Braxton Family of Pitt County, North Carolina

Donna Lou Pilgreen^1,2,3

F, #131, b. 3 November 1962

Father

Johnie Mark Pilgreen b. 29 Aug 1920, d. 25 Feb 1995

Mother

Lillie Alma Faulkner b. 30 May 1921

Donna Lou Pilgreen|b. 3 Nov 1962|p109.htm#i131|Johnie Mark Pilgreen|b. 29 Aug 1920\nd. 25 Feb 1995|p110.htm#i14|Lillie Alma Faulkner|b. 30 May 1921|p58.htm#i120|John R. Pilgreen|b. 18 Jan 1895\nd. 4 May 1962|p109.htm#i11|Ellen Avery|b. 25 Oct 1900\nd. 18 Dec 2000|p3.htm#i12|Benjamin F. Faulkner||p58.htm#i2423|Sue M. J. Pilgreen||p111.htm#i2424|

Charts

Avery Family Tree
Brann Family Tree
Davenport Family Tree
Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

1st cousin of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

01/22/2009

Birth*

Donna was born at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Pitt County, North Carolina, on 11/03/1962.^2,4

She is the daughter of Johnie Mark Pilgreen and Lillie Alma Faulkner.

Marriage*

She married Jay (Dexter) Hudson at Winterville, Pitt County, North Carolina, on 11/26/1982.⁴

Family

Jay (Dexter) Hudson b. 26 Aug 1956

Children

Citations:

[S10] Interview: Informant, Edna Earl Pilgreen (Winterville, Pitt County, North Carolina), Interviewer: Kenny Guy Braxton, 2001.
[S16] Bible: Ellen Avery Pilgreen Family, In possession of Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton, Winterville, Pitt County, North Carolina (2000).
[S17] Letter: Author, Joyce Davenport Tari; Recipent, Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton. February 4, 2000, Pilgreen Family Genealogy completed by Joyce. She started her research in 1997.
[S441] Genealogy: Pilgreen Family, Author: Nancy Pittman, Received: July 18, 2001, Published: 2000 on her website at http://www.genealogy.com/users/p/i/t/Nancy-L-Pittman-NC/. Quality of data: Good.

Edmond Pilgreen

M, #3655

Last Edited

03/03/2006

Census 1820*

Edmond Pilgreen was census 1820 in __/__/1820 at Pitt County, North Carolina.

Edna Earl Pilgreen^1,2

F, #4, b. 19 April 1930

Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton born April 19, 1930.

Father

John Robert Pilgreen b. 18 Jan 1895, d. 4 May 1962

Mother

Ellen Avery b. 25 Oct 1900, d. 18 Dec 2000

Charts

James Braxton Family Tree
Kenny Braxton's Pedigree Chart
Avery Family Tree
Brann Family Tree
Davenport Family Tree
Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

Mother of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

01/22/2009

Birth*

Edna was born at Jet Elks Farm, Farmville Hwy, Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina, on 04/19/1930.³

She is the daughter of John Robert Pilgreen and Ellen Avery.

Marriage*

She married Heber Guy Braxton at the home of Rev. Hanesley, Ayden, Pitt County, North Carolina, on 02/21/1951.^4,5

Divorce*

Edna was granted a divorce from Heber Guy Braxton at Pitt County Courthouse, Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina, on 03/25/1986.³

Family

Heber Guy Braxton b. 14 Feb 1931

Children

Kenny Guy Braxton+ b. 3 Jan 1952
Deborah Marlene Braxton Luis+ b. 22 Jul 1953
Robert Warren Braxton b. 27 May 1955

Citations:

[S16] Bible: Ellen Avery Pilgreen Family, In possession of Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton, Winterville, Pitt County, North Carolina (2000).
[S17] Letter: Author, Joyce Davenport Tari; Recipent, Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton. February 4, 2000, Pilgreen Family Genealogy completed by Joyce. She started her research in 1997.
[S345] Interview: Informant, Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton (Winterville, North Carolina), Interviewer: Kenny Guy Braxton, April 20, 2001.
[S231] Marriage: Wedding Certificate , Heber Guy Braxton and Edna Earl Pilgreen . February 21, 1951 . Copy of this record is in the possession of Kenny Guy Braxton .
[S758] Letter: Author, Edith Parker Williams; Recipent, Kenny Guy Braxton. April 6, 2006, She provided information about the Warren Braxton family. Edith is the daughter of James Braxton, son of David Warren Braxton and Mary Eliza Nobles. David is the son of Warren Braxton.

Edward (Edwin) O. Pilgreen^1,2,3,4

M, #146, b. August 1821, d. circa 1901

Father

Enoch Pilgreen b. c 1795, d. a 1854

Mother

Judith "Judy" Scott Pilgreen b. c 1797

Edward (Edwin) O. Pilgreen|b. Aug 1821\nd. c 1901|p109.htm#i146|Enoch Pilgreen|b. c 1795\nd. a 1854|p109.htm#i715|Judith "Judy" Scott Pilgreen|b. c 1797|p110.htm#i716|||||||||||||

Charts

Kenny Braxton's Pedigree Chart
Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

2nd great-grandfather of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

01/22/2009

Birth*

Edward was born at Pitt County, North Carolina, in 08/__/1821.^1,5,4,6

He was the son of Enoch Pilgreen and Judith "Judy" Scott Pilgreen.

Marriage*

He married Martha Alvania Weathersby Pilgreen at Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina, c __/__/1854.^1,7,8,5,9

Death*

Edward died c __/__/1901.

Burial*

His body was interred c __/__/1901 in the Elks Family Cemetery, Ballard's Crossroads at Simpson, Pitt County, North Carolina, .
.⁵

Census 1860 - free*

On 07/10/1860,Edward was listed as the head of a family on the 1860 Census at Pactolus, Pitt County, North Carolina. The following entry was made in the Pitt County Federal Population Census for Edwin and his family: Edwin, age 38, mulatto, laborer, could not read and write; Alvany, age 30, female, could not read or write; M.E., age 5 (Martha), female, mulatto; M.A. (Mary Ann), age 3, female, mulatto; M.G. (Mack), age 1 male, mulatto. His household was recorded as number 440 on Page 55 (28) under Pactolus Township, Pitt County, North Carolina.

.⁹

Milit-Beg*

He was inducted into the military at Pitt County, North Carolina, on 02/22/1862. The following information was included in his Civil War record: Edwin, a 37-year-old farmer and residence of Pitt County, NC, served in the Confederate army. During his service to his state and the south, he was wounded at least twice. He probably could not read or write since "X" made his signature on all papers. He was 5' 10". He was present or accounted for until wounded at Bristoe Station, Virginia, October 14, 1863. The following entries were made in his service record:
1. February 22, 1862: He enlisted into the Confederate Army at Pitt County, NC as a Private.
2. March 3, 1862: Colonel R.H. Riddick mustered Edwin into "D" Co. NC 44th Infantry at Camp Maugum (sp.). Company "D" was also known as the "Pitt Regulars." During the war the NC 44th Infantry incurred a total killed of 36, 198 wounded, 444 captured, and 3 missing out of a total membership of 1,507.
3. January 20, 1863: He was sent on a detachment to Magnolia, NC.
4. July 8, 1863: Appears on receipt roll for clothing, at Pratt Hospital in Lynchburg, Virginia.
5. October 14, 1863: He was wounded at Bristoe Station, VA.
Engagement with the 2nd Army Corps: On this date the 2nd Army corps was under the temporary command of Brig.-Gen. John C. Caldwell, Gen. Warren being absent. After the engagement at Catlett's station in the morning, the command pushed forward to Bristoe the object being to get possession of the Orange & Alexandria railroad, the line of which afforded a strong position for defense. As the advance approached the station Caldwell learned that the Confederates were advancing in line of battle to attack his flank. He gained the railroad and formed his line of battle with his own division (the 1st) on the left, Webb's (2nd) division on the right, and Hays' (3rd) division in the center the batteries being planted in the rear in such a position that they could fire over the heads of the infantry. Against this line Gen. A. P. Hill sent Cooke's North Carolina brigade without taking the customary precaution to advance a skirmish line to develop the Federal position. As Cooke advanced he was met by a withering fire of musketry, while the batteries in the rear poured a rapid fire of canister into his line, causing it to break in disorder, leaving 5 pieces of artillery and 2 stands of colors in Union hands. The loss of the 2nd corps for the day, including the actions at Auburn and Catlett's station, was 50 killed, 335 wounded and 161 missing. A Confederate account says that their loss was 1,400 in killed and wounded. This decisive repulse checked Lee's advance and enabled the Army of the Potomac to take a strong position at Centerville. With 16 killed, 65 wounded, and 60 captured, this would be the worst day of the Civil War for the 44th.
     Source: The Union Army, vol. 5
6. October 18, 1863: Admitted C.S.A. General Hospital, Charlottesville, Virginia. Disease: Primary, Vulu. Sclo (sp.).
7. November 1 1863: He was reacted to duty.
8. November 12, 1863: He was suffering from secondary, erysipelas (a contagious skin disease due to Streptococci that makes lesion).
9. November 21, 1863: Appears on receipt roll for clothing, at General Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia.
10. December 17, 1863: Appears on receipt roll for clothing, at General Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia.
11. December 18, 1863: He was furloughed for 60 days (place not stated).
12. Dec 19, 1863: He appears on a register of Receiving and Wayside Hospital or General Hospital No. 9, Richmond, Va. As being admitted after being wounded.
13. December 19, 1863: Released from hospital.
14. December 31, 1863: Appears on a receipt roll for clothing.
15. July 28, 1864: In Tarboro, North Carolina, he received $22.50 for pulling 3 months extra guard duty.
16. He was detailed March 27, 1864 Tarboro, NC (Light duty)
17. He was detailed October 30, 1864 to a hospital in Wilson, NC
18. (Date and method of discharge not given)

