Ives Family History Blog

The Three William Bassetts in Early New England

I received a copy of an interesting article from J. Jackson published in the Connecticut Nutmegger on Which William Bassett is of New Haven. I greatly appreciated this. It first documents a William Bassett who came to the Plymouth Colony on the Ship Fortune in 1621. Then there was William Bassett who came to the Massachusetts Bay Colony and settled in Lynn MA in 1625. He likely knew my ancestor Nathaniel Turner who was still there then before going to New Haven in 1638. Then it listed William Bassett who first shows up in New Haven in 1642/43 and concludes that he was a different person from the others. I would certainly agree with that. The article gives a lot of useful context.

However, they list this William Bassett’s wife as Hannah Dickerman, widow of William Ives, with no proof that this was her name. Here is where I disagree. You can find out why in the series on her name.

William Bassett (1622 - 1684) Part Two

William won a legal case in October 2, 1666 and was awarded damages for beating given to his son, Samuel, who was 12 at the time. As the plaintiff, he had declared that his son, Samuel, was set to make hay for Goodman Benham. He claimed that Jonathan Tuttle came to Samuel in the meadow and threw him down and kicked him. The defendant denied this act but the evidence was plentiful and the jury found for William Bassett to receive forty shillings damages and court costs. William Bassett was seated at the New Haven general court of January 7, 1667 and received 20 acres of land in the December 1680 third division of land in New Haven and his son Samuel received 21 acres.

William Bassett’s will was witnessed on Jan 1, 1679 by Thomas Yale, Sr. and James Clarke. He named John Cooper and Abraham Dickerman as the overseers of his estate. They had recently become his in-laws as his son, Samuel, married Mary Dickerman, daughter of Abraham and granddaughter of John Cooper, on June 21, 1677. He provides bequeaths to his daughters, Bia Bassett (Abiah), Phebe Rose (his step daughter Phebe Ives), Hannah Parker, and to his son Joseph Ives (his step son).

For some reason, not known, this will leaves out his other children and step children: John Bassett, Samuel Bassett, Martha (Ives) Beach, and John Ives. John and Samuel Bassett were living when he wrote his will as was John Ives (although John Ives died in 1682, two years before his step father passed on). The date of Martha Ives Beach’s death is not known. After William Bassett died on August 29, 1684*, his estate was inventoried by John Winston and Joseph Mansfield who reported a value of 50 pds, 10 shillings on Sept. 1684.

William and “Goodwife” Bassett had four children.

1. Hannah Bassett was born in New Haven on September 13, 1650, baptized in New Haven on September 15, 1650, and died in Wallingford, on June 7, 1726. She married John Parker (1648-1711), son of Edward Parker and Elizabeth Potter (widow of John Potter), on Nov. 8, 1670. They had eleven children, the first four were born in New Haven, the fifth in Wallingford and the others are uncertain: Hannah (1671-1758), Elizabeth (1673-1751), John (1675-1745), Abiah (1677-1767), Rachel (1680-1763), Joseph (1682-1758), Mary (1685-1770), Eliphalet (1687-1758), Samuel (1690-1750), Edward (1692-1776), Abigail (1694-1732).

2. John Bassett was born in New Haven on December 24, 1652, and died on Feb 8, 1713 in New Haven. John served in the King Philip War in 1675 and took part in the Great Swamp Fight with the Narragansetts in December of that year. He is listed as a Proprietor of New Haven, CT, in the Year 1685 (NEGHSR, vol. 1, pp. 157–8). He married Mercy Todd (1655-1717), daughter of Christopher and Grace (Middlebrook) Todd. They had nine children, all born in New Haven: Mercy (1676-1756), Hannah (1679-1766), Sarah (1682-1771), Lydia (1685-1738), Abigail (1687-1743), John (1691-1757), Joseph (1694), Rebecca (1694-), Joseph (1697-1761).

3. Samuel Bassett was born in New Haven on February 15, 1654, and died in New Haven on April 8, 1716. He is listed as a Proprietor of New Haven, CT, in the Year 1685 (NEGHSR, vol. 1, pp. 157–8). On June 21, 1677, in New Haven, he married Mary Dickerman (1659-1728), daughter of Abraham and Mary (Cooper) Dickerman. They had ten children: Mary (1678-1751), Phebe (1681-), Abiah (1684-1760), Samuel (1686-1744), John (1690-1726), Abraham (1692-1755), Martha (1695-1759), Amos (1697-1751), Ebenezer (1700-1722), Thankful (1702-1787). (see above)

4. Abiah was born in New Haven on Feb. 7, 1657, married Ralph Lines (1652-1712) on April 27, 1681. They had twelve children: Rebecca (1681-1696), Ralph (-1688), Hannah (1684-), Joseph (1685-1749), Phebe (1687-), Alice (1688-1689), Ralph (169-1693), child (1693), Benjamin (1694-1755), Abiah (1695/6-), Rebecca (1697/8-1780), Alice (1697-1780).

