The Sessoms Family of Hertford and Bertie Counties, NC
Next-door Neighbors to the Jones/Moore family for over 200 years
Thomas Sessoms ca 1677 – 1711 | his parents
& ca 1697 Elizabeth Smith ca 1677 – aft 1735 | her parents
& ca 1712 James Boone bef 1692 – 1735 | his parents
Of Surry Co, VA & White Plains, NC
my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!
Thomas Sessums was married ca 1697 Elizabeth Smith in Surry Co VA.
Elizabeth Smith was a daughter of Richard Smith and first wife Margaret [Margery] Blow, widow of George Blow.
About 1677 – Thomas Sessums was born in Surry Co VA, the son of Nicholas Sessums and his wife Hannah Culmer, daughter of Thomas Culmer.
1693 – Thomas Sessums is shown on the Tithable List of Lawnes Creek Parish, living in the household of his father, Nicholas Sessums. MVG 23 #4 page 65.
About 1697 – Thomas Sessums married Elizabeth Smith. The marriage is proved by Elizabeth relinquishing her right of dower on a deed in 1700 shown in Order Book 1691-1713 page 210.
1697 – Thomas Sessums is listed living in a separate household. He is living adjoining his father’s land and the land of his brother-in-law William Williams. MVG 24 #2 page 72
1700 – on list of Tithables
1703 – on list of Tithables
No list available for Surry County after 1704.
Before 1711 – had moved to North Carolina
April 1711 – at a court held for the Precinct of Chowan, NC at the house of William Branch the 3rd Tuesday in April 1711 “Elizabeth Sessions prays letter of administrations of goods and credit of Thomas Sessions.”
“White Plains” – Thomas Sessoms and his wife Elizabeth Smith had located in the area now known as Hertford County, NC by 1711 when he died.
At the crossroads of the Winton-Colerain route and the Powellsville via Pinetree to Pitch Landing route, their sons built several substantial buildings.
They also established the trading post nearby called “Pine Tree” and built a mill pond with two mills whose dams served as a bridge.
These are known to have been operated by D.V. Sessoms and then his son C. C. Sessoms until 1908.
This was Sessoms’s Mill or the Big Mill.
They also had another mill near Stoney Creek at one time.
About 1677 – Elizabeth Smith was born a daughter of Richard Smith and first wife Margaret Blow, widow of George Blow, of Surry Co VA.
ca 1697 – Thomas Sessums married Elizabeth Smith.
| This is proved by Elizabeth relinquishing her right of dower on a deed in 1700 shown in Order Book 1691-1713 page 210. Also – a deed from Nicholas Smith on 8 Feb 1729, for good will and affection to his nephew, Richard Sessoms. . .” tract whereon Richard now lives adj. Richard Killingsworth, John Gray. Wit: John Shelly, Samuel Sessoms. Aug Ct Bertie 1729 Nicholas Smith was the brother of Elizabeth as shown by their father Richard Smith’s will dated 24 Feb 1712. probate 20 May 1713 6-144. |
before 1711 – had moved to North Carolina
April 1711 – at a court held for the Precinct of Chowan, NC at the house of William Branch the 3rd Tuesday in April 1711 “Elizabeth Sessions prays letter of administrations of goods and credit of Thomas Sessions.”
Elizabeth Smith Sessoms married bef Feb 1712 2nd James Boon.
| Will of Richard Smith 24 Feb 1712 prob: 20 May 1713 Surry Co VA — to wife, Mary Smith, my whole estate and make her Exerx. — to Elizabeth Boon and Richard Sessoms, each a cow. — to son Richard Smith, the Plantation I live on at my wife’s decease — to sons Thomas Smith and Nicholas Smith, the land where Thomas Smith now lives. — the rest of est to wife, Mary WIT: Will Davidson, Robert Booth Bk 6 p 144 |
Other researchers have James Boone’s wife Elizabeth as being another person. This needs further research . .
. . But let’s see James Boone calls Culmer Sessoms, in his will, “son-in-law.”
Culmer married Mary, the daughter of George Wynns, therefore, “son-in-law” in this case means “step-son” and that James Boone is married to Culmer’s mother when he wrote his will.
