Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
NameNancy 
Birthabout 1745, Craven Co, NC
Deathabout September 1814, Wayne Co, NC
Spouses
Birthabout 1740, Craven Co, NC
Deathbefore 30 September 1811, Wayne Co, NC
FatherThomas Bass (1719-)
MotherSophia
Marriageabout 1760, Craven Co, NC
My Comments notes for Nancy
An Internet Tree provides her date of birth/death and locations and date/place of marriage. There are no guarantees it is right.
Parent-Proof notes for Thomas (Spouse 1)
An Internet Tree says that Thomas' father was Thomas Edward Bass born 5 Jul 1719 died abt 1760 and wife Sophia and he in turn was a son of Richard. Another version says that Thomas was the son of Andrew Jr. and grandson of Andrew Sr. and that’s the connection to Richard.
In 2010, I had an email from Richard Hite, also a descendant of Thomas, and we discussed the possibilities of Andrew as the father of Thomas. There were actually three Andrews. One died in Craven County in 1770 and before his death deeded land and property to sons Richard and Andrew Jr. and son-in-law Richard Blackledge. His will mentioned only those three heirs.
Andrew Jr. appears to be the same as Doctor Andrew or Andrew Bass Esq. and was later called Andrew Sr. and he died in 1791 in Wayne County and it seems clear he had but one heir, daughter Anne. Andrew Sr.’s brother Richard also named a son Andrew, who was also called Andrew Jr. and he also died in about 1791 with known heirs, one minor named Thomas or Thomas Alexander.
So, all Andrews appear to be ruled out.
In 2010, I had an email from Richard Hite, also a descendant of Thomas, and we discussed the possibilities of Andrew as the father of Thomas. There were actually three Andrews. One died in Craven County in 1770 and before his death deeded land and property to sons Richard and Andrew Jr. and son-in-law Richard Blackledge. His will mentioned only those three heirs.
Andrew Jr. appears to be the same as Doctor Andrew or Andrew Bass Esq. and was later called Andrew Sr. and he died in 1791 in Wayne County and it seems clear he had but one heir, daughter Anne. Andrew Sr.’s brother Richard also named a son Andrew, who was also called Andrew Jr. and he also died in about 1791 with known heirs, one minor named Thomas or Thomas Alexander.
So, all Andrews appear to be ruled out.
Census History notes for Thomas (Spouse 1)
Thomas Bass is listed in the 1790, 1800 and 1810 Census in Wayne County.
My Comments notes for Thomas (Spouse 1)
Thomas Bass was born, according to some sources, about 1740 in Craven County, NC and died before 30 Sep 1811 in Wayne County, NC. He married about 1760 a woman named Nancy (on several Internet family trees, she is Nancy Ann Flowers) who was born supposedly about 1745 in Craven County and died about Sep 1814 in Wayne County.
The proof that Thomas and Nancy were Joshua’s parents comes from estate and land records for Wayne County.
– When a death date is stated as ”before” a certain date, the date given is usually the date the person’s will was proven and that event happens usually fairly soon after the person’s death. Since Thomas’ death date is stated that way, I assumed I would find a will, but it turns out he died intestate.
– However, there are estate records for Wayne County and they give details on the settlement of the estate of Thomas Bass, starting with an Inventory done 30 Sep 1811, so that is the source of that date.
– A petition from grandson Matthew says he was the son of Elisha who died in April 1804 and he in turn the deceased son of Thomas who died in September 1811.
– As part of settling the estate, Thomas’ land was divided in October 1811 into eight parcels and there is an actual sketch of the land on Thunder Swamp and from left to right the parcels are allotted as follows: Mary Chestnutt 80 acres, Joshua Bass 100 acres, Joel Bass 104 acres, Jesse Bass 118 acres, Nancy Chestnutt 123 acres, Patty Casey 118 acres, heirs of Elisha Bass 153 acres and Everitte Bass 159 acres. (The fact that two of his daughters are named Chestnut is not at all unusual — they probably married brothers, quite a common occurrence.)
My hunch is that the names are listed in the order of birth, though I don’t know that. Also it is curious as to the generally increasing size of the plots and my hunch would be that the larger lots were deemed a little less valuable per acre, maybe they were further from the road or the mouth of the stream. The division was accomplished in a manner so that the value of each lot was roughly equal.
–In 1812, Thomas’ Negroes were divided into nine lots, this division including the widow Nancy. A value was placed on each lot but since they couldn’t be exactly equal (due to age and gender differences among the 15 or so slaves), there was then a drawing by each of the nine heirs to determine which lot they would receive. Joshua received Silah and Bill.
