JOHN GASS

Sgt. Major, North Carolina

John's first wife is believed to be Margaret Wagner (1762-1829). His second wife was Elizabeth "Betsey"

Rankin (1779-1862), a daughter of Revolutionary War Soldier David Rankin who fought in the Battle of Kings

Mountain [Historic Greene County and Its People, p 280-81].

November 2019 Volume

35 Number 2

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[Footnote 1 references the Bounty Land of 160 acres awarded to John's second wife, Betsey Rankin Gass,

awarded under the Act of 1855.]

[Note the error in the Gass surname [spelled as "Glass"] in the original service records, which

apparently resulted in delays of processing the application. Although John Gass was awarded

Pension, his name is omitted in the Greene County Pension list of 1835.]

The Bounty Land Act was passed in 1853. Betsey Rankin Gass, then age 74, filed for and received 150 acres:

WILL OF JOHN GASS [SENIOR]

John Gass Senior is buried in what is today known as the Cross Anchor Cemetery. This section of the

Cemetery is across the road from the old Church in the far back corner. Many, many Gass descendants are

buried in this section. Presumably, this area was once the original Gass Family Cemetery.

Although his wish as stated in his Will was that he would be buried between his two wives, his second wife and

widow, Elizabeth "Betsey" Rankin Gass, is buried in Mount Bethel Cemetery where many members of her

Rankin family are buried. Betsey survived her husband by twenty-two years.

Cross Anchor Cemetery

John Gass born May 25, 1758 died June 14, 1840.

One of these identical original tombstones would be that of his first wife.

Mount Bethel Cemetery

Elizabeth 'Betsey' Rankin Gass

Died May 30, 1862, Age 83 Years