Nathaniel Bassett

In 1651/2 he and Joseph Prior were fined 20s. for “desturbing the church of Duxburrow on the Lords day”; the alternative was to be “bound vnto a post for the space of two houres … with a paper on theire heades on which theire capital crime shalbe written” (PCR 3:4). On 16 June 1656 his father William Bassett of Bridgewater deeded South River land to “my two sonnes there liveing viz Perigrine White and Nathaniell Bassett”; the division of 17 Apr 1656 is signed “P White N ; Bassett” (MD 10:25-27). Peregrine White, born aboard the Mayflower, was his brother-in-law.

In 1657 he took the oath of fidelity at Duxbury (PCR 8:181). A receipt of 9 May 1656 records payment of £5 10s “of Nathaniell Bassett, of Marshfeild, in a cow and yeerling” (PCR 8:212). He was constable of Yarmouth from 1 June 1675 (PCR 5:167), and on the Yarmouth coroner’s jury on George More in Oct 1677 (PCR 5:250).

In July 1683 he sued Edward Sturgis of Yarmouth for carrying away “a considerable quantitie of grasse or sedge” he had cut on his marsh near “the Prince Feild,” bought of William Nickerson, and won the meadow and 15s (PCR 7:262-263). On review in March 1683/4 the Court gave the meadow to Sturgis, who had cut hay there “for the space of twenty yeer and vpward,” because “hee who will oust a man of his posession must shew a better title for it then the posessor hath” (PCR 7:273-275).

His will is dated 10 Jan 1709/10 at Yarmouth; his executors were Thomas Mulford of Truro and his son Joseph, and his estate was appraised at £228 11s (Barnstable Probate 3:144-148, per WikiTree). He died on 16 Jan 1709/10, aged 82 (McLean, TAG 43:1-13, as quoted on WikiTree).