Born | 11 Jun 1766 Dobbs Co., NC |
Parents | Richard Bass and Sarah McKinne |
Married |
abt. 1798 Sarah Green daughter of Col. Joseph Green and Sarah Whitfield of Wayne Co., NC |
Died | 30 May 1819, Huntsville, Madison Co., AL |
Children |
As it was the English law of "Primogeniture", right of inheritance or succession, the oldest son inherited the main bulk of the estate, thus forcing the younger children to move on, seeking their own land and fortunes. However, in some wealthy families such as the Greens and Bass's all their children got some land, slaves and personal property.
Those participating in the Revolutionary War from North Carolina were granted land in the newly-opened territory of Tennessee which was formerly part of North Carolina, so we can surmise that many of those going into Tennessee were settling or claiming land left to them by their fathers and/or grandfathers. For instance SARAH GREEN, wife of our URIAH BASS, was granted 1,000 acres in Tennessee from her father Col. Joseph Green. (note Deed dated 1808 below).
Uriah Bass left us evidence of a busy and fruitful life! In 1792 he was appointed Justice of the Peace of Wayne County, NC In 1793 he was named Guardian to Edward Stevens, his sister Elizabeth's child, after her husband James Stevens died. There are numerous land transactions for Uriah covering over 20 years and only a few will be listed here to show his vast accumulations:
1793
250 acres deeded to Uriah Bass, north of Neuse River,Wayne Co.
96 acres deeded to Uriah Bass, north of Neuse River
100 acres on Long Marsh
83-3/8 acres near Great Causeway
300 acres north side of Neuse River
180 acres beg. at cypress on the riverside
6 acres beg. at John Smith's corner
1794
Sarah Bass, widow of Richard Bass, deceased, deeds to son Uriah Bass, all
claim in land given by deceased husband to Uriah Bass & all personal
property willed to my grandsons by deceased husband.
Uriah's sister Sarah Stevens (dau. of Elizabeth) deeds to Uriah Bass 340 acres north side of Neuse River.
1795
State grant to Uriah Bass, 5 acres north side of Neuse. 200 acres north side of Neuse River for 225.
1797
four plantations: 2 at 250 acres, 1 at 36 acres, 1 at 80 acres for total of 366 acres for 549.
1801
150 acres north side of Neuse River, 230.
Joseph Green, Esq. of Wayne Co., deeds to Uriah Bass and Probert Collier (son-in-laws), 2 tracts of land in Tennessee, County of Granger, formerly Green, 1 tract granted to Joseph Green by State of NC of 1,000 acreas on E. side of Flatt Creek below end of Clinch Mountains, and 500 acre tract granted to Needham Whitfield. conveyed to Joseph Green, lying in County of Granger (formerly Green) between Clinch Mountains and Clinch River.
1803
Joseph Green to Uriah Bass of Wayne Co., 300 acres for $4.00 an acre, and
$3.00 an acre for balance, certain land in Wayne Co., north of Neuse River.
1804
486 acres south side of Neuse River for 1,215 .
1805
Furnifold Green of Johnston Co., Administrator of James Green, deceased,
deeds to Uriah Bass (all brothers-in-law), land in Wayne Co.on Neuse River from estate of James Green.
180 acres in Wayne Co. purchased at public sale by James Rhodes, Agent, for Uriah Bass, L29-9-9.
1806
75 acres north side of Neuse, 35 acres north side of Neuse, 50 acres north
side of Neuse, $1,030.
1808
280 acres for $280, Uriah Bass of Wayne Co., Merchant, sells to Joseph
Eberitt, land on south side of Neuse.
Uriah Bass & Sarah, his wife, deed to James Tiner, all of Wayne Co., NC,
for $8,000, 1000 acres in Tenn., north side of Tennessee River on first crook below mouth of Clinch River, patented to Sarah Green 25 Sep 1789.
1809
11 acres for 6 pence deeded to Uriah Bass from James Musgrave.
1811
Land patent at Huntsville, AL for Uriah Bass, 17 Aug.
