52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: #26 – Moses Eddie Pate

This is a part of the “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” challenge begun by Amy Johnson Crow, author of the blog No Story to Small.

Picture of Moses Pate (left) and his brother-in-law Leslie Fuller; Date unknown

Moses Eddie Pate was my maternal Great Uncle. He was the youngest son of John and Sarah Pate. “Uncle Mose”, that’s the name his nieces and nephews affectionately called him, was born on July 21^st, 1895 in Greene County, North Carolina. He was a tall, robust man with a light carmel complexion and he had that “good hair.” With his good looks I’m positive the young Mose Pate broke a lot of hearts.  For example, my mom once told me that when she was a little girl a lady came to their home looking for “Mose Pate sister” and Grandma Classie told her “that’s me.” The lady ask where could she find him and Grandma said that she had better ask his wife. I don’t know what became of the lady but mom said that she was a beautiful lady from Wilmington, North Carolina. 

In 1917, Uncle Mose enlisted in the army.



1917 Registration Card for Moses Pate

 

Uncle Mose was married twice.  First to Carrie Barnes on September 28^th, 1924 in Wayne County, North Carolina.   They had 2 sons: Charles Ray (1924-1925)  and another son who died in infancy.  After being separate for so long, in 1969, Uncle Mose and Aunt Carrie divorce.  Uncle Mose did not have any surviving children with Aunt Carrie; however, he did have 4 children from two women whom he deeply cared about.  His four children included 3 daughters and one son, Lazarus Spencer (1938-2011).

Marriage Index for Moses and Carrie Barnes Pate



Death Certificate for Charles Pate

Although Aunt Carrie remarried and moved to another town, she remained very close to our family, especially my mom, her “god-daughter.”

On the 1940 Census, Uncle Mose was living next door to my grandparents, Leslie and Classie Pate Fuller in Fremont, North Carolina. In his house, was his brother, Roscoe McCall (Pate) and his sister Hannah Pate Battle and her family.  Aunt Hannah’s husband had just died and so her step-children and grandchildren were living with her. This is another example of how Uncle Mose remained closed to his family and acting as a surrogate male figure to his younger nieces and nephews, biological and adopted. 

1940 Census for Moses Pate

On August 24^th, 1942, 43 year old Mose enlisted in WWII. Why would he
re-enlist, I don't know because he was working at the Fremont Oil Mill.  Pehaps, Uncle Mose hadn’t seen enough war and killing nor did he want to stay in the South. He listed my grandmother, Classie Fuller, as the person who will always know his place of residence.

WWII Draft Registration Card for Moses Pate

 

Later on he met his second wife, Beatrice Jones (“Ms. Bea”). They did not have any children but he became a step-father to Ms. Bea’s children and grandchildren.  On May 18^th, 1973, Ms. Bea died. Uncle Mose never married again but he remained in Fremont, living near his family until his death on January 9^th, 1984. When he died, he left all his wordly belongings to my mother.  He is buried in August Chapel Cemetery in Dudley, North Carolina. 

I have nothing but fond memories of this man. I just wished that I had asked him about his parents, his sisters and brothers, especially his baby sister who he affectionately called “Sis Classie.” 

Thanks for reading.

Sources:

Registration State: North Carolina; Registration County: Wayne; Roll: 1766040. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.

Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Marriage Index, 1741-2004 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Death Certificates, 1909-1975 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

Year: 1940; Census Place: Fremont, Wayne, North Carolina; Roll: T627_2987; Page: 14B; Enumeration District: 96-36. Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

North Carolina World War II Draft Registration Cards; Record Group: RG 147, Records of the Selective Service System, 1926-1975; Box: 284. Ancestry.com. U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.