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- Summary of Civil War Pension Application file by Mary C. Bassett
Provided by Helen Bassett
Mary wanted arrears pay for dependent under age 16 at time of death of soldier. She first applied 2 Sep 1888 as dependent sister of James Bassett 49th IN Inf, Co. C. Claim was denied, reopened, denied, reopened as dependent child of Commodore Bassett 49th IN Inf, Co. C., claim denied. Last entry letter dated 5 Jun 1914 Mary was still pursuing claim.
The denials were sited as over 16 years of age at time of filing claim, exact dates not given for births, deaths, of siblings and father. And finally time expired for appeal.
Testimonies of witnesses showed Bassett family to be very poor, uneducated, and in desperate circumstances before and after the Civil War, never owned property or had income. Commodore and James enlisted at same time in same company and regiment. James sent money home to family regularly, Commodore only occasionally.
The Commodore Bassett family moved to Bennettsville, Clark Co., IN after the birth of James and Thomas (twins) in KY. They stayed in Bennetsville until two more children were born, then the Bassett family moved to KY. James worked to help support the family before the family left KY in 1861. Father placed James in home of a woman named Snyder. James became dissatisfied and father made Thomas take his place. This was in 1860. Thomas was withing 2 miles of home and went back every week. Thomas was enumerated twice in 1860 census. Once with Commodore and once with Roberta Snyder family. The Bassett family returned to Bennettsville IN late summer of 1861, but Thomas remained in KY.
Summary of peronsal information from examination of 1897: Commodore Bassett enlisted with son James. Served in same company and regiment. Both were in same battle of Thomason Hill at the siege of Vicksburg. After battle Commodore picked up his son and buried him on battlefield. Commodore married Harriet Able 1 May 1845 in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Harriet was 17 years old. Commodore came home from the war in poor health. One month after his return he suffered a stroke from which he never fully recovered. He had to use a cane to walk and was unable to work. On 8 Nov 1867 he was on Creek fishing with his youngest son when he suffered a paralytic stroke. Commodore died 10 Nov 1867 in Bennettsville, Clark County, Indiana.
Harriet worked by washing and ironing, field work or any other type of work she could find to support her family before and after the war. Harriet died 31 Mar 1873 in Bennettsville, Clark County, Indiana of spinal meningitis. Her son Frank borrowed the money to bury his mother. Harriet was buried in Bruner Grave Yard, Bennettsville, Clark County, Indiana.
She married (1) Michael Byers on 3 Jan 1877 in Clark County, Indiana. (See Clark County, Indiana Marriage Records, 1855-1880, Book K, page 160.) Their marriage ended in divorce.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1860 - 1930 (69 years)