– Another land record dated 15 Feb 1813 says that Joshua of Sampson County is selling his Wayne County land inherited from his father (unnamed) and the witnesses are Jesse and Joel Bass. This is further confirmation of the relationships.
– The will of Nancy Bass proved Nov 1814 mentions that she has seven children (I think she meant living at the time) but only names daughter Patty Casey and then lists these persons without stating a relationship: Matthew, Zilpha and Elisha Bass. She did not name an executor, but Joshua qualified. A land record dated 1825 named Elisha and Matthew Bass and Zilpha Reaves of Sampson County as heirs of Elisha Bass who was an heir of Thomas Bass. So clearly, Nancy was providing for the children of Elisha — her grandchildren.
So the names of the children of Thomas and Nancy are quite obvious from these various records and clearly Joshua is among them.
– In 1796, William Flowers of Duplin County sold land in Wayne County to Thomas. This record may be the basis of people’s speculation that Thomas’ wife Nancy was in fact Nancy Flowers, perhaps son of or brother of William.
– Another clue is that when both the estates of Thomas and of Nancy were settled there was a sale of all personal property. Many of the purchasers of their property were their children but there were also a number of property purchases by two people named Flowers, William and Jesse.
Now, the real problem in this story is determining just who Thomas’ parents were. There are several different lineages you can find for Thomas Bass on different Internet family trees.
The proof that Thomas and Nancy were Joshua’s parents comes from estate and land records for Wayne County.
– When a death date is stated as ”before” a certain date, the date given is usually the date the person’s will was proven and that event happens usually fairly soon after the person’s death. Since Thomas’ death date is stated that way, I assumed I would find a will, but it turns out he died intestate.
– However, there are estate records for Wayne County and they give details on the settlement of the estate of Thomas Bass, starting with an Inventory done 30 Sep 1811, so that is the source of that date.
– A petition from grandson Matthew says he was the son of Elisha who died in April 1804 and he in turn the deceased son of Thomas who died in September 1811.
– As part of settling the estate, Thomas’ land was divided in October 1811 into eight parcels and there is an actual sketch of the land on Thunder Swamp and from left to right the parcels are allotted as follows: Mary Chestnutt 80 acres, Joshua Bass 100 acres, Joel Bass 104 acres, Jesse Bass 118 acres, Nancy Chestnutt 123 acres, Patty Casey 118 acres, heirs of Elisha Bass 153 acres and Everitte Bass 159 acres. (The fact that two of his daughters are named Chestnut is not at all unusual — they probably married brothers, quite a common occurrence.)
My hunch is that the names are listed in the order of birth, though I don’t know that. Also it is curious as to the generally increasing size of the plots and my hunch would be that the larger lots were deemed a little less valuable per acre, maybe they were further from the road or the mouth of the stream. The division was accomplished in a manner so that the value of each lot was roughly equal.
–In 1812, Thomas’ Negroes were divided into nine lots, this division including the widow Nancy. A value was placed on each lot but since they couldn’t be exactly equal (due to age and gender differences among the 15 or so slaves), there was then a drawing by each of the nine heirs to determine which lot they would receive. Joshua received Silah and Bill.
– Another land record dated 15 Feb 1813 says that Joshua of Sampson County is selling his Wayne County land inherited from his father (unnamed) and the witnesses are Jesse and Joel Bass. This is further confirmation of the relationships.
– The will of Nancy Bass proved Nov 1814 mentions that she has seven children (I think she meant living at the time) but only names daughter Patty Casey and then lists these persons without stating a relationship: Matthew, Zilpha and Elisha Bass. She did not name an executor, but Joshua qualified. A land record dated 1825 named Elisha and Matthew Bass and Zilpha Reaves of Sampson County as heirs of Elisha Bass who was an heir of Thomas Bass. So clearly, Nancy was providing for the children of Elisha — her grandchildren.
So the names of the children of Thomas and Nancy are quite obvious from these various records and clearly Joshua is among them.
– In 1796, William Flowers of Duplin County sold land in Wayne County to Thomas. This record may be the basis of people’s speculation that Thomas’ wife Nancy was in fact Nancy Flowers, perhaps son of or brother of William.
– Another clue is that when both the estates of Thomas and of Nancy were settled there was a sale of all personal property. Many of the purchasers of their property were their children but there were also a number of property purchases by two people named Flowers, William and Jesse.
Now, the real problem in this story is determining just who Thomas’ parents were. There are several different lineages you can find for Thomas Bass on different Internet family trees.