| Notes |
- Newton Mass., Friday, November 28, 1924
Abbot Bassett
Abbot Bassett, for thirty-seven years a resident of Newtonville, died at his home on Central avenue, on Monday, November 24th. He was born in Chelsea, March 10, 1845, and was a member of the first class to be graduated from the Williams School. He entered the Chelsea High School but left before the end of the first year to enter the hardware business. In 1872 he started a weekly paper "The Chelsea Public", and continued in newspaper work until 1887. His connection with bicycling interests began when he became business manager of the "Bicycling World". In 1886 he started a paper of his own called "The Cycle", which was devoted to the news of the sport.
In 1887 he accepted the position of Secretary of the League of American Wheelmen which was organized in 1880, and he held that position up to the time of his death. The secretary-ship carried with it the editorship of the League's official organ known as the "Official Bulletin" which was published until a year ago when failing health obliged Mr. Bassett to stop the paper.
He moved to Newtonville in 1887 and was a member of the Newton School Committee from 1901 to 1911. He was always interested in civic affairs though not identified with any clubs except the Every Saturday Club of which he was once president.
He married in 1873 Helen E. Drew of Chelsea who survives him. In 1923 they celebrated their golden wedding. There are also two daughters, Marion Drew Bassett and Mrs. Royal T. Lapham, also of Newtonville.
Funeral services conducted by Rev. Paul S. Phalen of the West Newton Unitarian Church were held at the home on Wednesday, November 26th and the body was cremated at Mt. Auburn.
September 29, 1883: First American Tricycle Century
From "Outing", Notable Runs and Excursions of 1883
The first American tricycle century was made by Mr. Abbot Bassett, of "The World", September 29. Starting at 4 A.M. from his home in Chelsea, he ran by way of Malden, Medford, Somerville, Cambridge, and the Newtons, to Natick.
Returning by the same route to Malden, he continued his course through Saugus, Lynn, Beverly, Wenham, and Hamilton, to Ipswich. Then from Ipswich to Chelsea, over the same route. Two cyclometers were used, a McDonnell and Stanton's. The former registered 106 and the latter 104-1/2 miles. The latter distance is the record to be allowed. Mr. Bassett was accompanied the first fifty miles by Mr. Frank M. Gilley, of Chelsea, on a bicycle, and this part of the journey was measured by three cyclometers, which agreed, with but a trifling variation. The course is certified by hotel registers and certificates. Thorndike Bicycle Club of Beverly, Mass.
1850 Federal Census of Chelsea, Suffolk County, Massachusetts (16 Aug 1850)
Edward B. Bassett - 41 - M - Massachusetts - Baker 7,700
Clara J. - 30 - F - Massachusetts
Albina - 12 - F - Massachusetts
Edward - 10 - M - Massachusetts
Clara M. - 7 - F - Massachusetts
Abbot - 5 - M - Massachusetts
Charles E. - 1 - M - Massachusetts
& many other unrelated people
1860 Federal Census of Chelsea, Suffolk County, Massachusetts (11 Jul 1860)
Edward Bassett - 52 - M - Massachusetts - Master Baker 25,000 3000
Clara J. - 40 - F - Massachusetts
Alvina - ?? - F - Massachusetts
Edward - 20 - M - Massachusetts - Clerk
Clara M. - 16 - F - Massachusetts - Student
Abbott - 15 - M - Massachusetts
Chas E. - 11 - M - Massachusetts
Joseph M. - 5 - M - Massachusetts
Agnes McLeod - 17 - F - Massachusetts - Saleswoman
Mary Riley - 22 - F - Massachusetts - Servant
1870 Federal Census of Chelsea, Suffolk County, Massachusetts (4 Jun 1870)
Edward Bassett - 61 - M - Massachusetts - Baker 12,000 2000
Clara M. - 49 - F - Massachusetts - Keeping House
Abbot - 24 - M - Massachusetts - Com. Mer. --- 1500
Chas. E. - 21 - M - Massachusetts - Clerk in Store
Joseph M. - 15 - M - Massachusetts
& 1 servant
1880 Federal Census of Chelsea, Suffolk County, Massachusetts (8 Jun 1880)
Abbott Bassett - 35 - M - MA-MA-MA - Head - Prints New paper
Helen E. - 33 - F - MA-MA-MA - Wife
Marion D. - 2 - F - MA-MA-MA - Daughter
1900 Federal Census of Newton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts (5 Jun 1900)
Abbott Bassett - 55 - Mar 1845 - M - MA-MA-MA - Head - Journalist
Helen E. - 53 - Dec 1846 - F - MA-MA-CC - Wife
Marion D. - 22 - Nov 1877 - F - MA-MA-MA - Daughter - School teacher
Helen A. - 14 - Jul 1885 - F - MA-MA-MA - Daughter
& 1 servant
(CC = Cape Cod) (Living at 105 Central Ave.) (Married 26 years, 2 children, 2 living)
1910 Federal Census of Newton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts (25 Apr 1910)
Abbott Bassett - 65 - M - MA-MA-MA - Head - Secretary Office
Helen . - 63 - F - MA-MA-MA - Wife
Marion D. - 31 - F - MA-MA-MA - Daughter - Teacher School
(Living at 105 Central Ave.) (Married 36 years, 2 children, 2 living)
1920 Federal Census of Newton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts (15 Jan 1920)
Abbot Bassett - 74 - M - MA-MA-MA - Head - Secretary-Treasurer Wheelman's League
Helen E. - 73 - F - MA-MA-MA - Wife
Marion D. - 42 - F - MA-MA-MA - Daughter
(Living at 105 Central Ave.)
The Williams School First Graduating Class - 1861
The Old Williams School Walnut Street, Chelsea, Destroyed in the 1908 Fire
It was fast approaching fifty years since Abbot Bassett graduated from the Old Williams School on July 23, 1861. Abbot a member of the first graduating class of the Williams School, could not remember the school building ever being called the Williams School. It was always referred to as the "Boys' Grammer School" and Abbot's diploma stated the same. There was only one other grammer school in the city at that time, the "Girls' Grammar School", which later became the Shurtleff School.
When the scheme for naming the schools was approved, the names of the tenant farmers of the Bellingham farms were chosen. Henry Howell Williams, for whom the Williams School was named, rented the whole of Noddle's Island for farming purposes. This was the farm that was raided and burned in the Battle of Chelsea Creek in May of 1775. In addition to Noddle's Island, Williams also conducted a dairy and poultry farm in Winnisimmet Village, which he called Howell Place. In 1800, Williams moved to Winnisimmet Village and took up residence in the mansion house erected by Samuel Watts, the original owner. The mansion was on the slope of a hill on the northerly side of Beacon Street between Pembroke and Tremont Street. This hill ran down to a beautiful sandy beach. On December 26, 1802, Henry Williams passed away. Williams' son Thomas, managed the Noddle Island farm until the East Boston Improvement Company took over the land ending a seventy year claim by the Williams family.
The Williams School opened in January 1861 and graduated it's first class the following July. Abbot said they were a very happy bunch of boys when they left the "red ark" on Maverick Street and entered the "palatial" edifice on Walnut Street where everything was clean and new and up to date. The big desks with the lifting covers were great for hiding actions from the teacher such as biting an apple or to crack peanuts. Mr. John P. Payson was the Master and as Abbot Bassett stated: "Mr. Payson was a master of the old-school type in the matter of discipline, and that means that he knew no other rule than of the active rattan". The students thought him unjust and unfair in many instances and with time never changed their opinion. Abbot admitted the man had many admirable qualities and as a teacher ws remarkably talented. Master Payson tried to encourage the formation of a debating club after school, but the boys were anxious to get home to dinner and did not relish public speaking. Payson next tried "bean bags" but this was considered a girls' game. Finally, Payson began to teach the boys to sing, something only the girls were taught. This was the beginning of the idea that boys be taught singing in the Chelsea schools.
In the words of Abbot Bassett: "I don't believe it ever fell to the lot of many boys to have a more pathetic graduation than that which we had to go through. On Sunday, July 21, 1861, the very disastrous battle of Bull Run occurred. The first big battle of the Civil War ws a decided defeat for the Union Army. Chelsea Company H First Massachusetts Regiment was engaged in it and lost several men. The company was the first to go from this city and in it's ranks were sons. brothers, and husbands. Two days later on the twenty-third of July, and when the incomplete returns of the dead and wounded had been received, we gathered for our graduation exercises. Every person was in a state of suspense and dread fearing later news would bring further disaster. It should have been a time of rejoicing for the students, but it was a most mournful occason".
The foregoing was adapted from a story by Abbot Bassett on the fiftieth anniversary of the first graduating class of the Old Williams School in 1861, of which he was a member. Abbot Bassett was the publisher of the Chelsea Public, a weekly newspaper and served as a member of the Chelsea School Board in the 1870's. Mr. Bassett was prominent in the League of American Wheelmen, an organization of bicycle enthusiasts in the late nineteenth century and served as its secretary for a number of years.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1845 - 1924 (79 years)