Category Archives: The Hintons

Malissia Braswell Pettaway (Little Lissia)

Malissia Braswell Pettaway (Little Lissia), was born in Edgecombe County on July 5, 1921 to Moses, Sr. and Malissia Hinton Braswell. She had four siblings. They were Maggie, Mary, Moses Jr. and Nancy Braswell. Malissia Braswell is named after her mother.

Lissia met and married Charlie Braswell Sr. in 1942. They had fourteen children. Charlie Jr. is the only surviving child. Little Lissia and Charlie were farmers in Halifax County. They left the farm and moved to Edgecombe County, North Carolina.

Charlie Sr. was employed at a factory until he retired in 1983. Lissia was employed at a hospital and nursing home. She retired from the nursing home in 1983.

Lissia and Charlie Sr. were active members at Cherry Hill Baptist Church in Tarboro, North Carolina.

Charlie had been sick since September 2000, and died on Saturday July 21, 2001. He was interred at the Dancy Cemetery on Saturday July 28, 2001 in Tarboro, North Carolina.

Lissia recalls the happy times they had shared together. Lissia had many pictures of her parents and other family members, but they were destroyed in the flood in 1999. She lost everything that she had owned.

One day Lissia and her mother were standing around a wash pot with fire burning around it. She told her mother to step back before her dress caught on fire. Malissia soon shared with her daughter what the prophecy, Elijah, revealed to her through the Holy Spirit in a dream that she would die by fire. Lissia didn’t like to hear her mother talk about death, but her mother would always find ways to bring the subject up.

On a cold winter evening, Lissia’s mother, Malissia, was standing in front of a fireplace trying to keep warm when her gown caught fire on December 31, 1948. Malissia died the next day, which was on New Years Day, January 1, 1949. She died at Edgecombe County Hospital. Little Lissia says that today, she often thinks about how her mother died. Her mother was not afraid of the revelations that were revealed to her.

Cleveland Hinton

 

Cleveland Hinton younger days

Cleveland Hinton, younger days

Cleveland Hinton was born to the late Ed and Minne Malone Hinton on February 5, 1919 in Pintops, North Carolina. He had three siblings; Laurasha, Clarence, and James Hinton. Cleveland was raised on the Davis Town Farm in Pinetops, North Carolina where his parents sharecropped.

He attended Carver High School in Pinetops, NC until the eleventh grade. Cleveland was twenty years old when he was drafted in the US ARMY in 1943, during World War II. He was in the army for 3 years.

When Cleveland returned home from the military, he continued his education at Carver School, and at the Vocational Agriculture School in Pinetops for 2 years.

Cleveland met his wife, Catherine Harris, in Edgecombe County, at church. He would see her at Bethel Church, New Hope Church in Elm City and the Living Hope Church in Macklesfield. NC. Cleveland and Catherine were married November 24, 1947 in Wilson, North Carolina. They have two children, Carnell and Marceline Hinton.

Cleveland Hinton at 83

Cleveland Hinton at 83

Cleveland worked in a dry cleaner thirty years before he retired.

Catherine was born on November 7, 1928. She was a dietitian at a nursing home for many years before she retired. Cleveland and Catherine were active members of their church, Few In Number Primitive Baptist Church for many years. Cleveland and Catherine were married for forty-nine years when she died from an aneurysm. Catherine died August 21, 1997.

Cleveland recalls how they enjoyed working together in the garden. He treasures those precious memories. Cleveland was the president of the Hinton Family reunion in 1986.

Joseph Hinton

Joseph Hinton was born in Edgecombe County in the mid 1800s. He met and married Clarissa (Classic) Hart who was of Indian descent. To this union seven children were born. They were Malissia, Ed, Octavia, Mary, Classic, Lee and Jeurshia Hinton.

