By Michael K. Brantley
You may have heard an old folk or bluegrass song about “Poor Naomi Wise,” or it may have sounded like ‘Omi Wise or ‘Nomi Wise, but however it was put out, it was about the same lady — Naomi Wise, who was murdered in 1808 in Randolph County, North Carolina.
Wise, an orphan, was a cook and sometimes field hand who lived in the household of William Adams. She was known for her beauty and innocence, and was often called on by a local man, Jonathan Lewis.
While courting Wise, Lewis had promised himself to marry another woman. This became a bigger problem when Wise became pregnant. Lewis allegedly led Wise to a bluff over the Deep River and pushed her off.
Lewis was arrested in April 1808 and locked up in an Asheboro jail, but managed to escape to Ohio. A bounty hunter tracked him down and brought him back to North Carolina, but he was acquitted at his trial. Legend has it that Lewis confessed to the crime on his deathbed.
The story gained some fame when the then President of Trinity College, Braxton Craven, wrote an account of the story based on his interviews with local residents in 1851. He referred to Lewis as a “merciless wretch, a hyena.”
The place on the bluffs became known as Naomi Falls, and the ballad was made famous by many singers, including Doc Watson, whose version can be heard here. In more recent years, a slightly different (but really catchy version) of the story was released by the bluegrass band Newtown (listen here).
Bluegrass, folk, and Americana music if full of murder ballads. Recently, Grammy Winner Jim Lauderdale penned a song called “Old Time Angels,” where he recounted the stories of Omie Wise, Pretty Polly, Darling Cory, and Little Sadie, and the Knoxville Girl and offers a warning to young men that the ghosts of these young ladies still roam the hills. He performed a rousing version of the song at Nash Arts in Nashville earlier this year (2019). A guy named Bob Dylan cut the song as well.
Sources: NC Dept of Cultural Resources.
Another good one, Michael. Keep ’em coming!
Pinecone Bluegrass used to always do a “killing” song show every year at Halloween, they may still do it. My wife commented one time that all bluegrass songs are killing songs.