The following article was written by Doug Sherman and published in the Branches of Laurel, published by The Laurel CO. Historical Society. Doug Sherman is a descendent of Adin Sasser and is a very active member of this list. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Life of Henry SASSER in Johnston County, North Carolina by Douglas B. Sherman 1 Henry SASSER was one of early settlers of Laurel County. He was born 29 March 1778 to William SASSER and Martha BISHOP in Johnston County, North Carolina, and he married Nancy KIRBY, who was born on 25 June 1792. 2 Prior to moving to Laurel County in the late 1820's, Henry was active as a public servant in Johnston County. Consequently, he appears very often in the Johnston County Court minutes. These minutes, along with other records from that time, provide some insight into his life in North Carolina. The earliest mention of Henry in the Johnston County Court minutes was a session held on 28 February 1797, during which Henry gave an oath for a deed transfer from George BOYET to Isaac BOYET.3 By this time, Henry was nearly 19 years old. The deed was dated 3 December 1796 and was witnessed by Henry SASSER and Martha SASSER by her mark. 4 In a deed from 24 October 1796, Henry and William SASSER (by his mark) witnessed the transfer of property from Sasser KEEN to Isaac KEEN. 5 Isaac later obtained a marriage bond with Judith KIRBY, daughter of Jesse KIRBY, on 25 February 1799. 6 Henry witnessed the will of Jesse KIRBY on 11 October 180l, 7 and after Jesse died in 1804, the court appointed Henry, Stephen GRICE, and Matthew PARKER to a committee to divide the estate. 8 On 22 February 1800, in a deed that was witnessed by William SASSER, Henry received from Thomas KIRBY a tract of 100 acres that joined William SASSER's property.9 Although Henry was 21 at the time, it is noteworthy that the 1800 Federal Census did not record him as a head of household. In addition, the Census suggested that Henry was still living with his parents. 10 On 23 February 1801 William SASSER deeded four tracts to Henry that totaled 335 acres. William originally received the property by grants dating from 1782, 1 790, and 1799. 11 Over the years, Henry acquired other property as well. By the end of the decade, Henry took on new responsibilities in county government. On 29 November 1809 he served on a jury, and the court recommended that he be added to the Commission of the Peace. 12 The state government agreed, and Henry joined the Commission on 27 February l810.13 Many years later, the minutes reported on 26 February 1821 that Henry was appointed as a constable in the district of Captain Jesse GRICE for one year. 14 In the session from 29 May 1821 he served as a grand juror for the term. 15 While Henry served as juror on many cases, one of the more interesting ones that reflected the judicial system of the time was reported in the minutes from the 30 August 1820 session. In the case of the State versus Dixon TOLER, the jury found Dixon guilty, and he was sentenced to "be taken to the public whipping post, & that the Sheriff inflict upon his bare back twenty lashes." Dixon appealed. 16 Around 1810, when Henry was 32 years old, his responsibilities in his family life began to increase. The Federal Census from that year listed him as head of household and suggested that his parents lived with him. 17 Henry and Nancy KIRBY obtained their marriage bond on 26 February 18l2 19 and wed shortly thereafter on 10 March 1812.19 At the time, he was nearly 34 years old and she was 19. In the years that followed, Henry served as administrator or executor for the estates of several relatives, including Stephen SASSER, Arthur SASSER (2 March and 22 May 1815 sessions, respectively), 20 and Edith SASSER, (daughter of Arthur SASSER,21 26 August 1816 session). The dates of death for William and Martha SASSER are unknown. One may speculate that they died between 1810 and 1820 on the basis of the Federal Census records. Since Henry had received property from his father in 1801, it is