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Note: Obituary: from the Smithfield Herald
"One of Johnston's Oldest Citizens Dead"
birth is given as Feb 14 1829 and death Apr 10 1920, served until Lee surrendered at Appomattox at which place he was discharged twice wounded ...a vigorous old man, a beloved and honorable citizen enjoyed fox hunting as much as did the younger people always attended the old soldiers diners and picnics... Mr. Flowers was twice married, his first wife was Miss Patience Watkins ... second Miss Patsy Rose. He leaves five children as follows:
Joe. Flowers
Gaston Flowers
William Henry Flowers
Sallie Southard
Dollie Moore (note: Polly, nickname for Mary was probably the intent here, although I have seen one other reference to her as Dollie)
Henry Flowers is buried on just off the right of Princeton Kenly road headed to I-95 across from where Cummings Drive intersects, buried between his two wives. His stone reads:
Born Feb 14 1828 (year may be off a few years)
Died Apr 12 1920 (date disagrees by two days with other sources)
"He was faithful to every duty"
Death Certificate:
states Beulah township of Johnston County NC as place of death, age 91 and birthplace, Wayne County, date of death April 10th and burial April 11th J D Flowers was the informant, he did not know the parents of Henry.
Census 1920 NC Johnston Beulah page 75b (Apr 5th 1920)
dwelling 14 family 14
Flowers J D
Flowers Henry Father Male White age 91 Widower
(note: This is just a few days before Henry died)
October 21st 1917 gravestone date for Patsy, wife of Henry
Census 1910 NC Johnston East Beulah 172b (May 3 1910) dwelling 335 family 341
Flowers Henry Male White age 80 2nd Mg Md 3 yrs born NC, father born in NC, mother in Virginia, Confederate Army survivor
Flowers Patsey wife age 63
Marriage Information from July 6th 1906
Henry Flowers (75) to Patsey Rose (58)
His parents are not listed, evidence that this doesn't mean Henry was without knowledge of his parentage: (note: I have seen like marriage information from 1903 for one Claudius Dickinson in the area who certainly knew his parents, but they likewise are not listed, and Henry claims for two decades running that his mother was Virginian. This marriage to Patsey is a late life marriage that produced no children, of course.)
October 28th 1905 gravestone date for "Patience Watkins wife of Henry Flowers" born 1823 "Our Mother at rest" (note: birth year is earlier than most census records indicate but the same year of her parents marriage, most likely an inflated age estimate, it would have her last child being born at age 49,
likely 1827 or 1828 is closer to fact, agreeing with earlier census records)
Census 1900 NC Johnston East Beulah Precinct page 46a dwelling 173 family 175
Flowers Henry White Male born Feb. 1832 age 68 married for 46 years born in NC, father born in NC, mother born in Virginia
Flowers Patia White Female born Aug. 1827 age 72 married 46 years
note: Patia pronounced "PAY'-sha", short for Patience, also Joseph D Flowers, proven son and his wife and children live in the same dwelling
Jan 21 1892 Smithfield Herald:
"Hawk Catching"
Mr. Henry Flowers, who lives about 2 miles from Kenly, has caught and killed 38 hawks since Sept. 15th 1891. his plan of catching them is erecting a pole, with a steel trap on the top of it in a place where the hawks usually frequent ... If there is any reader ... who can excel Mr. Flowers ... we would like to hear from him. This is ... a real fact, as the feet have been exhibited to several of the merchants in Kenly.
(note: there exists a portrait/photograph of Henry Flowers from around this time with a war medal shown)
July 4th 1891 Smithfield Herald:
The Kenly Visitor has found the champion collard raiser in the county. It says Mr. Henry Flowers had two in Kenly that weighed ten pounds each ... from a seed too small to be weighed to a ten pound collard in ninety days.
Johnston County Tax Records 1890
Beulah
Flowers Henry age 59 332 acres
Yelverton J B age 45 213 acres
(Note: Deeds shows they are neighbors with adjoining land boundaries, Henry's son, Gaston was married to J B Yelverton's daughter Carrie by this time, J B not being closely related to the earlier Yelvertons/Yelvingtons of Johnston County but having migrated from northern Wayne County in 1885, J B knowing Henry Flowers already as J B's three oldest daughters (including Carrie) still held title to land that descended to them from Henry Flowers' Uncle and Aunt (and the three girls' great-grandparents, William and Julia Dickinson near Fremont. But as will be seen, Henry Flowers preceded J B Yelverton by 30 years to Beulah township of Johnston, but ultimately, as stated on Henry Flowers death certificate, he came from Wayne also. This 332 acres is located at least partly along Princeton-Kenly road heading north from "Hoss road", named for his grandson, to Truckstop Road and I-95, including the burial site, in the 1970's there was still a house standing said to have been Henry's, on the other side of the road than the graveyard.)