Edwin Pilgreen was recorded in North Carolina's Roll of Honor - Compiled in the Office of the Adjutant General of the State of North Carolina in accordance with resolutions ratified by the General Assembly of that State on December 20, 1862. Card from the original record borrowed from the Adjutant General of North Carolina. M.S. 1043147. Edwin's unit, the 44th Infantry Regiment, completed its organization in March 1862, at Camp Mangum, near Raleigh, North Carolina. Its companies were recruited in the counties of Granville, Edgecombe, Pitt, Chatham, Montgomery, Beaufort, and Franklin. It served in the Department of North Carolina, and then was assigned to General Pettigrrew's, Kirkland's, and MacRae's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. En route to Gettysburg, the 44th stayed at Hanover Junction to guard the railroads. Later it fought at Bristoe, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor. It was then involved in the Petersburg siege south of the James River and the Appomattox Campaign. The regiment reported 23 killed and 63 wounded at Bristoe, sustained heavy losses at The Wilderness and in front of Petersburg, and surrendered 8 officers and 74 men on April 9, 1865. It commanders were Colonels G.B. Singeltary and T.C. Singeltary; Lieutenant Colonels Richard C. Cotton, Elisha Cromwell, and Tazewell L. Hargrove, and Major Charles M. Stedman.
     Sources:
          - Edwin Pilgreen's Confederate Army Service Record
          - North Carolina Troops 1861-65, A Roster
- National Park Service Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System website: http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/index.html

.^10,5

Census 1870*

On 07/20/1870, Edward was listed as the head of a family on the 1870 Census at Greenville Township, Pitt County, North Carolina. The following entry was made in the Pitt County Federal Population Census for Edwin and his family: Edwin, age 47, white, farmer, could not read and write; Martha, age 14, female, white, at home; Mary Ann, age 12, female, white; M.G. (Mack), age 10, male, white; Jackyann, age 9, female, white; Robt., age 4, male, white; John T., age 2, male, white. Several pieces of information can be gleamed from this record. Edwin's wife, Martha Alvania, has died within the last two years and John Thomas was the youngest of her six children. Could Martha have died in childbirth? In the 1860 Census, Edwin was recorded as mulatto as well as his three oldest children which entry is correct, 1860 or 1870? Edwin's household was recorded as number 175 on Page 28 under Greenville Township, Pitt County, North Carolina.

.¹¹

Census 1880*

Edward was listed as the head of a family on the 1880 Census at Pactolus, Pitt County, North Carolina. The following entry was made in the Pitt County Federal Population Census for Edward and his family: Edward, age 60, farmer, could not read and write; Elizabeth, age 40, wife, keeping house, could not read or write; Martha, age 24, daughter; Mary Ann, age 23, daughter; M.K. (Mack), age 20, son; Jack Ann, age 18, daughter, could read and write; Robbert, age 16, son; J. Tomas, age14, son; Nellie, age 5, daughter; William A., age 1, son. His household was recorded as number 78 on Page 10 under Pactolus Township, Pitt County, North Carolina.

.⁴

Mlt pension*

Edward applied for a military pension at Pitt County, North Carolina, on 07/04/1885. On this day he submitted his Declaration of Soldier for Pension in Pitt County North Carolina. He recorded that while in the service at Bristoe Station, Virginia on October 14, 1863, he received a wound in the joint of the elbow of the left arm - four inches of bone was taken from the arm, which arm is disabled so as to render him unable to gain a living by manual labor. His pension was approved one month later on 5 August 1885.

.¹²

Census 1900*

Edward was listed as the head of a family on the 1900 Census at Pactolus, Pitt County, North Carolina. The following entry was made in the Pitt County Federal Population Census for Edwin and his family: Edwin, age 79, white, married 26 years, farmer, could not read and write, zero employees, rented farm, farm schedule 57; Betsy, wife, age 60, white, married 26 years, could not read or write; Martha, daughter, age 45, single, white; Mary Ann, daughter, age 43, single, white, could not read or write; William, son, age 21, single, white, could read and write; Rufus, son, age 18, white, could read and write. Each person birth month and year was also recorded. Edwin's household was recorded as number 90 on Sheet 6 under Pactolus Township, Pitt County, North Carolina.

.⁶

Biography*

There exists contradictory evidence about whether Edwin was white or mulatto. In the 1860 census, he and his children are recorded as mulatto and his wife, Alvany, as white. In the 1870, 1880 and 1900 census he is recorded as white. He also fought in the Civil War as a Private in the Confederate Army.^9,11,4,6,10

Family 1

Martha Alvania Weathersby Pilgreen b. c 1830, d. c 1868

Marriage*

He married Martha Alvania Weathersby Pilgreen at Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina, c __/__/1854.^1,7,8,5,9

Children

Martha E Ann Pilgreen b. Jan 1855, d. 26 Mar 1923
Mary Ann Pilgreen b. Jun 1856, d. 5 Apr 1941
Mack G. Pilgreen+ b. c 1859
Jacky Ann Pilgreen Everett b. 1863, d. c 1940
Robert Lee Pilgreen+ b. 13 Jan 1864, d. a 1910
John Thomas Pilgreen+ b. 1868, d. c 1938

Family 2

Elizabeth Jones Pilgreen b. Feb 1840, d. a 1900

Children

Nellie Gray Pilgreen Davenport+ b. 20 Apr 1876, d. 10 Feb 1929
William A. Pilgreen b. Jan 1879
Lonnie Rufus Pilgreen b. 20 Apr 1885, d. a 1920

Citations:

[S17] Letter: Author, Joyce Davenport Tari; Recipent, Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton. February 4, 2000, Pilgreen Family Genealogy completed by Joyce. She started her research in 1997.
[S785] Email : Author, Nancy Pittman; Recipent, Kenny Guy Braxton. July 24, 2002. Information: Pilgreen Family of Pitt County, NC.
[S578] Email : Author, Mitzi Corbett Hobgood; Recipent, Kenny Guy Braxton. June 17, 2002. Information: Davenport Family Cemetery Survey.
[S585] Census: Edwin Pilgreen: 1880 Federal Population Census, Pactolus Township, North Carolina. Heritage Quest CD.
[S441] Genealogy: Pilgreen Family, Author: Nancy Pittman, Received: July 18, 2001, Published: 2000 on her website at http://www.genealogy.com/users/p/i/t/Nancy-L-Pittman-NC/. Quality of data: Good.
[S589] Census: Edwin Pilgreen: 1900 Federal Population Census, Patolus Township, Pitt County, North Carolina. Heritage Quest CD.
[S108] LDS Record: Edward Pilgreen Family Tree. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) (http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/default.asp).
[S111] LDS Record: Martha Weathersby, Family Tree, (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) (http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/default.asp).
[S587] Census: Edwin Pilgreen: 1860 Federal Population Census, Pactolus Township, Pitt County, North Carolina.
[S169] Civil War Record: Edward (Edwin) O. Pilgreen; Fought for the Confederacy.
[S588] Census: Edwin Pilgreen: 1870 Federal Population Census, Greenville Township, Pitt County, North Carolina.
[S621] Email : Author, Nancy Pittman; Recipent, Kenny Guy Braxton. November 18, 2003. Information: Edwin Pillgree's Declaration of Soldier for Pension Pitt County, NC. Shepard Library, Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina.

