SHEERWOOD HAYWOOD BOBBITT 1763 - 1827 Son of Drury and
Elizabeth Bobbitt
SOLDIER OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Sheerwood Haywood Bobbitt was the third child and the second son of Drury
and Elizabeth (Harris) Bobbitt. He was born in Granville County on land
that is today in Warren County, North Carolina. Sheerwood was born in
1763, married on June 28, 1779, and died on November 21, 1827. He was the
second grandson of John Richard and Amy Bobbitt and a great grandson of
John Bobbitt of Chowan Precinct.
Sheerwood was an unusual name in the Bobbitt family. In the records, the
name has been mutilated by many different spellings such as, Sherod,
Sherrad, Schearod, and so on. The name was first used in North Carolina
by a surveyor who was educated and appointed by the Royal Government.
Sherwood Haywood signed and spelled his name as it is here written. In
1753 and until 1757, Sherwood Haywood surveyed land for William Bobbitt,
John Richard Bobbitt, and Lewis Bobbitt. All the land surveyed was in
present day Warren County. Sherwood Haywood had many contacts with tho
Bobbitt family and I believe that his wife was a Bobbitt and a sister to
John Richard Bobbitt. Drury Bobbitt the first son of John Richard and Amy
Bobbitt named his second son, Sheerwood Haywood Bobbitt. I believe that
he was named after his uncle. The name has been honored and preserved in
this branch of the Bobbitt family until the present time.
On June 28, 1779, Sheerwood Bobbitt married Sarah Burrows of Halifax
County. Randolph Bobbitt, a younger brother of Drury and an uncle to
Sheerwood Bobbitt was the bondsman for the marriage. The marriage was
recorded in Halifax County.
Soon after his marriage, Sheerwood Bobbitt entered the Army of the
American Revolution by taking the place of Samuel Walker. He served as a
private under the command of Colonel Sewell in the company of Captain
White.
In 1790, the first federal census counted the family of Sheerwood Bobbitt
as living in Halifax County, North Carolina.
"Sheerwood Bobbitt, 1 male over 16 3 males under 16 1 female"
The three sons were born between 1779 and 1790. From later records we
have determined the names of the three sons.
Green Bobbitt born 1781
William Bobbitt born 1785
Thomas Bobbitt born 1788
The names chosen by Sheerwood Bobbitt for his sons, show that he had a
knowledge of the family history. He had cousins in the Green Family. His
great great grandmother was Sarah Green who married John Bobbitt of
Chowan. He had a great uncle by the name of William, his great
grandfather was named William, and he had a brother by the name of
William. His great uncle was Thomas Bobbitt of Virginia.
Sheerwood Bobbitt and his wife Sarah lived on a farm in Halifax County
near the Burrows family plantation. Sheerwood reared his family and died
in Halifax County.
Only two of the three children who were born before 1790 lived to
maturity. The family was listed in the 1800 census of Halifax
County as.
Sheerwood Bobbitt
2 males 10 16 (1790-1800) 1 female under 10 (1790-1800)
1 male 26 45 (1755-1774) 1 female 10 - 16 (1784-1790)
1 female 26 - 45 (1755-1774)
The two males in this census were Thomas born in 1788, and William born
in 1785.
For some unknown reason, Sheerwood Bobbitt and his family were not
counted in the 1810 census of Halifax County. By the census of 1820
Thomas and William were both married and away from home. One daughter,
Mary Bobbitt was also married and away from home. This is the census of
1820 of Sheerwood and Sarah Bobbitt. The record is from Halifax County.
Sheerwood Bobbitt
1 male 10 - 16 (1804-1810) 1 female 10 - 16 (1804-1810)
1 male 45 & over ( -1775) 2 females 16 - 26 (1794-1804)
1 female 45 & over ( 1775)
Apparently Sheerwood and Sarah Bobbitt had several children who did not
live to maturity. Green Bobbitt died before the census of 1800. William
Bobbitt died in 1826. By the time Sheerwood Bobbitt wrote his will on
November 8, 1827, he had only two sons, and four daughters who were
living. The records confirm the fact that he mentioned all of his
children who were living at the time of his will. The children mentioned
in the will were:
Thomas Bobbitt
Sheerwood Haywood Bobbitt Jr.
