William Moses Hill, fifth child of Fred and Tempy Ann Stancil Hill, was born Feb. 23, 1896, in Johnston County, North Carolina. His death certificate says he was born Feb. 23, 1895, but his older brother Millard Hill was born Dec. 27, 1894.

Moses had 10 siblings: Delia Hill Bailey, Ronia Hill Stancil, John Fletcher Hill, Millard Lee Hill, Delphia Pearl Hill, James Clarence Hill, George Preston Hill, Edgar Resley Hill, Floyd "Jack" Jackson Hill and Tonie Hill.

Moses attended school at Boyette slave house.

He married Carolyn Francis Stancil on Feb. 24, 1918.

Francis was born Feb. 17, 1896, in Johnston County, North Carolina. Francis died Oct. 8, 1990, in Wilson.

She is the daughter of W. Godfrey Stancil and Cassandra Moore Stancil and sister of Zilphia who married Millard Hill. Like Tempy Ann's father John Thomas, Godfrey is a descendant of John Stancil Jr.

Godfrey is the son of Allen Stanley Stancil, the grandson of William J. Stancil, great-grandson of John Godfrey Stancil IV, great-great grandson of John Stancil III and great-great-great grandson of John Stancil Jr.

Moses registered for the World War I draft while they were living on Route 2 in Kenly, North Carolina.

Moses played the piano was a good dancer. He and Carolyn had neighborhood square dances in their big house. Neighbors moved out all of the furniture that were replaced later. The mmen whistled as they worked and the musicians gathered. There was a piano. Frances enjoyed music and had an early Victorian.

Gracy Renfrow and Buddy Renfrow played the banjo for the dances. Ellis Edwards played banjo. Some people clogged, while others did the scamberdown and jig.

Moses was a hunter, farmer, logger and truck driver.

Millard loaned his great hunting dog Bob to Moses and baby brother Tonie for hunting quail.

Like many farmers, Moses signed mortgages on his farm during 1932 and 1933. He struggled to keep his farm.

Moses and Frances had five children.

• Glady Ruth Hill, Sept. 10, 1920-June 26, 2001
• Jarvis "Ras" Godfrey Hill, Nov. 18, 1922-April 15, 1999
• Paul Grady Hill, Sept. 26, 1924-May 9, 2001
• Tempie Mae Hill Price, June 22, 1927-Nov. 22, 1994
• Nelmer Moses Hill, Oct. 17, 1932-Oct. 25, 1983

In 1938, he and Francis separated and they divorced in the early 1940s. Moses started living with daughter Tempie Mae Hill Price, and her husband William Godwin Price, in Wilson. After the divorce. Carolyn kept the house and farm. Son Ras ran the farm for his mama.

In 1952, Moses married Ethel Turnage. Moses moved to Black Creek to run a country store. Ethel always called Moses "Mr. Hill" and Moses called Ethel "Skinny."

Moses died of cancer at 82 on Nov. 3, 1977, at Wilson Memorial Hospital in Wilson County.

According to his death certificate, the cause of death was Coronary atherosclerosis, acute pulmonary edema and COPD.

The Rev. Braxton Creech and the Rev. Randy Carroll preached at his funderal at the New Jerusalem Free Will Baptist Church. Pallbearers were Tim, son of Nelmer Moses Hill; Jerry, James and Ronnie, sons of Javis "Ras" Godfrey Hill; Johnny and Willie Price, sons of Tempie Mae Hill Price. He is buried in New Jerusalem Free Will Baptist Church Cemetery in Kenly, Johnston County.

When he died, his spouse was Ethel Turnage Hill. They were living at 409 Parkview St. in Wilson.

Carolyn died on Oct. 8, 1990, in Wilson Memorial Hospital. The Rev. Braxton Creech preached her funeral at New Jerusalem. Glady, Ras, Nelmer, P.G. and Tempie Mae gathered to mourn their mother. She is buried in the New Jerusalem Church cemetery.

After Moses's death, Ethel married Joseph Robert Taylor on Oct. 3, 1987.

She died Nov. 22, 1993. She is buried in Evergreen Memorial Park in Wilson.