John Hassell, ABT 1677-APR 1722
Jane Wheeler, 1675-1724

Notes for John HASSELL:
John Hassell paid taxes in 1717 in Chowan Co., for 1000 acres of taxable land. Also, some records show that John died in 1734 in Albermale Co., NC.

DEED: 24 June 1704: John Hassell obtained a Carolina patent for 600 acres of land on the north west side of the Scuppernong River. This tract of land had 7/8 mile frontage along the river across from the present town of Columbia.
29 January 1914: Deed from William Hardy to John Hassell for 100 acres, on Riders Creek.
17 October 1915: Deed from Robert Fewos and wife Martha to John Hassell for 150 acres of land on the east side of the Scuppernong River between "Shallops Landing" and "Mahomet's Swamp."
24 March 1717: Deed from Robert Fewox and wife Martha to John Hassell for 150 acres of land on the east side of the Scuppernong River known as "Heart's Delight Plantation," being the manor home of James Fewox, deceased father of Robert Fewox. Hathaway states in Vol. 1, page 619 of the North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register that this site in 1800 became the Town of Columbia, couty seat of present Tyrrell County, N.C.
10 June 1717: John Lawson's deed to John Hassell for 100 acres of land on the south side of "Mahomet's Swamp."
25 September 1717: Deed from John Hardy and wife Edith to John Hassell for 100 acres on the east side of teh Scuppernong River. Note: Edith Hardy was the former Edith Fewox, dau of James Fewox and his wife Ann, therefore a cousin of John Hassell.

COURT: July 1719 session of the General Court of North Carolina held at Queen Ann's Town:
"The Grand Jury presents John Hassell for living in Adultry for many years, they likewise present the said Hassell for Blasphemous words and Discourses at Severall times."

COURT: Tuesday, November 3rd, 1719, General Court of North Carolina:
"Dominus Rex v Jno. Hassell - John Hassell acknowledges himself indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King in the Summ of One hundred Pounds and Matt. Casewel in the Summ of Fifty Pounds to be Levyed upon their Lands Tenements Goods and Chattells with Condition That If the said John Hassell shall Personally appear at the Next Generall Court and Ansewer the Presentment of the Grand Jury for Blasphemous words etc. and not Depart the Court Until Discharged therefrom and that in the meantime he be of his good behavior this; Recognizance to be Void else the Same to remain in full force and Vertue."

COURT: Friday, April the 1st 1720 at a Generall Court of Oyer and Terminer held at Queen Ann's Creek in Chowan Precinct:
"Presentment v Hassell - Danll. Richardson Esqr. Comes to Prosecute an Information of the Grand Jury last Court against John Hassell and for Insufficiency in the Indictment the Same is Quash'd."

COURT: 28th July 1720 at a Generall Court held in Chowan Precinct:
"Prophanity - John Hassell being call'd to Answer a Presentment of the Grand Jury for Speaking prophane words fail'd to Appear. Upon motion of the Attorney Generall Order'd that further Process do Issue against him for his Appearnce here at the next Court."

COURT: Thursday November 3rd 1720 at a Generall Court held for the Province of North Carolina at Chowan Precinct:
"Dominus Rex v Jno. Hassell - The Jurors for Our Sovereign Lord the King Present that on the 13th day of March 1718 bein Sunday at Chowan Precinct in the Province One John Hassell of the said Precinct having not the fear of God before his Eyes but by Instigation of the Devil and against the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King divers and Sundry prophane and Irrevernt words and Speaches to the Dishonour of God Almighty himself and his Attributes and against the holy writt Proffession and Religion now allowed and professt by authority in his now Majesty of Great Britians Dominions to the Discourageing and Subverting of all the faithfull and tru believers and professors of the Protestant Church and Religion now by Law Established and Confirmn'd did Utter Speak forth and give out Videlicet (That he was never beholden to God Almighty for a blew shirt for that he never had any thing from him but what he worked for) and further being Asked by One Rd. Batchelor how he liked the Sermon he had heard that day answer'd What good did it do him if he thought He (meaning the man who preach'd) had Come to Save his Soul out of hell he would goe a hundred Mile to destroy him. He had never been beholden to God for any thing If an Angell should come down from Heaven and tell him face to face that he should Dye and be Damned to All Eternity he would not forbear Swearing at Some times. Which are against the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King now is his Royall Crown and Dignity and against the Law now in force both of God and man etc."
Dannll. Richardson
Attorney Generall
"Plea: To which Indictment Jno Hassell pleads Not Guilty."
"Recognizance: John Hassell and Wm. Yates acknowledged themselves to be Indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King in the Summ of Twenty five pounds each to be levyed upon their Lands and Tenements goods and Chattells with Condition that the Said Jno. Hassell do personally be here the 3rd day of the next Generall Court and Not Depart the Court untill released therefrom and that in the meantime he be of his good behaviour."