Mary Bobbitt
Rebecca Bobbitt
Martha Bobbitt
Betsey Bobbitt
The will of Sheerwood Bobbitt has been preserved by members of his
family. The will is not among the records in Halifax County Court
records. The most interesting item in the will is the reference to his
father's estate in Moore County. Drury Bobbitt Senior was the father of
Sheerwood Bobbitt and was living in Moore County when he died.
In the name of God, Amen. I Sherrod Bobbett of the County of Halifax,
being in sound mind, and knowing the uncertainty of life, have concluded
to make this instrument, my last will and testament.
My soul, I recommend to God, my body I wish decently buried at the
discretion of my Executors. As to my property, I will and dispose of in
the following manner.
I lend to my beloved wife, Sally Bobbett during her lifetime, the land
and plantation whereon I now live, also negroes Stephen, and Vica, all my
household and kitchen furniture, one loom, one wheel and a pair of cards,
one horse called Blaze, one steer, two cows and calves, one sow and pigs,
and one cart. It is my will after the death of my wife, that my son,
Haywood, have the ' land and the plantation lent my wife, and that my
daughter, Mary Brownen have the negro Vica, all the other property lent
my wife, I wish sold and the profits arising therefrom to be equally
divided amongst all my children. I give to my son Haywood, the negro
Daniel. I have a claim on my deceased father's estate in Moore County. it
is my will that what ever may be received of said estate, that it be
divided between my son Thomas, and my daughter Martha Moss, and if they
do not get as much property from my father's estate as those of my
children in Halifax, (the legacy left my son Haywood excepted) they are
hereby entitled to draw a part of the remainder of my estate so as to
make them equal to the amount that may be received by my daughters,
Rebecca and Betsy. it is further my will that a competent support be
allotted to my wife for the term of one year, out of the crop and stock
now on hand. It is my will that all the remainder of my estate of any
description be sold by my Executors, and the profits arising from such
sale to be applied to the payment of my just debts, the balance after
paying the debts, I wish divided amongst all my children, leaving out my
grandchildren. I constitute and appoint my son S. Haywood Bobbett and
James Brownen, executors to this my last will and testament. In witness
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 8th day of November
1827.
Witnessed: J. Harris SHEROD BOBBIT
Jno. Bobbitt

One of the most interesting records of this family is from the 1850
census of Halifax County. The family is Sheerwood Haywood Bobbitt,
Junior's. Living with the family is the widow of Sheerwood Bobbitt
Senior, Sarah (Burrows) Bobbitt.
Family # 765, counted August 15, 1850.
Sheerwood Bobbitt 43 (1807) North Carolina
Ann (Pierce) Bobbitt 42 (1808) North Carolina
Angelica Bobbitt 18 (1832) North Carolina
Martha Bobbitt 17 (1833) North Carolina
James Bobbitt 16 (1834) North Carolina
Henry Bobbitt 9 (1841) North Carolina
Nancy Bobbitt 7 (1843) North Carolina
Margaret Bobbitt 4 (1846) North Carolina
Walter Bobbitt 2 (1848) North Carolina
Sarah (Burrows) Bobbitt 85 (1765) North Carolina
Sarah Bobbitt died on March 4, 1863 at the age of 98. She was buried on
the family farm in Halifax County.
Thomas Bobbitt, brother of Sheerwood Bobbitt, was listed with his family
in the census of 1850 in Chatham County, North Carolina.
Family # 1, counted August 9, 1850.
Thomas Bobbitt 62 (1788) North Carolina
Lucy H. (Moss) Bobbitt 58 (1792) North Carolina
(Haywood Bobbitt) 25 (1825) North Carolina
Thomas Bobbitt 22 (1828) North Carolina
Rebecca Bobbitt 18 (1832) North Carolina
Richard Bobbitt 16 (1834) North Carolina
James Bobbitt 14 (1836) North Carolina
Patsey Moss - (sister-in-law) 53 (1797) North Carolina
*Haywood Bobbitt was working and living in the home of Thomas Wicker of
Moore County. He was counted there on October 20, 1850.
This is one of the key families in our Bobbitt family history. The
Bobbitt lineage of Sheerwood Bobbitt is.
William Bobbitt from Wales 1649 - 1703
John Bobbitt of Chowan 1678 - 1736
William Bobbitt senior 1704 - 1768
John Richard Bobbitt 1725 - 1791
Drury Bobbitt Senior 1744 - 1826
Sheerwood Haywood Bobbitt Senior 1763 - 1827