Edward Stanley Pilgreen^1,2

M, #1713, b. 22 April 1892, d. 5 February 1933

Father

John Thomas Pilgreen b. 1868, d. c 1938

Mother

Mary Ann Davenport Pilgreen b. 31 Jan 1864, d. 12 May 1912

Charts

Davenport Family Tree
Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

Granduncle of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

01/22/2009

Birth*

Edward was born at Pitt County, North Carolina, on 04/22/1892.²

He was the son of John Thomas Pilgreen and Mary Ann Davenport Pilgreen.

Marriage*

He married Rebecca Annie Davenport on 12/25/1910.²

Death*

Edward died on 02/05/1933 at Robersonville, Martin County, North Carolina, at age 40.²

Biography*

Edward was the youngest child of Mary and John Thomas.

Family

Rebecca Annie Davenport b. 22 Sep 1890, d. 2 Dec 1972

Children

William Edward Pilgreen b. 14 Oct 1911, d. 1 Jun 1975
Lola Mae Pilgreen b. 26 Mar 1914, d. 5 Nov 1978
Ethel Lee (Leigh) Pilgreen b. 12 Jan 1920, d. 4 Jun 1997
Luther Franklin Pilgreen+ b. 2 Jan 1921, d. 20 Mar 1977
John Thomas Pilgreen² b. 27 Jun 1922, d. 22 Sep 1922
Glorious Hope Pilgreen² b. 14 Mar 1924, d. 22 Mar 1924
James Garland Pilgreen b. 13 Aug 1925, d. 7 Feb 1944
Mary Lois Pilgreen b. 11 Jan 1929, d. 22 Aug 1985
Roy Clayton Pilgreen b. 30 Mar 1932

Citations:

[S345] Interview: Informant, Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton (Winterville, North Carolina), Interviewer: Kenny Guy Braxton, April 20, 2001.
[S441] Genealogy: Pilgreen Family, Author: Nancy Pittman, Received: July 18, 2001, Published: 2000 on her website at http://www.genealogy.com/users/p/i/t/Nancy-L-Pittman-NC/. Quality of data: Good.

Elizabeth Jones Pilgreen^1,2,3

F, #717, b. February 1840, d. after 1900

Last Edited

01/21/2009

Birth*

Elizabeth was born at Pitt County, North Carolina, in 02/__/1840.^2,4

Marriage*

She married Edward (Edwin) O. Pilgreen in at Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina, on on 11/05/1874.^1,2,5

Death*

Elizabeth died a __/__/1900 at Pitt County, North Carolina.

Biography*

__/__/____

Family

Edward (Edwin) O. Pilgreen b. Aug 1821, d. c 1901

Children

Nellie Gray Pilgreen Davenport+ b. 20 Apr 1876, d. 10 Feb 1929
William A. Pilgreen b. Jan 1879
Lonnie Rufus Pilgreen b. 20 Apr 1885, d. a 1920

Citations:

[S108] LDS Record: Edward Pilgreen Family Tree. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) (http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/default.asp).
[S441] Genealogy: Pilgreen Family, Author: Nancy Pittman, Received: July 18, 2001, Published: 2000 on her website at http://www.genealogy.com/users/p/i/t/Nancy-L-Pittman-NC/. Quality of data: Good.
[S578] Email : Author, Mitzi Corbett Hobgood; Recipent, Kenny Guy Braxton. June 17, 2002. Information: Davenport Family Cemetery Survey.
[S589] Census: Edwin Pilgreen: 1900 Federal Population Census, Patolus Township, Pitt County, North Carolina. Heritage Quest CD.
[S585] Census: Edwin Pilgreen: 1880 Federal Population Census, Pactolus Township, North Carolina. Heritage Quest CD.

Ellen Mariah Pilgreen¹

F, #262, b. 20 August 1927

Father

Thomas Gray Pilgreen b. 3 Mar 1905, d. 7 Feb 1988

Mother

Dora Lee Everett b. 1911

Ellen Mariah Pilgreen|b. 20 Aug 1927|p109.htm#i262|Thomas Gray Pilgreen|b. 3 Mar 1905\nd. 7 Feb 1988|p111.htm#i260|Dora Lee Everett|b. 1911|p56.htm#i261|Robert L. Pilgreen|b. 13 Jan 1864\nd. a 1910|p111.htm#i257|Susan D. Pilgreen|b. 24 Dec 1871\nd. 4 Jun 1931|p111.htm#i259|||||||

Charts

Davenport Family Tree
Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

2nd cousin 1 time removed of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

03/04/2000

Birth*

Ellen was born at Pactolus, Pitt County, North Carolina, on 08/20/1927.¹

She is the daughter of Thomas Gray Pilgreen and Dora Lee Everett.

Citations:

[S17] Letter: Author, Joyce Davenport Tari; Recipent, Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton. February 4, 2000, Pilgreen Family Genealogy completed by Joyce. She started her research in 1997.

Ellen Marie Pilgreen

F, #128, b. 3 April 1958, d. 8 April 2003

Father

Wilbur Gray Pilgreen b. 28 Oct 1924

Mother

Margot Richels Pilgreen

Ellen Marie Pilgreen|b. 3 Apr 1958\nd. 8 Apr 2003|p109.htm#i128|Wilbur Gray Pilgreen|b. 28 Oct 1924|p111.htm#i13|Margot Richels Pilgreen||p110.htm#i121|John R. Pilgreen|b. 18 Jan 1895\nd. 4 May 1962|p109.htm#i11|Ellen Avery|b. 25 Oct 1900\nd. 18 Dec 2000|p3.htm#i12|||||||

Charts

Avery Family Tree
Brann Family Tree
Davenport Family Tree
Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

1st cousin of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

01/22/2009

Birth*

Ellen was born on 04/03/1958.¹

She was the daughter of Wilbur Gray Pilgreen and Margot Richels Pilgreen.

Marriage*

She married Mike Procopio.

Death*

Ellen died on 04/08/2003 at age 45. She either died from cancer or a stroke.|.²

Family

Mike Procopio

Child

Christine Marie Procopio

Citations:

[S278] Email : Author, Wilber Gray Pilgreen Jr.; Recipent, Kenny Guy Braxton. March 20, 2001. Information: John Robert Pilgreen Family. Shepard Library, Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina.
[S602] Letter: Author, Edna Earl Pilgreen; Recipent, Kenny Guy Braxton. April 8, 2003, Information about the Avery and Pilgreen Families.

Enoch Pilgreen^1,2,3

M, #715, b. circa 1795, d. after 1854

Charts

Kenny Braxton's Pedigree Chart
Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

3rd great-grandfather of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

01/21/2009

Birth*

Enoch was born at Pitt County, North Carolina, c __/__/1795.^2,3

Marriage*

He married Judith "Judy" Scott Pilgreen at Pitt County, North Carolina, c __/__/1817.^2,4,3

Death*

Enoch died a __/__/1854.⁵

Family

Judith "Judy" Scott Pilgreen b. c 1797

Child

Edward (Edwin) O. Pilgreen+ b. Aug 1821, d. c 1901

Citations:

[S108] LDS Record: Edward Pilgreen Family Tree. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) (http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/default.asp).
[S109] LDS Record: Enoch Pilgreen, Family Tree, (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) (http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/default.asp).
[S441] Genealogy: Pilgreen Family, Author: Nancy Pittman, Received: July 18, 2001, Published: 2000 on her website at http://www.genealogy.com/users/p/i/t/Nancy-L-Pittman-NC/. Quality of data: Good.
[S110] LDS Record: Judy Scott, Family Tree, (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) (http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/default.asp).
[S566] Estimated Date: Date was estimated based on other dates either in this individual's records or the records of others. When no other information exists, it is assumed individuals married at age 20.

