Documented records of the Credle family begins with George and Betty Credle. Their birth, parentage and marriage is not documented, however records lead to a presumption that they were products of the slave trade in and around the Prince Ann County Virginia during the 1790's and early 1800's. They spent most of their lifetime as slaves in Eastern North Carolina (Hyde County) until the Emancipation was issued in 1863. Their birth and death dates cannot be asserted, however documented sources list them as the parents of Thomas Franklin Credle Sr (1854- 1921) and James Osborne Credle (1846-1920). Court documents dated 1838 connect a Negro George to a white family as being heir property of George Credle of Hyde County. In this document George's ownership is passed to Elisha Credle with the death of George Credle. Hyde County Estate records dated 1839 settling the affairs of Slave owner George Credle which included the division of his slaves, passed ownership of George to one of his heir, Samuel Credle.
The location of the first known classroom building for blacks in Pamlico County was on Mill Road, what is now Water Street. The school was established on the premises where the cemetery of Greenhill Missionary Baptist Church is now located. There were only two teachers. They were Mr. Charlie Fissic and Mr. Ben Hill. Later years brought on another school which was open to blacks. The school stood on the grounds where the E.R. Dudley Masonic Lodge now stand. The school, however was only open to small school age children. The teacher were Della Braddy, Willie Lewis and his wife Malissa Barrow and Mrs. Ruth Lewis, the wife of John Bell. Shortly after the 1900’s a two story frame building was constructed and used as Private school for white children of the county (The Pamlico Male and Female Institute). About 1910 the school became a public elementary school, but after a few years closed, until 1920 when the county took it over to use as a Negro school. Dr A. Wethington was the school’s first Principal. He and his wife Sudie Wethington was the first teacher. In the 1951 a suit was filed in U.S. Federal Court by a group of Negro citizens demanding the admittance of Negro children to the Pamlico County white schools. Inadequate facilities at the Pamlico County Negro Training School was at the heart of the complaint. However, the county board of education set up a long range plan to modernize the Negro Training School facilities and double the size of the campus. Pamlico County schools weren’t completely integrated until the Mid 60’s.
School Work Room
School House
