Caswell County Genealogy
 

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Moorefield, Arthur William

Moorefield, Arthur William

Male 1893 - 1976  (82 years)

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  • Name Moorefield, Arthur William 
    Birth 11 Aug 1893  Person County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Reference Number 55 
    Social Security Number 225-50-7311 
    Death 29 May 1976  Danville, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial First Baptist Church of Yanceyville, Yanceyville, Caswell County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I55  Caswell County
    Last Modified 23 Sep 2023 

    Father Moorefield, Elijah Johnson,   b. 17 Oct 1868, Bedford County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 16 Dec 1937, Danville, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 69 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother James, Ada Belle,   b. 20 Dec 1870, Orange County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Sep 1955, Caswell County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 84 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Marriage 18 Feb 1891  Person County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Reference Number 2200 
    Family ID F49  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Smith, Pearl Virginia,   b. 5 Apr 1895   d. 23 Jun 1969, Yanceyville, Caswell County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 74 years) 
    Marriage 14 Dec 1916  Yanceyville, Caswell County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Reference Number 2187 
    Children 
    +1. Moorefield, Arthur William Jr.,   b. 25 Oct 1917, Yanceyville, Caswell County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 11 Jun 1975, Yanceyville, Caswell County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 57 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
    +2. Moorefield, Jesse James,   b. 10 Apr 1920, Caswell County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 30 Aug 1973, Caswell County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 53 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
    +3. Moorefield, Sallie Womack,   b. 9 Oct 1921, Yanceyville, Caswell County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 24 Sep 1971, Yanceyville, Caswell County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 49 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
     4. Moorefield, Jack Wiggins,   b. 24 Sep 1923, Caswell County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 29 Sep 1923, Caswell County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 0 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
    +5. Moorefield, Frank James,   b. 22 Jun 1930, Caswell County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 30 Sep 2016, Danville, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 86 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
    Family ID F19  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 23 Sep 2023 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 11 Aug 1893 - Person County, North Carolina Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 14 Dec 1916 - Yanceyville, Caswell County, North Carolina Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 29 May 1976 - Danville, Virginia Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - First Baptist Church of Yanceyville, Yanceyville, Caswell County, North Carolina Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Photos
    Elijah Johnson Moorefield Family
    Elijah Johnson Moorefield Family
    Arthur William Moorefield
    Richmond Stanfield Frederick III, Arthur William Moorefield, Richmond Stanfield Frederick, Jr.
    Mona Diane Frederick and Arthur William Moorefield Christmas 1957
    Christmas 1957 at Moorefield Homeplace
    Moorefield-Rowland Wedding 1968
    Pearl Virginia Smith Moorefield, Arthur William Moorefield III, Arthur William Moorefield, Deborah White Moorefield Christmas Early 1950s

    Headstones
    Arthur William Moorefield
    Arthur William Moorefield

    Newspapers
    Arthur William Moorefield Death
    Arthur William Moorefield Death

  • Notes 
    • Arthur William Moorefield (1893-1976)

      AW,Pearl, Bill & Debbie

      awmoorefieldgravestone

      Elijah Johnson Moorefield Family

      (for larger image, click on photograph)
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      Third Photograph: The Elijah Johnson Moorefield Family at Purley, Caswell County, North Carolina (c.1940). Left-to-Right:

      Back Row: Alice Velma Moorefield, Lula May Moorefield, Elijah Johnson Moorefield (father), Ada Belle James Moorefield (mother), Minnie B. Moorefield, Leona Moorefield, Verna Brent Moorefield.

      Front Row: Violet Bye Moorefield, Arthur William Moorefield, Virginia Inez Moorefield, Naomi Ethel Moorefield, Esther True Moorefield.
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      Group Christmas Photograph (generally left-to-right)

      Arthur William Moorefield (with glasses behind children)
      Deborah White Moorefield
      Richmond Stanfield (Ricky) Frederick, Jr.
      Mary Jane Moorefield
      Frank James Moorefield
      Sallie Womack Moorefield Frederick (with arms around Frank)
      Frances Mozelle White Moorefield
      Richmond Stanfield Frederick
      Back-of-Head Child: Probably Frank James Moorefield, Jr.

