Sampson Dees is first recorded in the 1790 census of Sampson Co NC with a family of 1 male over 16, 3 males under 16, 2 females, 1 slave. Listed next in the census is William Dees, presumably brother of Sampson Dees.
He is next recorded in the 1800 census of Sampson Co NC with a family consisting of 2 males under 10, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 16-25, 1 male 26-44, 2 females under 10, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 16-25, 1 female 26-44, and 5 slaves. In nearby Richmond Co NC there is also a listing in 1800 for another Sampson Dees, a single person entry for a male 16-25.
Sampson Dees is next found in the 1810 census of Hopkinsville, Christian Co KY with the following count: 1 male under 10, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 16-25, 1 male over 45, 1 female under 10, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 16-25, and 5 slaves. This entry suggests that Sampson’s first wife may have died before 1810.
Neighbors of Sampson Dees in the 1810 Hopkinsville census were Frederick Arick (possibly father of Elizabeth Arick, who married Luke Dees) and John Potts (possibly father of Ruth Potts, who married Sampson in 1814). A neighbor found on page 587 of the Hopkinsville census of 1810 was Elijah Fisher, who was probably married at that time to Elizabeth Dees.
Sampson Dees married Ruthy Potts in Christian Co KY in 1814, so his migration to Warren Co MS presumably occured between that time and his death in 1817.
Sampson Dees died in Warren Co MS in about 1817 and his estate was probated on Sept. 23, 1817
534:
Dees, Sampson.
Probated Sept. 23, 1817. Of Christian County, Kentucky.
Wife: Ruth, to have household goods and 2 negroes.
Children: son Samuel (youngest) to have negro, horse, saddle and bridle, feather bed and household furniture; dau. Polly Dees, to have negro, horse and saddle; step-dau. Altezes Woolf, to have negro, horse and saddle; sons William, Danson (Denson), Luke; daus. Elizabeth Fisher and Sally Jones. Exr: wife
Wit: John Clark, John Polls, John Mancy, David Mancy.
Probated Oct 25, 1819. Ruth Dees administrator surcurities Francis
Griffin, Andrew Glass and henry Downs $800.
Following is his will, as transcribed by David Tharp on 5 August 2008:
Sampson Dees
Last Will &
Testament
In the name of God, Amen. I Sampson Dees of the County of Christian and State of Kentucky, being now of Sound Mind & Memory but knowing that all men are born to Die do make and Ordain this my last Will & Testament in Words and Figures following to wit:
1st It is my will that my youngest son Samuel Dees Shall have a Good Horse Bridle and Saddle, feather Bed and furniture and a negro boy named Simon
2ndly Its my will that my Daughter Polly Dees shall have a good Horse Saddle Bridle, feather Bed and Furniture
3rdly It is my Will that my Step Daughter Altazera Woolf Shall have a Good Horse Saddle Bridle feather Bed and furniture
4thly It is my will that my Beloved Wife Ruth Dees Shall Have my negro Peter & negro girl Lila as long as she lives Single and also all my Horses House Hold and Kitchen Furniture not otherwise provided for And that my said negro Peter and Lila at the death of my said wife to belong to my Son Sam'l Dees and my Daughter Polly Dees to be equally divided between them according to their value. In case I shall buy land, It is my will that my said Wife Ruth Dees shall have it during her widowhood.
5thly It is my will that my Negro Woman Peg and Tom Shall be sold and the amount of the Sale to be equally divided among my children William Dees, Denson Dees, Luke Dees & my Daughters Elizabeth Fisher & Sally Jones
6thly and lastly of all I do hereby appoint my Beloved wife Ruth Dees my whole & Sole Executive of this my last Will and Testament, and it is also my will that She shall not be compelled to give Security as Executive Hereby Revoking all other will or Wills by me heretofore made and do declare this to be my last will & Testament
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 23 day of September 1817
In many geneaolgy files found on the web, Elizabeth Williams, wife of Sampson Dees, is reported to have been the daughter of Captain John “She” Williams.
It has been reported in several places
535,555 that Elizabeth Williams died in Sampson Co NC in 1824. However, her husband Sampson Dees is listed in the 1810 census of Christian Co KY and married Ruthy Potts there in 1814. Therefore, the report of the date of Elizabeth Williams Dees death is wrong or else this is a case of divorce, which has not yet been documented.
Likewise, her date of birth, reported as 1774
535,558,555 is too late for her to have been the mother of most of Sampson Dees children, who were born starting in 1781.
Furthermore, it has been reported that Elizabeth Williams, daughter of Captain John (She) Williams married Robert Butler and was the mother with him of nine children, born between 1790 and 1811.
559Therefore, this must be considered a tenuous and probably incorrect assignment of who was the wife of Sampson Dees.