More on the Basse families

Without clear information, I'm keeping these ancestors on my tree...for now.
There are conflicting places of birth, marriage or death on many of them, if there is information at all.

Ancestry trees often disagree about lineage, so one person can have different ancestors depending upon which tree you read. I try hard to find any original source documents, and tend to let go along the way the ones that were written by descendants (though often if they give source references they are correct.)

Find a Grave sites often combine a lot of information that is here-say.  My last post has some photos of a church which I found under Humphrey Basse's listing in Find A Grave, but nothing indicated what the photos were of.  I hate that!

OK.

Humphrey Benjamin Basse, 1563-1616 m. Mary Buschier 1568-1616 (10 times great grandparents)

his father was William Humphrey Benjamin Basse b. 8 March 1520 either in Dammartin, Haute-Marne, Champagne-Ardenne, France OR Little Chesterfield, Essex, England;
died and was buried 13 May 1614 Burial Place: St John the Baptist, Hillingdon, Middlesex, England (record legible of this church)
m. 24 Jul 1542 St James Garlickhithe, London, England (church record available) Mary (Margaret) Carkin/Larkin Basse, 1525-1616 (11 greats grandparents)

his father was Joseph Basse (Besse) born in 1495 either in London, Middleex, England OR 1493 or 1498 in Mézières-Sur-Couesnon, Ille-et-Vilaine, Bretagne, France,
died in 1534 • Mézières, Ille-et-Vilaine, Bretagne, France.
m. in 1518, 21 or 25 to JOSEPHINE PILOTTE/Pialot BASSE 1500-1550 in Mézières, Ille-et-Vilaine, Bretagne, France (12 greats grandparents)

his father was William Basse b. 1480 in Mézières, Ille-et-Vilaine, Bretagne, France...he died in 1539, Bishops Tawton, Devon, England, OR Mézières, Ille-et-Vilaine, Bretagne, France.

married in 1497 or 1500 in in Mézières, Ille-et-Vilaine, Bretagne, France to Rosalie Benoite Basse 1480-1534 (13 greats grandparents)

his father was THOMAS Bilodeau Basse (Bayse) BORN 1460 • Mezieres, Ille-et-Vilaine, Bretagne, France; died 1539 • Mezieres, Ille-et-Vilaine, Bretagne, France

married on unknown date to Elizabeth Dunham Basse 1465-1520 (who was born in Dunham, Nottinghamshire, England and died in England.) my 14 times great grandparents.

Though there are further records on Ancestry for the families of the Mrs. Basse, I am not going to list them at this time. On a quick perusal of their dates, I find other Ancestry trees have again had mothers giving birth after age 65 or before 10.  So I can just leave these ancestors as appreciated but not defined at this time.

1465–1520

Mary Buchier Basse 1568-1616 (10G)

Married to Humphrey Benjamin Basse Sr, Mary Buchier was my 10th great grandmother. She was born in 1568, in Roanne, Loire, Rhone-Alpes, France.  She died just a month after her husband on 22 July 1616, Bishopsgate, London. They were buried at the nunnery at St. Helen Bishopgate, London. Mary had many children, some of whom were twins. There are records of some of their baptisms, and some of their burials, given below. I posted yesterday about Humphrey Benjamin Basse Sr. HERE.

About Humphrey Basse (and Mary)

Humphrey Basse was born Abt 1565, England and Christened 29 Dec 1589 in St. Gabriel Church, Fenchurch Street, London, Middlesex, England.

His wife Mary Bouchier was born Abt 1568 in Roanne, Lorie, France.

The Basses were members of the Church of England and 14 of their 15 children were baptized in St. Gabriel's and St. Helen's Bishopsgate in London. Humphrey and Mary died within a month of each other and are buried in the Nunnery at St. Helen's, Bishopgate, London, England. The nunnery was destroyed by fire in 1799. In his will, Humphrey mentions his wife and nine of his children. He also referred to his brothers, Thomas [deceased]and William as well as his father-in-law, Charles Pressy, and mother-in-law, Genevieve and several of his wife's relatives. 

---

Mary was the daughter of Dominick and Genevieve Bouchier. She married Humphrey Bass about 1585/86, probably in the Parish of St. Catherine Coleman in London, England.

http://webpages.charter.net/knighthistory/VirginiaKnights.html

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More information about the family comes from: My Southern Roots.

Humphrey BASSE 1565 - 4 Jun 1616

ID Number: I54194

OCCUPATION: Merchant of London RESIDENCE: London, Middlesex, ENG BIRTH: 1565, England DEATH: 4 Jun 1616, London, Middlesex, England BURIAL: 6 Jun 1616 RESOURCES: See: [S24] [S2756]

Family 1 : Mary BUSCHIER 

• MARRIAGE: 1588, London, England

1. +Nathaniel BASSE Gent.
2.  Samuel BASSE "the Immigrant"
3. +Mary BASSE 

Notes

Son of William Basse b 1540 England and Mary Carkin. Humphrey Basse's Will written 13 May 1616, and proved 6 June 1616 named his wife, Mary, as Executrix, and named sons Nathaniel , Richard, Samuel, Humphrey and Luke; daughters Hester, Abigail, Sarah and married daughter Mary Walthall. Also mentioned were his brothers Thomas Basse, late deceased, and William Basse. 

