William BASSETT Sr. (c. 1600 – 1667) was Alex’s 10th Great Grandfather; one of 2,056 in this generation of the Shaw line.

William Bassett was born before 1600 in Sandwich, Kent, England.  His parents may have been William BASSETT Sr. and Cecilia LECHT. He first married Elizabeth [__?__]. William Basset, of the Leiden Separatists, arrived in 1621 on the Fortune. (According to Banks, From Bethnal Green, Stephney, Middlesex [now a district of the East End of London], bound for Plymouth.)In Leiden records, he is shown as a master mason, from Sandwich, Kent. He received three lots (two acres in total) of land beyond the fort to the wood west in the 1623 Plymouth land division. William, his wife Elizabeth and his children, William and Elizabeth, were in lot six of the 22 May 1627 Plymouth cattle division. He married Mary Tilden 5 Jun 1651 in Plymouth, Mass. William died 4 Apr 1667 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Mass.

No record of the family of the first William Basset has been preserved. It appears that he was married but had no children at the division of the land in 1623 ; but at the division of the cattle in 1627, he had two, William and Elizabeth.

Mary Tilden was born 20 May 1610 in Tenterden, Kent, England. Her parents were Nathaniel Tilden and Lydia Huckstep. She first married 13 Mar 1637 in Scituate, Plymouth, Mass. to Thomas Lapham (b. 1608 in Tenterden, Kent, England – d. 15 Jun 1644 in Scituate, Plymouth, Mass.). Mary died 28 Mar 1690 in Bridgewater, Mass

Children of  William and Elizabeth:

	Name	Born	Married	Departed
1.	William Bassett	1624 Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass.	Mary Rainsford 1652 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass	10 Jun 1670 Lynn, Essex, Mass.
2.	Elizabeth Bassett	1626 Plymouth	Thomas Burgess 8 Nov 1648 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass. . William Hatch 1661 Plymouth, Plymouth, Mass	1670 Swansea, Bristol, Mass
3.	Nathaniel BASSETT	1628 Plymouth	Dorcas JOYCE 1672 in Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.	16 Jan 1709 Yarmouth, Barnstable, Mass.
4.	Joseph Bassett	1629 Plymouth	Mary Lapham 1658 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass . Martha Hobart 6 Oct 1677 Hingham, Mass.	1712 Bridgewater, Plymouth, Mass
5.	Sarah Bassett	1630 Bridgewater, Plymouth, Mass	Peregrine White (Wiki) 24 Dec 1646 in Marshfield, Plymouth, Mass	22 Jan 1711 Marshfield, Mass.
6.	Ruth Bassett	1633 Duxbury, Plymouth, Mass	John Sprague 1655 in Duxbury, Plymouth, Mass	26 Mar 1676 Marshfield, Plymouth, Mass
7.	Jane Bassett	1634 Plymouth	Thomas Gilbert	1712 Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass

William Bassett came over on the ship Fortune in 1621 settling first in Plymouth, then Duxbury and finally in Bridgewater, a town of which he was an original proprietor. He died there in 1667. He was comparatively wealthy, being a large landholder, only 4 in Plymouth paying a higher tax in the year 1663.

There was a William Bassett who was married to Cicely Lecht. He intended (19 Mar 1611) to marry Mary Butler in Leyden, but she died before the wedding. He married second Margaret Oldham on 13 Aug 1611 in Leyden. It has been suggested that this William and the one who came to New England are the same William. But, this William seems older and there is no evidence that our William had children from previous marriages. He could have been William’s father, but there is no evidence of this.

Perhaps our William was a widower of Cicely Lecht, and he was betrothed in Leiden in 1611 to Mary Butler, with William BREWSTER, Roger Wilson, Anna Fuller, and Rose Lisle as witnesses, but Mary died before the marriage. He was betrothed on 29 July 1611 to Margaret Oldham, with Edward Southworth, Roger Wilson, Elizabeth Neal, and Wybra Pontus as witnesses, and they married 13 August 1611. He married in Leiden a third time to Elizabeth [__?__], and he brought her to Plymouth.

Our William died between 3 April 1667, when he wrote his will, and 12 May 1667, when inventory was taken. He married Elizabeth [__?__]. Elizabeth was alive when she received land in the 1627 division. He married Mary (Tilden) Lapham, the daughter of Nathaniel Tilden and widow of Thomas Lapham, after 1651 and before 12 Dec 1664. She was living at Bridgewater as late as 28 March 1690 .

