Who We Are | The Spaulding Family History

The Benjamin and Edith Spaulding Descendants are a large extended family whose roots lead back to pre-Revolutionary War America.

Benjamin Spaulding was born into slavery in 1773 in Duplin County, North Carolina. Shortly after the turn of the century, he married Edith Delphi Jacobs, a Native American woman born in 1786. In 1810, their first son was born and over the next two decades, the couple gave birth to eight more sons and one daughter.

Benjamin was operating as a freed man for many years before his official manumission papers were filed by Samuel Swindale, Jr. in 1825. There are earlier census records and land registration records indicating that he was considered free for many years before that.

Ben’s family became skilled farmers, turpentine distillers, and millers: they bought land and owned their own businesses. Even as the pre-Civil War laws became more harsh, the the extended families remained free, independent and self-sustaining. They set up a school and church on their land, and sought out educational opportunities for the youth at every level.

Ben and Edith’s 10 children raised 83 grandchildren. One adopted grandson, George Henry White, was elected to U.S. Congress in 1897, served two terms, and was the last person of color to serve there before the Jim Crow laws disenfranchised minority North Carolinians. Congressman White then set up a town in New Jersey, Whitesboro, where many family members moved, replicating the family model of entrepreneurship, land purchase, and strong educational accomplishments in the North. Philadelphia became another nexus where Spaulding descendants made their mark.

Another grandson, Dr. Aaron Moore, helped create financial independence for people of color in Durham, NC when he and John Merrick founded the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, the largest African-American-owned insurance firm even today. Dr. Moore also founded the Mechanics and Farmers Bank, and Lincoln Hospital, which served minority communities and resulted in the establishment of the “Black Wall Street” in Durham’s Hayti District. Family member Charles Clinton Spaulding oversaw the expansion of NC Mutual, a role later held by several other family members. For more information on the historical and current role of NC Mutual, visit their website at www.ncmutuallife.com.

Spaulding descendants have pioneered many key areas. Their achievements in education, finance, public service, arts, agriculture, and invention have been remarkable: a short list of notables can be found here.

Today, some nine generations since Ben and Edith have come into existence, with more than 5,000 descendants. Bi-annual Reunions connect cousins from all over the country, with annual events in the 6 geographical regions. A for-profit entity (Benjamin and Edith Spaulding Descendants Association) and a not-for-profit entity (Benjamin and Edith Spaulding Descendants Foundation) have been formed to expand the many fine projects of the extended family.

Benjamin and Edith Spaulding Descendants Association (BESDA) Established, 2003

History and Information about the National Committee, 2000

Partial List of Contributions of Descendants

Founders of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company

Partial List of Contributions of Descendants

(Listed by Generation from Benjamin and Edith Spaulding)

Dr. Aaron McDuffie Moore, Co-Founder of North Carolina Mutual Life, Lincoln Hospital. 3rd generation

Jonathan Spaulding, The first Indian school teacher in Pembroke, North Carolina 3rd generation

Professor McIver Spaulding, Taught school for 35 years at Farmers Union School, Farmers Union Community, NC 3rd generation, brother of Josephine Spaulding

Josephine Spaulding Freeman, School teacher, 3rd generation, daughter of Iver Spaulding

Lloyd Leslie Spaulding, Sr., Professor and Author, 3rd generation, son of Iver Spaulding, son of Benjamin and Edith Spaulding

Congressman George Henry White served as the only African-American Member of Congress for the 55th and 56th Congressional sessions, 1897 to 1901. 4th generation

Asa Spaulding Sr. became the nation’s first black actuary, advisor to Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Johnson and Carter advocating for civil rights and economic development for black Americans, delegate to UN Conference in India. 4th generation

Elna Spaulding, activist for civil rights, human rights and protections for victims of domestic abuse. 4th generation

William Jesse Kennedy, Jr. President of NC Mutual Life from 1952-1960, Spouse of 4th generation

