Capt. Peleg Tripp Bassett descends from William Bassett of Plymouth as follows:
William Bassett and wife Elizabeth
William Bassett (b. 1624) and wife Mary Raynesford
William Bassett (b. 1656) and wife Rachel Williston
William Bassett (b. 1680) and wife Abigail Bourne
John Bassett (b. 1716) and wife Mercy Newcomb
Thomas Bassett (b. 1759) and wife Lydia Mendall
Thomas Bassett (b. 1790) and wife Abigail M. Tripp
Capt. Peleg Tripp Bassett (b. 1815) and wife Susan Bray
Bassett Street in Denver, Colorado is named for Peleg Tripp Bassett.
Gold!: Madness, Murder, and Mayhem in the Colorado Rockies
By Ian Neligh
Peleg T. Bassett, Denver’s first town recorder, and John Scudder, the treasurer of Auraria Town Company, were once good friends but soon became implacable enemies. On April 16, 1859, Scudder heard Bassett telling others he wasn’t trustworthy and accusing the Denver recorder of opening his mail. An insult too serious to ignore, Scudder went to Bassett’s cabin to confront him about what he claimed were false accusations. Apparently Bassett initially denied bad-mouthing his former friends, but as their conversation grew heated, he admitted that he had indeed spoken the unkind words.
The argument grew more intense and Bassett grabbed a pick handle and lunged at Scudder, who evaded the attack, drew his pistol, and shot Bassett at close range. Following the discharge of the firearm, Bassett stumbled back against his house with a bullet in his chest and soon died. Scudder tried to say his actions were in self-defense, but a lynching mentality was growing within the population. Only about a week prior, John Stoefel had the dubious honor of being the town’s first hanging for killing his brother-in-law. Scudder wisely fled back east until tempers calmed before later returning to Denver.
Murder of Captain Bassett
On the 16th of April, Captain Bassett was shot and mortally wounded by J.W. Scudder. After Bassett’s death, the murderer succeeded in effecting his escape from custody, and in company with Carrol Wood, who was implicated in the crime, left the city.
Trial of Scudder for the Murder of Capt. Bassett
On the 18th day of April, John Scudder who, in an affray, had shot and killed Peleg T. Bassett, was tried by a people’s court, Chas. A. Lawrence, Esq., acting as Judge, and acquitted. The deed was done on the 16th of April, 1859, since which time Mr. Scudder had been sojourning in Utah, returning to Denver voluntarily to stand his trial. By the evidence, it was conclusively shown that the prisoner had only acted in self-defense.