Ethel Lee (Leigh) Pilgreen^1,2

F, #2947, b. 12 January 1920, d. 4 June 1997

Father

Edward Stanley Pilgreen b. 22 Apr 1892, d. 5 Feb 1933

Mother

Rebecca Annie Davenport b. 22 Sep 1890, d. 2 Dec 1972

Ethel Lee (Leigh) Pilgreen|b. 12 Jan 1920\nd. 4 Jun 1997|p109.htm#i2947|Edward Stanley Pilgreen|b. 22 Apr 1892\nd. 5 Feb 1933|p109.htm#i1713|Rebecca Annie Davenport|b. 22 Sep 1890\nd. 2 Dec 1972|p50.htm#i2420|John T. Pilgreen|b. 1868\nd. c 1938|p110.htm#i139|Mary A. D. Pilgreen|b. 31 Jan 1864\nd. 12 May 1912|p110.htm#i140||||Sallie J. Davenport|b. Aug 1862\nd. a 1945|p50.htm#i2908|

Charts

Davenport Family Tree
Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

1st cousin 1 time removed of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

02/16/2008

Birth*

Ethel was born at Bethel, Pitt County, North Carolina, on 01/12/1920.²

She was the daughter of Edward Stanley Pilgreen and Rebecca Annie Davenport.

Death*

Ethel died on 06/04/1997 at Robersonville, Martin County, North Carolina, at age 77.²

Citations:

[S10] Interview: Informant, Edna Earl Pilgreen (Winterville, Pitt County, North Carolina), Interviewer: Kenny Guy Braxton, 2001.
[S441] Genealogy: Pilgreen Family, Author: Nancy Pittman, Received: July 18, 2001, Published: 2000 on her website at http://www.genealogy.com/users/p/i/t/Nancy-L-Pittman-NC/. Quality of data: Good.

Frances Pilgreen

F, #3811

Last Edited

12/05/2008

Marriage*

Frances Pilgreen married Roy Clayton Pilgreen, son of Edward Stanley Pilgreen and Rebecca Annie Davenport.

Family

Roy Clayton Pilgreen b. 30 Mar 1932

Gladys Pilgreen¹

F, #3968

Last Edited

12/05/2008

Marriage*

Gladys Pilgreen married Virgil Pilgreen, son of Jesse Pilgreen Jr and Mary Elizabeth Knox.¹

Family

Virgil Pilgreen

Citations:

[S901] Genealogy: Descendants of Mack Pilgreen, Author: Nancy Pittman, Received: November 5, 2004.

Glorious Hope Pilgreen¹

F, #3844, b. 14 March 1924, d. 22 March 1924

Father

Edward Stanley Pilgreen¹ b. 22 Apr 1892, d. 5 Feb 1933

Mother

Rebecca Annie Davenport¹ b. 22 Sep 1890, d. 2 Dec 1972

Glorious Hope Pilgreen|b. 14 Mar 1924\nd. 22 Mar 1924|p109.htm#i3844|Edward Stanley Pilgreen|b. 22 Apr 1892\nd. 5 Feb 1933|p109.htm#i1713|Rebecca Annie Davenport|b. 22 Sep 1890\nd. 2 Dec 1972|p50.htm#i2420|John T. Pilgreen|b. 1868\nd. c 1938|p110.htm#i139|Mary A. D. Pilgreen|b. 31 Jan 1864\nd. 12 May 1912|p110.htm#i140||||Sallie J. Davenport|b. Aug 1862\nd. a 1945|p50.htm#i2908|

Charts

Davenport Family Tree
Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

1st cousin 1 time removed of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

02/16/2008

Birth*

Glorious Hope Pilgreen was born on 03/14/1924 at Bethel, Pitt County, North Carolina.¹

She was the daughter of Edward Stanley Pilgreen and Rebecca Annie Davenport.¹

Death*

She died on 03/22/1924 at Bethel, Pitt County, North Carolina.¹

Citations:

[S441] Genealogy: Pilgreen Family, Author: Nancy Pittman, Received: July 18, 2001, Published: 2000 on her website at http://www.genealogy.com/users/p/i/t/Nancy-L-Pittman-NC/. Quality of data: Good.

Gwendolyn Pilgreen¹

F, #3965

Father

Jesse Pilgreen Jr¹

Mother

Mary Elizabeth Knox¹ b. 22 Mar 1938, d. 31 Jan 2004

Gwendolyn Pilgreen||p109.htm#i3965|Jesse Pilgreen Jr||p109.htm#i3954|Mary Elizabeth Knox|b. 22 Mar 1938\nd. 31 Jan 2004|p82.htm#i3955|Jessie Pilgreen Sr.||p109.htm#i3952|(?) Pilgreen||p108.htm#i3953|Henry Atkinson||p2.htm#i3956|Florence Little||p85.htm#i3957|

Charts

Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

3rd cousin of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

11/10/2008

Gwendolyn Pilgreen is the daughter of Jesse Pilgreen Jr and Mary Elizabeth Knox.¹

Marriage*

She married Kelvin Battle.¹

Family

Kelvin Battle

Citations:

[S901] Genealogy: Descendants of Mack Pilgreen, Author: Nancy Pittman, Received: November 5, 2004.

Hal Stewart Pilgreen^1,2,3

M, #126, b. 8 October 1957

Father

Johnie Mark Pilgreen b. 29 Aug 1920, d. 25 Feb 1995

Mother

Lillie Alma Faulkner b. 30 May 1921

Hal Stewart Pilgreen|b. 8 Oct 1957|p109.htm#i126|Johnie Mark Pilgreen|b. 29 Aug 1920\nd. 25 Feb 1995|p110.htm#i14|Lillie Alma Faulkner|b. 30 May 1921|p58.htm#i120|John R. Pilgreen|b. 18 Jan 1895\nd. 4 May 1962|p109.htm#i11|Ellen Avery|b. 25 Oct 1900\nd. 18 Dec 2000|p3.htm#i12|Benjamin F. Faulkner||p58.htm#i2423|Sue M. J. Pilgreen||p111.htm#i2424|

Charts

Avery Family Tree
Brann Family Tree
Davenport Family Tree
Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

1st cousin of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

02/24/2006

Birth*

Hal was born at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Pitt County, North Carolina, on 10/08/1957.^2,4

He is the son of Johnie Mark Pilgreen and Lillie Alma Faulkner.

Marriage*

He married Betty (Sue) Gardner Pilgreen at Winterville, Pitt County, North Carolina, on 11/06/1984.⁴

Family

Betty (Sue) Gardner Pilgreen b. 26 Dec 1950

Citations:

[S10] Interview: Informant, Edna Earl Pilgreen (Winterville, Pitt County, North Carolina), Interviewer: Kenny Guy Braxton, 2001.
[S16] Bible: Ellen Avery Pilgreen Family, In possession of Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton, Winterville, Pitt County, North Carolina (2000).
[S17] Letter: Author, Joyce Davenport Tari; Recipent, Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton. February 4, 2000, Pilgreen Family Genealogy completed by Joyce. She started her research in 1997.
[S441] Genealogy: Pilgreen Family, Author: Nancy Pittman, Received: July 18, 2001, Published: 2000 on her website at http://www.genealogy.com/users/p/i/t/Nancy-L-Pittman-NC/. Quality of data: Good.

Helen Joyce Moore Pilgreen¹

F, #350, b. circa 1933

Last Edited

03/03/2000

Birth*

Helen was born c __/__/1933.¹

Marriage*

She married Joe Thomas Pilgreen on 02/16/1949.¹

Family

Joe Thomas Pilgreen b. 1 Dec 1929, d. 12 Oct 1951

Citations:

[S17] Letter: Author, Joyce Davenport Tari; Recipent, Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton. February 4, 2000, Pilgreen Family Genealogy completed by Joyce. She started her research in 1997.

Hugh Pilgreen

M, #3657

Last Edited

03/03/2006

Census 1830*

Hugh Pilgreen was census 1830 in __/__/1830 at Pitt County, North Carolina.

Inocencia Alice Pilgreen¹

F, #274, b. 1989

Father

Ruben Esttupinan

Mother

Shirley Ann Pilgreen

Inocencia Alice Pilgreen|b. 1989|p109.htm#i274|Ruben Esttupinan||p56.htm#i267|Shirley Ann Pilgreen||p111.htm#i266|||||||Clifton R. Pilgreen|b. 14 Oct 1931\nd. 3 Sep 2002|p108.htm#i264|Dolly G. Banks|b. 20 Mar 1937|p6.htm#i265|

Charts

Davenport Family Tree
Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

3rd cousin 1 time removed of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

03/04/2000

Birth*

Inocencia was born at Pitt County, North Carolina, in __/__/1989.¹

She is the daughter of Ruben Esttupinan and Shirley Ann Pilgreen.

Citations:

[S17] Letter: Author, Joyce Davenport Tari; Recipent, Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton. February 4, 2000, Pilgreen Family Genealogy completed by Joyce. She started her research in 1997.

