Delaney Catherine Sasser Stancil

• Born: April 5, 1842 Johnston County, NC
• Died: Jan. 11, 1915 Johnston County, NC
• Buried: Stancil Cemetery, Glendale Community, Johnston, NC
• Married: John Thomas Stancil on July 15, 1860

Delaney Sasser was born April 5, 1842, and died Jan. 11, 1915. She married John Thomas Stancil on July 15, 1860.
Delaney's children with John Thomas Stancil
Henry Stancil Oct. 18, 1861 Johnston, NC-March 25, 1933 Johnston County NC; Buried in Stancil Cemetery, Johnston
Samuel Stancil Sept. 5, 1863-May 30, 1930 Johnston, NC; Buried in Howell-Stancil-Hawley Cemetery, Wilson
Josiah Stancil Feb. 23, 1866-July 5, 1939 Johnston, NC; Buried in Stancil Cemetery, Johnston
Tempy Ann Stancil Hill April 10, 1868 Johnston, NC-Aug. 16, 1909 Johnston, NC; Buried in Fred Hill Cemetery, Johnston
Spirus Stancil April 1870-June 1870 Johnston, NC; Buried in Hales Cemetery, Johnston
John Archer Stancil Aug. 6, 1871 Johnston, NC-May 27, 1934 Johnston, NC; Buried in Maplewood Cemetery, Wilson
Arnettie Stancil Hill April 1, 1874-June 3, 1916; Buried in Stancil Cemetery, Johnston
Alvin Rosco Stancil May 11, 1876-April 1, 1935; Buried in Stancil Cemetery, Johnston, NC
Harvey Arthur Stancil July 23, 1878 Johnston, NC-Feb. 22, 1956 Kenly, NC; Buried in Holly Springs Free Will Baptist Cemetery, Johnston
George Ira Stancil May 18, 1880 Johnston, NC-Oct. 23, 1935 Johnston, NC; Buried in Holly Springs Free Will Baptist Cemetery, Kenly
Catherine Stancil May 9, 1882-unknown
Thomas Ruffin Stancil May 29, 1884-May 14, 1907 Johnston, NC; Buried in Stancil Cemetery, Johnston
Sinda E E Stancil Jan. 5, 1888 - Jan. 6, 1888, Johnston, NC; Buried in Hales Cemetery, Johnston

List of Tom and Delaney's children
Download JPG	Source: Stancil Reunion Archive

Delaney Catherine Sasser Stancil, daughter of Henry and Martha Patsy Bagley Sasser, was born April 5, 1842.

Henry Sasser was the son of William Sasser, and grandson of Col. Josiah Sasser. Henry was wealthy and had a large tract of land. Her mother, Martha Patsy Bagley, was the daughter of Theophilus Bagley and Catherine "Nancy" Gibson.

Henry built a log cabin on some of his land in the 1830s. He used timbers from the large pines on his land. Clearing land for farming was important. Henry and his bride, Martha Patsy Bagley, lived here after their marriage.

This is where their children were born: Thomas Haywood on April 16, 1837, and John Henry in 1840 and Delaney Catherine Sasser on Tuesday, April 5, 1842. Just over two years after her birth, Henry Sasser died and his estate was settled in November of 1844 by Thomas Bagley, his brother-in-law and also Clerk of the Court in Johnston County.

One of Delaney's brothers was Thomas Haywood Sasser. Thomas's daughter Minnie married Josiah Stancil, Delaney's son. They had nine children. Thomas' daughter Mattie married Calvin Holt. Calvin and Mattie had Calvin Jr. and Doris among other children.

Delaney had jet black hair and brown eyes. She was petite, just a bit over 5 feet tall. She was a weaver. In 1858, she wove a beautiful purple, brown, cream tapestry in the Cross of Tennessee pattern on a 4-harness loom. It survives today and is displayed each year by the Tobacco Farm Life Museum in Kenly, NC. It can be seen in the 1902 Reunion Photo on the far right. It was hung over the log smoke house to dress up the photo.

First Reunion photo

The tapestry was sold when John Thomas died in 1922. It was customary to have a sale upon the death of a person. Funds were raised to pay debts and to clear out possessions for the next family.

Delaney was known as a granny woman. She was the neighborhood midwife. Delaney delivered many of her grandchildren and children in the community.

Harvey brought his infant daughter Gertrude to Delaney after his wife Gertrude died a few days after giving birth. Arnettie was still living at home. About this time Tom quit growing tobacco. When Gertrude got large enough, she and Delaney graded tobacco for others in the neighborhood. Delaney raised Gertrude until 1915.

Delaney grew a few hills of tobacco in her garden for her own use. She made her own snuff. Delaney liked flowers and was proud of her pink rose bush. Delaney taught George and her other children to spin cotton and wool into thread on the spinning wheel.

Delaney had a stroke a few days before her death. She was 72 years old when she died on Jan. 11, 1915.

Delaney was buried in the Stancil Cemetery wearing her spectacles and black silk bonnet. George had given to her the bonnet in appreciation for her help with tobacco.

— Renn Stancil Hinton