John Basse is my GGGGGGGGGGG Grandfather.
John Basse was born in London, England on September 7, 1616, the third of a dozen children born to Nathaniel and Mary Jordan Basse. Little could anyone know that this well-born English child would be the sole survivor of an enormous massacre in a far-away land, that he would be raised as a member of an Indian tribe, that he would marry an Indian princess, have eight children with her, live to the age of 85, and have countless descendants, many of whom would still tell his story four hundred years later. But he was born in a time of change, and this great adventure was his destiny.
Three months before John’s birth, the exotic Indian princess, Pocahontas and her English husband, John Rolfe arrived in England amid great fanfare along with the very first shipment of tobacco from a far away colony in a little-known place called Virginia. Only nine years earlier, the first intrepid band of English adventurers had established a settlement there called Jamestowne. It was to become the first permanent settlement of English speaking peoples in the New World.
John’s grandfather, Humphrey Basse and his brothers, William and Thomas were French Huguenots who immigrated to London during the reign of Elizabeth I seeking religious freedom. Humphrey married Mary Bouchier, daughter of Dominick and Genevieve Bouchier, also French Huguenots. Humphrey was an entrepreneurial man, first as a merchant haberdasher, and then as an investor and stockholder in the Virginia Company which financed settlements in Jamestowne, Virginia. Humphrey invested in the Third Charter of the Virginia Company signing as a founder on March 12, 1612.
In 1619 when John was three years old, his father, thirty-year-old Nathaniel Basse made his first trip to the new colony. On April 27, 1619 Nathaniel arrived at Jamestown on Captain Christopher Lawne’s ship. They brought workmen, supplies and one hundred settlers. Their camp was at the mouth of a creek near Jamestown, still named, Lawne’s Creek, from which they built the first settlement in Isle of Wight County, Virginia.
By mid-summer 1619, there were about a thousand English living in Virginia. In early August, the first legislative assembly in America met in the church at Jamestowne. This meeting established the principle of elected self-rule in America and became a foundation of our Republic. Five months later, the Virginia Company dissolved its subsidiary company which had been formed to exclusively supply the colony. Thereafter, free trade prevailed in the colony and laid the foundation for free enterprise as the form of the American economy.
Nathaniel made frequent trips between Virginia and London over the next few years. On November 21, 1621 he made his move to establish a home in the New World and patented 400 acres on the James River at Pagan Creek in Isle of Wight County. Here he founded Basse’s Choyce Plantation and built a home for himself and his young family.
John’s maternal grandfather, Silas Samuel Jordan was also an early Virginia Adventurer. In 1620 he received a grant of land on the James River at Bailey’s Creek near the present Hopewell, Virginia. Here, at what is still called Jordan’s Point, he and established a home for his family in the New World.
Throughout this period, relations with the Indians had been volatile. Early encounters had been hostile, and then the “Peace of Pocahontas” gave the settlers a sense that conditions would remain amenable.
Having established Basse’s Choyce Plantation, John’s father began to move his family to Virginia. In early 1622, six-year-old John Basse along with at least one of his brothers were at Basse’s Choyce when their parents made a return trip to England.
And then disaster struck. Emperor Powhatan (father of Pocahontas) had died four years earlier and had been succeeded by his brother, Opechancanough. He wanted no part of the white men and he patiently organized a surprise attack that was carried out by almost every tribe in the area. On the same day, at the same time, and anywhere there was a white man, he was to be killed.
At midday on Good Friday, March 22, 1622, there were twelve hundred forty English inhabitants in the Colony of Virginia. Of these nearly four hundred were killed by Indians. At the house of Captain John Basse, only six-year-old John Basse survived. John’s oldest brother seven-year-old Humphrey and possibly other siblings were killed in the attack.
John’s parents, Nathaniel and Mary arrived back in Virginia on the ship Furtherance within the next couple of weeks only to find their oldest son (and possibly others) killed in the massacre, and six-year-old John was missing without a trace. They found the woods around the English settlements patrolled by hostile Indians.
Nathaniel and Mary had little time to mourn because Basse’s Choyce had to be immediately repaired for the birth of another child. On May 8, 1622 their sixth child, Edward, arrived. To make matters even more dire, in December an epidemic arrived with the ship Abigail, and killed twice as many people as the Indian attacks. The colony also had a poor harvest that year and experienced another “starving time” throughout the winter of 1622-23. Less than 500 survived to see the spring of 1623.
Amid the carnage that happened that fateful Good Friday, young John Basse managed to slip away from the attackers and into the forest. Fortune smiled on the boy as he was found and taken in by friendly Nansemond Indians who were fleeing from the hostilities. His rescuers managed to reach the Nansemond River with John before their enemies had organized patrols in the woods.
John’s rescuers took him into their tribe and gave him advantages and standing. He absorbed the Nansemond culture. In spite of the danger, missionaries continued to teach the Nansemonds – including young John Basse – and he matured to become literate and a Christian.
By the time he was twenty-two John had fallen in love with a Nansemond girl whom he knew as Keziah Elizabeth Tucker, daughter of Chief Robin the Elder, but to the English she was the Princess Keziah Elizabeth, daughter of the King of the Nansemond Kingdom. On August 14, 1638 John and Keziah Elizabeth, age 14, were married. She was born about 1624 at Kecoughton, an Indian village in Virginia (now part of the city of Newport News). “Keziah” is an old testament name that can mean faithful or female equality.
At some point during his remarkable lifetime, John acquired an English prayer book which served as his family Bible. In this book he recorded many important facts and events. This book exists today and is in the possession of his Nansemond tribe descendants.
John Bass’ prayer book is a manuscript religious book of about 100 pages. It measures 4 5/8″ by 7 1/4″. The author’s name not known. The earliest date of a sermon entry is March 4, 1660. In ink on the cover is written “Book of John Basse Norfolk Co., Vir. A. D. 1675.”
