He attended NCSC before entering the Naval Cadet Program. The landings completed the gunnery and carrier qualifications phase of his flight training. He is now undergoing instrument training at the Corry Field Naval Auxiliary Air Station here. (The Coastland Times - Friday, October 21, 1955; pg. 3) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OCRACOKE PERSONALS Funeral services for Loris Jean DAUGHERTY, infant daughter of Mr. & Mr. Dix DAUGHERTY of Raleigh, were held at the home of her grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. E.S. TOLSON, on Thursday with rev. W.R. HALE officiating. The baby died on October 19th at Rex Hospital in Raleigh after long invalidism. Mr. & Mrs. TOLSON returned to the mainland on Friday with their daughter and son-in-law. Mr. & Mrs. Earl O'NEAL of Philadelphia, have been visiting his sister, Mrs. R.W. HOWARD, and other relatives here. Mrs. R.A. CONDGON of Bridgton, N.J. recently visited at the home of her aunt, Mrs. Laura BRAGG. While here she also visited her brother, Stacy BRAGG. Friends of Mrs. Annie FULCHER will regret to learn that she is in Sea Level Hospital. She was taken there Monday by helicopter suffering from a heart aliment. Mr. & Mrs. Jules GARRISH announce the birth of a son, Franklin Bernard, on October 16th. Lum GASKILL came home Friday, having been called to Morehead City because of the illness at the hospital there of his infant daughter. (The Coastland Times - Friday, October 28, 1955; pg. 2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ IN MEMORY OF MRS. CADDIE MASON HOOPER It is with a feeling of sadness that we, the members of the Woman's Society of Christian Service of Stumpy Point Methodist Church, record the death of Mrs. Caddie Mason HOOPER. She was a charter member of the WSCS and also a life member. For many years she was very active in all phases of church work and community activities-especially enjoying visiting the sick and shut-ins. She had held and efficiently filled many of the offices of her society. For the past 8 years though confined to her bed and wheelchair, her interest in the work of the church did not lessen and she continued to be an inspiration to her family and friends. We shall miss her and cherish her memory, but the influence of her life will continue. She is survived by her husband, E. Marvin HOOPER of Stumpy Point and Winfall; three daughters: Mrs. Calvin WATSON and Mrs. Allen OSBORNE of Norfolk, and Mrs. Earl MEEKINS of Winfall; 5 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; and several brothers and sisters. Therefore, be it resolved that a copy of this tribute be sent to her husband, to each daughter, to the North Carolina Christian Advocate, The Coastland Times, also that it be recorded in the record of the WSCS. (The Coastland Times - Friday, October 28, 1955; pg. 6) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGELHARD PERSONALS Out-of-town people who attended the funeral rites for Miss Janie GUTHRIE held last Friday were: Mr. & Mrs. Cecile GUTHRIE, the George CREEF'S and daughter Sheila, Mrs. Mary GIBBS, and the Leo MIDGETT'S, all of Manteo; the Hubert GUTHRIE'S and Mrs. Annie CUDWORTH of Wanchese; Mrs. Rose GUTHRIE, Rosiland GUTHRIE and the Joseph CREDLE'S, all of Norfolk; W.B. MIDGETT and Mrs. Mildred MANN of Washington; Mrs. Mildred GUTHRIE of Smithfield; the Douglas GUTHRIE'S of S.C.; Herman GIBBS of Manns Harbor; and the Jim RUE'S of Fairfield. (The Coastland Times - Friday, November 4, 1955; pg. 2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ANSBACH, GERMANY Pfc Neill A. ROBERTS, son of Mr. & Mrs. G.L. ROBERTS of Fairfield, recently graduated from the Army's European Signal School in Germany. He entered the Army in September 1954, completed basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., and arrived overseas last February. The 23 year old soldier is a former student of U.N.C. (The Coastland Times - Friday, November 4, 1955; pg. 2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OCRACOKE PERSONALS Hilton SIMPSON, nephew of Stacy HOWARD, and a party from Berlin, Md. have been here for several day fishing with Capt. HOWARD. Mr. & Mrs. Elisha ESHAM were called to his father's home at Bishop, Md. last week because of the death by automobile accident of Mr. ESHAM'S aunt and uncle, Mr. & Mrs. William HUDSON. Mr. & Mrs. H.J. WILLIAMS have enjoyed a visit recently from their son, James Thomas WILLIAMS of Durham, and daughter, Mrs. Robert PEYTON and Mr. PEYTON of Richmond, Va. (The Coastland Times - Friday, November 4, 1955; pg. 7) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DURHAM, N.C. Martha Jane MIDGETT of Engelhard is one of 176 Duke University Women's College students who have been pledged by the 13 national social sororities at Duke. Miss MIDGETT pledged Delta Gamma. She is the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. P.D. MIDGETT, JR. of Engelhard. (The Coastland Times - Friday, November 11, 1955; pg. 2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OCRACOKE PERSONALS Mrs. Iva O'NEAL and son Ikey D., and Mrs. Ethel GASKINS are visiting in Wilmington, Delaware with Mr. & Mrs. David STYRON and Belinda. While there they will also have the opportunity to see Mrs. O'NEAL'S other daughter, Mrs. Lucy GASKINS and the grandchildren who had come down from Portland, Maine to visit the STYRON'S. Mrs. Mame HOWARD accompanied them as far as Norfolk where she will visit her daughter, Mrs. OVERTON and family. Al Smith GARRISH is out of the hospital and has returned to the Coast Guard Base at new London, Conn. Mrs. Zion FOSTER is spending the next 2-3 months in Beaufort with Mrs. Mary MIDGETTE. Joyce MIDGETTE is also visiting her grandmother, Mrs. Mary MIDGETTE. Mr. & Mrs. Myron GARRISH and daughter Susan, have returned to Norfolk after a visit with his mother, Mrs. Thurston GASKILL and Capt. GASKILL. (The Coastland Times - Friday, November 11, 1955; pg. 3) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGELHARD PERSONALS Miss Leona CLARK has returned to her home in Swan Quarter after visiting her niece, Mrs. Fannie WATSON. (The Coastland Times - Friday, November 11, 1955; pg. 8) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FAIRFIELD PERSONALS Among the out-of-town relatives here for the funeral of Mrs. Henry C. CUTRELL were: Mr. & Mrs. Walter JONES of Portsmouth; Mr. & Mrs. Delbert CUTRELL and Bobby D. SWINDELL of Norfolk; Mr. & Mrs. Jack KERR of Kinston; Mr. & Mrs. Gilbert BARRINGTON and children of Elizabeth City. Mr. & Mrs. R.W. JONES, JR. of New Bern