Roanoke Beacon Blog

Feature Friday posts will feature relevant information from a chosen online resource. This month, the database is GenealogyBank.

This post is technically a day later than I’d planned, but I’m posting it anyway. I have come up with a series of blogging memes to keep me actively posting so I want to meet my goal.

Since my focus this month is on GenealogyBank, I went searching for information related to the Plymouth, NC area. I found plenty!

This article from the December 21, 1822 issue of the Carolina Sentinel describes a boat race between two Washington County pioneers, Thomas Cox and William J. Armistead. I certainly recognize the Armistead surname – even some people in my family trees were former slaves who ended up with that name. The two men raced for $50. Cox’s yacht was named “Eclipse” and Armistead’s canoe was named “Southern Ox.”

I found William J. Armistead in the 1820 Plymouth, NC census where it is just him and one other male. No wife or kids though. He had 18 slaves though. Thomas is also enumerated in Plymouth – there are five others in his house besides he, and he owns 13 slaves. I believe I have more information about these two gentlemen at home, but as I’m out now, don’t have it handy. I’ll have to check.

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I also found this obituary from the Charlotte Daily Observer of January 13, 1920 for the mother of Herbert D. Carstarphen. She was 83 years old when she died and was the daughter-in-law of Lt. Robert Carstarphen who served in the Revolutionary War.

Since her first name was not mentioned, I went to the new NC Death Certificates database at Ancestry and her death certificate was indeed there. Her name was Louisa. I could not make out her parents’ names, but according to the death index on the Washington County NCGenWeb site, their names are John Dugride and Mary Meadows.

The Carstarphens are mentioned all over the Roanoke Beacon paper. In looking through my index (see link on sidebar) I found the following:

• her son Earnest gave the newspaper editor some figs in Jul 1889
• the birth announcement of one of her granddaughters appeared in the 13 Sep 1889 issue. I’d previously posted on how novel I thought this birth announcement was b/c it took me a few reads to even realize what it was trying to say.
• In January of 1898 Louisa fell and broke her arm while her daughter Gussie was home for a visit
• Herbert himself came home for a visit in March of 1898
• In July of 1898 Louise and some friends took a vacation to Norfolk for 10 days

I found an Ancestry Family Tree with this family, so I will contact the person who has it up to see if this if of any use for them.

Here’s a post that is not specifically about Washington County, but is of relevance. One of the families I am tracking is that of Dr. Augustus Harvey MacNair of Edgecombe County, NC. I believe Dr. MacNair to have been a slaveowner of my 3rd great-grandfather, Rufus Tannahill McNair.

Dr. MacNair had a sister named Susan who married a man named William Tannahill. My Rufus, after emancipation went by the surname Tannahill, then by the 1870 census, was enumerated as McNair. Dr. MacNair had a sister named Susan that married a man named William Tannahill. Susan & William had six children that I know of – Alice, Eliza, Robert, Isabelle, Edmund & William Jr.

I just was doing some Google searching and found an article about the death of William Jr. that was in the New York Times –this was an unexpected surprise!

New York Times
31 October 1890

WHILE TEMPORARILY INSANE – William T. Tannahill Shoots Himself Dead.

William T. Tannahill, who had been a member of the Cotton Exchange since its organization some twenty years ago, committed suicide by shooting himself in the temple, at the home of his sister-in-law, Mrs. S.J. Tannahill, in Englewood, N.J., shortly before 11 o’clock last Wednesday night. That was his forty-seventh birthday. Mr. Tannahill had been under treatment for some nervousness for some time, and he had been subject to periods of despondency. He had an office in the Cotton Exchange Building, and managed the affairs of the firm, the other member of which was his sister-in-law, Mrs. S.J. Tannahill.

He was at his office on Wednesday, and went home as usual by an evening train. After tea he complained of a headache and retired about 10 o’clock. His sister-in-law sat by his bedside for nearly an hour, and bade him good night at 10:40 o’clock. Five minutes later the household was startled by the pistol shot, and they found Mr. Tannahill bleeding to death from a bullet wound to the temple. The unfortunate man died in about half an hour.

Mr. Tannahill belonged to a Southern family that came originally from Edgecombe County, N.C. and settled in Petersburgh, Va. At the close of the war the entire family moved to this city, and in 1871 W.T. Tannahill entered the cotton commission business with his brother Edmund.

