An interesting find in Salisbury.

While in Salisbury, North Carolina, researching members of the Melton/Milton family who had moved there from Stanly County, and the Solomons, to whom they were connected, I found an interesting land document dated 1905, involving Solomons, and Howells, whom I have researched until throwing my hands up in frustration with for awhile, as they named too many of their boys "John". I have grown to despise the name John, among others. It's become  non- nominal. It's like saying 'seek the ocean to find a drop of water, just one, that is called "drop".

But this is not about my frustrations over the name John, but instead, this document, which mentions land in both Rowan and Stanly and lots in both Salisbury and Albemarle.

Salisbury is an ancient town, as far a central North Carolina goes, one of the oldest in what was considered the untamed west of the Carolina Piedmont/Foothills region. It sprang up near the Yadkin, close enough for access, and far enough to avoid the plagues that were associated with rivers and water and swamps and the like. The document was on page 190 in the deed books for that year.

This Indenture, Made this twenty-seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and five between Charles B Howell and wife Leslie Howell, Patrick Howell, Jessie Howell and James V. Howell of the County of Rowan and State of North Carolina, of the first part, and Claudia, Lucile, Solomon and James C. Solomon, of the County of Rowan and State of North Carolina of the second part:

So, who were they is the first question, before I get into the hereforetos and  plats and stakes and etc.s


Charles B Howell and wife Leslie can be found 221 North Main Street Salisbury/Spencer in the 1913 City Directory of Salisbury. He is a machinist.

Prior to that, in 1910, the family is living in Charlotte. Charles B Howell is listed as a machinist for the Railroad, his wife is reveled to have the first name of Pinkie, as in Pinkie L. Howell, and they have had two children, being a son, Leslie Conza Howell and a daughter, Elsie Marshall Howell.

Charles B Howell
Age in 1910:	31
Birth Year:	abt 1879
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1910:	Charlotte Ward 4, Mecklenburg, North Carolina
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	Pinkie L Howell
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Charles B Howell 31 Pinkie L Howell 28 Leslie C Howell 7 Elsie M Howell 3

Spencer and Salisbury were major Railroad hubs during the area, and a big part of the growth of North Carolina industry during the early part of the Twentieth century. It appears Mr. Charles B Howell and his family benefited from the Railroad Industry. But he was not a happy man.  His death certificate reveals that he drowned in 1914 and that his death was ruled suicide. He was the son of Kern Howell and Fanny Austin. Austin was a big Stanly County name and as much of the property involved was in Stanly County, perhaps Kern and Fanny lived there. 

A search of the next name on the list brings up a 1900 census listing of everyone involved in the deed living together. The mother of siblings Charlie, Patrick, Jessie and James V. Howell is Julia F. Howell. How much do you want to bet the "F" stood for Frances, or for short, Fanny?

Name:	Patrick H Howell
Age:	19
Birth Date:	Dec 1880
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1900:	Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Son
Marital Status:	Single
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Name:	Julia F Howell
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Occupation:	View on Image
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Julia F Howell 49 Charlie Howell 22 Patrick H Howell 19 Jessie Howell 16 James V Howell 14 James N Sollamon 25 Cora M Sollamon 24 Claudie L Sollamon 4 James Sollamon 1

The identity of the Solomon's, thoroughly misspelled as "Sollamon", is also revealed as Cora M. is her daughter, James N. her son-in-law and Claudie (Claudia Lucille as it turns out) and James, are her grandchildren. 

In 1910, Jessie Howell has married a Cotton and Julia F. is still living, so why the dispersement of lands?

Julia F Howell
Age in 1910:	50
Birth Year:	abt 1860
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1910:	Salisbury East Ward, Rowan, North Carolina
Race:	White
Gender:	Female
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Marital Status:	Widowed
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age Julia F Howell 50 Jessie Cotten 26 Franlin Cotten 3 James Cotten 23 Lucilla Solomon 13 James Solomon 11

Julia Frances Austin Howell is buried in the Old Albemarle Cemetery, between PeeDee Avenue and East Main Street in Albemarle, so likely, she was a native of Stanly County. 

And the Solomons?