1813
Uriah Bass of Wayne Co., NC deeds 457 1/2 acres for $3,800 north side of
Neuse River, to Joseph Everitt.
Uriah Bass deeds 527 1/2 acres and plantation north side of Neuse River for $4,741.49 to Robert G. Green, both of Wayne Co.
1814
Uriah Bass deeds 185 acs for $1,580 north side of Neuse to Willis Jones,
Jr.
1818
Uriah Bass of Madison County, Alabama Territory, sold to William Raiford of Wayne Co., 1/2 acre town lot #42 for $20.
Uriah Bass of Madison County,, Alabama Territory, sold to William Raiford of Wayne Co., 1/2 acre town lot #15 for $10.
We can see from the large acreage sales in 1808, 1813, and 1814, and the 1811 Land Patent in Alabama, that Uriah Bass and family was getting ready to leave North Carolina and settle in the rich Tennessee Valley district in the northern Territory of Alabama. His land holdings continued to grow before and after the move to Alabama. From Feb 1811 to July 1815 there is record of 13 patents and purchases, all "quarter" purchases,meaning a quarter-section land equivalent to 160 acres.
Uriah Bass, Sr., did not live long enough to see Alabama gain statehood on 5 July 1819. He made out his will under date of 19 April 1819 in Huntsville, Alabama, and died 30 May 1819 at the age of 52, leaving 7 young children under age. He left his wife,, Sarah, the plantation, land, mill & mill seat at 3 forks of Flint River, and 10 negroesp plus money due him from North Carolina lands. To daughter Sally Green, two quarter sections of land, eight negroes, two beds, furniture, sows, pigs, cows, calves, steer, oxen, cart and wheels. To daughter Ann Green, two quarter sections of land in the County of Franklin (Tennessee), eight negroes, cows, calves, sows, pigs, beds, bedsteads, furniture. To daughters Elizabeth, Susan, Mary Louisa and Julia, each of them two quarter sections of land to be purchased by executor, a lot of negroes to each, four cows & calves each, six sow pigs to each.
Son Richard Owens, four quarter sections of land, equal proportion of negroes. Son WILLIAM, three quarter sections of land, proportional share of negroes. Son Uriah, three quarter sections plus a half quarter section of land, a proportional part of the negroes. Four quarter sections to be sold and money.used to purchase land for each daughter as they marry or come of age. Also each child to receive two bedsteads & furniture as they come of age. It was desired that all sons and daughters be given educations out of the money arising out of the surplus of property.
Uriah Bass's will is recorded in the "Record of Wills, Inventories and Other Returns of Executors, Administrators and Guardians Commencing lst day of January 1818 and ending 10th day of January 1820", otherwise referred to as the "small book".
Uriah and some members of his family are buried in an old cemetery behind an old farm house off New Market Pike in Huntsville, Alabama. This cemetery has been turned into a pig sty and the tombstones rapidly being destroyed. Uriah's sandstone tombstone has eroded to the point the inscription is completely gone, however it has been preserved by a photograph taken many years ago when the stone was still quite legible.
After Uriah Bass's death in 1819, his wife Sarah's "Dower rights" when surveyed off, amounted to 829.55 acres, plus ten negroes valued at $3,292.
There followed an "Indenture" between Sarah Bass and Joseph Fenwick, dated 7 September 1820, "in consideration of a marriage intended to be shortly solemnized". in which Joseph relinquishes and releases all negroes that Sarah received as her share of the estate of Uriah Bass, for her right and title. (Deed Book G, P. 53, Madison Co., AL) Joseph Fenwick and Sarah Green Bass obtained a marriage license on the llth of September 1820. (Original Marriage Book C, Part 2, page 2, Madison Co., AL)
Joseph Fenwick died by 1837 according to an entry in the Madison County Chancery Court, and Sarah Bass Fenwick was living in Greene Co., Alabama. Her son William Andrew Bass was also noted as living in Greene County before his move to San Augustine County, Texas which was by 1837. Sarah's death occurred in 1846.
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