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Bassett Family Association - , Modern Founder (originally founded in 1897)

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Splinters From The Tree January 2012

(1) Welcome
(2) John Bassett of Seneca, New York Farm Sale
(3) Patrick Ashley Bassett of Baraboo, Wisconsin
(4) Isabella Bassett and Sons of Australia
(5) Davis Bassett, Quaker, Beer Seller
(6) William Bassett of Barnwell District, South Carolina court document
(7) Family Photo of William Dryden Bassett
(8) New family lines combined or added since the last newsletter
(9) DNA project update

Section 1 - Welcome

Happy New Year!  It is hard to believe, but this is my tenth year of publishing the Bassett Family Newsletter. I am now 52 years of age so hopefully I can continue this for many more years.

 I have access to old New Zealand and old Australian newspapers through their digitized projects as well as old newspapers in the United States. If anyone knows of a similar project to digitize newspapers in England, Wales or Ireland, please let me know. I would like include some old material from that region as well in my monthly newsletters.

Several people took advantage of the DNA special pricing in December. Those results will be posted as they become available.

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Section 2 - Featured Bassett: John Bassett of Seneca, New York Farm Sale

This appears to be #56B1 John Bassett who moved from Seneca to Brown County, Ohio in 1815.
John is the son of #56B Jonathan Bassett of New York.

Geneva Gazette, February 2, 1814
Published in the Geneva Gazette, February 2, 1814

A FARM For Sale,
        In the town of Seneca, in the south-east part of No. Nine, adjoining the farm of Mr. Jonathan Squire. – The Farm contains 160 acres, 60 of which are improved – has on it a good hewn log house & barn, with a good orchard of 230 bearing apple and peach trees, and a fine stream of water runs through it; the farm is well calculated for meadow and timber. For further particulars enquire of the subscriber,  living on the premises, who will give an indisputable title for the same. John Bassett, Seneca, Jan. 26.

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Section 3 - Featured Bassett: Patrick Ashley Bassett of Baraboo, Wisconsin


Pictures and articles were provided by Sandy Goodman Zodrow, a descendant of William Powell Bassett, son of Patrick Ashley Bassett.

Patrick Ashley Bassett descends from #6B William Bassett of Connecticut as follows:
 William Bassett of Connecticut and wife Hannah Dickerman
John Bassett (b. 1652) and wife Mercy Todd
Joseph Bassett (b. 1697) and wife Miriam Bradley
Joseph Bassett (b. 1727) and wife Chloe Sanford
Zophar Bassett (b. 1763) and wife Thankful Bartholomew
Patrick Ashley Bassett (b. 1806) and wife Mary Catherine Powell
William Powell Bassett (b. 1845)

Baraboo Republic Newspaper, January 10, 1857
Large Flouring Business

        We learn from Mr. P.A. Bassett, the proprietor of one of our large flouring mills, that during the past year, the first twelve months of its operation, his two run of stone have ground fifty-three thousand bushels of flour. Two more run of stone are about being put into operation, and the total expenditures when finished, of the grist and sawmills and water-power, the proprietor estimates at $20,000. The flour from the Baraboo Mills is not surpassed in quality by any in the State.

Bassett Flour Mill, Baraboo, Wisconsin
Bassett Flour Mill, Baraboo, Wisconsin

The Bassett Mill was the most impressive looking mill building ever erected in Baraboo. Started in 1855, it was twice enlarged and eventually contained six runs of stone or six grinding wheels. By 1867, the mill was producing up to 25,000 barrels of flour a year. The operation was run successfully for decades under various owners. The building burned down in a spectacular blaze at 1 a.m. on July 5, 1902, possibly caused by the fireworks launched nearby earlier that evening. Firemen could not save the structure and worked to put out fires on nearby houses caused by flying embers. Scorched papers from the mill were later found three miles away.

A Standard History of Sauk County, Wisconsin
Volume II  1918

        William P. Bassett, a retired farmer of Sumpter Township and manufacturer of Baraboo, now a resident of the county seat, is the son of a well-known pioneer couple of Sauk County. His parents came to Baraboo in 1852 when he was seven years old, migrating from Virginia, his native state. The father P.A. Bassett, had visited Baraboo the year before, and when he located with his family built a flour mill, later opened a store with M.J. Drown, and for a number of years was quite a factor in the development of the village. He died in 1885. William P. Bassett, the son, received his education in the private schools and at the Collegiate Institute of Baraboo. For about twenty years he was a manufacturer of staves and a merchant, and later became a farmer in Sumpter Township. In 1914 he retired from active work and became a resident of Baraboo.