Name:	James Nathaniel Solomon Jr
Gender:	Male
Race:	White
Event Type:	delayedbirth
Birth Date:	17 Feb 1899
Birth County:	Rowan
Parent1 Name:	James N Solomon Sr
Parent2 Name:	Cora Howell
Roll Number:	NCVR_B_C085_68001
Volume:	917
Page:	40

Young James filed a delayed birth certificate revealing himself to be the son of James Nathaniel Solomon, Sr. and Cora Howell. 

James N Solomon, Sr.s WWI record reveals that he is James Nathaniel Solomon, son of William S. Solomon from Morning Star township in Mecklenburg County, NC. 

Name:	James Solomon
Age:	6
Birth Year:	abt 1874
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1880:	Morning Star, Mecklenburg, North Carolina
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Son
Marital Status:	Single
Father's Name:	William Solomon
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Name:	Nancy Solomon
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Neighbors:	View others on page
Cannot read/write: Blind: Deaf and dumb: Otherwise disabled: Idiotic or insane:	View Image
Household Members:	Name Age William Solomon 48 Nancy Solomon 40 John Solomon 12 Bannie Solomon 9 James Solomon 6 Henry Solomon 4

 He and Cora Louise Howell have 2 more daughters, Dorothy and Gertrude,  after James, and move to Virginia, during his military career. 

Name:	James N Solomon [James N Soloman]
Age:	42
Birth Year:	abt 1878
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1920:	Richmond Jefferson Ward, Richmond (Independent City), Virginia
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	Louise Solomon
Father's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Mother's Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home Owned:	Own
Able to Read:	Yes
Able to Write:	Yes
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members:	Name Age James N Solomon 42 Louise Solomon 42 James Solomon 20 Dorothy Solomon 14 Gertrude Solomon 10

His father William R. Solomon, was a Civil War soldier born in Mecklenburg County. Was there a connection to my Stanly County Solomon's? I do not know right now. 

Name:	William R Solomon
Residence:	Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, North Carolina
Occupation:	Farmer
Age at enlistment:	30
Enlistment Date:	3 Sep 1861
Rank at enlistment:	Private
Enlistment Place:	Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
State Served:	North Carolina
Survived the War?:	Yes
Service Record:	Enlisted in Company H, North Carolina 35th Infantry Regiment on 27 Sep 1861.
Birth Date:	abt 1831
Sources:	North Carolina Troops 1861-65, A Roster

Name:	William Solomons
Age:	20
Birth Year:	abt 1830
Birthplace:	North Carolina
Home in 1850:	Mallard Creek, Mecklenburg, North Carolina
Gender:	Male
Family Number:	977
Household Members:	Name Age Elen Solomons 45 William Solomons 20 Caroline Solomons 18 Elizabeth Solomons 16 David Solomons 14 Martha Solomons 10

William and his siblings were the children of Drury Solomon, born about 1790 in Virginia and his wife Eleanor Killough, who were married in Cabarrus County, North Carolina in 1830. A quick look into a file of old Solomon records researched by Daniel L Worth reveals that he most likely was, but distant. 
Now, to the document.

Saving you, the reader from all the "of the first parts", etc. the following is excerpts, with the juice: persons and locations. 

"1) One tract on the S. E. side of Main Street, in the City of Salisbury, commencing in the middle of an alley....Goodmans line....S. W. with Main Street....Swink and Thomasson's old line, now Johnston, Vanderford and McCubbins....D. A. Goodmans line..."

2) A house and lot in the town of Albemarle, Stanly County, on the west side of Main Street, and designated on the Plat of said town as Lot number Ten (10), said Lot being sold by order of the Superior Court of  Stanly in the suit of Julia F. Howell, widow, Charles B Howell, against Jessie Howell and others and the proceeds thereof converted into money. 

