Moses Bass (abt. 1728 - aft. 1777)

Born about 1728 in Bertie County, North Carolina Colony

Ancestors

Died after 28 Feb 1777 after about age 49 in Prince Georges Parish, George Town Dist, South Carolina Colony

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Biography

Moses Bass was a North Carolina colonist.

Moses Bass was part of a Southern Pioneer Family.

Moses was born about 1728. He is the son of John Bass. Moses passed away after 28 February 1777 and before 9 November 1785 in Prince Georges Parish, Georgetown District, South Carolina (now Marion County, SC).

Moses Bass had no middle initial. Middle initial "N" often attributed to him was due to a misreading of documents signed by Moses. He was illiterate. "N" was his mark.

Birth

The date of Moses' birth is much debated. The most commonly found dates are 1697/1698, 1715, 1728. No birth or marriage record has been found. He is named in his father's will dated 18 January 1732, but this is no help since the heirs are not named in birth order.^[1] Those who choose the 1697/98 birth year believe that Moses and his brother Edward were the two oldest children of Love (Harris) Bass, John Bass' first wife.^[2]

Those who choose the later birth years, 1715 or 1728, base this choice largely on the fact that Moses first appears in records in 1752. This would seem to indicate a later birth year. Another factor that might indicate a later birth year is that his brothers Edward and John were named executors in his father's will; Moses was not. It is established by other evidence that Edward Bass was the oldest son (b c 1697) and John Bass was born about 1700. (See their profiles.)

Birth year of 1728 has been used for this profile, but is subject to change pending further research and consensus of researchers. If he was born after 1719, he was born in Bertie County, North Carolina.

Marriage

No marriage record for Moses Bass has been found. We know from his will that his wife was Elizabeth. There is some evidence that her surname was Goins. Several bequests in his will are to daughters of Jacob Going and to Joseph Going, Jr. "Going" is elsewhere found as Goin, Goins or sometimes Gowen. Since Jeremiah and Wright Bass named in his will are nephews, it is possible that the Going heirs are also nieces and nephew. Perhaps Jacob Going was Elizabeth's brother. In 1788 Thomas Going applied for letters of administration for the estate of Elizabeth Bass (see below). This was postponed pending proof of sanguinity.

Based on Moses' will and the deposition of his nephew Wright Bass, Moses and Elizabeth had no (surviving?) children.

Land Transactions & Travels

Moses inherited from his father 100 acres of land on the north side of Bear Swamp in Chowan County, North Carolina.^[1] At some time he sold this land (record of sale not found) and moved south. He entered 100 acres on the west side of the Northwest River about 3/4 mile from Raft Swamp in Bladen County, North Carolina (present day Robeson County between Red Springs and Shannon) including his improvements on 21 November 1752.^[3] He was living near "the drains of Drowning Creek" on 1 February 1754 when Robert Carver entered 100 acres there.^[4] He was taxable on 3 "white" tithes in Cumberland County, North Carolina (formed from Bladen in 1754), in 1755,^[5] and he received a grant for 100 acres on Raft Swamp in Cumberland County on 21 October 1758.^[6] On 19 August 1761 the Cumberland County court granted permission for the mill he had erected on Raft Swamp to be designated a public grist mill, and the court granted him a license to keep an ordinary.^[7] In May 1762 he posted bond not to leave the county before the next court to answer a suit by the governor and James Simpson, but he was not mentioned again in the Cumberland County court Minutes.

In the mid 1760s, Moses left North Carolina and moved further south. His home tract was purchased by John McPherson.^[8] In 1770, Moses was living on the Pee Dee River in Craven County (George Town District), South Carolina. He was listed in a plat for the registration of 194.5 acres in Craven County by William Green. His property bordered Green's.^[9]

In 1777 when he wrote his will he was living in Prince Georges Parish, Georgetown District, South Carolina. In 1781 Moses Bass was the proprietor of a well-known tavern situated on an island in Naked Creek near his mill. His home plantation and the mill were bequeathed to his nephew, Wright Bass, in his 1777 will. Nothing further is known of Moses after August 1781.