William came to New England on the Fortune in 1621. He received three lots of land beyond the fort to the wood west in the 1623 Plymouth land division. William, his wife Elizabeth and his children, William and Elizabeth, were in lot six of the 22 May 1627 Plymouth cattle division.

Timeline

July 1627 – An agreement was entered into by the citizens of New Plymouth for a monopoly in the trade of beaver skins and other commodities. There were 30 signers to this, William Bassett being one and William Palmer another.

1628 – William Bassett, William Palmer and Samuel Fuller signed a covenant “between the Colony of New Plymouth in N.E. of the one party and William Bradford, Capt. Miles Standish and Isaac Allerton and such others as they shall take as partners & undertakers with them of the other party.”

Before 1 Jan 1632/33 – William was a freeman in Plymouth. Under the heading, “the Names of the Freeman of the Incorporacon of Plymouth in New England, An: 1633,” is a list of 68 freemen, the 28th name being William Basset.

2 Jan 1632/33 and 2 Jan 1633/34 – The General Court asked the colonists to pay taxes, in grain or the equivalent. William was assessed relatively high taxes in the first year and relatively low taxes in the second year.

25 Mar 1633 – “According to an order in Court held the 2d of January, in the seaventh yeare of the raigne of or Soveraigne lord Charles — the p’sons here under menconed were rated for public use, to be brought in by each p’son as they are heere under written, rated in corne at vis p bushell, at or before the last of November next ensuing.” In this list there were 88 names, William Bassett being the fortieth with a rate of £1/07/-. Only five citizens of Plymouth paid a higher tax than William. He also was rated at £1/07/- on the 27 Mar. 1634 list.

1 July 1633 – The Court issued 20 grass mowing orders. The one to William Bassett read “That Will Bassett mow at the ende of his owne ground.”

2 Mar 1635/36 – William was on the Plymouth coroner’s jury – Will Bassett was one of the jury of 12 men “to enquire after the death of John Deacon.” They reported: “Having searched the dead body, we finde not any blowes or wounde, or any other bodily hurt. We finde that bodily weakenes, caused by long fasting & wearines, by going to & fro, with the extream cold of the season, were the causes of his death.”

1637 – William Bassett and his son-in-law Peregrine White volunteered to serve in the Pequot War under Lieut. William Holmes.

20 Mar 1636/37 – There were 36 hay mowing orders issued for Plymouth, Eele River & Duckbury. One read: “To Francis Sprage and William Basset, the same hey ground they had the last yeare; and that Mr. Brewster have that which was not cutt by them the last yeare.” About this time William Bassett and his family removed to Duxbury.

2 May 1637 – “At a Court of Assistants,” an agreaement was reached, “that the heigh wayes, both for horse, cart and foote, shalbe as followeth :… the heighway leadeing from Xpofer Wadesworths to be continued through Francis Sprague and Willm Bassets, being his garden or orchard to the east side. Also, we allowe a heighway from the cutt betweene Willm Bassets & Francis Sprage, to goe to Ducksborrow towne; the heighway to be continued from Willm Bassets garden or orchard through John Washburnes ground to Willm Palmer’s gate.

“Bradford Govnor, The xxiiijth of June Anno Dui 1637. Anno Carot R Angl C:xiijo: William Bassett of Ducksburrow hath in writing under his hand & Seale freely remitted and released unto Mr. Raph Partridg of the same all his Right and title into so much of the lott of his land lying in Ducksburrow aforesaid as is now enclosed by the said Mr. Partridg To have & to hold the said land to the said Ralph Partridge his heires and Assignes forever & to their onely pp use & behalfe.

Between 7 Mar 1636/37 and 3 Sep 1639 – He was on the Plymouth petit jury five times

Between 2 Jun 1640 and 7 Jun 1648 – He was the Duxbury deputy to the Plymouth court five times .

Between 3 Sep 1638 and 5 Oct 1640. He was on the committee to lay out land six times

5 Mar 1637/38 – “At a Court of Assistants, William Basset was deposed to the last will and testament of William Palmer, thelder deceased”. He had witnessed the will 7 Nov. 1637 and taken the inventory 13 Nov 1637.

