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Newsletter November 2003
Contents of this Newsletter:
(1) Welcome to new members
(2) Updates to the web site and new information to be found at the web site
(3) New family lines combined or added since the last newsletter
(4) DNA tests still outstanding
(5) Featured Bassett: Charles Bassett, marshall of Dodge City, Kansas
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Section 1 - Welcome to new members
Once again I would like to welcome more than 50 new recipients of the Bassett
family newsletter. There are over 300 Bassetts now receiving this distribution.
Our Bassett DNA testing project continues to grow. We now have 103 participants!
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Section 2 - Web site links
This is just a reminder that the new website 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
From this web page you should be able to print or download the spreadsheet.
You can also click on any kit number to see the lineage of the person from
that line who submitted the test. For my line, click on the #2721 from the
spreadsheet to see the following page:
http://www.bassettbranches.org/dna/kits/2721.txt
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Section 3 - New family lines combined or added since the last
newsletter
The following family lines were combined into other families based on DNA
evidence and new research:
#33B William P. Bassett was combined with #41B Simon Bassett of New York.
#47B Ira Bassett of New York was combined with #41B Simon Bassett of New York.
#125B Joseph Sylvester Bassett was combined into the #76B Oliver Bassett family.
The following family lines have been added since the last newsletter.
33B. Charles Bassett of Birmingham, England (b. 1802) (Descendants living
primarily in Tasmania)
47B. Thomas Bassett of Ladock, Cornwall (b. 1824)
125B. Charles Rufus Bassett of Arkansas & Texas (b. 1855)
223B. William Bassett of Denbigh, Wales (b. 1798)
224B. John Bassett of Rotherfield, Sussex, England (b. about 1660)
225B. Frederic Bassett of Michigan
226B. Bassetts of Mawgan in Meanage, Cornwall
227B. John Bassett of London, England (b. before 1800)
228B. Alphonse Bessett/Bassett of Lowell, Massachusetts (b. 1860 in Canada)
229B. John Bassett of Cornwall (b. 1821 Cornwall)
230B. John Bassett of Breage, Cornwall (b. 1791 Cornwall)
231B. The Bassetts of Saint Martin in the Fields, Westminster, London, England
232B. Francis Bassett of Collingwood, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada (b. 1826)
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(4) DNA tests still outstanding
We continue to add about one new DNA project participant per week. Outstanding
tests as of today are:
Kit #9466 #1A William Bassett of Plymouth through Heman Bassett son Samuel
C. Bassett
Kit # 11887 #34B Bassetts of County Down, Ireland
Kit #13274 #39B Bassetts of Norfolk, England
Kit #13826 #46B Isaac Bassett of Kentucky
Tests returned to the lab and still awaiting results are:
3 12-marker to 25-marker upgrades 10 kits from many different family lines
including one with roots in Gloucester, England.
I expect all of these results to be back before Christmas, so I may do one
last newsletter before the holidays.
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(5) Featured Bassett in this issue: CHARLES BASSETT, Marshall
of Dodge City, Kansas
One famous Bassett that we have associated with the #1A William Bassett
of Plymouth family is Charles Bassett of Dodge City, Kansas.
393.7A4. Benjamin Bassett, son of Lewis Bassett
Benjamin Bassett, son of Lewis and Lovina (Nickerson) Bassett, was born 7
Oct 1830. He was adopted by his uncle David Bassett. He married Julia Norton,
daughter of William Spooner and Sarah (Walden) Norton (IGI), on 12 Dec 1841
in New Bedford, Massachusetts (NBVR). Julia was born 15 Jun 1826 in Newport,
Rhode Island (IGI). They lived in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He was listed
as a sailmaker in vital records with the birth of his children. (NBVR - New
Bedford Vital Records)
1850 Federal Census of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts (24 Sep
1850)
Benjm Bassett 36 M Massachusetts Sailmaker
Julia H. 25 F Rhode Island
Eugene K. 8 M Massachusetts
Sarah C. 6 F Massachusetts
Sophia C. 4 F Massachusetts
Charles E. 2 M Massachusetts
Benjm F. 7/12 M Massachusetts
3937A41. Sarah C. Bassett - born in 1844 in New Bedford, Massachusetts (NBVR).
