(1) Welcome
(2) James P. Bassett, named to New Hampshire Supreme Court
(3) Wedding Photo of William Hugh Garnet Bassett (1921)
(4) Joseph M. Bassett of Toledo, Ohio, co-owner of Bassett's Health Foods
(5) A.J. Bassett, Dentist, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
(6) Clement Bassett and the Bassetts of Monroe County, New York
(7) Walter Edward Bassett of Muskegon, Michigan, Grocer
(8) New family lines combined or added since the last newsletter
(9) DNA project update
Section 1 - Welcome
Input of Bassett information into the website continues. We have a new volunteer this month who is working on inputting her line into the database along with two others currently working on two very large Bassett families.
If you would like to help with data input, please let me know. The more volunteers we have, the faster the data will make it into the website.
As more and more data is input, I receive more queries each month. If you are waiting for a response from me, please be patient during the summer months as I have limited time to spend on research.
The following trees were added to the Bassett website database since the last newsletter:
12B Oliver Bassett of New York
20B Caleb Bassett of New York & Vermont
399B Bassetts of Shropshire, England
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Section 2 -Featured Bassett: James Putnam Bassett, named to New Hampshire Supreme Court
James Putnam Bassett descends from #6B William Bassett of Connecticut as follows:
William Bassett and wife Hannah (Dickerman) Ives
John Bassett (b. 1652) and wife Mercy Todd
John Bassett (b. 1691) and wife Elizabeth Thompson
William Bassett (b. 1718) and wife Mabel Goodyear
Hezekiah Bassett (b. 1745) and wife Sarah Ives
Deacon Hezekiah Bassett (b. 1774) and wife Lowly Atwater
Medad Atwater Bassett (b. 1812) and wife Mary Tuttle
Charles M. Bassett (b. 1854) and wife Laura E. Smith
Milton Elisha Bassett
John Putnam Bassett
James Putnam Bassett
Gov. Lynch to Nominate Jim Bassett to Supreme Court
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
CONCORD – Gov. John Lynch today announced he will nominate attorney Jim Bassett to the New Hampshire Supreme Court at tomorrow’s Governor and Council meeting. The Executive Council must confirm the nomination. Bassett, of Canterbury, is a senior litigator and shareholder of the Concord law firm of Orr & Reno, where he has practiced for the past 27 years. “Jim Bassett has a deep and broad knowledge of the law and has litigated numerous complex civil and constitutional cases. He has an extensive background in civil litigation, with decades of experience in New Hampshire courtrooms,” Gov. Lynch said. “His intellect, breadth of experience and long and active community involvement will make him a great addition to our state’s highest court.” Bassett joined Orr & Reno in 1985 and has argued numerous cases in all state and federal courts in New Hampshire. Over the past decade, Bassett has argued several significant cases involving the constitutional separation of powers and first amendment rights. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1978, and received his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School in 1982. Bassett has been involved with the community, serving on various boards, including the Friends of Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Canterbury Shaker Village and Granite United Way. He previously served on the board of the Capitol Center for the Arts. Bassett has also volunteered as a youth sports coach. He previously served as chairman of the Canterbury Board of Selectman and chairman of the Canterbury Planning Board.
UnionLeader.com, May 23, 2012
Council confirms Bassett to Supreme Court
CONCORD – Citing his fairness and keen grasp of the state constitution, the Executive Council on Wednesday confirmed Jim Bassett to the state Supreme Court.
The Council voted 4-1 to support Bassett, a longtime lawyer who had argued several cases before the state's highest court concerning the separation of powers and other constitutional matters.
Bassett joins the five-member court as an associate justice, filling the vacant seat left when James Duggan retired in January.
Bassett, a Canterbury resident who has been active in local government, had enjoyed a mostly favorable reception since he was nominated by Democratic Gov. John Lynch earlier this month, including at his confirmation hearing last week before the all-Republican Council, where colleagues and civic leaders praised his legal acumen and fairness.
In the days before his confirmation, however, conservative groups took issue with some of Bassett's positions.
The New Hampshire Legal Rights Foundation, whose executive director is House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt, singled out Bassett's willingness to respect the Supreme Court's Claremont education funding decisions, which it said “may be the worst example of judicial overreach in New Hampshire history.”