COURT: November 3rd 1720 at the same session of General Court:
"Dominus Rex v Jno. Hassell - The Jurors for Our Sovereign Lord the King Present that Jno. Hassell of Chowan Precinct in this Province at Chowan aforesaid against the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King in a Lew'd and Dishonest manner live Cohabit and keep Company with one Sarah Wilkinson the wife of Wm. Wilkinson Late of the Same Precinct in Contempt Disobedience and Contrary to an Order or Command or Orders or Commands of the Generall Court of this Province for that purpose made and now on Record in the said Court ready to be produced all which Actings of his the said Jno. Hassell are against the Peace of Our Sovereign Lord the King that now is his Royall Crown and Dignity and Against the Christian Religion and the force of the Laws of Great Britian etc."
Danll. Richardson
Attorney Generall
"Plea: To which Indictment Jno. Hassell Pleads Not Guilty."
"Rocognizance: Jno. Hassell and Wm. Yates acknowledges themselves to be Indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King in the Summ of Twenty five pounds each to be Levyed upon their Lands and Tenements Good and Chattells with Condition that the said John Hassell do personally appear here the 3d. day of the next Generall Court and not Depart the Court untill Discharged therefrom and that In the meantime he be of his good behaviour."

COURT: 4 April 1721 at a Genereal Court of Oyer and Terminer held at Queen Ann's Creek in Chowan Precinct of Albemarle County with Chief Justice Frederick Jones presiding:
"Dominus Rex v Jno. Hassell - Danll. Richardson Esqr. Attorney Genereall comes to Prosecute and Indictment found by the Grand Jury last Court against Jno. Hassell in these words (to witt) The Jurors for our Sovereign Lord the King Present that on the 13 day of March 1718, being Sunday at Chowan Precinct in this Province one John Hassell of the said Precinct having not the fear of God before his Eyes but by the Instigation of the Devil and against the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King Divers Prophane and Irreverent words and Speeches etc. (as by the said Indictment here upon Record doth Appear.)"
Plea: "To which Indictment he then Pleaded Not Guilty."
"It is Commanded the Marshall that he Cause to come twelve etc. by whom erc. who neither etc. And then Came Henry Bonner, Wm. Canford, Fras. Brown, Wm. Hancock, Jno Bryan, Wm. Hardy, Samll. Spriull, Jno. Champion, Edwd. Wingate, Edwd. Outlaw, Ed. Willson, Edwd. Howcott who being Sworn Say"
Verdict: "We the Jury find the within mentioned John Hassell Guilty"
Arrest of Judgement: "The Defendant by his Attorney mov'd An Arrest of Judgement Upon which it is Consider'd by the Court that he file his Reasons for the Same by tomorrow morning 8 a Clock and that they be Pleaded to in the afternoon but that Same not being filed according to the Order of this Court, the Cause is Continued till next week."
Recognizance: "And thereupon the said John Hassell acknowledged to be indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King in the Summ of Twenty pounds and Jno. Falconar in the Summ of Ten Pounds to be Levyed on their Lands and Tenements Goods and Chattells with the Condition that the said John Hassell appear here the 3d day of teh next Generall Court and Answer the Said Indictment and not Depart the Court untill Discharged therefrom And in the meantime he be of his good behaviour then the before Recognizance to be Void else to remain in full force."