Joseph lived in the rural area of Edgecombe County in Tarboro, North Carolina. He farmed and owned a two seats court (cab) service, which was a horse and buggy. The business was successful before the depression.   During the depression of 1929, Joseph lost his business and farm. His brother, Harry, also lost his farm during this time. The depression was a difficult time for so many people. It was not just the poor people who suffered, but the wealthy as well. Joe and his brother, Harry Hinton, were strong men. Both of them survived and kept their family together.

Joseph’s wife, Clarissa, was a young lady at the time of her death. He did not remain a widower. He met and married Mary Frances Horn. To this union two children were born, Roberta and Mary Frances Hinton. Joseph and his wife, Mary Frances, were living in Edgecombe County between Pinetops and Rocky Mount, North Carolina. When his daughter, Mary Hinton Hill from his previous marriage died, he took care of his grandson, Lazard Hill until his heath fail.   When Joseph became sick his daughter, Classic Hinton Harrison, took care of him until his death. Joseph out lived both of his wives. He died in Edgecombe County near Hickory View Church. According to Cleveland Hinton, the house that Joe Hinton died in still stood in 1995.

 

History By Word of Mouth

Classic Hinton Harrison, Cleveland Hinton and Roxie Hinton Lawrence told the following excerpts.

  • According to Joseph Hinton’s daughter, Classic Hinton Harrison, his father was Ray Hart Hinton.
  • Joseph Hinton’s brother was Bud Hart.
  • According toClarissa (Classic) Hart Hinton’s daughter, Classic Hinton Harrison, her mother’s parents were Sylvia and Jacob Hart. She also said that her mother, Clarissa, and Mae Linda Battle’s mother were sisters.
  • According to Cleveland Hinton, Mae Linda Ruffin Battle had two sisters and a brother. They were Junior, Carrie and Maggie Ruffin. Maggie Ruffin married a Baker and they had a son Jesse Baker, who owned the Baker’s Funeral Home in Tarboro, North Carolina.
  • According to Roxie Hinton Lawrence, Mae Linda Battle’s maiden name was Joyner before she married Octavius Battle.

 

(Note:) Mae Linda Ruffin or Joyner was married to Octavius Battle. They did not have any children of their own. They raised the following children; Melvina,Sarah, Pearl, and Benjamin Joyner, Roxie Hinton Lawrence, Georgia Mae and Octavius (Oversee) Freeman. Mae Linda and Octavius Battle took in Edward who lived with them until they died.   They enjoyed having children in their household.

The Ruffins and the Joyners children were first cousins to Malissia, Ed, Octavia, Mary, Classic, Lee and Jeurshia Hinton.

Please see the information on the previous page that Aunt Classic had given to Mary Lawrence before she died. There is more information that is needed to complete Joseph and Harry Hinton’s Genealogy. If you have any additional information please contact Mary Lawrence at (718) 639-1887, or anyone that is on the Executive Board.

Harry Hinton

Harry Hinton was born in Edgecombe County to Ray Hinton (Mother is unknown). He had a brother, Joseph Hinton.   Harry met and married Maggie Hinton. To this union seven children were born. They were Issiah, Rosabell, Joseph, Spence, Pete, Queen and Estee (Ralph) Hinton. It is known that Harry owned a pecan Orchard, and he also had a farm.

Note: There is not much information that is known about Harry and Maggie Hinton at this time.

 

Descendants of Harry and Maggie Hinton

Isaiah Hinton  met and married Doll Cunning and to this union two children were born. They were James and Fred Hinton.

Rosabell Hinton (No information available)

Joseph Hinton (Birthdate and Death) – Unknown

Spence Hinton (No information available)

Pete Hinton (December 4, 1907 – November 1979) met and married Lucy Brown. To this union seven children were born: Annie Frank, Fannie Mae, Pete Jr., Charlotte, Roosevelt (Bill), George and Margie Hinton.

Queen Hinton (No information available)

Estee (Ralph) Hinton   (January 16,1912 – November 2, 1987) met and married Elizabeth Jones. To this union five children were born. They were Maggie Ray, Queen, Estee Jr., Annie Hinton and Jesse Ray Mayo.