Irene Elizabeth Warren Pilgreen¹

F, #2422

Last Edited

07/19/2001

Birth*

Irene was born at Martin County, North Carolina.¹

Marriage*

She married Thomas Glenn Pilgreen.

Family

Thomas Glenn Pilgreen b. 26 May 1915, d. 15 Nov 1969

Citations:

[S441] Genealogy: Pilgreen Family, Author: Nancy Pittman, Received: July 18, 2001, Published: 2000 on her website at http://www.genealogy.com/users/p/i/t/Nancy-L-Pittman-NC/. Quality of data: Good.

J. T. Pilgreen¹

M, #288, b. 1976

Father

Joe Thomas Pilgreen b. 11 Jul 1955

Mother

Brenda Smith

J. T. Pilgreen|b. 1976|p109.htm#i288|Joe Thomas Pilgreen|b. 11 Jul 1955|p109.htm#i286|Brenda Smith||p119.htm#i287|Clifton R. Pilgreen|b. 14 Oct 1931\nd. 3 Sep 2002|p108.htm#i264|Dolly G. Banks|b. 20 Mar 1937|p6.htm#i265|||||||

Charts

Davenport Family Tree
Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

3rd cousin 1 time removed of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

03/04/2000

Birth*

J. was born at Beaufort County, South Carolina, in __/__/1976.¹

He is the son of Joe Thomas Pilgreen and Brenda Smith.

Citations:

[S17] Letter: Author, Joyce Davenport Tari; Recipent, Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton. February 4, 2000, Pilgreen Family Genealogy completed by Joyce. She started her research in 1997.

James Pilgreen¹

M, #356

Father

Thomas Basnight Gray Pilgreen b. 3 Mar 1905, d. 7 Feb 1988

James Pilgreen||p109.htm#i356|Thomas Basnight Gray Pilgreen|b. 3 Mar 1905\nd. 7 Feb 1988|p111.htm#i345|Alma Morgan Pilgreen|b. c 1923|p108.htm#i321|Robert L. Pilgreen|b. 13 Jan 1864\nd. a 1910|p111.htm#i257|Susan D. Pilgreen|b. 24 Dec 1871\nd. 4 Jun 1931|p111.htm#i259|||||||

Charts

Davenport Family Tree
Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

2nd cousin 1 time removed of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

01/20/2008

Birth*

James was born.

He is the son of Thomas Basnight Gray Pilgreen and Alma Morgan Pilgreen.

Citations:

[S17] Letter: Author, Joyce Davenport Tari; Recipent, Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton. February 4, 2000, Pilgreen Family Genealogy completed by Joyce. She started her research in 1997.

James Garland Pilgreen^1,2

F, #2948, b. 13 August 1925, d. 7 February 1944

Father

Edward Stanley Pilgreen b. 22 Apr 1892, d. 5 Feb 1933

Mother

Rebecca Annie Davenport b. 22 Sep 1890, d. 2 Dec 1972

James Garland Pilgreen|b. 13 Aug 1925\nd. 7 Feb 1944|p109.htm#i2948|Edward Stanley Pilgreen|b. 22 Apr 1892\nd. 5 Feb 1933|p109.htm#i1713|Rebecca Annie Davenport|b. 22 Sep 1890\nd. 2 Dec 1972|p50.htm#i2420|John T. Pilgreen|b. 1868\nd. c 1938|p110.htm#i139|Mary A. D. Pilgreen|b. 31 Jan 1864\nd. 12 May 1912|p110.htm#i140||||Sallie J. Davenport|b. Aug 1862\nd. a 1945|p50.htm#i2908|

Charts

Davenport Family Tree
Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

1st cousin 1 time removed of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

02/16/2008

Birth*

James was born at Bethel, Pitt County, North Carolina, on 08/13/1925.²

She was the daughter of Edward Stanley Pilgreen and Rebecca Annie Davenport.

Death*

James died on 02/07/1944 at Oak City to Greenville Road, Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina, at age 18.^1,2

Citations:

[S10] Interview: Informant, Edna Earl Pilgreen (Winterville, Pitt County, North Carolina), Interviewer: Kenny Guy Braxton, 2001.
[S441] Genealogy: Pilgreen Family, Author: Nancy Pittman, Received: July 18, 2001, Published: 2000 on her website at http://www.genealogy.com/users/p/i/t/Nancy-L-Pittman-NC/. Quality of data: Good.

James Joshua Pilgreen¹

M, #323, b. 10 March 1947

Father

Thomas Gray Pilgreen b. 3 Mar 1905, d. 7 Feb 1988

James Joshua Pilgreen|b. 10 Mar 1947|p109.htm#i323|Thomas Gray Pilgreen|b. 3 Mar 1905\nd. 7 Feb 1988|p111.htm#i260||||Robert L. Pilgreen|b. 13 Jan 1864\nd. a 1910|p111.htm#i257|Susan D. Pilgreen|b. 24 Dec 1871\nd. 4 Jun 1931|p111.htm#i259|||||||

Charts

Davenport Family Tree
Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

2nd cousin 1 time removed of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

01/20/2008

Birth*

James was born at Washington, Beaufort County, North Carolina, on 03/10/1947.¹

He was the son of Thomas Gray Pilgreen.

Death*

James died.

Citations:

[S17] Letter: Author, Joyce Davenport Tari; Recipent, Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton. February 4, 2000, Pilgreen Family Genealogy completed by Joyce. She started her research in 1997.

Jesse Pilgreen Jr¹

M, #3954

Father

Jessie Pilgreen Sr.¹

Mother

(?) Pilgreen¹

Jesse Pilgreen Jr||p109.htm#i3954|Jessie Pilgreen Sr.||p109.htm#i3952|(?) Pilgreen||p108.htm#i3953|Mack G. Pilgreen|b. c 1859|p110.htm#i197|Selby L. Pilgreen|b. c 1859\nd. a 1900|p111.htm#i254|||||||

Charts

Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

2nd cousin 1 time removed of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

11/10/2008

Jesse Pilgreen Jr is the son of Jessie Pilgreen Sr. and (?) Pilgreen.¹

Marriage*

He married Mary Elizabeth Knox, daughter of Henry Atkinson and Florence Little.¹

Family

Mary Elizabeth Knox b. 22 Mar 1938, d. 31 Jan 2004

Children

Citations:

[S901] Genealogy: Descendants of Mack Pilgreen, Author: Nancy Pittman, Received: November 5, 2004.

Jessie Rudolph Pilgreen¹

M, #3958

Father

Jesse Pilgreen Jr¹

Mother

Mary Elizabeth Knox¹ b. 22 Mar 1938, d. 31 Jan 2004

Jessie Rudolph Pilgreen||p109.htm#i3958|Jesse Pilgreen Jr||p109.htm#i3954|Mary Elizabeth Knox|b. 22 Mar 1938\nd. 31 Jan 2004|p82.htm#i3955|Jessie Pilgreen Sr.||p109.htm#i3952|(?) Pilgreen||p108.htm#i3953|Henry Atkinson||p2.htm#i3956|Florence Little||p85.htm#i3957|

Charts

Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

3rd cousin of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

11/10/2008

Jessie Rudolph Pilgreen is the son of Jesse Pilgreen Jr and Mary Elizabeth Knox.¹

Citations:

[S901] Genealogy: Descendants of Mack Pilgreen, Author: Nancy Pittman, Received: November 5, 2004.

Jessie Pilgreen Sr.¹

M, #3952

Father

Mack G. Pilgreen¹ b. c 1859

Mother

Selby Little Pilgreen¹ b. c 1859, d. a 1900

Jessie Pilgreen Sr.||p109.htm#i3952|Mack G. Pilgreen|b. c 1859|p110.htm#i197|Selby Little Pilgreen|b. c 1859\nd. a 1900|p111.htm#i254|Edward (Edwin) O. Pilgreen|b. Aug 1821\nd. c 1901|p109.htm#i146|Martha A. W. Pilgreen|b. c 1830\nd. c 1868|p110.htm#i147|||||||

Charts

Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

1st cousin 2 times removed of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

11/10/2008

Jessie Pilgreen Sr. is the son of Mack G. Pilgreen and Selby Little Pilgreen.¹

Marriage*

He married (?) Pilgreen.¹

Family

(?) Pilgreen

Child

Jesse Pilgreen Jr+¹

Citations:

[S901] Genealogy: Descendants of Mack Pilgreen, Author: Nancy Pittman, Received: November 5, 2004.