and Billy CUTRELL of Norfolk were called home by the illness and death of their mother. (The Coastland Times - Friday, November 25, 1955; pg. 3) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HYDE SISTERS AT ECC ARE CHOSEN FOR "WHO'S WHO" Hyde County will be represented in the 1955-56 edition of "Who's Who in American Universities" by two sisters at East Carolina College in Greenville. Jane CREDLE and Laura CREDLE, daughters of Mrs. Eunice CREDLE of New Holland [the rest of this article was too dim to read]. (The Coastland Times - Friday, November 25, 1955; pg. 6) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OCRACOKE PERSONALS Mr. & Mrs. Jamie STYRON are visiting their daughter, Mrs. James HART and family, in Richmond, Va. Mrs. Maude FULCHER has returned from Greenville. Her grandson, Mike RIDDICK, visited her during Thanksgiving. (The Coastland Times - Friday, December 2, 1955; pg. 2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGELHARD PERSONALS Mr. & Mrs. Paul CARTER and children Toni and Karen of Havelock, spent the holidays with Mr. & Mrs. R.S. SPENCER. Henry HARDING has returned to his home in Pilot Mountain after spending the past week with his mother-in-law, Mrs. R.L. ROPER. (The Coastland Times - Friday, December 2, 1955; pg. 2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ COLUMBIA PERSONALS Those from Tyrrell attending the funeral of Mrs. Florence GASKILL in Fairfield on Sunday were: Mr. & Mrs. J.D. SELBY, Miss Jessie GODWIN, Thomas GODWIN, Miss Myrtle GODWIN, and Ralph and Roy SMITH. (The Coastland Times - Friday, December 16, 1955; pg. 2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 25th DIVISION, HAWAII Army Cpl. Joseph B. CAHOON, 21, son of Closs E. CAHOON of Engelhard, recently graduated from the 25th Infantry Division's Non-Commissioned Officer Academy in Hawaii. A squad leader in Company B of the Division's 14th regiment, he received instruction in leadership of units, map reading and other military subjects. Cahoon, a 1953 graduate of Engelhard High School, entered the Army in November 1954 and completed basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. (The Coastland Times - Friday, December 23, 1955; pg. 3) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ACCEPTS CALL TO ENTER MINISTRY P.D. MIDGETT, III (photo) of Engelhard, has decided to answer the call to enter the ministry and plans to enter the Duke School of religion in February. Mr. MIDGETT is an outstanding community leader in Engelhard and is a certified lay speaker in the Methodist Church. A graduate of Duke University, he has been associated with his father, P.D. MIDGETT, JR., in operating the Pamlico Power and Light Company in Engelhard for several years. (The Coastland Times - Friday, December 23, 1955; pg. 10) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OCRACOKE PERSONALS Friends of Miss Frances BOWLEY, primary teacher here, will sympathize with her in the death on Christmas Day of her sister, Mrs. C.J. ALDRICH of Haworth, N.J. Mrs. Van Henry O'NEAL and children have been visiting her sister, Mrs. Aldine RUSH of Beaufort. Dr. & Mrs. William WILLIS of New Bern, flew to the Island due to illness in the family of Mr. & Mrs. John MIDGETT. Mr. & Mrs. Robert PRESTON were called to Fairmont, West Virginia in December because of the death of his mother, Mrs. W.F. PRESTON. She is survived by 9 children and 14 grandchildren. (The Coastland Times - Friday, January 6, 1956; pg. 2) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCED Mr. & Mrs. Maynard S. JOHNSON, now residing in Tokyo, Japan, announce the engagement of their daughter, Miss Eleanor Jane JOHNSON, to Frank Price CUTHRELL, son of Mr. & Mrs. John L. CUTHRELL of Aurora, N.C. Miss JOHNSON, a student at East Carolina College in Greenville, formerly attended school at Engelhard and Aurora, and was graduated from an Army dependant high school in Tokyo, Japan The JOHNSON'S lived at new Holland a number of years ago while Mr. JOHNSON was connected with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Mr. CUTHRELL is a graduate of Aurora High School and is a student at Wilmington College. (The Coastland Times - Friday, January 6, 1956; pg. 4) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MARRIAGE ANNOUNCEMENT In a double-ring ceremony the marriage of Miss Gayle JONES, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Cecil O. JONES of Belhaven, and George RIDDICK, JR., son of Mr. & Mrs. George RIDDICK of Belhaven, was solemnized December 27 at 4:15 p.m. at the home of Mr. & Mrs. James E. GIBBS, aunt of the bride, in Swan Quarter. The Rev. Frank LEGGETT, JR., minister of the Belhaven Christian Church, officiated at the candlelight ceremony which was attended only by members of the family. Music was presented by Miss Sue HARRIS, pianist, of Belhaven. After the ceremony Mrs. GIBBS honored the couple and guest with an informal reception. The bride attended East Carolina College and is now employed with the Farmers Supply in Belhaven. The groom also attended Eat Carolina College and is now in the Navy and at present is stationed in Norfolk. (The Coastland Times - Friday, January 6, 1956; pg. 7) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GULROCK PERSONALS Joseph PUGH, JR., U.S.N, spent the week-end with his parents. He is recovering nicely from the broken jaw received 10 weeks ago aboard ship while on duty. Edwin PAYNE, U.S.N., and wife Margaret, visited his parents, the Warren PAYNE'S. Their daughter, Judy, will return to school at Engelhard while staying with her grandparents. (The Coastland Times - Friday, January 20, 1956; pg. 3) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT Born to Mr. & Mrs. Hilton L. MEEKINS, a son H.L., JR., on Friday, January 13 at Pungo District Hospital in Belhaven. He weighed 6 pounds and 4 ounces. This is the third child and first son. Mrs. MEEKINS is the former Doris GIBBS of Engelhard. (The Coastland Times - Friday, January 20, 1956; pg. 3) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCED Mr. & Mrs. Junius Fulcher OVERTON of Norfolk, Va. announce the engagement of their daughter, Margaret Frances OVERTON to Danny Woolard GARRISH, son of Mr. & Mrs. Jesse W. GARRISH of Ocracoke. The wedding is to be in March. (The Coastland Times - Friday, January 20, 1956; pg. 6) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SWAN QUARTER PERSONALS Mrs. ___ MAYS has returned to her home in Winterville after visiting her mother, Mrs. Eleanor CREDLE, who has been sick. Mr. & Mrs. M.L. CARAWAN visited