3) Two tracts in Stanly County a) ....Carter and Mabry's corner, Burrages' corner, (mentions a white oak, black oak, a maple and a couple of sweet gum trees). B) East edge of the Salisbury Rd...W. E. Whitley's line, Mrs. Irving Swaringen's corner, (mentions a stump, a Spanish Oak, a branch or drain, adjoining W. E. Whitley, A. C. Mabry, Margaret Rummage, now in the hands of Rufus A. Crowell, Clerk of the Supreme Court of Stanly County...contingent and depending upon both the parties of the second part dying and leaving no issue. See Will of Cora M. Solomon, mother of the parties of the second part dated June 8, 1901, and recorded in Will Book number 3, page 478, December 7, 1901. see also deeds from M. B. Howell (1) one from Joseph Marshall and wife dated Nov 5, 1870, registered in Book no 7 page 146, Stanly County (2) Another from M. S. Holmes, dated March 8th, 1888, registered on Book no. 72 (Rowan County) pg 11 - (3) a third from R. S.  Crowell and wife, dated Dec. 21, 1885, registered in Book no 15, p 439 Stanly County. 

If anyone knows this family or the exact location of the property in Albemarle mentioned, leave a comment. 

The Melton/Milton Family in the 1850 and 1860 Census

Tying all of the individuals from a small local family together is like a puzzle that wants to be assembled. To do so, one must gather all of the evidence possible, see what fits and what doesn't, then try to make sense of it all. Some mysteries will never be solved. Others are just waiting to be discovered.

Looking at the Melton/Milton family in the 1850 and 1860 census records, and then comparing that to the land records and court records, you can see a few possibilities begin to take shape. Some individuals that show up in one record, do not in another, that is why I've decided to put these two together and then, by using information in the deeds and court proceedings, try to identify the individuals in the census records.

1850
Henry H Melton 29 NC Carpenter b 1821 This is Henry Harrison Melton, from Land records, son of John Melton, Sr. 
Martha  21 His wife Martha Kirk Melton 
Robert S 21 Carpenter Son of Mary "Polly" Melton, sister of Henry H. 
Julia A 1  Must have been firstborn daughter who died as a small child. 
Mary Melton 46 From deeds, older sister of Henry H. and daughter of John Sr. 

1860
H H Melton 39 b NC
Martha 30
Houston 10 Samuel Houston Melton, became a prominent citizen and judge
Jane E 8  Only appears in this census.
Louisa 6  Sarah Louisa, married John H. Swaringen, moved to Cabarrus County
Mary F 4  Married 1st cousin Atlas D Melton, son of Joseph. 
John 4 months old

1850
James R Melton b 1821 NC
Mary Ann 24  Mary Ann Kirk
Davidson 1  married Sophronia Hearne


1860
James R Melton 40  Grocer
Mary A Melton 32
Davidson H 11  Davidson Hearne Melton- moved to High Point
Ellen Douglas 9 Married I. W. (Buck) Snuggs
Wm Thomas 7  Migrated to Texas, married Isabelle Myers 
Eliza C Kirk 19 Sister of Mary Ann
John Williams 40 Tailor Brother of Clementine Williams Melton - 
next house
Charlotte Melton 62  Some researchers have her as second wife of John Melton Sr. who died in 1845. Marriage license for John Melton and Charlotte Byers in Rutherford County. Rutherford County had large population of Meltons. Stanly County court records has her mother of illegitimate son Elbert Melton, to be brought to court to be bound out. 

1850
William Valentine 31 Blacksmith (mulatto)
Elbert Melton 25 Blacksmith (mulatto) Court records state son of Charlotte Melton

1860 Gold Hill Rowan County, NC
Elbert (Edward) Melton 38 House Carpenter
Houston Valentine 18 Day Laborer Perhaps son of William Valentine? 
Ann Melton 28
Mather Melton 10
Christian Melton 7
Tamar J Melton 2



1850 Census of Albemarle, in town of..

House 832  Henry H Melton and family
House 833  David Austin family
House 834  Blacksmiths: William Valentine and Elbert Melton both mulatto
House 835  Daniel Lowder family
House 836  Wiley Hutson and wife Sarah Melton Hutson, and family. Daughter of John Melton, Sr.
House 837  James R Melton family (named oldest son Davidson Hearne Melton).
House 838  Davidson Hearne family

Census records do not show an exact layout of a community as we do not know the path of the enumerator or the way the residences were situated. They can, however, be taken as general proximity.

1850 Robert S Melton, 21, living with Henry H. (see above). Son of Mary per Stanly County court records, Sent to court to be bound. Illegitimate child. 

