The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
State of Service: MA
Qualifying Service: Patriotic Service
Birth: 21 Aug 1715 Sandwich / Barnstable / MA Death: 21 Dec 1791 Barnstable / Barnstable / MA
Qualifying Service Description:
Signed protest supporting independence, 26 June 1776
Additional References:
Freeman: History of Cape Cod: Annals of 13 Towns of Barnstable County, Vol2, pg 312-313
Spouse: Thankful Fuller Children: Mary; Thankful; Bethia; Nathan; Cornelius; John; Gersham;
Members Who Share This Ancestor
None*
*This means that the NSSAR has no applications for this Patriot on file.
Instead the information provided is best effort, and from volunteers who have either researched grave sites, service records, or something similar. There is no documentation available at NSSAR HQ to order.
The photo is displayed courtesy of David Schafer, MASSAR
Directions to Cemetery / Gravesite:
From the Route 149 cemetery entrance proceed west along the cemetery road 16 yards. Turn north and walk 90 yards parallel to Route 149 to the gravesite of Deacon Nathan Bassett
Photo: 1 of 1
Author: David Crandall Schafer
Nathan Bassett was born August 21, 1715, at Sandwich, Massachusetts, eldest child of Nathan Bassett and Mary Stetson. He had two siblings Cornelius and Joshua.1
Bassett married Thankful Fuller, a daughter of John Fuller and Thankful Gorham, October 25, 1739, at Barnstable. They were the parents of eight children born from 1740 through 1761: Mary, Thankful, Bethia, Nathan, Cornelius, John, Gersham and Thankful.2
At a January 24, 1769 meeting of the West Parish of Barnstable, “Brother” Nathan Bassett was chosen as successor of Deacon Crocker.3
Barnstable was made up of citizens with varied perspectives on Independence from their mother country. The Historian Amos Otis characterized the citizenry as being divided into four categories: ardent and moderate Whigs, and ardent and moderate Loyalists. Numerous stories of quarrels, both public and private, have been chronicled. The most widely publicized incident revealed the divide of opinion among Barnstable voters at the town meeting of June 25, 1776.
The question of independence from Great Britain was before the voters. The majority voted not to provide instruction to their representative with respect to the question of Independence.
In protest of this vote at the town meeting, a declaration was written and published June 26, 1776:
We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the town of Barnstable, Protest, against the proceedings of said town at their meeting held Tuesday, 25th June inst., respecting the giving of their representative instructions with regard to the INDEPENDENCY of the Colonies as was recommended to the several towns in this colony by way of a Resolve from the House of Representatives…We think such a measure as proposed in said resolve to be the most salutary that can be gone into for the safety and well-being of the colonies under our present oppressed situation…
Twenty-three men of Barnstable signed this document of protest, including Nathan Bassett. The protest was published in the Boston Gazette. The conflict precipitated accusations of “malevolent aspersion of the town.”
At the Town Meeting of July 23, 1776, an attempt was made to clarify the town's actions of June 25. It was read into the minutes of the town record that the “true intent and meaning of the Town was that they would leave the matter to their Representative when at the General Court.” While this measure temporarily diffused the conflict, several years of similar disagreement continued among the varied categories of Barnstable’s voters.4
Nathan Bassett died December 21, 1791, at Barnstable. He was buried at the cemetery of West Barnstable. Thankful Fuller Bassett removed to Lee, Massachusetts, with her daughter, Thankful Bassett Barlow. She died March 18, 1809, at Lee, Massachusetts, where she was buried.
References:
1. Sandwich Births, Marriages, Deaths and Earmarks, 1671-1815, Pg. 65.
2. Mayflower Families through Five Generations, Vol. 4, Pg. 126-127.
3. Barnstable Church Records, Pg. 40.
4. Trayser, Donald G.: Barnstable Three Centuries of a Cape Cod Town, Pg. 125-128.
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