To: The Sasser List From: Glenn E. Perry Those of you who were members of the list several months ago may remember that I reported having been told by my grandmother that Henry Sasser had been a teacher in North Carolina and that Nancy Kirby was once one of his pupils. Subsequently some members of this list have shared a great deal of documentary research, particularly the articles by Doug Sherman and Edith Asher Grey, and I have seen no specific confirmation of the tradition I am referring to. On the other hand, such documentary material makes it seem that Henry was the sort of person who MIGHT very well have been a teacher (either for much of his life or for just a short period). I recently picked up some other interesting traditions from Lisle Hale. I gather that she too previously was familiar with the story of Henry's having been a teacher. But she also has heard that he was a lawyer and preacher as well. If I remember correctly, she says that she has copies of some papers that confirm his having been a lawyer. It will be interesting to see these papers some time. My understanding (and someone may want to correct me on this) is that there was no clearcut distinction between a lawyer and a non-lawyer in those days. It may very well be that since Henry was very likely the best educated person around Blackwater he wore a lawyer's hat at times even if he was not a full-fledged lawyer. As for the tradition of his being a preacher, Lisle related a more specific story to back it up. She says that she always heard that in his old age Henry's little grandson Wallace (son of Jesse) went around with him and carried his Bible and a pillow. The dates of the patriarch's death (1859) and Wallace's birth (1852) make the story somewhat plausible. A strong six- or seven-year-old boy might have carried even that big Bible. This assumes that Henry was active until shortly before his death. In any case, I thought I should share this new addition--at least for me--to the legend of Henry Sasser. . ***************************************** Glenn E. Perry Department of Political Science Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN 47809 USA E-Mail: psperrg@scifac.indstate.edu (812)237-2505 (office) (812)234-5661 (home) ****************************************