Charles Clinton Spaulding, First General Director of NC Mutual Life, headed the Mutual Building and Loan Association and was vice president of the Bankers Fire Insurance Company and chairman of the Southern Fidelity Mutual Insurance Company, National chairman of the Emergency Advisory Council of the Urban League, Advisor to President F.D. Roosevelt, tasked with engaging African Americans in the New Deal. 4th generation

Dr. Major Spaulding, Dean of School of Agriculture at North Carolina A&T State 4th generation Dow Spaulding, First Black Principal in Alamance County, Graham, NC 4th generation

Carrie Spaulding Wison, First Black Women agent and school teacher in Alamance County, Graham, NC 4th generation

Agnes Spaulding Hill, school teacher and first black agent in Fayetteville, NC 4th generation

Bernice Spaulding Jacobs, School teacher in the Farmer Union Community 4th generation

William Spaulding, served on the DC City Council, leading our nation’s capitol for 12 years and establishing the University of the District of Columbia, as well as serving in the National Security Agency. 5th generation

Colonel John W. Mitchell served as the first black pilot of Air Force One during the presidency of Richard Nixon 5th generation

Sim Curtis Mitchell served as a Vietnam-Era Helicopter pilot and in the DOD Procurement office for Aviation. 5th generation

Lofton Mitchell, Dramatist and playwright, wrote Broadway hit “Bubbling Brown Sugar” 5th generation

William J. Kennedy, III, President of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, 5th generation Constance Merrick Watts, benefactress for the St. Joseph’s Historical Foundation and Hayti Heritage Center, 5th generation

Albert Spaulding, Northern Virginia, ARS Computer Company 5th generation

Margaret Kennedy Goodwin, Medical professional, Lincoln Hospital, Lincoln School of Nursing 5th generation

John Vasser, Jr., Farmer, Utilities commission member, served as Mayor of West Cape May, NJ for 30 years, preservationist 5th generation

Ruth Antoinette Spaulding Boyd, Retired teacher, Trustee, White Rock Baptist Church, Durham 5th generation

Dallas Smith, served as Deputy Undersecretary of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1993-1998 overseeing three agencies and 20,000 civil employees. 6th generation

Stedman Graham, Adjunct Professor, University of Illinois and Professor, Kellogg School Of Management, Northwestern University, New York Times bestselling author, Drug prevention advocate, public speaker and consultant 6th generation

Romeo Spaulding, served as president of the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters and the International Firefighters Association, captained the DC Fire and EMS department, and co-founded the Carl Holmes Executive Institute, Florida’s A&M University. 6th generation

Locke Moore, of Raleigh, NC holds the patent for his invention for the spring and valve skirt used in auto manufacturing 6th generation

Sandra Spaulding Hughes, serves in the North Carolina House of Representatives for the 18th District. 6th generation

Maceo K. Sloan, Chairman of the Board and CEO of NCM Capital Management Group now wholly owned by Sloan, one time subsidiary of NC Mutual Life 6th generation

John S. Stewart, Former President of Mutual Savings and Loan 6th generation

Kenneth S. Chestnut, President and COO of The Integral Group’s Program & Construction Management Division 6th generation

Maria Spaulding, State of NC, Deputy Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, and Member Board of Trustees, Shaw University 6th generation

Vernon Spaulding, MD, Retired as a Major General in the US Army, Medical Service Corps 6th generation

Rev. Aaron Campbell, Pastor of Antioch of Calvary Chapel, Philadelphia, PA 6th generation

Vincent Spaulding, Architect and ANC Commissioner, appointed as DC Clean City Coordinator by Mayor Anthony Williams 6th generation

Glen Spaulding, Pastor of Deliverance Tabernacle Church, Philadelphia, PA 6th generation

Derrick Staten, Executive Vice President of Lumbee Guaranty Bank, Lumberton, NC 6th generation

Wesley Campbell, Major Landowner and Farmer, Columbus and Bladen Counties, NC, President, Elizabethtown-White Lake Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors 6th generation

Stephen Spaulding, CEO, The Sage Group, Physician Recruiter, Duke University Medicine 7th generation

Milton Campbell, Ph.D., Duke University faculty and research staffer, Medical division, and genealogist. 7th on paternal side and 8th generation on maternal side of the family

Founders of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company