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Events of importance are at Living in Black Mountain NC
My own life and my opinions are shared at When I was 69.

REMEMBER: In North America, the month of September 1752 was exceptionally short, skipping 11 days, when the Gregorian Calendar was adapted from the old Julian one, which didn't have leap year days.

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Early Wives of the Reynolds family...

 Clarissa Elizabeth Huntington Reynolds was my 12 times great grandmother.

She was the mother of Thomas of Gravesend, Doctor and Surgeon. Clarissa was born in 1534, inb. 1502  Aylesford, Kent, England.  She married Christopher Tillman Reynolds (Reynell) either in 1544, 54, 57 or 1565...many different dates from when she was 10 years old to after the birth of Thomas, her son. She may well have had other children, but I am not listing them on my tree at this point. 

Clarissa has been listed as Charissa by several trees, but it is a name I've never heard, and several sources say Clarissa. She died either in 1578 when she was 44, or on 2 Feb 1581 at 47 in Kent, Dorset, England.

Clarissa's parents were Sir Richard Huntington (b. 1502 E. Burghold, Suffolk, Eng, d. 7 Feb. 1579,  Shropshire, Eng.) and Lady Anne Stanley Derby Huntington, (b. 1510, Southampton, Hampshire, Eng., d. 1570, Kent, Eng.)  Again there were many brothers and sisters, but I chose just the parents to list.

And I'll quit for today.



Monday, March 29, 2021

More detailed history of Cicely Reynolds

Some great information adds to my grandmother, Cicely Jordan... I've underlined areas that clarify or add to info about my great times 10 grandmother.

I'm posting this to my blog, because I want to keep together their research. I've just learned about the Buncombe County Genealogical Society at the library, and plan to go see how the North Carolina descendents of my great times 10 grandmother might have fared in their own histories.

 

http://www.reynoldsfamily.org/line17/chris_31.html

Sister of Christopher Reynolds of Isle of Wight?

by Susan E. Clement and Sybil R. Taylor
© 1992 Reynolds Family Association

Chapter 3.1

The following is a verbatim transcript of the page referenced by W. G. Reynolds as "Ray..., p135."

THE MYSTERIOUS CICELY JORDAN

"Parker Family. In order to convey to the reader of these notes an adequate conception of the VA origin of the Parkers who practically over-ran the old Albemarle Precinct in NC near the close of the 17th century, it will be necessary to present some brief sketches of the families with which they were connected. Thomas Parker of 'Macclesfield' in Isle of Wight Co. VA, married the wife of Peter Montague1. This reference does not give the name of the widow of Peter Montague, so recourse is had to the will of Peter Montague, proved in May 1659 in Lancaster Co. VA, as shown on page 57 of the 'History and Genealogy of Peter Montague' by George William Montague (1894) in which her name is given as Cecily. And thereby hangs a most fantastic tale of marital adventure:"

At or about the same time, if not on the same vessel, in the year 1611, a ten year old girl named Cicely Reynolds, and a comparatively young widower, who had left his small sons behind him in England, arrived at Jamestown in the Colony of Virginia. The young widower was Samuel Jordan, who afterwards established a seat on the James River near its confluence with the Appomattox, which he called "Jourdan's Jorney". Almost contemporaneously with the coming of these two, but perhaps a year earlier, Sir Thomas Gates and his companions of the ill fated 'Sea Venture' had landed, among them being Capt. William Pierce. This was followed by Joane Pierce, the Captain's wife on the 'Blessing.' Capt. Pierce was a relative in some degree of the young girl Cicely Reynolds, and doubtless the advance arrival of Cicely was known to both Captain Pierce and his wife. Besides, Samuel Jordan was a near-relative of Cicely and her mother's cousin, & still another cousin (of her mother) Silvester Jordan, came about the same time, so there was no lack of relatives to look after the ten year old child, whose mother, still living in Dorsetshire, for some reason had consented to her coming. Twelve years later, her brother, Christopher Reynolds, arrived on the 'John and Francis' and may have discovered for the first time that his sister was then married to her second husband Samuel Jordan and the mistress of Jordan's Jorney, with a six year old daughter by her first husband, named Temperance Bailey.

These sudden and swift transitions in the life of Cicely Reynolds were characteristic of one of such adventurous spirit as to undertake a long sea voyage into strange lands, even though accompanied by near relatives. She was ten years of age in 1611, and must have married her first husband ___ Bailey when but about 14 years old, as in 1623-4 her daughter Temperance was seven years of age2. The Christian name of her first husband has not been found, but it is safe to say he was of the same family as the Samuel Bailey who is known to have married a grand-daughter of Capt. William Pierce, her relative. The grandfather of Cicely Reynolds was Thomas Jordan, of Dorsetshire, England, grand daughter, the mother of Cicely married a Reynolds [sic]. Her mother's maiden name was Cicely Fitzpen or Phippen, and she was the daughter of Robert Phippen and his wife Cicely or Cicellie Jordan. Robert Phippen was the son of one Joseph Phippen, whose mother was Alice Pierce, and thus Ciceley Reynolds was related to Capt. William Pierce and his wife Joane. This last couple were the parents of Jane Pierce who married as his third wife another celebrated Virginia character -John Rolfe. But to continue the story:

Samuel Jordan of Jordan's Jorney, became the second husband of this adventurous daughter of his first cousin Cicely Phippen, and at their home on the James [River] he and his wife and their household survived the Indian uprising that occurred in 1622-23. But not long after that Samuel Jordan died. By his first marriage in England he is said to have had three sons: Thomas (b. 1600), Samuel and Robert Jordan3 and in all of the genealogical accounts of these Jordans, each of whom came to Virginia, there continual bobs up the name of a certain Richard Jordan whose parentage is unaccounted for. Incidentally he married before 1654, Elizabeth Reynolds, a daughter of Christopher Reynolds, of Isle of Wight County. [Compare with double underlined portion below.] Very shortly after the death of Samuel Jordan, of Jordan's Jorney, one of the legatees in the will of Abraham Persey, a certain Rev. Greville Pooly, vociferously "woed" the widow Cecily Jordan, who rejected his early advances on the ground that she was with child; but thereafter she married Capt. William Farrar, a prominent man of the Virginia Council. Thereupon the parson brought what has been called by Alexander Brown "the first breach of promise suit in America". The astute third husband, being a lawyer, succeeded in quashing the proceedings, and Parson Pooly went on his way. BUT THE CHILD WAS BORN. His name was Richard Jordan, and he married his first cousin (as they so often did in those days) Elizabeth, the daughter of Christopher Reynolds4. Thus Cicely Reynolds has been married twice and was the mother of one child by each of her first two husbands. By Captain William Farrar, she became the mother of two sons Capt. William Farrar Jr and Lieut. Colonel John Farrar, of Henrico Co. [VA] who left no children and never married, so that the girl-emigrant thus became the ancestress of the numerous Farrars of VA, through her son William Farrar, Jr. Her third husband, Capt. (or Colonel) William Farrar died about 1635-6. But Cicely was not near through.

In 1621 Peter Montague, then a very young man, came to Jamestown [VA] in the 'Charles' and was living in James City in 1624 aged 21 years. He was two years younger than Ciceley Farrar, the widow after 1636. He too, had been previously married and had two daughters, then very young, named Dorothy and Sarah. He married the widow Cicely as her fourth husband. His will in Lancaster co. [VA] names seven children, all obviously her children, but obviously also, not all of his family, this reflecting his previous marriage. It was proven in 1669. Sarah Montague, one of the daughters of his first marriage married James Bagnall5 and the same authority tells us that the widow of Peter Montague became the wife of Thomas Parker. As Cicely was born in 1601, she was 58 years old at the time of the death of Peter Montague, therefore it is patent that this latter marriage was one of convenience, and that no children resulted. But this alliance with Cicely Montague, alias Cicely Jordan, nee Cicely Reynolds readily suggests an explanation of the persistent intimacy which through the long years existed and continued to exist between the Jordans, Farrars and Reynolds families as reflected by these records6 and other items throughout the list. [sic]

It is claimed by one writer7 that the Peter Montague of Lancaster (will 1659 and the one in Isle of Wight, whose un-named widow married Thomas Parker were different persons. This statement is refuted by our records. The author of the Montague Genealogy did confuse the parentage, but not the identity of his subject. Our records disclose that both Thomas Parker, who first patented lands in Isle of Wight Co. in 16588 who married the widow of Peter Montague, and James Bagnall, who married his daughter Sarah Montague were living in Lancaster Co. after 1659. All of the records we have examined, however, tend to show that perhaps not only James Bagnall and Thomas Parker but also Peter Montague had been previous residents of Isle of Wight Co, and further shows that Thomas Parker and James Bagnall were living in the latter county towards the latter end of the century. James Bagnall was the son of Roger Bagnall, who died leaving will in Isle of Wight in 1647, at which time his son John Bagnall was not of age.10

These early emigrants to VA moved about a great deal in their furious search for vast tracts of land and for social and economic advantage, just as people of this day and time and it would perhaps be a misnomer to say that Peter Montague, or James Bagnall or Thomas Parker were either "of Isle of Wight" in a strict sense, until they had finally settled down at an advanced age. In 1624 Peter Montague, then 21 years of age was in Jamestown (Hotten) and in 1631 he was witness to a will in Yorktown, or in York County11. He was perhaps "of York County" at the time he married the widow of Capt. William Farrar, and he was certainly "of Lancaster County" when in 1658 [53?], a year before his death, he was a Burgess from that county... Add to this the fact, as shown by these records, that Peter Parker of Chowan [NC], before 1714 had married Grace Copeland, the daughter of William Copeland and his wife Christian, and that this same Peter Parker sold lands to William Copeland in 1716 with John Jordan and Jane Jordan as witnesses12 and little room is left for doubt as to the fact that Thomas Parker of "Macclesfield" who married as his second wife Cicely Montague alias Cicely Jordan, nee Cicely Reynolds, was the ancestor of the Parkers of North Carolina." in brackets added by S.R. Taylor.]

References:

1. VA Magazine of History & Biography 6:420
2. VA Magazine of History & Biography 51:384-385 [age of Temperance]
3. Va Magazine of History & Biography 7:121
4. See Boddie's 17th Century Isle of Wight
5. VA Magazine of History & Biography 6:420
6. VA Magazine of History & Biography 1:16; 1:8; 1:628; 2:619
7. Boddie's 17th Century Isle of Wight p239
8. VA Magazine of History & Biography 6:420
9. Fleet's Colonial Abstracts 22:8, 9, 78
10. Boddie's 17th Century Isle of Wight p514
11. Fleet's Colonial Abstracts 24:11
12. VA Magazine of History & Biography 2:456; 2-619

Chapter 3.2

Except where noted, the following is verbatim from book except for "..." (material which has no value as a source of proof) with reference at end of sentence or paragraph to which it pertains, and W.G. Reynolds' annotation. Roman numerals after a person's name supplied by W.G.R. to differentiate between individuals with same name.

