| Notes |
- Each of William Henry Bassett's six surviving children inherited a one-sixth share.
Written by Virginia Bassett Alleman, 1956
One best that I know and understand of the Bassetts of my father's immediate family is that they came directly from England to the colony of Virginia; they came sometime after the execution of Charles I (1649); they were Cavaliers. Colonel William Bassett of Virginia was a close relation to my great-grandfather Bassett. I have no reason to believe that he was a brother, but possibly a nephew or first cousin. My great-grandfather Bassett (first name unknown to me) was born in Charles City County, Virginia. My grandfather, William Henry Bassett, was also born in Charles City County, Virginia. He was born October 24, 1796. He became an orphan before the age of five; both his parents having died in an epidemic. At that tender age he was adopted and reared by the mother of William Henry Harrison, who later became president of the United States. This relative of my grandfather's (exact relation unknown) was Elizabeth Bassett, wife of Benjamin Harrison, signer of the Declaration of Independence. She was the daughter of Colonel William Bassett of "Eltham" in Virginia. Then still in his teens my grandfather, William Henry Bassett, went to sea. Not many years later, I was told, he owned a coastwise ship that plied between Norfolk, Virginia and New York City.
On January 22, 1822 he married Eleanor O'Neill of Baltimore, Maryland. Some family papers state that they were married in Washington, D.C.; other papers say Alexandria, D.C. At any rate, their first child (my father Joseph Carter Bassett) was born in Washington, D.C. on December 31, 1822. Their second child, William Henry Jr. came into this world in New York City. In the early 1830's my grandfather with his family and in his own ship came to Louisiana. He visited New Orleans; he also visited the coast of Cuba and Central America, then came up the Atchafalaya River to a small fishing village, now called Morton City, Louisiana. From there, he proceeded up the Teche River and came to Centerville, Louisiana, which at that time was a thriving village, or so I was told by my father who was a child of ten or older.
My grandfather, William Henry Bassett, must have remained at Centerville quite a few years as two sons were born there, Benjamin Harrison and Thomas Jefferson. From Centerville my grandfather moved to Vermilionville, Louisiana. (The Lafayette, Louisiana of today.) A daughter was born at Vermilionville named Eleanor Ann. She died at the age of 8. From Vermilionville, William Henry Bassett went to Washington, Louisiana, and a son was born there. He also died while still young. Eleanor O'Neill who married my grandfather (William Henry Bassett) in 1822 was the daughter of O'Neill (first name unknown to me) and Eleanor O'Brien, who were both from Antrim, Ireland. They were married in Ireland and came to the United States and settled in Baltimore, Maryland. Of this union there were two childen, a son named Bernard and my grandmother, Eleanor, who married William Henry Bassett. Bernard died without issue and was never married. He died while on an expedition to the West. Eleanor O'Neill Bassett died at Bayoudes Glaise in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, October 9, 1867. She is buried in the Catholic cemetery in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. My grandfather, William Henry Bassett married a second time, a Caroline Toon of Memphis, Tennessee. A son, Lewis Bassett, was born to them. He became a doctor and settled in Texas. (Benjamin Harrison and Thomas Jefferson Bassett also settled in Texas.)
Copy of letter from Joseph William Bassett to his daughter, Eleanor Bassett Waltz:
New Orleans, Louisiana - September 5, 1935
My dear Eleanor,
I hasten to answer your request for data of your grandfather's life history. You say you wrote to the war department for certain information relating to his service in the Confederate Army.
When I was born your grandfather was 52 years old, consequently when I had grown to an age where I began to take a lively interest in such matters as family history, he was so old and approaching his end that there was little time for him to communicate to me that which I afterwards so much wished to learn. What little I did learn, however, is about all that is available.
