The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-09-10
FIRST REUNION IN AMERICA
BASsETTS FROM MANY STATES
 GATHER AT SATIN ROCK,

and Post-Prandial Speeches-Au De-
 scendants of William Bassett-Name
 More Than 1000 Years OId-Conspicuous
 Among the Pilgrims-Those Present.
 About two hundred and twenty-five representatives of the fifty-four thou sand descendants of William Bassett met in reunion yesterday afternoon at Hills Homestead, Savin Rock. They came from as far away as Michigan, and delegations were present from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New Hampshire. Massachusetts and New York. The greater part of them, how ever. were from Connecticut.
 They were an eminently intelligent and prosperous looking company of men and women. There were doctors, clergymen, judges, lawyers, bankers and many prominent business men and leading citizens among them. Their ages ranged from little children all the
 way to the patriarch of the reunion. MT. John w. Bassett of Seymour, who has passed his ninetieth birthday.
 It was the first reunion of the fam fly In America-or as Newcomb M.
 Bassett expressed it-"the first reunion in 600 years" The prime mover in the affair was the secretary and historian. Frank G. Bassett of Seymour. He has
 been untiring in his efforts to make the first gathering of the family success and yesterday his hopes were more than realized. He was ably seconded in his efforts by the reunion commit tee, which consisted of Messrs w. s. Downs of Derby, Newcomb M. Bassett and George Bassett of New Haven.
 The dinner was served outdoors on the lawn and verandas under canvas covering. It was an ideal dining place for SO large a company on such a genial and pleasant day as yesterday. There was a big overflow, which the caterer took care of nicely on the ver- andas.
 The short informal social meeting Just before dinner was a happy chance to get acquainted and the cousins im- proved the opportunity. Most of them had not seen most everybody else be- fore, but the family affinity was taken for granted and mutual introductions on all sides soon put everyone perfectly at ease. On arrival each person regis tered and secured a dinner ticket, which was Tn turn exchanged for a badge bearing on it the coat of arms and seal of the Bassetts. The dinner was excel lent and the open air and salt breezes whetted the appetite, making the re- past all the more delectable. Music was furnished unexpectedly by the ap- pearance on the scene of an itinerant piano-on-wheels, which for some time filled the air with the popular airs of a year ago. A photograph of the en- tire gathering seated at the tables was taken, and the proof which was shown afterward was a very good one.
 After the banquet a welcoming speech was made by Chairman Downs of the reunion committee. Historian Frank G. Bassett then read an interesting his- tory of the family. He was repeatedly applauded as he eulogized the sterling qualities of the early Bassetts and re- counted their deeds of valor and worthy achievements. And the family has in very truth an enviable history. The name is over 1000 years old and Is glorious with Pilgrim associations. William Bassett, armorer and black smith, was a member of the colony of persecuted Englishmen who fled to Leyden in Holland for conscience sake. After the refugees had remained there half a dozen years the Mayflower sailed for America with 102 souls. Some of those who remained in Holland deter mined to follow in 1921 and secured the good ship Fortune" a vessel of only 55 tons. They came unannounced and caused great excitement among the Plymouth settlers when they hove in sight. In fact an Indian runner of the Nauset tribe came running into the Plymouth settlement on the 18th of Mo- vember, 1921, with the startling tidings that a ship was trying for a landing along the coast. The settlers were greatly alarmed, fearing the visitor might be a French man-of-war, as England and France were then at war. They, therefore, made immediate and hurried preparations for defence, call- ing out all the men and posting the boys behind to aid as far as they might be able in loading and prtming guns. They mounted the cannon, and watched the black hull as 1t approached. Doughty Captain Myles Standish was in command, and Governor Carver mounted to place of vantage and with his precious spy-glass in hand scrutinized the stranger with bated breath. The Indians surnise proved correct. The vessel was indeed making for Plymouth harbor. AS a signal and to test the newcomers intentions the big cannon was fired, and when the sound of its booming reached the ship the flag of old England was flung to the breeze. The colonists greeted 1t with lusty cheers and their fears were changed to joy, for they were sure that the Fortune carried supplies for them and friends to join them in the far away land.
 William Bassett, 1st, and his wife, Elizabeth, were two of the Fortunes company, and much welcomed addi- tion to the Plymouth colony. He was an educated man, as was afterwards evinced by the fine library he left; devout and earnest man of strong and clear convictions and fearless in adher- ing to them all his life. His name is on the earliest list of freemen, made in 1633. He was volunteer in the mill itary company raised in 1887 to assist and Connecticut in the Pequot war. He was also member of ln 1,,ofcc ccia fHnf 1oi