The first Reynolds to reach the New World was an 11 year old girl named Cecily.

Cecily arrived at the VA Colony in Jamestown Aug 1610 aboard the Swan [1]. She came without her parents but under the auspices of several near relatives of Dorsetshire England.

[1] Hotten, Lists of Emigrants to American 1600-1700, p 209; Nugent Cavaliers and Pioneers, p XXX: "Her arrival was a year before 1611, the year that gave birth to the King James Version of the Holy Bible..."]

The name "Cecily" was an hereditary one [2].

[2] Ray, Index and Digest to Ray's NC Historical & Genealogical Register, p 135.

Her mother's maiden name had been Cecily Phippen before she was married around 1594 to Thomas Reynolds (II) [3]

[3] "Thomas Reynolds (II) had a near relative, William Reynolds (I) who attained distinction from a bequest in William Shakespeare's will, whereby he bequeathed 25 shillings 'to William Reynolds, Gent. to buy him a ring.' This will was dated Mar 1616 and was proved at Stratford-on-Avon England Jun 1616." See Bentley, A Handbook of Shakespeare, p 59].

...Her [Cecily's] father, Robert Phippen, sprang from grandfather Joseph Phippen whose wife was Cecily's great-grandmother Alice Pierce. Alice Pierce's forebears have been traced to 1475, which means that this line of Reynolds is now documented on the distaff side back half a millennium to the times of Christopher Columbus.

[4] The lineage of this Pierce family is set forth in Ray, Index & Digests to Hathaway's NC Historical & Genealogical Register, p 135. See also Appendix E [Pierce Lineage Chart, which see later in this article.]

A grandson of Alice Pierce's brother was a Capt William Pierce (III) who, with his wife Joan, served as chaperon to young Cecily Reynolds after her voyage to VA [5].

[5] Ray, Index & Digest to Hathaway's NC Historical & Genealogical Register, p 135. "She lived in their home where she met and married the first of her several husbands, Thomas Bailey."

Thomas Bailey was a member of the Governor's Guard at Jamestown.... Young Bailey became a victim of malaria. He left his widow with a young daughter, Temperance Bailey, who had been born in 1616 [6].

[6] Ibid. Note 5. "It is believed that Thomas Bailey's father was Samuel Bailey."

In accordance with the custom of the Colony, Cecily promptly remarried [7].

[7] "A male protector was an absolute necessity for the safety of the early female settlers in VA. For this reason we frequently find widows marrying within a few weeks or months after the death of their husbands, their newly acquired mate joining with the widow in the administration upon her deceased husband's estate...We find many 'much married persons' among these early immigrants." Hathaway, NC Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol I, No 2, p 310.

Her 2d husband was Samuel Jordan (I), a cousin of her mother, who had been previously married in England, and after the death of his first wife migrated to America. He came to VA on the 1610 voyage of the "Sea Venture" [8].

[8] "The detailed history of this Jordan migration will be found in Ray, Index & Digest to Hathaway's NC Historical & Genealogical Register, p 135. "The 'Sea Venture' left England in 1609. Sir Thomas Gates and Captain William Pierce (III) were fellow passengers with Samuel Jordan (I). The ship ran aground in West Indies and did not arrive at Jamestown until 1610." See Boddie Colonial Surry, p 21-22.

He settled first at "Jordan's Journey" near the confluence of the Appomattox and James Rivers; later added large holdings on the south bank of the James at Jordan's Point, where he built a house called "Beggar's Bush" named after a popular London theatrical performance at the time. [9]

[9] Samuel Jordan's home on the south bank of the James "he had named 'Beggar's Bush' after a popular play at the time..." in London. Hale Virginia Venturer, p 81.

. . .

As the 'Mayflower' was unloading in New England back in 1620 ... Cecily and Samuel Jordan, along with the surviving stockholders of the first Virginia Company were honored with the label of "Ancient Planters," given legal title to their lands and various immunities and privileges in connection with their use, as rewards earned by their perseverance in establishing the first permanent beachhead of English colonization on American soil...

