Bassett Family Association Database

James Bassett

Male Abt 1819 - 1900  (~ 81 years)


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  • Name James Bassett 
    Born Abt 1819  Norfolk, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 22 Mar 1900  Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • James came to Canada from Norfolk, England in 1856. Birth dates for all of the children are from the family bible of James and Margaret Bassett. They settled in Wesleyville, Ontario, Canada.

      1861 Canadian Census of Port Hope, Durham, Ontario
      James Bassett40 EnglandFishermanWesleyan Methodist
      Margaret 28 Ireland Wesleyan Methodist
      George A. 2 Upper Canada Wesleyan Methodist
      Mary A. 1 Upper Canada Wesleyan Methodist
      (Lived in a 1 story frame house with 1 cow and livestock worth $20)

      1871 Canadian Census of Hope Township, Durham County, Ontario
      James Bassett51 MEngland English Farmer
      Margaret 37 F Ireland Irish
      George Albert 12 M Ontario English
      Mary Ann 9 F Ontario English
      Louisa 6 F Ontario English
      James H. 5 M Ontario English
      Walter 2 M Ontario English
      (James cannot read or write)

      1871 Canadian Census of Hope Township, Durham County, Ontario
      Thomas Brice60 M Ireland Irish Church of England
      Margaret 64 F Ireland Irish Church of England
      William 22 M Ireland Irish Church of England
      Ann Jane 20 F Ireland Irish Church of England
      Elizabeth 24 F Ireland Irish Church of England
      Thomas 26 M Ireland Irish Church of England
      Joseph 28 M Ireland Irish Church of England
      Mary 36 F Ireland Irish Church of England

      1881 Canadian Census of Hope, Durham East, Ontario
      James Bassett62 MEngland FarmerMethodist Canada
      Margaret49 F Ireland Methodist Canada
      George 22 M Ontario Farmer Methodist Canada
      Mary A. 21 F Ontario Servant Methodist Canada
      Louisa 16 F Ontario Methodist Canada
      James H. 15 M Ontario Methodist Canada
      Walter R. 13 M Ontario Methodist Canada

      1881 Canadian Census of Hope, Durham East, Ontario, Canada
      Thomas Brice75 M Ireland Irish Farmer Methodist Canada
      William 31 M Ontario Irish Farmer Methodist Canada
      Jane 25 F Ontario Irish Methodist Canada
      Arthur Brown 9 M Ontario Irish Methodist Canada

      Wesleyville Cemetery
      James Bassett (1818-22 Mar 1900), native of Norfolk, Eng., s/o Thomas & Mary, h/o
      Margaret (married 4 May 1858).
      Margaret (Brice) Bassett (1832 - 25 Jul 1903) d/o Thomas & Margaret, w/o James.
      Robert Walter Bassett (1868 - 4 Nov 1899)

      James Bassett, age 38, Port Hope, England, son of Thomas and Mary & Margaret Brice, age 25, Port Hope, Ireland, daughter of Thomas and Margaret on May 4, 1858. Durham County Marriage Register.

      Wesleyville United, 2082 Lakeshore Road, Wesleyville, west of Port Hope
      James Bassett died Mar 22 1900, aged 82 years. Native of Norfolk, England.
      Margaret Bassett died July 25 1903, aged 71 years.
      In Loving memory of Robert Walter Bassett died November 4 1899, in his 32nd year.


      Executors' Notice to Creditors
      In the Matter of the Estate of Margaret Bassett, Late of the Township of Hope,
      in the County of Durham, Widow, Deceased.

      Notice is hereby given pursuant to "The Revised Statues of Ontario of 1897" Chapter 129, that all Creditors and others having claims against the estate of the said Margaret Bassett who died on or about the twenty-fifth day of July, A.D., 1903, are required on or before the Tenth day of September, A.D., 1903, to send by post prepaid or deliver to the undersigned, Solicitor for Joseph Dark, and Francis Little, both of the said Township of Hope, Farmers, the Executors of the last Will and Testament and Codicil thereto of the said deceased, their Christian and Surnames, addresses and descriptions, the full particulars of their claims, the Statement of their accounts and the nature of the securities (if any) held by them.
      And further take notice that after such last mentioned date the executors will proceed to distribute the assets of the ceased among the parties entitled thereto, having regard only to the claims of which they shall then have notice, and that the said executors will not be liable for the said assets or any part thereof to any person or persons of whose claims notice shall not have been received by them at the time of such distribution as aforesaid.
      Date the Tenth day of August, A.D., 1903. Henry White, Solicitor for the said Executors. Port Hope, Ont.