Note: Craven County was one of the first four counties established in South Carolina. In 1768 South Carolina abolished all the counties and established seven "Districts," of which George Town was one. People still often continued to act as if they lived in Craven County. Marion County was formed from Georgetown in 1800; Dillon County from Marion in 1910.

Battle of Bass's Mill

Not more than twelve miles down river from Cashua Ferry was Bass's Mill, site of an engagement in August 1781. Moses Bass was the proprietor of a well-known tavern situated on an island in Naked Creek near his mill. His establishment became the scene of a violent gunfight after a party of Tories discovered that a party of Whigs had made advance dinner reservations at the tavern. When Colonel Morris Murphey 32 and his detachment arrived on the appointed day and hour, an ambush was sprung just as some of the unsuspecting Patriots were sitting down to their food and cider and others were relaxing on the front porch.

Although the enemy had the advantage of surprise the Whigs had the advantage of the cover provided by the public house. Major Jesse Barfield and his Tories were retreating toward the entrance causeway in defeat, when they heard one of the Patriot soldiers call out in a loud voice, "Good Heavens! What shall we do? The powder is out!" Barfield's men promptly resumed their attack, and Murphey's Patriots were forced to escape down the steep embankment behind the tavern and seek refuge in the thick woods across the creek. Despite its comic-opera overtones, this skirmish had its serious aspects. Two Patriots and an unspecified number of Loyalists were killed, and Murphey's men appear to have lost their horses, a serious setback for a mounted militia unit. Several veterans considered this battle important enough for a mention in their pension statements years afterward. Naked Creek was later known as Mill Creek and is today labeled on maps as Marsh Creek. It forms the boundary line between Marion and Dillon counties.^[10]

Death & Legacy

Moses Bass died without issue in Prince Georges Parish, Georgetown District, Province of South Carolina (present day Marion County, SC). The exact date of his death is unknown. His will is dated 28 February 1777 and names his wife, nieces and nephews. He died before November 1785 (see statement of nephew Wright Bass below). There is some evidence he was living in August 1781 (see Battle of Bass's Mill above).

Named in his will are:^[11]

• to Mourning Going, dau of Jacob Going, one cow
• to Sarah Going, dau of Jacob Going, one cow
• to Elizabeth Going, dau of Jacob Going, one cow
• to Anne Going, dau of Jacob Going, one heifer
• to Cyntha Going, dau of Jacob Going, one heifer yearling
• to "my beloved cousin [nephew] Jeremiah Bass," tract of 100 acres granted to John Smith, one negro named Peter, one negro woman named Fann, one negro boy named Jack
• to "my beloved cousin [nephew] Wright Bass," the plantation, mill, & tract of land containing 444 ac that I now live on, one negro woman Jane
• to Henry Harison, son of James Harison, one negro woman Cate
• to Joseph Going, Junr., one negro girl named Judah
• to wife Elizabeth Bass "one negro man named Jack, one woman named Florah, one woman named Nan, one boy named Isum, one boy named Roger, and my cattle, about 110 head, branded ME, all my stock of horses & mares, all my household furniture & plantation tools, 26 head of sheep, and my hogs, also negro girl Violet." Also she is to have use of land and negroes left to Jeremiah and Wright Bass, Henry Harison, and Joseph Going for her lifetime.
• to Jacob Going, plantation of 50 acres granted to John Crawford
• Executors wife Elizabeth Bass, Luke Whitefield and James Harison

A statement made by his nephew, Right [Wright] Bass, dated 9 November 1785 and recorded 28 June 1786 makes clear that Moses had no children. Wright Bass, heir-at-law by right of primogeniture, states his agreement that the provisions of Moses' will should be carried out.

Whereas I, the within named Right Bass, am the eldest son of Edward Bass deceased, who was eldest brother of the within named Testator Moses Bass, which said Moses Bass departed this life without issue, whereby I, said Right Bass became his heir at law, and I am willing that all the several devises & bequests in the said will should have full effect, for the memory of my deceased uncle Moses Bass and for the several devisees in the within will, and five shillings, I confirm all the devises, legacies and bequests, 9 Nov 1785. Right Bass (LS), Wit: Chas Cotesworth Pinckney, Wm Smith.