3937A42. Sophia C. Bassett - born 6 Jun 1846 in New Bedford, Massachusetts
(NBVR).
3937A43. Charles E. Bassett - born 30 Oct 1847 in New Bedford, Massachusetts
(NBVR). See sketch below.
3937A44. Benjamin F. Bassett - born 31 Oct 1849 in New Bedford, Massachusetts
(NBVR).
Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography by Dan L. Thrapp (1991)
Bassett, Charles E. (Senator), lawman (c. 1847-Jan. 5, 1896). B. at New
Bedford, Massachusetts, he enlisted and served throughout the Civil War, being
mustered out at Fort Sill, Indian Territory. Chosen sheriff of Ford County,
Kansas, June 5, 1873, he was re-elected twice, serving until 1878. In September
1877, he, with under-sheriff Bat Masterson and others chased Sam Bass following
a Union Pacific holdup at Big Springs, Nebraska, but without result. When
Masterson succeeded him as sheriff (because law prohibited Bassett from running
for a third successive term), Masterson appointed him under-sheriff. Bassett
was named Dodge City marshall after Ed Masterson was killed in April 1878.
Bassett was on hand for the finale of the Loving-Richardson gun fight in the
Long Branch Saloon at Dodge, April 5, 1879. He resigned as city marshal in
November 1879, went to Colorado in 1880 and later to Texas, returning to Dodge
City in September 1881. He then apparently made his headquarters at Kansas
City, returning to Dodge from time to time, including one occasion to take
part with Luke Short in his dispute with city authorities in Jun 1883. He
owned and worked at various Kansas City saloons until his death, at Hot Springs,
Arkansas.
The Kansas City Star, January 7,
1896, page 1, col. 7
"SENATOR" BASSETT DEAD.
The passing of a Frontier Character Well Known Here.
A Quiet, Modest Man Who, With "Bat" Masterson, Rid Dodge City of
Desperadoes When It Was a Wild Cowboy Town
Charles C. Bassett, known to the sporting fraternity all over the country,
a prominent figure in the frontier days of Kansas, is dead. News of his death
at Hot Springs Sunday was received in this city to-day. Inflammatory rheumatism,
from which he had been a sufferer for several years, is supposed to have been
the immediate cause.
The life history of Charlie Bassett, "Senator," as he was known
to his friends and acquaintances, is closely entwined with that of "Bat"
Masterson, Luke Short, W.H. Harris and other noted characters who were before
the public eye in the '70's. Bassett was born in New Bedford, Mass., about
49 years ago. He came west after the war and, after drifting about the mining
camps and frontier towns for a time, took up his abode in Dodge City, Kas.
The town was overrun with a lawless element. Desperadoes were as numerous
as flies in summer time and murders were of nightly occurrence.
It was a wide open town with all that the name implies. Peace loving citizens
were alarmed at the condition of affairs. Marshals who had attempted to quell
the desperadoes had either been killed or driven from the town. Finally "Bat"
Masterson was made marshal. He chose Bssett as his right hand man and cief
deputy. Bassett was of peaceable disposition, but had nerves of steel, unquetioned
courage and was a dead shot.
Masterson and Bassett soon establisehd a record as fearless and desperate
officials. Several of the desperadoes were killed and the remainder driven
from the town. Afterward, in recognition of his services, Bassett was made
sheriff of the county.
About fifteen years ago Bassett came to Kansas City as manager of Webster
& Hughes's "Marble Hall" saloon on main street, between Fifth
street and Missouri avenue. Subsequently he opened the "Senate"
saloon on West Ningth street and there he obtained the soubriquet of "Senator".
The venture was a failure and Bassett went to work as bartender for Frank
Jones and Hannon & Dixon. A year ago he went to Europe with Emil Werk,
the millionaire, now of Cincinnati, but formerly of this city. On his return
from Europe Bassett went to Hot Springs, Ark., in the hope that the water
would benefit his health.
It is said that like "Bat" Masterson, Bassett had several notches
on his revolver, each of which stood for a human life. Concerning this he
never spoke, even to his most intimate friends, and he rarely referred to
the exciting times when he was sheriff and deputy marshal in Dodge City. While
living in this city he was a member of the gun clubs and took a prominent
part in all sporting matters. When a mere boy Bassett enlisted in the Union
army at Philadelphia. He served through the war of the rebellion and was mustered
out at Fort Sill, I.T.