The suicide is said to have been committed during a bit of mental aberration superinduced by the nervous disorder. Mr. Tannahill’s fellow members in the Exchange say that the firm did a conservative and prosperous business, though it was not generally known that Mrs. Tannahill was a member of the firm. Mr. Tannahill was never married.

Roanoke Beacon
30 Sep 1898

In Memorium. Whereas God in His infinite wisdom has seen it fit to remove (by death) from our midst our beloved Sunday school pupil, Margaret BRINKLEY; be it resolved:

• 1st – That we, the members of Hebron M.E. Sunday school, bow in humble submission to His divine will
• 2nd – That while we shall miss her very bright, childish face and innocent smile, we rejoice in the hope of meeting her in heaven
• 3rd – That we extend our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved parents and loved ones
• 4th – That a copy of these resolutions be spread on our Sunday school Register, a copy sent to the Roanoke Beacon for publication.

Mrs. M.D. Wilson, Mrs. S.L. WALKER, Mr. E.L. HERRINGTON

Roanoke Beacon
30 Sep 1898

Died. At his home near Elisha, Pasquotank County, on the 19th inst., Johnny CARTER, aged about 46 years. He was a member of the Methodist Church and will be missed by his many friends. He leaves a wife and babe, besides six other children which are now fatherless and motherless. We extend heartfelt sympathy to them, and can leave it all to our Heavenly Father, who doeth all things well. His friend — Thomas F. PARSONS.

Roanoke Beacon
30 Sept 1898

Creswell Chips — Mrs. LIVERMAN, of Cross Landing, aged about 70 years, was found dead in her bed Saturday morning, Sept 24th.

Roanoke Beacon
30 Sep 1898

We extend to Mr. & Mrs. Joe E. JOHNSTON, of Mackey’s Ferry, our heartfelt sympathies in the death of their little boy, which died last week from diphtheria.

Roanoke Beacon
23 Sep 1898

DIED. At his home at Water Lily, Currituck county, on the 16th inst., David W. Hampton, Esq., aged about 55 years.

The deceased was a member of the Primitive Baptist church and lived a life full of love to his God and all mankind, and his death filled the hearts of all who knew him with grief. But to his relatives and friends who mourn, comes the messenger of peace, saying in a still, small voice, “It is well. He has passed beyond this veil of tears; he has entered the gate that stands ajar and taken up his abode in that home not made by hands, eternal in the heavens.”

The Beacon, which he so much enjoyed, extends to the bereaved heartfelt sympathies.

Roanoke Beacon
19 Aug 1898

Mrs. Dorcas Nooney, wife of Mr. Jesse Nooney, departed this life at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Tom Jones, on Gay street, at one o’clock Sunday morning. She leaves a husband and eight children to mourn her loss. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family.

Roanoke Beacon
19 Aug 1898

Died – at 20 minutes past nine o’clock on Sunday night the messenger of death entered the happy home of Mr. Arthur Barden, on Washington street, and wafted the spirit of that fond husband and father to the God who gave it. Nothing save the mourns and sighs from breaking hearts broke the stillness of the hour, and though his death had been hourly expected for two weeks, yet the news sent a shock throughout the town.

The deceased was about 50 years of age, and until hindered by failing health, was a useful citizen. He was a consistent member of the M.E. Church South, and the patience with which he endured his suffering bore evidence that he was faithful unto the end. He leaves a wife, three daughters, and a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn his death.

We extend to the grief stricken family our heartfelt sympathies. “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Roanoke Beacon
15 Jul 1898
pg. 3

Died – at his home near Mackey’s Ferry on Friday night last, Joseph W. Blount, Esq., aged 67 years. The deceased had been in ill health for several years, suffering from a complication of diseases, and his death was no surprise to his relatives and friends, though the death of such a prominent man naturally casts a gloom over the entire county.

He leaves one son, Mr. Wheeler Blount, who resided with him at his old home, and one daughter, Mrs. W S Davenport, of Mackey’s Ferry, and three brothers, one being Mayor Levi Blount, of this town; Mr. Edward Blount, who resided near him, and Mr. Alfred Blount, of Roper.

The deceased was a consistent member of the M.P. Church, an affectionate and devoted father, a loving brother and a kind and sympathetic friend.

The remains were laid to rest in the family grave yard at the old home on Saturday afternoon beside the dear ones who have long since preceded him to the world beyond where they waited to bid his spirit welcome.

The BEACON extends to the bereaved family and friends our heartfelt sympathies. Peace to his ashes.