Most images were originally posted on ancestry.com by C.W. Curley.
Other photos courtesy Paul family and Beaufort Historical Association.
 |
| Raymond Luther Paul |
William Luther Paul's father RAYMOND LUTHER PAUL (1842-1929) was born north of Vanceboro, Craven County, NC, son of William Timothy Paul (1818-1888) and Unity Leigh (1822-1855). During the Civil War, Confederate soldier Raymond
L. Paul was a private, 1st Regiment, North Carolina Artillery; enlisted
in Craven County, June 12, 1861. According to great grandson Grayden M.
Paul Jr., company muster rolls show Private R.L. Paul was present at Fort Macon from July 2, 1861 to February 28, 1862. On April 26, 1862, after the fort was captured by Federal forces, Paul was paroled along with the rest of the officers and enlisted men at Fort Macon. (Raymond's father William Timothy Paul was a private in 13th Battalion, North Carolina Light Artillery.) On October 20, 1864, Raymond married Frances D. "Fannie" Styron. The ceremony was performed by J.L. Warren, Minister of the Gospel. "Fannie" Styron (1841-1921), was born in Davis Shore to Matilda Lewis (1810-1888) and George Washington Styron (1800-1860), son of George Styron (1756-1800) who was born in Hunting Quarters.
 |
| Ammie Loren Paul Grandfather of historian Charles Paul |
 |
| Charles Brayman Paul & Family |
Charles Brayman Paul (1866-1904) became a preacher and married Mittie Whitehead on October 20, 1890. Net fisherman, carpenter and blacksmith Ammie Loren Paul (1872-1952) married Julia Frances Willis on December 24, 1896. Betty Wheeler Paul (1876-1964) married Irwin Jones Davis about 1905.
 |
| Raymond became a master carpenter and built the "Big House" on Davis Island for Barnard Leckler, who came to Davis to hunt goose and duck and decided to build a home and hunting lodge. |
 |
| Raymond Luther Paul and Fannie D. Styron Paul were buried in the Paul Family Cemetery in Davis, Carteret County. |
_________________________________________________________
Raymond and Fannie Paul's second son WILLIAM LUTHER PAUL (1869‒1946), inventor
and entrepreneur, was born in Davis
Shore, Carteret County. In 1894, W.L. Paul married Emeline "Lina" Willis (1874‒1943), daughter of Frances Watson and Simeon Willis of Smyrna, Carteret County. Luther and Lina lived in Smyrna, where he was noted as a blacksmith.
 |
| Emeline "Lina" Willis |
 |
| William Luther Paul and wife Emeline Willis |
Among many inventions, Luther built flying machine "Bumble Bee." In 1908, after an Orville Wright test flight crashed and killed the passenger, Paul's family convinced him to stop work on what may have been America's first helicopter. (See article at the end of this post.)
According to historian Charles L. Paul, "For some time before moving his family to Beaufort, Luther Paul had
taken his 'moving picture shows' to neighboring 'Down East' communities by
boat." After moving to Beaufort about 1911, Luther Paul built and operated the Sea Breeze Theater on Front Street (now site of the North Carolina Maritime Museum). Members of the family participated in all aspects of the business. (Image courtesy Malcomb Merrick)
Greatly-remodeled Sea Breeze Theater - 1920s
Home was 117 Moore Street. The 1920 census found William L. 50, Lina 46, Grayden M. 20, Halsey 17, Daphne 13, Glennis 10 and 7-year-old Raymond. The 1940 recorded W. Luther 70, Lina 65, Daphne 31, Glennie 28, Iva Paul Bailey 43, and her 21-year-old daughter Louise Bailey.
 |
| 117 Moore Street |
 |
| Luther, Lina and family at 117 Moore |
 |
| First car in Beaufort, built by Luther Paul |
 |
| Iva Lou Paul |
IVA
LOU PAUL (1897‒1981) - During World War II, Iva Lou was a chaplain’s
assistant in the Army Air Corps. Iva married Carl G. Bailey. Daughter
Harriet Louise Bailey was born in New Hanover County, married Hazel Deal
Mortez in 1941, and died in Grifton, Pitt County.IVA LOU PAUL (1897‒1981) - During World War II, Iva Lou was a chaplain’s assistant in the Army Air Corps. Iva married Carl G. Bailey. Daughter Harriet Louise Bailey was born in New Hanover County, married Hazel Deal Mortez in 1941, and died in Grifton, Pitt County. |
| Grayden Muir Paul |
GRAYDEN MUIR PAUL (1899‒1994) – Grayden completed one year
of college (Wake Forest College). About 1921, he married Mary Clark
Wilhelm (1899-1996). They had three children. The 1930 census found
Grayden and Mary in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he was noted as a
marine mechanic. By the 1940 census, they were back in Beaufort where
Grayden was noted as “operator of marine shop; repairs and sales.” At
home in 1940 were G.M. Paul 41, Mary 40, Grayden Muir 17, Harry Allan
15, and Mary Frazier Paul 7. Best known as a Beaufort storyteller,
Grayden started conducting tours in 1952. Grayden helped form the Beaufort Historical Association in the 1960s. He also originated and directed the re-enactment of the 1747 “Spanish Invasion Day.” As noted in the News-Times article at the time of his death, “as Mr. Paul himself told it, the only way Beaufort knew for certain it had ever had any pirates ashore was because somebody had found an ancient bill to the town jail for beef to feed the Spanish pirates.”  |
| Alphonso 1960s (BHA photo) |
Grayden and Mary Paul co-authored a book, “Carteret County, N.C. Folklore, Facts and Fiction,” published in 1975. See: Founding of the Beaufort Historical Association In 1976, Grayden Paul was honored by the Historic Preservation Society of North Carolina with an Award of Merit. He served as mayor from 1941 to 1942 and was on the Town Board and the Carteret County school board.
 |
| Band director - Beaufort Graded School |
HALSEY DAIL PAUL (1902‒1997) – Halsey married Margaret Ann Skarren about 1926. Margaret was the daughter of plumbing contractor William Edward Skarren and Carrie Lee Scott. Children Margaret Ann, Helen Dail and Halsey Dail Paul Jr. The 1940 census recorded Halsey as “automotive dealer – sales & service garage.” Halsey owned and operated Paul Motor Company.
DAPHNE DARE PAUL (1906‒1996) – Daphne completed one year of college; she never married. Daphne's obituary noted: “She was a historian, researcher and writer of Carteret County and Beaufort history, including a popular series on Beaufort which was printed in the News-Times.
Daphne also received the North Carolina Historical Publication Award.”
While growing up in Beaufort, Glennie was a leader, active in athletics and also pianist at the Baptist Sunday School.
Below: 1926 senior in high school and 1930 Meredith College.
_______________________________________________________
117 Moore Street - Beaufort NC
Large, well-preserved, 2-story house has a deck-on-hip roof with widow's walk, center projecting cross-gable, plain siding and 2/2 sash with molded caps. 1-story porch
with turned posts, plain railing, and roof with balustrade.
 |
About 1911 - Halsey, Daphne, and Grayden with Sam Forlaw and Lela Hudgins, who lived on west Ann Street. Sam (born about 1901) was the son of Clarence C.Forlaw who died in 1910. Lela (born about 1901) was daughter of John Graier Hudgins.  |
 |
| Grayden Muir Paul Jr. at the Grayden Paul Bridge - named for his father. Built in 1957, the bridge officially closed January 28, 2018. (Casey Futrell Photography, NCCOAST) |