Children:
i Nathaniel (Basse) BASS was born on 29 Dec 1589. He died on 3 Jul 1654.
ii Richard BASS was born in Oct 1591 in London, England. He died in 1599. Richard was baptized on 30 Oct 1591 in Church of St Gabriel, London.
iii Humfrey BASS was born in May 1593 in London, England. He died in 1599 in London, England. He was buried on 9 Oct 1588. Humfrey was baptized on 29 Sep 1588.
iv William BASS was born in Oct 1594 in London, England. He died on 12 Feb 1594/1595 in London, England. He was buried on 12 Feb 1594/1595 in Church of St Gabriel, Fenchurch St., London. William was baptized on 20 Oct 1594 in Church of St Gabriel, Fenchurch St., London.
v Mary BASS was born in Jan 1594/1595. She died on 12 Feb 1608/1609.
vi Samuel BASS was born on 20 Aug 1598. He died on 30 Dec 1694.

vii Humphrey BASS was born on 18 Nov 1599.
viii Thomas BASS was born in Feb 1600/1601 in London, England. He was buried on 11 Jan 1602/1603 in Church of St Gabriel, Fenchurch St., London. Thomas was baptized on 21 Feb 1601/1602 in Church of St Gabriel, Fenchurch St., London.
ix Hanna BASS was born in 1603 in London, England. She was buried on 1 May 1605 in St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London.

x Barnaby BASS was born in Jun 1605 in London, England. Barnaby was baptized on 30 Jun 1605 in St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London.
xi John BASS was born in Dec 1606 in London, England. John was baptized on 14 Dec 1606 in St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London.
xii Abigail BASS was born in Jan 1607/1608 in London, England. Abigail was baptized on 14 Jan 1608/1609 in St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London.
xiii Lidea BASS was born in May 1608 in London, England. She died in Jan 1608/1609 in London, England. She was buried on 26 Jan 1608/1609 in St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London. Lidea was baptized on 15 May 1608 in St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London.
xiv Luke BASS was born on 5 May 1613 in London, England. Luke was baptized on 5 May 1613 in St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London.
xv Abraham BASS was born on 5 May 1613 in London, England. Abraham was baptized on 5 May 1613 in St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London.
xvi Sara BASS was born in Jun 1615 in London, England. Sara was baptized on 27 Jun 1615 in St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London.  

Records of baptism and burial:
Humfrey Bass, Baptism: Date: 29 Sep 1588 Burial: Date: 9 Oct 1588 
Richard Bass, Baptism: Date: 30 Oct 1591 Place: Church of St Gabriel, London 
William Bass, Baptism: Date: 20 Oct 1594 Place: Church of St Gabriel, Fenchurch St., London 
Burial: Date: 12 Feb 1594/1595 Place: Church of St Gabriel, Fenchurch St., London 
Mary Bass, Baptism: Date: 25 Jan 1595/1596 Place: Church of St Gabriel, Fenchurch St., 
Humphrey Bass, Baptism: Date: 18 Nov 1599 Place: Church of St Gabriel, Fenchurch St., 
Thomas Bass, Baptism: Date: 21 Feb 1601/1602 Place: Church of St Gabriel, Fenchurch St., 
Burial: Date: 11 Jan 1602/1603 Place: Church of St Gabriel, Fenchurch St., London 
Hanna Bass, abt. 1603 - Burial: Date:1 May 1605 Place: St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, 
Barnaby Bass, Baptism: Date: 30 Jun 1605 Place: St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London 
John Bass, Date: 14 Dec 1606 Place: St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London 
Lidea Bass, Baptism: Date: 15 May 1608 Place: St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London 
Burial: Date: 26 Jan 1608/1609 Place: St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London 
Abigail Bass, Baptism: Date: 14 Jan 1608/1609 Place: St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London 

Will: 05/13/1616 Prerogative Court of Canterbury, England
Probate: 06/061616 Prerogative Court of Canterbury, England 

There is a comprehensive history of the English/early American Basses in Bell, Bass Families in the South (Rocky Mount, 1961) at the D.A.R. Library;
Other records for this line are taken from Coldham, Complete Book of Emigrants;
See also The Complete Works of John Smith (Barbour ed.) v. II at 274;
See also the LDS Ancestral File. 

Author's note: Bell's book is disclaimed by many descendents of the Bass family, who state he was hired to find a connection to the Hugenots of France.  Mary Buchier might very well be the connection that was fabricated by Bell. But since she is named as Humphrey's wife and executrix in his will, she must have been a real person, though perhaps not from Roen, France.  There are also some French ancestors on the Bass side of the family.

