An interesting find in Salisbury.

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And the Solomons?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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