their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. & Mrs. Leo BISHOP, in Portsmouth. Mr. & Mrs. Jack EVERETTE and children of Kinston, visited her parents, Mr. & Mrs. C.B. JENNETTE. Mr. & Mrs. Leland CARAWAN and Mrs. John SWINDELL attended the funeral of Robert BENSON in Pantego on Saturday. Miss Monna Lou CARAWAN of Tarboro visited her parents, Mr. & Mrs. M.O. CARAWAN during the week-end. Mrs. Earl SPENCER and sons left Sunday for Norfolk; from there they went to Marchfield, California where Captain SPENCER is stationed. Claude SPENCER went as far as Norfolk with them. (The Coastland Times - Friday, January 20, 1956; pg. 6) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGELHARD NEWS Work is scheduled to begin shortly on a building for the Air Force at Engelhard according to representatives of the Corps of Army Engineers in Wilmington. This facility is known as a "gap filler" and has to do with the radar installations used by the armed forces. The project will cost about $40,000 and is to be located on the Middletown Highway a short distance from Engelhard. The contractors are Miller Building Corp. of Wilmington. (The Coastland Times - Friday, January 27, 1956; pg. 1) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OCRACOKE PERSONALS Mr. & Mrs. T.W. HOWARD arrived home recently after a month's visit with their son, Lafayette HOWARD and family, of Hadden Heights, N.J. Mr. & Mrs. C.F. BOYETTE arrived home on Saturday after a month's vacation, part of which was spent with their son, C.F. JR., in Alabama, and part with their daughter, Mrs. Allen SCARBOROUGH, in New Jersey. Mr. & Mrs. Donald O'NEAL of Wilmington, N.C. announce the birth of a daughter, Gloria Ann, January 7th. Mr. O'NEAL'S mother, Mrs. Katie O'NEAL, has been visiting them in Wilmington. Mrs. Helen ROBINSON of Ocean City, Md. is visiting her mother, Mrs. Sara J. JACKSON. William MIDGETT, USCG, has been transferred from the Oregon Inlet Station to the 83-footer here at Ocracoke. Mrs. MIDGETT and the children are living here. (The Coastland Times - Friday, January 27, 1956; pg. 3) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GRADUATED FROM INFANTRY SCHOOL Army 2nd Lt. William S. BURRUS (photo), age 24, son of Wm. S. BURRUS of Engelhard, recently graduated from the Infantry School's basic Infantry Officer's course at Ft. Benning, Ga. Lt. BURRUS, a 1955 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, was a salesman in an Engelhard store before entering the Army in 1948. (The Coastland Times - Friday, January 27, 1956; pg. 5) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGELHARD PERSONALS Mr. & Mrs. N.B. HUDSON and children Bess, Weldon, and Norman of Dunn, N.C., spent Sunday with their daughter, Mrs. M.C. HOLLAND. Mr. & Mrs. Bill HAMITT OF Mt. Gilead spent the week-end with her parents, Mr. & Mrs. H.L. ROPER. Mr. & Mrs. Sullivan GIBBS and children spent the week here due to the death of his father, Murl GIBBS. W.H. COX went to Illinois to visit Mrs. COX'S parents. His brother, Walter Carr COX, accompanied him. Mrs. COX will return home after spending some time here. (The Coastland Times - Friday, January 27, 1956; pg. 6) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HYDE CO. NEGRO WINNER OF LEGION CHEVROLET AUTO Essex COLLINS, listed as a resident of Engelhard, who paid $1 for a ticket to the dance of American Post #26 near Manteo Saturday night, was the winner of the $2400 1956 Chevrolet Sedan awarded by the post at the close of the dance. The post has had some difficulty in locating the winner who while giving his address as Engelhard is said to be living in New York. Legion officials said this week unless he come up soon to demand the prize, it may be declared void. A number of tickets were sold to Negros to participate in the lottery. One of the post members, John JAMBURA of Manns Harbor, on of the top sellers of tickets, sold some 300 and among these was the ticket sold to COLLINS. Collins, it appears has not lived in Engelhard for a long time, but gave the address of a friend. It was not necessary to be present to win. (The Coastland Times - Friday, February 3, 1956; pg. 1) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGELHARD PERSONALS Mr. & Mrs. Gene LEE of Merry Hill have moved to Engelhard and are at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Ernest LEE. Mr. & Mrs. Curtis HOWARD and children of New Holland are visiting her parents, the M.C. McKINNEY'S. (The Coastland Times - Friday, February 3, 1956; pg. 3) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ATLANTIC, GEORGIA Private Thomas Benjamin BLAKE of Fairfield recently completed the welding course at the Ordnance Automotive School Atlantic General Depot, Atlantic, Georgia. Private BLAKE, who is the son of Mr. & Mrs. T.D. BLAKE of Fairfield, is one of the more than 70,000 men from all over the world who have been trained specialists in the Ordnance School since it's inception in 1941. Private BLAKE is a 1955 graduate of Swan Quarter High School. (The Coastland Times - Friday, February 3, 1956; pg. 7) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HYDE OFFICERS PROBE WOMAN'S DEATH Swan Quarter - Hyde County authorities continued to investigate the mysterious circumstances that resulted in the weekend death of an Engelhard Negro woman. Angenora SPENCER, estranged wife of Otis SPENCER, was found bound north of Engelhard on the Engelhard-Fairfield road early Saturday morning. She died Sunday morning on the Pungo District Hospital in Belhaven. The woman was found by Thurman EVANS of near Swan Quarter about 5:30 in the morning. Mr. EVANS was enroute to Engelhard with films for the local theater when he saw the body. He did not stop to investigate but called Sheriff Charlie CAHOON on his arrival in Engelhard. Mr. CAHOON said this morning that the woman's legs were bound to her head by a skirt. She was only partly clothed and temperatures were near the freezing mark. She had suffered a blow over the left ear, but x-rays revealed no fractures. No arrests have been made. Officers are continuing their investigation. Funeral arrangements are incomplete. (Washington Daily News - March 25, 1956) [Submitted by Merlin S. BERRY of Gambrills, Md.