| Will of James Boone 8 Jun 1733 Prob Mar Ct 1735 Bertie Precinct, NC “….being sick and weak of body….” — son in law John Early – Negro Rose at the death of my wife, Eliza Boone — son in law John Wynns – Negro Charles at my wife’s death, also my crosscut saw and writing desk and half the benefit of my apple orchard that I leave under his care until his son George Augustus Wynns is of age, also the black walnut table and 1000 foot of new plank. —- son in law Culmer Sessums – Negro Adam at the death of my wife. — grandson George Augustus Wynns – manner plantation where I now live and 400 acres of lightwood land adjoining it but if he dies without heir it shall fall to the next heir of my daughter Mary Wynns, but if she should die without another heir it shall be divided among the heirs of my daughter Eliza Early. — grandson George Augustus Wynns – mare and choice of all the children of my Negro Judy. — grandson James Early – Negro Sam after my wife’s death. — to James Burk – Negro Moll and her son Coaffe, gold, silver, bed, etc. and wearing apparel, which I leave in the care of my son-in-law John Wynns as his tutor and guardian until the said James is eighteen. — to William Burk – Negro Judy and her increase, except for the child bequeathed to my grandson George, also the mare, bed, etc., which I leave in the care of my son-in-law John Wynns as his tutor and guardian until the said William is eighteen. If either James or William dies underage, the surviving brother will inherit half and the other half will be divided between the children of my sons in law John Early and John Wynns. —- to John Askew — cows and calves. —- Goddaughter Martha Davis – mare. —- wife Elizabeth Boone – horses, etc. Remaining estate after wife’s death to be divided between John Wynns, John Early, and James Burke. EX: wife, sons-in-law John Wynns and John Early WIT: John Willson, Thomas Lee, James [x] Martin [Abstract by David B Gammon] |
8 July 1713 James Boon was a witness for an assignment of a patent by Lewis Williams
21 July 1713 James Boon was a witness for an assignment of a patent of Anthony Williams to Robert Lanier. James also witness deeds that day for Peter Evans and another for Thomas Mann
13 8ber 1718 James Boon of Chowan Prect. to Nicholas Sessoms of ye same Prect. 40 £ sterling 400 acres more or less joining James Boon, Abraham Blewitt, ye Long Branch and William Bush all houses, orchards, gardens, etc. Wit: William Cranford, Joseph Sisemore
13 8ber 1718 James Boon of Chowan Prect. to Nicholas Sessoms of ye same Prect. 100 £ sterling 575 acres at the mouth of Bear Swamp, joining George Winns and ye branch as by patent all houses, orchards, gardens, etc. Wit: William Cranford, Joesph Sisemore
15 July 1721 James Boon of Albemarle Co and Elizabeth my wife to William Boon of Albemarle Co 20 £ 600 acres on the south side of Meherrin River, joining William Boon, meadow branch, John Pace and Braswell all houses, orchards, etc. now in the actual possession of William Boon as by patent to me 5 April 1720. Wit: Robert Hicks.
17 Nov 1730 [C 364] William Boon to William Little 150£ for 550 acres surveyed for James Boon, on WS of Mirey Meadow. 100 A sold to John Bobbit; 100 acres sold to Henry Simes, where Chas. Evans now lives; 150 acres sold by Simes to Wm. Little adj James Simes. Wit: R. Forster, J Pratt NC Ct 1730
civil war maps showing the area
See the various Sessoms all around J W Moore in 1861
The map shows how Pine Tree Community is both in Hertford and Bertie Counties.
Pitch Landing on the Chinquapin is just to the top right of the map
Children of Thomas Sessoms and Elizabeth Smith:
1. Nicholas Sessoms ca 1697 – ca 1764 Edgecombe Co
married ca 1723 Elizabeth Hooker
dau of William Hooker Sr. of Chowan Co [his will]
(she had married first Samuel Sizemore and had one son Samuel Jr.)
2. Richard Sessoms ca 1701 – 1769 Edgecombe Co
married est 1737 Sarah Bryan (DAR appl.)
3. Thomas Sessoms ca 1704 – aft 1755
married est 1727?
4. John Sessoms est 1705 –
witnessed deed 9 Feb 1729/30 Bertie Co Book C -197
5. Samuel Sessoms ca 1707 –
6. Culmer Sessoms ca 1709 – 1772 Hertford Co
married Mary Wynns
Children of James Boone and Elizabeth Smith:
1. Mary Boone aft 1711 – ca 1740
married bef 1732 John Wynns 1702 – 1753
a. George Augustus Wynns bef 1733 –
2. Eliza Boone
married bef 1732 John Early 1700 – 1760/67
a. James Early bef 1733 –
3. daughter Boone [she may have been by a first wife]
Married Burke
a. James Burke [under 18 in 1733]
b. William Burke [under 18 in 1733]
| Surry County Va court records 1691 – 1700 Bk V: A certificate is granted to William Williams to the secretaries office for fifty acres of land for the importation into this colony of George Wynns, he having made the oath as the law directs. Also, Surry County tithables for 1700 Nicho Sessoms 3 Thos. Sessoms 1 Wm Williams, George Wynns 2 1703 Thos Sessoms 2 Wm Williams, George Wynns 2 John Baker 1 contributed by James Hollomon |
Descendants of Thomas Sessums and Elizabeth Smith
1. Thomas Sessoms ca 1698 – aft 1755 owned land next to Daniel VanPelt and James Jones 1754
a. Walter Sessoms in Bertie Co 1749, rem. to Beaufort Co 1755; Pitt Co by 1762
2. John Sessoms rem. to Pitt Co by 1764
Nicholas Sessums married ca 1723 Elizabeth Hooker [Sizemore]:
1. Nicholas Sessoms 1731 – 1813
married Ann Bembow
2. Elizabeth Sessoms
married Thomas Duffield
3. Rachel Sessoms
married ca 1750 John Parker ca 1725 – 1805 Sampson Co, NC
4. Lurana Sessoms
married Mr. Dunn
5. Ann Sessoms4 died 1809
married John Dunn died 1793
6. Sarah Sessoms
married Mr. Marley
7. William Sessoms ca 1723 –
8. Thomas Sessoms labeled lunatic 1759
Elizabeth Hooker and Samuel Sizemore
1. Samuel Sizemore Jr.
Richard Sessoms – 1769 Edgecombe Co
married Sarah Bryan
1. Jacob Sessoms4 ca 1752 – 1792 Edgecombe Co
land lying on Coneto Swamp
married 1st 1769 Elizabeth Newsome dau of Joseph
married 2nd bef 6 April 1792 Frances ?
2. Solomon Sessoms4 ca 1755 – 1817 Tarboro, NC Edgecombe Co
married Elizabeth Lloyd died 1835
3. (Col.) Isaac Sessoms4 ca 1742 – 1784 Edgecombe Co
4. Patience Sessoms4
married Grissum Coffield
Culmer Sessoms ca 1710 – ca May 1772 Hertford Co, NC
married Mary Wynns
1. Culmer (Culmore ) Sessoms ca 1737 – 1778 Edgecombe Co
married Elizabeth unknown, her will prove Nov Ct 1798
2. Cullen Sessoms ca 1739 – 1770/1779 Hertford Co
married bef Nov 1767 Rachel Perry ca 1743 – after 1814
a. Benjamin Sessoms4 1760/73 – 1789
b. James Sessoms 1760/73 – dec’d before 19 Oct 1814
Married Susannah
c. Mary Sessoms 1764/68 –
Married 1786 John Britton
d. Daughter Sessoms 1760/73 –
Married bef. 19 Oct 1814 Zachariah Sassinett
3. John Sessoms ca 1740 – Feb 1785 Bws Hertford County
married Ann VanPelt – 12 Dec 1793 Bws
4. Jinnet Sessoms [wit. with Cullen to a deed in 1755]
5. George Wynns Sessoms 4 dec’d ca 1775
married bef 1772 Katherine Elizabeth Roscoe
she married 2nd 1775/6 William Williams
e-mail from James R Rascoe
Samuel Sessoms Duplin Co.
1. Richard Sessoms
2. Thomas Sessoms
3. Samuel Sessoms ca 1750 -ca 1836 Cumberland Co
married ca 1772 Easter Bullard died Sunday 5 May 1844
dau of Thomas
a. Rachel Sessoms
married 12 May 1810 Thomas Bullock Cumberland Co, NC
b. Penelope Sessoms
c. Thomas Sessoms
d. Henry Sessoms
F.? John Sessoms Bertie Co
B-433 John Sessions, yeoman, to Moses Hare, yeoman of Nansemond Co, VA 23 Feb 1727/28 …60 pounds for 490 A on Rockquist Swamp. By patent dated 16 April 1722, for 490 A Wit: Edward Hare, Moses Oadham, Thomas Speight NC Ct 2 Apr 1728
B-437 Moses Hare of Nansemond Co VA to Thomas Speight of Nansemond Co VA … 2 Feb 1727/28 30 pds for 245 A on Rockquist Swamp sold by John Sessions to Hare on Feb 23 1727/28 [sic]
C-197 John Sessoms witnessed deed 9 Feb 1729/30 Bertie Co Book C -197
E – 68 John Sessiens mentioned as owning land “up Churyantock” 29 Jan 1736
E- 113 John Sessions mentioned as owning land on Rocquiss “on the Indian Line” 12 Jan 1735
F- 549 5 May 1742 – Luke Meizle Sen to James Leggett – 90 A in Kesia Neck adj John Sessions among others.
This sketch is based on abstracted records of Edgecombe, Bertie, Hertford, and Chowan Counties plus some films of the original estate records of Bertie and Hertford, And also, the work of William LaMartin which is based on the work of James E Morgan Jr. plus additional notes from Shirley Roman
About The John VanPelt Family: About the Wynns Family: