Capt. Nathaniel Basse

Erected 2000 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number K-242.) https://threefamilytrees.blogspot.com/2021/03/more-about-capt-nathaniel-bass-early.html

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Capt. Nathaniel Basse
Birthdate:	before December 19, 1589
Birthplace:	London, Middlesex , England
Death:	July 03, 1654 Virginia Colony or, St Saviour, Surrey, England
Place of Burial:	Cripplegate, St. Alphage Church, London, Greater London , England
Immediate Family:	Son of Humphrey Basse and Mary Bass Husband of Mary Basse Father of Humphrey Basse, Twin of Samuel; Samuel Basse; Capt. John Basse, Sr.; William Basse, Sr.; Anthony Basse and 7 others Brother of Edward Bass; Richard Basse; Humphrey Basse; William Basse; Mary Walthall and 10 others
Occupation:	House of Burgesses, English Sea Captain and founder of Basse's Choice, Norfolk Co. VA, captain/planter

Managed by:	Raymond Isaac Booth, III
Last Updated:	January 25, 2024

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Immediate Family

About Capt. Nathaniel Basse

Humphrey Basse was the son of William Basse b 1540 England and Mary Carkin. Humphrey Basse's Will written 13 May 1616, and proved 6 June 1616 named his wife, Mary, as Executrix, and named sons Nathaniel , Richard, Samuel, Humphrey and Luke; daughters Hester, Abigail, Sarah and married daughter Mary Walthall. Also mentioned were his brothers Thomas Basse, late deceased, and William Basse.

Family

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/102311921/nathaniel-basse

Nathaniel Basse was born in December 1589, in London, England, the son of Humphrey Basse and Mary (Buschier) Basse. He was the brother of: Richard, Humphrey (died young), William, Mary, Hester, Humphrey, Thomas, Samuel, Barnaby, John, Lydia, Abigail, Luke, and Sarah. On one of his many trips back to England, Nathaniel died (in 1654), and was buried in the Church of St Alphage, Cripplegate, London. (The Church and surrounding area were almost totally destroyed during WWII).

Nathaniel married Mary Jordan in 1613, in England. His first trip to the new world was in 1619, arriving at Jamestown. Captain Basse and others established a plantation east of "Lawne's Creek" on the Warrosquoacke River (now known as the James River) and Pagan's Creek, and named it Basse's Choice. "Basse's Choice" is located in Smithfield Virginia.

The houses on Captain Basse's plantation were being built when at midday on Good Friday, 22 Mar 1622, the Indians attacked the settlers killing 347 of the 1240 English inhabitants in the 80 settlements on the north and south sides of the river (James).

Nathaniel and his wife, Mary, were in England at the time, and some of the children were at "Basse's Choice" with a nurse. Five-year old John was one of the children that escaped and was rescued by some friendly Nansemond Indians. (He eventually married the chief's daughter). [Proof needed.]. His older brother Humphrey (aged 6 years) died that day.

Nathaniel was commissioned to trade between England and other countries, and to try to "invite inhabitants" to the new world. He served in the House of Burgesses at Jamestown at least twice.

Nathaniel and Mary's children were: Humphrey (1615-1622), Samuel (twin of Humphrey), John (1616-1699), William (1618-1641), Anthony (b1620), Edward (1622-1696), Mary, Genevieve (b1624), Anne (twin to Genevieve), Richard (b1625), Gregory (b1628), George (twin of Gregory).

While giving birth to a stillborn son in 1630, Mary died, and is buried somewhere in Virginia.

Legacy

From https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Basse-6

Nathaniel Basse appears to have died on a return trip to England and was interred in the Church (not the church yard) of St Alphage, City of London, 3 Jul 1654.[5] [SIC: 1655] The church was destroyed in World War II. Burial record: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/102311921/nathaniel-basse
It is unclear if Basse had sons. The dearth of documentation also obscures much of Basse's personal and family life. Tradition has it that the third son of their ten sons and three daughters married a member of the Nansemond tribe in 1638, and that the Bass family of lower Tidewater Virginia is descended from this son. However, a deposition in England on behalf of his three surviving sisters, identified as his coheirs, asserted that he had died in Virginia without issue, an assertion borne out by a suit brought by Theodorick Bland against William Drummond, attorney of Basse's coheirs, and settled in 1658. The assertion there are no living heirs outside these three sisters would have benefited Basse's sisters and there is no indication there was an investigation sent to the colonies to determine the validity of their claim. Yet, we find the burial of the person believed to be this Nathaniel Bass in London in 1654.

