This post is part of an
ongoing research challenge: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. The challenge was created
by Amy Crow. Ms. Crow asked that each participant
write about one ancestor per week. Last week I
wrote about Jack Sherrod. This week, we will look
at Jack's wife, Cassie Exum Sherrod.
Cassie Exum Sherrod was my
great-great grandmother who was born about 1850. I am a descendant of her
first born child, Fannie Sherrod Powell. Besides Fannie, Cassie and Jack
were the parents of William, Ida Sherrod Wilson, Mary, John, Benjamin, Dallas,
Exum, Arthur, Sissie and Cora Sherrod Ward Powell Barnes.
This page is from Jack and Cassie's bible.
The bible is currently in the possession of a granddaughter of Arthur Sherrod.
The bible is currently in the possession of a granddaughter of Arthur Sherrod.
According to Jack’s pension file, Jack and Cassie were married on January 11, 1868 by Ben Sauls. At the Wayne County Courthouse in Goldsboro, NC, is a book titled “Black Marriage Register April 1867-October 1867.” This book or cohabitation report lists Jack’s parents name but unfortunately, Cassie’s parents are not listed; however, we do have her maiden name: Exum.
Most of their lives, Cassie
and Jack lived in Wilson and Wayne counties N.C. In 1870, Jack and Cassie were living in the Black Creek area of
Wilson County, NC. Jack was 26 years
old, Cassie was 25 and Fanny was 4 years old. Black Creek, NC is less than 20 miles from where Jack lived as a slave (Goldsboro, NC). I don't know why they left Wayne county but perhaps they left the area to get away from their former owners.
1870 Census report for Jack and Cassie
Ten years later, 1880, Cassie
and her family were living in Nahunta in Wayne County, NC. Jack was described as a
37 year old farmer. Cassie was 36 years old and Fannie was the
oldest of the children. Besides Fannie, there was William, Ida, Mary, John and Benjamin. On the 1900 census, Cassie and Jack reported that they had been married for 32 years. Cassie stated that she gave birth to 11 children with 9
living. This probably includes the seven still living at home: Ida who is described as a school teacher, John, Benjamin, Dallas,
Exum (which was Cassie maiden name), Arthur and Cora. The two deceased children were daughters, Mary and Sissie who perhaps was born "still born" at birth.
By 1910, Jack and Cassie are
living with 2 grandchildren in their home.
The census states that they have been
married for 42 years and only 8 of their children were living. The grandchildren living with Cassie were Thomas who was 8 years
old and Zelma who was 5 years old. Thomas and Zelma were children of John Sherrod. John died in 1904.
1910 Census for Jack and Cassie
In 1915, Jack Sherrod died. After his death, Cassie lived most of her life in Wilson, NC. She outlived Jack by 25 years. Jack died on May 8th; he was 72 years old. His son Arthur was the informant for his death certificate and Arthur provided Jack’s parents names as: Tempie and Denis Barnes.
1915 Death Certificate for Jack Sherrod
Following Jack's death, Cassie petition for a widow's pension but she had to verify Jack's death. Her relatives whom I believe are her brothers, Noble and George Exum, provided testimonies on Cassie’s behalf after Jack died. Apparently neighbors and relatives came to the house after Jack died.
Cassie’s Widow Pension File
Noble Exum on July 15, 1915 said that he had known Jack since Noble was 10 years old and that they all lived in the Sauls neighborhood (Eureka). Noble said that Cassie lived with his parents and that she was 17 or 18 years old when she married Jack. Noble was 12 years old when the couple married and he was present at the couples’ wedding.
1870 Census Record for John and Saphronia Exum
In 1940, Cassie died. She was living in Wilson, NC and she was 90 years old. Unfortunately, the informer for her death certificate state that Cassie's parents were Cassie and Louis Hall. I know this isn't correct because in Cassie's own words from the many document found in Jack's pension file and her cohabitation record; Cassie said that she was an Exum. I believe the information that Jack and Cassie provided rather than the information that someonelse provided. I know by experience that some of the information provided on death certificates are incorrect and that’s how I feel about Cassie’s parents names on her death certificate.
One of the many documents found in Jack's pension file located at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
Questions:
I still have a number of questions concerning Cassie. First, was Catherine her real name and was Cassie her nickname? Was John Exum her brother or father and why was she living with John and his wife when Cassie married Jack Sherrod? Who was her people and where did they come from if not North Carolina? And finally, was Cassie owned by the same slaveowner as Jack?
Sources:
1870 Census - Black Creek, Wilson, North Carolina; Roll: M593_1166; Page: 452A (Jack and Cassie Sherrod).
1870 Census - Nahunta, Wayne, North Carolina; Roll: M593_1165; Page: 159A (John and Saphronia Exum).
Hi. My name is Ailia and I read your post. I recently read a book my father gave me about my family and a quick Google search got me this far. Best of luck to you in you research. I'd love to hear more about what you've found since you began.
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Ailia