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And another source gives this family information:

Humphrey Bass

Girdler, Haberdasher, Merchant of London

Born	Abt 1565 England
Parents
Married	abt 1585/86 Mary Bouchier, daughter of Dominick and Genevieve Bouchier Probably in the Parish of St. Catherine Coleman in London, England.
Died	04 June 1616 London, Middlesex, England
Children

1) Humphrey	bapt. 29 Sep 1588 m. ch: buried 9 Oct 1588
2) Nathaniel	bapt.29 Dec 1589 Church of St. Gabriel, Fenchurch St., London, Middlesex, England m. 21 May 1613 Mary Jordan London, Middlesex, England ch: Humphrey, Samuel, John, William, Anthony, Edward, Mary, Genevieve, Anne, Richard, Gregorie, Nathaniel, Infant d. 3 July 1654, buried Church of St. Alphage, Cripplegate, London, Middlesex, England
3) Richard	bapt. 30 Oct 1591 Church of St. Gabriel, London, Middlesex, England m. ch: d.
4) Humphrey	bapt. 30 Oct 1591 Church of St. Gabriel, London, Middlesex, England m. ch: d. abt. 1599 London, Middlesex, England
5) William	bapt. 20 Oct 1594 Church of St. Gabriel, London, Middlesex, England m. ch: bur. 12 Feb 1594/5 Church of St. Gabriel, London, Middlesex, England
6) Mary	bapt. 25 Jan 1595/6 Church of St. Gabriel, London, Middlesex, England m. Luke Walthall, Merchant., 12 Feb 1610/11 St. Giles in Fields Church, Middlesex, England Luke dies by Dec 1617 ch. William, Mary d.
7) Hester	bapt. 3 Jul 1597 Church of St. Gabriel, London, Middlesex, England m. ch: d. abt 1618
8) Samuel	bapt. 20 Aug 1598 London, Middlesex, England m. 25 Apr 1625 Anne Savell Saffron Walden, Essex, England ch: Samuel, John, Ann/Hannah?, Mary, Thomas, Joseph, Sarah d. 30 Dec 1694 Braintree, Suffolk Co., MA Samuel was with Nathaniel Basse in Virginia 16 Feb 1623/4 at Basse's Choice. Some genealogist identify this Samuel Basse who settled at Braintree, MA, as ancestor of the Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams.
9) Humphrey	bapt. 18 Nov 1599, Church of St. Gabriel, London, Middlesex, England m. ch: d.
10) Thomas	bapt. 21 Feb 1601/2 Church of St. Gabriel, London, Middlesex, England m. ch: bur. 11 Jan 1602/3 Church of St. Gabriel, London, Middlesex, England
11) Hannah	b. abt 1603 London, Middlesex, England m. ch: bur. 1 May 1605, St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London, Middlesex, England
12) Barnaby	bapt. 30 June 1605 St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London, Middlesex, England m. ch: d.
13) John	bapt. 14 Dec 1606, St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London, Middlesex, England m. ch: d.
14) Lidea	bapt. 15 May 1608, St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London, Middlesex, England m. ch: bur. 26 Jan 1608/9 St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London, Middlesex, England
15) Abigail	bapt. 14 Jan 1609, St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London m. ch: d.
16) Luke	bapt. 5 May 1613, St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London m. ch: d.
17) Abraham	bapt. 5 May 1613, St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London, Middlesex, England m. ch: d.
18) Sarah	bapt. 27 Jun 1615, St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, London, Middlesex, England m. Thomas Carrelison ch: d. aft 30 Aug 1654

Humphrey Basse made out his will under date of 13 May 1616, and it was proved 6 June 1616 after his burial on 4 June 1616. He named his wife, Mary, as Executrix, and named sons Nathaniel, Richard, Samuel, Humphrey and Luke;daughters Hester, Abigail, Sarah and married daughter Mary Walthall. Also mentioned were his brothers Thomas Basse, late deceased, and William Basse.

On 16 Dec 1617, daughter Mary Basse Walthall was granted as Administrator to the tenor of the will for "that Mary Basse, Executrix, is deceased (22 July 1616) and that Luke Walthall, Executor of Mary Basse, is also deceased". (Register 65 Cope Prerogative Court of Canterbury)

Sharing with Sepia Saturday this week.

Humphrey Benjamin Basse Sr 1563-1616 (10G)

My 10 times great grandfather, never came to American colonies...but lived in jolly old England all his life. Born either in 1563, 64, 65 or 67...in Walden, Essex probably, and died 4 July 1616 in London.

There are church records about his burial at St. Helen Bishopgate, London, England.

Churchyard at St. Helen Bishopgate, London England (NOTE:  This is an absolutely beautiful medieval church . Just fascinating . There is only one church in London with more memorials than this church and that is Westminster Abbey ! St. Helen’s was the Parish church for William Shakespeare too !! “ St Helen's was one of only a few City of London churches to survive both the Great Fire of London of 1666 and the Blitz during World War II. However in 1992 and again in 1993 the church was badly damaged by two IRA bombs that were set off nearby. The roof of the building was lifted and one of the City's largest medieval stained glass windows was shattered. Additionally many of the older monuments within it were entirely destroyed. by Ancestry member lsizemore78)

Church records, 1538-1812  I think his name is fourth from the bottom on left page. And if you can read what it says, you're better at Olde English than I am!

