1898 Wilmington race riot report - Page 271 |
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246
the estate for Miller’s heirs in both North
Carolina and Virginia. At least some of his
children remained in the city and his son,
Thomas, seemed to benefit in a small degree
from his father’s wealth. Thomas Miller, Jr.
lived in his father’s first home on North
Sixth Street until his death in 1913 and his
heirs sold the property in 1947.56
Miller was left distraught by what
happened to him on November 10th and 11th
and undoubtedly felt betrayed by men, black
and white, that he had known since
childhood. In a 1902 letter Miller discussed
both business matters and his treatment with
the white clerk of court, John D. Taylor.
Miller asked Taylor to “ pardon . . . the way I
write . . . but when I think about it all
knowing I am not Guilty it all most drives
me mad – just to think how my own people
could treat me as they have without a Cause
knowingly. Oh my God.” Miller had
explained that he was treated “ worse than a
dog” but that he was “ doing well” although
he was not allowed to come to the city to his
mother’s funeral. Miller ended the letter as
a “ heartbroken” man. 57 Miller surely knew
filed suit against A. J. Taylor for non- payment of a
loans owed by him to Thomas Miller dating from
1894, 1895, 1896. There are no records in the file as
to the conclusion of the case.
56 New Hanover County Public Library, T. C. Miller
House File, Thomas Miller, New Hanover County
Estate Records, North Carolina State Archives, New
Hanover County Administrator’s Bonds, North
Carolina State Archives, New Hanover County Tax
Lists, 1897 and 1900, North Carolina State Archives,
New Hanover County Deed Book Index for Grantees
and Grantors, North Carolina State Archives, Thomas
Miller Death Certificate, City of Norfolk Death
Records, Library of Virginia; Annie E. Miller
administratrix of Miller estate and guardian of
Charity Miller, City of Norfolk Corporation Court
Record of Fiduciary Bonds, Library of Virginia.
57 T. C. Miller, Norfolk, Virginia, to John D. Taylor,
Clerk of Superior Court, Wilmington, July 9, 1902:
“ I have this day rec’d a letter from Mr. WM
Cumming in regards to a Judgment of Mask and
Reynolds and in reply I’ll say among the few both
that he was still an example for other blacks
in the city because an 1899 article in the
Wilmington Messenger stated that “ there are
two elements . . . among the negroes . . . the
kindly, affectionate, faithful, sober, well-meaning
class and the low, vicious,
unprincipled, saucy, bullying dangerous
class . . . there are not many Tom Millers
among them, but when revolutions set in the
Toms are politely invited to pack and go and
keep going.” Miller’s body was returned to
the city after his death for funeral services
and burial at Pine Forest Cemetery. 58
John Goins
Another man who was forced to
leave the city in search of a new life
following the violence of 1898 was John
Goins. Goins was not a native of the city
and was one of the youngest men affected
by the riot. Only 29 at the time of the riot,
Goins had worked himself up from a
white and colored Dr. T. R. Mask has treated me right
and I mean to treat him the same as I have all ways
did others and if god be my helper I shall continue to
do so not withstanding the way I have been treated
etc for I have been treated not like human but worse
than a dog and someday the Lord will punish them
that punished me without a Cause. I am Well and
doing Well the only thing that worries me is just to
think that I were not allowed to come to my Mothers
funeral she being 95 years of age and the oldest
Citizen on Wrightsville sound just to think of it will
last me to my grave if I were guilty of any Crime or
was a Criminal it would not worri me in the least but
oh my god just to think it is enough to run a sane man
insane. Col I hope you will pardon me for the way I
write you but when I think about it all knowing I am
not Guilty it all most drives me mad – just to think
how my own people could treat me as they have with
out a Cause knowingly. Oh my god. Col please
[ cancel] the Judgment against Dr. Mask & Reynolds
– I remain your heart broken Servant as usual/ T. C.
Miller” New Hanover County Correspondence, North
Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina.