doubtful that there would have been any sale of estate upon his death. While it is true that a William SASSER died in Smithfield in March 1815 "of the prevailing Epidemic or Camp Plague,"23 he was not Henry's father. This William SASSER was instead the son of Elizabeth BLACKMAN24, former wife of the deceased Josiah SASSER of Wayne County.25 Furthermore, one of the buyers at Edith SASSER's estate sale in 1816 was a William SASSER, which could suggest that Henry's father was still alive at that time. In addition to starting a family of their own, Henry and Nancy took over the guardianship of Betsy, Jordan, and Kuzzy GOD WIN from Joseph and Mary RENFROE on 26 May 1817.26 Before his marriage to Nancy, Henry had been appointed to "settle and adjust the accounts of Samuel GODWIN decd.," along with William and James HINNANT, in the 26 November 1811 court session.27 Henry and Nancy maintained guardianship of the GODWIN children into the next decade. Thus, the 1820 Federal Census listed one additional male under 10, one additional female age 10-16, and one additional female age 16-26 in the family. 28 On 20 August 1825 Elizabejh Godwin (by her mark) "received of Henry SASSER the sum of $72.47 in full of my part of my Father's Estate in the Hands of said SASSER my Guardian."29 One year later, on 29 August 1826, Henry and Nancy relinquished guardianship of Jordan and Kuzzy GODWIN to Simon GODWIN.30 Sometime between 1826 and 1828, Henry' SASSER moved his family from North Carolina to Laurel County. The traditional story was that Henry' and Nancy left with their children in 1826 and stopped in Tennessee to raise a crop before moving into Kentucky.31 From the record of births provided by Robert Helton,32 James Henderson SASSER was born on 8 October 1825 in North Carolina, and Jesse SASSER was born on 30 January 1828 in Kentucky, which would support the traditional view.33 However, the Johnston County Court minutes state in the 28 August 1827 session that Henry SASSER was summoned to serve as juror in the next 34 term. In the 26 August 1828 session, Henry deeded land to Claudius HAMILTON.35 The 1830 Federal Census listed Henry as a resident of Laurel County.36 A much later record from the 27 August 1833 Court Session states that the deed of land from John PEARCE to Miles LANGLY "was duly proven in open Court by the Oath of J.[?J H. SASSER as to the signature of H. SASSER subscribing Witnesses out of State."37 Given that Henry and Nancy relinquished guardianship of the GODWIN children in August 1826, it Is possible that they moved shortly thereafter in keeping with the traditional story, and that the Henry SASSER who was summoned as a juror in the 1827 court was J. H. SASSER. Another possibility is that the family settled into Kentucky, and Henry traveled back to North Carolina to conclude business and transfer of property. 1 Correspondence invited: 7 Lansgate Court, Durham, NC 27713. 2 Robert W. Helton, The HIenry SASSER and Arthur HUMFLEET Families of North Carolina (Milwaukee, WI: By the author, 1966), North Carolina State Library, Raleigh, North Carolina, SASSER Vertical File. 3 Weynette Parks Haun, Johnston County North Carolina County Court Minutes 1793 Thru 1797, Book V (Durham, NC: By the author, 1976), p. 115. 4 Weynette Parks Haun, Johnston County. North Carolina Abstracts: Deed Books U-I. V-I. W-l. X-l 1795-1799, Vol. V (Durham, NC: By the author, 1992), p.68, (deed entry W-48). 5 Haun, Vol. V, p.68, (deed entry W-50). 6 Brent H. Holcomb, Marriages of Johnston County. North Carolina 1762-1868 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1985), p.68. 7 Will of Jesse KIRBY, II Oct. 1801, probate in August Court, 1804. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina, File Box # .056.801.7, photocopy in possession of the author. 8 Weynette Parks Haun, Johnston County North Carolina Countv Court Minutes 1801 Thru 1804, Book VI (Durham, ~L NC: By the author, 1976), p.109. 