      Christmas "dinner" at the Moorefield Homeplace 1957
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      Death Article: The Danville Register (Danville, Virginia), 30 May 1976.
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      Moorefield family Bible records and census entries show that Arthur William Moorefield was born in Person County, North Carolina, 11 August 1893. It is possible that he was born in Virginia, but that is undocumented. By around 1911 his parents had moved the family to the Purley community in Caswell County, North Carolina (on the Yanceyville-Danville Road, now called Old 86). This farm was typical for Caswell County, raising various food crops (both for human and livestock consumption), but emphasizing tobacco.

      On 14 December 1916, Arthur William Moorefield married Pearl Virginia Smith (1895-1969) of Caswell County, North Carolina. The Smith farm adjoined the Moorefield farm in Purley. They had established a separate household in the Purley area by 1920 and over the years raised one daughter and four sons. In the 1920's he relocated his family to a farm (including a substantial ante-bellum mansion house) located south of Yanceyville on Highway 62 (towards Burlington) and bordered by Country Line Creek to the south. The property had been owned by Captain Jack W. Wiggins, Jr.1 "Mr. Arthur" was known as a good "tobacco man". He also was a U.S. Postal Service rural mail carrier and owned West End Service Station at the intersection of Highways 86 and 158 in west Yanceyville. During World War I he served as a corporal in Company Fifty-One, North Carolina Reserve Militia. Caswell County in the World War, 1917-1918: Service Records of Caswell County Men, George A. Anderson, Compiler (1921) at 23.

      Note that Arthur William Moorefield outlived all but one of his children.

      He owned a wooden, diesel-powered fishing boat with a few friends. The "Barbara L." was berthed in Morehead City, North Carolina. Family tradition tells that the hull was laid in Massachusetts, but the superstructure was completed in North Carolina. She would sleep four and had a full galley. Clyde Vernon McKinney, Sr., was one of the co-owners.

      He, along with the two Pleasant brothers of Purley, owned and operated West End Service Station in West Yanceyville.
      ______________

      C. W. Pointer of Semora, C. O. Matlock, Arthur Moorefield and Claude Hodges of Yanceyville, and Henry Warren of Prospect Hill, spent several days in Eastern North Carolina on a fishing trip.

      The Herald-Sun (Durham, North Carolina), 27 May 1947, Tuesday, Page 7.
      _______________
      1This structure has been called by those who know the history of Caswell County well the "Long-Yancey-Womack-Wiggins-Moorefield" house. Source: Caswell County Historical Association Newsletter, Sallie P. Anderson, Editor (June 2005). Here is a description from An Inventory of Historic Architecture: Caswell County, North Carolina, Ruth Little-Stokes (1979) at 109:

      Photo 124. Long-Wiggins House. 1807. Interesting both architecturally and historically, for the large sophisticated 2-story frame Federal style house was the residence of William Long, a tobacco farmer who helped educate Piedmont farmers in methods of tobacco cultivation and new strains of plants which greatly increased yield and market value during the 19th century. The Flemish bond, exterior end chimney has glazed headers forming a diamond within which are the initials "M T M" and the date 1807. The interior was remodelled in the late 19th century, but retains much early federal trim.

      That the above describes the Moorefield Home Place seems likely, but has not been corroborated. For the remainder of the ownership chain to make sense the Yancey family would have purchased the property from William Long. The Moorefields inherited the property from Sallie Womack Wiggins. She apparently already owned the farm when she married Jack W. Wiggins, Jr.. This takes care of the Womack-Wiggnis ownership era. And, Sallie Henry Womack probably inherited the property from her mother, Anne Elizabeth Yancey (daughter of Bartlett Yancey, Jr.), thus supplying the Yancey connection.
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      A. W. Moorefield Dies at Age 82

      Yanceyville, N.C. -- Arthur William Moorefield, 82, of Yanceyville, died yesterday afternoon in Danville, Va., Memorial Hospital. He was born in Person County, a son of the late E. J. Moorefield and Ada James Moorefield. Mr. Moorefield lived in Caswell County most of his life. He was a retired farmer and merchant. Mr. Moorefield also was a sales representative for Smith-Douglas Co., for 35 years until his retirement in 1974. He was a member of First Baptist Church. His wife, Mrs. Pearl Smith Moorefield, died in 1969.

