Hiram Bassett descends from William Bassett of Plymouth as follows:
William Bassett and wife Elizabeth
Joseph Bassett (b. 1635) and wife Mary Lapham
William Bassett (b. 1667) and wife Sarah Sweetland
William Bassett (b. 1694) and wife Mary Crossman
William Bassett (b. 1726) and wife Lydia Fisher
Samuel Bassett (b. 1754) and wife Martha Belding
Massa Bassett (b. 1783) and wife Catherine Kingsbury
Hiram Bassett (b. 1822) and wife Mary Maria Smart
Boston Herald, Wednesday, July 29, 1896
She Gets $20,000 Alimony
Wife of Hiram Bassett of Orange Granted a Divorce
GREENFIELD, July 28, 1896, Judge Gaskill today adjourned the July term of the superior court.
In the divorce case of Mary M. Bassett of New Salem against Hiram Bassett of Orange, the testimony showed that Mary M. Bassett and Hiram Bassett were married at Searsport, Me., Oct. 10, 1846. They have lived in Worcester, New Salem and other places. It was set forth that the husband deserted his wife in New Salem in 1888.
The testimony also showed that libellant, by general reports, was worth from $40,000 to $70,000. Mrs. Bassett was given a divorce and alimony of $20,000.
Mr. Bassett is reported to be almost a miser. He has said the he can live on 20 cents a day.
Springfield Republican, Massachusetts, Tuesday, April 29, 1902
Hiram Bassett
Hiram Bassett, 80, died Sunday night after a brief illness. Mr. Bassett was an eccentric man and his idea of living was peculiar. He was worth a large sum of money, yet he was unusually economical in his living. He paid his wife $20,000 for separate support several years ago. At one time he owned 2000 acres of valuable timber land in New Salem, which he afterward sold to F.H. West of this city. At the time of his death he owned half a dozen houses in Orange and several valuable building lots. Personally Mr. Bassett was a social, pleasant man to do business with. His word was as good as his bond. He leaves three sons.