John recorded the following passage in his prayer book:
“John Basse was born ye 7 day of September in ye year of our Lord 1616 ye son of Nathll Basse and Mary his wife… he married Elizabeth dafter of Robin the Elder, King of ye Nansimuns kingdom, a Baptized xtian, in Holy Matrimonie accdg to ye Canons of ye Church of England, ye 14th day of August in the Year of our Blessed Lord 1638.”
At some point it is believed John reconnected with his birth family because his brother Edward (born immediately after the massacre of 1622) married Keziah Elizabeth Tucker’s cousin.
John and Keziah were living in Nansemond territory when it became Upper Norfolk and then Nansemond County, Virginia. John passed away in 1699 at the age of 82 in Norfolk, Virginia. Keziah Elizabeth passed away in 1676 at the age of 52.
John and Keziah Elizabeth had eight children and today have countless descendants.
My ancestry from John and Keziah Elizabeth Basse is as follows:
John Basse (1616-1699) + Keziah Elizabeth Tucker (1624-1676)
William Bass (1654-1741) + Catherine Lanier (1650-1692)
John Bass (1673-1732) + Love Harris (ca. 1677-1732)
John Bass (1715-1777) + Elizabeth Winborne
Jacob Bass (1740-1792) + Ann Fuller (1733-1791)
Theophilus Bass (1753-1826) + Rachel Vinson (1755-1824)
Etheldred Bass (1785-1875) + Nancy Brien (b. ca. 1790)
John B. Bass (b. 1813) + Susan Barbee (b. ca. 1819)
Sarah Jane Bass (1840-1876) + John Bond Henderson (1834-1898)
See my post on the Henderson Family of Middle Tennessee for the continuation of this part of my ancestry which comes forward through my mother and maternal grandmother.
In the above ancestry, Theophilus Bass forward were residents of Wilson County, Tennessee, particularly around Watertown.
Interestingly, I also have a connection to John and Keziah Elizabeth Basse through my maternal grandfather, Frank Blackburn Batey as well, but in that case it is a through marriage rather than blood. My ancestor, Captain William Batey, the progenitor of the Batey family of Middle Tennessee married a second time after his first wife, my ancestor died. His second wife, Ann Bass was the great granddaughter of John and Keziah Elizabeth Bass.
It’s safe to say that a great many locals from Middle Tennessee are descended from John and Keziah Elizabeth Bass.
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nansemond
http://chowanoke.webs.com/bassegenealogy.htm
http://www.geocities.ws/eldavis.geo/jbassebi.html
A special thanks goes to my distant cousin Mary Frances Andrews Meek of Knoxville, Tennessee who shared this story and much more with me many years ago. Her research was thorough and diligent.
Nansemond Indians rock!
Yes we do!
Billy, you did a phenomenal job in bringing all of the information together in a very readable and easy to absorb manner.
Do we know why they dropped the “e” from “Basse”?
It is fairly common for names to be simplified in spelling over the years – especially during the period of John Basse’s lifetime.
Wow. I think I’m related to these people. Gonna do more research but I believe John’s father is my great grandfather many times over.
I love all the work done here as I recently have found my Basse family and am learning about our Indian heritage. I start my bass lineage with John Bass ( then had Hester Bass who married John Farmer).
What an incredible story and really well written. Loved it! What a life John Basse lived!!
John Basse is my 9x great-grandfather and I stumbled upon your blog doing some ancestry research of my own. Thank you for this amazing story!
Hi cousin Katherine. I’m glad you found the John Basse story on my blog. It’s one of my favorites. I hope to someday see his book in person.
BTW, my lineage is:
John Basse and Keziah
William Bass and Catherine
John Bass and Love
John Bass and Elizabeth
Jacob Bass and Anne
Reddick Bass (1755-1829) and Obedience Parsons (1765-1855)
Redding Bass (1810-1874) and Elisabeth Laye (1815-1897)
JDR Bass (1846-1934) and Harriet Carpenter (1847-1943)
James Oscar Bass, Sr (1879-1950) and Corrie Edmonson (1887-1966)
James Oscar Bass, Jr (1921-1996) and Frances Wilmeth (1922-2013)
Betty Ann Bass Kane (my mother) b.1952
So we really are pretty ‘close’ cousins! I can’t wait to share this with my family. Thanks again!
Katherine, you are my 6th cousin 1x removed! 🙂
Hi, glad I saw this blog, I have been researching my family history for awhile. My grandmother was a Bass. My lineage is as follows:
John Basse & Keziah
William Bass & Catherine Lanier (she was also a tribal indian)
John Bass & Love Harris
John Jr Bass & Elizabeth Kitty Jordan
Isaac Bass & Nancy Ann
Jesse Bass & Frances Pierce
Gideon Bass & Lucy Holland Moore
Gideon Robert Bass & Temperace Wheeless
Robert Bass & Josephine Turner
Florine Bass & Donald R Moore (my grandparents)
So 9th great grandparents.
Cousin Crystal,
Nice to meet you! There are lots of us who wouldn’t be here today if little John Basse had not made that fateful escape!
Billy
Crystal,
Who are your parents? You are my 7th cousin 1x removed!
Jill
My mom is marilynn Moore, her parents are Donald r Moore and fluorine bass.
I enjoy reading the replies.
Thanks so much.
I am a descendant of Keziah and John Basse.
Edward
John Basse, your direct ancestor, is my 10th great grand uncle. I descend from his younger sister, Genevieve, who married Captain Peter Knight. What do you make of Nathaniel Basse’s sisters, in London, stating that he died w/o heirs? Obviously, WE EXIST, so Nathaniel had at least 2 heirs! Was this just a case of the sisters trying to grab assets that could’ve passed to Nate’s children? Any evidence pointing to a motive, that you know of?