Nugent, p 226: To all to whom these presents shall come etc Greeting in our Lord God Everlasting. Know yee that I George Yardley Knight, Governor and Capt. Genll. of Virginia etc. by verture of the great Charter of orders and lawes concluded on in a great and Genll. Quarter Court by the Treasurer Councill and Company of Adventurers and planters for this first Southern Colony of Virginia (according) to the authority granted them by his Majtie under the great Seal) and by them dated at London the Sixteenth of November 1618 and directed to myself and the Councill of Estate here resident, do with the appraobation and consent of the same Councill who are joined in Condicion with mee Give and grant to Samuel Jourdan of Charles Citty in Virga. Gent, an ancient planter who hath abode ten years Compleat in this Colony and performed all services to the Colony that might any way concern him etc and to his heirs and assignes for ever for part of his first genll. dividend to be augmented &c, 450 acs. on his personal right, etc. and out of the rules of Justice, equity and reason and because the Company themselves have given us president in the like kind of the personall claim of Cecily his wife an ancient planter also of nine years continuance, one hundred acres more and the other 250 acs. in recompence of his trans. out of England at his own charges of five servants, namely John Davies, who arrived in 1617 for whose passage the sd. Samuel hath paid to the Cape. Mercht., Thomas Matterdy bound apprentice to sd. Samuel by indenture in England dated 8 Oct 1617; Robert Marshall brought out of England by Capt. Burgrave in May 1619, at the costs of sd. Samuel; Alice Wade the same year in the George, etc., & Thomas Steed in the Faulcon in July 1620; and maketh choice in 3 several places: one house & 50 acs. called --ilies Point [Bailies Point] in Charles hundred, bordering E. upon the gr. river, W. upon the main land, S. upon John Rolfe and N. upon the land of Capt. John Wardeefe; 2ndly, 1 tenement containing 12 acs., etc., encompassed on the W. by Martins Hope, now in tenure of Capt. John Martin, Master of the Ordinance; & 388 acs. in or near upon Sandys his hundred, towards land of Temperance Baley, W. upon Capt. Woodlief, etc. To have etc. Yielding & paying to the sd. Treasurer & Company & Provided, & c.
       Given at James City 10 December 1620 and Signed
                              George Yardley
                                          Fr. Pory, Secr.
This patent certifeid to the Treasurer. Lawr. Hulett. At a Genll. Ct. held at James Citty Oct. 20, 1690, Present: The Right Honble. Francis Nicholso, their Maj. Lt. Richard Bland, the patent being for 450 acs. in Chas. Citty Co. granted to Mr. Samuel Jordan in 1620, which is truly recorded. Test: R. Beverley, by W. Soward, Cl. Genll. Ct. P.B. No.8, p125.

Footnote 13: "The story of the massacres at the lower plantations on the James is recounted in Boddie, Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County, Virginia, pages 35 and 36."

Footnote 14: Hale, Virginia Venturer, pages 81-82: "Far up the James at Jordan's Point, stalwart old Samuel Jordan, one of the original Burgesses of the first Assembly, having escaped an early attack and being warned of what was happening by a colonist who rowed over the river to his plantation, gathered together a few stragglers, fortified... 'Beggar's Bush' and lived on there without loss of live despite assaults on the enemy and carnage among his neighbors."

Footnote 15: Ray, Index and Digest to Hathaway's North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register, page 135: "But not long after that (the 1622 massacre) Samuel Jordan died... Cecily's third husband was William Farrar (I); they had two sons: John and William (II), the last of whom became the sire of the famous Farrar clan of Virginia." [19]

[19] Ibid. Note 18 {Ray, Index and Digest to Hathaway's North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register, page 135}.

She next married Peter Montague; they had 7 children during their 23 years of marriage. When Peter Montague died in 1659, Cecily married, Thomas Parker by whom there were no heirs." [22].

[22] Ray, Index and Digest to Hathaway's North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register, page 135.

Beyond this point, the history of 'Aunt Cecily' becomes obscured by the ascendancy of the Independents or Puritans. In that transition, the old plantation aristocracy of which she was a part lost power in the affairs of the Colony. But her original chaperon in America, Captain William Pierce (II) wound up on the winning team in that shuffle. So did her brother, Christopher Reynolds (III)." [23]

[23] For a capsule description of the transition that cast the parliament and the King of England at loggerheads during this period, see White, Concise History of England, pages 93-97.

Thus, Aunt Cecily Reynolds-Baily-Jordan-Farrar-Montague-Parker was able to end out her days in calm assurance that her title "Number One Wife and Mother of America" was abundantly secure." [24]

[24] Ibid. Note 22. {Ray, Index and Digest to Hathaway's North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register, page 135}.

 


Sunday, March 28, 2021

Jordan grandparents

OK, you must think I'm a sucker for punishment by now.

But I just keep on climbing out on more branches where there are hints and promises of blossoms (and of course thus there will be fruit by the summertime!)

So going along on another Basse tree, not sure why I stopped. There were the Reynolds, parents of Cicely Reynolds Jordan, wife of Capt. Samuel Silas Jordan, whose ships brought many a colonial settler to Jamestown and the Virginia Colony.

Her mother may have some confusion on her tree, and I'll work on her family in another post.

But Cicely's father was probably Thomas of Gravesend Reynolds, a Doctor and Surgeon. He was born in 1564 in London, England. He died on 14 July 1603, Clerkenwell, Middlesex, England.  

The Doctor's father was Christopher Tillman Reynolds (with various spellings) who was born 20 Jan, 1530 in Aylesford, Kent, England. Christopher's wife was Clarissa Elizabeth Huntington Reynolds, born in 1534 in Aylesford, Kent, England. She died 2 Feb 1681 in Kent, Dorset, England. Her husband, Christopher died about 1592 in London, Cheshire, England. His death had been listed as "abt. 1600," but I found some probate/will documents dated 1592, so would gather that date might be more appropriate.

Stretching back to the 13 times great grandparents...Christopher's father was Sir Robert Reynolds III, or Reynell. Robert was born 18 Dec. 1500 in East Bergholt, Babergh District, Suffolk, England. He died 19 Nov. 1580 in Gravesend, Kent, England. His wife was Agnes Hall Reynolds,  born Feb. 1505 in East Bergholt, Babergh District, Suffolk, England. She died Feb. 1570 and was buried 3 Feb 1570 in St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney, Tower Hamlets, Essex, England.

I am not listing all the other children these grandparents had, which included a few who merited being included in Burke's Peerage, the book of who was who in England. Agnes has one other Ancestry tree with some parents listed, but the father is considered a Reynolds rather than a Hall, which makes it hard to believe.