58 The article discussed preventing independent
thinkers in the black community from prospering.
Wilmington Messenger, November 30, 1899.
Wilmington Star, March 27, 1903.
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| Full Text | 246 the estate for Miller’s heirs in both North Carolina and Virginia. At least some of his children remained in the city and his son, Thomas, seemed to benefit in a small degree from his father’s wealth. Thomas Miller, Jr. lived in his father’s first home on North Sixth Street until his death in 1913 and his heirs sold the property in 1947.56 Miller was left distraught by what happened to him on November 10th and 11th and undoubtedly felt betrayed by men, black and white, that he had known since childhood. In a 1902 letter Miller discussed both business matters and his treatment with the white clerk of court, John D. Taylor. Miller asked Taylor to “ pardon . . . the way I write . . . but when I think about it all knowing I am not Guilty it all most drives me mad – just to think how my own people could treat me as they have without a Cause knowingly. Oh my God.” Miller had explained that he was treated “ worse than a dog” but that he was “ doing well” although he was not allowed to come to the city to his mother’s funeral. Miller ended the letter as a “ heartbroken” man. 57 Miller surely knew filed suit against A. J. Taylor for non- payment of a loans owed by him to Thomas Miller dating from 1894, 1895, 1896. There are no records in the file as to the conclusion of the case. 56 New Hanover County Public Library, T. C. Miller House File, Thomas Miller, New Hanover County Estate Records, North Carolina State Archives, New Hanover County Administrator’s Bonds, North Carolina State Archives, New Hanover County Tax Lists, 1897 and 1900, North Carolina State Archives, New Hanover County Deed Book Index for Grantees and Grantors, North Carolina State Archives, Thomas Miller Death Certificate, City of Norfolk Death Records, Library of Virginia; Annie E. Miller administratrix of Miller estate and guardian of Charity Miller, City of Norfolk Corporation Court Record of Fiduciary Bonds, Library of Virginia. 57 T. C. Miller, Norfolk, Virginia, to John D. Taylor, Clerk of Superior Court, Wilmington, July 9, 1902: “ I have this day rec’d a letter from Mr. WM Cumming in regards to a Judgment of Mask and Reynolds and in reply I’ll say among the few both that he was still an example for other blacks in the city because an 1899 article in the Wilmington Messenger stated that “ there are two elements . . . among the negroes . . . the kindly, affectionate, faithful, sober, well-meaning class and the low, vicious, unprincipled, saucy, bullying dangerous class . . . there are not many Tom Millers among them, but when revolutions set in the Toms are politely invited to pack and go and keep going.” Miller’s body was returned to the city after his death for funeral services and burial at Pine Forest Cemetery. 58 John Goins Another man who was forced to leave the city in search of a new life following the violence of 1898 was John Goins. Goins was not a native of the city and was one of the youngest men affected by the riot. Only 29 at the time of the riot, Goins had worked himself up from a white and colored Dr. T. R. Mask has treated me right and I mean to treat him the same as I have all ways did others and if god be my helper I shall continue to do so not withstanding the way I have been treated etc for I have been treated not like human but worse than a dog and someday the Lord will punish them that punished me without a Cause. I am Well and doing Well the only thing that worries me is just to think that I were not allowed to come to my Mothers funeral she being 95 years of age and the oldest Citizen on Wrightsville sound just to think of it will last me to my grave if I were guilty of any Crime or was a Criminal it would not worri me in the least but oh my god just to think it is enough to run a sane man insane. Col I hope you will pardon me for the way I write you but when I think about it all knowing I am not Guilty it all most drives me mad – just to think how my own people could treat me as they have with out a Cause knowingly. Oh my god. Col please [ cancel] the Judgment against Dr. Mask & Reynolds – I remain your heart broken Servant as usual/ T. C. Miller” New Hanover County Correspondence, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina. 58 The article discussed preventing independent thinkers in the black community from prospering. Wilmington Messenger, November 30, 1899. Wilmington Star, March 27, 1903. |
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