Cathy,
I was not aware of the information in your comment. I don’t know the answer to your question, but it’s possible that the sisters were unaware that Nathaniel’s children had survived in the new world.
Billy
I am also a descendent of Nathaniel Basse and Mary Jordan through their son John. I think it’s terrible that the Jamestown society will not list Nathaniel Basse on their roster because of the claim made by the two sisters in London. It’s been documented through research that he had many children and John was one of them. I definitely think they were trying to inherit, perhaps referring to the Indian massacre and assuming that all were deceased. Another Basse descendent claims that brother Luke Basse had no children and there may have been confusion there. Apparently under the Muster of 1623, none of the Basses were mentioned either living or deceased, after the massacre. Why they didn’t list Humphrey as deceased, I couldn’t say. John obviously escaped since there is so much documentation of that, and wouldn’t have been on the Muster if he was living with the Indians. Nathaniel and his wife were no doubt still returning from England. So it’s a shame that such an arbitrary decision was made, when it’s obvious he was a notable figure in Jamestown and Williamsburg, at the time. I am descended from Mattie Athenia Basse, of Watertown Tennessee ( my G Grandmother). She is descended from a father to son lineage right down from John Basse. She married Jasper Clark.
I have actually held the “Book of John Basse” mentioned above in my own hands. I grew-up with my Grand Father (Chief Earl Lawrence Bass) and this book was in his possesion for many years. My Grandfather told me many stories growing-up as a kid about his father and brothers and I cherish the time we spent together. Thanks for the story above. Great job!! Robbie Bass
Robbie, thank you for your comment. I hope to see that book in person myself someday. It is such a treasure.
Hi Billy.
Kia Ora. Greetings from New Zealand. I am also wondering if we are very distantly related as well? My grandfather Roger James Brown Sr(1909-1903)mother was Viola Jane Cupples, and her father married Samantha Alifar Bass who was the daughter of Essau Bass whose father was Malachi Bass and mother Margaret McCarthy etc etc all the way back to John Bass it seems. Interestingly my grandfather Roger James Sr also married back into a Bass line(not sure if its the same line) as he married Audra Bass(1910-1980) Audra was the daughter of William “Sam” Levi Bass(born Grant Parish Louisana 1883-1949)and mother Mary Louise Bass(not sure of her maiden name) I know very little about this line of Bass, however it appears I am from both lines. I loved reading your blog and found your research amazing. A great story!
Linda
Linda,
There so many Basses out there that it’s hard to guess about relationships. There is a very good book called Bass Families of the South by Albert D. Bell and published in 1961 that you might try to track down. I always like to use pre-Internet sources for genealogical information whenever possible. I’m glad you enjoyed the story. It is an amazing one.
Billy
This all really touched me – as I am a also from this family.My fathers name was William Carroll Bass and his brother was John Bass.I suppose the family names – John and William continued to live on through them. Thank you so much.
These are my nineth generation grandparents wow
Just found out that I, too, am related. I cannot make the connection between what I know and what I’m trying to find out. I am related through Mary Bass marrying Edward Hines. Their son Oliver was my gggrandfather. But Mary is a descendant and I cannot find out from whom. Anybody know? Oliver was born in 1872, so I imagine Mary was born approx. 1832-1855? Would love to know! Thank you, this is great!
Donna, can you tell me more about what you know about Oliver? Where was he born? Who did he marry? Who are his children? Do you know anything else about Edward or Mary? I can plug what you know into my Ancestry.com account and see if I can make the link to John Basse.
One of the male descendants of John Bass and Love Harris Y-DNA Haplogroup is Haplogroup A on FTDNA.
looks like john basse may have been my 10th or so grandfather back…still lookin though. my name is barney bass jr great great grandson of george washingto bass of harris county ga.
Hi, my name is Rosalee, it was very cool to find this. John Based is my 9th great grandfather. I love looking up things on my family and my grandfather made a book for my siblings and I that has 16 generations back on his side and I love reading it.
Sorry miss tipe 12 generations not 16. My line goes;
12 g Dominick Buschier & Genevieve
11 g Mary Buschier & Humphrey Based
10 g Nathaniel Based & Mary Jordan
09 g John Based & Keziah
08 g William Basse & Catherine Lanier
07 g Edward Bass & Love well
06 g Joseph Bass & Martha Jones
05 g Martha Bass & Daniel Platt
04 g Joseph Platt & Rutha Rogers
03 g William Marion Platt & Mary McQueen
02 g Walter Platt & Sophronia Gilbert
01 g Robert Walter Platt & Lelia Byargeon
G.F. James T. Platt & Auty Leach
Very much enjoyed this article! John and Keziah Elizabeth Basse are my 11th great grandparents. My immediate family is from northwestern NC. Learning so much about my family history!
Rosalee, you are my 9th cousin 1x removed – Dominick Bouchier is my 13th great grandfather! 🙂
It’s nice to meet you Jill. So glad to be able to look at who is related and how our family line goes on.
Nice to meet all of you and feel free to contact me if you want to say hello or to share any more information you may have
I am Michael Bass, son of George Bass, grandson of Frederick James Bass. My brother Frederick Thomas Bass and I have been trying to look up our tree for the past several days using ancestry.com and between that and luck we made some discoveries, but this information REALLY was helpful and fulfilling. Thank you !
My name is John Bass from Missouri. I have researched the Bass family tree for about 10 years and this is very informative. Enjoyed each of your comments. My linage is:
Humphrey & Mary Bass
Nathaniel & Mary (Jourdan) Bass
John & Keziah Bass (Tucker)
William Bass & Catherine Bass (Lanier)
John Bass Sr.
John Bass Jr.
