| Notes |
- William arrived in Australia on the "Royal Charter" in July 1857 with his brother John and his brother-in-law Stephen Davey.
1851 British Census of Crowan, Cornwall, England
William Bassett 34
Martha 35
Nanny 9
Mary 8
William 6
Martha 4
Elizabeth 1
"The District Coroner held an inquest yesterday at the Star Reef Hotel on the
body of Wm Bassett, engine driver to the Catherine Reef United Company. The
evidence of John Bassett, son of the deceased, was to the effect that on
Sunday night deceased was engine driver for the night. The watchman, Crispin
Smith, had the engine ready for starting at twelve o'clock, and witness saw
his father get up on the engine-bed and raise his hands to move the valve then
the jug burst and the steam burst out, deceased was knocked down off the bed
onto the floor. The place was full of steam, but Smith went and rais
deceased and removed him, and shortly afterwards he was taken home. Dr
Atkinson attended him up to the time of his death, at midday on Tuesday. The
accident appeared to be unavoidable. Thomas Eyre, manager of the compan
stated that he was present shortly after the accident and he found the steam
escaping from the jug at the joint below the valve handle. Upon having the
steam shut off it was discovered that there was a crack in the jug. The jug
had been in use for about 3 years, and nothing appeared on it to indicate a
flow. The accident appeared to be caused by the steam acting upon the
condensed water upon the jug at the moment the deceased was lifting the
valve screw by the handle. Deceased was a careful and good engine drive
Crispin Smith gave evidence that from where deceased stood on the bed of the
engine to the floor was a distance of 5 feet. Doctor Atkinson deposed that he
had made a postmortem examination and found the deceased severely scalded by
the steam, and his ribs fractured by the fall and penetrating the right lung,
which injuries caused his death. The jury gave a verdict of accidental death."
Proceeding Inquest for William Bassett
William Bassett aged 52 years came by his death do say upon their oath
that about 1 of the clock p.m. on the 19th inst. the deceased William Bassett
came by his death from fractured ribs punctuating his right lung caused by
deceased being forced form the engine bed to the floor by the steam from the
engine pipes accidently giving way at the Catherine Reef engine house on
Sunday night the 17th instant, and that there was no blame to anyone in the
matter. There were no marks of violence upon the body externally.
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Bassett Family Association Database
Abt 1816 - 1869 (53 years)