The Death of John Dease

John Dease, son of Mark Deese and his wife Nancy [Maiden named unknown] lived his life on America frontier in a place called the Mississippi Territory. John and his brother, Mark  moved into this area in 1800.

I John Dease do upon Oath say that in the year eighteen hundred I became an inhabitant of Washington County in the Mississippi Territory... s/John Dease

By the end of 1805, John had married the Widow Bridget Burk/Burke and by pre-emption acquired 320 acres upon which he built his home. His marriage to the Widow Bridgett Burk added another 360 acres to their holdings. No Last Will has been found for John but the 1820 U. S. Population Censuses indicates that he and Bridgett had 5 sons between 1805-1820; and 1 daughter between 1810-1820.

Bridgett is last listed on the 1830 Census with her husband, a son and a daughter. Her date of death is unknown but is believed to be between 1830 and 1840. John is enumerated  alone in the 1840 U. S. Population Census and we know he passed away on 22 October 1846. His Obituary was printed in the “True Democrat Newspaper” whose Editor is believed to be his oldest son, Oliver Cromwell Dease. Sadly, the obituary makes no mention of wife and family.

[COMMUNICATED]

Departed this life, on the 22d inst., JOHN DEASE, aged 77 years, a native of West Meath, Ireland. Mr. Dease was well and extensively known to the people of East Mississippi, having been the first settler of that section of country lying between the Pascugoula and Pearl rivers; and, amid all the privations and discouragements incident to an entirely new country, he succeeded in amassing a considerable fortune, in raising a large and highly respectable family, and constantly preserved the reputation of an honest, independent and generous hearted man. He proved his zeal for the general good of the country by many liberal donations, the chief of which was con- tribute towards the erection of the orphan asylum of Mobile. All who knew Mr. Dease have ample reason to respect and revere his memory. His numerous friends and relatives have wept over the loss which heaven, in its inscrutable judgment, has called upon them to bear, but not as those without hope. It pleased God to grant him, in his last hours, the full and abundant consolations of his church, which he received, nothing wavering, but with triumphant pace and joy. May his children, and children's children, emulate his virtues, and terminate their earthly career, as he did, in the confident hope of a blissful immortality.

Note & Comments: In John’s  Public Lands Pre-emption Case No. 76 he made the following sworn statement:

That he was twenty-one years of age on the 3d March, 1803.That would make John Dease birthdate to be 3 March 1782.

Now we have his obituary in October 1846 stating that he is 77 years of age. Substracting 77 from 1846 would make John Dease birth year to be 1769.

No Obituary has been found for Bridget and no tombstone has been found for John or Bridget.

John Dease is my 3rd Great Grand Uncle and by marriage, Bridgett is my 3rd Great Grand Aunt.

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1. "John Dease," Death notice, Obituary, True Democrat, Paulding, Mississippi, 28 October 1846, Page 2, column 2; Digital On-Line Archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/:viewed & transcribed 9 March 2023); https://www.newspapers.com/.