ATWATER, ANTHONY

The earliest mention of Anthony Atwater is in the 1870 census; the first federal census to include African Americans.¹1870 US Census Chatham County: Year: 1870; Census Place: Pittsboro Road North Side, Chatham, North Carolina; Roll: M593_1129; Page: 199B. Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/22815537:7163 : accessed 5 May 2023. Original data: 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Minnesota census schedules for 1870. NARA microfilm publication T132, 13 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. This document tells us that he was born to Anthony Atwater and Mary Strond in 1857. He is one of 11 children; Charlotte, Saml, Chesley, (C?)Garney, Anthony (Self), Hannah, Ann, Ellen, Morris, David, and Fancy.  Anthony and his brothers worked with his father on their farm, while his mother kept house and raised the children.

At the age of 23, Anthony moved out of the family home and married Emaline Peoples on 11 February 1881.²Anthony Atwater marriage record: Ancestry.com. North Carolina, U.S., Marriage Records, 1741-2011 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1139545:60548 : accessed 6 May 2013. Original data: North Carolina County Registers of Deeds. Microfilm. Record Group 048. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC. In 1884, Emaline gave birth to their daughter Lillie.³Lillie Atwater death certificate: Ancestry.com. North Carolina, U.S., Death Certificates, 1909-1976 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/51017:1121 : accessed 8 May 2013. Original data: North Carolina State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. North Carolina Death Certificates. Microfilm S.123. Rolls 19-242, 280, 313-682, 1040-1297. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina. We don’t know when Emaline died, but the 1900 Census shows Anthony as a widower, and we have no evidence that he ever married again.⁴Year: 1900; Census Place: Durham, Durham, North Carolina; Roll: 1193; Page: 19; Enumeration District: 0025. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/68131660:7602 : accessed 6 May 2013. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls. His daughter Lillie married Alce Jenkins on 7 Sep 1902, but after only ten years of marriage, Lillie died on 7 February 1912.⁵Lillie Atwater marriage record: Ancestry.com. North Carolina, U.S., Marriage Records, 1741-2011 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/9280137:60548 : accessed 9 May 2013. Original data: North Carolina County Registers of Deeds. Microfilm. Record Group 048. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC.

By 1900, Anthony was renting a home in Durham NC and he had taken on a lodger by the name of Jabe Atwater (relationship to Anthony unknown).⁶1900 US Census Durham According to Durham City Directories, Anthony was residing on Sparkman Alley.  As Durham grew, new homes were added and street numbers routinely changed.  Anthony’s home was no exception, having the number 115, 117, 905, 911, and 913. During these years Anthony worked as a day laborer and millworker.

Anthony died at the approximate age of 75 on 30 March 1927 due to Nephritis with a secondary diagnosis of myocardial insufficiency. He was buried at City (a.k.a. Geer) Cemetery by City Funeral Company. His younger brother, Morris Atwater, was the informant on the death certificate.⁷Anthony Atwater death certificate: Ancestry.com. North Carolina, U.S., Death Certificates, 1909-1976 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2230089:1121 : accessed 10 May 2013. Original data: North Carolina State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. North Carolina Death Certificates. Microfilm S.123. Rolls 19-242, 280, 313-682, 1040-1297. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina.

BORN: 1857.⁹1870 US Census Chatham County.

DIED: 30 March 1927.¹⁰Anthony Atwater death certificate.

BIRTH PLACE: Chatham County NC.¹¹1870 US Census Chatham County.

DEATH PLACE: Durham NC.¹²Anthony Atwater death certificate.

SPOUSE: Emaline Peoples.¹³Anthony Atwater marriage record.

PARENTS: Anthony Atwater and Mary Strond.¹⁴1870 US Census Chatham County.

CHILDREN: Lillie Atwater Jenkins.¹⁵Lillie Atwater death certificate.

OTHER FAMILY: Ten brothers and sisters.¹⁶1870 US Census Chatham County.

FAMILY BURIED IN GEER CEMETERY: N/A

OCCUPATION: Mill worker. ¹⁷Anthony Atwater death certificate.

CHURCH: N/A

AFFILIATIONS: N/A

ADDRESS: Sparkman Alley.¹⁸Anthony Atwater death certificate.

MILITARY SERVICE: N/A