7 May 1638 – He was on the committee to admit newcomers to Duxbury

5 Jun 1638 – He was on the Plymouth grand Jury.

3 Sep 1638 – “At a Court of Assistants, Mr. Collyer, Jonathan Brewster & Wm Basset are to lay out some land grants on Greenes Harbour River.” The job was reported completed on 28 Oct. 1640.

1639 – He was a freeman in Duxbury.

4 Mar. 1638/9 “Mr. Alden, Willmm Bassett, and Joshua Pratt are appoynted to view & lay forth Mr. Partrich lande.”

6 Apr 1640 – Willm Bassett, of Duxborrow, is granted one hundred acres of upland, with meddow conveynient to be layd to yt, lying betweene the lands graunted to Mr Comfort Starr and the Beaver Pond, & to begin at the creeke by the iland of there aboute, and Mr Alden, to be added to Mr Collyer, Mr Patrich, and Jonathan Brewster, to view it and lay it forth.”

1 Jun 1640 – “At the Genall Court, “under the heading “Committees for the sev Townes,” Willm Bassett and Xpofer Waddesworth were the deputies for Duxborrow.” William Bassett was re-elected in 1643, 1644, 1645 and 1648. Capt. Myles Standish served with him in 1644 and John Alden during the last three terms.

6 Apr 1640 – He was granted 100 acres of upland.

2 Mar 1640/41 – He was on the committee on bounds between Duxbury and Marshfield.

27 Sep 1642 – He was on the council of war for Duxbury.

1643 – He is in the Duxbury section of the 1643 list of those between 16 and 60 able to bear arms in Plymouth Colony.

6 Jun 1643 – Mr. David Offley was ordered to pay William Bassett, planter, 10 pounds for the trouble of bringing him to Court as a juryman when no action had been entered.

1643 – List of 76 Freeman in Duxborrow age 16-60, both Wm Bassett Sen and Jun were listed.

27 Feb. 1643/4 John Atwood of New Plymouth, gent, had in his inventory “1 broken peece at Wm Bassetts.” Presumably it was a metal piece awaiting repair at the blacksmith shop in Duxbury.

6 Mar. 1648/9 – He was fined five shillings for neglecting “to mend guns in seasonable times” – an offense of not a very heinous character – but it shows that he was a mechanic as well as a planter. “William Basset of Duxbery, Seni, having been presented at the General Court holden at Plymouth aforesaid, the 4th of October, 1648, for not mending of guns in seasonable time, acording to order of Court, is fined for his neglect heerin five shillings.”

9 June 1650 – Edmund Weston of Duxburrow, administrator of the estate of Tho. Howell, bricklayer, dec’d., sold to John Barker of Marshfield a parcel of land in Marshfield, beyond the South River and bounded “videlect from the marked tree of William Bassetts the Iland or necke of Land lying in the mersh on the south side of the said tree; and the Meaddow Land lying before the said Iland beginning att the homack wher William Bassett leaves; to the head of a Cove.”

3 June 1652 – “Wm Bassett Senior of Duxborrow hath freely given unto his son in law Leiftenant Perigrine White forty acares of upland on which the said leiftenant White now liveth.”

3 Jun 1652 – He was the constable in Duxbury.

6 Jun 1654 – He was on the Plymouth grand Jury

7 Mar 1652/53 William Bassett and Mr. [John] Howland jointly held one share as Dartmouth purchasers.

9 Jun 1653 – “William Bassett Senior, for neglecting to publish and make knowne an order directed to him from the counsell of warr, prohibiting provisions for being transported out of the collonie, is fined ten shillings.” This would indicate that he was constable of Duxbury at this time.

William and his family removed to Bridgewater probably as early as 1655

16 June 1656 – “I William Basset senir of Duxburrow now liveing Att Bridgwater for Divers Reasons …. Doe give up all my proper and whole Interest in my land lying upon the South River …. Unto my two sonnes there liveing viz. Perigrine White and Nathaniell Bassett.”

12 Mar 1656/57 – “Its agreed upon by the Towne of Bridgewater that there shall be five woulfe traps made & completely finished, the first two traps by Goodman Bassett.”

ca. 1658 – Willam Bassett, Senir was one of ten in a List of Freeman in Bridgwater

12 De. 1664 – Will, Timothy Hatherly mentioned William’s wife, Mary (Tilden) Bassett. Lydia Tilden, Mary’s mother, had married (2) Timothy Hatherly.

8 Nov 1666 – William Bassett, blacksmith, of Bridgewater sold to John Sprague of Duxbury, husbandman, for £40 four lots of upland containing fourscore acres and five acres of meadow, with dwelling house, cowhouse, stable, barn, outhouse, orchard and garden.

3 Apr 1667 – William Bassett on his death bed dictated his will “The last Will and Testament of William Bassett senr exhibited to the Court holden att Plymouth the fift Day of June Anno: Dom 1667, on the oathes of Mr. William Brett: and John Carey.

William was a blacksmith of Bridgewater at the time of his death.

3 Apr 1667 = William made a nuncupative will. He left his movables to his wife, and his house and land to her during her life, after which it was to go to his son William’s son. He left his tools to his son Joseph. His inventory included twenty books, mostly theological.

Children

1. William Bassett

William’s wife Mary Rainsford was born 1 Jun 1632 in Boston, Suffolk, Mass. After William died, she married Jun 1671 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass. to James Percival (b. 1632 in England — d. 1691 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass.). Mary died 12 Apr 1694 in Falmouth, Barnstable, Mass.

William is in the Duxbury section of the 1643 list of those between 16 and 60 able to bear arms in Plymouth Colony. He was a soldier in the Pequot War of 1637/38.

Some of the inhabitants of Sandwich had religious differences with the authorities. Ralph ALLEN and Richard Kirby were summoned at the 7 Oct 1651 Court to answer for their ‘deriding, wild speeches’ about God’s word. They were bound over to the next Court and ordered to post bonds of £10 and £20, respectively. William Bassett the younger, Thomas Dexter, Sr. and Thomas Landers were also to appear and ordered to post bonds of £10 each.

On 20 May 1655, William pledged ten shillings for the building of a meeting house in Sandwich. On 17 Jul 1657, he agreed to pay one pound towards the minister. In 1657 he was constable in Sandwich. On 22 May 1658, he was one of three men appointed to find three trooping horses for the town. By 13 (10) 1659 he was paid a pound for 500 nails for the construction of the meeting house. On 16 May 1662, the town chose Goodman Burge, Sr and William Bassett to be Deputies. On 16 Jul 1662, the town of Sandwich chose Goodman Skef, Goodman Tupper, William Bassett and William Swift to arrange for Lieut. John Ellis to finish the town dock. On 15 May 1663, William was chosen a grandjuryman. On that date, William and Joseph Burge were chosen to be troopers for the town. On 11 May 1665, William was again a trooper for the town. On 2 Apr 1667, William Bassett, Mr. Richard Bourne and James Skiffe were appointed to the council of war for Sandwich.

Inventory on his estate, taken on the oath of Mis. Mary Bassett, amounted to £184.10.

William, removed to Sandwich, was called Mr., married Mary, daughter of Hugh Burt of Lynn, and died in 1670, leaving a large estate. Had daughter Mary born 21st November, 1654; William, 2d, 1656, and probably others. Col. William, 3d, married Rachel, had Mary, Oct. 20, 1676; Nathan, 1677; Eachel, Oct. 25, 1679 ; William, Jonathan, and another daughter. William married Abigail, daughter of Elisha Bourne, and had Elisha, who removed to Yarmouth, and other children. Nathan married Mary Huckins, 1690, removed to Chilmark and had eleven children. His son Nathan graduated at Harvard in 1719, and was afterwards settled in Charleston, 8. C. An interesting account of the Bassets of Martha’s Vineyard has recently been published by R. L. Pease, Esq. Mary, the wife of Nathan, was a daughter of John Huckins of Barnstable, and was brought up in the family of her grandfather. Elder John Chipman. The account of her religious experience, written by herself, is a narrative of thrilling interest. Jonathan married Mary , and died Dec. 13, 1683, leaving, I think, one son, Jonathan, who is named in his grandfather’s will.

2. Elizabeth Bassett

Elizabeth’s first husband Thomas Burgess was born 1627 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass. His parents were Thomas Burgess and Dorothy Waynes. Elizabeth divorced him on 10 Jun 1661 after he was “brought to court for an act of uncleanliness with Lydia Gaunt” The Court allowed Elizabeth to keep small things “that are in William Basset’s hands” (PCR 3:221).The Court decree gave Elizabeth one third of Thomas’ property and 40s worth of bed and bedding “that are at William Bassetts. It was the first divorce in Plymouth Colony.

Thomas married 8 Nov 1662 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass to Lydia Gaunt (b. 2 Apr 1636 in Scituate, Plymouth, Mass. – d. 1684 in Newport, Newport, Rhode Island). He removed to Rhode Island and was a resident at Newport in 1671. Thomas died 26 Feb 1717 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Mass

Elizabeth’s second husband William Hatch was born 1626 in Bridgewater, Worcester, Mass. Elizabeth resided at Sandwich. No record of children.

3. Nathaniel BASSETT (See his page)

4. Joseph Bassett

Joseph’s wife Mary Lapham was born 1641 in Scituate, Plymouth, Mass. Her parents were Thomas Lapham and Mary Tilden. Her mother married Joseph’s father in 1651, seven years before these step-children married themselves. Mary died 1676 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Mass.

He married second Martha Hobart on 16 Oct 1677 in Hingham. Martha was the youngest daughter of Edmund & Elizabeth Hobart of Hingham. Martha was baptized in Hingham 1 June 1647

Joseph moved to West Bridgewater with his parents ca. 1655. He had “sixt acors of upland for a garden next unto his Father running in length North & South.” He also had 20 acres of upland “being at Mattfield.”

3 Jul 1668 – It was agreed to lay a foundation for a “Ware to catch the Alewifes (i.e., herring) herein the Towne River & yt Joseph Bassett & his companie is to lay and make the foundation of the ware at Satuccut to catch the Aleifes there and the Town is to se them paid for it.”

As a Bridgewater proprietor in 1668, Joseph held right #41 for a planned distribution of land four miles from the center of Bridgewater but the actual distribution was not made until 5 Feb. 1682/3.

1 Jun 1669 – Joseph Bassett was sworn in as constable of Bridgewater.

2 Jun 1669 – “William Bassett of Sandwich …. The eldest son and heir of William Bassett sometimes inhabitant of … Bridgewater … now deceased” confirmed to “Joseph Bassett of Bridgewater my youngest brother” land in Bridgewater granted him by his father in his lifetime but not legally confirmed.

7 Jun 1670 – Joseph Bassett and Robert Latham were named “Surveyors of the Highwaies” for Bridgwater.

8 Jul 1670 – “It was agreed upon by the Towne mett together that the Cedar Swamp shall be all laid out.” Joseph Bassett was one of those who “weare to be paid for their paines by their severall Companies.”

5. Sarah Bassett

On 3 Jun 1652 Sarah’s father gave “his son-in-law Leiftenant Perigrine White” forty acres of upland with the meadow adjoining. On 16 Jun 1656 “William Bassett Senior of Duxburrow now living at Bridgewater” made a deed of gift of his Marshfield lands to his “two sons there living viz: Perigrine White and Nathaniell BASSETT”

Sarah’s husband Peregrine White (Wiki) was born  20 Nov or 19 Dec 1620 aboard the Mayflower, docked at Provincetown Harbor, Provincetown, Mass.  His parents were William White and Susannah Fuller. Peregrine died 20 Jul 1704 in   Marshfield, Mass.  He was the first English child born to the Pilgrims in the New World.

His parents  named him “Peregrine”, which means: “one who journeys to foreign lands” or “pilgrim.” Soon after the landing, William died, and Susanna married Edward Winslow. Winslow adopted Peregrine and his older brother, Resolved, and made them his heirs. 

Edward Winslow (1595 –  1655) was an English Pilgrim leader on the Mayflower. He served as the governor of Plymouth Colony in 1633, 1636, and finally in 1644. His testimony in Mourt’s Relation is one of only two primary sources of the “first thanksgiving” in existence.

Elisabeth Winslow died in the first winter in New England and Edward Winslow remarried, in May 1621, to Mrs Susannah White, the widow of fellow pilgrim William White, and the mother of Resolved White and Peregrine White, the first child born to the Pilgrims in the New World. (1620–1704). This was the first marriage in the New England colonies. Winslow later founded what would become Marshfield, Massachusetts in the Plymouth Colony where he lived on an estate he called Careswell.

