Bassett of James City and Henry Counties
Thurstine deBassett came with William the Conqueror to England. His son, Ralph deBassett, Justice of all England during the 12th century, was a statesman, law giver and Judge and from his descended the Lords Bassett of Oraython-Sipote, Umberlegh and Tehidy.
During the reign of King Henry I, Osmond Bassett was the judge of all Britain. Later, Sir Ralph Bassett served with King Edward I in the war with Wales. The estate of Sir Ralph Bassett was the Castele or pile of Bassett at Tehidy Wales. During the reign of King Charles I, Sir Francis Bassett was the Vice Admiral of England.
From this illustrious lineage descends William Bassett, who came to America in 1621 in the ship "Fortune." His name appeared on the list of freemen in 1633. He served as a representative to the court for six years; was in the Pequod War.
The lineage includes William Bassett of the Isle of Wight County, England. His son was William Bassett, captain in the King's army; after the defeat of Dunkirk, he immigrated to Jamestown, Virginia, where he was contracted to build a fort. He was married to Bridget Cary, the daughter of Colonel Miles Cary of Southampton, England. He died shortly after the birth of his son, leaving a last will and testament instructing his cousin, Nathaniel Bacon, then Governor of Virginia, to care for his son. Bacon dutifully raised the boy; he build a mansion in New Kent County, Virginia, named it "Eltham" after the Bassett family residence in England. The son was known as Colonel William Bassett.
Colonel William Bassett, son of William, was married to Joanna Burwell, the daughter of Lewis Burwell, by whom he had five sons and seven daughters. When the oldest son, William, died, their second son was named William. This William was married to Elizabeth Churchill and resided at Eltham.
Burwell Bassett, son of William (above), inherited the Eltham estate and was married to Annie Marie Dandridge, a sister of Martha Washington. They had three children, viz: Burwell Bassett; Frances Bassett who married George Augustine Washington, son of Charles Washington and brother of George Washington; and John Bassell, who became heir of Eltham; member of Congress for 30 years; died 1841 without heirs. When that occurred, George Washington Bassett, the oldest son of John Bassett and Bettie Carter Brown, inherited Eltham. This couple had a son, George Washington Bassett, who never married and died in Hanover County, Virginia. After the War Between the States, Eltham was burned.
Arms inscribed on the bomb of William Bassett: "Or, 3 bars, wavy gules, and the motto, Pro rege et populo."
