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| Notes for William BASSETT | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 695William Bassett was baptized at Dorking (County Surrey) England, 30 May 1624, the son of Roger and Ann (Holland) Bassett (St. Martin's Church Records, cited in Chandler, 2) and he died at Lynn, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, on 31 March 1703 (Lynn Vital Records). He married, probably at Lynn, about 1646, Sarah Burt, the daughter of William Bassett's step-father, Hugh Burt. William's mother, Ann Bassett, married, as her second husband, widower Hugh Burt, whose will, dated 7 October 1661, bequeathed "to my son (i.e. son-in-law) William Bassett | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| From Michael K. Hendrix <mhendrix@worldnet.att.net> The following information on William Bassett and his family has been extracted primarily from "Salem Co., NJ Historical Society Publication", (Vol. 3, No. 1) form "The Bassett Family", by Catherine Soleman Chandler, Downers Grove, IL, July 1964. In her introduction, Mrs. Chandler acknowledges that another William Bassett (often confused with this family) came to New England in 1621 on the ship "Fortune", who was twice married and originally from Bethnal Green, Middlesex. He had spent 10 years with the Pilgrims in Leyden, Holland prior to coming to America and died in 1667 Our William Bassett was apparently the only child born to Roger Bassett and Ann Holland, being baptized on 30 May 1624 at St. Martin's Church, Dorking, Surrey Co., England. At the age of about three, his father died and his mother married Hugh Burt, sometime after 3 Oct. 1628 when Hugh's first wife Ursullah was buried. Hugh Burt (35), Ann Burt (32), William Bassett (9) and Edward Burt (8) were registered as passengers on the log of the ship "Abigail" on 17 June 1635 and Hugh Burt, Jr. (15) was registered on 1 July 1635 by Robert Blackwell, Shipmaster. Other researchers have concluded that the ages given on the log were probably off by a few years since Hugh Burt, Sr. (according to later Salem Court records) should have been about 44 years old at the time. Upon arrival in America, the family first settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, but apparently soon thereafter moved to Lynn, MA where Hugh Burt, Sr. was one of the original inhabitants who were given land there in 1638. It has become generally accepted that William Bassett's wife was Sarah Burt, daughter of Hugh Burt, Sr. by his first wife Ursullah. This is corroborated by all early histories of Massachusetts, although no record of her birth or proof of this relationship has yet been found. It is believed that she was born in England, although no baptismal or ship passenger records have been located. Particularly puzzling is why she was not shown on the log of the ship "Abigail" with her father in 1635. In any event, William and Sarah were married about 1646 and probably in Lynn, MA, although it could have occurred elsewhere since no one at that time was qualified to perform marriages in Lynn. They lived on Nahant Street in Lynn and this property was still owned by Bassett descendants when the "History of Lynn, Mass.", by Lewis and Newhall was published in 1865. During the Indian Wars, William Bassett was an ensign in Capt. Gardner's company from nearby Salem, MA. William was later promoted to Captain. For his service in this capacity, he was awarded by the General Court, a grant of 3 acres and 128 poles of land. In Lynn and Essex County records, William Bassett was referred to as "Quartermaster". He served many times on trial juries in the Quarterly Court, was a Constable and Selectman (or Prudential man) in Lynn (along with Thomas Leighton, Richard Walker, Andrew Mansfield, Nathaniel Kertland, John Burrill and Ralph King), and was among those citizens who signed for the purchase of land from the Indians in 1686. In 1689, William was a member of the Council of War along with Major Benjamin Church of Scarborough, Maine. All Of William and Sarah's children were born in Lynn and were living at the time William made his will on 10 Feb. 1701/02. The fear and hysteria of witchcraft which began in England, gripped New England and culminated in the infamous Salem Witch Trials in 1692, had been a sinister undercurrent for many years among the inhabitants of Salem. In 1669, a complaint against Widow Burt for witchcraft was made in Salem Court. It is reasonably certain that this was widow Ann Burt, mother of William Bassett, Sr. The younger Hugh Burt, Jr. would have been about 49 at this time (had he lived) and his wife would have probably been about the same age. The terms "auld wich" and "ols goody Burt" would likely have applied more aptly to Ann. In any event, the ridiculous charges (documented in the Quarterly Court Records of Salem, 30 Nov. 1669) offer an interesting sidelight to the life and superstitions of this period. Some of the charges have been excerpted below: "Bethiah Carter, aged 23 years, deposed that she heard Sarah Towsan say when she was a maid & lived with Goodwife Burt that the latter told the said Sarah if she could believe in her God she would cure her body and soul, but Goodwife Burt said she could not cure her own husband because he would not believe in her God, but her maid did and was cured. Since then the said Sarah has been sorely afflicted with sad fits 'Crying out and Rayling agaynst me sayin My father carryed me to boston but Carryed her to Lin too an auld wich'. Sarah told her further that she had seen the said Burt appear often at her bed's feet in the day and night." "Phillip Reade, Physician, aged about 45 years, deposed that he had been sent for several times to see Sara Townsan and her sister Carter, both being very ill. 'Sd Sara townsend being in a more sadder Condiccion he had noe oppertunyty to Examine her Condiccion but did playnly perceive there was no Naturall caus for such unnatural fits but being sent for the 4th time and finding her in a meat Capassity to Give information of her agreunac and Caus of her former fits she tould me the abovesd Burt had afflickted her and if ever she did Relate it to anyone she would afflict her wors one however after had a sadder fit than evar sha had afore: then I askt her who afflict her Now abd what the matter was she Replide with a great scrich she had tould me already and she did Now Suffer for it.' " "John Knight, aged about 47 years, deposed that he 'was goinge to fetch some things for his wife and he saw old goody burt coming out of the swamp and shee was in her smok sleeves and a blake hancacher and black cap on her head and hee looked upp and suddenly shee was gone out of sight and I looked aboute and could not see her, when I came into the house I found her in the same habit as I saw her and he said unto her did I not see you in the swamp even now and she said noe I was in the house and he tould her she was a light headed woman.' " "Maddelene Pearson, aged about 50 years, deposed that she heard Sarah Pearson say when her father had her down to Goodwife Burts to be cured of her sore that the first night she was there the said Burt put her to bed..... Burt said 'Sarah will you smokit and giving of the pipe she smokit', and Sarah fell into fits again and said Goodwife Burt brought the devil to torment her." Apparently no action was taken against Widow Burt as a result of these charges. However, some of William and Sarah Bassett's children were not so lucky. Their oldest son William, Jr.' wife Sarah Hood was tried at Salem on 23 May 1692 and was sentenced to Boston prison where she was kept until 3 Dec. 1692. Her daughter named Deliverance was born while she was being held in prison. She later received 9 pounds as compensation for her false imprisonment for witchcraft. Their daughter Elizabeth's first husband John Proctor was hanged for wizardry during the Salem Trials on 19 Aug. 1692, based on the testimony of Mary Warren, a servant in their household. Elizabeth was also found guilty of witchcraft, but was given a reprieve "on account of her peculiar circumstances" or until her child John Proctor, Jr. could be born. She was eventually given restitution for her prison stay of 150 pounds in 1703. John and Elizabeth Proctor were the central characters in Arthur Miller's play (and subsequent movie) "The Crucible" and are also described in the book "The Devil in Massachusetts", by Marion Starkey, written in 1949. William and Sarah's daughter Mary was also accused of witchcraft and was sent to prison in Boston on23 May 1692. At the time of her imprisonment, she was a widow and was given 9 pounds as compensation for her prison stay. It is unclear as to when the Bassetts became Quakers, but it was probably not during the lifetime of William, Sr. At Lynn, on the 22 Apr. 1703, "Whereas, we, the people called Quakers, of the town of Lynn, having been requested by the governor to give a list of our name - in answer thereunto each person hath respectively signed himselfe - Richard Estes, Samuel Collins, William Bassett, Walter Phillips, Richard Oake, Joseph Richards, John Hood, Samuel Breed, Hugh Alley, William Bassett, Jr., John Bassett, John Collins, Jabez Jenkins, Walter Phillips, Jr., Isaac Clark, Samuel Collins, Jr. and John Estes." William Bassett, Sr. had died when this was signed so that the Bassetts signing were probably his sons William, Jr. and John Bassett and William, Jr.'s son William Bassett, III. William Bassett, Sr. died in Lynn, MA on 31 Mar. 1703 and his will was proved and allowed on 22 May 1703. It is not known when or where wife Sarah died. The will of William Bassett is given below: "In the name of God Everlasting Amen: I William Bassett Senr. of Lyn in ye County of Esex in Newengland being of good & perfect memory & Rationally Disposed And having attained to ye years of a good old age & being very sensable of ye decay of nature & ye many Distempers & Infirmities that do attend my outward man not knowing how soone my great & last chang may come have therefore taken this opportunity to settle ye affaires of my family & so leave this as my last will and testament. Impr: as for my precious mortall soul I freely resign it to him that gave it & to my Redeemer Jesus Christ which by his precious blood hath ransome my soul from Death. as for my body which is fraile I comend it to ye dust willing a decent Interment thereof suitable to my Rank & quality. Although worms my skin destroy yet in my flesh I shall see God - Amen. As for the disposall of my outward Estate which God of his Goodness hath given mee - my will is that after my funerall charges & lawfull debts bee paid I bequeathe to my deare & loving wife who hath bin carefull of mee & industrious in her place for ye procurement of what outward Estate I have I bequeth unto her the Improvement of my whole estate during her naturall life and all the moveable estate in my house which is mine to be at her disposall - as shee shall see cause: Item: I give to my eldest son willm Bassett all ye housing land meddowes marshes and movables within ye bounds of Lyn township or Elsewhere to bee at his absolut disposall: further it is to bee under stood that my son willm Bassett is to pay out of such Estate all such Legasies as I shall give t0o ye rest of my children as followeth: Item: I give to my son Elisha Bassett fivetie shillings in mony: Item: I give to my son Samuel Bassett fivetie shillings in mony: Item I give to my daughter Elizabeth Bassett allias Richards forty shillings in mony: Item: I give to my daughter Sarah Elwell fortie shillings in mony: Ittem: I give to my daughter Merriam Sandy fortie shillings in mony: Ittem: I give to my daughter Mary Ruck fortie shillings in mony: Ittem I give to my daughter Rachel Silsbe fortie shillings in mony: Ittem I give to my daughter Rebeckah Bassett fortie shillings in mony: Ittem I give to my daughter Hannah Lille fortie shillings in mony -- and if any of ye above named Children Except my son Willm should dye then to be divided equaly amongst them all. It is to be understood that these legasies are to be paid within a one yeare after my disease and my wives and my will is that neither str??? nor waste be made But to the end foresaid. Ittem my will is that my son William Bassett bee sole Executtor to this my last will and testament. Heare unto I have sett to my hand and seale this tenth day of february in the yeare of our 1701. Sighned William Bassett with a seale -- Wittnessed by Before sighning it is to be understood that my son William Bassett is to have my whole Estate as is above mentioned to him & his heirs for ever." Wit: Samuel Johnson, Lois Rogers, Ezekiel Rogers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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