Monday, January 8, 2018

1850s Autograph Album of Naomi Perry of Berlin, North Carolina; now Kernersville, North Carolina


1850s era autograph album that belonged to Naomi Perry, or Neomi Perry, of Berlin, North Carolina, now known as Kernersville, North Carolina.  The album contains inscriptions from the interwoven Perry, Watson, Fogler and Campbell families.

The album was given to Neomi Perry by a Perry, possibly J. Perry, who may have been Naomi's oldest brother Jonathan Perry, as noted in the lower right corner of the title page.


Surnames in the Album
  • ?  [3]
  • Campbell
  • Edwards
  • Folger [at least 2, maybe more]
  • Greenfield
  • Perry  [1 in addition to the owner and presenter]
  • Taylor
  • Watson  [2]

Tucked in the album are two needle worked bookmarks and an 1856 invitation for Naomi to attend a Dancing party at the Berlin Female Academy; signed by ? Camel and A. H. Beard.  Whoever addressed the envelope spelled Berlin as Burlin.





The album measures approximately 7-3/4" by 6-1/4 and contains 12 sentiments, several of which may have been inscribed by the same person.  An alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appears at the end of this post.

 From brief online research, hopefully correct - corrections and additions requested:

Neomi or Naomi Perry was born February 7, 1833 in Forsyth County, North Carolina, the daughter of Ebenezer Perry and Anne (Watson) Perry.    Naomi's sister, E. A. Perry, who was presumably Eljatha Agatha Perry, inscribed a page in her album.


Several pages appear to have been inscribed by Elma Maria (Fogler) Watson, wife of John Watson, who was a brother to Naomi's mother Anne (Watson) Perry.  Below, Aunt Maria's two-page sentiment.



On January 24, 1858 in Forsyth County, North Carolina, Naomi Perry married Nelson Campbell, son of James Campbell.  Nelson was born in 1827.   Naomi and Nelson may have had a son, Luther Leach Campbell, but there's a discrepancy between Luther's birth year of 1865 on his death record, which could be in error, and his mother Naomi's death year of 1863.   Perhaps a reader will have a clarification.

As noted, Naomi died in 1863 and is buried in the Main Street United Methodist Church Cemetery at Kernersville, North Carolina.  Nelson lived until 1909 and is buried in the Salem Cemetery at Winston-Salem, North Carolina.


Sources
  • U.S. Federal Censuses
  • North Carolina, Marriage Records, 1741-2011 - Naomi's marriage to Nelson Campbell
  • FindaGrave.com - Naomi's birth and death dates

E. M. W., presumably Elma Maria (Fogler) Watson, wife of John Watson, who was a brother to Naomi's mother Anne (Watson) Perry

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, or information on any of the inscribers listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Inscribers in the Album
  • Emma; inscribed at Madison, North Carolina, in Buckingham County
  • Melinda F.; perhaps the Melinda Folger who inscribed another page.
  • Melinda; inscribed on June 23, 1855.  Perhaps Melinda Folger, who inscribed another page or pages.
  • William Campbell; inscribed at Berlin, North Carolina, now Kernersville, North Carolina
  • Eliza Edwards; inscribed in Guilford County, North Carolina
  • Melinda Folger; inscribed at Pleasant Ridge, North Carolina, in Forsyth County, on June 11, 1855.  She may have been the Melinda F. and Melinda who inscribed other pages.
  • Amanda V. B. F.; from  or inscribed at Swains Mills, Indiana, in Rush County; on March 27, 1857.  Presumably Amanda Van Buren Folger, a native of Forsyth County, North Carolina.
  • Sarah A. Greenfield; inscribed at Berlin, North Carolina, now Kernersville, North Carolina; on March 17, 1855
  • Naomi Perry of Berlin, North Carolina; now called Kernersville, North Carolina; album owner
  • ? Perry; presented the album to Naomi.  Possibly J. Perry, and if so, possibly Jonathan Perry, Naomi's oldest sibling 
  • E. A. Perry; inscribed on March 2, no year written.  Naomi's sister.  Presumably Eljatha Agatha Perry.  Naomi also had a sister Elmina, but I couldn't find a middle initial for her.
  • Sarah C. Taylor of Guilford, North Carolina
  • Laure A. Watson
  • E. Maria Watson; page 1 of a 2-page sentiment inscribed in Forsyth County, North Carolina, on June 21, 1855.  Naomi's aunt Elma Maria (Folger) Watson, wife of John Watson, who was the younger brother of Naomi's mother Anne (Watson) Perry.  She inscribed several pages.

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