William Bassett (1622 - 1684) Part One

Dr. William Bassett was born about 1622 in England. and died on Aug. 29, 1684 in New Haven. Much has been written about him so I wil divide his story into two parts. He was a medical doctor and married the widow of William Ives (perhaps this was Hannah Dickerman (also see Dickerman family) on Nov 7, 1648 in New Haven after William Ives died in May 1648. William Bassett was not one of the original New Haven founders in 1639 and first appears in the New Haven court records on March 7, 1643 when he was fined 6 pence along with several others for having a “foole gun.” He is listed as attending the July 1, 1644 general court.

At the court of July 3, 1648, he was complained for being absent at the general court. However, he said that “he had some hay which did lie upon storage, there being many cattle lying at it, that if he did not fetch it that day it would have been eaten and spoiled and he endeavored to fetch it the week before but it was so wet that he could not, the hay was scarce worth the fetching, but his necessity required it for preserving his cattle, which the court considering it, past it by without fine.”

After he married the widow of William Ives, the court required that give in security for the children of William Ives, according to the will of William Ives and that he not alter any of the estate until he acquaint the court with it. When he was near marriage to Hannah, the court asked him to provide the same security but he asked to be deferred until after the marriage and the court granted this deferment.

At the court of Feb. 6, 1648, it was recorded that Edward Banister passed over to William Bassett 12 acres of land in the suburbs on this side of the river of the West River and three acres of meadow in the West meadow and 24 acres in the second division. After the 1648 marriage, the Bassett family continued to live in the house of William Ives at 72 – 160 Congress Street until William Bassett sold it in 1651/2 to the widow of Anthony Thompson. He placed eleven pounds worth of cattle as security for John Ives’ portion of the property.

At the court of July 4, 1648, the court complained to him for not bringing his arms to the meeting on the Sabbath day which was his squadron. He answered that “he was changed from one squadron to another and know not that it was his day, and when he saw it he brought them in the afternoon, but he was told it was his neglect and he should know, but the court finding it was not willful neglect agreed that he pay half the fine, which was 2 shillings, 6 pence.”

At the same court it was recorded that “he passed over to Matthew Canfield two acres of meadow, one acre lying on the west meadow and another of the this side of the river between the meadow of Richard Osborne and Thomas Knowles, as well as 8 ½ aces of upland in the suburbs quarter on this side of the West River.” At the court of August 7, 1649, William Bassett passed over to Robert Emry one house and barn that was sometimes Edward Bannister’s with 6 ½ acres of upland. He was fined 12 pence for coming late to his watch at the court of Oct. 2, 1649. In 1661 he acquired a portion of Matthew Gilbert’s place in Hamden with Richard Newman buying the remainder (Hartley, 1959). William Bassett’s wife died sometime after 1662 and before he wrote his will in 1679.

In her last recorded appearance before the New Haven court of August 5, 1662, Goodwife Bassett apologized to the court for her “sin in meddling with that which did not concern her,” the execution of William Potter, and breaking the fourth commandment. William Bassett also apologized for his role in saying bad things about Thomas Wheadons for his execution, by order of the court, of William Potter. William Potter was the father-in-law of her first daughter by William Ives, Phebe, so this may have given them reason to feel connected to the event.

William Bassett declared to the court that he was low in his estate and asked that they would consider an abatement of his fines for this act. The court said they would consider it. On October 20, 1673, the court granted him ownership of two parcels of meadow that formerly belonged to William Potter that he, William Bassett, had possessed for a number of years. James Bishop and John Cooper witnessed the agreement.

Samuel Bassett (1654 - 1716)

Samuel Bassett was the son of William Bassett (1622 - 1684). He was born on Feb. 15, 1654 in New Haven. In 1666, his beating at age 12 by a neighbor was the subject of a successful law suit by his father – see William Bassett below. He and his brother John had homes in the Mill Pond area of what is now Hamden. He received 21 acres of land in the December 1680 third division of land in New Haven. The town meeting of April 24, 1683 named him and David Atwater as fence viewers for the neck and to mend fences that belonged to it and to bring charges to the committee to be levied against the proprietors.

