A timely enchanted box lands in the Town of Cameron with David R. Stokes’ story

See an image of David Richard Stokes of Cameron.

A box of old letters on thick, velvety paper, crumbling official documents, bright advertisements with , opened and unopened mail belonging to David R. Stokes found its way into the possession of Aberdeen Mayor Robert Farrell. He presented to Cameron at the June 24, 2025, regular meeting.

According to Find A Grave, David Richard Stokes lived in Cameron at the same time period as the David R. Stokes addressed on the stamped envelopes and in letters, court records, billing statements, and Maple Stokes’ name, the wife listed on Find A Grave, was in the same box of documents.

Perhaps Stokes trimmed off the stamps to reuse after he used a dab of lye soap to remove the postage ink.

In Central North Carolina Collection, Volume 1, by James Vann Comer, on page 20, a Crane’s Creek teacher says Dave Stokes was a mathematical genius. The other pupils’ birthdates coincide with his within ten years. It is assumable that this Dave Stokes was the same or a close relative.

The following images reflect life in Cameron when trading was a way of life, and by the looks of the shirt on the David Richard Stokes’ image from Find A Grave, if this was the same person, he appears as a gentleman. He was not wearing overalls, a commonality for rural living. He was in a vest and button-down shirt.

The enchantment faded when reading the next letter.

Eyes drifted to the peculiar signature where a person made an X for “her name.”

Focus on each word from the beginning only to learn Peyton Stoke bought a human being, “Tom,” to keep forever for the sum of $400 in 1848.

America abolished slavery in 1865.

The slave bill of sale shows the good old days were not as golden as many want to believe.

The discovery of this fact leads to a conclusion that perhaps Cameron should ease up on vintage idealism and abolish regulations preserving every single detail, for the sake of “Tom.”

June 26, 2025

Stephanie M. Sellers