From https://laura-knight-jadczyk.com/genealogy/knight-peter.html

Another item brings even more clarity, demolishing thousands of repeated fake genealogies of Capt. Peter Knight alleged to have married a Genevieve Basse. In The Complete Book of Emigrants 1607-1660 by one of the giants of genealogy, Peter Wilson Coldham, there is a deposition given at the Lord Mayors Court of London, that says:

1654 - Aug 30 - London - Admin - Nathaniel Basse - Lord Mayors Court of London: Major Edward Basse, citizen and merchant of London aged 60, and Dame Mary Poole (signs Pole) wife of Sir John Poole of Bromley, Middlesex, age 62, depose that Hester Hobson of Bromley, widow, Abigail Thorpe of Chelsea Hampton, Oxon, widow, and Sarah wife of Thomas Hastler, citizen and barber surgeon of London, are sisters and are daughters of Humphrey Basse of London, Merchant, and Mary his wife, both long since deceased. The sisters are co-heirs of Luke Basse who died a bachelor and was brother of Nathaniel Basse lately deceased without issue in Virginia. Thomas Hastler is appointed attorney. (Coldham 1987, p. 274)

Please note carefully what is being said here: Nathaniel Basse died in Virginia not long before this deposition was taken in 1654, i.e. "lately deceased", and he died without issue. No children, no grandchildren.

https://www.geni.com/discussions/181805?msg=1219212

Aside from the badly worded document, we glean the information that Nathaniel Basse probably died in England (lately deceased) and his brother, Luke Basse, was in Virginia as late as 1654. The sisters were claiming the inheritance of a bachelor brother and were, in no way, claiming anything from Nathaniel Basse (which seems clear from the wording). Obviously, if Luke Basse was living right there in England, it would not have been necessary for this court case.

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~woodrough/genealogy/p21.htm

The story that two of the Basse children were slain in the massacre is entirely bogus as proved by Stephaun Paul in his "polemic" "I’m only aware of the legend of Humphrey dying in the massacre. I cannot emphasize this more strongly; the legend of Humphrey dying in the massacre is based on a misunderstanding of double dates. IT IS ABSOLUTELY FALSE! As I prove in the Polemic, it was impossible for Humphrey to have died in the massacre. He died the following year. There can be no doubt that Humphrey died a year-to-date from the massacre, probably in the Plague of the Abigail. I really don’t want to see this error further perpetuated. Following is the proof as I’ve stated it in the Polemic: http://web.me.com/depaul7/Polemic/Welcome.html [dead link], https://sdepaul7.wixsite.com/polemic [pay per view]

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https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Basse_Nathaniel_bap_1589-1654

Nathaniel Basse was an English colonist who represented Warrosquyoake in the House of Burgesses (1624, 1625, 1628, 1629) and served on the governor's Council. The length of his service on the Council is unknown, but he is named as a member on documents dated December 20, 1631, and February 21, 1632. He came to Virginia in March 1619 with Christopher Lawne. In 1621 he received a grant of 300 acres of land; his settlement, Basse's Choice, was among the first English settlements in Isle of Wight County. Knowledge of his personal and family life is obscured by a lack of documentation, but tradition holds that he may have been the father of John Bass, who married a member of the Nansemond tribe in 1638 and from whom the Bass family of lower Tidewater Virginia is descended. However, a deposition recorded in England on August 30, 1654, states that Basse died without issue.

Basse was the second of twelve sons and second of eighteen children of Humphrey Basse and Mary Buschier Basse. His mother was of Italian descent, and his father was a prosperous London girdler of French ancestry who invested in the Virginia Company of London. Basse was probably born in London and was christened there in the parish of Saint Gabriel Fenchurch on December 19, 1589.

Basse first arrived in Virginia, so far as is known, in March 1619 with Christopher Lawne and other colonists associated in the settlement of Warrosquyoake Plantation in what is now Isle of Wight County. During 1620 Basse returned to England and obtained from the Virginia Company a confirmation of the patent to Warrosquyoake in November of that year. The company reconfirmed this patent in January 1622. In November 1621 Basse received a separate patent in his own name for a 300-acre tract a short distance west of Warrosquyoake on the east side of the Pagan River that has been called Basse's Choice ever since. He returned to Virginia on the Furtherance about August or September 1622, after the Powhatan uprising on March 22, 1622, when, according to John Smith's Generall Historie, the Indians "had fired Lieutenant Basse his house, with all the rest there about, slaine the people, and so left that Plantation."

