596:. Bassett operated these plantations using enslaved labor, mostly using overseers, especially after he moved to Williamsburg, where Basset lived from 1815 until 1837. In the 1810 census, he owned 98 enslaved people in New Kent County. A decade later, his two New Kent slave plantations under separate overseers included 88 enslaved men and women, and he owned another 19 in James City County. In the 1830 federal census, Bassett owned 109 enslaved men and women in New Kent County, and 18 in James City County. Bassett sold his James City County land in 1837, and may also have sold enslaved people from his New Kent County plantations, or given them to relatives. In 1840, the last census in his lifetime, he appears to have owned 75 enslaved people in New Kent County.
1562:
1382:
1232:
653:. He lost his bid for reelection in 1828, although he would live for more than another decade. His political career ended after he ran last in a field of eight candidates for the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829-1830. During his final congressional terms, Basset spoke only occasionally, criticizing President John Quincy Adams and attempted to reduce the U.S. Navy.
664:. In 1811 he sponsored a bill in the House of Representatives to incorporate Alexandria's Episcopal Church, but President James Madison vetoed the proposed legislation, saying it violated the First Amendment. Bassett also served as a delegate to several Virginia episcopal church conventions and in 1827 became a trustee of the
641:
beginning in 1820, and re-elected him several times. He again announced his retirement early in 1828, then was convinced to run again, but lost to
Richard Coke, who in the interim had received pledges of support from other politicians in that district. In his final legislative terms, from 1821 to 1829, Basset aligned with the
610:, while at the same time his father represented New Kent and adjacent James City and Charles City Counties in the Virginia Senate. Voters elected (and re-elected) Bassett as one of New Kent County's delegates from 1787 to 1789. After his father's death in January 1793, Bassett won election and re-election to that seat in the
591:
The
Bassetts had long been among the ruling elite in New Kent County and neighboring Hanover County (which split from New Kent County in his father's lifetime). When his father died, Bassett inherited about 6,000 acres of land in New Kent County and more than 1000 acres in Hanover County. Following
640:
Despite announcing his retirement from
Congress, Bassett won election to the House of Delegates from James City County, and won re-election for a second single-year term, serving from 1819 until taking his federal seat again in 1821. Voters returned Bassett to the United States House a third time
1611:
1616:
680:
In 1837, Bassett sold his James City County land and returned to live his final years in New Kent County. He died on
February 26, 1841, in New Kent County, Virginia. He was probably interred at his Eltham Plantation, in
1656:
856:
citing Anna Maria
Dandridge Yeatman,"Personal History of the Families Deans and Bassett and of Some of their Connections, at page 57 of a typescript circa 1912 at the Virginia Historical Society.
685:; the plantation house burned to the ground in 1875. A grand-niece later wrote that Bassett had been "perhaps the last man in Virginia who wore small clothes and powdered hair in a queue.
634:
742:
1631:
1413:
1263:
1035:
988:
953:
918:
883:
529:
He was their second of four sons, and fifth of the couple's eight children, and received a private education appropriate to his class, then attended the
380:
1391:
1241:
1646:
1013:
1591:
630:
637:
from 1811 to 1813. Bassett failed to win re-election in 1812, but was elected again in 1814, and re-elected, and so served from 1815 to 1819.
1651:
603:, principally in 1814 as the British invaded Chesapeake Bay. He was then Lieutenant Colonel of the 68th Regiment of the Virginia Militia.
1601:
626:
1626:
1621:
579:
Bassett married twice. On
January 10, 1788, he married Elizabeth McCarty, the daughter of planter and delegate Col. Daniel McCarty of
1423:
1273:
959:
924:
889:
244:
193:
96:
1045:
994:
45:
1406:
1256:
1028:
1596:
1091:
866:
618:
510:
238:
187:
90:
35:
849:
718:
537:. Although he was his father's principal heir and married twice, he had no children. Both sides of his family were among the
1606:
660:
stayed with
Bassett while touring Virginia in 1819. While living in Williamsburg, Bassett served on the vestry of historic
821:
Cynthia Miller
Leonard, The Virginia General Assembly, 1619-1978 (Richmond: Virginia State Library 1978) pp. 165, 169, 175
1339:
1294:
629:
in 1804, and re-elected several times, serving from 1805 to 1813. During these terms, Bassett served as chairman of the
1399:
1289:
1249:
1076:
1066:
1021:
1519:
1421:
1271:
1043:
599:
Although
Bassett held an officer's commission in the county militia, his only combat experience occurred during the
1636:
1071:
1061:
554:
513:, where he served for more than a decade in three different districts, because of census-required reorganizations.
