Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-05-04
Witrfan. A. Bassett.

"
Mr.. William A Bassett died suddenly at
the Virginia Hospital, Friday, April eth
He was a son of the late Captain George
Bassett, of Hanover county. His mother
was Miss B. b. Lewis. daughter of Cap psain
Lewis, a nephew and secretary of General
George Washington. His ancestors came
to this country in 1919. Mr.. Bassett was in
his forty second year. He leaves widow,
but no children. The deceased was born
at Glover Lea, Hanover county the family
seat, and for many years he has been con-
Quoting a farm in that county. The funer-
al services will be conducted at the grave
in Hollywood by Rev. Dr. Fenner S. Stick
ner at o'clock this afterno 1.-RicimOnd
Times, April 1lh.
The foregoing notice from the Rich
mond Times, of the recent death in that
city of William Augustine BAssett, young
est son of George Washington Bassett, a
great nephew of Mrs. Martha Washing
ton through her sister Alma Daudridge,
daughter of John Dandridge, who mar
ried Col. Burwell Bassett, of Ethan, and
of his wife Betty Burnett Lewis, daugh-
ter of Major Robert Lewis, nephew of
General Washington, also recalls the
Colonial and Revolutionary records of
the Bassett family dating back to 1919.
In that year came to the Colony of Vir
ginia Captain William Bassett, (mention
ed in Henning,s Statutes) who was
royaliss refugee, leaving England after
the Regicide with Sir Philip Honeywood,
Col. Norwood and other officers of the
Kings army, as stated in colonial rec
ords. He settled in New Kent county,
on Yorke river, where he took up by pat
ent after the Restoration large tracts of
land naming his estate "Eltham." He
left an only son, born in 1850 of his mar
riage with daughter of Col Miles Cary.
This son, having the name of William,
was educated in England at Oxford; re
turned, married daughter of Lewis
Burwell, of Gloucester county, Va, set
tied upon his Ethan estate, WIS mem
Der of the House of Burgesses for New
Kent county from 1892 to 1902; was also
appointed commander in-chief of King
William county where he owned, under
patent from Sir Edmund Andreos, another
large estate; was county lieutenant of
New Kent and King William counties in
1715. Was appointed member of the
Colonial Council first in 1902, afterwards
resigned and WAS reappointed in 1711
and served in public Office until his death
in 1853
To his memory massive monument
was erected by his widow, which monu
meut was removed from "Eltham" for
IN OF Inllupunod
Cemetery owned by his great-great-gr
granddaughter, Mrs. Charles L. Mitchell
of Charles Town, and by the side of this
colonial tomb his direct descendant Will
liam Bassett, fifth of the name William,
was laid to rest on Sunday the 11th of
April, being Palm Sunday, surrounded
by circle of sorrowing relatives and
friends. He was brother of Mrs. G. I.
Mitchell and Mrs Col. Lewis w. Wash
ington.
His great-grandfather, Col. Burwell
Bassett, was a member of the committee
of safety in 1775, was with Washington
at Valley Forge, and after the close of
the Revolution was a member of the con-
vention that ratified the Federal Consti
tuition.
During the early widowhood of Mrs.
Col Washington, before leaving "Beall
Air"-her country seat near Halltown,
Mr. Bassett, whose death is announced
above, resided for awhile with her, and is
doubtless remembered by many of our
county people. He was the last of the
three brothers of Mrs. Washington and
Mrs. Mitchell.