Another church record...I can't even locate his name on this one...

And whoever saved it hasn't given any clue as to what this record means to Humphrey Basse. But it is record of St. Helen, Bishopgate, London, 1575-1655.

Thi record is from Norfolk, Norwich, St. Steven, 1558-1636

Unfortunately it is all Greek to me.

But we can actually read about him in the following excerpt.

Unfortunately the two pages are just denoted Page 1 and Page 2 (the children of Humphrey and Mary)****************

This lists 17 children. Several of the Ancestry files (including mine) have 20 children born to this marriage. But many of them died within their first few years.

My ancestor (who immigrated to America, was their third child, Nathaniel Basse who I covered in blogs both Here and HERE.)

I was glad to find that Mr. Humphrey B. Basse Sr. invested in the Virginia Company, and he was a merchant and haberdasher...maker of hats. Not a profession that has many members any more!

Mary Jourdan Basse 1592-1630 (9G)

Mary Jourdan Basse 1592-1630, an immigrant to the American Colonies in 1622, my 9 times great grandmother. I found more articles on line, about both Nathaniel and Mary Basse...so am copying them here. The last photos are the primary documents, while much of the rest is cobbled together from possible documents and stories.

The following was posted about her HERE:

Mary Jourdan was born 1590/1595 in London, England and died 7 Jan 1630 [1] [2]

Married:

1. on 05-21-1613 in in London, England to Captain Nathaniel Basse (1589-1654)

Children of Mary Jourdon and Nathaniel Basse:

1. Humphrey Basse b. 07-15-1615 in London, England
2. Samuel Basse b. 07-15-1615 " " "
3. JOHN BASSE b. 09-07-1616 " " "
4. William Basse b. 12-25-1618 " " "
5. Anthony Basse b. 03-13-1620 " " "
6. Edward Basse b. 05-08-1622 " " "
7. Mary Basse b. 06-16-1623 at Basse's Choice, Va.
8. Genevieve Basse b. 10-09-1624 " " " "
9. Ann Basse b. 10-09-1624 " " "
10. Richard Basse b. 08-27-1625 " " " "
11. Gregory Basse b. 12-10-1628 " " " "
12. George Basse b. 12-11-1628 " " " "

Notes

• Capt. and Mrs. Basse were early Jamestown, Va. settlers. They owned Basse's Choice Plantation near Jamestown where the rest of their children were born. They returned to London, England before their deaths.
• Nathaniel died 03 July 1654, in London, Middlesex, England. His wife Mary died in childbirth with their twelfth son, 17 Jan 1630. 
• Parents: not known. Possibly a daughter of Samuel Jordan (1578-1623) & his unknown 1st wife, but there is no documentation to support this.

Another recent find (but published over 20 years ago) gives this information HERE:

BASSES PLAYED PROMINENT ROLE IN COLONY

VIRGINIA H. ROLLINGS ColumnistDAILY PRESSSept 19, 1992

In 1625, accounts of inhabitants, arms, and provisions at each plantation were required when assets of the Virginia Company were transferred to the king.

The muster at "Basse's Choice" on Pagan Creek in Wariscoyack, now Isle of Wight County, listed Capt. Nathaniel Basse, age 35, who arrived on the ship Furtherance in 1622; William Bernard, 21, who had come with Basse; Edward Wigge, 22, by the Abigail, 1621; Thomas Phillipes, 26, by the William & Thomas, 1618; Elizabeth Phillipes, 23, by the Seaflower, 1621; Thomas Bennett, 38, by the Neptune, 1618; Mary Bennett, 18, by the Southampton, 1622; Roger Heford, 22, by the Return, 1623; Benjamin Simes, 33, Richard Longe, 33, Alice Longe, 23, by the London Merchant, 1620; Robert Longe, born in Virginia.

Living at Basse's Choice after the 1622 Indian attack were: Capt. Nathaniel Basse (who had been in England); Samuel Basse; Benjamin Simes; Thomas Sherwood; Benjamin Handcleare; William Barnard; John Shelley; Nathaniel Moper; Nathaniel Gannon; Margaret Giles; Richard Longe and his wife and infant; Richard Evans; William Newman; John Army; Peter Langden; Henry ---; Andrew Rawley; and Peter ---.

One hundred colonists, many from Barbados, were brought to Isle of Wight by Capt. Basse, Sir Richard Worsley, John Hobson, and Christopher Lawne: "Basse's Choice" was probably awarded in connection with this colonization project.

