The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-01

LIE Bas is a wellknown French sur
name. The Anglo-saxon form is
Bass, Basse, Bassi, Bassus, Bassite or
Bassett. Other variations Of the name
are Bassano, Basselin, Baskerville, Bas-
santien and Bassianus.
It is a popular tradition that the name
being Of French origin, came from the
word bas, meaning, in this connection,
short Of stature. Before surnames
were known, Henry, for example, was
a youth who may have lacked some
age Of giantsEthereforo Henry was
designated le has. In time the name be-
longed to him and to- his, descendants.
Or the name may have originated with
Basque. A native Of the Basque prov.
inces was spoken Of as a Basque, which
thru corruption became Bass or Bassett
One Of the Basque legends has to do
with Bass-Andre, land mermaid who
sits in a cave eombing her golden
| Bassett-the extra "t'' was not
added until the fifteenth century-ie
name found on Battle Abbey roll
William the Conqueror Is grand falconer
who accompanied him from Normandy
was Thurstine de Basset; from him are
descended all who now bear the name
Cromwell and Devonshire have always
been strongholds Of the family, and the
mines Of Cromwall gave them princely
incomes. Two. distinguished member
were Sir Francis Bassett, vice.admiral
Francis, time Of George Ill, who was
made Baron Bassett as we'll as Baron
Of Dunstanville. In the time Of Henry
! T. Osmund Bassett was judge OF al
Britain; so was his great grandson, II
the reign Of Henry III. Sir Ralph Bas
sett attended Edward I. in the Welsf
wars. Our historian mentions tn
Tehidy, Wales. This was Sir Ralph IS
Alan Bassett's name appears in Mag
ma Charta among those Of the king
counsellors, also his brother. Thomas
name. Peter Bassett was Geographic
Of Henry ", and his chamberlain ant
intimate friend. Fulk Bassett,. Bishol
iof London, is remembered in his rec
ords Of st. Paul's cathedral on &C
count Of his gifts to that church
chapel, Windsor Castle, is an epitapl
Ito q Colonel Bassett.
The first Of the namo in this eountr
was William Basset, or Bassite, VIII
came over on the Fortune in 1881
!, The story is that he intended .joinin
the Mayhower pilgrims, but waited 70
his bride. He was an educated ma
and brought his box Of books. with hiI
J "a large library for those days: Hi
name is on the earliest list OF free
men--that made in 1888. He was foo
six years representative to the Of
colony court; he helped lay out Dug
bury, and was in the Pequot war-trul
, q man Of affairs. A son, grandson an
!, great-grandson were named William
which il favorite name in the famil,
William Henry Harrison, president
!, the United States, got his first nam
|, from The Bassett family, to which h;
mother belonged. Ambassador Thoms
!, F. Bayard's mother was also . Basset
a granddaughter Of Richard Basset
: governor Of Delaware and member {
The convention 6f 1887, which frame
, the United States constitution. He W.
i the first to cast a vote for the remov,
/ Of the capital from Philadelphia
Washington.
]. Another William Bassett, settler, WI
], aged when he reached these shore
!, ii the good ship Abigail. John Ba
B Isett came from England to New Have
Lin 1913. Robert Bassett was anoth'
) | immigrant ancestor. Thomas Basse
+ came over In 1884 on the ship Chri
4 tian and settled in Connecticut. Al
!. lother progenitor Of the American far
LIZ OF Bassett was Joseph.