1860 R. S. Melton 31 Master Mechanic, Camden, Ouchita, Arkansas.
Mary E.

1850
Elisha Melton 10  Married Frances Marbry March 13 1862. Civil War Casualty. Widow later married Ervin Whitley.
Living in the family of John F Stone
along with Damaris Palmer  aka Damaris Baldwin Palmer Russell

Note: There were several Melton children living with various families near other members of the Melton family. I am looking into the possibility that they were siblings of deceased parents related to the other Meltons.

1850 Freemans Township Stanly County

John Melton b 1804 Virginia  46
Nancy (Boysworth) Melton 46 (Moved to Gold Hill, opened a hotel)
Missouri 20 (had already married Jesse Tatum Forrest by then. Counted twice in the census. Must have been visiting her parents. Born prior to Nancy's marriage to John Melton. Alternately Boysworth/Melton)
Laura J 17 (married a Gill, moved to Gold Hill with mother)
Eliza 17 (married Franklin Cauble in 1851)
Caroline 16 (married James Mabry 1856 in Stanly County)
John Solomon 20 (also in census twice, son of Nancy Solomon)

Next to:
David Melton 28 Farmer
Mary 30 (Boysworth, Sister of Nancy. Both daughters of Jonathan Boysworth and Martha Almond Boysworth
Eben 4  Civil War casualty. Married Tabitha Morgan. 1 child Henry T. 
Davidson 2  (Davidson Alexander Melton. Moved to Roane, Tennesee)
Sarah Boysworth 18 (niece of Mary. Remained single and became favorite Nanny to children of Ellen D. Melton Snuggs, daughter of James R Melton).

Neighbors: Swaringen, Forrest, Bosworth, Shankle

1850

Whitman Milton 15 more research needed. Possible brother of Elisha H. Melton?

Living with Thomas Biles, Jr. family next to Dosey Boysworth family.

1850  House 698

John Perry  43
Margaret 45
Lewis C 22
Silva 19
Caswell 18

Margaret Milton 8 shown in court records as bound to John Perry in 1841. Married R. G. Hiram Huneycutt.
Henry Milton 6  bound to John Perry in 1847

Elijah Perry 70
Elizabeth 85

1860

John Perry 51
Margaret Perry 53
Caswell 26
Henry 15  apprentice (Henry Melton)



1850 Albemarle
James Hinson 48
Nancy Hinson 47 Nancy Melton Hinson, daughter of John, Sr. 
Sarah 21
Adeline 19
George Milton 7 married Elizabeth Crawford 1863. Served in Civil War
Margaret Hinson 5
Rebecca Hinson 3
Robert Blalock 50
Nancy Blalock 30

next to

William Melton 28 migrates to Missouri by way of Arkansas.
Mary 22 (Mary Hinson)
Martha F. 1
John Lilly 18 nephew, son of Frances Melton (deceased) and John Hogan Lilly

next to Lydia Brown 28

James Solomon  45
Frances Solomon 44

Henry Bird 44
Mahaley 43
Jackson 18
Martin 16
William A.
Benjamin Later living with one of the Melton's
Marah
James
Frances

Frances Kirk

Dr. F J. Kron


1850 Gold Hill, Rowan, NC
Harris Milton 26  This couple is mentioned in a Superior Court case in Stanly County that makes the history 
Ann Bird 28         books. At the time they are in Stanly County/

1860 Gold Hill

Ann Melton 40 Housekeeper

1860 Salisbury

William Melton 11
Living with A. W. Northern family son of Harris Melton and Ann Bird



1850 Montgomery County  Joseph Melton and family have to be included in the Stanly County listing although they lived in Montgomery County. Joseph was a son of John Melton, Sr. and Margaret Wilkenson. He lived just across the PeeDee River from what was then Allenton and today is near present day Norwood, in between there and Mount Gilead. 

Joseph 32 b 1818 NC
Clementine 30
Susan 12 marries Joseph Mabry
Ann Jane 10
Green 8
Atlas 5
Delphina 4
Sarah Ann McRae 6
Mary Ann McDonald 0

1860 Albemarle
Clementine Melton 45 She is living near James R Melton and Charlotte Melton
Atlas 15
Preston 8

Joseph D Melton and older son Green are MIA for this census. He remarries to Mary Ann "Polly" Solomon in 1868. Both Joe and his sons Green Jackson Melton and Atlas serve in the Civil War.