 

Mary Frances Hinton

Mary-Frances-HintonMary Frances Hinton Shaimberly Mayo (June 27, 1914 – January 1, 1992) was born to the late Joseph and Mary Frances Horn Hinton. Mary Frances had one sister, Roberta Hinton. Mary Frances was named after her mother. She had seven more siblings from her father’s previous marriage to Clarissa Hart Hinton. They were Malissia, Ed, Octavia, Mary, Classic, Lee and Jeurisha Hinton.

Mary Frances married Charlie Shaimberly. To this union two children were born. They were Joe Eddie Lee and Dorothy Shamberly Harden. Mary Frances divorced Charlie Shaimberly. After Mary Frances and her husband separated his son Joe Eddie Lee went to live with his great aunt, Maggie Johnson and her husband, David Johnson. Joe Eddie lived with them until he was grown. He adopted the Johnson’s name. Edgar Barnes was also living in the Johnson’s household.   Maggie Johnson and Edgar’s grandmother, Mary France Horn, were sisters.

Mary Frances met and married John Mayo Sr. He had three sons, John Jr., Earl and J.P. Mayo from a previous marriage. John Mayo Sr.was born on November 2, 1907. He was employed at the Navy –Yard in Virginia, and then he went into business for himself. He owned a paint company.

Mary Frances and John were present at the first family reunion. She was on the family reunion committee.   The family reunion was held at Brown’s restaurant in 1986, Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Mary Frances was an active member of the Bethel A M. E. Church in Hampton Virginia over fifty years.   Classic Hinton Harrison went to live with her sister Mary Frances in Hampton, Virginia when she became sick. Mary Frances who took care of her until she died in 1988.

Mary Frances did domestic work for many years before she retired when her health failed.   She had three strokes and poor circulation in one of her legs, which had to be amputated. Mary Frances died from heart complications on January 10, 1992. She died in Hampton Virginia and was buried on January 18, 1992 at Memorial Gardens, Hampton Virginia. She was 78 years old. Her husband, John, died November 25, 1997 from heart complications in Hampton, Virginia.   He was 90 years old at the time of his death.

 

Ed Hinton

Ed-HintonEd Hinton (1890- 1962) was born in 1890 to Joseph and Classic Hinton. His parents had seven children. They were Malissia, Ed, Octavia, Mary, Classic, Lee and Jeurshia. Roberta and Mary Frances Hinton was by his father’s second marriage. Ed met and married Minnie Knight in 1908. She was born on August 25, 1889 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. They had the following children; Clarence, James, Laursha and Cleveland Hinton.

Ed and his family lived on the Davis Town Farm near Pinetops, North Carolina where they did sharecropping. He retired from farming in 1959 due to illness. Ed and Minnie moved to Tarboro, North Carolina. Ed was always a great cook and was known by his grandchildren for his delicious Chopped-Barbecue and Brunswick Stew and Minnie could make the best lemonade and roasted corn.

Ed and Minne would have family gatherings at their home. They would barbecue a pig and have all the trimmings, which Little Lissa Pettaway remembers. She also recalls both of them being great cooks. They were faithful members at Few In Number Primitive Baptist Church in Pinetops, North Carolina until they died.

Ed died on May 19, 1962 from cancer in Tarboro Hospital. Minnie died in 1983 at the age of ninety-three. Ed and Minnie were interred in the Community Cemetery in Princeville, North Carolina.

Note: The recipe for Ed’s Barbecue and Brunswick Stew can be found in the Hinton and Johnson Cookbook.

Roberta Hinton Armstrong

Roberta-HintonRoberta Hinton (February 28, 1913 – September 11, 1977)  was born to Joseph and Mary Frances Horn Hinton in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. She had one sister, Mary Frances Hinton. Roberta had other siblings from her father’s previous marriage to Clarissa Hart. They were Malissa, Ed, Octavia, Mary, Classic, Lee, and Jeurshia Hinton.