Basse represented Warrosquyoake in the General Assembly sessions of February and March 1624, May 1625, March 1628, and October 1629. In June 1625 he signed a petition requesting Charles I to preserve the General Assembly as a fixture of the new royal government of the colony. Soon after arriving in Virginia late in March 1630, Governor Sir John Harvey appointed Basse to the governor's Council. The length of his service is unknown, but he is named as a member on documents dated December 20, 1631, and February 21, 1632. On March 6, 1632, Harvey commissioned Basse "to trade between 34 and 31 degrees North Latitude and to go to New England, Nova Scotia, or the West Indie Islands with instructions to invite the inhabitants hither if any so inclined," and sometime the same month Basse became presiding justice of the court of Warrosquyoake.

Extant records do not indicate whether Basse traveled to the other English colonies as directed, or whether he ever returned to England. He probably either remained in Virginia or returned to the colony following the voyages. The dearth of documentation also obscures much of Basse's personal and family life. Tradition has it that he married Mary Jordan in London on May 21, 1613, that the third son of their ten sons and three daughters married a member of the Nansemond tribe in 1638, and that the Bass family of lower Tidewater Virginia is descended from this son. However, a deposition in England on behalf of his three surviving sisters, identified as his coheirs, asserted that he had died in Virginia without issue, an assertion borne out by a suit brought by Theodorick Bland against William Drummond, attorney of Basse's coheirs, and settled in 1658. Nathaniel Basse died, probably in Virginia, sometime before this August 30, 1654, deposition was taken.

Time Line

December 19, 1589 - Nathaniel Basse, the second of eighteen children born to Humphrey Basse and Mary Buschier Basse, is christened in the parish of Saint Gabriel Fenchurch in London.

May 21, 1613 - Tradition holds that Nathaniel Basse and Mary Jordan were married on this day in London.

March 1619 - Nathaniel Basse arrives in Virginia with Christopher Lawne and other colonists associated in the settlement of Warrosquyoake Plantation in what is now Isle of Wight County.

1620 - Nathaniel Basse travels from Virginia to England to obtain from the Virginia Company a confirmation of the patent to Warrosquyoake.

November 1621 - Nathaniel Basse receives a patent in his name for a 300-acre tract of land a short distance west of Warrosquyoake on the east side of the Pagan River. It becomes known as Basse's Choice.

August or September 1622 - Nathaniel Basse returns to Virginia on the Furtherance.

February–March 1624 - Nathaniel Basse represents Warrosquyoake in the General Assembly.

May 1625 - Nathaniel Basse represents Warrosquyoake in the General Assembly.

June 1625 - Nathaniel Basse signs a petition requesting that Charles I preserve the General Assembly as a fixture of the new royal government of the colony.

March 1628 - Nathaniel Basse represents Warrosquyoake in the General Assembly.

October 1629 - Nathaniel Basse represents Warrosquyoake in the General Assembly.

ca. 1630–1632 - Nathaniel Basse serves on the governor's Council.

March 1632 - Nathaniel Basse becomes presiding justice of the court of Warrosquyoake.

March 6, 1632 - Governor Sir John Harvey commissions Nathaniel Basse "to trade between 34 and 41 degrees North Latitude and to go to New England, Nova Scotia, or the West Indie Islands with instructions to invite the inhabitants hither if any so inclined."

August 14, 1638 - John Bass, who may be the son of Nathaniel Basse and Mary Jordan Basse, marries Elizabeth, a Nansemond woman who has converted to Christianity.

August 30, 1654 - A deposition in England on behalf of the three surviving sisters of Nathaniel Basse, identified as his coheirs, asserts that Basse died in Virginia without issue.

https://laura-knight-jadczyk.com/genealogy/knight-peter.html

1654 - Aug 30 - London - Admin - Nathaniel Basse - Lord Mayors Court of London: Major Edward Basse, citizen and merchant of London aged 60, and Dame Mary Poole (signs Pole) wife of Sir John Poole of Bromley, Middlesex, age 62, depose that Hester Hobson of Bromley, widow, Abigail Thorpe of Chelsea Hampton, Oxon, widow, and Sarah wife of Thomas Hastler, citizen and barber surgeon of London, are sisters and are daughters of Humphrey Basse of London, Merchant, and Mary his wife, both long since deceased. The sisters are co-heirs of Luke Basse who died a bachelor and was brother of Nathaniel Basse lately deceased without issue in Virginia. Thomas Hastler is appointed attorney. (Coldham 1987, p. 274)

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Nathaniel BASSE was born ABT 1589 in London, England, and died 1655 in London, England. He was buried 3 JUL 1655 in Church of St Alphage, Cripplegate, London, England.