Winslow was delegated by his associates to treat with the Native Americans in the vicinity and succeeded in winning the friendship of their chief, Massasoit (c. 1580–1661). He was one of the assistants from 1624 to 1647, except in 1633–1634, 1636–1637 and 1644–1645, when he was governor of the colony. He was also, in 1643, one of the commissioners of the United Colonies of New England. On several occasions he was sent to England to look after the interests of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colony, and defend these colonies from the attacks of such men as John Lyford, Thomas Morton and Samuel Gorton. He left on his last mission as the agent of Massachusetts Bay, in October 1646, and spent nine years in England, where he held a minor office under Cromwell, and in 1654, was made a member of the commission appointed to determine the value of certain English ships destroyed by Denmark.

In 1655 he was the chief of the three English commissioners whom Cromwell sent on his expedition against the West Indies to advise with its leaders General Robert Venables and Admiral William Penn, but died near Jamaica on 8 May 1655, and was buried at sea. His son Josiah Winslow later served as governor of Plymouth colony.

About 1638 the Winslows with young Peregrine and his older brother Resolved moved to Green Harbor, now called Marshfield. There the Winslows established what was almost a feudal manor, naming it Careswell, a large estate later occupied in part by Daniel Webster, who was buried there in the old Winslow Burying Ground. Peregrine’s mother, Susanna, was buried there in 1680. In her later years Peregrine had visited her daily. He made these visits on a black horse and wore a coat with buttons the size of silver dollars.

Records state that White held some minor civil and military posts. The records also mention that he and his now-wife Sarah were fined “for fornication before marriage or contract.” The couple married on 14 Dec 1646, and had 7 children.

7 June 1636 – Peregrine White was one of 30 voluntaries to join with those of Massachusetts Bay and Connecticut to fight the Pequot Indians.

27 Sep 1642 – Peregrine was appointed auncinet-bearrer (i.e., ensign) of the “train band” (i.e., Town company). The Court had met to provide defensive and offensive war measures against the Indians under Miantinomo who had been reported to be preparing to kill all the English in the Land.

23 Oct. 1643 – Peregrine White of Marshfield sold to Mannasses Kempton of Plymouth land at Eel River given him the previous year by his step-father Edward Winslow. Peregrine’s brother Resolved witnessed the deed.

6 Mar 1648/49 – Peregrine White and his wife Sarah, both of Marshfield, were fined for fornication before marriage.

1649 = Peregrine White and William Holloway were indicted for fighting.

3 June 1652 – “Wm Bassett senior of Duxborrow hath freely given unto his son in law Leiftenant Perigrine White forty acares of upland on which the said leiftenant White now liveth.”

Recognition of Peregrine as the first English child born in New England was given on 11 Oct. 1655 when “in Respect that hee was the first of the English that was borne in these ptes …… The Court have graunted unto him two hundred Acrees of Land Lying and being att the Path that goes from Bridgwater to the bay adjoyning to the Bay line.”

16 June 1656 – Peregrine received from his father-in-law, William Bassett, Sr., lands lying on the South River in Scituate.

Apparently Peregrine resided in Marshfield all his life except for a brief period around 1656 when the above deed places him in Scituate.

On 2 June 1662 Leiftenant White’s name appeared on a list of 32 who were granted land “as being the first borne children of this goument.”

“According to a graunt of the Court bearing date June, 1662 and by Court order bearing date 1671, Leiftenant Peregrine White and John Nelson layed out one thousand acrees of land, lying neare the Old Indian Way att Teticutt River, about a mile westerly, where Namassakett River runs into Teticutt, and soe runs easterly, marked by the river syde, ten lots of one hundred acres in a lott, running halfe a mile in length southerly, and one hundred lotts in breadth.” Included in the list of ten granted 100 acres each were Leiftenant Perrigrine White and William Bassett.[32]

28 Nov. 1671 – Peregrine White & Ephraim Little witnessed the will of Ralph Chapman of Marshfield.[33]

27 Jan. 1671/72 – Peregrine White & Philip Lenard took the inventory of the estate of Ralph Chapman, Sr., late of Marshfield.

When his eldest son was to be married, Peregrine not only deeded to “son Daniel White of Marshfield in consideration of his intended marriage my dwelling, barn, outhouses and lands in Marshfield and a share of the enlargement recently granted, from the day of my decease,” but he also provided for his own wife and daughters: “except I died before Sarah my wife, she may enjoy the new end of my dwelling …. Daniel shall pay to my two daughters Sarah and Mercy White £20 each when they are 18 or marry.” The deed was dated 19 Aug. 1674 and acknowledged the same day.