He is listed as a Proprietor of New Haven in the 1685. Around 1700, the two Bassett brothers, along with Joseph Bradley, were granted a seven year privilege to raise corn on 40 acres near the Town Farm in Hamden. In 1705 the two Bassett brothers, along with Nathaniel Bradley built a pound for stray animals. Samuel married Mary Dickerman on June 21, 1677 in New Haven. She was born on May 1, 1659, the daughter of Abraham Dickerman and Mary Cooper (see Dickerman family). Mary Cooper was the daughter of John Cooper and Mary Woolen (see Cooper family). Samuel Bassett died on April 8, 1716. Samuel and Mary had 10 children:

1. Mary, born Feb. 14, 1679 in New Haven, CT and died Aug. 25, 1751 in New Haven. She married Daniel Sherman (1668 – 1729) on Jan. 21, 1702 in New Haven. They had seven children: Eunice (1704 – 1781), Abiah (1707 – 1794), Daniel (1711 – 1760), Amos (1713 – 1793), James (1716 – 1774), Mary (1719), Martha (1721 – 1795). All were born in New Haven.

2. Phebe, born Oct. 9, 1681, married Uzal Wardell of Branford about 1702.

3. Abiah, born Dec. 1, 1684, died on Oct. 27, 1760 in New Haven. She married John Hitchcock (1685-1753) on May 29, 1711. He had one child by his first wife, Mary Thompson (1687-1708), They had 10 children: Mary (1712), Samuel (1713-1788), Abiah (1715-1783), Joseph (1717), Thankful (1719), Sarah (1720), Abigail (1722), Amos (1724-1791), Comfort (1726), Joseph (1728-1790). All were born in New Haven.

4. Samuel, born Mar. 16, 1685/86, was christened on Dec. 9, 1699 in the First Congregational Church, New Haven, and died on Sept. 23, 1744. He married Mary Hitchcock (1692-1721) in New Haven. They had five children, all born in New Haven: Mary (1711-1760), Phebe (1713-1762), Martha (1716-1777), Elizabeth (1719-1783), Thankful (1721-). Then, after Mary died, he married Elizabeth Humiston (1681-1767).on Dec. 17, 1723. Samuel and Elizabeth had three children, all born in New Haven: Lois (1724-1799), Samuel (1728-1799), David (1730-1758). Finally, after Elizabeth died, he married Mary Clinton, widow of Samuel Humiston.

5. John, born Mar. 13, 1689/90, was christened on Dec. 9, 1699 in the First Congregational Church, New Haven, and died on July 11, 1726. He married Lydia Holt (1693-1776) on Feb. 4, 1724 in New Haven. They one child: James (1725-1801), who married Sarah Thompson on Dec. 24, 1754 and they had eleven children. Lydia married Stephen Sperry after John died.

6. Abraham, born Nov. 9, 1692, was christened on Dec. 3, 1699 in the First Congregational Church, New Haven, and died on April 10, 1755 in New Haven. He married Mehitabel Street (1699 – 1785) on Feb. 2, 1720 in New Haven. They had seven children: Sarah (1721-1776), Ebenezer (1723-1758), Daniel (1726-1809), Mehitabel (1728-1811), Abraham (1733-1776), Susannah (1737-1813), Hannah (1739-1803). All were born in New Haven.

7. Martha, born Sept. 8, 1695, was christened on Dec. 3, 1699 in the First Congregational Church, New Haven, and died on Oct. 21, 1756 in New Haven and is buried in the Old Cemetery in New Haven. She married David Yale (1693-1757) in New Haven on Feb. 25, 1718. David was the son of Nathaniel Yale and nephew of Mary Yale who married Joseph Ives. He was also the brother of Nathaniel Yale who married Thankful Bassett (see below). They had al least one child: Martha (1728-1813) born in New Haven.

8. Amos, born Feb. 19, 1697, was christened on Dec. 3, 1699 in the First Congregational Church, New Haven, and died on 1751. He married Mary Gilbert (1704) on Feb 24, 1724 in New Haven. They had six children: Mary (1727-1743), Lydia (1730-1814), Eunis (1732-1824), Phebe (1736), Thankful (1741-1743), Mary (1745). All were born in New Haven.

9. Ebenezer, born May 12, 1700, was christened on June 1. 1700 in the First Congregational Church, New Haven, and died April 28, 1722.

10. Thankful, born Oct. 10, 1702, died on Jan. 1, 1787. She married Nathaniel Yale (1702 – 1746) on Jan 15, 1728 in New Haven. Nathaniel was the brother of David Yale who married Thankful’s sister, Martha. Thankful and Nathaniel had seven children: Mary (1729-1783), James (1731), Nathaniel (1732), Ruth (twin) (1735), Thankful (twin) (1735), Rebecca (1737 – 1817), Nathaniel (1741-). All were born in New Haven. After Nathaniel died, she married Nathaniel Heaton (1704-1782).