Isaac Bass & Nancy Bass (Bunch)
Jesse & Betty Bass (Rogers)
Sion & Sarah Bass
Thomas & Mary A. Bass (Graham)
Jacob & Rosetta Bass (Hart)
Oliver and Margaret Alice Bass (Hughes)
Harold & Mildred Bass (Charlton)
John & Linda Bass (Holden) …. me
John, you are my 7th cousin, 1x removed! Isaac Bass’ brother Jacob was my 6th great grandfather!
Hello distant cousin. 🙂 I share the same line as you, although we split at Sion Bass. My line comes from his brother Sandy, and son William Nelson Bass who married a Graham also (Violetta Viola Evangeline Graham. Their daughter Bertha is my great grandmother.
slight correction, Sandy, SON of Sion, no brother.
Evaline Graham is my great Grandmother. we are fairly close cousins.
In this prayer book it just mentions John married Elizabeth no where is Keziah or tucker mentioned so you need to get your facts straight
Awohali, thanks for your comment and for sending me a copy of the original page where this marriage was recorded. I have made the correction in the post. Thank you!
Thanks for all your hard work on this Billy. You’ve done a great job pulling all this together.
Thank you Bob. We are very fortunate that so many of our ancestors and cousins have preserved so much of our family history. Watching TV shows like Genealogy Roadshow and Who Do You Think You Are where people are astonished to discover names from generations as recent as grandparents has made me realize how very fortunate we are. With this blog, I have been so happy to meet distant cousins and learn about other branches of our family tree as well as new information and corrections about my own ancestry.
This is very interesting. John Basse is my 10th great grandfather. I have always wanted to know more about this side of my family. Thank you for sharing.
Does anyone have info on William 1676….William 1733….James 1760….
John 1790….James 1818….William 1854…? Those are supposedly my
ancestral grandfathers. Thank you………Louise Bass
Hi Louise. This blog isn’t really a message board. You are more likely to get your questions answered by doing more digging through available records such as Ancestry.com or county records in the area where your ancestors lived.
I was researching my Grantham side of the family and stumbled upon Elizabeth Bass who married my grandfather David Grantham in Wayne County, N.C. in the 1700’s. My Grantham line goes back to the 1600’s Virginia. When I started seeing pictures of feathers on ancestry I clicked to see what it was about and the Nansemond name kept popping up. Numerous people on ancestry are saying my grandmother who married David Grantham is this same exact line. Matter of fact, they are saying that William and Catherine (Lanier) Bass are my grandmother Elizabeth (Bass) Grantham’s great great grandparents which would make John Basse her ggg grandparents. Is there anyone that can help me pin this down for sure? Is there a good solidly researched family tree that I could go to showing brothers, sisters, dates etc… This is too cool, and yes, thanks so much for such a wonderful historical article… When my grandpa David Grantham died, Elizabeth Bass moved to Alabama to supposedly marry someone else in her old age, but she never remarried and died in Wilcox County, Alabama in 1850.
If you can help me pin down this side of my tree I would be greatly appreciative!!
He Dewayne. This blog isn’t really a message board. You are more likely to get your questions answered through other sources. Try the Jamestowne Society, for example. If you can find one of your relatives who has established their membership in that society through the line you are interested in, it will have been verified by the Society’s genealogists.
Thanks Billy. On my father’s side, my grandfather Peter Knight who married Nathaniel’s daugher Genevieve Basse (Brother of John Basse) is a qualifying ancestor but they do not accept descendants for Peter. On my mother’s side, the Grantham line goes back to a marriage with an Elizabeth Bass which goes back to your John Basse and Elizabeth Ketziah. But I have contacted them and I am working on another line. Honestly, they all interest me. Thanks again!
Thanks Billy. I may have to join. my Grandpa flowers owned 400 acres on the James River less than a mile downstream of Jamestown and just about 30 years after it was first formed… I know for certain my Grantham and my Flowers side originated there during colonial days. I will contact them and thanks again. Great post!
Thanks so much for writing this up, Billy! I’m yet another Bass(e) descendant.
Even though I already knew this lineage, your write-up of John and Elizabeth Keziah Tucker is the best I’ve read.
Here’s how I fit in:
my mother: Julia Gertrude Engelund (Bass)
her father: Edward Carson Bass (+ Azile “Maggie” Bass — also a Basse descendent)
his father: John Robert Bass
his father: William Everette Bass
his father John Bass
his father: Everett Bass
his father: Thomas Bass
his father: Thomas Bass
his father: Richard Basse, Sr.
his father: John Basse “The Immigrant”
his father: Capt. Nathaniel Basse
Thanks for your note Ashley! It’s such a great story to have in our family tree. I am so grateful for the research cousin Mary Frances Andrews Meek did many years ago – before the internet.
Ashley, you are my 9th cousin 2x removed! 🙂
Capt. Nathaniel Basse is my 11th great grandfather.
my linage is
1.Robert Fulton Bass(1952-) I am son of Joseph Estes Bass & Lucille St. Onge
Julie Dawn Phillips(1954-) wife
2. Joseph Estes Bass(1920- 2001) son of Robert Fulton Bass & Florence Bozeman
3. Robert Fulton Bass(1880-1921) son of Seaborn Esau Bass & Mary Blount
4.Seaborn Esau Bass(1834-1906) son of Jeremiah Bass & Sarah Elizabeth Phillips
5. Jeremiah Bass(1806-1891) son of Esau Bass Jr. & Nancy Elizabeth Cross
6. Esau Bass Jr.(1782-1856) son of Esau Bass(Revolutionary soldier) & ?
7. Esau Bass (1754-1830) son of Jeremiah Bass & ?
8. Jeremiah Bass(?-?) son of Edward Bass & ?
9. Edward Bass(?-?) son of John Bass & ?
10.John Bass(1673-1732)
This information was taken from the Bass Family History by Ivan Ernest Bass published 1955.
Number 8.,9., & 10. could not be proven because the records had been destroyed by court house fires in the pass the author noted this information about Esau Bass’ genealogy in the preface of the book.
I f you could share any light on this it would be appreciated .