      He is survived by a son, Frank J. Moorefield, Yanceyville; eight sisters, Mrs. Minnie Joyce, Madison, Mrs. Lula Mosley, Lynchburg, Va., Mrs. Charles Owen, Hollywood, Calif., Mrs. Violet Smith, Portsmouth, Va., Mrs. Fred Showfety, Greensboro, Mrs. Ralph Isenhower, Salisbury, Md., Mrs. Ginny Pruitt, Lexington, Ky., and Mrs. Earl S. Lea, Yanceyville; 12 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

      A funeral will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church by the Rev. Carroll Spivey. Burial will be at the church cemetery. The body is at Hooper Funeral Home. The family is at the residence of Frank Moorefield.

      Source: The Danville Register (Danville, Virginia), 30 May 1976, Sunday, Page 18.
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      Find A Grave Memorial
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      I remember "Mr. Arthur" from his store at the intersection of old 86 and hwy 158. As a child I loved to stop there with daddy. He would buy me a half pint of milk and little bag of peanuts. Mr. Arthur was such a gentle presence. I also remember going to see him when he was sick and Daddy taking him a carton of cigarettes. Source: Rebecca Page 11 November 2019 Post to the Caswell County Historical Association Facebook Page.
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      Caswell County History: World War I

      Leading up to the United States entry into World War I, Caswell County had a militia. It was Company 51, North Carolina Reserve Militia (70 men).

      Robert Thomas Wilson (1883-1952) was Captain, and the group actually held drills on the Square in Yanceyville. My grandfather, Arthur William Moorefield (1893-1976) was 2nd Corporal.
      _______________

      In 1948 and 1949, the owners of land inherited from Sallie Henry Womack Wiggins deeded two parcels for the Caswell County Training School. Below are excerpts describing how Sallie Henry Womack Wiggins obtained the land and how it was passed on to the children of Arthur William Moorefield:

      " . . . and containing 3.15 acres and being a tract of land out of that certain tract or parcel of land conveyed by J. Archie Long to Sallie W. Wiggins by Warranty Deed dated December 24th, 1900, and duly recorded in Book 55, page 460 in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Caswell County. The said Long Tract or parcel of land was devised to Arthur Moorefield, Jr. a one-half undivided interest; to Jesse James Moorefield a one-fourth undivided interest; to Sallie W. Moorefield a one-fourth undivided interest by the Last Will and Testament of Sallie W. Wiggins, said Will bearing date of December 13th, 1928, probated February 20th, 1929, and recorded in Will Book D, page 272, in the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court for Caswell County. Also reference is made to a Warranty Deed from Arthur Moorefield, Jr., single to Arthur Moorefield, Sr., and Pearl Moorefield, his wife, dated December 12th, 1938, and recorded in Book 85, page 230 in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Caswell County, conveying the same one-half undivided interest devised to the said Arthur Moorefield, Jr., by the Last Will and Testament of Sallie W. Wiggins. . . .

      ". . . containing 9.11 acres, more or less, in the Town of Yanceyville, on the East side of South Montgomery Street, and particularly described as Tract No. 2, according to a Survey and Plat of the campus of the Caswell Training School as made by J. Frank Moorefield, Surveyor, in June, 1949, of record in Plat Book No. 2, at page 389, Caswell County Registry, and being a part of the lands devised to Arthur Moorefield, Jr., et al by Sallie W. Wiggins, by Will dated December 13, 1928, of record in Will Book "D", at page 272, in the Office of the Clerk of Superior Court of Caswell County, and as conveyed to Sallie W. Wiggins by J. Arch Long by deed of record in Book 55, page 460, Caswell County Registry, and described by metes and bounds according to the aforesaid Map and Survey of J. Frank Moorefield, as follows: . . . ."
      _______________

      Caswell Co. Negress Left Big Estate: Will of Mrs. Sallie Wiggins Presented at Yanceyville for Probate (Special to The Bee)

      Yanceyville, N.C., Feb 23. -- The last will and testament of Mrs. Sallie W. Wiggins, widely known Caswell county resident and a descendant of the Bartlett Yancey family who died recently in a Baltimore hospital was admitted to probate here yesterday. It disposes of an estate which is given a value of about $100,000 and reveals a striking instance in which a colored woman, the daughter of an ante-bellum slave, receives most of the estate for enjoyment during her life time.

