| Notes |
- Marriage of William Henry Bassett to Caroline H. Dickson Toon performed on February 15, 1854 in Memphis, Tennessee, by Reverend Mr. Frazer, minister.
Written by Virginia Bassett Alleman, 1956
One best that I know and understand of the Bassetts of my father's immediate family is that they came directly from England to the colony of Virginia; they came sometime after the execution of Charles I (1649); they were Cavaliers. Colonel William Bassett of Virginia was a close relation to my great-grandfather Bassett. I have no reason to believe that he was a brother, but possibly a nephew or first cousin. My great-grandfather Bassett (first name unknown to me) was born in Charles City County, Virginia. My grandfather, William Henry Bassett, was also born in Charles City County, Virginia. He was born October 24, 1796. He became an orphan before the age of five; both his parents having died in an epidemic. At that tender age he was adopted and reared by the mother of William Henry Harrison, who later became president of the United States. This relative of my grandfather's (exact relation unknown) was Elizabeth Bassett, wife of Benjamin Harrison, signer of the Declaration of Independence. She was the daughter of Colonel William Bassett of "Eltham" in Virginia. Then still in his teens my grandfather, William Henry Bassett, went to sea. Not many years later, I was told, he owned a coastwise ship that plied between Norfolk, Virginia and New York City.
On January 22, 1822 he married Eleanor O'Neill of Baltimore, Maryland. Some family papers state that they were married in Washington, D.C.; other papers say Alexandria, D.C. At any rate, their first child (my father Joseph Carter Bassett) was born in Washington, D.C. on December 31, 1822. Their second child, William Henry Jr. came into this world in New York City. In the early 1830's my grandfather with his family and in his own ship came to Louisiana. He visited New Orleans; he also visited the coast of Cuba and Central America, then came up the Atchafalaya River to a small fishing village, now called Morton City, Louisiana. From there, he proceeded up the Teche River and came to Centerville, Louisiana, which at that time was a thriving village, or so I was told by my father who was a child of ten or older.
My grandfather, William Henry Bassett, must have remained at Centerville quite a few years as two sons were born there, Benjamin Harrison and Thomas Jefferson. From Centerville my grandfather moved to Vermilionville, Louisiana. (The Lafayette, Louisiana of today.) A daughter was born at Vermilionville named Eleanor Ann. She died at the age of 8. From Vermilionville, William Henry Bassett went to Washington, Louisiana, and a son was born there. He also died while still young. Eleanor O'Neill who married my grandfather (William Henry Bassett) in 1822 was the daughter of O'Neill (first name unknown to me) and Eleanor O'Brien, who were both from Antrim, Ireland. They were married in Ireland and came to the United States and settled in Baltimore, Maryland. Of this union there were two childen, a son named Bernard and my grandmother, Eleanor, who married William Henry Bassett. Bernard died without issue and was never married. He died while on an expedition to the West. Eleanor O'Neill Bassett died at Bayoudes Glaise in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, October 9, 1867. She is buried in the Catholic cemetery in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. My grandfather, William Henry Bassett married a second time, a Caroline Toon of Memphis, Tennessee. A son, Lewis Bassett, was born to them. He became a doctor and settled in Texas. (Benjamin Harrison and Thomas Jefferson Bassett also settled in Texas.)
Copy of letter from Joseph William Bassett to his daughter, Eleanor Bassett Waltz:
New Orleans, Louisiana - September 5, 1935
My dear Eleanor,
I hasten to answer your request for data of your grandfather's life history. You say you wrote to the war department for certain information relating to his service in the Confederate Army.
When I was born your grandfather was 52 years old, consequently when I had grown to an age where I began to take a lively interest in such matters as family history, he was so old and approaching his end that there was little time for him to communicate to me that which I afterwards so much wished to learn. What little I did learn, however, is about all that is available.
Joseph Carter Bassett was born December 31, 1823 in Winchester, Virginia. He was the oldest son of William Henry Bassett and Eleanor O'Neill. There were four other children born of this union: Benjamin (Henry), Thomas Jefferson, William Henry Jr., and one girl, Virginia. Eleanor O'Neill, wife of William Henry Bassett, died and he remarried. The second wife was Caroline Toon of Memphis, Tennessee and of this marriage, one son, Lewis Bassett, was born. He later became Dr. Lewis Bassett and settled in Texas, where his children still live.
Joseph Carter Bassett was given a first class college and university education. His two brothers, Benjamin (Harrison) and Thomas Jefferson, were graduates of Yale University and later were laywers in Brenham and Dallas, Texas. All of the boys received their pre-college education at St. Charles College, Jesuit school, Grand Coteau, Louisiana, which is now a seminary for Jesuit priests. Joseph Carter Bassett was absolutely the best posted and generally informed man I have ever known. His father, William Henry Bassett, was a sea-faring man, owner of sea-going vessels, and at the age of 23, his oldest son, Joseph Carter went to sea with him. Ill fortune came, during just such a hurricane as the one which recently harried the Florida Keys, and they were shipwrecked and lost everything. Father and son were saved by lashing themselves to a spar and being later picked up after days exposure. This tale I heard him tell many times.
During their voyage in search of cargoes they had many times made the port of New Orleans and knew of the fertile land to be had in Louisiana for the entry fee. When they found themselves ruined financially they decided to move to Louisiana from Virginia and did so. In a few years they had reformed their lives.....
Reconstruction days and the reign of the carpetbaggers followed. A long story and a gruesome one. Dark days for the whites that had survived the war. Father accepted an appointment as professor of history and mathematics at St. Charles College, Grand Coteau, Louisiana. In 1868 he met and married Eugenie Richard. She was only 23 years old, he was 44. Mother was a graduate of the convent of the Sacred Heart at Grand Coteau. Shortly after their marriage they moved to St. Martinville, Louisiana. There your grandfather was elected District Judge in which capacity he served for many years. To this union were born seven children: Amelia, Eleanor, Coralie, Eugenie, Virginia, William and Alice. Judge Carter Bassett died December 6, 1897 and was buried in the graveyard behind the Catholic Church, Grand Coteau, Louisiana. His wife survived him and died in 1906 and is buried in St. Martinville, Louisiana. in the Catholic graveyard there.
Now, my dear, I regret that I am unable to give you more explicit and correct data. I sincerely trust this will serve your purpose.
Lovingly, Dad
Footnote from Aunt Pecey.
William Henry Bassett, Sr. (father of Judge Carter Bassett) was born at Charles City County, Virginia in 1796. The date of his birth is verified by his death certificate at the Jesuit Seminary (or Parish Church), Grand Coteau, Louisiana.
1860 Federal Census of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana (27 Aug 1860)
William H. Bassett - 64 - M - Virginia - Farmer 20000 1000
Caroline H. - 44 - F - Tennessee
J. Carter - 38 - M - D.C. 3500 100
Jeffrey J. Thomas - 13 - M - Tennessee
Lewis M. - 4 - M - Louisiana
William B. Martin - 3 - M - Louisiana
Marguerite Dickinson - 83 - F - North Carolina
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Bassett Family Association Database
Abt 1816 - 