Census 1880 NC Johnston Beulah 522b
family 271
Flowers Henry White Male age 51 born Nc as are parents
(note 1880 and 1920 fail to state the Virginia birthplace of Henry's mother, but 1900 and 1910 say VA)
Flowers Pasha White Female age 53 born NC
children: Sarah, John, William, Mary, Joseph
also laborers and non related including Elizabeth Sikes
Will Book 3 pages 70, 71
I Incel Watkins of Johnston County and State of North Carolina - do make and declare this my last will and testament - I lend and devise to my beloved wife Thana Watkins the plantation whereon I now live - I give and devise to my son Thomas Watkins all the tract of land whereon I now live - subject to the life estate of my beloved wife Thana Watkins. I give and bequeath to my grandson Incel Watkins one colt. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Thana Watkins and daughters Pasha Flowers, wife of Henry Flowers, Peggy Spivey, wife of Dixon Spivey, and son Thomas Watkins and Mahala Jones wife of Charlie Jones all the debts owing to me -
I give and bequeath all the residue of my property not otherwise given away in this my will to my daughters Pasha Flowers, wife of Henry Flowers, Peggy Spivey, wife of Dixon Spivey, Mahala Jones wife of Charlie Jones, to them and their heirs to be equally divided at the death of my beloved wife Thana Watkins -
This 5th day of April A.D. 1871
Incel Watkins
Witnesses
B.R. Hinnant
Clarky Watkins
Deed Book H3 page 30
State of North Carolina, Johnston County} This deed made this 25th day of August 1870, by Insel Watkins and Thaner Watkins his wife of Johnston County and State of North Carolina to Pasha Flowers wife of H. Flowers of Johnston County and State of North Carolina, Witnesseth that said Insel Watkins and Thaner Watkins his wife in consideration of Natural love and affection to them paid by Pasha Flowers the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged have bargained and given and by these presents do bargain give and convey to said Pasha Flowers and her heirs a tract of thirty acres of land in Johnston County State of North Carolina adjoining the lands of Patsy Balance, Mahaly Jones containing thirty two acres with the condition that the said Incel & Thaner Watkins reserve the full use of the aforesaid tract their lifetime.
Census 1870 NC Johnston Beulah TWP 331b (no date on this TWP but Smithfield was Sept 1870) Dwelling 94 family 92 (this is close to Pasha'a Great Uncle Teagle Ballance and Uncle Simon Watkins, Simon's wife was also a Flowers by birth)
Flowers, Henry 41 male white $400 $1005 (before later land acquisitions)
Pasha 42 Fem. white
Sarah 12 Fem. white
John T G 8 male white
Wm H 6 male white
Pegey 2 Fem. white
Winsor Watkins 28th July 1866 Probate May court 1867
Will recorded NC archives #56.801.1-11
Elizabeth Sikes 50 acres where I now live to include dwelling house; household furniture and livestock.
To friend, Cassanday Richardson Feather bed and livestock.
To Sally Flowers, daughter of Henry Flowers, one heifer.
To Henry Flowers, two bee hives now at his house.
To nephew Winsor Watkins, 112.5 acres of land, provided he does not hinder Elizabeth Sikes from peacable possession. If this item is not complied with by nephew, then gift to Winsor Watkins, Jr. is null and void. Then all land to friend Bryant R. Hinnant and Henry Flowers, subject to life estate of Elizabeth Sikes' 50 acres.
Executor: Bryant Richardson
Witnesses: J.T.Pike, Roy Johnson Winsor Watkins
Civil War Duty for Henry Flowers was in the 16th Cavalry, Company A. He enlisted May 14 1862 from Johnston County. According to his great granddaughter, Alberta Radford Mozingo, who was 4 when Henry died, as relayed by Alberta's daughter Ernestine Godfrey, Henry was bitten by a rattlesnake during his service and at the end of the war had to make a long trek from the place he was discharged. As stated before, his obituary says he was wounded twice.