Jodie Pilgreen¹

M, #3969

Father

Jesse Pilgreen Jr¹

Mother

Mary Elizabeth Knox¹ b. 22 Mar 1938, d. 31 Jan 2004

Jodie Pilgreen||p109.htm#i3969|Jesse Pilgreen Jr||p109.htm#i3954|Mary Elizabeth Knox|b. 22 Mar 1938\nd. 31 Jan 2004|p82.htm#i3955|Jessie Pilgreen Sr.||p109.htm#i3952|(?) Pilgreen||p108.htm#i3953|Henry Atkinson||p2.htm#i3956|Florence Little||p85.htm#i3957|

Charts

Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

3rd cousin of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

11/10/2008

Jodie Pilgreen is the son of Jesse Pilgreen Jr and Mary Elizabeth Knox.¹

Marriage*

He married Minnie Payton.¹

Family

Minnie Payton

Citations:

[S901] Genealogy: Descendants of Mack Pilgreen, Author: Nancy Pittman, Received: November 5, 2004.

Joe Thomas Pilgreen¹

M, #286, b. 11 July 1955

Father

Clifton Ray Pilgreen b. 14 Oct 1931, d. 3 Sep 2002

Mother

Dolly Gray Banks b. 20 Mar 1937

Joe Thomas Pilgreen|b. 11 Jul 1955|p109.htm#i286|Clifton Ray Pilgreen|b. 14 Oct 1931\nd. 3 Sep 2002|p108.htm#i264|Dolly Gray Banks|b. 20 Mar 1937|p6.htm#i265|Thomas G. Pilgreen|b. 3 Mar 1905\nd. 7 Feb 1988|p111.htm#i260|Dora L. Everett|b. 1911|p56.htm#i261|||||||

Charts

Davenport Family Tree
Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

3rd cousin of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

01/22/2009

Birth*

Joe was born at Washington, Beaufort County, North Carolina, on 07/11/1955.¹

He is the son of Clifton Ray Pilgreen and Dolly Gray Banks.

Marriage*

He married Brenda Smith.¹

Family

Brenda Smith

Children

Citations:

[S17] Letter: Author, Joyce Davenport Tari; Recipent, Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton. February 4, 2000, Pilgreen Family Genealogy completed by Joyce. She started her research in 1997.

Joe Thomas Pilgreen¹

M, #349, b. 1 December 1929, d. 12 October 1951

Father

Thomas Basnight Gray Pilgreen b. 3 Mar 1905, d. 7 Feb 1988

Mother

Dore Lee Avery

Joe Thomas Pilgreen|b. 1 Dec 1929\nd. 12 Oct 1951|p109.htm#i349|Thomas Basnight Gray Pilgreen|b. 3 Mar 1905\nd. 7 Feb 1988|p111.htm#i345|Dore Lee Avery||p3.htm#i346|Robert L. Pilgreen|b. 13 Jan 1864\nd. a 1910|p111.htm#i257|Susan D. Pilgreen|b. 24 Dec 1871\nd. 4 Jun 1931|p111.htm#i259|||||||

Charts

Davenport Family Tree
Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

2nd cousin 1 time removed of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

03/03/2000

Birth*

Joe was born at Pitt County, North Carolina, on 12/01/1929.¹

He was the son of Thomas Basnight Gray Pilgreen and Dore Lee Avery.

Marriage*

He married Helen Joyce Moore Pilgreen on 02/16/1949.¹

Death*

Joe died on 10/12/1951 at Chicod, Pitt County, North Carolina, at age 21.¹

Family

Helen Joyce Moore Pilgreen b. c 1933

Citations:

[S17] Letter: Author, Joyce Davenport Tari; Recipent, Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton. February 4, 2000, Pilgreen Family Genealogy completed by Joyce. She started her research in 1997.

John Robert Pilgreen^1,2,3,4

M, #11, b. 18 January 1895, d. 4 May 1962

John Robert Pilgreen and Ellen Avery Pilgreen at the time of there wedding in 1919.

Father

John Thomas Pilgreen b. 1868, d. c 1938

Mother

Mary Ann Davenport Pilgreen b. 31 Jan 1864, d. 12 May 1912

Charts

Kenny Braxton's Pedigree Chart
Davenport Family Tree
Pilgreen Family Tree

Relationship

Grandfather of Kenny Guy Braxton.

Last Edited

01/22/2009

Birth*

John was born at Pactolus, Pitt County, North Carolina, on 01/18/1895.^1,5,4

He was the son of John Thomas Pilgreen and Mary Ann Davenport Pilgreen.

Marriage*

He married Ellen Avery at Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina, on 11/05/1919.^1,3

Death*

John died on 05/04/1962 at Winterville, Pitt County, North Carolina, at age 67. The following obituary appeared in the Daily Reflector on Saturday May 5, 1962:

John R. Pilgreen Funeral Saturday: Mr. John R. Pilgreen, 67, died at his home in the Winterville community Friday morning at 5:55 after several months of critical illness.

Funeral services will be conducted by the Wilkerson Chapel Saturday afternoon at four o'clock by the Rev. Garlan Teasley, assisted by the Rev. Charles Sapp, pastor of the Reedy Branch Free Will Baptist Church. Burial will be in the Winterville Cemetery.

Mr. Pilgreen, son of the late John Thomas and Mary Davenport Pilgreen, spent all of his life in Pitt County and was a farmer. A veteran of World War One, he was stationed with the Army in France and England, and was a forty-year member of the Pitt County Post of the American Legion. He moved from the Ballard's Crossroads community to Winterville community about twenty years ago. He was a member of the Bethany Free Will Baptist Church.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Ellen Avery Pilgreen; two daughters, Mrs. W. E. Dunn of Greenville, and Mrs. Guy Braxton of Lexington, Maryland; two sons, Mark Pilgreen of Winterville and Wilbur G. Pilgreen of Sykesville, Maryland; 10 grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Herbert Avery of Snow Hill, Mrs. Ella Nowell of Roanoke Rapids, and Mrs. Bruce Tripp of Greenville; a half brother, Thomas Pilgreen of Oak City; and two half sisters, Mrs. Julia Alexander of Grimesland, and Mrs. Glenn Smarts of Forest City.^1,2,6

Burial*

His body was interred on 05/05/1962 at Winterville, Pitt County, North Carolina, at Winterville Cemetery. Later his wife, Ellen, had his body moved to a mausoleum at the Pinewood Cemetery where the both of them are now buried (N35° 24.337 W077° 26.080 ).

.^1,7

Draft Registeration*

On 06/05/1917, at Beaver Dam, Pitt County, North Carolina,, John Robert Pilgreen registered for the World War I draft.⁸

Milit-Beg*

He was inducted into the military at Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina, on 10/01/1917. John was a 22 year-old Pitt County, NC farmer when he enlisted in the US Army. He fought in Europe with the Army's 30 Division, Company "D" 199th Infantry during WWI. His unit fought in the most decisive battle of WWI, the battle of the Hindenburg Line. He was wounded on September 30th, 1918 at Bellecourt, France when a bomb exploded nearby sending hot metal shrapnel ripping through his hand and into his foot breaking both his hand and foot. During the battle, poisonous mustard gas hung heavily over the battlefield and in addition to his other injuries, John also inhaled poisonous mustard gas.

While he was in the hospital and separated from his unit, somehow his records were lost and his family was notified that he was missing in action and presumed dead. For several months, his family thought he was dead. John did recover after several weeks in the hospital and rejoined his unit. However, it was several months before the US Army corrected his records acknowledging he was still alive. As a result, he was not paid for several months. During this period, he depended upon the help us his comrades.

In recognition of their service to the United States of America, all WWI veterans, including John, earned the Silver Victory Button. As a result of his injuries, John received a pension for the rest of his life from the US Government. After his death, his wife, Ellen Avery Pilgreen, received, in addition to Social Security, a widow's pension for the rest of her life.

John's unit, the 30th Army Division, had 1,652 killed in action and 9,429 wounded for a total of 11,081 casualties during WWI.

Entries in Service Record :

1). His service record number was 131 5285 and he was Private 1st Class Company "D" 119th Infantry.

2). He enlisted in the US Army at Greenville, NC on October 1, 1917.

3). He was assigned to Company "F" 321st Infantry on October 2, 1917.