      There is unusual interest in the will in Caswell county for in the Wiggins home are antiques which are probably without their peer in this section of the country. They consist of old family furniture imported from abroad during the early pioneering days of Caswell county rich in quality, well preserved and in substantial quantity. All of these valuable antiques have been deeded to five cousins.

      Mrs Wiggins also had fine jewelry, the will listing specific bequests of seven diamond rings and bracelets some of the rings being fine solitaires, which in the aggregate represent a large sum to say nothing of other precious stones. There is no appraisal of the estate but $100,000 is considered a fair figure.

      Mrs. Wiggins also remembered a faithful tenant, Arthur Moorefield, whom she characterized as "sober and industrious." To him goes the farm "Inglewood" to enjoy as long as he lives. He can cultivate it and enjoy all the proceeds that come from it. When his son, Arthur Moorefield, Jr., becomes of age, he will step into a tidy competence for under the will he will get half the estate. One quarter of the estate will then go to Jesse James Moorefield, another son of the original beneficiary and the remaining quarter goes to his sister, Sallie Womack Moorefield who is still in her minority.

      The rest and residue of her estate Mrs. Wiggins left to Sam M. Bason, of Yanceyville, to be held in trust for her colored servant. "For years there has lived with me," she wrote in the will dated December 13, 1928, "a colored woman named Sallie Fannie Graves. She has been a faithful servant and in gratitude for her faithful service I direct that the trustee shall keep this residue of my estate invested in safe, income-bearing securities and the entire income therefrom shall be paid to Sallie Fannie Graves as long as she shall live."

      Mrs. Wiggins further provided that the payments should be made to the colored woman who had tended her through her long final illness in monthly installments. Provision also is made for the distribution of this part of the estate at the time of the colored woman's death. She ordered that the following sums be paid.

      Yanceyville Presbyterian church, $2,500; Barium Springs orphanage, $100; Mrs. Mattie Allison, $2,500; May Mebane Donoho, $1,000; Caroline Mebane Parker, $1,000; Mrs. Nannie Mebane Donoho, $2,500; Mrs. S. E. Gwynn, $1,000; Glade Valley Mission school (Presbyterian), $1,000; S. M. Bason, $500; Arthur Moorefield, Sr., $100; Pearl Smith Moorefield, $100; Woman's auxiliary of the Yanceyville Presbyterian church, $100; the remainder to be divided between Nannie Donoho and Nannie Mebane Parker.

      All of the family silver, understood to be of considerable value, was left to Mr. Bason, who is named executor of the estate. The diamond rings and jewelry, as well as the household effects including the valuable antiques, are to be divided between her following cousins: Nannie Donoho, Mary Parker, Mrs. Mattie Allison, Mrs. S. E. Gwynn and children, and Mrs. Mollie Turner and children. The whole estate is represented by land, securities and jewelry. The will was drawn by Harris, Harvey and Brown, in Danville, prior to Mrs. Wiggins' removal to a Baltimore hospital.

      Source: The Bee (Danville, Virginia), 23 February 1929, Saturday, Page 1.
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      My maternal grandfather Arthur William Moorefield (1893-1976) was an acknowledged "good biccah man." I vividly recall when around six years old going into a curing barn with him. The heat hit you like a freight train. The aroma was marvelous. It is a wonder I never smoked (other than playing around with a pipe in law school and a few cigars later in life). There was a thermometer hanging in the center of the barn. Grandfather (called Papa by the grandchildren) checked the temperature and walked around feeling the leaves. He then checked the fuel tank outside ( which I guess was kerosene), seemed pleased with the progress, and moved to the next barn. Three barns were used.

      I also recall him having to plow up quite a bit of tobacco in the field one year when a survey (by Conway Moorefield) showed he had exceeded his allotment. I did not understand this at the time.

      I never really worked in tobacco as my immediate family did not farm. However, I enjoyed playing around the edges of the serious work. This was very instructional and convinced me that a college education would be better than farming -- at least it would provide options not available to those who remained on family farms.

      Source: Richmond S. Frederick, Jr. 11 November 2019 Post to his Facebook Page.
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      The 1900 US Census shows February 1896 as the birth date for Arthur William Moorefield, which is incorrect. He was born 11 August 1893. Also, the 1920 US Census entry shows Arthur William Moorefield and Pearl Virginia Smith as being 21 years old. That would make them both born in 1899, which also is incorrect. Arthur William Moorefield was born in 1893, and Pearl Virginia Smith was born in 1895.

      1900 US Census
      Name: Arthur Mofield [Moorefield]
      Home in 1900: Flat River, Person, North Carolina
      Age: 6
      Estimated birth year: abt 1894
      Birthplace: North Carolina
      Race: White
      Relationship to head-of-house: Son

      1910 US Census
      Name: Arther W Moorefield
      Age in 1910: 16
      Estimated birth year: abt 1894
      Birthplace: North Carolina
      Home in 1910: Olive Hill, Person, North Carolina
      Race: White
      Gender: Male
      Marital Status: Single
      Relation to Head of House: Son
      Mother's Birth Place: North Carolina
      Father's Birth Place: North Carolina
      Household Members: Name Age
      Eliza J Moorefield 43
      Ada B Moorefield 40
      Minnie B Moorefield 18
      Arther W Moorefield 16
      Leoner Moorefield 15
      Lula M Moorefield 12
      Jennie L Moorefield 8
      Violet B Moorefield 6
      Ester L Moorefield 4
      Sadie Moorefield 2

      1920 US Census
      Name: Arthur Morefield
      Age: 21 years
      Estimated birth year: abt 1899
      Birthplace: North Carolina
      Race: White
      Home in 1920: Dan River, Caswell, North Carolina
      Home owned: Rent
      Sex: Male
      Marital status: Married
      Relation to Head of House: Head
      Able to read: Yes
      Able to Write: Yes
      Mother's Birth Place: North Carolina
      Father's Birth Place: Virginia

      1930 US Census
      Name: Arthur W Morefield
      Age: 36
      Estimated birth year: abt 1894
      Birthplace: North Carolina
      Relation to head-of-house: Head
      Spouse's Name: Pearl V Morefield
      Race: White
      Home in 1930: Yanceyville, Caswell, North Carolina

      1940 United States Federal Census
      Name: Arthur Marefield [Moorefield]
      Respondent: Yes
      Age: 46
      Estimated Birth Year: abt 1894
      Gender: Male
      Race: White
      Birthplace: North Carolina
      Marital Status: Married
      Relation to Head of House: Head
      Home in 1940: Yanceyville, Caswell, North Carolina
      Street: Bigelow Road
      Farm: Yes
      Inferred Residence in 1935: Yanceyville, Caswell, North Carolina
      Residence in 1935: Same House
      Sheet Number: 6A
      Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 70
      Household Members: Name Age
      Arthur Marefield 46
      Pearl Marefield 45
      Arthur Marefield 23
      Jesse Marefield 20
      Sallie Womack Marefield 16
      Frank Marefield 9

      Death Record
      Name: Arthur William Moorefoeid, Sr.
      Birth Date: 11 August 1893
      Death Date Date: 29 May 1976
      Gender: Male
      Age: 82 Years
      Place of Death: Virginia
      Residence: Caswell, North Carolina
      Marital Status: Widowed
      Attendant: Physician
      Mode of Burial: Burial out of state (Incorrect)
      Hospital: General Hospital Out-of-State Institutions
      Race: White
      Source: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. North Carolina Death Records, 1976-1977. Orem, UT: Ancestry, Inc., 1998

      Additional Death Record
      Name: Arthur Moorefield
      SSN: 225-50-7311
      Last Residence: Yanceyville, Caswell, North Carolina, US 27379
      Born: 11 Aug 1893
      Died: May 1976
      State (Year) SSN Issued: Virginia (1956)
      Source: Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index

      Family Bible Record
      Arthur William Moorefield (Person County, North Carolina) married Pearl Smith Moorefield (Caswell County, North Carolina) Source: Moorefield Family Bible

      For more information on the Moorefields of North America go to the Moorefield Home Place

      For the history of the Moorefield family in North America go to Moorefield History (Courtesy William Frank Moorefield III)

      Gravestone
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  • Sources 
    1. [S40] Ancestry.com, North Carolina, Marriage Records, 1741-2011, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2015;).