1319:
1284:
606:
Basset began his political career by running to become of New Kent County's two part-time representatives in the
570:
335:
1081:
665:
580:
292:
656:
Bassett also promoted public schooling and was active in the
Episcopal Church. British educational reformer
812:
the entry appears "Burwell Bafett" in 1840 U.S. Federal Census for New Kent County, Virginia pp. 7-8 of 44
1299:
1151:
875:
642:
607:
593:
530:
343:
296:
268:
144:
140:
1641:
1166:
538:
1561:
1539:
1524:
1449:
1381:
1231:
646:
550:
506:
498:
490:
431:
415:
363:
347:
300:
1181:
758:
Lyon Gardiner Tyler, "Bassett, Burwell" in Dictionary of Virginia Biography Vol. 2 (1915) pp. 98-99
737:
446:
1354:
1612:
Democratic-Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia
1474:
573:
558:
534:
494:
611:
557:
for the U.S. Constitution and Bartholomew Dandridge also serving on what is now known as the
546:
1586:
1581:
1464:
1344:
669:
661:
650:
419:
8:
1349:
1176:
1161:
1136:
1126:
1121:
542:
526:
323:
1469:
1359:
1171:
1131:
489:(March 18, 1764 – February 26, 1841) was an American planter and politician from
1334:
1141:
1116:
1096:
1005:
980:
845:
714:
566:
562:
81:
69:
1544:
1534:
1529:
1494:
1484:
1459:
1314:
1196:
1106:
970:
945:
935:
682:
657:
522:
411:
229:
132:
120:
1499:
1211:
1201:
1191:
1186:
1146:
1086:
910:
288:
217:
1509:
1434:
1364:
1206:
1617:
Jacksonian members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia
1575:
1444:
1329:
1111:
1056:
583:. After her death, Bassett remarried in 1800, to Philadelphia Ann Claiborne.
1504:
1454:
1439:
622:
509:, and in addition won election (and lost re-election) several times to the
367:
1156:
600:
525:, in New Kent County, to the former Anna Marie Dandridge and her husband
803:
1830 U.S. Federal Census for James City County, Virginia pp. 15-16 of 26
1514:
1324:
1309:
900:
614:; thus he served in that part-time position from October 1793 to 1805.
280:
1657:
Members of the United States House of Representatives who owned slaves
1221:
1216:
830:
Leonard pp. 193, 197, 201, 205, 209, 213,218, 222, 225, 230, 234, 237
785:
1820 U.S. Federal Census for James City County, Virginia pp. 5-6 of 9
794:
1830 U.S. Federal Census for New Kent County, Virginia pp. 5-6 of 48
592:
his father's death he also purchased about 350 acres in neighboring
502:
435:
41:
617:
Although Bassett lost his first contest to become a member of the
776:
1820 U.S. Federal Census for New Kent County, Virginia p. 3 of 22
767:
1810 U.S. Federal Census for New Kent County, Virginia p. 3 of 36
735:
844:. Vol. 1. Library of Virginia. pp. 384β385.
713:. Vol. 1. Library of Virginia. pp. 384β385.
505:. Like his father, he served in both chambers of the
743:
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
993:
958:
923:
888:
1422:Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from
1272:Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from
1044:Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from
1573:
1407:
1257:
1029:
839:
708:
989:U.S. House of Representatives
954:U.S. House of Representatives
919:U.S. House of Representatives
884:U.S. House of Representatives
635:Committee on Revisal and Unfinished Business
360:October 15, 1787 β October 17, 1790
549:were patriots and served many terms in the
521:Born in at the family plantation, known as
1632:Members of the Virginia House of Delegates
1414:
1400:
1264:
1250:
1036:
1022:
840:Buckley, Thomas E.; Tarter, Brent (1998).
709:Buckley, Thomas E.; Tarter, Brent (1998).
565:was married to General (later President)
313:October 21, 1793 β March 3, 1805
239:U.S. House of Representatives
188:U.S. House of Representatives
157:December 6, 1819 β March 3, 1821
91:U.S. House of Representatives
36:U.S. House of Representatives
516:
1647:Politicians from Williamsburg, Virginia
362:Serving with William H. Macon,
1574:
1424:Virginia's 13th congressional district
1274:Virginia's 12th congressional district
960:Virginia's 13th congressional district
925:Virginia's 13th congressional district
890:Virginia's 12th congressional district
619:United States House of Representatives
511:United States House of Representatives
258:March 4, 1805 β March 3, 1813
207:March 4, 1815 β March 3, 1819
110:March 4, 1821 β March 3, 1823
59:March 4, 1823 β March 3, 1829
1592:People from New Kent County, Virginia
1395:
1245:
1046:Virginia's 8th congressional district
1017:
995:Virginia's 8th congressional district
704:
702:
700:
698:
1652:College of William & Mary alumni
1000:March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1829
965:March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1823
930:March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1819
895:March 4, 1805 – March 3, 1813
476:Planter, militia officer, politician
675:
13:
1602:American people of English descent
695:
569:. He was also the first cousin of
563:Martha Dandridge Custis Washington
553:, with father also serving in the
159:Serving with Bennett Kirby
14:
1668:
1627:19th-century Virginia politicians
1622:19th-century American legislators
1560:
1380:
1230:
842:Dictionary of Virginia Biography
711:Dictionary of Virginia Biography
633:in the 12th Congress and of the
555:Virginia Ratification Convention
833:
824:
815:
738:"Burwell Bassett (id: B000224)"
16:American politician (1764β1841)
806:
797:
788:
779:
770:
761:
752:
727:
625:in 1794), he was elected as a
1:
1597:People from colonial Virginia
987:Member of the
952:Member of the
917:Member of the
882:Member of the
867:U.S. House of Representatives
688:
666:Virginia Theological Seminary
7:
1607:Episcopalians from Virginia
643:Democratic-Republican Party
608:Virginia House of Delegates
531:College of William and Mary
344:Virginia House of Delegates
141:Virginia House of Delegates
10:
1673:
539:First Families of Virginia
468:Philadelphia Ann Claiborne
1558:
1430:
1378:
1280:
1228:
1052:
1002:
985:
977:
967:
950:
942:
932:
915:
907:
897:
880:
872:
865:
586:
551:Virginia General Assembly
545:and maternal grandfather
507:Virginia General Assembly
493:and for two decades from
480:
472:
462:
454:
442:
425:
405:
400:
396:
386:
374:
353:
341:
329:
317:
306:
286:
274:
262:
251:
235:
223:
211:
200:
184:
174:
164:
150:
138:
126:
114:
103:
87:
75:
63:
52:
32:
28:
21:
736:United States Congress.
561:. Furthermore, his aunt
450:United States of America
447:Kingdom of Great Britain
1637:Virginia state senators
1551:(inactive 1863βpresent)
1371:(inactive 1863βpresent)
574:William Henry Harrison
559:Virginia Supreme Court
649:and finally with the
627:Democratic-Republican
547:Bartholomew Dandridge
517:Early and family life
662:Bruton Parish Church
651:Jacksonian Democrats
647:Crawford Republicans
487:Burwell Bassett, Jr.
420:Province of Virginia
336:William Chamberlayne
631:Committee on Claims
581:Westmoreland County
543:Burwell Bassett Sr.
527:Burwell Bassett Sr.
324:Burwell Bassett Sr.
23:Burwell Bassett Jr.
466:Elizabeth McCarty,
1642:American planters
1569:
1568:
1389:
1388:
1239:
1238:
1012:
1011:
1006:Richard Coke, Jr.