13 greats grandfather Sir Robert Reynolds III had Sir Robert Reynolds II as his father (of course!) who was born on 10 Jan 1475 in East Bergholt, Kent, England. He died on 11 Jan 1574 in East Bergholt, Suffolk, England. I find it very difficult to believe he was 99 years when he died, just as I wonder how East Bergholt moved from Kent to Suffolk.

My Grandmother times 14 greats was Lady Keziah Elizabeth Tyrell (Terrell) Reynolds, born on 7 Jan 1470 Olton, Suffolk, England. She died in 1569 in Aylesford, Kent, England...another 99 year old ancestor. Pardon me if I say "Bah Humbug."

And that's as far back as the Reynolds tree goes. But since Sir Robert Reynolds II is the furthest back, we must assume his father had had the same name. 



Friday, March 26, 2021

Following the Basse family grands to the 11 greats

When I went back on the Buschier line, I found French, Sicilian, and even some folks with knighthoods and titles.

Returning to Humphrey Benjamin Basse Sr., the father of American immigrant Nathaniel Bass, and Humphrey's own parents. His father, my 11 times great grandfather, was William Humphrey Benjamin Basse, b. 8 Mar 1520 in Dammartin, Haute-Marne, Champaigne-Ardenne, France. He died 13 May 1614 (or 1616) and is buried at St. John the Baptist, Hillingdon, Middlesex, England.

Humphrey Benjamin Basse Sr.'s mother was Mary (Margaret) Carkin/Larkin Basse. She was born in 1525 in Wells, Sommerset, England. She married William Humphrey Benjamin Basse either in 1542 or 1545. They probably had at least 6 sons, whose birth dates may well be inaccurate.

Whatever records may still exist, they give my 11 times great grandmother a great age before her death, of 91 years, dying in London, England, and buried at St. Helen Bishopgate on 20 July 1616.

I briefly looked at Mary (Margaret) Carkin/Larkin Basse's parents on Ancestry.

Do you see me throwing my hands up in amazement? It's because these families sound so familiar to the ones I found just yesterday, or maybe the day before.

Remember Dominic Buschier from Sicily? Today I find him as Domanic Carkin, born 1501 in Menfi, Agrigento, Sicily, Italy. He died in London, Middlesex, England on 8 Dec. 1596. His wife was Genevieve Jane Clerke Carkin, born in 1505 (?) in Rouen, France. And she lived an unbelievable long time until a death recorded as April 10, 1620, in Wiltshire England. She was not only listed on 3 other ancestry trees as living 115 years, but these 3 trees said her father was a Clerke, and she married Dominic Buschier, and was mother of Mary Buschier Basse rather than Mary mother of Humphrey Basse. She can't very well be both!

So once again I stop at the 11 greats of grandparents...because it's just spaghetti from here on. Possibly someone has correct ancestors, but that information is currently hiding behind some fictionalized trees.

And since this Carkin/Larkin wife is so unbelievable, I think I'd best leave her parents blank on my tree for now. I have heard of Carkin/Larkin in other places in the Rogers ancestors. but these poor folks have been misappropriated by some eager Ancestry tree writers. 





Wednesday, March 24, 2021

How far back is reasonable on this line?

 It's a dizzying height on the tree. We were at the 13 times greats grandparents.

Grandfather times 12 greats was John De Clerke, (1515-1545) who lived primarily in France.

His father, 13 times great grandfather was John Clerke d'Ford (1503-1559). His first son was John (1515-1545) with his first wife, Lucy d'Canterburg Moyle, Lady (1495-1530) who was born in France, and died in Wrotham, Kent, England. They married in 1519.

John Clerke d'Ford married a second time in 1530 to Lady Margaret Rose Ingold de Ingaldthorpe d'IngoldSweet. Don't you love how her names are massaged together? No way they really were all of these interesting variations. It's almost as hilarious as her many children that were born starting when she was 5 years old...totaling 20, including another John Clark II (1541-1598). But wait, there's another wife listed as well, and guess what Margaret Faile Clarke's son was named? You've guessed it, John Clarke (1544-1598).

So to say that the first John De Clerk was my grandfather is a bit strange, since he had 2 other brothers with the same father, also named John. They did change their last names' spellings though.

I don't have any parents for Lady Lucy, my great times13 grandmother. However her husband does have parents listed in Ancestry.

John Clerke d'Ford's father was Sir John Clerke I, Baron of the Exchequer, (11 Feb 1480 - 20 Sept 1554) born in North Weston, Oxfordshire, Eng. and died in Wrotham, Kent, Eng.

My 14 times great grandmother was his wife, Baroness Elizabeth de Ferrers (1480-1558).

But when looking at the three other Ancestry trees, I found Elizabeth de Ferrrers married Sir James Clerk...not Sir John Clerke.

So I'm confident that Lady Elizabeth de Ferrers was my great grandmother...but now I'm not sure of the grandfather. So since we're dealing with the gentry of England, I'm sure there's a historic document somewhere that will clarify which one was the grandfather.

And incidentally, Lady Elizabeth does have parents listed as well. But I'll not go any further for now.

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Eleven and twelve times great grandparents

The French/Italian family had a lot of names on each individual, indicating some royal standing, I think.

Genevieve Jane Buschier de Clerke Lady Roan had been born in Roan sometime between 1540-1550. Her husband, Dominic, came from  Sicily. And I realize Sicilians are not quite the same as regular Italians. This 11 times great grandfather had been born in Minfi, Provincia di Agrigentio, Sicily. But  I don't think he was Italian after all.