Johnston Co NC 1860 Census page 441 B Boon Hill PO
Dwelling 344 Family 335 July 16 1860
Henry Flowers 25 male white
Patience 30 female white
Sally 4 female white
Deed Book O3 page 275
This Indenture made this 24th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty six, between William H. Pearce of the County of Johnston and State of North Carolina of the first part and Henry Flowers of the County and State of said of the second part for and in consideration of the sum of four hundred dollars in hand paid by the said Henry Flowers doth convey unto the said Henry Flowers one certain tract or parcel of land in said county on the north side of the Little River adjoining the lands of Thomas Hollowell and the lands known as the Spencer Fulghum lands and others containing one hundred acres, be the same more or less day and date first above written,
signed sealed and delivered In the presence of
W H Pearce
Witness
G H Horne
Jno. G Barnes
note: Spencer Fulghum, I believe was cousin Arthur Fulghum's great grandpa
The 1850 Johnston County census shows no Henry Flowers, In keeping with his death certificate that states he was born in Wayne County (next county) and in keeping with the 1910 and 1900 census records that state his mother was born in Virginia, and in keeping with already stated reports of his age, for 1850, in Wayne County there should be a Henry Flowers anywhere from 15 to 21 favoring the younger, since that was the earlier account with a mother born in Virginia. A look in the Wayne County 1850 census reveals exactly one Henry Flowers, living in an area of the county away from the Southern Wayne Flowers, ie, living in the northern section, near Fremont and Pikeville of today. He himself is not living in the lone house which is headed by a female Flowers born in Virginia, but with an elderly lady, also born in Virginia, she is too old to be a remarried mother. There is no record of this Henry later in Wayne Census records.
Wayne County NC Census page 190a North Side of the Neuse (this includes all of Wayne that fits that description) Dwelling 664 Family 664
Tabitha Jones 73 female white $1,000 birth: Virginia reads
Henry Flowers 17 male white farm hand birth: NC
(these are the only two individuals in this home, her husband had died in 1839, she had no children)
Close by is the Flowers household: (See notes on Sarah, or Sally, as to reasons the scribble really should read "Flowers", will not repeat it in full here, this is the only Flowers household in Wayne with a Virginia born mother in 1850, or even immediately following decades, Tabitha's settlement, following, will show a connection)
Wayne County NC Census page 184b North Side of the Neuse
Dwelling 579 family 579 (4 dwellings from Julia Dickinson and unrelated Daniel Howell and Joshua Ellis)
Sarah Flowers 58 Female white birth: Virginia reads
Mary 44 Female white birth: NC ( should be 24?)
Matilda 22 Female white birth: NC
Penelope 15 Female white birth: NC
Barbara 1 Female white birth: NC (obviously a grandchild)
for partial coverage and reason for the Flowers interpretation for this family, a statement that the usual transcription of this family in 1850 is "Flourence", a name that is non existent in 1840 and 1860 only transcribed as such in 1850. In mirror complementary error this Flowers family would then be absent in 1850 but present in 1840 and 1860. William Hollowell, the enumerator in 1850 had what can be seen by amateurs inconsistent ways of writing R's that looks liked N's and connecting embedded W's to the next letters and then sometimes not, and sometimes scribbling the last letters in a word, in this one 1850 Flowers household, the w looks look a "ur" and the last r looks like and n, something he doesn't do all the time, but did in this very household to Barbara's name as it looks like "Banbana". More important is the mirror absence and presence of the two resulting names in alternating decades if this were true. 1860 is clearer and shows:
Wayne County NC Census page 416b Nahunta District Dwelling 14 family 16 (6 dwellings down from Julia Dickinson, close to Daniel Howell's widow and Joshua Ellis)
Sally Flowers 67 female white birth: Virginia (Sally nickname for Sarah)
Polly 34 female white birth: NC (Polly nickname for Mary)
Penny 25 female white birth: NC (nickname for Penelope)
Barbary 11 female white birth: NC
- more grandchildren since 1850, covered in section on Sarah/Sally There is an 1854 marriage for Matilda Flowers and Robert Howell and 6 dwellings from Sally Flowers in 1860 is:
Wayne County NC Census page 417a Nahunta District Dwelling 20 family 22
Robert Howell 27 male white
Matilda 29 female white
- children - (covered elsewhere)
Below is shown that Henry's Aunt Tabitha, with whom Henry resided as a teen, left him not only a third of her estate but a horse. At the sale, the executor sold the horse, (after Henry had purchased a saddle and a bridle) he then had to sue by his mother, with Matthew Hooks acting as agent, the executor to recover. Henry's mother, and C B Aycock's father were called in his behalf, but Henry's sister, Matilda, and his Aunt Mary (Polly) Williamson, were called in behalf of the executor. Henry won his case.