Robert, thanks for sharing your lineage.
I’m from the same Bass line you are from. Nancy Bass, daughter of Esau Bass Jr. There is the Moses Bass will which puts Jeremiah as a cousin:
The estate settlement of Moses Bass mentions his cousins, Jeremiah and Wright Bass (Holcomb, SC Deed Abstracts, 1783-1788, Bks I-5 thru Z-5, 1996. SML 975.7 Hol)
In the name of God, Amen, I Moses Bass of Prince George Parish, Georgetown District, South Carolina …. To my beloved cousin, Jeremiah Bass a plantation of 100 acres granted to John Smith.
My kinship ends with William Bass 1654 and John1616, And from there I am from Thomas Basse 1678 as from what I can gather from the info I find, Who knows 100% for sure who we are?! UGH!!! I feel like giving up on the Basses from way back then but I will leave well enough alone for now.
Plan on visiting Basse Choice Plantation this fall. Has anyone been there and have any other place of interest we should visit while in Smithfield as to our ancestry?
I searched my lineage comes back to Humphrey Bass/Mary Bushier father of Nathaniel Bass father of John Bass to my Great GrandfatherPeyton Marion Bass who came to Athens, Texas somewhere around 1862/
Have a good trip, Debbie. This is my personal genealogy blog, not a forum, so this isn’t really a good place to network. I see that your ancestor’s first name was Peyton. If you are also a Peyton descendant, there is a pretty active “Peytons of Virginia” group you might want to look up.
I’m just double checking my research, but I’m sure John Bass was my Ggggggggg grandfather as well
I see a number of points in your well written article on the Bass family that I understand the Nansemond tribe does not authenticate. Have you spoken with them on your article?
Sharon
Sharon, no I have not spoken directly to the Nansemond tribe. My original source was from my cousin, Mary Frances Meek’s privately published “The Batte – Batey Family of Virginia and Tennessee and Allied Families” in the days before the WWW. I have gathered and confirmed information from other sources as well. I welcome corrections.
I recently discovered my ancestry. through my maternal side. John Bass is my 10 times great grandfather. I am descended through Philemon Bass and Nancy Bass. As a Californian, I was unfamiliar with my east coast roots. Thank You for the information.
My name is John Morris Bass & this is how my lineage goes.
My father was Charles D Bass Born 1937
His Father Morris Sheppard Bass Born 1912
His Father John Norphlet Bass Born 1868
His Father Jethro Jeff Bass Born 1835
His Father Norfleet Wesley Bass Born 1805
His Father Jethro Bass Born 1782
His Father Jethro Bass Born 1766
His Father Isaac Bass Circa 1742
His Father John Bass, jr Circa 1673
His Father John Basse, sr Born 1650
His Father Edward Basse Born 1622
His Father Nathaniel Basse Born 1589
His Father Humphrey Basse Circa 1564
His Father William Basse Circa 1520
His Father Joseph Basse Circa 1498
His Father William Basse Born 1480
His Father Thomas Bilodeau Basse Circa 1415
My tenth Great Grandfather Edward Basse was John Basse’s Brother. I liked your article on John Basse. Just more to add to the Family Tree.
Look at all these distant cousins lol
That is my linage also back to Thomas Basse, only through Johns brother Edward. Donnie Bays.
Fabulous Billy! My aunt and I were just speaking of the indian princess in the family yesterday. I had researched it several years ago, just touching on it. I googled it today and found your wonderful blog!
Great job or organizing this info. I come from John Bass II and Elizabeth Winborne, and their son Isaac Bass. Then through his son Jethro, to Zadock then Batson Bass (b1822) who married Melvina Waite. Their son Zadock W Bass (b1856) is my great great grandfather.
It’s amazing finding so many stories of people I’m related to and reading their family line research, and realizing the point where our lives intersect.
Great write up Bill, I enjoyed reading it.
What a story!! I too descend from John Bass and his line that eventually came down to Wilson and Wayne Counties in NC.
I am also descendant of John Basse , I am his 10th great granddaughter
Just wanted to day Hello Cousin
My 10th great-parents were Cockacoeske Toby “Chief Totopotomoy” West. Their daughter, Susannah, married Cornelius Dabney. They had several children, including Mary Dabney, who was the maternal grandmother of Patrick Henry. His sister, Elizabeth, was my 6th great-grandmother.
Supposedly she was their daughter. There are different birthdates for Cockacoeske. 1620, 1638, 1643, depending on what source you are reading.
Howdy cousin I also descend from John and Elizabeth bass
Hi to all my distant cousins. I’m a little late in joining the conversation, but just found this site and wanted to share with all of you my blood lineage to you: John + Elizabeth, William + Catherine Lanier, John, Sr, + Love Harris, John Jr., + Elizabeth Winborne, Isaac + Nancy Bunch, Jethro, I, + Susannah ?, Jethro, Jr., + Mary Kelly, Norfleet Wesley + Elizabeth Ann Locke, Jethro “Jeff” + Elizabeth Knight, James Stanley + Sally Mobley, Earl Ray, Sr., + Thelma Sigma, Earl Ray, Jr., + Eloise Bagwell, Thomas + Viktoria Ann Davis. There remains a question regarding marriage of Jethro, I marriage to Susannah from my perspective? Some what confusing with all the Jethro’s. If anyone can help bring clarification would be greatly appreciated.Thank you Billy for initiating this blog on the Bass family history. By the way, for all of you travelling to Virginia, Basse’s Choice is a VA Historical Marker (K 242), located near Smithfield, VA. For all of you a direct descendant of Isaac Bass, he is listed in the Daughters of American Revolution (DAR Ancestor # A007196), if you have any daughters that might be interested in joining this organization. Best to all of you and look forward to reading all future post to this blog.