When I look at the parents of this couple, I find yet more titles, in various languages.   Domic's father was listed as Sir John Thomas I Burcher/de Bourchier/Warine-fan Bath, Lord Fitz Warin/Warine, 2nd Earl Bourchier van Bath.

Domick's mother may have been Countess Lady Elizabeth Isabel Eleonore Manners Hungerford-Bath-Wentworth-Burcher/ Countesss of Bath.

I think whoever wrote those names on our ancestry was carried away by various spellings. But none of the three trees which list all of those names of Sir John Thomas and Lady Elizabeth of England mention a son named Dominic, nor a Sicilian connection.

So we're not going to name all the titles which may have been there, but not in Sicily I'd imagine. Rather we're going to let Dominic be the last of the line at 11 greats. And his parents may just be the Buschiers of Sicily.

Since he married a titled woman of Roan France, then settled in England, it is reasonable to think that they were immigrants who moved to survive. This was not clear in any of the documents I've found, and the countries were not at war at the time these ancestors were living, I don't think. But it's possible the religious conflicts may have affected these ancestors if they identified themselves as Huguenots. I don't have any documents to that affect either.

So Lady Roan, Genevieve Jane Buschier de Clerke was probably Marie Buschier Basse's mother. 

Genevieve's parents were probably:

John de Clerk (1515-1545)  and possibly Elizabeth someone. She was not Lady Elizabeth Ashton, who married someone else. I wonder who is putting this tree together! But John de Clerk was born and died in France. We don't know the name of his wife, though a guess at Elizabeth is just a guess.

His father was also named John de Clerk d'Ford (1503-3 May 1559) born in Wrotham, Tonbridge and Malling Borough, Kent, England, and died in Finningham, Mid-Suffolk District, Suffolk, England.

And again we find a knighthood has been bestowed on John de Clerk d'Ford...as well as having two wives listed, a Margaret and a Lucy. So while I unwind the tangled web of these 13 times great grandparents, I'll leave you to relax in knowing I had some French, probably Sicilian, and mainly English ancestors.


Sunday, March 21, 2021

The French connection

Nathaniel Bass, (1589-1654) immigrant, entrepreneur. Also my nine times great grandfather.

His ships helped supply the goods needed by the colonials of the new Virginia Colony. He had a large family that he came from in England. 

His father, my ten times great grandfather, was Humphrey Benjamin Basse, Sr. (1563-4 June 1616) He was born in Walden, Essex, England, and died in London, being buried in St. Helen Bishopgate, London, England.

St. Helen Bishopgate, London, Eng.


Nathaniel's mother, my ten times great grandmother, was Mary/Marie Buschier Bass. (1568-22 June 1616) She was born in Roanne, Loire, Rhone-Alpes, France, and died in London England.

So I definitely had a French ancestor on this tree! However, I feel most sorry for this grandmother for having 20 children. Many of them didn't live very long though, and there were several who had a second brother named the same as the earlier sibling who'd died.

My grandfather Nathaniel was their third son, with the first two having been twins, one of whom died within his first year. He had another set of twin brothers born in 1613, one who died at birth, and the other who died in his first year. Nathaniel got married in 1613 to Mary Jordan.

And the further I look into Nathaniel's siblings, the more confusing it gets...so I think I will just focus on my direct line instead.

I want to look into my French grandparents. And the jokes on me, as they say...

Marie Buchier's parents were: Dominic Buschier, who was actually from Agrigento, Provincia di Arigento, Sicilia, Itlay born in 1521, moved to France, married Genevieve Jane de Clerke Lady Roan and died about in 1594, 

Genevieve de Clerke was born in France, but died in England in 1620. She married two other men after Dominic died.

I will have to look further into these grandparents who were my times 11 greats!

Saturday, March 20, 2021

When the tree gets very shakey

 When the tree for ancestors seems to be shaking out names added to names...so that Cicely Jane Thickpenn/Phippen Reynolds Pierce was a 11 times great grandmother...that's when I stop.

It became even more convoluted (this tree of mine) when her father might have been James Church Thickpenn/Phippen, or maybe just plain James Church...who is listed on 3 other trees as married to Alyce Streetinge, but not the parents of Cicely. 

So I have to leave him there...sort of hanging between wherever someone at Ancestry knew that Thickpenn/Phippen had some connection to James Church. There was even a suggestion he was married, or perhaps his mother was Cicely Jordan. This is where I wish there were some original documents, but the one that does show up I can't read, and most of the "facts" don't have any documentation at all, but are just being passed between one Ancestry tree to another.

I also just keep getting a headache with this furthest branch of the family.

Cicely Jane married George Reynolds. We don't know his parents.

Cicely Jane Married Thomas Reynolds, Doctor, aka Christopher Thomas Reynolds, Rennolds, Reynell, doctor and surgeon. And then Cicely Jane married Capt. William Pierce.

No wonder a genealogist said there wasn't anything linking Cicely Reynolds who came to America and had the Baily child, then the  Jordans, then married Farrar at last. Incidentally, she may have also married Montague according to some trees. And someone said she was married 5 times, but I don't know who that fifth husband might have been.  Suffice it to say, this woman is one of the matriarchs of my family. I am going to stop there!

Next I'll look at some other people who might not have several identities.


Thursday, March 18, 2021

Climbing further up the tree of the Jordans

 I've always been fascinated by the Virginia colonists. They dealt with harsh environments, Natives who sometimes were friendly, and sometimes weren't, especially with the way the English settlers treated them!