Family

From https://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=marciamcclure&id=...

He married Mary JORDAN. She was born ABT 1591, and died 17 JAN 1630 in Virginia.

Children of Mary JORDAN and Nathaniel BASSE are:

i. Samuel BASSE was born 15 JUL 1615 in England or Virginia.
ii. Humphrey BASSE was born 15 JUL 1615 in England or Virginia, and died 22 MAR 1622 in Virginia.
iii. John BASS was born 7 SEP 1616 in VA or England, and died 1699 in Norfolk Co, VA. He married Elizabeth "NANSEMOND INDIAN" 14 AUG 1638 in Virginia.
4. iv. William BASSE was born 25 DEC 1618 in England or Virginia, and died ABT 1695. He married Sarah BATTEN 20 SEP 1641 in Norfolk Co, VA. She was born ABT 1620.
v. Anthony BASSE was born 13 MAR 1620 in Virginia.
vi. Edward BASSE was born 8 MAY 1622 in England or at sea, and died 1696. He married Mary TUCKER ABT 1644 in Virginia. She was born ABT 1630 in Virginia.
vii. Mary BASSE was born 16 JUN 1623 in Virginia.
viii. Genevieve BASSE was born 9 OCT 1624 in Virginia.
ix. Anne BASSE was born 9 OCT 1624 in Virginia.
x. Richard BASSE was born 27 AUG 1625 in Virginia.
xi. Gregory BASSE was born 10 DEC 1628 in Virginia.
xii. George BASSE was born 11 DEC 1628 in Virginia.
xiii. Child BASSE was born 17 JAN 1630 in Virginia, and died 17 JAN 1630 in Virginia.

Notes

Genevieve Basse, Peter Knight’s wife, was the eighth of twelve children. Her parents were Nathaniel Bass (b. baptised 29 Dec 1589, at the Church of St. Gabriel, Fenchurch Street, London, Middlesex, England) and Mary Jordan. Nathaniel Basse married Mary Jordan 21 May 1613, in London, Middlesex, England. "Nathaniell Basse and Mary Jordan was married ye 21 day of May in ye year of our blessed Lord and Saviour 1613." (Family Bible Records)

It is believed that Nathaniel Basse brought his children back to London after the 1622 Indian Massacre; however, Nathaniel continued making trips to the colonies.

The first English settlement in the area known by the Indians as Warrosquoyacke (Isle of Wight Co., Virginia) was made by Captain Christoper Lawne, Sir Richard Worsley, Knight & Baronet, and their associates NATHANIEL BASSE, Gentleman, John Hobson, Gentleman, Anthony Olevan, Richard Wiseman, Robert Newland, Robert Gyner and William Willis.

They arrived at Jamestown with one hundred settlers on 27 April 1619 in a ship commanded by Captain Evans. They immediately settled on the south side of the Warrosquoake River (James River) and established the plantation "Warrosquoake", to be known as "Lawne's Creek". When their patent was confirmed it was to become known as the "County of Isle of Wight".

NATHANIEL BASSE and others undertook to establish another plantation in the same neighborhood, to the east, known as "Basse's Choice" situated on the Warrosquoake River (James River) and Pagan Creek. His patent was received 21 Nov 1621 for 300 acres plus 100 acres of marshland. The houses on Captain Basse's plantation were being built when at midday on Good Friday, 22 Mar 1622, the Indians attacked the settlers killing 347 of the 1240 English inhabitants in the 80 settlements on the north and south sides of the river (James). 26 at Isle of Wight were among those killed. The settlers made a valiant defense of themselves with guns, axes, spades and brickbats. It is thought that Nathaniel and his wife, Mary, were in England at the time, and some of the children were at "Basse's Choice" with a nurse. The story is told that five-year old JOHN was one of the children that escaped and was rescued by some friendly Nansemond Indians! His older brother Humphrey died that day. A 1622 passenger list for the ship "Furtherance," from London, arrived in Virginia, lists Nathaniell Basse, age 35. Many ships at that time considered passengers as cargo and did not list their names. Some ships listed the names of the men on board but did not list women and children.

A census taken 16 Feb 1623/24 shows a total of 53 persons living at "Worwicke-Squeak," and "Basse's Choice". Nathaniel Basse and Samuell Basse were among those listed. Capt. Nathaniel Basse, Samuel Basse and William Basse are also found living among the list of 1,033 Early Pioneers of 1624. They are listed as living at Basse Choise, sndx no. B200.

Nathaniel was appointed to the House of Burgesses at the first Legislative Assembly representing Warrosquoake (Isle of Wight) for 1623/24. He was again a member of the House of Burgesses in Oct 1629 and 1631, appointed to Harvey's Council 1631/32 and a member of the Great Council 1631/32. On 6 Mar 1631/32 Nathaniel was commissioned to "trade between 34 and 40 N Latitude, England, Nova Scotia and West Indies to invite inhabitants hither". (If they were tired of cold and damp!) Nathaniel was also commissioned to trade to the Dutch Plantation and Canada. He was given power of Justice of Peace. (Virginia Council & General Court Records 1626-1634)

Basse's Choice originally called for 300 acres but its acreage was closer to 400. Mr. Peter Knight married to Nathaniel's daughter Genevieve, patented 150 acres of the same in 1640 and 255 acres in 1643. Peter Knight sold the tract to John Bland, an eminent London Merchant.

Nathaniel Basse was buried 3 July 1654 in the Church of St. Alphage, Cripplegate, London. Mary, his wife, had died 17 Jan 1630, with the birth of a stillborn son. After Nathaniel's death in 1654, the General Assembly of Virginia in 1659/60 ordered Mr. Wm. Drummond as agent of the Co-heirs of Nathaniel Basse to pay to Theodorick Bland of Westover, 2500 lbs tobacco in settlement of a suit affecting the land.

http://www.geocities.com/knighthistory/VirginiaKnights.htm

Nathaniel Basse was born December 29, 1589 in London, England, and died July 03, 1654 in Middlesex, Virginia or Cripplegate London, England.

Parents: Humphrey Basse (1565-1616) and Mary Bouchette (?-1616)

Married:

on May 21, 1613 in London, Middlesex Parish, England to MARY JORDAN OR (JOURDAN) She was born Bet. 1590 - 1592 in London, Middlesex Parish, England, and died January 17, 1629/30 in London, England.

Children of NATHANIEL BASSE and MARY (JOURDAN) are:

JOHN4 BASSE, b. September 07, 1616, London, Middlesex Parish, England; d. April 02, 1699, Norfolk County / Virginia.
HUMPHREY BASSE, b. July 15, 1615, London, Middlesex Parish, England; d. March 22, 1621/22, Isle of Wight County / Virginia.
SAMUEL BASSE, b. July 15, 1615, London, Middlesex Parish, England; d. March 22, 1621/22, Isle of Wight County / Virginia.
WILLIAM BASSE SR., b. December 25, 1618, London, Middlesex Parish, England; d. Unknown.
ANTHONY BASSE, b. March 13, 1619/20, London, Middlesex Parish, England; d. 1696.
EDWARD BASSE, b. May 08, 1622, London, Middlesex Parish, England; d. September 1696, Albemarle County / North Carolina.
MARY BASSE, b. June 14, 1623, Norfolk, Virginia; d. Unknown.
GENEVIEVE BASSE, b. Bet. September - October 09, 1624, Norfolk, Virginia; d. Unknown.
ANNE BASSE, b. Bet. September - October 09, 1624, Norfolk, Virginia (just 10 minutes before Genevive); m. THOMAS BURWELL, June 11, 1640.
RICHARD BASSE, b. August 27, 1625, Norfolk, Virginia; d. Unknown.
GREGORIE BASSE, b. December 10, 1628, Norfolk, Virginia; d. Unknown.
GEORGE BASSE, b. December 11, 1628, Norfolk, Virginia; d. 1681.
INFANT SON BASSE, b. January 17, 1629/30, London, Middlesex Parish, England; d. January 17, 1629/30, London, Middlesex Parish, England.

More About NATHANIEL BASSE

Baptism: December 29, 1589, St. Babriel's Church, Fenchurch Street, London, Middlesex Parish, England
Burial: St. Alphage Church, London, Middlesex Parish, England. Emigration: April 17, 1619, To Jamestown, Virginia on the ship "Furtherance" Residence: Basse's Choice Plantation, Isle of Wight County, Virginia

Notes

BIOGRAPHY: Arrived in Jamestown, Virginia on April 27, 1619, twelve years after the founding of Jamestown. Sailed on the ship "Furtherance," commanded by Captain Evans. Returned to America aboard the "Abigail" in 1621. He apparently made several trips between England & Virginia, as he is listed on the manifest of the ship Furtherance in 1622. Captain Nathaniel Basse, as one of the Adventurers of the Virginia Company, was granted a patent for his plantation "Basse's Choice" on November 21, 1621, 400 acres on the west side of the Pagan River, near it's mouth, east of Bennet's Tract, and 100 acres under water in what is now Isle of Wight County, VA. It is located northeast of Smithfield, Virginia. As he spent considerable time in London as well, he was not at "Basse's Choice" on Good Friday, March 22, 1622, the date of the Jamestown Massacre. He and his wife left their children with a nurse to go back to England and while they were gone their children were attacked by Indians, all but one died. John was rescued by the Nansemond Indians. Bass's Choice Plantation is a Virginia historic landmark. Virginia Historical Marker K242, Isle of Wight County, Route 10, 2 miles NW of Smithfield read as follows:

BASSE'S CHOICE - This place three miles north, was settled by Nathaniel Basse in 1612. In the massacre of 1622, the Indians killed 20 settlers there.

Approximately 10% of the historical markers erected by the State of Virginia have been decommissioned and removed. Sadly, the Basse's Choice marker is one so decommissioned.

Nathaniel was Justice of the Peace - Isle of Wight County, VA
Nathaniel was appointed to the House of Burgesses in 1623-24, & 1629 and a Member of Council 1630, 1631.

On March 6, 1631/1632, Basse was commissioned to "trade between 34 and 40 N Latitude, England, Nova Scotia and West Indies to invite inhabitants hither. "He was also commissioned to trade to the Dutch Plantation and Canada (New England in those days).

NOTE: There has been considerable speculation that there was more than one Nathaniel Basse at Jamestown. Those involved in that speculation have contended that "Captain Nathaniel Basse" is not the same as "Nathaniel Basse, Gentleman". They may be right. However, which ever one it was, and I side with "Captain Nathaniel Basse" of Basses Choice (so called by Col. E. M. Morrison), there is little doubt in my mind but that our Nathaniel Basse, the father of John Basse, was the son Of Humphrey Basse. My opinion in this matter is based on the names of Nathaniel Bass's children. Of Nathaniel's twelve children, six of them have names corresponding to Humphrey's children. Admittedly, five of these are very common names, to wit" Samuel, John, William, Mary and Richard. The other duplication is Humphrey, a much less common name. The sister, Genevieve, however, the name of Nathaniel's grandmother (Genevieve Bushier), to me is the clincher. - J. Albert Bass, Jr.

Death: Died at Cripplegate, London, England? The official of the Jamestown Society have used the deposition in the Mayor's court in London, in August of 1654, concerning the disposition of Nathaniel's property as sufficient evidence to refute the testimony of John Basse and others, that John and others were the offspring of Nathaniel Basse and Mary Jordan.

Links

http://www.genealogy.com/users/m/c/a/Allison-G-Mcaninch/FILE/0001te...

1. First trip: Nathaniel Basse, Gentleman, helped establish Isle of Wight, VA in 1619.
2. Second Trip: Early Va records indicate Nathaniel Basse age 35 arrived on the ship "Furtherance" in 1622. 3. In 1623, Nataniel Basse was living in Basse's Choice, VA. Jamestown, Virginia 1619 | Jamestown, Virginia

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Name: Capt.Nathaniel BASSE
Given Name: Capt.Nathaniel
Surname: BASSE
Sex: M
Birth: 29 Dec 1589 in London, , , England
Death: 3 Jul 1654 in Virgina
Immigration: April 27, 1619 Jamestown, Virginia
Christening: 29 Dec 1589 St. Gabriel Ch., Frenchchurch St., London, England
Burial: 3 Jul 1654 Church of St. Alphage, Cripplegate, London
Note:

   In The Complete Book of Emigrants 1607-1660, pg. 46, Coldham quotes, "Living at Basse's Choice in 1624, Captain Nathaniel Basse and Samuel

   Basse." Then, on August 30, 1654 shortly following Nathaniel's death, this was recorded (slightly paraphrased), "...heirs of Nathaniel Basse deceased without issue. Major Edward Basse, 60, London, deposed that Hester Hobson, Abigail Thorpe, and Sara Hastler are sisters and are daughters of Humphrey Basse and wife Mary. The sisters are co-heirs with Luke Basse who died a bachelor and was the brother and heir of Nathaniel Basse."

   Captain Nathaniel Basse and Samuel Basse were noted living at Basse's Choyce Plantation in 1624, Isle of Wight Co., VA (northeast of Smithfield, VA).

Basse's Choice Plantation is a Virginia Historic Landmark. Presently, there is an archaeological dig there as scientists try to discover more about the first years of life in Virginia.
AFN:HB5T-NL
2. NATHANIEL BASSE, CAPT. (HUMPHREY2, WILLIAM1) was born December 29, 1589 in Middlesex Parrish, London, England, and died July 3, 1654 in Cripplegate, London, England. He married MARY JORDAN May 21, 1613 in Middlesex Parrish, London, England. She was born Abt. 1591 in London, Elgland, and died January 17, 1629/30 in Middlesex Parrish, London, England.
Notes for NATHANIEL BASSE, CAPT.:

   Nathaniel Basse was christened, December 29, 1589, at the Church of Saint Gabriel Church, Fenchurch St., London, England. Nathaniel was commissioned to bring settlers to the New World. On April 27, 1619, they arrived at Jamestowen, Virginia, founded in1607 (Isle Of Wight County,1608-1907) with one hundred settlers in a ship commanded by Captain Evans. They immediately settled near the mouth of a creek on the south side of the James River still known as Lawne's Creek. Captain Nathaniel Basse and others undertook to establish another plantation in the same neighborhood. This plantation was known as Basse's Choice and was situated on the Pagan River. Nathaniel was back in England in early 1621/22 and returned to Virginia in 1622. He was commissioned to seek colonists for Virginia in New England and elsewhere.

The houses of Captain Basse's plantation were being built when a great calamity happened to the infant colony. At midday on Good Friday, March 22, 1622 there were twelve hundred fourty British inhabitants in the state of Virginia. Of these, three hundred forty seven were killed by Indians in the eighty settlements on the north and south sides of the James River, of which fifty three were residents of this county (Isle Of Wight County). At the house of Nathaniel Basse every one was slain. Nathaniel, who was in England at the time, escaped.
A muster of the inhabitants of Virginia taken in 1625 includes Nathaniel Basse, age 35. Nathaniel was a member of the House of Burgesses in 1624,1625, 1628 and again in 1629. He was a Councillor in 1630.
Nathaniel Bass returned to England and is buried in Church of St. Alphage, Cripplegate, London England, 3 July 1654.
Sourceses: Nathaniel Basse: "The Bass Family of Black Creek, North Carolina", compiled by James Albert Bass and James Albert Bass, Jr., 1986.
More About NATHANIEL BASSE, CAPT.:

   Burial: July 3, 1654, Church of Saint Alphage, Cripplegate, London, England

   The first English settlement in the area known by the Indians as Warrosquoake (Isle of Wight Co., Virginia) was made by Captain Christoper Lawne, Sir Richard Worsley, Knight & Baronet, and their associates NATHANIEL BASSE, Gentleman, John Hobson, Gentleman, Anthony Olevan, Richard Wiseman, Robert Newland, Robert Gyner and William Willis. They arrived at Jamestown with one hundred settlers on 27 April 1619 in a ship commanded by Captain Evans. They immediately settled on the south side of the Warrosquoake River (James River) and established the plantation "Warrosquoake", to be known as "Lawne's Creek". When their patent was confirmed it was to become known as the "County of Isle of Wight".

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vaisleof/history.htm

The first English settlement in Isle of Wight county was made by Captain Christopher Lawne and Sir Richard Worsley, knight baronet, and their associates, viz.: Nathaniel Basse, gentleman; John Hobson, gentleman; Anthony Olevan, Richard Wiseman, Robert Newland, Robert Gyner, and William Willis.

On the day the patent last mentioned was granted, Arthur Swaine, Captain Nathaniel Basse and others, undertook to establish another plantation in the same neighborhood. Captain Basse came over in person and his plantation was known as "Basse's Choice," and was situated on Warrosquoyacke (now Pagan) River.

The houses of Captain Basse's Plantation were building when a great calamity happened to the infant colony. At midday on Good Friday, March 22, 1622, there were twelve hundred and forty inhabitants in the State of Virginia. Of these, three hundred and forty-seven, in a few hours, were killed by the Indians in the eighty settlements on the north and south sides of the James River, of which number fifty-three were residents of this county.

After the death of Powhatan, his brother, Opecancanough, who always hated the whites, joined all the tribes in Eastern Virginia into an oath-bound conspiracy to kill the whites, and we are astonished with what concert of action and secrecy this great plot was arranged when we reflect that the savages were not living together as on nation, but were dispersed in little hamlets, containing from thirty to two hundred in a company. "Yet they all had warning given them, one from another, in all their habitations, though far asunder, to meet at this day and hour for the destruction of the English."

So well was the dread secret kept that the English boats were borrowed to transport the Indians over the river to consult on the "devilish murder that ensued"; and even on the day itself, as well as on the evening before, they came as usual, unarmed, into their settlements, with their turkeys and other provisions to sell; and in some places sat down with the English on the very morning to breakfast.

