James Hasell

James Hasell was the acting colonial governor of North Carolina in 1771 and again in 1774. When Governor William Tryon was reassigned to New York, Hasell as the senior member of the council was named to succeed him in July 1771. He resigned when newly appointed Governor Josiah Martin arrived in August. Hasell served the second time during the absence of Governor Martin.

Biography

James Hasell was a native of Bristol, England. He was son of merchant James Hasell.^[1] He had no formal legal education.^[2]

He worked in Bristol between 1714 to 1721.^[1] Eventually, he emigrated to Philadelphia, where he lived for a short period of time. After this, he moved to New Hanover County, North Carolina, about 1735, where he was Chief Justice of the General Court of the colony (and its later offshoots, both supreme and superior courts) several times, from 1750 to 1755, 1758 to 1759 and 1766 to 1767. Between these years, in September 1753, Hasell was given the title of Chief Baron of the Exchequer Court (which he kept until the American Revolution, obtaining it briefly again in 1758 and 1766).

In addition, he worked in the Council until 1775, when it was removed (although he prorogued the Assembly in January 1775 because of the American revolution, although it did not meet again after June 1775), being its president from 1760 to 1775.

In 1771 he was appointed acting governor of North Carolina, regaining the governorship of the colony in 1774.^[2][1]

After his death, the Hasell´s property was seized, although it was restored to his family in 1802. Hasell had married Susannah (or Sarah) Sampson.^[1]

References