I'm going to post a long message from the late Brenda Messer who was the expert on all things Messer. Debra you probably knew Brenda or of her. When I looked into the Messers years ago I was able to find a little more, but as you can she understood the different families and relationships. I've also double checked her sources - at least for the earlier generations - and they are all on point.
These are only part of her notes but this does do a good job to group the families into two separate clans. I don't know where this could or should be posted but I'm sure she would have liked to know they were shared with anyoone interested.
Michael
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I am sorry to say that I cannot connect your family line to that of the Messer family in Haywood County, NC, although I do think there is a possible connection.The oldest known ancestor [that I have] of that family line is Christian Messer and wife, Sarah "Sallie" [presumably her maiden name was Hunter]Christian was born about 1750 in NC and died after May 28, 1831 in Hawkins County, NC when his will was written.His son John sold land that was left to him in 1834, so it Christian had died by that time.He was about 11 years older than the
Christian Sargent "Sarget" Messer , born about 1761 in NC, son of Captain Robert Messer, who died as a result of the Battle of Alamance [May 16, 1771] on June 19, 1771 in Hillsborough, NC with five other Regulators who refused to give up the values that they had fought for to swear allegiance to Lord Hillsborough [Governor Tryon] and The King of England.
Christian Sargent "Sarget" Messer died sometime prior to the 1850 census in Haywood County, NC or at least that is what we believe to be true.He was listed in the 1840 census of Haywood County, NC.There is no documentation to prove who our Christian Messer was married to and until I can find something, I have to leave the name of his wife with a great big {?}.
Here is what I have on the Christian Messer, born 1750 and wife Sarah, also known as Sallie".
Descendants of Christian MESSER
Generation No. 1
1.CHRISTIAN1 MESSER was born Abt 1750, and died Aft. May 28, 1831 in Hawkins County, TN. He married SARAH "SALLIE" HUNTER. She was born Abt 1750. (mww: not sure of maiden name)
Notes for CHRISTIAN MESSER:
This is a citation from my book, The Registry - The Descendants of David MESSER, made by me in reference to the identity of my Christian Sargent MESSER of Haywood County, NC.
"Our Christian MESSER was not old enough to be listed as a head of household in the 1771 Surry County, NC Tax list ("Surry County, NC Taxables 1771 to1790").
It is possible that the Christian MERCER that was listed in the 1781 and 1784 Surry County, NC Tax List ("Surry County, NC Taxables 1771-1787" ) could be an ancestor, but highly unlikely.This Christian was listed with the household of William WINGFIELD.In 1783, a child by the name of Jeriamias, born to Christian and Sarah MESSER, was baptized in the home of William WINGFIELD, by a Moravian Minister.
From the various documents and Correspondence that I have searched, I am sure that this is the Christian MESSER, who was married to Sarah HUNTER who settled in Hawkins County, TN and died in 1831. His will mentions his wife, Sally, sons, Jacob, John and Issac and the rest of my children.
(mww note: I did find that the Michael Messer listed as a sibling of one of the Christians Messer Michael Messer may instead be another son of Christian and Sally The following is memory at the moment :- As I recall he was born about 1782 in Surry. He moved to Hawkins with the family. I think there was some kind of land bust or scandal I found references in newspapers of the time, and this caused a rift in the family. Michael had at least three Messer daughters Rebecca Elizabeth and Mary who married three Patterson brothers. )
There are other examples of a Christian MESSER listed on the Early Tax Lists of NC, but it has been impossible to determine if he was our ancestor or not.The first listing that seem most likely to be our Christian was in the 1790 Rowan County NC Census and he was listed as Sargent MESSER.As you can see in the previous Census Records, he was listed in Haywood County, in 1830 as Sergett MESSER and in 1840 as Sargeritt MESSER " Page #45
TAX LISTS and CENSUS
1771 Surry County, NC - Christian MESSER (NC Legislative Papers); not examined
1782 - Christian MESSER - 1 horse/mule; 5 cattle; 200 A. Townfork (for SHORES) - Capt. Blackburn's District, 29 July (NC Legislative Papers). [Comment:Town Fork Creek is in present Stokes County; Christian MESER was listing land for another person.Be on the alert for the SHORES name; he could be a relative.per Betsey PITTMAN]
1783 - Christian MESSER - 1 horse' 6 cattle; O A.; total ? 11 - Capt. Blackburn's District (CR 092.701.6)
1785 -Christian MESSER - 1 poll; 0 A. - Capt. Blackburn's District (CR092.702.6)
1786 - Christian MESSER- 1 poll; 0 A.. - Capt. Blackburn's District (CR 092.701.6).
1789 - Christian MESSER - 1 poll; 0 A. -Capt. McAnnaly's District (CR 092.701.6)
1790 - no MESSER listed.[Note:Stokes County was formed in 1789 from Surry County; we need to examine Stokes County tax lists; beginning 1790.
1790Stokes County, NC --- Salisbury District, pg. 180
MESSOR, Christian1 male +16, 4 males -16, 5 females
[Living near John MOORE, Samuel JOHNS, William BOALES and Harvy RHEDICK].
1792 Stokes County, NC - Salisbury District, Capt. Campbell's Dist.
MERCER, Christian, not on taxable list for 1792
1793 Stokes County, NC - Salisbury District, Capt. Campbell's Dist.
MERCER, Christian, 200 acres, 1 poll
1794 Stokes County, NC - Salisbury District, Capt. Campbell's Dist.
MERCER, Christian, no land, 1 poll
1795 Stokes County, NC - Salisbury District, Capt. Campbell's Dist.
MERCER, Christian, no land, 1 poll
LAND RECORDS
Surry County, NC
17--. John MERRITT enters 150 acres on land in Surry County, on both sides of Little Townfork, adjoining the old claim of MESSERS including the improvement that he purchased of said MESSER.-- [no date given] - [Warrant granted]." Joseph Winston His Entry Book #Surry County, N.C. -- Land Entries, 1778-1781".Compiled by:Agnes M. Wells, Virginia G. PHILLIPS, Carol J. LEONARD; page 147.
Will of Christian MESSER
Page 353 Dated: May 28, 1831
I, Christian MESSER of Hawkins County and State of Tennessee, being in sound mind and having a desire to dispose of my worldly affairs while I possess a full strength of mind, I constitute this my last Will and Testament. After committing my body to the dust and my soul to God, I do dispose of my worldly property as follows, to wit: In the first place, I allow my just debts to be paid.I will and bequeath to my wife Sally MESSER her maintenaNCe off the tract of land I now live on during her lifetime. I will and bequeath to my three sons Jacob, John and Isaac MESSER the tract of land I now live on, to be equal divided among them, and I moreover allow my three sons Jacob, John and Isaac within twelve months after my decease to pay to each of my other children the sum of five dollars. I also allow my movable property and stock to be sold and equally divided amongst the hole of my children. And I do empower William YOUNG, Stanwic HORD, and Samuel MCFEETERS, Jr. my executors of this my last Will & Testament. Given under my hand and seal this 28th day of May in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one.
Christian x MESSER (seal) (his mark)
Signed and sealed in the presence of: James YOUNG, Jacob DERICK, John DERICK, AB
[Note:I have a copy of the actual will in my possession; BHM].
Notes from Robert CASEY, 7202 Duffield Drive, Dallas, TX 75248; November 1, 1987
"Christian MESSER and his wife, Sally lived in Hawkins County, Tennessee from 1819 to 1831. Their daughter, Catherine (born 1780 - 1790), married John SHELTON in 1805 in Hawkins County, Tennessee. Catherine and her brother, John MESSER (born 1783), moved to Jackson County, Alabama, by 1840.Over 5,000 descendants of John SHELTON and Catherine MESSER SHELTON will be published in the Book #"Shelton, Winiger and Pace Families" in the very near future. Also included in this Book #will be around 50 MESSER and descendants, primarily originating from wither Hawkins County, Tennessee or Jackson County, Alabama".
"According to a SHELTON Family Bible, John SHELTON and his wife, Catherine, were married in Hawkins County, Tennessee in 1805.According to the 1830 census of Scott County, VA, the wife of John SHELTON, (Catherine MESSER) was born between 1780 and 1790.The 1880 census of Scott County, VA lists Martin SHELTON (son of Catherine MESSER) and indicates that Martin's mother was born in North Carolina since Tennessee was part of North Carolina when Catherine MESSER was born and because Tennessee did not become a state until 1796, implies that Catherine was probably born in North Carolina (maybe the part that later became Tennessee).Christian MESSER was therefore the father of at least one daughter:
Catherine MESSERB.1780 -1790, NC
In 1819, Christian MESSER purchased 103 acres of land on the south side of the Holston River in Hawkins County, Tennessee.Christian paid $900.00 to William YOUNG for this land.In 1821, the will of a Christian MESSER was written in Hawkins County, Tennessee.The will mentions Christian MESSER'S wife, Sally.It also mentions three sons by name and states that the three sons pay "each of my other children the sum of five dollars" from the proceeds of the sale of one tract of land.The three sons mentioned were:
John MESSERb. 1783, NC
Isaac MESSERb. 1790 1800
Jacob MESSER
In 1834, John MESSER, sold a "parcel of land that fell by heirship of Christian MESSER, deceased to his brother, Isaac MESSER. In 1835, the land owned by Christian MESSER was divided between his three heirs. Jacob MESSER received one lot and Isaac MESSER received another.Isaac MESSER also received John MESSER'S share which Isaac purchased from John in 1834.
Because Catherine MESSER SHELTON was known to have resided in Jackson County, Alabama in the early 1800's, it is logical to believe that many of the MESSERS living in that area during the same period that Catherine lived there are probably related. Other MESSERS living in Jackson County, Alabama were:
Michael MESSER b.1782, NC
Thomas MESSERb.1785
References: 1) Indenture, Christian MESSER to William YOUNG, Hawkins County, Tennessee, 1818; 2 ) Will of Christian MESSER, Hawkins County, Tennessee, 1821;3) Deed, John MESSER to Isaac MESSER, Hawkins County, Tennessee, 1834;4) 1840, 1850 and 1880 censuses, Jackson County, Alabama; 5)1880 Census, Scott County, VA; 6)Family Bible of John SHELTON, in possession of Eva WINGER SHELTON;7)1850 Census of Jackson County, Alabama, copied by Pauline JONES GANDRUD, 1953, located in the Scottsboro Public Library;8)Family Group Sheet by Sheryl SELLERS ANDERSON, 1971.
This is a citation from my book, The Registry - The Descendants of David MESSER, made by me in reference to the identity of my Christian Sargent MESSER of Haywood County, NC.
"Our Christian MESSER was not old enough to be listed as a head of household in the 1771 Surry County, NCTax list ("Surry County, NC Taxables 1771 to1790").
It is possible that the Christian MERCER that was listed in the 1781 and 1784 Surry County, NC Tax List ("Surry County, NC Taxables 1771-1787" ) could be an ancestor, but highly unlikely.This Christian was listed with the household of William WINGFIELD.In 1783, a child by the name of Jeriamias, born to Christian and Sarah MESSER, was baptized in the home of William WINGFIELD, by a Moravian Minister.
From the various documents and Correspondence that I have searched, I am sure that this is the Christian MESSER, who was married to Sarah HUNTER who settled in Hawkins County, TN and died in 1831. His will mentions his wife, Sally, sons, Jacob, John and Issac and the rest of my children.
Children of CHRISTIAN MESSER and SARAH HUNTER are:
i.JEREMIAS2 MESSER, b. June 02, 1779, Bethania, Surry County, NC.
2.ii.JOHN MESSER, b. 1783, NC; d. Bef. 1858, Jackson County, AL.
3.iii.CATHERINE MESSER, b. 1785; d. April 01, 1834, Jackson County AL.
iv.JACOB MESSER, b. Abt 1793; m. ELIZABETH LEE, November 18, 1813, Hawkins County, TN; b. Abt 1793.
4.v.ISAAC MESSER, b. October 10, 1798, Hawkins County, TN; d. April 06, 1886, Livingston County, MO.
Generation No. 2
2.JOHN2 MESSER (CHRISTIAN1) was born 1783 in NC, and died Bef. 1858 in Jackson County, AL.He married CARY ?.She was born 1793 in TN.
Notes for JOHN MESSER:
CENSUS RECORDS
1850 Jackson County, AL, DistriCt # 20, Dwelling #, Family #523; Page #87A*
MEFSER, John, w/m, age, 67, farmer, b. NC, can read & write, REValue $160; Cary, w/f, age 57, b. TN, can read & write; Sarah, w/f, age 17, b. AL, school; Emiline, w/f, age 12, b. AL, school; Hestena, w/f, age 9, b. AL; Henry J., w/m, age 6, b. AL.
living next door to John and Cary is John and Mary A. SANDERS.
Robert CASEY, 7202 Duffield Drive, Dallas, TX 75248; November 1,1987
"According to Pauline JONES GANDRUD, the oldest known SHELTON ancestor of the authors, John SHELTON (1), married Catherine MESSER who was the daughter of Christian MESSER of Hawkins County, Tennessee. This is supported by Ashery SELLERS ANDERSON who states the John SHELTON married Catherine MESSER.This inclusion of this material will hopefully result in more conclusive documentation to surface".
John MESSER is the son of Christian and Sally MESSER.John was born in 1783 in North Carolina.In 1830, John MESSER (born 1770 to 1780) was living in Hawkins County, Tennessee.In 1834, John MESSER sold a "parcel of land that fell by heirship of Christian MESSER, deceased to his brother, Isaac Messer.In 1835, the land owned by Christian MESSER was divided between his three heirs.Jacob MESSER received one lot and Isaac MESSER received another.Isaac MESSER also received John MESSER's share which Isaac purchased from John in 1834.
John MESSER died prior to 1858 as his personal property from his estate was sold as early as 1858.John's wife, Cary, was not mentioned in the estate papers of John MESSER and therefore also died prior to 1858.In 1859, Sarah J. MESSER received a payment from the estate of John MESSER.In 1866, Sarah J. MESSER had died and left an infant daughter, Rebecca MESSER (born 1858), who is in the custody of Mrs. Rhoda HOLLAND.
On December 18, 1855, "Evaline" MESSER married W. H. WILMOTH in Jackson County, Alabama.In 1866, William and Emaline WILMOUTH resided in Wood County, Texas 1869, William and "Emaline" WILMOUTH received payment from the estate of John MESSER. The estate records further state that William and Emaline WILMOUTH resided in Arkansas.
In 1860, "Hethena" MESSER was living alone in Jackson County, Alabama.Hestena MESSER married John "RISE".In 1860, John and "Hethena" RISE received payment from the estate of John MESSER.The estate records further state that John and Heshens RICE lived in Arkansas 1869, Henry MESSER received payment from the estate of John Messer estate records further state that Henry MESSER lived in Arkansas.
References:1)1830 Census, Hawkins County, Tennessee; 2)1840, 1850 and 1860 Censuses, Jackson County, Alabama; 3) Probate Records of John MESSER, Jackson County, Alabama; 4)Marriage Record, Jackson County, Alabama, 1855".