[p7] (picture) County Courthouse

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[p9] They spared no age, sex or condition; and were so sudden in their indiscriminate slaughter that few could discern the blow or the weapon that killed them.

Those who had treated them with especial kindness and conferred many benefits upon them fared no better than the rest. The ties of love and gratitude the sacred rights of hospitality and reciprocal friendship, oath, pledges and promises were broken or forgotten in obedience to the commands of their chief for the execution of a great, but diabolical, stroke of State policy.

[p10] Ralph Hamor, who also live nearby. The Indians sent a message to Captain Hamor that their king was hunting in the neighborhood, and had invited him to join them. The captain, not coming as they expected him to do, they set fire to a tobacco warehouse and murdered the whites as they rushed out of Harrison's house to quench the fire. Many were killed, but Thomas Hamor was saved by a chance delay. He remained to finish a letter which he was engaged in writing. When he went out he saw the commotion, and although he received an arrow in his back, with twenty-two others he fought his way back to the house, which, being set on fire by the Indians, he left to burn, and fled to Baldwin's. In the meantime Captain Ralph Hamor was in utmost peril. Going out to meet the king, he saw some of the wretches murdering the unarmed whites. He returned to his new house, where, armed with only spades, axes and brickbats, he and his company defended themselves till the Indians gave up the siege and departed. At the house of Captain Basse, in the same neighborhood, everybody was slain. Basse, who was in England at the time, of course, escaped. The consternation produced by this horrid massacre caused the adoption of a ruinous policy. Instead of marching at once bold to meet and drive the Indians from the settlement, or reduce them to subjection by a bloody retaliation, the colonists were huddled together from their eighty plantations into eight. Works of great public utility were abandoned and cultivation confined to a space too limited merely for subsistence. These crowded quarters produced sickness, and some were so disheartened that they sailed for England. All Worrosquoyacke, from Hog Island down the river for fourteen miles, was abandoned.

p11] dition against the savages down the river. He drove out the Worrosquoyackes and Nansemonds, burned their houses and took their corn. On May 21, 1623, Captain Roger Smith was ordered to build a fort on the Worrosquoyacke shore, opposite to Tindall Shoals, where Captain Samuel Each had a blockhouse in building.

In the summer of 1623 Captain William Tucker, of Kecaughton (Hampton), commanded an expedition against the Worrosquoyackes. He killed many, cut down their corn, and burnt their houses. And this state of fierce warfare continued to rage, with uninterrupted fury, until a peace was concluded in 1632, under the administration of Governor Harvey.

In the course of this warfare the Indians were not treated with the same tenderness which they had generally been before the massacre; but their habitations, cleared lands, pleasant sites, when once taken possession of, were generally retained by the victors, and the vanquished forced to take refuge in the woods ar marshes. Truly, the founding of our nation was no mere holiday amusement.

The proprietors of the abandoned settlements took heart, and were allowed to return.

[p12] During the first hundred years a grant of fifty acres was given for the importation of every emigrant. The names of the "Head-rights" were given in the patents. From the records in the Land Office, the following are subscribed: "Land Grants: Martha Key, wife of Thomas Key, planter (as his personal dividend, being an ancient planter), one hundred and fifty acres lying on the easterly side of Worrosquoyacke River, opposite the land of Captain Nathaniel Basse";***John Moon, planter, two hundred acres in Worrosquoyacke, on the Worrosquoyacke Creek***for the transportation of four persons, viz.: himself, George Martin, Julian Hollier, Clement Thrush, who came in the Catherine, of London, 1623. Granted March, 1623."

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Nathaniel was appointed to the House of Burgesses at the first Legislative Assembly representing Warrosquoake (Isle of Wight) for 1623/24. He was again a member of the House of Burgesses in Oct 1629 and 1631, appointed to Harvey's Council 1631/32 and a member of the Great Council 1631/32. On 6 Mar 1631/32 Nathaniel was commissioned to "trade between 34 and 40 N Latitude, England, Nova Scotia and West Indies to invite inhabitants hither". (If they were tired of cold and damp!) Nathaniel was also commissioned to trade to the Dutch Plantation and Canada. He was given power of Justice of Peace. (Virginia Council & General Court Records 1626-1634)

Basse's Choice originally called for 300 acres but its acreage was closer to 400. Mr. Peter Knight married to Nathaniel's daughter Genevieve, patented 150 acres of the same in 1640 and 255 acres in 1643. Peter Knight sold the tract to John Bland, an eminent London Merchant.

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