Hi Thomas. Thanks for your comment. This is not really a Bass family history blog nor is it a public bulletin board. It’s my personal genealogy blog about all of my ancestors. My goal is share information that I have discovered or collected, and I also hope to connect with relatives who can share back.
I just broke through a major brick wall on Thursday, October 19, 2017. I am the great granddaughter of Ivan Lewis Bass (1896-1963) and Leota Fern Nicholas (1900-1969) of Ohio. I have lived in Virginia twice (75-77 and 87-90) not knowing that I had family history there. I am just in Ahh right now!!! The Bass(e) Family History is just as interesting as my Tuttle Family History side.
***Are there any books published on the Bass(e) family?***
I also noticed a name while reading through the messages.
“Dewayne Allday”. This in not a very common name so I have to ask, are you related to Alonzo “Big Shot” Allday? If so, you are related to my granddaughter, Jorden Renee Keen-Hayzlip.
Hi Kelly. Thanks for your comment. I’m glad you like my post. Congrats on your breakthrough. Just so you know – this is my personal blog about what I have discovered or collected about my ancestors, not really a public bulletin board. My goal is to share what I’ve learned and connect with relatives who I hope can share back. Statistically speaking, each of us has over 8,000 ancestors at the generation that I am descended from John Basse.
Thank you, Mr. Pittard, for your research and cogent presentation. I’d be curious to know if any relationship was found between your early Bass immigrants and the Deacon Samuel Bass, who immigrated to Massachusetts with his wife Anne (Savil) in 1630. They were my 10th-great-grandparents, but no ties have thus been found between the Virginia and Massachusetts families. There is, however, an intriguing letter from my 4th-great-grandfather, Daniel Bass, who spoke in 1835 of “five Bass brothers” coming over “200 years ago.”
Charlie Bass
Texas
All these posts are REALLY interesting. I’ve been researching the Bass family for many years. I’ve got info back into the 1500’s.
John Bass
Missouri
Thank You for this! It helps greatly in my connection to Native American, English and French ancestory.
Fascinating story! Thank you for sharing this. John Basse was my 8th great grandfather. My line descends from their son Richard.
This may be of interest to those descendants of John and Elizabeth. It is a great accomplishment and those wishing to be a part of this tribe can contact Earl and submit documentation of your ancestry. You may also visit the online site for more info for the Nansemond Tribe.
“Today we celebrate a decade of hard work. Our ‘first contact’ tribes of the Commonwealth of Virginia will finally receive the recognition they deserve,” Rep. Wittman said. “This is an issue of respect; federal recognition acknowledges and protects the historical and cultural identities of these tribes. Not only will it affirm the government-to-government relationship between the United States and the Virginia tribes, but it will create opportunities to enhance and protect the well-being of tribal members. I want to thank Senators Kaine and Warner and Representatives Scott, Beyer, and Connolly for supporting my efforts as we finally give these tribes the recognition they have long deserved.”
This law grants federal recognition to the Chickahominy, the Eastern Chickahominy, the Upper Mattaponi, the Rappahannock, the Monacan, and the Nansemond tribes. These tribes received official recognition from the Commonwealth of Virginia but had faced barriers preventing them from receiving federal recognition due gaps in official records. The Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017 rights this wrong.
Federal recognition grants Virginia’s tribes legal standing and status in relationships with the U.S. government. This status enables the tribes to pursue repatriation of historical and cultural artifacts, comment on federal agency actions that could affect their future, and gain access to a number of federal programs.
Rep. Wittman introduced H.R. 984 on February 7, 2017. The bill passed the House by voice vote on May 17, 2017 and the Senate by Unanimous Consent on January 11, 2018. President Trump signed the legislation into law this afternoon.
It’s a great day for our tribe, our work has just begun.
Earl L. Bass
Chief Emeritis
Nansemond Indian Tribe
757-277-4183
Thank you for your comment on this blog post and thank you for your invitation. This is wonderful news!
I am really late to party …. but better late than never! Loved all the info …. And everyone adding their people …..
Betty Jane Rodgers-Brown (1962) Me
Bonnie D. (Hall) Rogers (1932-1993)+ Bobby E. Rodgers (1929-1983)
Ella G.(Hall) Fultz (1912-1994) Granny
Nancy L. (Dukes) Hall (1879-1957)+ James M. Hall (1874-1949) ggrands
William E.Dukes (1847-1890)+ Jane Groover (1851-1880) GG grands
Albert M. Dukes (1810-1880)+ Susan Delk (1820-1892) GGG grands
John W. Dukes (1760-1830)+ Elizabeth Turner Clinton (1775-1824) GGGG
Samuel Moses Dukes (1745-1821)+ Winifred Bass (1755-1839) GGGGG
Jacob Bass SR (1740-1792)+ Ann Fuller (1733-1791) GGGGGG
There is a lot of family!!!!! God Bless all you and happy journey finding more!
[…] faith. It’s a fascinating story that has been told quite well by Billy Pittard on his blog. Do check it […]
[…] of the information I have about the early Basse family is from the blog of Billy Pittard, especially his post entitled “John Basse, a Story of the New World.” I wrote about John and […]
Well, hello there cousin. Your grandfather’s brother, Thomas is my eight great grandfather.
My grandfather was Benjamin H Bass of Wayne County (NC); Nathaniel Basse was my GGGGGG whatever grandfather. I have the genealogy elsewhere. So exciting to read this!!
–Charles Mandelin
I’m a direct descendant of John Basse. Traces it all the way back from my great great great grandpa Lewis “Louis” Griffin Bass who fought for the south in the civil war and is buried in bass cemetery in Alabama.