COURT: 4 April 1721 at the same session, later the same day:
"Dominus Rex v Jno. Hassell - Danll. Richardson Esqr. Attorney Generall Comes to Prosecute an Indictment found by the Grand Jury last Court against Jno. Hassell in these words (to witt) The Jurors for our Sovereign Lord the King Presents that Jno. Hassell of Chowan Precinct in this Province at Chowan aforesaid, against the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King in a Lew's and Dishonest manner Live Cohabit and keep Company with Sarah Wilkinson etc. as by the said Indictment here upon Record doth Appear."
Plea: "To which Indictment he then Pleaded Not Guilty."
"It is Commanded the Marshall he Cause to come twelve etc. by whome etc. who neither etc. And there came Henry Bonner, Wm. Cranford, Fras. Brown, Wm. Hancock, John Bryan, Wm. Hardy, Samll. Spruil, Jno. Champion, Edward Wingate, Edwd. Outlaw, Richd. Willson, Edwd. Howcott who being Sworn Say:
Verdict: "We of the Jury do find the within mention'd John Hassell Guilty."
Judgement: "Upon which it is Consider'd and Ajudged by the Court that the said John Hassell be Amerced the Summ Five Pounds (which is paid in Court) and be in Custody till eh enter into Recognizance to be of his good behaviour twelve Months and that he shall not unlawfully Cohabit with Sarah Wilkinson."
Recognizance: "Jno. Hassell Acknowledged himself to be indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King in the Summ of Fifty Pounds to be Levyed upon his Lands and Tenements Goods and Chattells with Condition that he well behave himself towards His Majesty and all his Leige people for twelve months from hence Coming and that in the meantime he shall not unlawfully Cohabit with Sarah Wilkinson then the above Recognizance to be Void else to be and remain in full force."

COURT: 27th July 1721 at a General Court of Oyer and Terminer held in the Courthouse at Queen Ann;s Creek in Chowan Precinct with the Honerable Frederick Jones Esqr. Chief Justice and with John Blount, Robert West Esqrs. Justices, presiding:
"Dominus Rex v. Jno. Hassell - John Hassell being bound by Recognizance to Appear at this Court having mov'd to Arrest of Judgement on a Verdict of the Jury found against him last Court and fil's his Reasons, Appeared And the Attorney Generall having Absented from the Court and Refusing to Prosecute on behalf of our Sovereign Lord the King, Order'd that he be Continued upon the samne Recognizance to Appear here the 3d day the next Generall Court."

COURT: 2nd November 1721 at a General Court held in the Courthouse at Queen Ann;s Creek in Chowan Precinct (continued to the 3rd day) with Justices John Blount, John Worley and Robert West presiding:
"Dominus Rex v. Jno. Hassell - Jno. Hassell being bound by Recognizance to Appear at the Court to answer an Indictment found against him by the Grand Jury for Prophane words Apper'd, Order'd that he be Continued upon the same Regognizance for his Appearance here the 3d day of the next Generall Court, with which he is Content."

COURT: 27th March 1722 at a General Court, continued to the 7th day of April at teh Courthouse in Edenton with Chief Justice Christopher Gale and Justices John Blount, John Palin, John Worley, Edwd. Gale Esqrs. presiding:
Hassell's Appearance: "John Hassell bound by Recognizance to appear at this Court upon his Conviction of Scandalous Words etc. and having assign'd these following reason in Arrest of Judgement, Videlicet."
Reasonf or Arrest of Jugement: "That the words laid in the Indictment and supposed to be Spoken by the said John were not Prosecuted within Six Months after the Speaking the Same Words According to the Act of Limitation nor was it Prosecuted within the Space of ten days According to the form and Effect of an Act for observing the Lord's Day and for the Suppressing of Immorality and the Prophanation of God's Name and Word etc. for which Manifest Error the said John prays that the aforesaid Indictment and Verdict may be Quashed and Sett aside etc."
John Hassell
Sentence: "Which reasons being overul'd the Court pass'd the following Sentence. Videlicet, that he should receive thirty nine lashes on his bare back and that he should give Security in the Summ of Fifty Pounds for his Good Behaviour a Year and a day and remain in the Marshall's Custody till he doe give such Security."
Recognizance: "And the said John Hassell acknowleged himself indebted to Our Sovereign Lord the King his heirs and Successors in the Summ of Twenty Pounds and Thomas Yates, Thomas Mathews and William Yates in the Summ of Ten Pounds Each to be Levyed on their Severall Goods and Chattells Lands and Tenements etc. With Condition that if the said John Hassell Shall and doe well and truly behave himself towards his Majestie and all his leige People for a Year and a Day then the above Recognizance to be voyd otherwise to Stand and remain in full force and Virtue."



Sources:

1 That Hassell Bunch Website at myfamily.com
2 THE HASSELL FAMILY HISTORY 1640-2000 Compiled by James Lafayette Hassell, Jr., February 20, 2002

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