A puzzling reference to Nathaniel Basse with information about the family of his father, Humphrey Basse, is the deposition recorded on Aug. 30, 1654, at Lord Mayors Court of London, recently published by Peter Wilson Coldham: "Major Edward Basse, citizen and merchant of London aged 60, and Dame Mary Poole (Pole) wife of Sir John Poole of Bromley, Middlesex, age 62, depose that Hester Hobson of Bromley, widow, Abigail Thorpe of Chelsea Hampton, Oxon, widow, and Sarah wife of Thomas Hastler, citizen and barber surgeon of London, are sisters and are daughters of Humphrey Basse of London, Merchant, and Mary his wife, both long since deceased.

The sisters are co-heirs of Luke Basse who died a bachelor and was brother of Nathaniel Basse lately deceased without issue in Virginia.

Thomas Hastler is appointed attorney."

John Basse (born Sept. 7, 1616, died 1699 in Virginia), who married the daughter of Chief Robin in 1638, was one of several sons of Capt. Nathaniel Basse and his wife, Mary Jordan Basse. On Aug. 14, 1638, John Basse married Keziah Tucker, "daughter of Robin the Elder of ye Nansemums kingdom, a baptized Christian ..."

The cherished manuscript labeled, "Booke of John Basse Norfolk County Virginia, 1675," is filled with dates of births, marriages, and deaths, beginning with Humphrey Basse and tracing to the present families in Nansemond (Suffolk) and Norfolk. Jesse Lindsey Bass, 1875-1960, was a chief of the Nansemonds.

His son, Earl L. Bass, for many years a shipyard employee, was chief at age 75, when the assistant chief, Oliver Perry of Virginia Beach, petitioned in 1984 for state recognition of the tribe.

The old farm in Chesapeake, about 65 acres, descended to Earl Bass from Indian ancestors who lived there before the Jamestown settlement.

One John Bass was a headright of Thomas Hampton, who patented 1,000 acres in 1637 on south side of the Nansemond River adjacent to Indian fields on Powells Creek. In 1640, Peter Knight, who had married Genevieve Basse, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary, received 150 acres at Basse's Choice.

Land records name a John Basse who owned land in Warwick County in a patent to Thomas Iken. The 1669 patent was for 135 acres in Mulberry Island Parish with a dwelling formerly owned by William Pierce "at the mouth of a creek which divides this from Baker's neck where the church formerly stood along James River and the great marsh dividing this from Mulberry Island near George Harwood, John Basse, to an old field near the cart path along Brewer's and Paulle's land up Warwick River."

Virginia land grants include numerous headrights (persons whose passage was paid by others) of the Basse name.

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Another source gives this information Here:

NATHANIEL BASS

Born	baptised 29 Dec 1589 at the Church of St. Gabriel, Fenchurch Street, London, Middlesex, England
Parents	Humphrey Bass and Mary Buschier
Married	21 May 1613, Mary Jordan, London, Middlesex, England
Died	03 July 1654 London, Middlesex, England
Children

1) Humphrey	b. 15 July 1615 d. 22 Mar 1622 Good Friday Indian Massacre at Basse's Choice
TWINS
2) Samuel	b. 15 July 1615 (not in Basse Record Book but in French Huguenot article
3) John	b. 7 Sep 1616 London, Middlesex, England m. 14 Aug 1638 (Keziah) Elizabeth, dau. of Great Petter, King of the Nansemond Indians ch. Nathaniel, Keziah, Elizabeth, Jordan, Samuel, William, Richard, John d. 2 Apr 1699, Norfolk-Nansemond Co., VA more on John Bass
4) William	b. 25 Dec 1618 London, Middlesex, England m. 20 Sep 1641 Sarah Batton d. Norfolk, VA
5) Anthony	b. 13 Mar 1620 London, Middlesex, England Was in Westmoreland Co., Va. 1654, sponsored by Giles Bren
6) Edward	b. 8 May 1622 London, Middlesex, England m. abt.1644 Mary Tucker, Norfolk-Nansemond Co., VA Mary was a Nansemond Indian d. abt.1696 Chowan Co., NC Edward traded with Showanee Indians in Carolinas
7) Anne	b. 9 Oct 1624 m. 11 Jun 1640 Thomas Burwell Jr.
TWINS
8) Genevieve	b. 9 Oct 1624, 10 minutes after Anne London, Middlesex, England m. 11 Jun 1640 Peter Knight
9) Richard	b. 27 Aug 1625 London, Middlesex, England
10) Gregory	b. 10 Dec 1628 London, Middlesex, England came to Virginia 1642, sponsored by Wm. Prior
TWINS
11) George	b. 11 Dec 1628 several hours after Gregory, London, Middlesex, England d. 1681 Norfolk-Nansemond, VA
12) Son	b. 17 Jan 1629/30 - stillborn (Mother Mary Jordan Basse dies)

The first English settlement in the area known by the Indians as Warrosquoake (Isle of Wight Co., Virginia) was made by Captain Christoper Lawne, Sir Richard Worsley, Knight & Baronet, and their associates NATHANIEL BASSE, Gentleman, John Hobson, Gentleman, Anthony Olevan, Richard Wiseman, Robert Newland, Robert Gyner and William Willis. They arrived at Jamestown with one hundred settlers on 27 April 1619 in a ship commanded by Captain Evans. They immediately settled on the south side of the Warrosquoake River (James River) and established the plantation "Warrosquoake", to be known as "Lawne's Creek". When their patent was confirmed it was to become known as the "County of Isle of Wight".