Joseph Carter Bassett was born December 31, 1823 in Winchester, Virginia. He was the oldest son of William Henry Bassett and Eleanor O'Neill. There were four other children born of this union: Benjamin (Henry), Thomas Jefferson, William Henry Jr., and one girl, Virginia. Eleanor O'Neill, wife of William Henry Bassett, died and he remarried. The second wife was Caroline Toon of Memphis, Tennessee and of this marriage, one son, Lewis Bassett, was born. He later became Dr. Lewis Bassett and settled in Texas, where his children still live.
Joseph Carter Bassett was given a first class college and university education. His two brothers, Benjamin (Harrison) and Thomas Jefferson, were graduates of Yale University and later were laywers in Brenham and Dallas, Texas. All of the boys received their pre-college education at St. Charles College, Jesuit school, Grand Coteau, Louisiana, which is now a seminary for Jesuit priests. Joseph Carter Bassett was absolutely the best posted and generally informed man I have ever known. His father, William Henry Bassett, was a sea-faring man, owner of sea-going vessels, and at the age of 23, his oldest son, Joseph Carter went to sea with him. Ill fortune came, during just such a hurricane as the one which recently harried the Florida Keys, and they were shipwrecked and lost everything. Father and son were saved by lashing themselves to a spar and being later picked up after days exposure. This tale I heard him tell many times.
During their voyage in search of cargoes they had many times made the port of New Orleans and knew of the fertile land to be had in Louisiana for the entry fee. When they found themselves ruined financially they decided to move to Louisiana from Virginia and did so. In a few years they had reformed their lives.....
Reconstruction days and the reign of the carpetbaggers followed. A long story and a gruesome one. Dark days for the whites that had survived the war. Father accepted an appointment as professor of history and mathematics at St. Charles College, Grand Coteau, Louisiana. In 1868 he met and married Eugenie Richard. She was only 23 years old, he was 44. Mother was a graduate of the convent of the Sacred Heart at Grand Coteau. Shortly after their marriage they moved to St. Martinville, Louisiana. There your grandfather was elected District Judge in which capacity he served for many years. To this union were born seven children: Amelia, Eleanor, Coralie, Eugenie, Virginia, William and Alice. Judge Carter Bassett died December 6, 1897 and was buried in the graveyard behind the Catholic Church, Grand Coteau, Louisiana. His wife survived him and died in 1906 and is buried in St. Martinville, Louisiana. in the Catholic graveyard there.
Now, my dear, I regret that I am unable to give you more explicit and correct data. I sincerely trust this will serve your purpose.
Lovingly, Dad
Footnote from Aunt Pecey.
William Henry Bassett, Sr. (father of Judge Carter Bassett) was born at Charles City County, Virginia in 1796. The date of his birth is verified by his death certificate at the Jesuit Seminary (or Parish Church), Grand Coteau, Louisiana.
From the War Department, dated July 29, 1927, we have:
The records show that one Jefferson Bassett (not shown as Thos. J. Bassett) Private, Co. A. Cobb's Legion, Georgia (also known as Co. A. Richmond Hussars) enlisted September 1, 1861, at Richmond. Appointed 2nd Lieutenant, date not shown, promoted 1st Lieutenant November 23, 1862. Muster Roll for September and October, 1864 (latest on file) shows him present, a 1st Lieutenant. Prisoner of War records show that he was paroled May 1, 1865, at Greensboro, North Carolina, in accordance with the terms of a Military Convention entered into on the 26th day of April, 1865.
Diary of Lucy Breckinridge (Epilogue)
Lucy, in spite of her apprehensions, married her Tommy on 28 January 1865, in a quiet ceremony at Grove Hill. The young couple's life together was poignantly brief. On 16 June 1865, five months after their marriage and just three weeks after the cruel war had departed the "God-scourged South" with the surrender of the last Confederate troops, Lucy died on typhoid fever. Tragically denied the peace and happiness she had longed for, Lucy was buried at the age of twenty-two at Grove Hill beside her beloved brother, Joh.
After the war, Thomas Jefferson Bassett returned to his home in Brenham, Washington County, Texas, where he later remarried and reared a family. He maintained close ties with his Virginia family for many years.
