Article: "Plowed Up Bones"--June 20, 1907

"PLOWED UP BONES"

Snow Hill Laconic, June 20, 1907

"Last week a farmer near Sharpsburg, on Antietam Creek in Maryland, while plowing in his field, plowed up human bones. Upon further investigation the entire skeleton of a man was unearthed and with it a sword bearing the inscription "Arch W. Speight, Co. A, 3d N. C. C. S. A." This find was on the battle-field known as Sharpsburg, or Antietam, where Lee and McClellan fought one of the great battles of the Civil War, September 17th, 1862. Lieutenant Arch W. Speight, a son of Abner Speight, of Speights Bridge township, this county, was killed in this battle and buried upon the battlefield, receiving a soldier;s burial, being rolled in a blanket with his sword and thrown in a hole. He was a member of Company A, Third North Carolina regiment, which holds its reunion here every 10th of April. We understand that some of his relatives are talking of having his remains removed to some cemetery. His request when he left for the war, if slain on the battlefield, was that his remains be allowed to remain where first interred."

 

William Henry WHITLEY (1875-1921)

William Henry WHITLEY was born in 27 October 1875 in Speights Bridge to John Henry WHITLEY and Nancy Elizabeth WHEELER.

He married Sarah WHITLEY, the daughter of Levi H. WHITLEY and Amanda MOSELEY, on 31 December 1899. He and Sarah were first cousins. They had the following children:

1. Sadie WHITLEY
2. Charlie Floyd WHITLEY
3. Levi Henry WHITLEY
4. Richard Lee WHITLEY
5. Lula Irene WHITLEY
6. William Moses WHITLEY
7. Mamie Estelle WHITLEY

He died on 3 August 1921 in Speights Bridge. He is buried in the Bailey Cemetery.

Nancy Elizabeth WHEELER (1856-1922)

Nancy Elizabeth WHEELER was born on 1 October 1856 in Speights Bridge, the daughter of William Henry WHEELER Sr. and Melvina CARAWAY.

She married John Henry WHITLEY, son of John WHITLEY and Elizabeth CRISP. They had the following children:

1. Frances Virginia WHITLEY
2. William Henry WHITLEY
3. Charles F. WHITLEY
4. John Stephen WHITLEY

She died on 27 May 1922 in Walstonburg and is buried in the Bailey Cemetery.

Levi H. WHITLEY (1854-1921)

Levi H. WHITLEY was born December 1854 in Speights Bridge, the son of John WHITLEY and Elizabeth CRISP.

He married Amanda MOSELEY, daughter of Elizabeth MOSELEY Sr. and Elizabeth COBB, in 1875. They had the following children:

1. John Thomas WHITLEY
2. Son WHITLEY
3. Sarah WHITLEY
4. Zebulon Edward WHITLEY
5. Bettie Lee WHITLEY
6. Nora Lee WHITLEY
7. Infant WHITLEY
8. Infant WHITLEY
9. Infant WHITLEY

He died on 6 May 1921 in Wilson, Wilson County, NC.

Nancy Anne WHITLEY (1853-1947)

Nancy Anne WHITLEY was born 7 March 1853 in Speights Bridge, the daughter of John WHITLEY and Elizabeth CRISP.

She married John H. EVANS and had the following children:

1. John EVANS
2. Anne Elizabeth EVANS
3. Abraham EVANS
4. Catherine EVANS
5. Wiley Columbus EVANS
6. Lucy EVANS
7. Sarah Etta EVANS
8. Rachel EVANS
9. Lumb EVANS

She died on 2 December 1947 in Wilson, Wilson County, NC and is buried in the Bailey Cemetery in Greene County.

John Henry WHITLEY (1851-1927)

John Henry WHITLEY was born on 27 February 1851 in Speights Bridge, NC, the son of John WHITLEY and Elizabeth CRISP.

He married Nancy Elizabeth WHEELER, daughter of William Henry WHEELER Sr. and Melvina CARAWAY. They had the following children:

1. Frances Virginia WHITLEY
2. William Henry WHITLEY
3. Charles F. WHITLEY
4. John Stephen WHITLEY

He died on 16 October 1927 in Walstonburg. He is buried in the Bailey Cemetery.

Ashley Edwin WHITLEY (1848-)

Ashley Edwin WHITLEY was born in October 1848 in Speights Bridge, NC, the son of John WHITLEY and Elizabeth CRISP.

He married Huldah Virginia WHEELER, daughter of William Henry WHEELER Sr. and Melvina CARAWAY, in 1873 and had the following children:

1. Annie WHITLEY
2. Ida WHITLEY
3. Son WHITLEY
4. Malvina WHITLEY
5. James E. WHITLEY
6. William Alonzo WHITLEY
7. Estella WHITLEY
8. Mary WHITLEY

His date and place of death is unknown.

William James WHITLEY (1847-)

William James WHITLEYwas born about 1847 in Speights Bridge, Greene County, NC, the son of John WHITLEY and Elizabeth CRISP.

He married Gatsey Anne SPEIGHT, the daughter of Micajah E. SPEIGHT and Patricia MINSHEW, about 1873. They had the following children:

1. John James WHITLEY
2. Micajah WHITLEY
3. Wiley Oscar WHITLEY
4. Dora WHITLEY

He died some time before 1900, probably in Speights Bridge.