9 Weynette Parks Haun, Johnston County. North Carolina Deed Abstracts: Books Y-l. Z-l. A-2. B-2 1799-1803, Vol. VI (Durham, NC: By the author, 1995), p.56, (deed entry Z-214). I0 Second Census of the United States, 1800; North Carolina, Johnston County, p.753, National Archives Microfilm Publication ~ARS), Microcopy 32, roll 31. II Haun, Vol. VI, p.56, (deed entry Z-215). 12 Weynette Parks Haun, Johnston County North Carolina County Court Minutes 1808 Thru 1811, Book VIII (Durham, NC: By the author,1977), p.54. 13 Weynette Parks Haun, Johnston County North Carolina Coun~ Court Minutes 1808 Thru 1811, Book VIII (Durham, NC: By the author, 1977), p.62. '4 Weynette Parks Haun, Johnston County North Carolina County Court Minutes 1819 Thru 1822, Book XI (Durham, NC: By the author, 1979), p.71. Hauri', Book XI, p.80. 16 Haun, Ilook XI, p.65. 17 Third Census of the United States, 1810; North Carolina, Johnston County, p.233, National Archives Microfilm Publication ~ARS), Microcopy 252, roll 40. 18 Holcomb, p.104. 19 Helton. 20 Weynette Parks Haun, Johnston County North Carolina County Court Minutes 1812 Thru 1815, Book IX (Durham, NC: By the author, 1977), pp.104, 108, 109. 21 Elizabeth E. Ross, Johnston County North Carolina Will Abstracts 1746-1825, Vol.1, (Clayton, NC: By the author, 1975), pp.36-37. 22 Haun, Book X, p.24. 23 Lois Smathers Neal, Abstracts of Vital Records From Ralei~h. North Carolina NewsDaDers 1799-1819, Volunie I, (Spartanburg, SC: The Reprint Company, Publishers, 1979), p.440. 24 Haun, Book IX, p.107. 25 The Heritage of Johnston County Book Committee, The Herita~e of Johnston County North Carolina 1985, (Winston-Salem, NC: Hunter Publishing Company, 1985), sketch 158. 26 Haun, Book X, p.50. 27 Haun, Book VIII, p. 116. 28 Fourth Census of the United States, 1820; North Carolina, Johnston County, p.264, National Archives Microfilm Publication (NARS), Microcopy 33, roll 80. 29 Record of Estates of Johnston County, Vol.14, 1825-1831, p.71 (Feb 1826 Term), Microfilm C.056.5006, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, North Carolina. 30 Weynette Parks Haun, Johnston County North Carolina County Court Minutes 1823 Thru 1826, Book XII (Durham, NC: By the author, 1979), p.125. 3I Traditional story attributed to Robert Helton (decd. 1988) in a page in the SASSER vertical file in the Laurel County Historical Society, London, KY. 32 Helton. 33 States of birth for James Henderson SASSER and Jesse SASSER are supported by the Eighth Census of the United States, 1860; Kentucky, Laurel County, pp.415 and 413, respectively, National Archives Microfilm Publication NARS), Microcopy T7, roll 79. 34 Weynette Parks Haun, Johnston County North Carolina Court Minutes 1827 Thru 1830, Book XIII (Durham, NC: By the author, 1981), p. 21. Haun, Book XIII, p.54. 36 Fifth Census of the United States, 1830; Kentucky Laurel County, p.268, National Archives Microfilm Publication NARS), Microcopy 19, roll 38. 37 Weynette Parks Haun, Johnston County North Carolina Court Minutes 1831 Thru 1834, Book XIV (Durham, NC: By the author, 1983), p.83. ---------- From: G. Philip Sasser Sent: Friday, May 16, 1997 12:10 PM To: SASSER-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Henry Sasser I am looking for any information on Henry Sasser. He was born June 25, 1792 in North Carolina, perhaps in Johnston or Wayne Counties. He married Nancy Kirby on March 12, 1812 in Smithfield, NC. Her father was Jesse Kirby. They later moved to Kentucky. Also any information on Henry's father William, who was married to Martha Bishop. William died in Smithfield, NC in 1815. That's as much as I have. Anything that would verify or correct my information would be appreciated. Any information about the Sassers preceding William would be apprectiated. I have conflicting stories from relatives about John Sasser and Rebecca Bond being given a land grant in Craven County in 1737. Also any information on land grants to Sassers in Johnston, Wayne, Dobbs, Duplin and Edgecombe Co. NC in 1739 would be good. Also any information on Thomas Sasser from Craven County in 1745. Thanks, Phil Sasser (Cary, NC) ------------------------------