In a letter to Eliza, date 22 January 1868, Tommy mentioned that he was having a portrait made of Lucy from a small photograph. Efforts to locate Lucy's portrait, thus far, have been fruitless. In the course of the search, however, some interesting facts have come to light regarding Jefferson Bassett's life after Lucy's death.
Upon his return to Brenham, Tommy and his older brother, Ben, established the Bank of Bassett and Bassett in 1866. The bank operated successfully for almost twenty years, and was finally dissolved in 1881, shortly before Tommy's death.
Tommy and his second wife, Jodie Roberson, had four daughters, one of who he named after Lucy's mother. His esteem for the Breckinridges was such that he later sent his daughters to Grove Hill for their education in literature, art, and music.
(NOTE: Lt. Thomas Jefferson Bassett was born in Louisiana in 1833, the son of William Henry and brother to Benjamin H. Bassett. He died 25 May 1885 in Brenham, Texas.)
On the Bassett Building,
222 East Main Street in Brenham, Texas, can be found the following historical plaque.
Texas Historical Commission
Official Historical Medallion
Bassett & Bassett Banking House
Benjamin H. and Thomas J. Bassett opened their newly created bank and located their law offices in this building soon after its completion in 1873. Built with brick manufactured by the local Wild & Co. Brickyard, the Italianate structure housed the bank until it closed in 1884. An important Brenham landmark, the building features round arches and stucco hood moldings at door and window openings. The third story was added in the early 1900's.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark 1985
Entered in the National Register of Historic Places 1983.
Obituaries of Graduates of Yale University
Law Department 1853
Thomas Jefferson Bassett, son of William H. Bassett and Elenore O’Neil, was born in St. Mary’s parish, Louisiana, on the 6th of February, 1833. He died suddenly at his home in Brenham, Washington County, Texas, after six month’s suffering from insomnia, on the 25th of May, 1885, at the age of 52.
He received his academic education at St. Charles College, Louisiana. On receiving his degree from Yale Law School, he removed to Brenham in October, 1853, and in the spring of 1854 began the practice of law in connection with his older brother, Major B.H. Bassett. The firm was in 1857 merged in that of Sayles & Bassett.
In 1865, he organized the banking house of Bassett & Bassett, to which thenceforth he devoted his entire time and thought, and the credit of its honorable career is due to his integrity and capacity. He had no taste for public office, but filled the full measure of duty as a private citizen.
He was twice married, first to Lucy Breckinridge, daughter of Gary Breckinridge, of Fincastle, Virginia, who died within a few months after their marriage. His second wife was Martha J. Roberson, daughter of A. J. Roberson, of Washington County, Texas. She and four daughters of the marriage survive him.
1850 Federal Census of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana
William H. Bassett - 54 - M - Virginia - Farmer 15000
Elleansa - 52 - F - Maryland
Joseph B.C. - 27 - M - Louisiana
Benjamin H. - 19 - M - Louisiana
Thomas J. - 17 - M - Louisiana
1860 Federal Census of Brenham, Washington County, Texas (1 Jun 1860)
Jefferson Bassett - 27 - M - Louisiana - Lawyer
Ben H. - 29 - M - Louisiana - Lawyer
(Both living in a hotel)
1870 Federal Census of Washington County, Texas
Jefferson Bassett - 37 - M - Virginia - Lawyr and Banker
---------- - 22 - F - Texas
Ida - 1 - F - Texas
1880 Federal Census of Brenham, Washington County, Texas (29 Jun 1880)
Jeff Bassett - 41 - M - LA-VA-NY- Head - Banker
Josephine - 32 - F - AL-AL--- - Wife - Keeping House
Ida - 11 - F - TX-LA-AL - Daughter
Virginia - 9 - F - TX-LA-AL - Daughter
Emma G. - 5 - F - TX-LA-AL - Daughter
Elenor - 3 - F - TX-LA-AL - Daughter
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Bassett Family Association Database
1833 - 1885 (52 years)
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