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Section 4 - Featured Bassett: Isabella Bassett of Australia and Sons

Robert James Bassett and Kenneth Cameron Bassett descend from #44B  Emanuel Bassett of Cornwall as follows:
Emanuel Bassett and wife Grace
Thomas Bassett (b. 1628) and wife Lowdy
John Bassett (b. 1658) and wife Phillipa Rickard
John Bassett (b. 1703) and wife Alice Benatta
John Bassett (b. 1725) and wife Mary Roberts
William Bassett (b. 1761) and wife Mary Symons
William Bassett (b. 1800) and wife Phillipa Batten
Samuel Symons Bassett (b. 1840) and wife Isabella Cameron
Robert James Bassett (b. 1880) and Kenneth Cameron Bassett (b. 1891)

Samuel Symons Bassett and his Roma Winery were previously featured in the following newsletter:

http://www.bassettbranches.org/newsletters/2004/20041015/20041015.shtml

Isabella Bassett
Isabella Bassett
John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, 04-2004-11-11-09-05

Brisbane Courier, 17 May 1924, page 23
The Late Mrs. Bassett

By the death of Mrs. Isabella Bassett, which occurred last Sunday, another of the pioneers is removed from the Roma district. The late Mrs. Bassett was the third daughter of the late Mr. John Cameron, and was born in Ballarat, Victoria, on November 24, 1848, having attained the age of 75 years at the time of her death. As a young girl, the deceased lady went to Roma to stay with her sister, the late Mrs. R. J. Cottell, and four years later, in 1870, she married the late Mr. Samuel Symons Bassett, founder of the well-known Roma vineyards. Mr. and Mrs. Bassett were, like the other pioneers of the Roma district, the possessors of almost unlimited perseverance and courage in the face of difficulty, and it was owing to their enterprise and hard work that one of the district’s most important industries—that of winemaking—was established. Mrs. Bassett was noted for her hospitality and open-heartedness, and was always ready to give happiness to others as far as lay in her power. Of her family of eight, five sons and three daughters survive. The late Mr. Bassett predeceased his wife in 1912, and their son Robert died some three months ago, and it is thought that grief at his death was a contributing factor in his mother’s fatal illness. The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon to the family vault, a large number of residents following the cortege from St. Paul’s Church. The surviving sons are Messrs. Frank, William, Samuel, Lionel, and Kenneth. The daughters Mesdames Carlile, Hector Care, and Norman Nagel. In addition there are 20 grandchildren.

The following image and text are courtesy of the Imperial War Museums (IWM).

Private Kenneth Cameron Bassett
Private Kenneth Cameron Bassett @IWM (HU 96619)

11th Reinforcement, 15 Battalion, Australian Imperial Force

Private Bassett, the youngest son of a Queensland family, was employed as a commercial traveller before the First World War.

He enlisted in Roma, Queensland, Australia on 5 July 1915 and sailed from Brisbane on board HMAT Seang Bee on 21 October 1915.

Whilst serving with the Divisional Pack Transport Troop on the Western Front, Pte Bassett was awarded the Military Medal for his work in conveying supplies to battalion headquarters every night under sustained heavy fire during the Battle of Messines in June 1917.

He went on to see action in the German Spring Offensive and was appointed lance corporal in July 1918. Shortly afterwards, Lance Corporal Basset was wounded by a gun shot wound to the wrist which necessitated the amputation of his hand and his retirement from active service on 23 September 1918.

Robert James Bassett, 1915
Robert James Bassett, 1915 (Australian War Memorial, H01388)

Brisbane Courier, 13 February 1925, p. 15
Robert James Bassett (1880- 1924)

The death occurred on Monday afternoon at Roma, of Robert James Bassett, eldest surviving son of the late Samuel Symons Bassett, and Mrs. Bassett, of Roma Villa. Deceased enlisted in Sydney in 1915, and had considerable service in the A.I.F. on the Western Front. He was badly wounded, and gassed in one of the big engagements in 1917, and was invalided home. He spent many months in military hospitals, in Sydney, and the last two years at Roma Villa, where he was practically under medical treatment the whole time. He was always cheerful and exhibited more than the usual digger’s fortitude. He passed away while getting into the ambulance, preparatory to undergoing an operation. He was aged 43. The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon.