1003:Succeeded by
981:Charles F. Mercer
968:Succeeded by
933:Succeeded by
898:Succeeded by
851:978-0-88490-189-1
720:978-0-88490-189-1
594:James City County
567:George Washington
484:
483:
429:February 26, 1841
412:Eltham plantation
381:William Dandridge
301:New Kent Counties
297:James City County
145:James City County
82:Richard Coke, Jr.
70:Charles F. Mercer
1664:
1564:
1553:
1416:
1409:
1402:
1393:
1392:
1384:
1373:
1266:
1259:
1252:
1243:
1242:
1234:
1038:
1031:
1024:
1015:
1014:
997:
978:Preceded by
962:
946:Severn E. Parker
943:Preceded by
936:Severn E. Parker
927:
908:Preceded by
892:
873:Preceded by
863:
862:
857:
855:
837:
831:
828:
822:
819:
813:
810:
804:
801:
795:
792:
786:
783:
777:
774:
768:
765:
759:
756:
750:
747:
731:
725:
724:
706:
683:Eltham, Virginia
676:Death and legacy
658:Joseph Lancaster
401:Personal details
389:
377:
358:
332:
320:
311:
277:
265:
256:
241:
230:Severn E. Parker
226:
214:
205:
190:
177:
167:
155:
129:
121:Severn E. Parker
117:
108:
93:
78:
66:
57:
38:
19:
18:
1672:
1671:
1667:
1666:
1665:
1663:
1662:
1661:
1572:
1571:
1570:
1565:
1556:
1549:
1426:
1420:
1390:
1385:
1376:
1369:
1276:
1270:
1240:
1235:
1226:
1048:
1042:
1008:
999:
991:
983:
973:
971:William L. Ball
964:
956:
948:
938:
929:
921:
913:
911:Thomas M. Bayly
903:
894:
886:
878:
861:
860:
852:
838:
834:
829:
825:
820:
816:
811:
807:
802:
798:
793:
789:
784:
780:
775:
771:
766:
762:
757:
753:
732:
728:
721:
707:
696:
691:
678:
612:Virginia Senate
589:
519:
491:New Kent County
467:
449:
432:New Kent County
430:
416:New Kent County
410:
387:
375:
370:
359:
354:
348:New Kent County
330:
318:
312:
307:
289:Virginia Senate
275:
263:
257:
252:
242:
237:
224:
218:Thomas M. Bayly
212:
206:
201:
191:
186:
180:John M. Gregory
175:
165:
160:
156:
151:
133:William L. Ball
127:
115:
109:
104:
94:
89:
76:
64:
58:
53:
39:
34:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1670:
1660:
1659:
1654:
1649:
1644:
1639:
1634:
1629:
1624:
1619:
1614:
1609:
1604:
1599:
1594:
1589:
1584:
1567:
1566:
1559:
1557:
1555:
1554:
1547:
1542:
1537:
1532:
1527:
1522:
1517:
1512:
1507:
1502:
1497:
1492:
1487:
1482:
1477:
1472:
1467:
1462:
1457:
1452:
1447:
1442:
1437:
1431:
1428:
1427:
1419:
1418:
1411:
1404:
1396:
1387:
1386:
1379:
1377:
1375:
1374:
1367:
1362:
1357:
1352:
1347:
1342:
1337:
1332:
1327:
1322:
1317:
1312:
1307:
1302:
1297:
1292:
1287:
1281:
1278:
1277:
1269:
1268:
1261:
1254:
1246:
1237:
1236:
1229:
1227:
1225:
1224:
1219:
1214:
1209:
1204:
1199:
1194:
1189:
1184:
1179:
1174:
1169:
1164:
1159:
1154:
1149:
1144:
1139:
1134:
1129:
1124:
1119:
1114:
1109:
1104:
1099:
1094:
1089:
1084:
1079:
1074:
1069:
1064:
1059:
1053:
1050:
1049:
1041:
1040:
1033:
1026:
1018:
1010:
1009:
1004:
1001:
984:
979:
975:
974:
969:
966:
949:
944:
940:
939:
934:
931:
914:
909:
905:
904:
899:
896:
879:
876:Thomas Griffin
874:
870:
869:
859:
858:
850:
832:
823:
814:
805:
796:
787:
778:
769:
760:
751:
749:
748:
726:
719:
693:
692:
690:
687:
677:
674:
621:(to incumbent
588:
585:
541:. His father,
518:
515:
482:
481:
478:
477:
474:
470:
469:
464:
460:
459:
456:
452:
451:
444:
440:
439:
427:
423:
422:
409:March 18, 1764
407:
403:
402:
398:
397:
394:
393:
390:
384:
383:
378:
372:
371:
364:John Dandridge
361:
351:
350:
342:Member of the
339:
338:
333:
327:
326:
321:
315:
314:
304:
303:
287:Member of the
284:
283:
278:
272:
271:
269:Thomas Griffin
266:
260:
259:
249:
248:
236:Member of the
233:
232:
227:
221:
220:
215:
209:
208:
198:
197:
185:Member of the
182:
181:
178:
172:
171:
170:Lewis C. Tyler
168:
162:
161:
158:
148:
147:
139:Member of the
136:
135:
130:
124:
123:
118:
112:
111:
101:
100:
88:Member of the
85:
84:
79:
73:
72:
67:
61:
60:
50:
49:
33:Member of the
30:
29:
26:
25:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1669:
1658:
1655:
1653:
1650:
1648:
1645:
1643:
1640:
1638:
1635:
1633:
1630:
1628:
1625:
1623:
1620:
1618:
1615:
1613:
1610:
1608:
1605:
1603:
1600:
1598:
1595:
1593:
1590:
1588:
1585:
1583:
1580:
1579:
1577:
1563:
1552:
1548:
1546:
1543:
1541:
1538:
1536:
1533:
1531:
1528:
1526:
1523:
1521:
1518:
1516:
1513:
1511:
1508:
1506:
1503:
1501:
1498:
1496:
1493:
1491:
1488:
1486:
1483:
1481:
1478:
1476:
1473:
1471:
1468:
1466:
1463:
1461:
1458:
1456:
1453:
1451:
1448:
1446:
1443:
1441:
1438:
1436:
1433:
1432:
1429:
1425:
1417:
1412:
1410:
1405:
1403:
1398:
1397:
1394:
1383:
1372:
1368:
1366:
1363:
1361:
1358:
1356:
1353:
1351:
1348:
1346:
1343:
1341:
1338:
1336:
1333:
1331:
1328:
1326:
1323:
1321:
1318:
1316:
1313:
1311:
1308:
1306:
1303:
1301:
1298:
1296:
1293:
1291:
1288:
1286:
1283:
1282:
1279:
1275:
1267:
1262:
1260:
1255:
1253:
1248:
1247:
1244:
1233:
1223:
1220:
1218:
1215:
1213:
1210:
1208:
1205:
1203:
1200:
1198:
1195:
1193:
1190:
1188:
1185:
1183:
1180:
1178:
1175:
1173:
1170:
1168:
1165:
1163:
1160:
1158:
1155:
1153:
1150:
1148:
1145:
1143:
1140:
1138:
1135:
1133:
1130:
1128:
1125:
1123:
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1075:
1073:
1070:
1068:
1065:
1063:
1060:
1058:
1055:
1054:
1051:
1047:
1039:
1034:
1032:
1027:
1025:
1020:
1019:
1016:
1007:
998:
996:
990:
982:
976:
972:
963:
961:
955:
947:
941:
937:
928:
926:
920:
912:
906:
902:
893:
891:
885:
877:
871:
868:
864:
853:
847:
843:
836:
827:
818:
809:
800:
791:
782:
773:
764:
755:
745:
744:
739:
734:
733:
730:
722:
716:
712:
705:
703:
701:
699:
694:
686:
684:
673:
671:
667:
663:
659:
654:
652:
648:
644:
638:
636:
632:
628:
624:
620:
615:
613:
609:
604:
602:
597:
595:
584:
582:
577:
575:
572:
568:
564:
560:
556:
552:
548:
544:
540:
536:
532:
528:
524:
514:
512:
508:
504:
500:
496:
492:
488:
479:
475:
471:
465:
461:
457:
453:
448:
445:
441:
437:
433:
428:
424:
421:
417:
413:
408:
404:
399:
395:
392:John Hockaday
391:
385:
382:
379:
373:
369:
365:
357:
352:
349:
345:
340:
337:
334:
328:
325:
322:
316:
310:
305:
302:
298:
294:
290:
285:
282:
279:
273:
270:
267:
261:
255:
250:
246:
240:
234:
231:
228:
222:
219:
216:
210:
204:
199:
195:
189:
183:
179:
173:
169:
163:
154:
149:
146:
142:
137:
134:
131:
125:
122:
119:
113:
107:
102:
98:
92:
86:
83:
80:
74:
71:
68:
62:
56:
51:
47:
43:
37:
31:
27:
20:
1550:
1489:
1479:
1370:
1304:
1101:
986:
951:
916:
881:
841:
835:
826:
817:
808:
799:
790:
781:
772:
763:
754:
741:
729:
710:
679:
655:
639:
623:John Clopton
616:
605:
598:
590:
578:
535:Williamsburg
520:
499:Commonwealth
495:Williamsburg
486:
485:
388:Succeeded by
368:John Clopton
355:
331:Succeeded by
308:
293:Charles City
276:Succeeded by
253:
225:Succeeded by
202:
176:Succeeded by
152:
128:Succeeded by
105:
77:Succeeded by
54:
1587:1840 deaths
1582:1764 births
1330:J. J. Roane
645:, then the
601:War of 1812
455:Nationality
443:Citizenship
376:Preceded by
319:Preceded by
264:Preceded by
213:Preceded by
166:Preceded by
116:Preceded by
65:Preceded by
1576:Categories
1500:Taliaferro
1087:Taliaferro
1082:Hungerford
901:John Roane
689:References
670:Alexandria
473:Occupation
281:John Roane
1360:Edmundson
1072:Claiborne
1062:Claiborne
571:President
463:Spouse(s)
356:In office
309:In office
254:In office
203:In office
153:In office
106:In office
55:In office
1535:McMullen
1450:Tazewell
1445:Marshall
1325:J. Roane
1315:W. Roane
1310:J. Roane
1295:Stratton
1172:Meredith
1137:Faulkner
1132:Holladay
503:Virginia
458:American
436:Virginia
247:district
243:from 's
196:district
192:from 's
99:district
95:from 's
48:district
42:Virginia
1540:Hopkins
1525:Hopkins
1490:Bassett
1480:Bassett
1470:Burwell
1455:Clopton
1440:Clopton
1435:Griffin
1355:Preston
1350:Chapman
1340:Garland
1320:Garnett
1305:Bassett
1300:Griffin
1162:Barbour
1142:Boteler
1102:Bassett
497:in the
1545:Martin
1530:Fulton
1510:Patton
1485:Parker
1365:Whaley
1345:Gilmer
1335:Gordon
1212:Parris
1207:Harris
1202:Parris
1182:Carlin
1157:Hunton
1147:Gibson
1122:Hunter
1117:Newton
1097:Mercer
1057:Parker
992:from
957:from
922:from
887:from
848:
717:
587:Career
523:Eltham
1520:Smith
1515:Banks
1505:Chinn
1475:Bayly
1465:Clark
1460:Trigg
1290:Evans
1222:Beyer
1217:Moran
1197:Scott
1192:Smith
1187:Moore
1177:Rixey
1152:Terry
1127:Beale
1092:Lewis
1077:Jones
1067:Goode
40:from
1495:Ball
1285:Page
1112:Wise
1107:Coke
846:ISBN
715:ISBN
438:, US
426:Died
406:Born
346:for
299:and
291:for
245:12th
194:13th
143:for
97:13th
1167:Lee
668:in
533:in
501:of
46:8th
44:'s
1578::
740:.
697:^
672:.
576:.
434:,
418:,
414:,
366:,
295:,
1415:e
1408:t
1401:v
1265:e
1258:t
1251:v
1037:e
1030:t
1023:v
854:.
746:.
723:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.