WB
William Best — 1940 US Census Record
Model Tree available1940 United States Federal Census · Wilson-County, North Carolina
Our Model Tree links this William Best across the 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940 US Censuses in Wilson-County, North Carolina (XGBoost, ~Confirmed), with identified parents Ed & Hugh — first a head (b.~1905), then head of a 7-person household.
Age 35
b. ~1905
Male
Head
Born: North Carolina
Married
1940 Census Record Details
| Census Year | 1940 |
| Location | Wilson-County, North Carolina |
| Surname | Best |
| Given Name | William |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 35 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | North Carolina |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Goldsboro |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Wayne |
| Additional Details | |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Industry | Farm |
| Class of Worker | OA |
| Hours Worked | 50 |
| Highest Grade | No 6 |
| 1935 Residence | North Carolina |
| Birth State | North Carolina |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | north carolina |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Township / Ward | Cross Roads |
| Est. Birth Year | ~1905 |
Household Members
Census records only state relationship to the household head.
Pairwise kinship is derived (~90–95% accurate), not recorded.
Step/blended families and boarders can break it.
7 people recorded at the same address in the 1940 census.
| Name | Relation to head | Relative to William | Age | Birth yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donald Best | Son | — | 1 | ~1939 |
| Louis Best | Son | — | 4 | ~1936 |
| William Best | Son | — | 10 | ~1930 |
| Tom Epps | Other | — | 55 | ~1885 |
| William Best | Head | — | 35 | ~1905 |
| Kermit Best | Son | — | 6 | ~1934 |
| Etta Best | Spouse | — | 29 | ~1911 |
Census Appearances
1910
Brunswick, Virginia
Son, age 2
Brunswick, Virginia · implied b. ~1908 — 5 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Best |
| Given Name | William |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 2 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Father's Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Mother's Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Can Read | Yes |
| Can Write | Yes |
| Speaks English | Yes |
| Birth State | North Carolina |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | north carolina |
1920
Johnston, North …
Son, age 13
Johnston, North Carolina · implied b. ~1907 — 8 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Best |
| Given Name | Willie |
| Relationship to Head | son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 13 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Father's Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Mother's Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Occupation | laborer |
| Industry | home farm |
| Class of Worker | W |
| Can Read | Yes |
| Can Write | Yes |
| Speaks English | Yes |
| Birth State | North Carolina |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | north carolina |
1930
Wilson, North …
Head, age 24
Wilson, North Carolina · implied b. ~1906 — 8 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Best |
| Given Name | Willie |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 24 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Age at First Marriage | 19 |
| Father's Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Mother's Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Industry | genl farm |
| Class of Worker | O |
| Can Read/Write | No |
| Home Owned/Rented | R |
| Home Value / Rent | 129 |
| Veteran | No |
| Birth State | North Carolina |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | north carolina |
1940
Wilson-County, North …
Head, age 35
Wilson-County, North Carolina · implied b. ~1905 — 7 household members
| Surname | Best |
| Given Name | William |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 35 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | North Carolina |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Goldsboro |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Wayne |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Industry | Farm |
| Class of Worker | OA |
| Hours Worked | 50 |
| Highest Grade | No 6 |
| 1935 Residence | North Carolina |
| Birth State | North Carolina |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | north carolina |
Model Tree
An inferred pedigree reconstructed from census links — up to 4 generations within the 1900–1950 window. Closer generations are built from household co-residence; deeper ones are bridged by following a relative to their own childhood census. Confidence compounds and weakens with each generation.
Our Model Tree links William Best across 4 US Census years (1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940) in 4 locations, using XGBoost record linkage. Identified parents: father Ed Best (~0.92 confidence) and father Hugh Best (~0.92 confidence) and mother Barbra Best (~0.92 confidence) and mother June Best (~0.92 confidence). The pedigree spans 1 generation with 4 identified ancestors.
