Thomas Sessums, Sr.

Lived on Weecaunse Creek, Chowan County, North Carolina (in what is now Hertford County).

Weecaunse Creek is now known as the Wiccacon River. Per NCPedia, it is "is formed by the junction of several small streams in Hoggard Swamp in S Hertford County. It flows E into Chowan River. Approx. 17 mi. long. Appears as Weecaunse Creek on the Moseley map, 1733; as Veecaune Creek on the Collet map, 1770; and as Wiccacon Creek on the Richardson map, 1808." http://ncpedia.org/gazetteer/browse/W?page=69

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Reportedly there are records in Bertie County showing members of the Thomas Sessums family had come to court to prove they were white. This may have been because Thomas Sessums had a half-sister, Eliza Lane, who had two mixed-race children. Other researchers believe this family had Nottoway ancestry through the Smiths or Blows. If you have any information, please contact the profile managers.

http://saponitown.com/forum/showthread.php?1659-Smith-Blow-Nottoway... http://saponitown.com/forum/showthread.php?1676-Melungeon http://saponitown.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-521.html

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ca 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.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 210.1697 - Thomas Sessums is listed living in a seperate household. He is living adjoining his father's land and the land of his brother-in-law William Williams. MVG 24 #2 page 721700 - on list of Tithables1703 - on list of TithablesNo list available for Surry County after 1704.before 1711 - had moved to North CarolinaApril 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 cross-roads 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. http://02ec0a3.netsolhost.com/getperson.php?personID=I27025&tree=nc...

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NICHOLAS SESSOMS AND SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS, Part Two Compiled by James E. Morgan, Jr. Published by James E. Morgan, Jr., 2462 Whites Mill Road, Sumter, South Carolina 29153

THOMAS - Although not mentioned in the will of Nicholas Sessoms, since he died prior to that date, he had one son, Thomas, who will be discussed in the next part. Part Three THOMAS SESSOMS Thomas Sessoms first appears on the 1693 Tithables List for Lawnes Creek Parish living in the household of his father, Nicholas Sessoms. (Mag. of Va. Gen., Vol. 23, No. 4, p. 65). He is next shown as living in a separate household on the Tithables List for 1697, adjoining the land of his father and that of his brother-in-law William Williams. (Mag. oF Va. Gen. Vol. 24, No. 2, p. 72). In the 1658 Tithables List, he is shown in the same location. (Mag. of Va. Gen. Vol. 24, No. 2, p. 72). Thomas appears on the 1701 Tithables List, but is listed next to William Blake (It is to be noted that William Blake, along with William Williams, was an executor of the will of Nicholas Sessoms, however no relationship has been established. It is also interesting to note that George Winn, a long time associate of the Sessoms Family, as it will be shown later, is shown as living in the household of William Williams). (Mag. of Va. Gen. Vol. 24, No. 3, P. 71). Thomas continues to appear in the Tithables List for Lawnes' Creek Parish through 1703 with no change except that on the 1703 list. a Goodchile is shown as living in his household. Tithables Lists are not available for Surry County, Virginia after 1704. When Thomas Sessoms was born, when he married, the birthrate of his children, nor the exact date of his death are not recorded because the records of Lawnes Creek Parish, where this information would be available, is extent. However, from existing records we can deduct most of this information. Considering that he was at least 16 years old when he first appeared on the 1693 Tithables List as living in the household of his father (only males 16 years or older were listed), he would have been born around 1677 when Nicholas was married to his first wife, Hannah. He was probably married near the time he was listed on the 1697 census as living in a separate household. We know that he was married by 1700, for we find this: "Elizabeth Sessoms, wife of Thomas Sessoms, appearing in court and relinquishing her right of dower of, in and to a parcel of land sold by her husband to Nathaniel Harrison it is omitted to record." (Surry County Order Book 1691-1713, p 210). The Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Sessoms, declared in the above deed was Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Richard Smith, long time associate of Nicholas Sessoms. This relationship is confirmed in the Smith family History in the Virginia State Library, Richmond. According to researcher Doris V. Stone in a letter to this compiler, this history states that Thomas Sessoms married Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Richard Smith and his first wife Margaret (Blow) Smith. This history also shows that Thomas and Elizabeth moved to Chowan County, North Carolina, and after the death of Thomas, Elizabeth married James Boon. The records abstracted below give proof of these relationships: In a deed dated 8 February 1729, Nicholas Smith conveys 100 acres of land "for good will and affection" to his nephew Richard Sessoms. This deed is witnessed by Samuel Sessoms and others. (Bertie Co., N.C. Dead Book C, p. 129). It is to be noted that Nicholas Smith was named as son in the will of his father Richard Smith and Richard Smith and Elizabeth Boon were given a cow. SMITH, Richard: Leg.- To wife, Mary Smith, my whole est. and make her Exerx. To Elizabeth Boun 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. Made: 24 Feb., 1712. Prob: 20 May, 1713. Bk. 6, p. 144.

