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NATHANIEL BASSETT (say 1630–1710), son of William Bassett and Elizabeth Unknown

DORCAS JOYCE (d. 1707), daughter of John Joyce and Dorothy Cochet

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Nathaniel Bassett, the son of William and Elizabeth Bassett, was born say 1630. [1] He died on 16 January 1709/10 in Yarmouth. [2, 132] He married Dorcas, the daughter of John Joyce of Plymouth, about 1661. [3]

Dorcas Bassett died on 10 June 1707 in Yarmouth. [2, 132]

Nathaniel's will suggests that he was a weaver.

Nathaniel Bassett was presented to the 2 March 1651/2 court for disturbing the church of Duxbury. He was sentenced to be bound to a post for two hours with a paper attached to him detailing his crime, or he could pay a fine. [4, 3: 4]

Nathaniel took the oath of fidelity in 1657 in Duxbury. [5]

Nathaniel was appointed an inspector of the ordinaries in Yarmouth on 5 June 1671. [4, 5: 60] He was on the Grand Enquest on 3 June 1673. [4, 5: 114] He was appointed the constable of Yarmouth on 1 June 1675. [4, 5: 165] On 1 November 1677 he was on a coroner's jury that found that the wife of James Claghorne of Yarmouth hanged herself. [4, 5: 250] He was a appointed a surveyor of highways in Yarmouth on 3 June 1679. [4, 6: 12]

On 7 July 1683 Nathaniel Bassett of Yarmouth complained against Edward Sturgis of Yarmouth for carrying of grass that Nathaniel had cut in his meadow and asked for ten pounds damages. The court awarded Nathaniel 15 shillings in damages and 40 shillings in costs. On 31 October 1683 the court was prepared to hear an appeal by Edward Sturgis but "had not light." On 45 March 1683/4 Edward told the court he had been carrying off grass unmolested for 20 years and the court found that gave him title and awarded him two pounds and 15 shillings in damages plus costs. [6, 262–3, 267–8, 274–5]

Nathaniel Bassett of Yarmouth "being aged and under much decays of body" made his will on 10 January 1709/10. He left his son William Bassett his looms and their tackling, two canoes, his house, barn and orchard with six acres of upland, his meadow that was John Joyce's, his drying yard and other pieces of land. He left land to his son Joseph and his son-in-law Thomas Mulford. He left his son Nathaniel Basset lands at Middleborough that he bought "partly with my own money and partly with some of the money given by his Grandmother Joyce. He also mentioned his daughter Mary Mulford, his daughter-in-law Joanna Bassett, his daughter Ruth Bassett, and his of six children, Mary Mulford, Samuel Bassett, Hannah Covell, Joseph Bassett, Sarah Nickerson and Nathaniel Bassett. He named his son-in-law Thomas Mulford of Truro and his son Joseph Bassett of Yarmouth his executors. [7]

Inventory of Nathaniel Bassett, yeoman of Yarmouth, was taken on 25 January 1710/11. It included books and amounted to £228-11-00. Thomas Mulford to oath to the inventory on 26 January 1710/11 and probate occurred on that day. [7]

Children of Nathaniel Bassett and Dorcas Joyce: Order uncertain

i. Ruth Bassett was alive and unmarried on 10 January 1709/10.

iii. Mary Bassett was born say 1667. She married Thomas Mulford on 28 October 1690 in Eastham. [8, 8: 93]

iv. Samuel Bassett was alive on 10 January 1709/10.

v. Sarah Bassett married ___ Nickerson before 10 January 1709/10.

vi. Joseph Bassett might be the Joseph who married Susana Howes on 27 February 1706/7 in Yarmouth. [2, 137]

vii. William Bassett was born about 1676. [3] He married first Martha Godfrey on 28 February 1710. [3][9] Martha, the daughter of John and Martha (Joyce) Godfrey, was born about 1690/1 and died about 1735. [3][9] Martha was William's first cousin once removed, the granddaughter of William's mother's brother Hosea Joyce. [3] He married second Sarah Jenkins on 30 January 1722/3. [9]

William and Sarah moved to Barnstable. [9]

viii. Hannah Bassett was born say 1680. She married Joseph Covell.

References:

1. "Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620–1633, Vols. I–III," database with images, AmericanAncestors, p. 129.

2. "Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620–1850," database with images, AmericanAncestors > Yarmouth, vol. 1.

3. Maclean W. McLean, "John Joyce of Yarmouth, Mass.," The American Genealogist 43 (1967): 1–13.

RRK. Robert Ray King, "The Family of Nathan Basset of Chatham," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 125 (1971): 7–21, specifically 7–8.

4. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of Plymouth Colony: Court Orders, vol. 1, 1633–1640, vol. 2, 1641–1651, vol. 3, 1651–1661, vol. 4, 1661–1668, vol. 5, 1668–1678, vol. 6, 1678–1691 (Boston: William White, 1855, 1866).

5. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of Plymouth Colony: Court Orders, Miscellaneous Records, 1633–1689 (Boston: William White, 1857).

6. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of Plymouth Colony: Court Orders, Judicial Acts, 1636–1692 (Boston: William White, 1857).

7. "Barnstable, MA: Probate Records, 1685–1789," database with images, AmericanAncestors > vol. 3: 96–98.

8. "Eastham and Orleans, Mass., Vital Records," Mayflower Descendant, various issues.

9. Roberta Gilbert Bratti, "John Godfrey of Yarmouth, Son of Richard of Taunton," The American Genealogist 53 (1977): 27.

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26-Dec-2022