A gun rights group labeled Bassett a “gun grabber” for his support for the Brady Law on gun control in 1994, when Bassett ran unsuccessfully for Congress as a moderate Republican.
Ahead of the vote on Wednesday, District 2 Councilor Daniel St. Hilaire and District 4 Councilor Ray Wieczorek said they received a number of calls and e-mails expressing concerns about Bassett, primarily about his position on the Second Amendment.
Both said that conversations with Bassett allayed these concerns.
“He is a strict constitutionalist,” St. Hilaire said. “He derives his opinions from what the Constitution says.”
Wieczorek noted that Bassett had represented the gun maker Sturm, Ruger and Co. when it sought to open a firing range in Newport.
“I'm not going to recommend someone who's not going to defend the Second Amendment,” he said.
The lone no-vote came from District 5 Councilor David Wheeler.
“I know there's been no judicial conduct complaints, but I would come to a different conclusion on whether he's an activist judge or a strict constitutionalist," Wheeler said. "The fact he could support the Brady legislation, which poses severe restrictions on gun owners, and the fact that he'd abide by Claremont, that tells me he'd be an activist."
However, other councilors said that more important than any views Bassett had expressed was his fair-mindedness.
“When people appeal to the state Supreme Court, they should feel the scales justice are equal and will not sway one way or another,” said District 1 Councilor Ray Burton. “I believe Jim Bassett will bring that level of understanding.”
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Section 3 -Featured Bassett: William Hugh Garnet Bassett wedding photograph
William Hugh Garnet Bassett descends from #241B William Bassett of St. Stephen by Launceston, Cornwall as follows:
William Bassett (b. 1825) and wife Mary Ann Pethick
John Thomas Bassett (b. 1867) and wife Clara Toms
William Hugh Garnet Bassett (b. 1895)
The following photo was sent by Jane Clayton of Stockport, England.
William Hugh Garnet Bassett and wife Gertrude Laura Cunnington
7 September 1921 in Oakham, Rutland, England
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Section 4 -Featured Bassett: Joseph M. Bassett of Toledo, Ohio, co-owner of Bassett's Health Foods
Joseph M. Bassett descends from the #107B Namir Bassett of Lebanon, Syria, Toledo Ohio family as follows:
Namir Bassett
Said Bassett and wife Lilian
Joseph Said Bassett and wife Rose
Joseph M. Bassett
Toledo Blade, June 8, 2012
Joseph M. Bassett
The co-owner of two Bassett's Health Food stores in Toledo who was a pioneer in promoting herbs and dietary supplements to improve health, Joseph M. Bassett died Wednesday in his Sylvania Township home. He was 79.
A daughter, Charmaine Bassett Trimm, said he died of complications of a bladder and kidney infection.
Mr. Bassett and his wife, Patricia, started Bassett's Health Foods in 1969 at Cricket West Shopping Center. The business, which offered vitamins and supplements, bought out a competitor a year later in the nearby Westgate Shopping Center.
The Bassetts relocated the store to Westgate, remaining there for nearly 25 years. They eventually opened a second store on Heatherdowns Boulevard near Key Street and moved the Westgate location north on Secor Road.
According to Mrs. Trimm, the idea for the health-food store was her mother's, who had health problems as a young child. However, Mr. Bassett, who was selling real estate, became a student of the industry and grew to become an expert.
Mrs. Bassett said customers often went to her husband for advice on supplements and vitamins because of his extensive knowledge. She said he was always willing to help customers understand the importance of dietary supplements in promoting health.
"That is what he was all about," she said.
His family said he created his own formulas with herbs and vitamins and sold and marketed the products under his name.
Mr. Bassett was elected to several terms as president of the National Nutritional Foods Association, an industry trade group that represents manufacturers, marketers, and retailers.
"My dad studied under all the great experts who started the real push into nutrition. He then started teaching seminars because he had gotten so knowledgeable," daughter Sabrina Early said.
Mr. Bassett was instrumental in getting Congress to pass the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act in 1994.
The law said dietary supplements, vitamins, minerals, and herbs must be regulated as a food, not prescribed like medications.
Mr. Bassett was trained and licensed in nutritional and massage therapies, including Touch for Health.
He attended DeVilbiss High School, where he was a standout wrestler. He attended Ohio State University on a scholarship for the sport, but left school in 1952 when he was drafted into the Army.
Mr. Bassett was a tank gunner in the Korean War. He returned to Toledo and continued his education at the University of Toledo, where he joined the wrestling team.
While attending UT, Mr. Bassett was an instructor at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in downtown Toledo. There he met another instructor, the former Patricia Martin, whom he married Sept. 22, 1958, shortly after Mr. Bassett graduated with a business degree from UT. "He always said he danced his way into my heart," Mrs. Bassett said.
After they were married, the couple moved to Los Angeles in search of employment. Mr. Bassett worked for two years as juvenile probation officer. They returned to Toledo and Mr. Bassett eventually began a computer programming school in Memphis.
Surviving are his wife, Patricia; son, Joseph, Jr.; daughters, Sabrina Early and Charmaine Bassett Trimm; brother, James; seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation is to be Sunday from 2 to 9 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave., with services at 7 p.m. Sunday. The family suggests tributes to the Joseph M. Bassett Memorial Fund at http://www.nemenhahpress.com.
Section 5 -Featured Bassett: A. J. Bassett, Dentist, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Alex J. Bassett, Dentist, is the son of Alexander Bassett, found living in New York City during the 1850 census. I have not yet placed him into a family.
1850 census of 6th Ward, New York City, New York (20 September 1850
Illustrated New Age, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 6, 1864
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Section 6 -Featured Bassett: Clement L. Bassett of Monroe County, New York
Clement Leon Bassett descends from #47 Peter Bassett of Monroe County, New York as follows:
Peter Bassett (b. 1819) and wife Esther Moselle
Thomas Bassett (b. 1851) and wife Henrietta Marcille
Clement Leon Bassett (b. 1896)
Henrietta Marcille Bassett
Clement Bassett
Mother of Clement Bassett
World War I Service
Genesee County Express, Thursday, November 20, 1975
Clement Bassett
Clement Bassett, a longtime Rochester resident and brother of Elmer H. Bassett of Dansville, died unexpectedly in N. Miami Beach, Fla., Friday (Nov. 7, 1975).
He was a member of the Pioneer Club of Eastman Kodak Co.
Also surviving are his wife, Ruth Tillman Bassett; a sister, Mrs. Ida Christner; several nieces and nephews.
A service was conducted last Wednesday in the Vay and Schleich Funeral Home in Rochester, followed by Mass of Christian Burial in St. Charles Booromeo Church in that city. Burial was in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery there.
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Section 7 - Featured Bassett: Walter Edward Bassett of Muskegon, Michigan, Grocer
Walter Edward Bassett descends from #14B Jean Besset of Quebec as follows:
Jean Besset (b. 1642) and wife Anne Seigneur
Jean Besset (b. 1672) and wife Madelein Plamondon
Guillaume Bessette (b. 1717) and wife Louise Marguerite Paquet
Daniel Bessette (b. 1762) and wife Josette Menard
Guillaume Bessette and wife Josette Rougier
Jean Baptiste Bessette (b. 1824) and wife Celeste Demers
Narcisse Zephir "Joseph) Bessette (b. 1854) and wife Mary Leah Bassett
Walter Edward Bassett (b. 1884) and wife Rose.
Note that Walter Edward Bassett is a double descendant of Jean Besset through his mother and father.
Muskegon Chronicle, February 14, 1913
Muskegon Chronicle, July 25, 1913
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Section 8 - New family lines combined or added since the last newsletter:
The following family lines have been combined/eliminated since the last newsletter.
210B. Bassetts of Kingsland, Hereford, England into 220B. Bassetts of Eardisland, Hereford, England.
297B. Walter Goldy Bassett into the William Bassett of Plymouth Family
The following family lines have been added since the last newsletter.
210B. Sir Anselme Bassett of Gloucester, England and the Bassetts of Uley
297B. James Bassett of London, England (b. 1850)
483B. Charles William Bassett of Grant, Australia (b. 1830)
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Section 9 - DNA project update:
One new DNA kit sent this month to a Bassett living in France.
Donations of any amount can be made to the Bassett DNA project by clicking
on the link below. Any funds donated will be used to fund select Bassett DNA
tests that will further our project as a whole and benefit all Bassetts worldwide.