Today I'm looking at the possible parents of Mary Jordan Bass, who I talked about in my last post. One genealogist stated emphatically that Mary was probably not a Jordan, and there was nothing that said as much.

But even if she wasn't I've been enjoying learning about her "possible mother," Cicely Reynolds Bailey Jordan Farrer. 

Cicely came to America on the ship Swan in 1610. Cicely was identified as just 10 years old by one source, but as 24 by another. She must have had a guardian with her, but he is not named anywhere. 

My guess is that her parents had already come to Virginia and Cicely for some reason had to come later, with the unnamed guardian.  The new settlement of Jamestown was being built, but between starvation and disease, and even Indian raids, many of the early settlers died without any records being kept.

She married Thomas William Bailey, and they had at least one child, Temperance Bailey. When Mr. Bailey died in 1618, his heir and oldest daughter, Temperance inherited his property. 

The dates of the women's lives are quite confusing. Since her second daughter, Mary Jordan, grew up and gave birth to the first of her twins in 1615, she is assumed to have been born in 1600. That is rather impossible if her mother, Cicely was born also in 1600.

Mary Jordan Basse, who was my grandmother times nine greats, was the daughter of Capt. Samuel Silas Jordan. He came to America from France, on the "Sea Venture" in 1609, which wrecked in the Bermudas. John Rolfe was on the same ship, and the shipwrecked immigrants spent a year building a new ship from the parts of the old, and then sailed to Jamestown. His 3 sons had stayed in England. He was a member of the first assembly held in 1619. His plantation was named Jordan's Journey.  He was born in 1578 and he died in 1623. 

Cicely and Samuel Jordan had 2 daughters, Mary Jordan who grew up to marry Nathaniel Bass, and Margaret Jordan, who may have been born after her father's death in 1623. Cicely was being courted by the minister, who was certain she had given him promise of marriage, but she married William Farrar. There was a mention in a document that no one in the future could promise marriage to more than one person at a time.

Cicely married William Farrar in 1624, and they had seven children at Farrar Island. He died in 1637. It is likely Cicely lived until 1660 at least.

I just noticed that their son, William Farrar II was the ancestor of a movie star, Tommy Lee Jones. So he's a cousin, about 10 times removed!

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Mary Jordan Bass

My nine time great grandmother! What a woman she was!

Mary Jordan Basse was born in 1621, or perhaps earlier, either in London, or probably at Jordon's Point, VA.  If the story that she was a Huguenot refugee is correct, she might have been named Ann Marie Jourdan. She died 17 Jan. 1629/30, possibly in London. There are some sources that say she died in America. But she died trying to give birth to a still-born child, her 13th child. She and Nathaniel Basse had 3 sets of twins in all those children. (This is my current information from Ancestry, it may change someplace or another.)

Mary was the daughter of Capt. Samuel Silas Jordan, (1578-1623) and Cicley Reynolds Bailey Jordan (who later married a Mr. Farrer as well.) There seems to be controversy that Cicley was a Reynolds. So she's not the first with questionable parentage that I have in my tree. Cicely died on 12 Sept. 1660 on Farrars Island, Virginia.

Mary Jordan married Capt. Nathaniel Basse on 21 May 1613 in London. Many reccords indicate he had been born in London as well. Both her father and husband were merchants who took many trips back and forth form England to the Virginia Colony. 

Her childhood was probably spent in London, She married Capt. Nathaniel in London, and their first set of twins were born on July 15, 1615, in London. Their next son, John, was born in London on Sept. 17, 1616.  He became my nine time great grandfather.

I've already shared the story of how he escaped the Indian attack which burned Basses Choice. Remember this was very early settements, so think of log cabins and pallisades to enclose the homestead's buildings. 

John's younger brothers were also born in London, but at least oder brother Humphrey was killed by the Indians in 1622. It must be noted that their leadership was no longer Powatan, father of Pocahontas. And there aren't any records indicating other children also perished, but Humphrey's twin was also assumed to have perished at the same time.

The story that the parents were away when the Indians burned their holdings on Good Friday, it also srtressed that they returned and set about rebuilding, so that Edward might be born in a shelter by May 8 of 1622. But the records say he was born in London. Perhaps records were only being kept there, as the colonials hadn't set up their first government yet, let alone had time to write down birthdates.

Edward married Mary Tucker, a Christianized Native American cousin of John's Native American wife, Elizabeth Kesiah Tucker.

Of all the 12 live births of Mary Jordan Bass, about 4 died before they were 6, (2 in the Indian attack) and then 2 of the brothers, John and Edward must have been part time with the settlers, and/or part time with their wives' Indian families.* At best. I have heard that most Native tribes have the husband move in with the wife's family. But since both of these ladies were baptized and became Christian, I'm not sure. It would have been really hard on them to join the English society. And shortly after their marriages, a law was passed forbidding marriages between English and Indians. But the church made effort to Christianize the natives, and that' probably how John learned to read and write, after he'd been saved from the fire by friendly Nansemond Indians.

Mary must have been on the seas a few times with her husband in his ships. Early on the ships were providing all the necessities for the settlers, tools, iron things for building, food, animals.

By all the best guesses as to her birthdates, I think she was around 30 years old when she died in childbirth. And I don't see any records that her husband remarried. He lived until 1654, while she died in 1629.  There must have been servants enough to care for all the children in his home, Bass's Choice.

* thinking more of how colonial Englishmen were, I now believe their wives and homes would have been modeled after other Colonial Early Americans, and the Native families would have remained in a background to the business of farming tobacco.





Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Nathaniel and Mary Basse - more documents about their lives

Repost about ancestors who were first immigrants to Virginia Colony.

 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.
**********************************
Another source gives this information Here:

NATHANIEL BASS

Bornbaptised 29 Dec 1589 at the Church of St. Gabriel, Fenchurch Street, London, Middlesex, England
  
ParentsHumphrey Bass and Mary Buschier
  
Married21 May 1613, Mary Jordan, London, Middlesex, England
  
Died03 July 1654 London, Middlesex, England
  
Children
1) Humphreyb. 15 July 1615
d. 22 Mar 1622 Good Friday Indian Massacre at Basse's Choice
TWINS
2) Samuelb. 15 July 1615 (not in Basse Record Book but in French Huguenot article
3) Johnb. 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
NOTESmore on John Bass
4) Williamb. 25 Dec 1618 London, Middlesex, England
m. 20 Sep 1641 Sarah Batton
d. Norfolk, VA
5) Anthonyb. 13 Mar 1620 London, Middlesex, England
Was in Westmoreland Co., Va. 1654, sponsored by Giles Bren
6) Edwardb. 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) Anneb. 9 Oct 1624
m. 11 Jun 1640 Thomas Burwell Jr. 
TWINS
8) Genevieveb. 9 Oct 1624, 10 minutes after Anne London, Middlesex, England
m. 11 Jun 1640 Peter Knight 
9) Richardb. 27 Aug 1625 London, Middlesex, England
10) Gregoryb. 10 Dec 1628 London, Middlesex, England
came to Virginia 1642, sponsored by Wm. Prior
TWINS
11) Georgeb. 11 Dec 1628 several hours after Gregory, London, Middlesex, England
d. 1681 Norfolk-Nansemond, VA
12) Sonb. 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.

*****************************
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).
********************************
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
------------------------------

Reposting from: Sunday, August 18, 2013


The Native connection






The Nansemonds have said that the book which is not considered accurate uses the surname Tucker to refer to the original Indians who married Western European settlers.  They seem to discount that name, and say any time Kesiah Tucker comes up as Elizabeth Bass's name, it stems from the book that isn't accurate.  But that had been her name as daughter of the Chief of the Powhatans.
  
If one book calls her that name, however, it seems to me that it is just like an alias, not to be discounted completely.  I see throughout the family tree, other women named Kesiah, which must be in honor of that matriarch.  So the book could not have been wrong about her having that other (Indian) name.  It probably would not have been acceptable if the family were strict Christians however.

And I haven't yet researched the religious affiliations of my ancestors...if any is known.  Early Virginians belonged to the Church of England, which became the Episcopal Church later in America.  It wasn't until near the Revolutionary War that Baptists petitioned for their own religious freedom. 
The 10,000 name petition (dated 16 October 1776) has been digitized at the Library of Congress website. It was signed by people from all over Virginia who wanted an end to persecution of Baptists by the Established Church. Baptists and Baptist sympathizers alike signed the petition. 
 And there were also Quakers in the Suffolk area as well. 


Incidentally, the wife would be in charge of the household meals, bedding, clothing and child rearing, but at some point the families probably moved out of the houses of the tribe and into cabins like the Europeans had.  I wonder when that happened.  Somehow I think it took several generations.

And especially important to remember about this family, and this tribe, is the persecution from the white culture.  No wonder some of my ancestors moved from VA to NC, GA, AL, and then TX.

Powhatan style home in Williamsburg,VA

http://cova-inc.org/resources/edu_ark_viintro.html
This link is for a resource kit.  Very well done archeological background of Virginia native peoples.

the best research link I’ve found is: 
site has lots of original document links.
More History From http://encyclopediavirginia.org/Nansemond_Tribe#start_entry 

Time Line

  • December 1608 - Christopher Newport returns to England from Jamestown accompanied by the Indian Machumps. John Smith, meanwhile, attempts to trade for food with Indians from the Nansemonds to the Appamattucks, but on Powhatan's orders they refuse.
  • Early September 1609 - John Smith sends Francis West and 120 men to the falls of the James River. George Percy and 60 men attempt to bargain with the Nansemond Indians for an island. Two messengers are killed and the English burn the Nansemonds' town and their crops.
  • June 1611 - Sir Thomas Dale leads a hundred armored soldiers against the Nansemond Indians at the mouth of the James River, burning their towns. 
  • 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. 
  • 1792 - The Nansemond tribe sells its last known reservation lands, 300 acres on the Nottoway River in Southampton County.
  • 1850 - The Indiana United Methodist Church in Chesapeake is founded as a mission for the Nansemond Indians.
  • March 20, 1924 - Virginia passes the Racial Integrity Act, a law aimed at protecting whiteness on the state level. It prohibits interracial marriage, the only exception being a marriage between a white person and a person with one-sixteenth or less Indian blood.
  • 1930 - The General Assembly passes a law defining Virginia Indians as those possessing one-quarter or more of Indian blood and less than one-sixteenth of black blood. The law also stipulates that such people will be considered black unless they live on a segregated Indian reservation.
  • February 20, 1985 - The Nansemond tribe is formally recognized by the [Virginia] General Assembly in House Joint Resolution 205.
  • January, 2018, the legislation will grant federal recognition of the following six Virginia tribes: the Chickahominy, the Eastern Chickahominy, the Upper Mattaponi, the Rappahannock, the Monacan, and the Nansemond.