      Wesleyville Church Centennial Booklet

      James Bassett came from Norfolk, England as a young man and purchased farm on lot 30. He did considerable clearing of the land with a stump puller and built a house high on the hill north of Lakeshore Road. Several houses were built back along that side road and a sister Mrs. Brown lived in one of them. James married Margaret Bryce and there were five children. Mary Ann married Joseph Darke. Louisa married Richard Brock. James Jr. married Ellen Jane Burley. George married Alice Kermon and lived out our time on lot 24 what is now known as Willow Beach; went to New Liskeard later. His son Percy survives. Walter married Florence Meadows, died in 1899 at age of 31. Both James and George were honored by the community for their services especially in the Sunday School.

      The Weekly Guide, Friday, May 13, 1898

      A whole host of very agreeable besiegers effected an entrance in to the residence of Mr. James Bassett, on Wednesday evening, 4th instant. The intentions of those who planned the raid was to give the aged couple a present. Mr. and Mrs. Bassett were very much taken by surprise, but after finding out the invincibles were not going to rob or lynch them they yielded possession. If we understand the rule of etiquette, this social gathering was nothing short of a golden wedding. For when a husband and wife have seen their fiftieth wedding day they may well be said to have reached the golden age of matrimony. Our venerable friends have arrived near that epoch, and with the mellow light of life's declining sun shining upon their heads they would now repeat the pledges of mutual affection, which they exchanged forty years ago. Time has not chilled their hearts, tho it has scattered its snows in their hair, and traced here and there its furrows on their brows. This is truly a refreshing spectacle. Within the period that has elapsed since our old and respected friends were made one, nations have been divided, empires overthrown, and in many parts of the world the very face of nature has changed. But there is no change in this couple, save that which years has produced upon the outer shell of humanity. In soul and spirit the bride and bridegroom of half a century ago. This is an age of improvement, but there are some things which cannot be improved. One of them is old-fashioned affection. It is beautifully illustrated in our aged friends. We see i in them the picture of love triumphant over time. As long as they have sailed together under cloud and sunshine they would now take a new departure. Still young in heart, tho old in years and happy in each other. We wish them bon voyage, and trust they have a tranquil sea before them, and that as they draw nearer and nearer to the harbor to which we are all bound to go; "the peace which passeth all understanding" may be theirs.

      EPITHALANIUM
      Forty years have elpased, oh, how time doth flee,
      Since James and his wife, nothing loth, were made one;
      And i needs but a glance at their faces to see
      Their lives since that hour have run pleasantly on.
      And now prizing wedlock all blessings above,
      They propose the old story again to be told,
      But the lady who marries the first time for love,
      The next time she marries, she marries for gold.
      Single life is a born. When in Eden alone
      Adam dozed, of his own stupid company aired;
      But, awakening and seeing his beautiful Bone,
      Nothing more on this earth that young fellow desired.
      A bachelor's Robinson Crusoe like life
      Seems to me like a prison, so dreary and cold
      A man's morally poor until blest with a wife,
      Tho his back book may show he has oceans of gold.
      Young men yet unwed, of your freedom don't brag;
      Know the married man's home is true Liberty Hall,
      If you question it, look at James and his bride,
      And inform us, please, which of them look like a thrall.
      No; wedlock's a look that, when love keeps the key
      Is a Heaven on earth to each pair, we are told.
      And James and his wife say they would not be free
      For all of California's auriferous gold,
      What say you now, young ladies, pray, tell me truth,
      Don't you think a good husband, of good is the sum
      Spinster's life, well enough in the heyday of youth,
      But in age, let me tell you it's awfully glum.
      'Tis your duty to comfort our sex all you can,
      And always good-natured and never to scold;
      So each of you choose a good looking young man,
      If he's worth you, don't mind the absence of gold.
      Don't laugh at these lines when they come to your sight,
      For a reason that's worth a whole volume of rhyme
      To know a true couple a second time spliced.
      The faith of two hearts that in unison chime,
      May the forty years bliss that over them rolled
      Keep their hearts warm, now they are old,
      And ten years hence, should they live to behold,
      Friendly hands will replace the memorials of gold.
      May 9th, 1898.
    Person ID I64  39B The Bassetts of Norfolk,England
    Last Modified 8 Apr 2009 

    Father Thomas Bassett,   b. 1797, Oxborough, Norfolk, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Feb 1866, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years) 
    Mother Mary Ann Collett,   b. Abt 1802,   d. 8 Apr 1872  (Age ~ 70 years) 
    Married 29 Jun 1818  Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F9  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Margaret Brice,   d. 25 Jul 1903 
    Married 4 May 1858  Port Hope, Durham County, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. George Albert Bassett,   b. 9 Feb 1859, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Apr 1933  (Age 74 years)
    +2. Mary Ann Bassett,   b. 7 Apr 1860, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. UNKNOWN
    +3. Louisa Jane Bassett,   b. 10 Oct 1864, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. UNKNOWN
    +4. Jr. James Henry Bassett,   b. 27 Jan 1866, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1934  (Age 67 years)
     5. Robert Walter Bassett,   b. 20 Oct 1868, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1899  (Age 30 years)
    Family ID F30  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart