| William Basse Sr. resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776. Join: US Southern Colonies Project Discuss: southern_colonies |
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William was probably born before 1654, based on the date of his marriage. As discussed in the Research Notes below, DNA evidence suggests that he was the son of Elizabeth Nansemond and a father of African origin whose identity is unknown.[1]
William married Catherine Lanier on 6 November 1671 in Norfolk County, Virginia Colony.[2] They were the parents of the following children:[1]
On 13 October 1715, William Bass, Sr., admitted in Norfolk County court that he owed John Hodgson 50 pounds of tobacco. (Orders 1710-17, 169).[3]
In 1727 William Basse felt the necessity of proving that he was of Native American, not African, descent in order to perfect his title to lands owned in Norfolk County. Consequently a hearing was held 17 March 1726/27 in Norfolk County. The certificate issued belonged to the Bass Family of Bowers Hill, Norfolk County, Virginia.(p 13)[4]
An Inquest pertaining to possession and use of Cleared and Swamp lands in and adjoining ye Great Dismal by William Bass, Sr. and His kinsmen who claim Indian Privileges, Sheweth by the testimony of White Persons and sundry records of great age and known to be authentic, That said William Bass, Thomas Bass, and Joseph Bass and spinister daughter Mary Bass are persons of English and Nansemond Indian descent with no admixture of negro, Ethiopic, and that they and all others in kinship with them are freeborn subjects of his Majesty living in peace with his Majesty's Government entitled to possess and bear arms as permitted by Treaties of Peace by and between Charles II of blessed memory and ye Indians of Virginia and the said William Bass, Sr. and als are in Rightful, and Lawful possession thereof and are not to be further Molested by any person or persons whatsoever under any pretended Authority under Penalties etc. etc., whilst ye said Bass and his kinsmen claim Indian privileges pursuant to the aforesaid Treaties of Peace.
17 day of March 1726/27
Solo. Wilson, Cl. Cur.
On 6 January 1729 William Bass, Senr. was living in Western Branch District of Norfolk County when he purchased 103 acres in Norfolk County at the mouth of Deep Branch for £25. (DB G:fol.35; p 183)[3]
Tax and tithable records show William living in Western Branch District of Norfolk County 1730-1736. [5]
The will of William Bass(e) of Norfolk County was dated 1 October 1740 and proved 17 September 1742 by Henry Creech & Enos Tart. The will leaves token bequests to sons William, Edward, Joseph, and Thomas Bass; mentions grandson William Bass; and leaves residue of land and estate to daughter Mary Bass, "if she can Save it." Mary was named executrix. (WB H:8)[6][3]
The peculiar phrasing of his will regarding the bequest to daughter Mary, "if she can save it," might indicate that William was in debt at the time he wrote his will in October 1740 and he expected creditors to claim the estate.
Date of death, 13 August 1741, from another certificate that belonged to the Bass Family of Bowers Hill, Norfolk County, Virginia:
Since the will was proved 17 September 1742, the correct date of death is probably 13 August 1742. This certificate was written some time after William's death and quite likely suffered from the bad memory of its writer; unless the family waited an entire year before submitting the will for probate.
Although he is commonly identified as the son of John Basse, who was the husband of his mother Elizabeth Nansemond, a Bass Y-DNA research project has found that the paternal line descendants of that John Basse and his father Nathaniel Basse have consistently tested in the R1b1b2 haplotype, a common English haplogroup. The same Bass Y-DNA research project also indicates that the paternal line descendants of this William Bass consistently carry a rare y-DNA Haplogroup A-M31, a subclade found almost exclusively in Africa (or among descendants of populations which have recently left Africa).[8] This is consistent with Y-DNA results reported by at least two WikiTree members claiming descent from this William: Marvin Bass and Jim Bass Jr., who both also report testing in the A-M31 haplogroup. This Y-DNA evidence suggests that John Bass was not William's biological father, and that William's biological father was in fact of sub-Saharan African origin.
See also:
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Categories: Norfolk County, Virginia Colony | Virginia Colonists | Estimated Birth Date
What basis is there for claiming that the A-M31 Y-DNA which appears in some claimed descendants of this John Basse originated with his apparently unknown biological father?
https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~greengarden/genealogy/Bass/bass%20a%20haplogroup%20dna.htm
All non daughtered descendants of William have the A1a haplotype as per the surname study. To my understanding on the surname study (contact admins for verify) it’s been confirmed on all of his male descendant lines. So either he has that haplotype or each of his recorded descendants have another different father.
edited by Kim Weatherford
Given the controversial nature of this claim and the fact that other members dispute it, I think we would need to better understand the Y-DNA evidence developed by the ftDNA Bass Project, and to develop a detailed Research Note explaining it. Is anyone willing to try to tackle this?
edited by Kim Weatherford
I was able to work with Tanna Jo Bass to get some of these profiles curated at Geni. I can delete this comment if it is not appropriate but there is an ongoing fight to make this African and Native American man English and give him siblings he did not have.
I have removed the disputed father and expanded the Research Notes to explain the Y-DNA evidence. If anyone more familiar than I am with the ftDNA Bass research project thinks the explanation in the Research Notes needs to be tweaked, please weigh in.
edited by Scott McClain
needs correction, please. The Bass men who Y DNA tested and showing at the right side of this profile are A haplo type. The one at the bottom without a Y showing is a descendant of William but daughters out with Milly Bass.
edited by Cynthia (Hicks) Curtis
The Senegambian is very specific. The belief is that this man was NOT a slave but an artisan of some sort and John was aware that he was not the father of William.
Thank you for removing John as biological father but I sure hope someone can add a father for him even though we do not know his NAME. I understand Wikitree does not allow "Placeholder" profiles but perhaps this is an in between? He is certainly NOT an NPE.
The legal document swearing to have NO African blood was because of fishing and hunting laws at the time and that meant survival.
Thank you again.
~Cynthia
https://www.familytreedna.com/public/BASS?iframe=yresults
I appear to be one of those in the line of A-M31 Basses. I am Haplogroup A, M-31 with subclade AFTB40408 and match mostly Basses on FTDNA. It is suggested that William Bass was born in Urshaw (Youha, Youa) Swamp in 1654. This would have been in present day NC, Northampton County. This further suggests that he was on off-the-grid settler along Potecasi Creek. His unknow father could have been the unknown African mentioned in the Sermon Book of John Basse b. 1606. If he was the son of "Unknown African" then that very attribution could be the reason for the Hap A-M-31 line. Where my line of Cales come into the picture is still not worked out, but geographically, my line of Cales came from Bertie County on a farm adjacent to Cader Bass in the so-called Big Woods. Would appreciate you insight!
William F. Cale, MD retired.
WFC
This 30 character rule is annoying
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