Just found this thread so I will add my lineage:
Joseph Basse/Josephin Pilotte
William Bass/ Mary Corking
Humphrey Bass/ Mary Jane Buschier
Cpt. Nathaniel Basse/Mary Jordan
John Basse?Keziah Elizabeth Tucker
Willliam Basse Sr./Cahterine Lanier
John Bass Sr./ Love Harris
Aaron Bass/Nancy Gray
Moses Bass/ Catherine Weber
John Bass/Sarah Fender
Solomon Bass/Catherine Sheeks
Hugh Solomon Bass/ Rebecca Jane Neal
Katherine Ophelia Bass/ Ralph Frost Reed (my grandparents
Interesting reading and nice to meet you all!
Donna Reed
Thanks for all the research! I have been working on my dads ancestry since he past away in August. I also found our linage. Would like to be linked to the tribe so I am going to see how much needs to be provided to them.
Nathaniel Basse10th great-grandfather M – Mary Jordan
John Basse 9th great-grandfather – M Keziah E Tucker
Richard Bass 8th great-grandfather – M Mary Burwell
Andrew Bass 7th great-grandfather – M Elizabeth Smith
Richard Needham Bass 6th great-grandfather – M Sarah McKinney
Uriah Benjamin Bass 5th great-grandfather – M Sarah W Green
Akies Bass Sr 4th great-grandfather – M to Mary McIntyre
Miles Henry Bass 3rd great-grandfather – M Edna Griffin
James E Bass 2nd great-grandfather – M Catherine V. Odom
William Miles Bass great-grandfather – M to Maude Jeter
Amy, I’m glad you like the post! Just so you know, this blog/website is just my personal site. It’s not a bulletin board or any kind of official site. Sorry to hear about your dad passing away, but it is a reminder that family history fades away if we don’t preserve it. Best wishes to you in your quest for your personal ancestry!
I’ve enjoyed reading all this! I descend from John Basse and his son, Jacob. I have been doing Bass family research for years. Thanks.
This an amazing story and all stems from my mothers side
David Oliver Bass 1924-2001 – Grandfather
John Samuel Bass 1895-1953 – Great Grandfather
Josiah J. Bass 1867-1946 – GG Grandfather
John Calvin Bass 1842-1908 – GGG Grandfather
Josiah Bass 1805-1892 – GGGG Grandfather
Josiah Bass1789-1832 – GGGGG Grandfather
Arthur Bass 1748-1823 – GGGGGG Grandfather
Edward Bass 1698-1823 – GGGGGGG Grandfather
John Bass 1673-1732 – GGGGGGGG
William Bass – 1654-1741 – GGGGGGGGG
John Bass 1616-1699 – GGGGGGGGGG Grandfather
I’m descendant from William Bass (1654-1741) and Catherine Lanier (1650-1692) – John is 10th great-grandfather
Our paths are the same through Theophilus Bass. You then branch off to Ethelred and I to John, Sion Bradford, Elias Benjamin, and Lydia Ann Bass, Ruth Stiff, Dorothy Jean Schroeder, to me – Jan Schroeder, Plano Texas. Good work putting all this together! Thank you.
Bill: Would you be willing to share your sources for this information? Or maybe you have posted it somewhere else.
J
Jane, I originally became aware of this story from a privately published book titled “The Batte-Batey Family of Virginia and Tennessee and Allied Families” by Mary Frances Andrews Meek of Knoxville, TN, published in 1993. I have used a variety of sources to fill in the gaps and details since I first became aware of the story. Mary, a lifelong schoolteacher and active DAR member did the hard work of first-hand research before the advent of the World Wide Web. Mary traveled to Virginia to see John’s book in person. She and I corresponded back in the 90s. She passed away in 2018. She was my half 4th cousin, once removed. I wish I could have met her in person.
I encourage anyone Interested in the Basse family line to start by contacting the Nansemond Indian Nation for accurate information to support your research.
Thank you for sharing this amazing story. John Basse was my 10th great grandfather. I’ve been researching and am in awe of this particular part of my ancestry. I appreciate your post very much!
The Smithsonian documentary said that pocahontas was not a princess.
More info here
https://www.nps.gov/jame/learn/historyculture/pocahontas-her-life-and-legend.htm
Nor was her father an actual king, but he was the leader of his people, and to the English settlers, they equated that to being his people’s king and that was the term the settlers used. Therefore, his children were considered princes and princesses just like those of English kings.
Hi Billy, good read. My line descends from Nathaniel Basse, but though John’s brother, William Basse. My native connection is through the Lumbee people. Thx.
I’m just starting to dip into my family tree. My sister had done some research before the passed away earlier this year, and found that we descend from John and Elizabeth’s son Richard 1658-1722. My question is, I didn’t see a Richard on your list of their children, so could they have had more than you have listed?
That’s all the info I have on that family.
Hello cousin,
Thank you for sharing your well written family history. John Basse & Keziah E Tucker were my 10G-grandparents. Our last common ancestors (in the Bass line anyway ; ) were Theophilis & Rachel. Starting with my maternal grandparents:
Pearl Ellen Frazier & Ovon Carroll both b MO d AR
Mary Ellen Womack & Jasper Newton Frazier both b MO d 1927 in AR during a multi-state tornado
Delilah Arsinet Bass b MO & William Womack b NC both d MO
Elinor/Nelly Smith b TN & Andrew Jackson Bass b NC both d MO
Ann Wherry & John Bass both b NC d TN
Rachel Vinson & Theophilis Bass both b NC d TN
Per Family Tree, I have about 4% Native American ancestry so definitely have more recent NA ancestors than Keziah ~_~
Regards,
DF
We’re here in Oklahoma!
I am just learning of this interesting group of people… and they are my ancestors too!
Kind regards!
MarLo C. Underwood-Alexander
I am from Oklahoma too! Edmond, OK
Thank you for this story. Keziah Tucker was my 7th great grandmother. We are related through the Basse family line. I had heard this story from my dad.