4). He transferred to Company "D" 199th Infantry on October 16, 1917

5). He left the United States on May 12, 1918

6). He arrived back in the US on April 2, 1919

7). He was discharged on April 7, 1919

8). John fought in the following campaigns: Ylpres, Belgium from July 15th, 1918 to September 3rd, 1918 and Bellecourt, France from September 27th, 1918 to September 30th, 1918

John was awarded the World War I Victory Medal on October 20th 1921. Although it had been the custom of nations to award victory medals to allied troops, the number of belligerents involved in the First World War made this impractical. As a solution it was resolved that each nation would create its own victory medal, suspended by a ribbon common to them all and featuring a winged Victory. The actual design of the medal itself would be left up to each individual country. The US Victory medal was authorized in 1919 for members of the US armed forces who served on active duty between April 6, 1917 and November 11, 1918; also included was Russian and Siberian service.

Excerpts from of an article in the Olde Kinston Gazette: Carolina Doughboys First To Smash Hindenburg Line
Originally written by Ted Sampley and later edited by Kenny Braxton

At Zero hour, exactly 5:50 a.m., Sunday, September 29, 1918, 16 brigades of British artillery opened up with one of the heaviest barrages ever put down on German lines. The earth began to quiver and shake as other heavy Allied artillery joined the attack. Red, green and white rockets from the German trenches arched into the air as signals for the German guns to return fire.

D Company 119th Infantry Regiment, United States Army's 30th Division:
Within the ranks of the 119th there were a large number of North Carolina men including John Robert Pilgreen of Winterville, NC. The objective that day was to break through a heavily fortified German position known as the Hindenburg Line. But first, the American "doughboys" would have to cross through "no man's land," and the 119th and 120th Infantry Regiments had been designated to lead in the attack.

THE HINDENBURG LINE:
The Germans had spent four years constructing and fortifying the Hindenburg Line near Verdun, France. The line consisted of three rows of heavy barbed wire, each row 30-to-40 feet in depth. Behind the wire entanglements were three rows of trenches which criss-crossed in front of the San Quentin Canal and the village of Bellicourt. The canal, built by Napoleon, flowed through a tunnel which was about a mile and a half long and ran beneath Bellicourt. From the tunnel and canal were concrete passageways to the village and to various other German concrete bunkers and trenches. Behind Bellicourt and the canal were open fields with more barbed wire entanglements and trenches called the Catelet-Nauroy Line. Although the Germans had never been able to capture Verdun, the French and the British had been just as unsuccessful at pushing the Germans back from the Hindenburg Line.

THE 30TH INFANTRY DIVISION:
Of the more than 86,000 men and women who went into the Army, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard from North Carolina during World War I, the largest number served in the 30th Division. The 81st, nicknamed the "Wildcat" Division, had the second highest number of North Carolinians. The 30th Infantry Division was created July 18, 1917 shortly after the United States entered the fighting in World War I. It was organized as a division on August 3, 1917 when it went into training at Camp Sevier near Greenville, South Carolina. The troops comprising the 30th were state militia and National Guard units of Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina, many of which had seen active duty on the Mexican border. Two of the 30th's four regiments of infantry - the 119th and 120th - plus the 113th Field Artillery and the 105th Engineers were made up of a majority of North Carolinians. From the outset of its beginning in South Carolina, the 30th became known as the "Old Hickory" Division in honor of Major General Andrew Jackson (1767-1845). After completing its training at Camp Sevier, the 30th sailed to England on May 1, 1918 as part of the American Expeditionary Force under General John Joseph Pershing. Once the 30th arrived in England, it was assigned to the British Armies in northern France for training in trench warfare. On July 9, 1918, the 30th entered combat. Upon its arrival in France, the 113th Artillery was detached and sent south as part of the American Army and took part in the Meuse-Argonne battle. It did not rejoin the 30th Division until after Armistice. The 30th and the 27th American Division from New York were the only American divisions placed with the British Army.

THE FIGHTING:
In August 1918, John Robert Pilgreen's unit, the 30th Division was assigned the Canal Sector from Ypres to Voormezele, Belgium. On September 1, the 30th advanced 1,500 yards, capturing the Lankhof Farm, Lock Number 8 on the canal, and the city of Voormezele. On September 12, the 30th took part in the battle of St. Mihiel, after which the division was moved to an area near Verdun. There it was ordered to participate in an Allied attack against the "impregnable" Hindenburg Line. Orders were given for the 46th British Division to attack the Hindenburg Line from the right. The North Carolina doughboys of the 30th Division were to attack in the center near the San Quentin tunnel. The 27th Division of New York was to attack on the left. The Australians were to wait in reserve and follow the 30th through. At Zero hour, whistles shrilled, signaling the North Carolina regiments to begin the assault. They were among thousands of other soldiers who "went over the top" that September morning. The Tar heels moved forward close behind American tanks that were grunting and grinding as they plowed lanes through the German barbed wire. North Carolinians began falling beneath the deluge of shells and machine gun bullets that were whining through - 100 to the minute per gun. Hot metal shrapnel slammed into their bodies splattering human flesh all over the battle field. Smoke from the exploding shells mixed with dust and poisonous gas and blanketed the battlefield. The screams of the wounded and dying echoed through the haze from all directions. Confusion became chaos. No one knew where his company officers were. Many had already been killed and the stench of death was everywhere. The shells continued to fall and hundreds of machine guns fired point blank into the Americans. By 7:45 a.m., the 30th had overrun the German trenches and were beginning to cross San Quentin Canal to capture Bellecourt. John Robert Pilgreen's company stopped in Bellecourt and flushed the remaining Germans out of cellars and dugouts. Another company moved quickly, seizing all exits from the San Quentin tunnel, trapping some Germans inside. Forward they continued, crossing through the wire entanglements and trenches of the Catelet-Nauroy Line. By 11:30 a.m., the 30th had captured the fortified village of Nauroy, and by 11:45 a.m. had finished cleaning up Bellicourt. The men of the 30th had done it. They had broken through the Hindenburg Line. They lay down in exhaustion.

To the right, the 46th British Division had bogged down and not kept pace with the 30th Division. On the left, the 27th American Division from New York was still battling desperately to take the village of Bony. They also had failed to keep up with the Southerners. It became clear that the North Carolinian doughboys of the 119th and 120th Regiments were the first of the Allied Army to storm and cross the "impenetrable" Hindenburg Line. It also soon became clear that the 30th Division's gallant and critical attack and seizure of the Hindenburg Line had delivered a critical blow to Germany's will to continue the fight. By shattering the Hindenburg Line, the North Carolinians had opened the road to final victory. Just over a month later, on the 11th hour and 11th day of November 1918, Germany capitulated and signed the Armistice. The war was over.

THE CASUALTIES:
Unfortunately for the Pilgreen family, John Robert Pilgreen was wounded during the decisive battle for Bellecourt, France. A bomb exploded nearby sending hot metal shrapnel ripping through his hand and into his foot breaking both his foot and hand. He had also inhaled poisonous mustard gas. While he was separated from his unit in the hospital, his family was notified that he was missing in action and presumed dead. He spent several weeks in the hospital and it was several months before the US Army corrected his records acknowledging that he was still alive. During this time he did not receive any pay and depended upon the help us his comrades.

Although the casualty lists of the United States were quite small when compared to those of the European armies (over nine million combatants lost their lives from 1914 to 1918), the few months of battle in which the American Expeditionary Force participated was one of the deadliest periods in American military history. After no more than seven months of fighting, 275,948 American soldiers had become casualties -- 50,554 were killed in action or died of wounds, and an additional 69,550 died of other causes in France and the United States. The 30th Division had engaged in several other fights by the time it was withdrawn from the battlefield in November. The "Old Hickory" Division had lost 1,652 killed in action and 9,429 wounded for a total of 11,081 casualties. North Carolina sent 86,450 men into the combat zone. Of that number, 933 were killed in action or died as a result of their wounds. Another 1,542 died of diseases or other causes.

ORIGIN OF VETERANS DAY:
World War I officially ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, but it was not until 1919 that President Wilson declared November 11th as Armistice Day as a reminder to Americans of the horrors of war. In 1954, Congress changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day to honor those who served in all U.S. wars. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day is a holiday aimed at honoring the survivors of war while they are still alive.

.⁹

Milit-End*

He was released from active duty at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, on 04/07/1919. When John received an honorable discharged from the United States Army he was a Private 1st Class in Company "D" 119th Infantry, US Army 30th Divison. It was noted that when he enlisted he was 22 8/12 years of age and was recorded as a farmer. He had brown eyes, dark hair, ruddy complexion and was 5 feet 8 1/2 inches in height. He was discharged from Camp Jackson South Carolina.

.⁹

Census 1920*

He was recorded in the census 1920 on 02/09/1920 at Beaverdam, Pitt County, North Carolina, His entry is as follows: John, age 23, Farmer; Ellen, wife, age 19, Laborer working at home. John rented his farm and his farm was recorded in the 1920 Census Farm Scheduled as farm 243. Both John and Ellen could read and write and were born in North Carolina. John's and Ellen parents were born in North Carolina. John's farm was recorded as farm number 281. John's entry is recorded in the Pitt County 1920 Federal Population Census for Beaver Dam Township on Page 19, Sheet 17B.¹⁰

Mlt award*

John was decorated for his service in WWI at Fort McPherson, Georgia, on 10/20/1921. He received the Silver Victory Button.

.⁹

Census 1930*

On 04/24/1930, John was listed as the head of a family on the 1930 Census at Beaver Dam Township, Pitt County, North Carolina. John Robert Pilgreen 35/M.¹¹

Church membership*

John was listed as a member of Bethany Free Will Baptist Church at Reston, Roundtree, North Carolina, in __/__/1940. According to his daughter Edna, John and his wife, Ellen, although Church goers, were not extremely religious. They did teach their children that there was a God and it was important to do right and if you did not, you would go to Hell. They generally only said "Grace" at special occasions or when they had guests.

The only time Edna can remember hearing her Father, John, pray or give thanks to the Lord was when she was about 10 years old. This occurred just after they moved to Bell Arthur where they lived for three years and tended the Hadley Farm. So that his boys, Wilbur and Mark, could have a cash crop, John had planted more tobacco than in the past. He planted 22-25 acres investing everything he had into this crop. A large and severe storm blew through with the tobacco ready to be harvested destroying many of the crops throughout the area with either wind or hail. As soon as the storm was over, John went outside to survey the damage and as she normally did, Edna followed her father. John walked down the path through his field stopping often to glance to the right and to the left looking for damage. Miraculously, John's tobacco escaped any damage and in fact the rainstorm that accompanied this storm would in the end help his crops. At one point he stopped and took Edna by the hand and looked to the heavens and said,
"Thank you sweet Jesus for letting me get my tobacco this far along because without it, I don't know what I would do with my family"

.¹²

Picture*

__/__/1962

Biography*

John was raised in the Pactolus area of Pitt County, NC. He dropped out of school in the third grade to help his family farm. Somehow, through his life experiences he learned to read and write. According to his family, he could read as well as anyone else. He could do any kind of math problem in his head. But he could not tell you how to work the problem with a pencil and paper.

John was 17 when his mother Mary Ann died. His father, John Thomas, in later life was extremely poor. According to Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton, John Robert's daughter, her father helped John Thomas out by giving him money and occasionally paying his utility bill. When John Thomas died, John Robert and his sister Minnie paid to have their father buried.

John was a tenant farmer his entire life. He grew as many as 30 acres of tobacco and would have 5 or 6 tobacco barns curing at a time. The farm he farmed in later life until his death is located 2577 Red Forbes Road in the country just off of highway 903 just west of Winterville, North Carolina at N35· 31' 57.7", W 077' 25' 37.8"

Some of Edna's fondest memories of her father, John, were when they were living on the Greenville-Farmville road. John was tending two farms about 3/4 of a mile apart. John had to truck tobacco with a horse and tobacco truck from the Doodle Farm at Ballard's Crossroads to the Jet Elks farm where they lived. Edna would ride in the back of the tobacco truck and her father would cover her and the tobacco with a sheet to protect both from the sun. This prevented the tobacco from drying out and Edna from freckling. When they got to the tobacco barn he would pull the sheet back and say, "there she is" and pick her up and lift her out of the tobacco truck.

John farmed with horses and mules. When they got to the end of the row, he would yell, "Whoa". If the horses did not stop, he would yell, "Whoa you little son of a bitch." When Edna was 5 or 6, she would ride with her father and sometimes he would let her control the horse. One time she yelled "Whoa" when they got to the end of the row and the horse did not stop. Without hesitation, she then yelled what she had heard her father yell so many times before; "Whoa you little son of a bitch." Her father looked at her and all he could say was, "you dang little rascal."

When his daughter, Edna, was approximately 12, she used to; using her words, "steal cigarettes" from a big trunk John kept them in. This was during WWII when cigarettes were rationed. Both of his sons, Wilbur and Mark, who were in the military and did not smoke, sent him their military cigarette rations and he kept them in a big trunk. According to Edna, the trunk was almost full of cigarettes. Her older sister, Pholia, knew Edna smoked; but kept quite because they had a "pack" not to tell on each other. One day, Edna did something to make Pholia mad and she told their daddy that Edna was smoking. And to both of their surprise, he said, "he was not surprised." So at the aged of 12, Edna smoked with her parent's knowledge. Obviously, this was long before the health hazards were known.

One year, Edna wanted to find the ripest watermelon in her daddy's watermelon patch. She plugged every watermelon in the field carefully replacing the plug. All her daddy could say as his watermelons were dying on the vine: "This year my watermelons have not amounted to much. But if you ever do that again, I will tan your hide." Edna may have been her father's favorite.

This story demonstrates it was a small world back in the early 1900's in the Winterville and Ayden area. John told Edna that during prohibition, he bought moonshine from John and Sarah Braxton who were the grand parents of her husband to be, Heber Guy Braxton. When he went to their home, John and Sarah's youngest sons, Leon and Harvey, would dive down in the pile of hay in the barn until one of them found a pint of moonshine. Edna's father, John, would pay Sarah for it and then be on his way.

Throughout his life John did not believe in borrowing money. According to his daughter, Edna, he paid cash for everything he ever purchased, including his car. He always said "he would rather have money than a house; a house didn't put food on the table or clothes on your back."

John never struck his wife Ellen. He was known to say, "if you couldn't make a go of it without passing licks, you would never make a go of it.'

Unlike many men of his era from rural Pitt County, NC, John never hunted nor would he let people hunt on the lands that he tended. He thought it was cruel to kill the 'little animals".

Throughout their lives, John was very close to his brother Ed and his sister Minnie.

When he died, he left his wife, Ellen, enough money to purchase a new home for $11,500, a car, and she had money left over. This savings allowed Ellen to live the next thirty-eight years comfortably with her WWI widow's pension and Social Security.

John was first cousin to David Davenport.¹²

Family

Ellen Avery b. 25 Oct 1900, d. 18 Dec 2000

Marriage*

He married Ellen Avery at Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina, on 11/05/1919.^1,3

Children

Johnie Mark Pilgreen+ b. 29 Aug 1920, d. 25 Feb 1995
Pholia Gertrude Pilgreen+ b. 7 Oct 1922
Wilbur Gray Pilgreen+ b. 28 Oct 1924
Edna Earl Pilgreen+ b. 19 Apr 1930

Citations:

[S10] Interview: Informant, Edna Earl Pilgreen (Winterville, Pitt County, North Carolina), Interviewer: Kenny Guy Braxton, 2001.
[S17] Letter: Author, Joyce Davenport Tari; Recipent, Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton. February 4, 2000, Pilgreen Family Genealogy completed by Joyce. She started her research in 1997.
[S16] Bible: Ellen Avery Pilgreen Family, In possession of Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton, Winterville, Pitt County, North Carolina (2000).
[S441] Genealogy: Pilgreen Family, Author: Nancy Pittman, Received: July 18, 2001, Published: 2000 on her website at http://www.genealogy.com/users/p/i/t/Nancy-L-Pittman-NC/. Quality of data: Good.
[S11] Interview: Informant, Ellen Avery Pilgreen (Winterville, North Carolina), Interviewer: Kenny Guy Braxton, 1999.
[S539] Obituary: John Robert Pilgreen, Daily Reflector, Greenville, North Carolina, May 5, 1961.
[S29] Cemetery Survey: Pinewood Memorial Park Cemetery, Greenville, Pitt County, North Carolina. Transcribed by: Vickie Jean Humbles and Leslie Harold Humbles on March 3, 2000.
[S748] Military Record: John Robert Pilgreen; WWI Draft Registration;.
[S159] Military Record: John Robert Pilgreen; WWI;.
[S846] Census: John Robert Pilgreen: 1920 Federal Population Census, Beaver Dam Township, Pitt County, North Carolina. Heritage Quest CD.
[S847] Census: John Robert Pilgreen: 1930 Federal Population, Beaver Dam Township, Pitt County, North Carolina. Heritage Quest CD.
[S345] Interview: Informant, Edna Earl Pilgreen Braxton (Winterville, North Carolina), Interviewer: Kenny Guy Braxton, April 20, 2001.

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