NATHANIEL BASSE and others undertook to establish another plantation in the same neighborhood, to the east, known as "Basse's Choice" situated on the Warrosquoake River (James River) and Pagan Creek. His patent was received 21 Nov 1621 for 300 acres plus 100 acres of marshland. The houses on Captain Basse's plantation were being built when at midday on Good Friday, 22 Mar 1622, the Indians attacked the settlers killing 347 of the 1240 English inhabitants in the 80 settlements on the north and south sides of the river (James). 26 at Isle of Wight were among those killed. The settlers made a valiant defense of themselves with guns, axes, spades and brick-bats. It is thought that Nathaniel and his wife, Mary, were in England at the time, and some of the children were at "Basse's Choice" with a nurse. The story is told that five-year old JOHN was one of the children that escaped and was rescued by some friendly Nansemond Indians! His older brother Humphrey died that day.

A census taken 16 Feb 1623/24 showed a total of 53 persons living at "Worwicke-Squeak" and "Basse's Choice". Nathaniel Basse and Samuell Basse among those listed.

Nathaniel was appointed to the House of Burgesses at the first Legislative Assembly representing Warrosquoake (Isle of Wight) for 1623/24. He was again a member of the House of Burgesses in Oct 1629 and 1631, appointed to Harvey's Council 1631/32 and a member of the Great Council 1631/32. On 6 Mar 1631/32 Nathaniel was commissioned to "trade between 34 and 40 N Latitude, England, Nova Scotia and West Indies to invite inhabitants hither". (If they were tired of cold and damp!) He was also commissioned to trade to the Dutch Plantation and Canada. He was given power of Justice of Peace.
(Virginia Council & General Court Records 1626-1634)

Basse's Choice originally called for 300 acres but it's acreage was closer to 400. Mr. Peter Knight, married to Nathaniel's daughter Genevieve, patented 150 acres of the same in 1640, and 255 acres in 1643. Peter Knight sold the tract to John Bland, an eminent London Merchant.

Nathaniel Basse was buried 3 July 1654 in the Church of St. Alphage, Cripplegate, London. Mary, his wife, had died 17 Jan 1630 with the birth of a stillborn son. After Nathaniel's death in 1654, the General Assembly of Virginia in 1659/60 ordered Mr. Wm. Drummond as agent of the Co-heirs of Nathaniel Basse to pay to Theodorick Bland of Westover, 2500 lbs tobacco in settlement of a suit affecting the land.

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And Find a Grave has this entry:

Nathaniel Basse was born in December 1589, in London, England, the son of Humphrey Basse and Mary (Buschier) Basse.

He was the brother of: Richard, Humphrey (died young), William, Mary, Hester, Humphrey, Thomas, Samuel, Barnaby, John, Lydia, Abigail, Luke, and Sarah.

Nathaniel married Mary Jordan in 1613, in England. His first trip to the new world was in 1619, arriving at Jamestown. Captain Basse and others established a plantation east of "Lawne's Creek" on the Warrosquoacke River (now known as the James River) and Pagan's Creek, and named it Basse's Choice. "Basse's Choice" is located in Smithfield Virginia.

The houses on Captain Basse's plantation were being built when at midday on Good Friday, 22 Mar 1622, the Indians attacked the settlers killing 347 of the 1240 English inhabitants in the 80 settlements on the north and south sides of the river (James).  

Nathaniel and his wife, Mary, were in England at the time, and some of the children were at "Basse's Choice" with a nurse. Five-year old John was one of the children that escaped and was rescued by some friendly Nansemond Indians. (He eventually married the chief's daughter). His older brother Humphrey (aged 6 years) died that day.  

Nathaniel was commissioned to trade between England and other countries, and to try to "invite inhabitants" to the new world. He served in the House of Burgesses at Jamestown at least twice.

Nathaniel and Mary's children were: Humphrey (1615-1622), Samuel (twin of Humphrey), John (1616-1699), William (1618-1641), Anthony (b1620), Edward (1622-1696), Mary, Genevieve (b1624), Anne (twin to Genevieve), Richard (b1625), Gregory (b1628), George (twin of Gregory).  

While giving birth to a stillborn son in 1630, Mary died, and is buried somewhere in Virginia. 

On one of his many trips back to England, Nathaniel died (in 1654), and was buried in the Church of St Alphage, Cripplegate, London. (The Church and surrounding area were almost totally destroyed during WWII).

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There were photos attached to the Find A Grave article:

Remains of Church of St. Alphage, London, where Nathaniel Basse (and perhaps Mary Jourdan Basse) were buried.

Baptismal record of Nathaniel Base. 25 Dec 1589 Saint Gabriel Fenchurch, London England.