Before covering Tabitha Jones' will (only the "Flowers" part here, see note on Tabitha for the rest) and her estate, a reminder that in the 1800's just as sure as Bill is a nickname for William and Bob for Robert today, Polly was for Mary and Sally was for Sarah.
Will of Tabitha Jones, Wayne Co. NC, Will Book 10 page 479 (Microfilm C.103.80006 NC State Archives)
I, Tabitha Jones of the County of Wayne and State of North Carolina, being of sound mind and memory but considering the shortness of my earthly existence do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following:
Item: I give and bequeath unto my niece Sally Williamson, one bed, bedstead and furniture her choice, One loom and gear, one chest and table which sits in the big house, all my pewter unto her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my niece Susan Privett, wife of William Privett one bed, bedstead and furniture unto her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my niece Polly Flowers one bed, bedstead and furniture unto her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my nephew Henry Flowers one horse quarter his choice unto him and his heirs forever. And it is my will and desire that the residue of my property not above given off in this my last will to be sold and together with any notes, accounts and money after paying my just debts to be divided in three parts. One of which I give unto my niece Sally Williamson to her and her heirs forever One other part I give unto my nephew Henry Flowers to him and his heirs forever. The other part to be equally divided between Leonard Dickinson son of Judith Hoskins alias Judith Dickinson and Elizabeth Dickinson daughter of Henry Dickinson unto them and their heirs forever. And I do further appoint my trusty friend James Hooks executor to this my last will and testament to execute the same in every part and clause and full meaning and extent thereof, hereby revoking and making null and void all other wills by me at any time made In witness whereof I have here set my hand and affixed my seal this January 27 AD 1847.
Signed and sealed by the said }
Tabitha Jones and by her request }
And in her presence and the }
presence of each other have sub- } Tabitha Jones
Scribed our names as witnesses }
hereunto }
Benjamin Aycock
Burdin T Aycock
Wayne County Feb. term 1851
This was the above paper writing purporting to be the last will & testament of Tabitha Jones provided in open court & offered for probate and was duly proven by the oaths of Benjamin Aycock & Barden T Aycock the subscribing witnesses thereunto & ordered to be recorded, at the same time James Hooks executor therein named appeared in open court & qualified as such.
Jno. A Green Clerk.
Tabitha Jones Sale and Inventory recorded May Court 1851 C.R.103.508.94
(Partial List)
Item Buyer
(Many Hooks & Aycocks I left out all Flowers and Bryants and Privetts listed)
1 ? William Privett
1 lot of ? William Bryant
1 pair of cards William Privett
1 lot of Gourds William Bryant
1 large pot William Bryant
1 lot of gourds Sally Flowers
1 lot of lumber William Bryant
1 coffee ? Sally Flowers
1 mug Sally Flowers
1 lot of salt William Bryant
2 knives & Gimblet Henry Flowers
1 Blanket William Bryant
1 Gourd & ? William Bryant
1 horse A J Person $60.00
"(the same having been willed to Henry Flowers)"
5 choice sheep Daniel Howell
1 Bay Mare Nicholas Cobb $32.50
10 Bush.of Potatoes Wm Bryant
25 Bush.of Potatoes Wm Privett
1 lot of leather Spencer Fulghum
1 spotted Bull William Privett
21 chickens by pc William Privett
?th of Pork William Bryant $63.11
2 Barrels etc William Privett
1 lot of Gourds William Bryant
1 lot ? William Bryant
1 set cups/saucers Sally Flowers
1 lot of bottles William Bryant
1 lot of Lard Sally Flowers
1 set knoves/forks Sally Flowers
1 lot of cotton William Bryant
1 Grubbing hoe &
weeding hoe William Bryant
1 same same
1 ax Henry Flowers
1 Saddle & Bridle Henry Flowers
1 plow & fluke William Privett
1 lot spun cotton William Bryant
1 lot leather William Privett
1 lot leather Spencer Fulghum
1 lot blue cotton William Bryant
1 lot blue cotton Sally Flowers
3 Towels William Bryant
2 sheets William Bryant
1 sheet & blanket William Bryant
1 blanket & sheet Spencer Fulghum
1 quilt & sheet Spencer Fulghum
2 sheets William Bryant
Wearing Clothes Susan Privett $10.00
1 clock William Bryant
2 coffee pots William Privett
note: Spencer Fulghum, I believe is the same as mentioned in 1856 deed.