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LOST COLONY WASN'T, OLD TRADITION SAYS--by Ralph Pool The Lost Colony never was lost. When Governor John White searched abandoned Fort Raleigh in 1590, his missing settlers were safe, well fed and presumably happy, scarcely a dozen miles away. This is the theory brought to light last week by Marshall Layton TWIFORD (photo), 83, of Norfolk, in a story by Victor MEEKINS in the Coastal Times published in Manteo, N.C. The theory isn't TWIFORD'S. Rather, it is a tradition stemming from the remote past in the East Lake section of Dare County, a region of woodlands and tangled marshes and sluggish creeks, which won wide recognition for the high quality of the corn liquor it produced in prohibition days. Not many miles from East Lake, and some 10 miles up Milltail Creek from Alligator River, is a wooded area of some 5,000 acres known as Beechland. This land is rich and somewhat higher than the surrounding marshes. For many generations, until about a century ago, it was the abiding place for a thriving community. Then plague struck, many died, and the frightened survivors fled. TWIFORD grew up in the river community at East Lake, where his father, M.D. TWIFORD, a "hard-shell" Baptist preacher, was also a fisherman, farmer, postmaster and merchant. From his father, he learned the story of Beechland's link with the Lost Colony. When the English Colonist built Fort Raleigh, the Indians had a settlement at Beechland, with a woodland trail leading to the shore of Croatan Sound opposite Roanoke Island, the tradition says. They made friends with the whites. John WHITE left Fort Raleigh in August 1587 to bring back needed supplies from England. A year elapsed. With no sign of WHITE, their fears of a Spanish attack from the sea increasing, and supplies doubtless at the vanishing point, the settlers abandoned Fort Raleigh and joined their Indian friends at Beechland, so the story goes. When WHITE finally returned in the summer of 1590, misfortune dogged him. The weather turned foul, and seven Englishmen drowned when their small boat capsized as they tried to land on Roanoke Island. Finally reaching shore, WHITE found Fort Raleigh far different from the settlement he had left three years before. He recounts that the houses had been pulled down and a strong enclosure built, with a high palisade of large trees. The place was deserted, but there was no sign of violence or of hurried departure. By agreement, the settlers were to have left crosses marked about the place if threat of danger forced them to abandon the area. There were no crosses. On a tree at the fort's entrance, he found the word "CROATOAN" carved in "Roman letters". Also, the letters "CRO" had been carved on a tree on the brow of a nearby cliff. WHITE believed "Croatoan" to mean an island to the south, possibly the present Ocracoke. He planned to go there to continue his search, but the stormy weather continued and the expedition had to scurry out to the open sea to escape destruction. WHITE'S next idea was to sail to the West Indies, spend the winter, and return the following spring for further search. But the weather continued bad, the idea was dropped, and the expedition returned to England. There ends the recorded history of the Raleigh settlements. One tradition holds that the John WHITE colony journeyed many miles to the south and finally settled in what is now Robeson County, on the South Carolina border. And now there is Beechland. According to the legend related by TWIFORD, the word "Croatoan" actually referred to the mainland district across Croatan Sound from Roanoke Island, now known as Manns Harbor. Marshy islands dotted the sound and it was almost possible to cross from island to mainland on foot until about 150 years ago. Then an inlet at the present Nags Head filled up, the flow of water from Albemarle Sound was diverted, and strong currents washed the islands away. Croatoan, TWIFORD said, was named for an Indian woman who lived and died there and who must have been in some way notable, though only her name comes down to us. Beechland was a fair, fruitful and happy land, the story goes. Its deep, black loam produced a bounty of corn, cotton and other crops. Its orchards yielded abundant fruit, its hives produced plenty of golden honey, its herds grazing in the reedy marshlands supplied hides, meat and milk. The sounds and rivers offered fish and oysters for the taking. In time, the Indian trail of Croatan faded away and the inhabitants of Beechland came to depend on stout boats of their own making for contact with the outside world. They built up a brisk trade with the West Indies, exchanging drawn cypress shingles and farm produce for sugar, spices, rum, salt and other products. In this prosperous community, neighbors came to the rescue of anyone whom misfortune struck. None were permitted to go in want; and in time of death, neighbors hewed a coffin out of the rot-resistant cypress, dug the grave and otherwise ministered to the bereaved. There was no thought of taking pay. Graves were marked with rocks from ballast dumped by ships returned from the West Indies. Many of these graves are to be found in Beechland today, and it is possible that archaeological investigation might turn up new evidence of Beechland's links from the far past. "I saw one of those coffins opened," TWIFORD recalled. "It had been dug up accidentally by a bulldozer. The top and bottom halves had been fitted closely together and fastened with pegs. All I saw inside was a little ashes or dust. It ought to have been examined for buttons or other objects, but it wasn't. The men reburied it, and the bulldozer crew circled around the graveyard." For many generations, Beechland flourished. At long last, tradition says, there came a day when the people paid little heed to spiritual things, refused to listen to the pleadings of a minister in their midst to humble themselves before God. When they failed to build a church and meet for worship, he warned them to expect catastrophe. Not long after, the minister's warning was fulfilled. Calamity struck in the form of a plague, likely cholera brought from the West Indies. Scores died. A few packed their belongings in their boats and escaped to Currituck and elsewhere. Beechland vanished as a settled, prosperous community a few years before the Civil War. In later years, a few families trickled back. TWIFORD remembers as a small boy accompanying his father to the district, not many miles from East Lake. Three families then lived there, he says, named SMITH, BASNIGHT, and STOKES. "After a few years, these families disappeared too," TWIFORD added. "I guess they just moved away." A check of John WHITE'S roster of the Lost Colony reveals a Thomas SMITH, but the link to Beechland is tenuous, to say the least, in view of the