Buried in the church, not the churchyard, Nathaniel Basse July 3, 1655

Nathaniel Basse 1589-1654 (9G)

Re: Basse's Choice Plantation, 1600s, VA

By genealogy.com user March 06, 1999 at 04:39:42

• In reply to: Basse's Choice Plantation, 1600s, VA
  1/24/99
  
  
  Nathaniel Basse and Samual Basse sons of Humphrey Basse and Mary Buschier.
  
  
  Nathaniel married Mary Jordan May 21, 1613 in England, and had 13 children. Mary died buring childbirth 1/17/1630.

On 4/27/1619 a ship commanded by Capt. Evans arrived at Jamestown, Va. Passengers listed: Capt. Christopher Lawne, Dir Richard Worsley, Nathaniel Basse, John Hobson, Anthony Olevan, Richard Wiseman, Robert Newland, Robert Gyner, and Willian Willis.These men settled near the mouth of the creek on the south side of the James River(still known as Lawne's Creek) and called it the Isle of Wright Plantation.Capt. Basse established a plantation in this same area on the Warrosquoyacke River (now known as the Pagan River) and named it "Basse's Choice."Patented on 11/21/1621 and originally listed 300 acres, was actually closer to 400 acres of which 250 acres was marshland.

Source: https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/bass/393/

Nathaniel Basse (bap. 1589–1654)

Contributed by Daphne Gentry and the Dictionary of Virginia Biography

Nathaniel Basse was an English colonist who represented Warrosquyoake in the House of Burgesses (1624, 1625, 1628, 1629) and served on the governor's Council. The length of his service on the Council is unknown, but he is named as a member on documents dated December 20, 1631, and February 21, 1632. He came to Virginia in March 1619 with Christopher Lawne. In 1621 he received a grant of 300 acres of land; his settlement, Basse's Choice, was among the first English settlements in Isle of Wight County. Knowledge of his personal and family life is obscured by a lack of documentation, but tradition holds that he may have been the father of John Bass, who married a member of the Nansemond tribe in 1638 and from whom the Bass family of lower Tidewater Virginia is descended. However, a deposition recorded in England on August 30, 1654, states that Basse died without issue.

Basse was the second of twelve sons and second of eighteen children of Humphrey Basse and Mary Buschier Basse. His mother was of Italian descent, and his father was a prosperous London girdler of French ancestry who invested in the Virginia Company of London. Basse was probably born in London and was christened there in the parish of Saint Gabriel Fenchurch on December 19, 1589.

Basse first arrived in Virginia, so far as is known, in March 1619 with Christopher Lawne and other colonists associated in the settlement of Warrosquyoake Plantation in what is now Isle of Wight County. During 1620 Basse returned to England and obtained from the Virginia Company a confirmation of the patent to Warrosquyoake in November of that year. The company reconfirmed this patent in January 1622. In November 1621 Basse received a separate patent in his own name for a 300-acre tract a short distance west of Warrosquyoake on the east side of the Pagan River that has been called Basse's Choice ever since. He returned to Virginia on the Furtherance about August or September 1622, after the Powhatan uprising on March 22, 1622, when, according to John Smith's Generall Historie, the Indians "had fired Lieutenant Basse his house, with all the rest there about, slaine the people, and so left that Plantation."

Basse represented Warrosquyoake in the General Assembly sessions of February and March 1624, May 1625, March 1628, and October 1629. In June 1625 he signed a petition requesting Charles I to preserve the General Assembly as a fixture of the new royal government of the colony. Soon after arriving in Virginia late in March 1630, Governor Sir John Harvey appointed Basse to the governor's Council. The length of his service is unknown, but he is named as a member on documents dated December 20, 1631, and February 21, 1632. On March 6, 1632, Harvey commissioned Basse "to trade between 34 and 31 degrees North Latitude and to go to New England, Nova Scotia, or the West Indie Islands with instructions to invite the inhabitants hither if any so inclined," and sometime the same month Basse became presiding justice of the court of Warrosquyoake.

Extant records do not indicate whether Basse traveled to the other English colonies as directed, or whether he ever returned to England. He probably either remained in Virginia or returned to the colony following the voyages. The dearth of documentation also obscures much of Basse's personal and family life. Tradition has it that he married Mary Jordan in London on May 21, 1613, that the third son of their ten sons and three daughters married a member of the Nansemond tribe in 1638, and that the Bass family of lower Tidewater Virginia is descended from this son. However, a deposition in England on behalf of his three surviving sisters, identified as his coheirs, asserted that he had died in Virginia without issue, an assertion borne out by a suit brought by Theodorick Bland against William Drummond, attorney of Basse's coheirs, and settled in 1658. Nathaniel Basse died, probably in Virginia, sometime before this August 30, 1654, deposition was taken.