She married Gray Armstrong on July 5, 1952. They were blessed with one child, Mary Elizabeth Armstrong. Gray had one daughter, Ruby Armstrong, from a previous marriage. Roberta’s husband, Gray, was born on January 1910 in Wilson County . Roberta and her husband Gray lived near Hickory View Church in Edgecombe County on a farm. Gray died on June 15, 1984 in Nash County. Eventually Roberta left the farm and moved to Rocky Mount where she later died. She was a member of the Hickory View Church for many years.

Roberta and Gray Armstrong were interred at the Dave Johnson Cemetery on a farm in Kingsboro.

Jeurshia Hinton Warren

Jeurshia-HintonJeurshia Hinton Warren (Birthdate and Death Unknown) was born to Joseph and Clarissa (Classic) Hinton. She was the youngest of seven children. She had eight siblings. They were Malissia, Ed, Octavia, Mary, Classic and Lee. Her father Joseph Hinton had two more children by his second wife, Mary Horn Hinton. They were Mary Frances and Roberta Hinton.

Jeurshia married Henry Warren, and they did not have any children. They lived near Pinetops on a farm. They left the farm and moved to Tarboro, North Carolina. Jeurshia got a job doing domestic work. She and Henry were members of Pittman Grove Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The church is located near New Hope Baptist Church. Henry passed before Jeurshia, and had not been sick at the time of his death. He died of natural causes while watching television.

Jeurshia died of cancer several years after her husband’s death. Jeurshia and Henry Warren were interred at the Pittman Grove Cemetery. Their date of birth and the day they died is unknown.

Octavia Hinton

Octavia-HintonOctavia Hinton (1893 – 1977) was born on July 1, 1893 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina to Joseph and Clarissa (Classic) Hinton. His father had nine children. They were Malissia, Ed, Octavia, Mary, Classic, Lee, Jeurshia, Roberta and Mary Frances Hinton. He was raised in Edgecombe County in the rural area of Tarboro, North Carolina where he went to school. Octavia met and married Mattie Lula Johnson. They had six children. They were; Josephine, Roxie, Jesse Sr., Elizabeth (Doll), Thomas and John Hinton.

Octavia and Mattie Lula worked on a farm. They separated for a while, and eventually reconciled, and moved to Port Island Farm on 64 Highway. Octavia would buy his wife, Mattie Lula, anything that she wanted if he could afford it. It was customary for a man to try to give his wife the best. Octavia and Mattie Lula had separated twice against her mother, Mary Jane’s wishes. She had warned her daughter that she was making a big mistake by leaving Octavia. The second time was the final separation and they were divorced. The separation was difficult on their children. Some of them had to live with other relatives.

Later, Octavia met and married Alice Farmer. She had a daughter, Minne Bell. One of Octavia’s daughters, Elizabeth (Doll) lived with him and his new family. Alice and Octavia were married until her death. Minne Bell was received well by the other Hinton children. They became one family. Minnie Bell stayed closed to the family until her death. Lazard Hill went to live with his uncle Octavia and his wife Alice Farmer Hinton, when his grandfather Joseph Hinton became ill. Lazard continued to live with his uncle Octavia until he was married.

After Alice Farmer’s death Octavia remarried for the third time. He married Alice Baker who had two daughters, Mamie Lee and Charlotte Baker. They lived on a farm near Pinetops, North Carolina. They stayed there for many years. Alice always enjoyed cooking. Octavia was a jolly man and he did not like being around people who argued. He would leave home when conflict arose. Eventually, Octavia and Alice retired from farming when her daughter, Charlotte, brought them a house in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

Octavia died on February 25, 1977 and was buried on March 2, 1977 at Pittman Grove Church Cemetery in Rocky Mount North Carolina. He died from heart complications. His wife, Alice Baker, was born in the year of 1900 and lived to be ninety-nine years old. She died December 1999 in a nursing home in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.