Records of a court held for the Precinct of Chowan (N.C.) at the house off William Branch the 3rd Tuesday in April A.D. 1711 states this: "Elizabeth Sessoms (spelled Sessions) prays letter of administrations of goods and credit of Thomas Sessoms. Granted as prayed." (Chowan, N.C. Deed Book A, #1, p. 107-109). Elizabeth is named as wife of James Boon in several Chowan County deeds. For example: "James Boon off Chowan Precinct and Elizabeth, his wife. to Richard Barefield (residence not given), 31 March 1718, 20 pounds sterling, 250 acres more or less on Chowan River, adjoining Peter Evans, the main road, Gum branch and the river. We bind ourselves in the full sum of 50 pounds sterling. Reg. 18 April 1718". (Dead Book B, #1, Chowun County, N.C.). From the above, we can conclude that Thomas Sessoms is without doubt the son of Nicholas Sessoms; that he was born ca. 1677; that his mother was Hannah Culmer Lane Sessoms; that his wife was Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Richard Smith and Richard's first wife Margaret (Blow) Smith; that he and Elizabeth moved to Chowan County, N.C. sometime before 1711 since he died before 1711, and after his death Elizabeth married James Boon. Background Where Thomas and Elizabeth Sessoms settled in Chowan Precinct, North Carolina when they moved from Surry County, Virginia is not shown in the records. However, it was most certainly on Weecaunse Creek, for we find this: "James Boon of Chowan Precinct to Nicholas Sessoms of ye same precinct, 13 October 1718, 40 pounds sterling, 400 acres more or less joining James Boon, etc. (Deed Book # , Chowan Co., N.C., p 187) Then this: "James Boon off Chowan Precinct to Nicholas of ye same precinct, 13 October 1718, 100 pound sterling 575 acres at mouth off Bear Swamp, joining George Winn and ye Branch, etc." (Deed Book W, #i, p. 388) (The mention off George Winn is important since George Winn is located on the map, page 27a, showing his land as being on Weecaunse Creek) We also find that in a deed dated 9 July 1722, George Winn, Chowan Precinct and Rose, his wife, sell 200 acres off land to John Mitchell, joining, among others, Thomas Sessoms, Jr. and Bear Swamp. As these deeds indicate, James Boon (who married Elizabeth Smith Sessoms), Nicholas Sessoms and Thomas Sessoms, Jr. were living on adjoining lands on Bear Swamp near George Winn. On the map, page 27b, please note that Weecaunse Creek is a subsidiary off the Chowan River, and that the Chowan River is formed from the Black Water River and Nottoway River in Virginia and changes names at the Virginia/North Carolina line. Based on the above, it is the contention of this compiler that Thomas and Elizabeth Sessoms moved down the Black Water River where they were living in Virginia to Chowan County, North Carolina, some time before the death off Thomas, circa 1711, settled near George Winn and when Thomas died, Elizabeth then married James Boon. (Bertie County was formed from Chowan County in 1722, and the land owned by James Boon, George Winn, John Mitchell, and the Sessoms fell within the new County of Bertie. The Bertie County records from 1720 through 1757, show that in addition to Nicholas and Thomas, other Sessoms were living in Bertie County. These were Thomas Jr., Richard, John, Samuel, Culmer and Walter. Also William and Hannah Williams' sons must have moved from Surry County to Chowan County, North Carolina about this time, because deeds now find them living near the Sessoms, John Mitchell, George Winn and James Boon. It is evident from the above Thomas and Elizabeth Sessoms and their children were the vanguard of an exodus of their friends and kin from Virginia to North Carolina.

Although he left no will and the records of Lawnes Creek Parish were destroyed, from existing records, the children of Thomas and Elizabeth have been identified as follows: Thomas, Nicholas, Richard, Culmer and Samuel.

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He died in 1711, before his father Nicholas, who died in 1715.