Abraham Bassett (1692 - 1755)

Abraham Bassett was the son of Samuel Bassett (1654 - 1716). He was born on Nov. 9, 1692 in New Haven and he was christened on Dec. 3, in the First Congregational Church in New Haven. He married Mehitabel Street on Feb. 2, 1719 in New Haven. She was born on Feb. 15, 1699 in Wallingford, the daughter of Samuel Street and Hannah Glover and died on Mar. 5, 1785 in New Haven. Samuel Street was one of the original 39 signers of the Wallingford Agreement in 1668. Abraham died on April 10, 1755 in New Haven. They had seven children, all were born in New Haven:

1. Sarah, born Dec. 13, 1721, died on Oct. 10, 1776. She married James Heaton (1722-Oct. 13, 1776) on June 16, 1743. They had eight children, all born in New Haven: Mabel (1743-1807), Abraham (1745-1832), Giles (1747), Giles (1749-), Lydia (1751-1784), John (1755-1828), James (1758-Sept. 30,1766), Joel (1761-1823). Sarah, James and their son James died within two weeks of each other.

2. Ebenezer, born Nov. 14, 1723, died on 1758. He married Susanna White (1727-1801) on Jan. 24, 1749 in New Haven. They had at least three children: Mary (1751-1776), Susanna (1754-1763), Sarah (1757-1845). All were born in New Haven.

3. Daniel, born Feb. 16, 1725/26, died on Dec. 5, 1809. He was made an ensign in 1773. Daniel married Eunice Turner (1741-1815). There is no record of children.

4. Mehitabel, born Aug. 1, 1728, died on April 7, 1811 and is buried in the Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven. She married Samuel Bishop (1723-1803) on Nov. 9, 1752 in New Haven. Samuel was one of the witnesses on the 1775 deed of Jeremiah Ives and was a justice of the peace. They had nine children: Samuel (1753-1754), Abram (1755-1759), Samuel (1758), Timothy (1759), Mary (1760-1816), Abraham (1763-1844), Rebecca (1765), John (1767-1803), Rebecca (1770-1837). All were born in New Haven.

5. Abraham, born Aug. 12 1733, died on Sept. 8, 1776 while serving in the Revolution. Abraham had enlisted in May 15, 775 in General Wooster’s regiment. He served in the siege of Boston, and the battles of Long Island, Kips bay, and White Plains. He had married Lydia Smith (1738-1829) on Feb. 12, 1761 in New Haven. They had seven children: Issac (1762-1834), Jesse ((1764-1832), Eli (1766-1835), Sarah (1768-1835), Molly (1770-1782), Charles (1773-1782), Caleb (1775-1810). All were born in New Haven.

6. Susanna, born May 18 1737, died on May 25, 1813. She married Ephiram Humiston (1730-1806) on Dec. 1, 1757 in New Haven. They had 10 children: John (1758), Sarah (1760-1818), Susannah (1763-1810), Ephraim (1766), Joel (1768-1847), Street (1771), Mary (1775), Caleb (1781-1857). All were born in New Haven.

7. Hannah, born on Dec. 26, 1739 and died Sept. 14, 1803, she married Jeremiah Ives on June 7, 1768 in New Haven. They had six children (Abraham 1769-1855), Joseph (1771-1801), Hannah (1773-1831), Sarah (1775-1849), Rebecca (1777), Abigail (1779). The first three or four were born in New Haven and the last three were born in W. Springfield. (see above)

Bassett Family History in Early CT

This post begins a series on Bassett family genealogy. Hannah Bassett married Jeremiah Ives on June 7, 1768 in New Haven. Hannah was born on Dec. 26, 1739 in New Haven, CT. and died Sept. 14, 1803 in West Springfield, MA. (See Jeremiah Ives for their family) The Bassett family continued to live in the New Haven area. Between 1647 and 1754 in the New Haven records there were seventy-six births recorded in the Bassett family. This places them as number twenty-two in the list of families with the most births recorded in New Haven with the male descendents and their wives accounting for greater than one percent of the children born in New Haven during this time period. In the 1790 US Census, there were seven male Bassetts and one female listed as heads of households in Hamden, CT along with nine male Bassetts as head of household in North Haven but none in New Haven town.

I will now discuss Hannah's ancesters in the following posts ending with William Bassett. William married the widow of William Ives and was the step father of Joseph Ives and his siblings. I have already covered the controversy over the name of the wife of William Ives and William Bassett. Whatever her name is, she was the matriach of two large New Haven families. The later marriage of Hannah and Jeremiah further established the relationship between these two families.