Bassett Family Association Database

Captain William Bassett, Sr.

Male 1794 - 1878  (84 years)


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  • Name William Bassett 
    Prefix Captain 
    Suffix Sr. 
    Born 15/18 Sep 1794  Oxford, New Haven County, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    _UID 5A7FA72C0B251D4E968385D43EB9C52499C2 
    Died 21 Oct 1878  Franklin, Portage County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • The will of Edward Bassett of Oxford, New Haven County, Connecticut, was written on 1 Jun 1836 and proven 23 Feb 1841 in New Haven County District Court. Mentioned in Edward's will and the other pertaining documents were his present wife Damaris Bassett; his daughters Phebe Tomlinson, Aleather Lewis, and Hannah Bassett; his sons Darwin Bassett, Samuel Bassett, Elliott Bassett, Andrew Bassett, William Bassett and Joseph Bassett; his son-in-law William R. Tomlinson; and Edward D. Bassett. Moses Hawkins of Oxford and Hannah Bassett of Oxford, his daughter, were named as executors. Land mentioned included the homestead containing ten acres and two pieces of land in Southbury (forty acres and one acre).

      History of Portage County, Ohio (1885)
      William Bassett, Jr., farmer, P.O. Kent, was born in Ravenna Township, this county, May 22, 1829; son of William and Eloisa (Welton) Bassett, natives of Oxford, New Haven County, Connecticut, former born September 18, 1794, latter August 4, 1798. They came to this county in 1817 and located in Rootstown Township where they lived about eight months, then moved to Franklin Township and settled on the place known as the Pritchard farm. They afterward exchanged the farm for property now occupied by the mother of our subject, which was then considered the poorest portion of the township. The farm comprises 263 acres of land, 200 of which are under cultivation. William Bassett, Sr., was a veteran of the war of 1812, Captain of the militia in Franklin Township in early times, and generally known as Captain Bassett. After his settlement in Franklin Township he taught a night school for two months, said to be the first school in the township. He had four children: WIlliam Jr., Harriet (deceased), Edward W., in Ravenna, and Horace P., in Warren. He was a thorough-going, pushing business man and at the time of the building of the Ohio Canal he contracted to furnish the stone for the locks. He died October 21, 1878, at the age of eighty-four; his widow, aged eighty-six, still resides on the old homestead. Our subject was reared in Franklin Township, this county, where he received a common school education and has always followed farming as an occupation. He was married, May 9, 1854, to Esther A., daughter of Deacon Barber Clark, of Franklin Township, this county, who died May 8, 1879, at the age of forty-eight years. Mr. Bassett is a member of the Congregational Church, with which he has been identified since 1859. He is a F.&A.M.; in politics a Republican.

      William Bassett Sr. left Oxford about 1 April 1817 and moved to Rootstown, Portage County, Ohio. During the War of 1812 he served in Seymour Knapp's Company of Connecticut Militia.

      Biographical History of Northeastern Ohio (1893)
      Horace P. Bassett, formerly proprietor of one of the leading livery stables in Warren, Ohio, is a native of Portage County, this State, born June 17, 1838.
      William and Eloise (Welton) Bassett, the parents of H.P., were natives of Connecticut. William Bassett drove an ox team from Connecticut to Ohio as early as 1817, and settled on a tract of wild land. Here he cut away the forest and developed a farm of 266 acres, and on this farm he passed the rest of his life, and died at the age of eighty-five years. He was a prominent man in this county, and for some time served as Captain of the Militia. He was in the war of 1812, having entered the service when he was sixteen years old. The Bassett family are descended from an old English family that settled in New England at an early day. William Bassett was a prominent member of the Freesoil party, and he also took considerable interest in the educational affairs of his day. He was a man of great prowess, was a great wrestler, and was known all over the country for his remarkable physique. His wife died at the age of eight-seven years. She was a member of the Episcopal Church. Of their four children we make record as followws: William, a farmer near Kent, Ohio, was for many years a railroad conductor, and is now prominently identified with local affairs; Harriet, deceased; Edward W., a railroad conductor for many years, was employed as express manager at the time of his death, which occured at Kent in 1887; and Horace P., with whose name we begin this sketch.
      Horace P. Bassett remained on his father's farm until he was twenty years old, receiving his education in the public schools and at Hiram College. At the age of twenty he accepted a position with Harris, Hanford & Co., dealers in blank books, papers, etc., and for two years was employed as their traveling salesman. In 1860 he came to Warren, and was soon afterward employed as traveling salesman for James B. Dunlap, grocer, in whose employ he remained three years. He was then employed by another grocery firm, Anderson & Rupps, with whom he continued until 1864. That year he engaged in the livery business, succeeding A.S. Robins, which business he continued up to May, 1893. In 1873, he combned undertaking with his livery business, and carried on both until January, 1893, when he sold the undertaking department to Taylor & Pierce. Mr. Bassett is an authority on horses, his opinion frequently being sought and always valued. He owns a fine stallion, known far and near as "Black Allie".
      Mr. Bassett also devotes considerable time to looking after his farm, in Portage county, of 340 acres. He and his brother William own the old home place. He is also interested somewhat in the life-insurance business, representing the United States Life Insurance Company.
      Politically, Mr. Bassett is a Republican. Fraternally, he is a member of the A.F.&A.M. Erie Lodge, No. 3; I.O.O.F., No. 29; K. of P., No. 30; and American Mechanics, No. 4. He is Past Grand in the I.O.O.P. and Past Chancellor of the K. of P.
      Mr. Bassett was married in 1860, to Miss Justine L., daughter of Washington Brewster, a native of Summit county, Ohio. They have had four children, three of whom are living: Jennie B., Charles H. and Helen J. William is deceased. Jennie B. is the wife of E.W. Christy of Cleveland, Ohio, manager of the United States Life Insurance Company.

      1840 Federal Census of Franklin, Portage County, Ohio
      William Bassett 201011-000001
      2MU5, 1M10-15, 1M20-30, 1M30-40, 1F30-40

      1850 Federal Census of Franklin Township, Portage County, Ohio
      William Bassett - 54 - M - Connecticut - Farmer 4000
      Louisa - 51 - F - Connecticut
      William Jr. - 21 - M - Ohio
      Edward W. - 16 - M - Ohio
      Horace P. - 12 - M - Ohio

      1860 Federal Census of Franklin Township, Portage County, Ohio (17 Jul 1860)
      William Bassett - 65 - M - Connecticut - Farmer 7050 1360
      Louisa - 60 - F - New York
    Person ID I517  1B John Bassett of Connecticut
    Last Modified 7 Dec 2012 

    Father Edward Bassett,   b. 1751,   d. 21 Jan 1841, Oxford, New Haven County, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 90 years) 
    Mother Alice (Polly?) Curtiss 
    Married Bef 1791 
    Family ID F78  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Eloise Welton,   b. 4 Aug 1798, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Oct 1886, Kent, Portage County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 88 years) 
    Married 27 Feb 1817  Oxford, New Haven County, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. William Bassett, Jr.,   b. 22 May 1829, Ravenna Township, Portage County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location
     2. Harriet Bassett
    +3. Edward Welton Bassett,   b. 19 Mar 1834, Franklin Township, Portage County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 17 Aug 1888, Kent, Portage County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 54 years)
    +4. Horace P. Bassett,   b. 17 Jun 1838, Portage County, Ohio Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1903  (Age 64 years)
    Family ID F212  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Sources 
    1. [S3] VBOX - Vital Records Births Oxford, Connecticut.