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- The North Devon Journal, England, 15 December 1870
Death of Arthur Davie Bassett, Esq., of Watermouth Castle
We have to announce the sudden and unexpected death of Arthur Davie Bassett, Esq., J.P., of Watermouth Castle, which occurred at his residence early on Friday morning last. The deceased gentleman had just recovered from a severe attack of gout and was in more than usual good health and spirits when he retired to rest on Thursday night. Between three and four o?clock on Friday morning he was suddenly seized with illness and a messenger was dispatched for Mr. Stabb, surgeon, of Ilfracombe, but before medical assistance arrived he was dead.
The Bassett family is one of great antiquity, and of Royal blood. Colonel Arthur Bassett, from whom the late Mr. Arthur Davie Bassett was directly descended, was the eldest son of Sir Robert Bassett, by Elizabeth, second daughter and co-heir of Sir William Perream, Kt., Chief Baron of the Exchequer; who was eldest son of Sir Arthur Bassett, by Elnora, daughter of Sr. John Chichester; who was eldest son of John Bassett, Esq. of Umberleigh and Heanton Court, by Frances, daughter and co-heir of Arthur Plantagenet, Viscount of Lisle, natural son of King Edward IV. At one period there were no less than four of the family who were Barons of Parliament, and of these one barony still exists, and is held by the present Baroness de Dunstanville. Sir Alan Bassett, from whom Colonel Bassett was descended, had given him by Sir William Peverel, of Samford, the manors of Whitechapel and La Heyne, in the parish of Bishopsnympton, on his marriage with his sister Lucia, and for a great number of years the family residence was at Whitechapel, until the reign of Henry VIII, when John, the son of Sir William Bassett, married Joan, daughter of Sir Thomas Beaumont, and sister and heir of Philip Beaumont, of Sherwill, who brought into the family the seats of Umberleigh, in the parish of Atherington (or Adrington, as it was formerly called ?From the abundance of woods and groves which heretofore were round about it and did overshadow it?), and Heanton Court. Sir Robert Bassett (the Colonel?s father) resided at the latter place, and Prince, in his ?Worthies of Devon? remarks of it ? ?A sweet and pleasant seat it is; a very handsome pile, well furnished with all variety of entertainment which the earth and sea and air can afford.?. Sir Robert, being by his grandmother, descended form the Plantagenets, and of the blood royal, in the beginning of the reign of James I., laid claim to the Crown of England; but not being able to make good his pretensions he was compelled to fly into France to save his head. He was obliged to sell thirty manors of land to free himself. Col. Bassett was educated at Oxford, and is said to have been a man of high attainments. He married a daughter of Leigh, of Borough, in the parish of Northam, who brought with her a considerable estate. In the reign of Charles I, he was one of the officers called upon to defend the rights of the crown, and was made by the King Governor of Barnstaple, which, however, surrendered to General Fairfax after he had taken Exeter. On the accession of Charles II, he had restored to him the possessions which he had, through his loyalty, forfeited. His biographers speak of him as a man of untarnished character,, and devoted loyalty. He died at Heanton, in his 75th years, and was buried in the Parish Church, where there is a fine monument to his memory. Watermouth, the present family seat, was purchased by J.D. Bassett Esq. in 1712.
The late Mr. Bassett was the eldest son of the late Joseph Davie Bassett, Esq., formerly Chairman of Quarter Sessions for the County. He was the owner of extensive estates in the North of Devon, being lord of the manors of Berrynarbor, Umberleigh, and Highbickington, East Hagginton, and Woolscott. The rectory of the former parish in the is in the alternate gift of the family. The deceased gentleman was one of the most liberal of landlords, and the poor in his immediate neighborhood have by his death lost a kind friend. He preferred to live on his own property rather than spend his time and money amongst strangers, an example which might be copied by many of our North Devon landowners to the great advantage of themselves and those living on their estates. The deceased (who was in his 70th year) leaves and only son ? the Rev. Arthur E. Bassett; and two daughter, the eldest of whom married Charles Henry Williams, Esq., Mp>p., of Pilton House, Barnstaple. He has also two surviving brothers and a sister: John David bassett, Esq., M.D., Rev. Francis Davie Bassett, Rector of Heanton Punchardon, and Lady Scott (wife of the last Sir. W. Scott), of Waterford.
The funeral took place on Monday, and the remains of the deceased gentleman were followed to the grave by a large number of relatives and friends, together with a number of the tenantry. The principal mourners were: Rev. Arthur Bassett (son of the deceased), Chas. Henry Williams, Esq., M.P. (son-in-law); Rev. Francis Bassett, Rector of Heanton (brother); John Bassett, Esq, Ide, Col Scott, Capt Scott, George Scott, Esq. and W.H. B. Coham, Esq., Dunsland (nephews). Amount the other gentlemen present were: Sir Frederick Williams, Bart., M.P., Thoms Hooper Law, Esq., Thomas Sheppard Law, Esq. (Barnstaple), Henr Dene, Esq. (Ley House, Marwood), Lieut. G. Davie, R.A. (Bishopstawton), Thomas Stabb, Esq. (Ilfracombe), Rev. H.W. Toms (Combmartin), Thomas Lock, Esq., and George Lock, Esq. (Instow). The burial service was performed by the Rev. Watler Fursdon, Rector of Berrynarbor.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1801 - 1870 (69 years)
d. 10 Dec 1846 (Age 82 years)