Burwell Bassett

Burwell Bassett Sr. (March 13, 1734 – January 4, 1793) was an American planter, patriot and politician from New Kent County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, who served in both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly, and in the Virginia Ratification Convention in 1788. Early and family life The second son (and fourth of sixth children) born to the former Elizabeth Churchill and her husband, William Bassett, a planter and member of the House of Burgesses, was born at the family's Eltham plantation in New Kent County. Burwell's first name reflects that of his mother's Burwell Family of Virginia. His great-grandfather, Capt. William Bassett, had emigrated from Southampton, England, and settled in New Kent County, and may have donated the land for the county seat. His grandfather, also William Bassett (1670-1723), expanded upon the land he inherited, acquiring a second plantation and building the manor house (Eltham) where this grandson and heir would be born, as well as donated the land when the county courthouse was moved nearer his plantation. Grandfather William Bassett married a daughter of Lewis Burwell II, became the first member of the family to win election to the House of Burgessses (in 1693) and was selected for the Governor's Council in 1707. The other and last William Bassett to serve in the House of Burgesses was his son (this man's father), who died in 1744 during that service, leaving Burwell Bassett as his principal heir since the firstborn son had already died. Bassett's mother thus became a rich widow (whose second husband by law could control a third of her late husband's property until her death, with Burwell Bassett gaining control of 2/3s of the property on reaching legal age). She remarried, to Rev. William Dawson, president of the College of William and Mary and a member of the Governor's Council (1745–1752), who helped raise Burwell. In 1753, Burwell Bassett married Ann Kidley Chamberlayne, but she died the following year and their daughter never reached adulthood. On May 7, 1757, Bassett remarried, this time to Anna Maria Dandridge, whose father was a member of the House of Burgesses. Her sister Martha Dandridge had married Daniel Parke Custis, who would also leave her a wealthy widow, who married George Washington, then a planter and military officer, who would rise to become General and President of the United States.