1675 – Peregrine’s half-brother Josiah Winslow bequeathed to Peregrine his Spanish rapier and buff belt with silver clasps.

Jun 1688 – Peregrine was a Justice of the Peace \

He was admitted to the Marshfield Church: “Capt. Peregrine White the first born Child of New England born November 1620 was admitted into this Church May 22 1698 In the 78th year of his age. Mat. 20.6.7.”

White traveled to England with Winslow, but returned to Massachusetts before his death at the age of eighty-three.

31 Jul 1704 – The Boston Newsletter carried the following obituary: “Marshfield, July, 22 Capt. Peregrine White of this Town, Aged Eighty three years, and Eight Months; died the 20th Instant. He was vigorous and of a comly Aspect to the last; Was the Son of Mr. William White and Susanna his Wife; born on board the Mayflower, Capt. Jones Commander, in Cape Cod Harbour, November, 1620. Was the First Englishman born in New-England. Altho’ he was in the former part of his Life extravagant; yet was much Reform’d in his last years; and died hopefully.”

Click here for Peregrine White’s last Will and Testament – 1704

6. Ruth Bassett

Ruth’s husband John Sprague was born 26 Mar 1633 in Duxbury, Plymouth, Mass. His parents were Francis Sprague and Lydia Archer. John was killed 26 Mar 1676 at Nine Men’s Misery,Pawtucket, Rhode Island.  Among the fallen fighters whom we imagine probably to have been armed Quakers were:

— Friend Stephen Wing, Jr. of Sandwich
— Friend Samuel Bourman or Bowerman of Barnstable
— Friend John Sprague of Duxbury

After John died, Ruth (Basset) Sprague married (2) a man whose surname was Thomas (TAG 41:179).

2 Jan. 1637/38 – Francis Sprague was fined 6 shillings & 8 pence for beating William Halloway (fined 5 shillings), late servant of William Basset. Witness: William Halloway

At the 6 Jun 1655 Court at Plymouth, John Sprague and Ruth Bassett, of Duxbury, were presented for fornication before they were married. They paid a fine.

Ruth’s parents, Wilm & Elizabeth Bassett, were in lot #6 along with ffrancis & Anna Sprage at the time of the 1627 Division of Cattle. According to Goodwin, Francis Sprague was licensed as an inn-holder in Duxbury. He continued to be so until 1666, though often before the court. He killed Hatherly’s mare, beat Bassett’s servant, drank “overmuch,” sold liquor illegally, etc. In 1669 he was succeeded by his son [i.e., John] who was much like him.

John spent hours in the stocks for “highly misdemeaning himself in the house of James Cole of Plymouth, near unto or on the evening before the Sabbath Day, in drinking gameing, and uncivill reveling, to the dishonor of God and the offense of the govment, by his gameing and bringing his mare uncivilly into the parlour of James Cole aforesaid.”

27 Apr 1661 Francis Sprague of Duxbury deeded his dwelling house and land to his son John with the provision that John would not take possession until his father’s death.

3 May 1664 – John Sprague was granted also his father’s land at Namskakett (Middleborough).

8 Nov 1666 – William Basset, who described himself as a blacksmith of Bridgewater, sold four lots to John Sprague of Duxbury, and Basset’s wife Mary gave her consent, John Sprague being her husband’s son-in-law (Ply. Colony LR 3:66)

John & Ruth lived in Marshfield. In 1683 widow Ruth Sprague registered an agreement with her son John Sprague whereby John acquired a small parcel of land which was formerly his grandfather Bassett’s land.

6 June 1683 – Goodwife Sprague and her son John agreed about land which formerly belonged to John Sprague’s grandfather Basset (PCR 6:109).

A descendant of John & Ruth Sprague was Sir Winston Churchill

7. Jane Bassett

Jane’s huband Thomas Gilbert was born about 1632.

Sources:

http://ancestorsinaprons.com/2014/11/52-ancestors-william-bassett-missed-thanksgiving/

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=22788447&st=1

Genealogical Notes of Barnstable Families by Amos Otis and revised by C.F.Swift published by The Patriot Press vol. I 1861

http://www.treetreetree.org.uk/Bassett.htm#William1

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=drr45&id=I4942

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~bart/BASSETT.htm

http://www.kouroo.info/kouroo/places/towns/KingstonRI.pdf