Richard Emanuel Bassett descends from #44B Emanuel Bassett of St. Enoder, Cornwall as follows:
Emanuel Bassett (d. 1676) and wife Grace
Richard Bassett (b. 1643) and wife Jane Vanson
Emanuel Bassett (b. 1685) and wife Mary Rogers
Thomas Bassett (b. 1717) and wife Rose Kendel
Emanuel Bassett (b. 1755) and wife Honor Hill
Emanuel Bassett (b. 1780) an wife Ann Ford
William Ford Bassett (b. 1808) and wife Ann Halls
Richard Emanuel Bassett (b. 1843) and wife Caroline Dowsing
Last night, a disastrous fire broke out on the farm of Mr. Richard Bassett, situated on the Muckleford Creek, near the Orville Hotel, six miles from Castlemaine, which has so far been attended with an estimated loss of £500. This morning I went to the place and gathered the following particulars :- Last night about 20 minutes past 7, as Mrs. Dowsing, Mr. Bassett’s mother-in-law was milking a cow in the cow-yards, situated near two large stacks of wheat and one of hay, each being within 15ft. of each other, she was startled by a crackling sound, and rising to her feet, she saw a flame of fire burst out from the nearest wheat stack. She ran to the house some 50 yards distant, and gave the alarm to Mr. Bassett and others. By this time the stack, which must have been specially inflammable after the extreme heat of the hottest day this summer, was wrapped in fire, long tongues of flame darting high into the air, and as they were horizontalised by a gust of wind, they caught hold of the other wheat stack, which, as though it had a coating of gunpowder, immediately burst into a mass of flames, which in an instant extended to the haystack. Several persons seeing that is was impossible to save the stacks, went for wet blankets to endeavor to protect the stables and cowshed. Others ran to unbail the cows, and to drag the machinery out of the implement-sheds, which were situated to the leeward of the burning stacks. However it was found that the cowshed was already on fire, and the cows frantic with the heat had pulled the bails down, and, almost suffocated with the smoke, were endeavouring to leap over the fence. The implement shed had just been emptied when it took fire, and in a few seconds the whole was enveloped in a mass of flames. Some 15 men working in connexion with a threshing machine which was operating upon the stacks of Mr. Talbot, about a quarter of a mile distant, were soon on the spot, with 12 or 14 farmers residing near, but their services at that time were of no avail beyond confining the fire to its present holdings. A messenger was then sent to Haddon for the fire brigade, who arrived with their engine and appliances at about 10 o’clock, after travelling nearly six miles in little over 25 minutes. They at once placed their engine on the banks of the creek, and a stream of water was soon playing on the nearest stick, the buildings by this time having been totally consumed. After pumping for five hours the flames of the one stack were overcome, and the remaining sheaves at the bottom of the stack were commenced to be carted away, to put aside at a safe distance to store for pig’s feed. Towards daybreak the wind rose, and during the morning was almost of hurricane force, and up to 2 o’clock today the brigade had worked without ceasing to keep the fire from spreading to the stables and dwellinghouse. The farm belongs to Mr. J. Jackson, and is leased by Mr. Bassett, this being the third year of his tenure. He had an area of 100 acres under wheat, and 10 of oats. The wheat was anticipated by the farmers around to yield 20 bushels to the acre, and with the produce of 20 acres cut for hay. The cow-shed and implement-sheds were substantially erected, and these, with sheep and other yards, were also destroyed. As above stated, the estimated loss is £500, the property being uninsured. The origin of the fire is a mystery.