multiplicity of SMITHS. Marshall TWIFORD, whose memories have brought to life the Beechland story, will be 84 next October 7. He moved from East Lake to Norfolk in the World War I era, and worked as a saw filer at the Naval Base. In 1922 he became a car repairman for the Norfolk & Western Railway. He retired on disability status in 1945. Afterward, for many years, he kept busy building fast, clean-lined sailing boats for an eager clientele. Last October, he underwent an operation that left him incapacitated for active work, and now he spends his time quietly reading, watching television and tending the yard at his home at 8536 Chesapeake Blvd. Mr. and Mrs. TWIFORD celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary June 9. They have eight living children, among them a son, Doc Taylor TWIFORD, who operates a well-known restaurant in downtown Norfolk. The others are Mrs. Dewey (Nellie) TWIFORD, Marshall W. TWIFORD, Mrs. Harold (Mabel) MARSHALL, Woodrow W. TWIFORD, and Dennis TWIFORD, all of the Norfolk area, Mrs. Nancy Dee SUMRELL of Baltimore, and Mrs. Hester TWIFORD of Texas. (The Virginian-Pilot - Sunday, July 3, 1960; Section B) [Submitted by Corky HESTER of Mount Juliet, Tennessee] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ GOLDEN WEDDING Mr. & Mrs. Warren Benjamin PAYNE (photo) of Gull Rock in Hyde County, observed their 50th wedding anniversary here yesterday at a reception given at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Cephas HARRIS at 904 Franklin St. The couple was presented a corsage by their 5 great-grandchildren. They have six children and 15 grandchildren. (The Coastland Times - Monday, January 2, 1961) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ COMMANDER PAYNE VISITS OLD FRIENDS AT GULROCK Commander Alton W. PAYNE, USN (photo) recently spent two weeks at his boyhood home in Gulrock, and saw most of his old friends who are living. He was with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Warren B. PAYNE. Cdr. PAYNE was an Engelhard HS graduate in 1936, taught for a term at Beulahville, and worked as business manager for a Charlotte chemical company. In July 1941 he entered the Navy at Atlanta, Ga., attended elimination flight training school and was sent to Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Fla. He won his gold wings in August 1942, being commissioned an ensign. During World War II he served in Scouting Squadron No. 38, SAS, Unit II, where he was second in command. He subsequently served as communications officer, Naval Air Station, Trinidad, BWI; attended General Line School, Monterey, California, served as Intelligence analyst in the office of Chief of Naval Operations, Washington; officer in charge of Helicopter Squadron II, detachment one; Air Operations Officer USS Aircraft Carrier Antietam; and recently assistant operations and planning officer, Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Me. On July 20th, he will report for duty at San Diego, as Executive Officer, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 8. He is married to the former Joyce HOLLINGSWORTH of Kenansville, N.C. and they have three children, Holly, Alton Jr., and Susan. (The Coastland Times - Monday, January 2, 1961) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ECSU HONORS Cecelia Ann MIDGETTE of Engelhard and Crystal Cassandra GIBBS of Swan Quarter achieved places on the honor roll for the spring semester at Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City. Ms. GIBBS was placed on the Vice Chancellor's list with an average of between 3.5 and 3.74, and Ms. MIDGETTE maintained an average between 3.0 and 3.49 for a place on the Honor Roll list. (The Coastland Times - Thursday, June 15, 1989) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MIDGETT HONORED WITH RECEPTION P.D.MIDGETT, JR. (photo) of Engelhard was honored recently, at a reception for his ninetieth birthday at the Engelhard Community Building. MIDGETT, a Dare County native, is noted for his association with Pamlico Power and Light Company, with lines which are now served by Tideland EMC, and for his Rotary participation. In 1935 he was a founder of the Engelhard Rotary Club and is now the only charter member left. He is charter member of the Southern Albemarle Association. He was active in 1963 in getting the Historical Society started. MIDGETT is member of the Engelhard Methodist Church. MIDGETT was elected to the board of directors at the East Carolina Bank in 1954, and he is still an active member. A short program was presented, consisting of opening remarks by Martelle MARSHALL, president of the Engelhard Rotary Club; Leon BALLANCE also spoke representing the Rotary Club. Roy CLARKE, president of the East Carolina Bank, gave a brief history of MIDGETT as member of the board of directors of the bank. R.S. SPENCER, JR. presented MIDGETT with a piano presented in his honor to be used at the Engelhard Community Building for community functions. The piano was sponsored by Engelhard Rotary Club and The East Carolina Bank. A plaque was placed on the piano. MIDGETT'S family expressed appreciation to their father and to his many friends and associates for the reception. MIDGETT has three sons: George from Charlotte; Rev. P.D. III; and Bernard from Hatteras; and a daughter Martha Jane KELLY from Newport News, Va. (The Coastland Times - January 9, 1990) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BOOK SIGNING Ellen WILLIAMS (photo) of Swan Quarter, autographs her, new book "In the Name of God, Amen!" Abstracts of Hyde County, N.C. Wills probate 1709 through 1775" at a reception in her honor held at the Octagon House recently. The reception was sponsored by the Hyde County Historical Society. (The Coastland Times - 1990) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TWENTY YEARS AGO Ira ROSE feted June 14 on his 80th birthday at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. & Mrs. T.R. SAWYER. The engagement of Miss Romaine Catherine STALEY to Samuel R. WINDLEY is announced by her parents. The wedding is planned for Aug. 23. (excerpts from Beaufort-Hyde News Thursday, June 18, 1970) Mrs. Macon HARRIS, SR. of Swan Quarter is honored with a surprise party on her 80th birthday. TEN YEARS AGO (excerpts from Beaufort-Hyde News, Thursday, June 19, 1980) Women of Soule Church meet. Involved with the evening's program were Mrs. Eula BOOMER, Mrs. Daphne O'NEAL, Mrs. Janie SWINDELL, Mrs. Willie M. BOOMER, Mrs. Marjorie SADLER and Mrs. Evelyn SADLER. (Beaufort-Hyde News-June 13, 1990) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ENGELHARD ROTARY HONORS COUPLE The Engelhard Rotary Club recently honored Huron and Mildred GIBBS with an award for community service. The GIBBS' have operated a store in Middletown for nearly 40 years. The buffet dinner, catered by Veronica and Martella MARSHALL, was held in the Engelhard Community Building. Special guests were, Rotary District Governor Dr. Donald HAYMAN and his wife, Mary Helen of Chapel Hill. President Eddie RAMON welcomed the Rotary spouses and children. The singing was led by Leon BALLANCE who also had the invocation. Following the meal which featured oyster fritters, guests were recognized. These were Huron and Mildred GIBBS, Al and Josephine GIBBS, Loma GIBBS, J. B. CAHOON and Doug GIBBS. R. S. SPENCER, JR. gave a presentation on the early history of Middletown and focused on the SPENCER-GIBBS Store owned by Huron and Mildred GIBBS today. The store was in existence prior to 1850 and operated by the BALLANCE and SPENCER families. It was moved to its present location prior to 1876. The store was purchased by J. Fletcher BURRUS, father of Mildred GIBBS, in 1929. Following his death, Huron and Mildred GIBBS either ran the store or leased it until 1956. Since that time they have been in the store almost everyday. The program then shifted to the couple being honored: Huron and Mildred GIBBS. Huron was born on 18 December 1903 not too far from Middletown. He is the son of George Dallas and Laura Elizabeth Williams GIBBS, the grandson of Morgan Marion Gibbs, the great-grandson of Hilliard GIBBS, Sheriff of Hyde County, and the great-great-grandson of Henry GIBBS who died in 1823. Mildred Lee Burrus GIBBS was born on 3 February 1908 in Engelhard, the daughter of John Fletcher and Kate Lee Farrow BURRUS. She is the granddaughter of Andrew Peele BURRUS, the great-granddaughter of Allen BURRUS, and the great-great granddaughter of Zachariah BURRUS who died in 1842. The BURRUS family came to the Middletown area from Hatteras. Mildred's father farmed for Closs GIBBS for a few years before moving to the Lucas Lane back of Alma and Bettie SWINDELL'S house. The BURRUS family moved to Middletown when Mildred was 13. On 18 October 1927 the couple was wed by R. E. CARTER, J. P. and began their married life in New Holland where Huron was working as a plant engineer. They left when the pumping plant closed in 1932 and Huron and Will MARSHALL opened a garage in Dave LUCAS' warehouse in Middletown. Later Frank SWINDELL worked with Huron there. During World War II the couple moved to Roanoke Island where Huron did machine work in the Guy LENNON shipyard. Huron also worked for a time with P. D. MIDGETT, JR. as a lineman and in the ice plant. Huron tired of the work he was doing and went on the water. His wife said, "That's where he has been ever since." Testimonials were sent to the couple from family and friends. Mrs. Annie RUE of Fairfield wrote that even in his 80's Huron goes in the Sound everyday to see that the boat is steered in the right direction for his son, Al. Beulah and Golden MOONEY sent a story about a teenage Huron GIBBS breaking the law. One day instead of shooting squirrels, he shot an eagle. He was so proud until his grandmother informed him what he had done was against the law. Huron's first cousin, Marybelle SEARS, sent a story to Huron's brother Carl about getting stuck on a Hyde County road in the 1920's and nearly freezing to death. She said that she did not know a nicer couple than Huron and Mildred GIBBS. Rev. Jim DAVENPORT, pastor of Engelhard Baptist Church, told of the strong religious beliefs of the couple and their faithfulness to their church. He and his wife Peggy entertained the group with a couple of songs dedicated to the GIBBS'. Earl PUGH, JR. presented Huron and Mildred GIBBS with a plaque from the club. He noted the respect that the community holds for the couple and stated that the club was proud to have people like Huron and Mildred GIBBS to honor and recognize. Following the plaque presentation, Kay GIBBS at the piano and Tynia HARRIS vocalist entertained the club with a musical program. Then Leon BALLANCE presented club President Eddie RAMON, a native of New Orleans, a certificate making him an honorary native of Hyde County. Mr. RAMON had recently returned from a trip to New Orleans and had informed the club that he discovered that you really cannot go home again. Mr. BALLANCE tested the president with a quiz to see if he qualified to become a native. When the president told the club he did eat collards and pone bread, that he waved to nearly everyone he passed on the road, and demonstrated that he could say "Hoigh Toide", there was no doubt in any Rotarian's mind that he deserved the native status. The meeting was then adjourned. (The Coastland Times - Tuesday, December 4, 1990) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BRIDE-ELECT Mary Lillian FULCHER (photo), daughter of Laurie FULCHER of Ocracoke and Mrs. Ada Styron FULCHER of Valdese, is engaged to wed Herbert Linwood ODEN, III, son of Herbert Linwood ODEN, JR. of Ocracoke and Mrs. Dorothy ODEN of Hatteras. A private ceremony at the home of the bride's grandmother, Mrs. Lillian FULCHER, is planned for Saturday, February 22. A reception for family and friends of the couple will follow at the Pony Island Restaurant. (The Coastland Times -Tuesday, February 18, 1992) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TRACE FAMILY ORIGINS Ruby VOLIVA and Mabel ARMSTRONG (photo), two of the 9 children born to Thomas Roland SPENCER and his wife Elizabeth, son of Sorrowful and Elizabeth SPENCER, were among the SPENCER family members who gathered recently for a reunion. During the day, Mrs. VOLIVA & Mrs. ARMSTRONG were able to fill in the blanks on the family trees, providing names of descendants not known to the younger members of the family. Both ladies make their home in Tyrrell County. (The Coastland Times - Thursday, April 16, 1992) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TO WED SATURDAY Jeanette O'Neal LUTZ and Paul WILLIS (photo) will be united in marriage on July 25 in a ceremony beginning at 2 p.m. in the sanctuary of Ocracoke United Methodist Church. The bride-elect is the daughter of Harry F. and Carol O'NEAL of Ocracoke Island and the groom's parents are Hilton and Margie WILLIS of Williston. A reception at the bride's parents home will follow the ceremony. Friends and family of the couple are cordially invited. (The Coastland Times - July 21, 1992) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TWO FROM HYDE HISTORICAL SOCIETY NAMED OFFICERS IN STATE ASSOCIATION President, R.S. SPENCER, JR. announced a change in the society's name which will become effective in 1991. The new name will be Hyde County Historical and Genealogical Society. Ellen WILLIAMS informed the members that R.S. SPENCER, JR. was elected president and John ODEN, III was elected first vice president of the North Carolina Genealogical Society at its annual meeting held in Raleigh October 26. Congratulations were extended to both men. Upcoming publications of the society will include a book by R.S. SPENCER, JR. on 18th century estate papers and Ellen WILLIAMS' Will Book II on wills dating from 1776-1819. Also there will be a book on Bastardy Bonds published soon. A booklet of pedigree charts on the BOOMER family were available for sale at the meeting for $7. Mrs. Lona CARAWAN introduced the speaker, Vigle BOOMER and wife, Audrey Lassiter BOOMER. Mrs. CARAWAN also recognized Mrs. Edna Boomer BRINSON and Mrs. Ada Tunnell HARRIS, both members of the 1928 graduating class of Swan Quarter High School. Vigle BOOMER, who is the father of Lt. Gen. Walter E. BOOMER, spoke very fondly of his growing-up days in the Swindell Forks community. The society presented Vigle BOOMER with several publications of the society. (The Coastland Times - Sunday, November 3, 1991) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ STATE GENEALOGICAL ASSN. PRESIDENT COMPILES RESEARCH DIRECTORY R.S. SPENCER, JR. (Photo) of Engelhard has compiled "The North Carolina Genealogical Directory" for sale by the North Carolina Genealogical Society. The book was released in the spring and sales have been good, a society spokesman said. The book is especially valuable for those researching their families in various North Carolina counties, the spokesman added. The book is divided into four sections listing resources for genealogists and historians. Information is included about the formation of each of North Carolina's counties together with names and addresses of current local genealogical and historical societies followed by a list of books for sale about each county. Another section contains similar information on the non-extant counties of the state while the final part of the work describes societies and books of statewide interest to genealogists and historians. SPENCER is serving as president of the North Carolina Genealogical Society for the 1992-93 term. He previously served on the board of directors from 1984-86, as Publications Incentive Chairman for the society in 1987 and as first vice-president in 1990-91. He has served as president of the Hyde County Historical Society (became the Hyde County Historical and Genealogical Society in 1991) since 1978. He has published several books for the local society and is currently working on a book on eighteenth century Hyde estate records. He also serves as an editor for "High Tides" the Journal of the local society. Serving with SPENCER on the state level is John H. ODEN, III, of Hunters Bridge in Beaufort County. ODEN is currently first vice- president and liaison chairman for the state society. SPENCER and ODEN recently completed a week long National Institute for Genealogical Research held at the National Archives in Washington D.C. Both men recently were also in Waynesville for the summer board of directors meeting of the North Carolina society. "The North Carolina Genealogical, Directory" can be purchased for $25 plus tax for North Carolina residents, from NCGS Publications, Mrs. Margaret M. HOFMANN, P.O. Box 446, Roanoke Rapids 27870. Copies are also available from Mrs. Betty MANN, Treasurer, Hyde County Historical and Genealogical Society, Route 1, Box 74, Fairfield 27826. (The Coastland Times - Sunday, August 9, 1992) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 100 YEARS OLD Mrs. Neta MIDGETTE (photo) of Engelhard, celebrated her 100th birthday on July 24. She was born to Mr. and Mrs. Charlie BLOUNT of Engelhard on July 24, 1892. She now has one brother of Engelhard, Ben BLOUNT, who is 97, and one sister of Brooklyn, N.Y. Miss Neta has raised many generations of children. She worked in Stumpy Point and with Dr. Henry LIVERMAN of Engelhard for many years. She was a faithful church worker until her health began to fail in 1985. Miss Neta was favored with a birthday dinner at her home. Many of her friends and relatives attended the celebration of her 100th birthday. Miss Neta is still active and likes to sit on the front porch and read her Bible. She said she's very grateful to God she's doing as well as she is, and thankful to God for letting her see 100 beautiful years. (The Coastland Times - Thursday, August 20, 1992) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "THE LORD'S BEEN GOOD TO ME", SAYS GREAT-GRANDSON OF AFRICA SPENCER by R.S. SPENCER, JR. (Photo of Claude Allen SPENCER and only son, Wilbert Lacy SPENCER) Claude Allen SPENCER-"The Lord has brought me a long ways." In Lake Swamp some three miles north of Engelhard lives a unique black gentleman and his son. To find this man, a visitor would leave Engelhard traveling west on US 264, turn toward Fairfield at Patrick's Corner and turn again at Fulford Cemetery. That road dead ends about a mile and a half or so, and that is where Claude SPENCER is to be found today, nearly a mile from his nearest neighbor. Claude recently celebrated his 90th birthday while son Wilbert Lacy SPENCER just turned 68. Wilbert is disabled and gets around only on a walker so the father does most of the cooking, keeps the house and yard, and feeds the German shepherd, Snooks. Every week or so when Claude needs supplies, he gets on his bicycle and pedals toward Engelhard. After getting his groceries, he heads home and accepts a ride only on extremely hot days or when he is not feeling well. When he was younger, he hitched his mules Jim and Kate to a wagon and drove them to Engelhard often picking up walkers along he way. Later for a few years, he used an old tractor he had to make his excursions. He never has owned a car but used to drive those of others in the 1920s when a license was not required. Wilbert is a handicapped person and at night often has severe breathing problems. Claude states that on bad nights the two of them get only a few hours sleep. Claude is himself in pain. many days, but the two of those seek medical assistance only is a last resort preferring to treat themselves as they have been taught. Claude prides himself