Time Line

• December 19, 1589 - Nathaniel Basse, the second of eighteen children born to Humphrey Basse and Mary Buschier Basse, is christened in the parish of Saint Gabriel Fenchurch in London.
• May 21, 1613 - Tradition holds that Nathaniel Basse and Mary Jordan were married on this day in London.
• March 1619 - Nathaniel Basse arrives in Virginia with Christopher Lawne and other colonists associated in the settlement of Warrosquyoake Plantation in what is now Isle of Wight County.
• 1620 - Nathaniel Basse travels from Virginia to England to obtain from the Virginia Company a confirmation of the patent to Warrosquyoake.
• November 1621 - Nathaniel Basse receives a patent in his name for a 300-acre tract of land a short distance west of Warrosquyoake on the east side of the Pagan River. It becomes known as Basse's Choice.
• August or September 1622 - Nathaniel Basse returns to Virginia on the Furtherance.
• February–March 1624 - Nathaniel Basse represents Warrosquyoake in the General Assembly.
• May 1625 - Nathaniel Basse represents Warrosquyoake in the General Assembly.
• June 1625 - Nathaniel Basse signs a petition requesting that Charles I preserve the General Assembly as a fixture of the new royal government of the colony.
• March 1628 - Nathaniel Basse represents Warrosquyoake in the General Assembly.
• October 1629 - Nathaniel Basse represents Warrosquyoake in the General Assembly.
• ca. 1630–1632 - Nathaniel Basse serves on the governor's Council.
• March 1632 - Nathaniel Basse becomes presiding justice of the court of Warrosquyoake.
• March 6, 1632 - Governor Sir John Harvey commissions Nathaniel Basse "to trade between 34 and 41 degrees North Latitude and to go to New England, Nova Scotia, or the West Indie Islands with instructions to invite the inhabitants hither if any so inclined."
• August 14, 1638 - John Bass, who may be the son of Nathaniel Basse and Mary Jordan Basse, marries Elizabeth, a Nansemond woman who has converted to Christianity. 
• August 30, 1654 - A deposition in England on behalf of the three surviving sisters of Nathaniel Basse, identified as his coheirs, asserts that Basse died in Virginia without issue. 

Further Reading

Gentry, Daphne. "Basse, Nathaniel." In Dictionary of Virginia Biography, Vol. 1, edited by John T. Kneebone et al., 382–383. Richmond: Library of Virginia, 1998.

Cite This Entry

APA Citation:Gentry, D., & the Dictionary of Virginia Biography. Nathaniel Basse (bap. 1589–1654). (2015, October 9). In Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved from http://www.EncyclopediaVirginia.org/Basse_Nathaniel_bap_1589-1654.

Copied from: https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Basse_Nathaniel_bap_1589-1654#start_entry

Basse's Choice

Inscription. In Nov. 1621, Capt. Nathaniel Basse received a grant of 300 acres of land, now known as Basse’s Choice, located nearby. It was one of the first English settlements in Isle of Wight County, though humans had lived there more than 5000 years. On Mar. 1622, during the Powhatan-English War of 1622–1632, attacks coordinated by Chief Opechancanough struck various English settlements including Base’s Choice. Basse was in England when this event occurred. He resettled the region by 1624, when twenty people lived there. Basse later served in the House of Burgesses and was appointed to the governor’s council in Mar. 1630.

Erected 2000 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number K-242.)

Location. 37° 0.832′ N, 76° 38.053′ W. Marker is in Smithfield, Virginia, in Isle of Wight County. Marker is on Old Stage Highway (Virginia Route 10) north of Bounts Corner Road, on the right when traveling north. This marker sits with K-241 before Hardy Elementary School. 

and you know I wanted to know what the other marker (seen in the background) says...

Bennett's Plantation:

Inscription. By Nov. 1621, Edward Bennett had obtained a patent from the Virginia Company to establish Bennett’s Plantation, also known as Warrascoyack and Bennett’s Welcome. By Feb. 1622, the Sea Flower arrived with the first residents and they began settling the south bank of the James River at the lower reaches of Burwell’s Bay. On 22 Mar. 1622, the Powhatan-English War of 1622–1632 began with attacks coordinated by Chief Opechancanough against many English settlements including Bennett’s Plantation. More than 50 colonists died there and the survivors were transported to Jamestown. Bennett’s Plantation was reestablished by June 1623.

Now I must mention, that we have 2 stories about Nathaniel Basse. One where he married and had 13 children, and the other where he remained single and had no heirs (according to his sisters and their attorneys.)

Since there is the prayer book belonging to John Bass, stating he married Elizabeth, daughter of the chief of the Nansemonds,  I tend to think Nathaniel had children.

Do we believe there was an Indian masacre that killed many of the Bass family? Probably.

How did John get raised by Indians before marrying Elizabeth? Nobody knows.

So evidently Nathaniel returned to England, where he is buried. And his sisters were led to believe that he had no heirs.  A very unlikely story.

Nathaniel lost many of his children early in their lives, as many children at that time died before their 3rd birthday.  I'm more amazed that Mary managed to produce 13 children and then died (so says one source) in childbirth.  And were there as many twins as the dates give them? Who knows.

But Nathaniel came to America, got land, and served in various government functions which are documented.  That much we know for sure.