Proved in Charleston Dist by the oath of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney 28 Jun 1786 before Dl. Mazyck, JP. Rec 28 Jun 1786. S-5, 283-284. (Holcomb, SC Deed Abstracts, 1783-1788, Bks I-5 thru Z-5, 1996. SML 975.7 Hol)

Research Notes

• Since Moses' birth date is uncertain, his mother is uncertain as well. Until an accurate date can be attributed to him and thus an accurate mother, I am removing Love Harris as his mother. Strutton-11 12:33, 16 May 2017 (EDT)
• Moses did not marry Hannah Butler in 1729. That Moses Bass lived and married in Boston, Massachusetts.
• August 1788. On motion of W. Avery, Esqr. atto. for Thomas Going for obtaining letter of administration on the Estate of Elizabeth Bass, decd. ordered that the same be laid over until next term, for proof of sanguinity [kinship, blood relationship] & that a dedimus potestatem [a commission to take testimony] issue in favour of said Thomas Going to Anson & Richmond Counties & to the State of South Carolina by giving fifteen days notice to Jeremiah Bass of the time & place where such testimony will be taken, ditto for Levi Bass to South Carolina giving Thos. Going fifteen days notice at least."

Bulletin of the Watauga Association," Volume 10:^[12]

• October 14, 1788. Know all men by these presents that I Edward Gowen of the County of Granville for divers good causes and considerations thereunto [me] moving more especially for the sum of £25 to me in hand paid, the receipt of which I do hereby acknowledge, hath bargained, sold & made over, and by these presents, do bargain, sell and make over to my nephew, Thomas Gowen all the estate, right and interest I have or hereafter may have to the estate of Elizabeth Bass, deceased, or any part thereof, and do hereby make over the same to the said Thomas Gowin, his heirs and assigns from the claim of me, the said Edward Gowen or any other person whatever claiming under me. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the 15th day of October, 1786............ Signed: Edward Going............Witnesses: Henry Meghe and Allin Hudson............Recorder: Jhn. [X] Simmons"

John Simmons later appeared in Granville County Court to prove the deed of "Edward Gowing" to "Thomas Gowing," according to "Court Minutes of Granville County, North Carolina, 1746-1820," page 28 by Zoe Hargett Gwynn.

Granville County Will Book 2, page 79.^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Lucas, John: John Lucas of Eastern North Carolina Descendants for transcript of will of John Bass, Sr. and some land transactions.
2. ↑ Curtis, Barbara. Anderson & Insco Family History & Genealogy especially Descendants of Nats Basse
3. ↑ Philbeck, Miles S. Surviving Land Warrants and Surveys 1735-1749 and Surviving Land Entries 1743-1761. 1985. As cited on no. 677 of Bass Family
4. ↑ Philbeck, Miles S. Surviving Land Warrants and Surveys 1735-1749 and Surviving Land Entries 1743-1761. 1985. As cited on no. 934 of Bass Family
5. ↑ Treasurer and Controller's files at the North Carolina State Archives. As cited on Bass Family
6. ↑ Hofmann, Margaret M. Colony of North Carolina (1735-1764), Abstracts of Land Patents, Volume I. pg 474 Roanoke Rapids, N.C. As cited on Bass Family
7. ↑ MS County Court Minutes, Minutes 1755-1844. As cited on Bass Family
8. ↑ McPherson McPherson Property Holdings
9. ↑ Plat, S213184: Vol. 16, p 00211, 11 April 1770.
10. ↑ Bass's Mill
11. ↑ Bass-L Archives
12. ↑ Gibsons & Goins
13. ↑ Gibsons & Goins

See also:

• Bass-L Archives
• Plat Books, Colonial South Carolina Dept. of Archives and History ] at Colonial Plat Books
• Bass Genealogy
• John Bass Sr and Descendants
• John Bass Individual