'Ommie Wise / Omie Wise

Subject: 'Ommie Wise
From: Mel O
Date: 28 Jul 98 - 12:05 PM

I have heard a couple of songs about the murder of Naomi Wise. The song mentions Deep River which is very close to me, the river that is. The Harry Smith Anthology notes say that Ms Wise is buried at a Providence Church in Deep River, meaning a town. My question is: If I were to be searching for the grave of Naomi Wise, does anyone know where to look? There is no Providence church in my area. Where did this crime take place?

Subject: RE: 'Ommie Wise
From: Earl
Date: 28 Jul 98 - 01:38 PM

_American Murder Ballads_ by Olive Wooley Burt says that Naomi Wise was drowned in Deep River in 1808. It does not say where she was buried but she lived in Asheboro, North Carolina. She was an orphan who lived with a farmer named William Adams. Hope that helps.

Subject: RE: 'Ommie Wise
From: lesblank
Date: 28 Jul 98 - 07:23 PM

You might also try "North Carolina Folklore",Brown: Duke University Press,Durham ,N.C., Vol 2 OR

Folksongs of North America by Alan Lomax

Subject: RE: 'Ommie Wise
From: Roger Himler
Date: 28 Jul 98 - 09:14 PM

Mel O

Here's what Folk Songs of North America says:

Johnathan Lewis was born in the late 18th century near Centre meeting house on Polecat Creek in Guilford County, NC, and belonged to a proud and pugnacious tribe. He courted lovely Naomi wise, an orphan who worked as a servant and field hand for Mr. Adams. Lewis compromised Naomi, then engaged to marry her; but when his ambitious mother found a better match for him, he resolved to do away with poor Naomi. she agreed to elope with him, and a the appointed hour took her water pail to th trysting place at Adams' spring. this spring is said to be still flowing.....

The story runs that Naomi began to complain when she realized they were riding in the wrong direction, and then John Lewis told her his real intentions. he tied her dress above her head, rode into the middle of Deep River, and held Naomi under the water with his foot. .....

Next day, in order to throw off suspicion, he went courting a girl named Martha Huzza, and the officers found him on the front porch with Martha on his lab. Confronted with Naomi's corpse, Lewis calmly stroked the dead girl's hair and denied the crime.

Before his trial, Lewis escaped from jail. He allegedly confessed to the crime on his death bed.

The song in FSofNA is slightly different from Omie Wise (2) in the DT.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: 'Ommie Wise
From: Earl
Date: 29 Jul 98 - 08:31 AM

Lewis was recaptured seven years after his escape. He was tried and aquitted because the evidence was so circumstantial and the anger had subsided by then.

According to Ms Burt: "...near Ashboro are some rapids caled Naomi Falls, over which, on a moonlit night, the wraithlike spirit of Omie Wise may be seen fluttering."

Subject: RE: 'Ommie Wise
From: Art Thieme
Date: 29 Jul 98 - 11:54 PM

A recent issue of OLD TIME HERALD had a fine story on the song and on the facts of the case. Check it out.

Subject: RE: 'Ommie Wise
From: Gene
Date: 30 Jul 98 - 05:18 PM


*CLICK HERE* to hear a recording.