Show:
Gen 1
Parents
confidence ≈ 0.92
Father
Ed Best
b. ~1876
Source father
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Father
Hugh Best
b. ~1861
Source father
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Mother
Barbra Best
b. ~1880
Source mother
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Mother
June Best
b. ~1894
Source mother
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
This person
Anchor record
William Best
Head · 1940 · age 35 · b. ~1905 · North Carolina
★ You are viewing this record
Confirmed / household (~0.90+)
Probable / derived (~0.65–0.89)
Candidate (<0.65, unverified)
Original Census Page
1940 US Federal Census — Wilson-County, North Carolina
Open full size
1940 US Federal Census — Wilson-County, North Carolina
Page Contents
40 people indexed on this census page (nara:1940:m-t0627-02989-00149)
| Line | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Bessie Banks | 34 | Wife | — | North Carolina |
| 42 | Clenon Jr. Banks | 9 | Son | — | North Carolina |
| 43 | Leonord D. Banks | 7 | Son | — | North Carolina |
| 44 | Clifton B. Banks | 4 | Son | — | North Carolina |
| 45 | Edmond Lee Banks | 2 | Son | — | North Carolina |
| 46 | James Bunch | 25 | Head | Farmer | North Carolina |
| 47 | Alberta Bunch | 20 | Wife | — | North Carolina |
| 48 | Clora Mae Bunch | 1 | Daughter | — | North Carolina |
| 49 | William Best THIS PERSON | 35 | Head | Farmer | North Carolina |
| 50 | Etta Best | 29 | Wife | — | North Carolina |
| 51 | William Jr. Best | 10 | Son | — | North Carolina |
| 52 | Kermit Kay Best | 6 | Son | — | North Carolina |
| 53 | Louis H. Best | 4 | Son | — | North Carolina |
| 54 | Donald J. Best | 1 | Son | — | North Carolina |
| 55 | Tom Epps | 55 | Lodger | Sawyer-Ginner | North Carolina |
| 56 | George R. P. Barnes | 41 | Head | — | North Carolina |
| 57 | Nannie Barnes | 38 | Wife | — | North Carolina |
| 58 | George R. Jr. Barnes | 19 | Son | — | North Carolina |
| 59 | Ola Barnes | 17 | Daughter | — | North Carolina |
| 60 | Raymond J. Barnes | 14 | Son | — | North Carolina |
| 61 | Odell Barnes | 11 | Daughter | — | North Carolina |
| 62 | Janice R. Barnes | 7 | Son | — | North Carolina |
| 63 | James M. Barnes | 4 | Son | — | North Carolina |
| 64 | Delton S. Barnes | 2 | Son | — | North Carolina |
| 65 | George W. Pender | 62 | Head | — | North Carolina |
| 66 | Lillie Pender | 54 | Wife | Seamstress | North Carolina |
| 67 | Lester Pender | 31 | Son | Farmer | North Carolina |
| 68 | Rudolph Pender | 17 | Son | Farmer | North Carolina |
| 69 | Edmond Pender | 16 | Son | — | North Carolina |
| 70 | Clora Belle Enoch | 24 | Daughter | — | North Carolina |
| 71 | Joyce Fay Enoch | 3 | Grand-Daughter | — | North Carolina |
| 72 | Peggie Flame Enoch | 1 | Grand-Daughter | — | North Carolina |
| 73 | Mattie Evans | 42 | Head | Helper | North Carolina |
| 74 | Sarah Evans | 25 | Daughter | — | North Carolina |
| 75 | Johnnie Evans | 19 | Son | — | North Carolina |
| 76 | James Evans | 16 | Son | Farmer | North Carolina |
| 77 | Marvin Evans | 13 | Son | — | North Carolina |
| 78 | Willie Evans | 7 | Son | — | North Carolina |
| 79 | Donathy Evans | 6 | Grand-Daughter | — | North Carolina |
| 80 | Curtis Ray Evans | 3 | Grand-Son | — | North Carolina |
Pedigree Summary
William
Gen 1 · 4 parents
~0.92
Max depth 4 (1900–1950 window)
About This Record & Model Tree
This record was independently indexed by YourRoots from the 1940 United States Federal Census (NARA). Our Model Tree links this person across census decades using XGBoost-based record linkage, with per-link confidence scores. Household corroboration strengthens the signal when co-residents appear on the same census pages in multiple years.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)