Robert BASSETT

                   Historical Information in Notes

Had several other children, unnamed.In New Haven by 1643; took oath of allegiance in 1644; was a shoemaker, and town drummer. Moved to Stamford. His wife was not the Goody Bassett who was executed as a witch in Stamford in 1651. "Robert Bassett as a leader, with others, in 1653, made considerable stir in Stratford and Stamford against the government of the plantation which would not allow a man to vote unless he was a member of the church, and was tried for the offense at New Haven, but was excused upon someacknowledgment of error." "History of Derby," p. 695. 1654, appointed drummer for an expedition against the Dutch.The ruckus into which Robert Bassett was thrown involved a number of issues. The original confrontation came because a group of people in southwestern Connecticut decided to organize a military company for defense against the Dutch, and appointed Roger Ludlow (#7626) its commander. For reasons of its own the General Court interpreted this action, done without their authorization, as an act of defiance. Ludlow felt sufficiently undercut by the Court's reprimand that he and his family moved to Virginia and then back to England. In the process, New Haven (which claimed jurisdiction over Stamford) sent two men to investigate what was going on. Robert Bassett and John Chapman were themost outspoken against the conduct of New Haven's government. In a town meeting in Stamford on March 7, 1653 Robert Bassett is recorded as having spoken as follows: they "would obey no authority but that which was from the State of England; the constable answered, this is the authority of England; that he denied and said, then let us have English laws, for England does not prohibit us from our votes and liberties, and here we are cut off from all appeals to England, and we can have no justice here. Further, he said, they were made asses of, and their backs were almost broke, and it is time for them to look to themselves and to throw their burden off, for they shall be made very fools.... he said, is thatauthority just, that makes what laws they please, executes them as they please, and never so much as give them a reason? Francis Bell (#3150) told him that this should be declared at the Court; he answered yes, it was his mind it should be, and therefore saith he I will say it again, is that authority just that makes what laws they please, executes them as they please, calls for rates when they please and never so much as give them a reason." (Quoted from Orcutt's "History of Stratford," page 259.)For his outspokenness, Bassett was put in prison for almost two months and then brought before the New Haven General Court, where he admitted his words and agreed he had done wrong. He was then released on a bond of 100 pounds, and went back to Stamford, where he was appointed chief drummer in a force organized for defense against the Dutch, this time with official approval. The fight with the Dutch never materialized.Robert was a chief drummer in New Haven Colonial Troop in June 1654 [removed to Hempstead, Long Island].Volume III: List of Officals in Connecticut and New Haven Colonies 1635-1665 - page 968