Im a Bass from Middle Tn
I am in this mix! Willis Bass B 1812 Wilson, Tenn. Died 1884 Texas. Married Elizabeth L. Hardin from Tenn . Died Texas in 1864, I show Jordan Bass B 1790 N.C, was Willis dad and grandfather was Jacob Bass 1740 in N.C. Then I show a 1715 John Bass and his dad a 1673 John Bass and a 1654 William Bass from Va who’s dad was John Basse 1616 who married Keziah Elizabeth Tucker .
Willis Leland Bass is my 3rd great grandfather,then George Willis, then my great grandmother Lura Ann( Bass) Green, my grandfather Charles,my Dad Donald( Green) Golie.
Humphrey Basse was one of the 214 merchants who founded the East India Company on 31.12.1600. He moved into the parish of St. Helen’s Bishopsgate c. 1605. Around 1597/98 William Shakespeare lived in the parish,see my new book Living with Shakespeare (Edinburgh University Press), p. 439. He is listed as resident on the 1611 lay subsidy tax roll (unpublished in National Archive). Hope of interest Geoffrey Marsh
Humphrey Basse was one of the 214 merchants who founded the East India Company on 31.12.1600. He moved into the parish of St. Helen’s Bishopsgate c. 1605. Around 1597/98 William Shakespeare lived in the parish,see my new book Living with Shakespeare (Edinburgh University Press), p. 439. He is listed as resident on the 1611 lay subsidy tax roll (unpublished in National Archive). Hope of interest Geoffrey Marsh
I should have added that his daughter Hanna was buried in St. Helen’s on 1 May 1605 and his son Barnaby baptised there on 30 June 2605 ( see parish registers). Geoffrey Marsh
PS: the church of St.Helen’s survived the 1666 Great Fire of London, so if you are ever in London you can still visit the church where your ancestors Humphrey and Mary Basse( and William Shakespeare but not at the same time) worshipped.
Hi! Captain Nathaniel Basse was my 9x great grandfather. Thank you for writing this out in great detail. Do you have any evidence of John and his brothers Humphrey being at the first plantation when it was attacked? I read somewhere there was no proof of it, and the children were their parents on a trip back to England when It took place.
My mother was Ruth Virginia Bass, the oldest child of Perry Wade Bass and Marian Traylor.
I am directly descended from Theophilus Bass and Sarah Vinson through my mother, Esther Cora (or Cora Estelle) Bass, daughter of Thomas Marion Bass and Cora Alice Marsh of Louisburg, Missouri. Thanks!
JOHN BASS WAS MY GRANDFATHER
I am a descendant of John and (Keziah) Elizabeth, William and Catherine,John and Kitty,Jacob and Ann all the way down to William Leland Bass and to my great grandmother Lura Bass.
This is very interesting story and liked ita whole lot.
Hello,my name is Sam Mahler.
Nathaniel Basse is my 10th Great Grandfather and John Bass is my 9 th Great Grandfather.
But Samuel Bass( brother of Nathaniel Basse) is also my 10 th Great Grandfather, he married an Alden. Nathaniel is my biological grandfather but Samuel is my legal grandfather ( I was adopted but Samuel direct descendent)
In the end, my biological family and my adopted family are related, making me my own distant cousin from either side.
Samuel Bass from Massachusetts is not related to the Bass from Virginia. Bass YDna results prove this.
My search started at William Humphrey Basse and Mary Carlin, parents of Humphrey Basse( married to Mary Bushier) and Benjamin Joseph Basse( married to Mary McCleared).
From Humphrey Basse,my line is
Nathaniel; John; William sr. ; John sr.; John Jr.; John III; Jordan; Willis Leland; George Willis; Lura Ann; Charles Green; Donald ( Green) Golie; me- Sam Mahler.
From Benjamin Joseph – Samuel (1600); Sarah; John Stone; John Jr.; William; Hannah; Mary Polly Marcy; Laban Herideen; Simeon ; Mary Ellen; Annie Lillian; Roma Stagg; Larry Mahler to me- Sam Mahler.
My search indicates that my two Bass line are connected but if I am wrong ,please help me find my error, thank you.
I apologize for the incorrect pairing in my first email, I should have looked instead of relying on memory.After reviewing my information, this is how my ancestry breaks down. Starting with William Basse(1520-1616) married to Mary Carlin( 1525-1616)
Their sons Humphrey Basse (1565-1616) and Benjamin Joseph Bass (1569-1671) are both my 11th great grandfather(s) and their sons are Nathaniel (1589-1654) and Samuel (1600-1694) both being my 10th great grandfather(s). They are cousins not brothers. That was were my memory failed. From Nathaniel is goes to John Basse- to- William sr.- John sr.- John jr.- John III- Jordan- Willis Leland- George Willis- Lura Ann( Bass)Green- Charles (Green)- Donald(Green) Golie- to me ,Sam Mahler.
From Samuel Bass( grandson of William Basse)- Sarah(Bass) Stone- John Stone sr.- John jr.- William- Hannah(Stone)Marcy- Mary Polly(Marcy) Herideen- Simeon Herideen- Mary Ellen( Herideen)Perrin- Annie(Perrin)Stagg- Roma(Stagg)Mahler- Larry Mahler- to me, Sam Mahler. ( Although the Samuel Bass side,{ previously thought to be my adopted side has been proven by DNA to be a blood relation}.
Whether or not I would be considered Nansemond on my biological Bass side makes no difference to me or not. I know that my biological descent from William, Humphrey, Nathaniel,John, and William sr. Can be proven.
Thank You.
Hello, great information and story! Recently discovered while looking at my grandfathers information on Bassettbranches.org that Nathaniel Basse is my 12th great grandfather! Had always heard that our family on my grandfathers side were from Virginia with deep history, WOW! And to think about all of the family members I’ve never met! I know that I’m late for the party but, Hello to All!! My grandfather was Hubert Jack Bass if you go to Bassettbranches.org with this name and continue to click on “Father” the family information is awesome!! Thanks again for sharing!