on being able to cook most everything except one of his favorites: ponebread. He tried once but failed so miserably he will not try again. Once he could not cook cakes; but when he discovered that cake mixes could be purchased in a box, he knew what to do. Claude spends much fine each day in reading his Bible and talking to the Lord. He and Wilbert have Bible study each morning before breakfast. A person is not around Claude very long before that person hears Claude quote a Bible verse to explain his thinking on some matter. On Sundays when be is feeling well enough, he attends Mt. Pilgrim Disciple Church in Engelhard where he has been a deacon for many years following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. Claude grew up in the area near Lake Swamp. He remembers playing with white children such as Jabin, Freddie, and Carlton BERRY and being good friends with the John Lewis family and the Damerson MIDGETT family. Often he and the BERRY boys would play on a log across a ditch with each one trying to knock the other one off. Claude would come home wet and his grandmother would fuss but to no avail as he was back at that ditch every chance he got. He and the BERRY boys picked cotton for Duren SPENCER who took a liking to Claude and would come by and pick him up and ride him around in his horse and buggy. Claude remembers earning a quarter per day as his wages back then. Claude attended school at Engelhard near where Cargill is located today. He walked with Dick BOWDEN's children Manual, Sarah Pher, and Cleatus who lived on the DAVIS land nearby. Claude got as far as the 4th grade. Some teachers he remembers were Mrs. SLADE and a lady named Miss Cora who taught there for several years. He also had Bessie GIBBS, daughter of Remus GIBBS, as a teacher. Claude was close to his grandfather Allen MANN and often visited with him on a lane back of the Bob CARTER place near Middletown. Claude's middle name was selected in honor of his MANN grandfather while his first name was for his mother's brother Claudius MANN. Wilbert was named by his Aunt Stella COLLINS, wife of Virgis COLLINS. About 1916 or so, Claude went to work helping to clear up the Pike Road area in Beaufort County. He stayed with his Uncle Bennie and Aunt Rose Ella SPENCER in Pantego. About 1918, Claude went to work at the Cooperage Mill in Belhaven where he sawed off box ends, rolled wheelbarrows, and stacked boxes. He later worked at a tobacco factory in Greenville before returning to Hyde County. ROMANCE--Even while away from home, Claude could not forget one of his schoolmates and on 24 November 1923 he and Mary Snow COLLINS were married by Elder J.F. KEYS at Engelhard. Witnesses were Anson GIBBS and Mary E. GIBBS of Engelhard and I.F. KEYS of Jamesville. The next year saw the birth of Claude's only child on 24 August when Wilbert was born. Tragedy soon struck though as Mary Snow died only eleven days after tile birth of her son. Claude waited many years before he married again. This time it was to Mrs. Annie Patterson FULFORD on 24 January 1958. Annie was a faithful wife to Claude and a good mother to Wilbert. The family though experienced a second tragedy when Annie died in 1979. Since that time Claude and Wilbert have looked after themselves. CLAUDE'S FAMILY--Claude was the son of William Vance SPENCER and Cora Mann SPENCER. He had an older brother named Jodie and a young brother named William, both who died quite young as did his only sister named Lizzie. His youngest brother Redmond SPENCER lives in the Hill section of Engelhard today. Claude SPENCER'S grandfather was named Abraham. He was married to Angenora (Nora) SPENCER and then to Sarah Elizabeth (Betty) SWINDELL. Abraham had daughters Annie and Julettie by his marriage to Angenora. Angenora was the daughter of the well-known "Uncle Jack" SPENCER and Jane SPENCER. Uncle Jack lived to a ripe old age and died around the time of World War I. He was noted for his hard work and for his knowledge of local history. Claude remembers talking with his "Grandpa Jack." Abraham SPENCER was born on 25 November 1854 according to slave records found in the Caleb SPENCER family Bible. He was the son of Africa SPENCER and Esther SPENCER, both slaves of Caleb SPENCER. Africa and Esther had sons Abraham, Henry, Thomas, Redmond D. and Ben and daughters Barbary, Violet and Hannah. Some success has been achieved in tracing the families of Abraham and Barbary. Barbary married on 27 December 1871 to Aaron SAUNDERSON. They had sons William J., George, Garfield and Benjamin, and daughters Mary E., Hannah, Sarah and Laura. Hannah married Hoyt BOOMER and later moved to Pantego. They were the parents of Booker T. BOOMER who served churches in Hyde County for many years until his death not too long ago. Efforts to trace Africa and Esther have been difficult but are continuing. There is no record of purchase of them by Caleb SPENCER. (Hyde Deed Book T covering the mid-to-late 1820's was destroyed in a fire and might have provided an answer.) After SPENCER died in 1853, the 30 slaves he had were left to his children. In the division of slaves on Christmas Eve of 1856, Ben of Esther and Esther and children Abe, Barbary, and Tom were set off to Caleb BONNER, Theodore P. BONNER, Frances BONNER and Virginia BONNER, grandchildren of Caleb. The BONNERS received the estate share of their deceased mother Mozella Spencer BONNER. Africa SPENCER was allotted to Caleb's daughter Sarah A. SPENCER. The names of Caleb's slaves show names later used by Africa and his descendants: Redmond, Abe, Tom, Barbary, Ben and Hannah. By 1870 Africa was dead and Esther was living in the household of Allin FULFORD with her children Henry, Barbara, Tom and Abe. In the 1880 census for Hyde County, Allen D. SPENCER (likely the Allin FULFORD of 1870) is age 82 and head of household consisting of Esther age 60 and Henry SPENCER, age 25, who is listed as "wife's son. " The scarcity of family records has made the search for additional information on Africa and Esther and their descendants difficult, but hopefully the publication of this story of great-grandson, Claude Allen SPENCER, will be the key to additional discoveries. No doubt Claude SPENCER will continue to ride his bicycle, care for his son and keep his house as long as he is able for truly as he states: "The Lord has been good to me." (The Coastland Times - Tuesday, October 20, 1992) Copyright 1998 ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. 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