Samuel Bass was not a man who was ever really on paper. Even the census records are inconsistent with his age. All dates are only estimates.

BACKGROUND
Samuel Bass was from the very large community of free people of color in Halifax county, North Carolina; meaning he was tri-racial and of European, African, and Native American descent. Being a Bass, he would most likely be of Nansemond descent down from the William Bass (1654-1741) line. William was the legal son of John Bass (born in England the son of Nathaniel Basse of Basse's Choice) and Elizabeth the Nansemond and the biological son of said Elizabeth and a man whose yDNA is A1a or A-M31, one of the oldest African lines and not one present on the 1619 ships. This is a very rare type and is quite the mystery, but it does leave no room for doubt when this connection is made. A descendant of Samuel's youngest son, James Martin Bass, has done an autosomal test and has matched with a Bass-Richardson (both great grandchildren of William) descendant who has multiple lines to Benjamin Richardson & Mary Bass. James Martin Bass also applied to the Dawes Rolls as a Cherokee and said his father was born in Halifax, NC. He could not name Samuel's parents. Application rejected.

yDNA
So how to find out his father? Find a direct male descendant who will take a test. This was done March 2020 by a descendant of Green Franklin Bass. He matches other Bass cousins autosomally, so a valid test. Was Samuel's father a Bass? There were nine close matches (6 36/37, 1 35/37, and 2 34/37) and all of the same surname, SNIPES. All descend from Thomas Snipes (1707-1758) of Prince George county, VA. It is possible one of Thomas's sons could be Samuel's father, but it could also be Thomas's half brother Melchizedek Duché, or even further back. As to Thomas's sons, William is not likely as there are genetic differences in all but John Manley. No shared Bass cousin matches have Snipes in their tree. Some Snipes matched an unrelated line. Autosomal is not accurate past five generations and this connection is probably six or seven generations out.

But wait, there's more! Thomas Snipes (1707-1758) was one of four brothers and oddly the second born son was named after the father Robert Snipes, not the first. Also oddly, Thomas's yDNA did not match his brothers. It was discovered that in Robert Snipes estate there was a payment to orphans of Melchizedech Dutche. Ann Gray married Melchizedek Duché first and then Robert Snipes. Thomas was actually a Duché who was adopted by Robert Snipes. Robert's first born son was named Robert after all.

The paternal line of Samuel Bass is Snipes for a couple generations, and then Duché. No Duché/Duck descendant has apparently tested. There are Duck's in Isle of Wight county, VA where the family was, and also the American ancestral home of the Basses as well. Duke/Ducke is apparently a completely separate line and lived in the same place and has done yDNA, no match.

This means that Samuel's mother was the Bass. The exact Snipes male is unknown. Nathaniel Snipe's (1733-1808) father-in-law was born in Nansemond, VA and died in Northampton, NC (right by Halifax), so geographical ties there. One descendant of Nathaniel had done a yDNA test and does not discount the possibility, but cannot confirm it.

DATA
1805 Feb 19 he purchased 40 acres in Halifax NC
1810 Census in Halifax NC, 7 free others and 1 slave
1817 Feb 20 he sold 142 acres of land in Halifax NC
1817 Mar 21 he purchased land in Iredell NC
1820 Census in Iredell NC, 4 white males, 4 white females, 2 slaves
1828 Jul 31 he sold 225 acres in Iredell NC
1830 Census in Rhea TN, in 40s with 7 younger males, 3 females
1840 Census in Pickens AL, in 50s with 8 younger males, 2 females
1850 Census in Itawamba MS, 76 NC with family
1853 Census in Itawamba MS, 3 males, 2 females
1860 Census in Itawamba MS, 76 VA with family
1870 Jan 13 Samuel Bass and Martha Terrell (daughter) sold land in Itawamba MS (have not seen this document personally)
1870 Census in Milam TX, only Martha Terrell's family, no father.