William Bassett

     William was born circa 1620 in England. William married Hannah Dickerman, daughter of Thomas Dickerman and Elizabeth Simms, on 7 November 1648 in New Haven County, Connecticut.² William's wife, Hannah, died on 6 November 1665 in New Haven leaving him a widower.³ William made his will on 19 September 1679.

I William Bassett of New Haven, being under the aflicking hand of God by sickness & weakness & not knowing what ye purpose of God may be concerning now, for life and . . . I am willing to ____ my house in and __ , of ________ do commend my spirit into the hands of Christ in hoping of a glorious resurrection of my body by the grave in comely burial, I considering the soms of my children as follows & have had portions, -- my will is that my daughter Bia Bassett have out of my estate my best bed which I now lye on with the best furniture belonging thereunto in my house, & the _____ in the house belonging to ___, except one quart pott, one pint pott, & one ______ ____, the biggest iron pott & its ____ & my iron kettle, _____ ____ chest & box that is above, two _____ ____ . . . a frying pan, a warming pan, three cows & a heifer ____ three years old, a broad cloth wascoat & _____ petticoats to be procured out of my estate before it is divided, and . . . I further give & bequeath to my son John Bassett as a token of my love fifteen shillings & one of my best capes --- I give unto my son Samuel Bassett my now dwelling house and barns, & all the land belonging to the house , with ten acres in the upper lott with all irons belonging to the cart and plow. I give unto my son John Ives as a token of my love five shillings. I give unto my son Joseph Ives ten shillings & one of my capes – I give unto my daughter Phebe Rose ___________________ aforementioned legacy to my daughter Bya is ______, my will is that what there may be remaining, that it be equally divided in thirds, betwixt my son Samuel Bassett, Hanah Parker & my daughter Bya Bassett And I further will that my land & meadow be equally divided betwixt my two sons John & Samuel Bassett, only my son John to have his choice. I further warmly desire my beloved brothern John Cooper Senior & Abraham Dickerman to be my overseers of this my last will & testament, unto whom I give & approve. In witness hereunto I have sett to my hand or mark this nineteenth of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and seventy nine. Signed & delivered in the presence of us Thomas Yale Senior and James Clarke.⁴

He wrote a codicil to his will on 1 January 1679/80.

I William Bassett by the providence of God am _______ alive though under convalescence yet of perfect memory & understanding I do cause to make some alteration in my Will and ye other ____ and whom was therein I bequeathed my now dwelling house unto my son Samuel Bassett I do hereby declare it to be my will that my daughter Bya Bassett have an interest in the house to live in it, or to improve for her use to keep any thing She hath , during the time of her single state & condition – first though my will is ye over & above what is bequeathed on the other side, my will is that she have my best iron pott, pothook & hangers ye spinning wheels & cards & a chest that has a lock and key Also I do add five shillings more to my son John Bassett to make fifteen on the other side. In witness hereunto I have sett to my hand or mark this first of January one thousand six hundred seventy nine – Witnesses Thomas Yale Senior and James Clark.

William departed this life on Tuesday, 29 August 1684.⁵ He was buried there in the Center Church Cemetery on the Green.⁶ The inventory of William's estate was taken in September 1684 by John Winston and Joseph Mansfield. His inventory was valued at £ 50: 10s: 00.⁷