From "Why the West was Wild" Excerpt
On November 4, 1879, the Globe reported that "Ex-Sheriff Charles E.
Bassett returned last week from New Mexico, where he has been for the past
ten days in the interest of the Adams express company." The day the Globe
came out the city council met and appointed James Masterson city marshall
to replace Bassett who had by then resigned.
On December 23 Bassett was reported to be in St. Louis. Mo., but by January
6, 1880, when the January term of the Ford county district court convened,
he was back in Dodge for duty as deputy sheriff. His name appeared in the
newspapers a few times in minor items which stated that he took prisoners
to the penitentiary, but apparently hewas involved in nothing of note for
the reaminder of his stay in Dodge City. On April 27, 1880, the Ford County
Globe noted his exti from town: "Ex-Sheriff Chas. E. Bassett, accompanied
by Mysterious Dave [Mather} and two other prospectors, started out last week
in search of 'greener fields and pastures new.' They went in a two-horse wagon,
after the style in the dayso f '49." The Times, May 1, stated that he
was headed for the Gunnison country.
The newspapers of Dodge City did not mention Bassett again for more than 16
months. On September 13, 1881, the Globe notcied his return in this article:
"Charles E. Basestt, ex-sheriff of Ford county, and formerly city marshal
of Dodge City - one of the old timers - arrived the city ast Tuesday after
an absence of a year and a half. Charley looks as natural as life, wears good
clothes, and says Texas is suffering from dry weather." On September
8, two days after his return, he was mentioned as a possible cnadiadte for
sheriff, but two weeks later he was in Kansas City and apparently planning
to stay, judging form this item in the Times, September 22, 1881: "Hon.
C.E. Bassett, a well known cattle man of Kansas and Texas, returned to the
city yesterday after a brief stay at Dodge City. He will remain here for some
time. Kansas City Journal. Jim Kelley has charge of Mr. Bassett's herds during
his absence."
Another 18 months passed before the name of Charles E. Bassett again appeard
in the Dodge City newspapers. The Ford County Globe of March 20, 1883, reported
that he had been in Dodge City from Kansas City "the first of last week
and spent a day or two in our city visiting old-time friends." Bassett
was agin in Dodge City in June, 1883, with several other prominent Western
gun fighters, to aid Luke Short in his quarrel with the city authorities.
Twice more, on January 1, 1884, and April 7, 1885, Bassett was mentioned as
being in Dodge City. No further contemporary information has been found on
the Dodge City career of Charles E. Bassett.
Volunteer Enlistement, State of Pennsylvania, Town of Frankford
I, Charles E. Bassett, born in Mass., aged eighteen years, and by occupation
a clerk, Do hereby acknowledge to have volunteered this Fourteenth day of
February, 1865, to serve as a Soldier in the Army of the United States of
America, for the period of one year, unless sooner discharged by proper authority:
Do also agree to accept sucy bounty, pay, rations and clothing, as are, or
may be, established by law for volunteers, And I, Charles E. Bassett, do solemnly
swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of
America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their
enemies or possoers whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders
of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed
over me, according to the Rules and Articles of War.
Sworn and subscribed to at Frankford, Pa. this 14 day of February, 1865.
Charles E. Bassett
Mustered into the service of the United States, for one year or during the
war, from date of enlistment, in Company I, 213 Regiment of Penn. Volunteers,
on the 14 day of February, 1865 at Frankford, Pa. Complexion - light, height
5 ft. 4 in.
In a famous picture taken in Dodge City Kansas known as the
Dodge City
Peace Commissioners, the following appear: Charlie Bassett, Wyatt Earl, L.
McLean, Neal Brown, W.H. Haris, Luke Short and Bat Masterson.
(click to enlarge)
This site contains a picture of Charles Bassett.
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/WWbassettC.htm
To see more about Charles Bassett, you may want to check out the 1957 film
"Shootout at the O.K. Corral"
http://www.geocities.com/hollywood/screen/1090/movie26.htm
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Jeffrey Bassett
520 Salceda Drive
Mundelein, IL 60060 USA
bassettgenealogy@hotmail.com
(home)
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