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Section 5 - Featured Bassett: Davis Bassett, Beer Seller

Davis Bassett was a Quaker of New Jeresey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He descends from #4B William Bassett of Lynn, Massachusetts as follows:

William Bassett of Lynn
Elisha Bassett (b. 1649) and wife Elizabeth Collins
Elisha Bassett (b. 1692) and wife Abigail Davis
Davis Bassett (b. 1726) and wife Mary Elwell

Published in the Pennsylvania Gazette, July 4, 1771
Published in the Pennsylvania Gazette, July 4, 1771

Haines and Twells’s best beer, bottled and sold by Davis Bassett, in Fourth-Street, nearly opposite the Indian-Queen, where all matters of Vessels, Passengers, for Sea Store, an others, may be supplied, by the Groce or less Quantity, if required, shall be wired and packed in the best Manner, for Exportation. Also bottled Cyder, and old Blackberry Wine. Ready Money given for empty Bottles and good Corks, by said Bassett. July 2, 1771.

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Section 6 - Featured Bassett: William Bassett of Barnwell District, South Carolina Court Document

William Bassett is the son of #48B Francis Bassett of Barnwell County, South Carolina.

William Bassett, son of Francis Bassett, died in Barnwell County, South Carolina in 1810. He married (1) Mary Phillips, daughter of Stephen and Florence (McAlester) Phillips. He married (2) Michal Moye. She was sister to Matthew Moye (1777) and Martha Moye (1772) Brabham. Michal Moye Bassett died in 1812, Barnwell Probate Bundle 18 Package 9, Bond 1812 to Matthew Moye, George Ward and John Brabham for $2000, apparently died shortly before 13 Apr 1812 when her estate was charged for planks for her coffin.
        From Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia, Volume IV, we have "Barnwell District Court records show that an attachment was filed there Oct. 15, 1803, in which it was alleged that the debtor, William Bassett, had moved out of the state and had left his property in the hands of Thomas Bassett; this proceeding was brought to recover $64.00 alleged to be owing the plaintiff, Nancy Johnson, "for taking care of two of the defendant's children (unnamed). The presumption that William Bassett's wife was dead at the time is strengthened by the fact that William Bassett was in McIntosh county when he registered to draw land in the 1805 land lottery, he having only one draw (thus showing he had no wife or minor child or children with him). In the same lottery, John Basset of McIntosh County, had two draws, and neither he or William drew any land."

South Carolina State Gazette, October 28, 1803
South Carolina State Gazette, October 28, 1803

Nancey Johnson vs. William Bassett, Case on Attachment.

Whereas the Plaintiff in this action did on the fifteenth day of October instant, file his Declaration in the office of the Clerk of this honorable Court, against the Defendant, who is absent from and without the limits of this state, and hath neither wife nor attorney known within the same, upon whom a copy of the said Declaration, with a rule to plead thereto within a year and a day, might be served. It is therefore Ordered, in pursuance of the act of the general assembly in that case made and provided, That the said defendant do appear and plead to the said declaration on or before the sixteenth day of October, which will be in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and four, otherwise final and absolute judgment will then be given and awarded against the said defendant.

George Latham, C.C.P.
Office of Common Pleas, Barnwell district, October 15th, 1803

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Section 7 - Featured Bassett: Family Photo of William Dryden Bassett

William Dryden Bassett descends from #87B2 Elias Bassett of England as follows:
Elias Bassett (b. 1803) and wife Annie Morford
William Bassett (b. 1827) and wife Mary E. Sirrine
William Dryden Bassett (b. 1862)

William Dryden Bassett
William Dryden Bassett photo circa 1886 courtesy of Craig Bauer
Craig was a great-great-grandson of William Dryden Bassett

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Section 8 - New family lines combined or added since the last newsletter

        The following family lines have been added since the last newsletter.

 468B.   Nathaniel Bassett of Leicester, Massachusetts (b. 1820)
 469B.   Charles Bassett of Bryan, Brazos County, Texas (b. 1832)  

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Section 9 - DNA project update

Kit B1541 which was originally taken through ancestry.com was added to our database this month. This was from a male Bassett descended from #1B John Bassett of CT.  The updated chart for his haplogroup is shown below.

Several others joined the project in December to take advantage of the year end pricing special. Those results will be shared once they are back.

DNA

Donations of any amount can be made to the Bassett DNA project by clicking on the link below. Any funds donated will be used to fund select Bassett DNA tests that will further our project as a whole and benefit all Bassetts worldwide.

http://www.familytreedna.com/group-general-fund-contribution.aspx?g=Bassett

This is just a reminder that the DNA portion of the Bassett Family Association can be found at:

http://www.bassettbranches.org/dna/

A current spreadsheet of results can be found at:

http://www.bassettbranches.org/dna/BassettDNA.xls

If you don't have Excel and can't open the spreadsheet above, you can now see the DNA test results at the following website.

http://www.familytreedna.com/public/Bassett/

Jeffrey Bassett
520 Salceda Drive
Mundelein, IL 60060 USA
email address link in header above