Henry Flowers by his next friend Sarah Flowers
vs. James Hooks, Exr of Tabitha Jones
Case Wayne County Court May Term 1851
To the Sheriff of Wayne County Greeting: You are hereby commanded to summon James Hooks executor of the last will and testament of Tabitha Jones if found in your county so that he be before the Justice of our County of Pleas and Quarter Sessions to be held for the County of Wayne at the Court House in Goldsboro on the third Monday in May next, then and there to answer Henry Flowers (an infant under the age of twenty one years) who sues by his next friend (Sarah Flowers marked out) Matthew Hooks (inserted) of a plea of trespass on the case to the damage of said Henry Flowers Five
hundred dollars. Herein fail not and have you then and there this Writ.
Sally Flowers by Matthew Hooks
vs. James Hooks Exr. of Tabitha Jones, Report
State of North Carolina Wayne County
Matthew Hooks agent of Sally Flowers
vs.
James Hooks Executor of Tabitha Jones Dec'd
The above named parties have appeared before us this day with their witness and after hearing the same have given as our verdict that the defendant pay to the plaintiff fifty three dollars and seventy five & costs given under our hands and seals Oct. 6 1851
Wm. Lewis
W. Thompson
Jno. Coley
H Flowers by his next friend Matthew Hooks
vs. James Hooks
S. for Defendant
Simon Hooks
Matilda Flowers
Mary Williamson
For Aug. Co. 1851
Executed O. Coor Sheriff
To the Sheriff of Wayne county Greeting:
You are hereby commanded to summon Simon Hooks, Matilda Flowers & Mary Williamson personally to be and appear before the Justices of the County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, to be held for the County of Wayne at the Court House in Goldsboro on the third Monday in Aug. next, then and there to testify, and the truth to say, in behalf of James Hooks, Exr in a certain matter of controversy, in said Court depending, and then and there to be tried; wherein Matthew Hooks is Plaintiff, and James Hooks Exr Defendant. And this you shall in no wise omit, under the penalty of the law.
Witness,
John A. Green, Clerk of the said Court, at Office, the third Monday of May in the 75 year of American Independence, A.D. 1851
Jno. A Green Clerk.
H Flowers by his next friend Matthew Hooks
vs. James Hooks Exr of Tabitha Jones
S. for Plaintiff
Sarah Flowers
Simon Hooks
Benjamin Aycock
For Aug. Co. 1851
Executed O. Coor Sheriff
To the Sheriff of Wayne county Greeting:
You are hereby commanded to summon Sarah Flowers, Simon Hooks, Benja. Aycock personally to be and appear before the Justices of the County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, to be held for the County of Wayne at the Court House in Goldsboro on the third Monday in Aug. next, then and there to testify, and the truth to say, in behalf of Plaintiff in a certain matter of controversy, in said Court depending, and then and there to be tried; wherein Henry Flowers by his next friend Matthew Hooks is Plaintiff, and James Hooks Exr. of Tabitha Jones is Defendant. And this you shall in no wise omit, under the penalty of the law.
Witness, John A. Green, Clerk of the said Court, at Office, the third Monday of May in the 75 year of American Independence, A.D. 1851
Jno. A Green Clerk.
Wayne Co NC 1840 Census page 240a
near Benjamin Aycock, Washington Hooks and Joshua Ellis:
Sally Flowers
in additions to the females there are:
1 male 5-10
1 male 15-20
The children, mostly female, appear to range in age from 1818 to 1835
Wayne Co NC 1840 Census page 237a
Tabitha Jones
no male children in the household
The above shows that Henry Flowers would have still been living with his mother in 1840 and not yet with his Aunt Tabitha.
Proof of Sally Flowers husband will be given in her notes but to shorten it here, it is Cornelius Flowers, beyond doubt. Henry's 1833 birth fits well within some of the later proven mentions of Cornelius before he disappeared.
C.R.103 912.8
February first day 1834 Capt. Ellis District
along with Etheldred and Jonathan Yelverton and Henry Sauls Jr. the only Flowers in the District:
Cornelius Flowers proof in Sally's notes that he his her husband, but the point here is that he was still around after Henry's birth.
This concludes Henry Flowers' notes.
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