NATHANIEL BASS

1) Humphrey	b. 15 July 1615 d. 22 Mar 1622 Good Friday Indian Massacre at Basse's Choice
TWINS
2) Samuel	b. 15 July 1615 (not in Basse Record Book but in French Huguenot article
3) John	b. 7 Sep 1616 London, Middlesex, England m. 14 Aug 1638 (Keziah) Elizabeth, dau. of Great Petter, King of the Nansemond Indians ch. Nathaniel, Keziah, Elizabeth, Jordan, Samuel, William, Richard, John d. 2 Apr 1699, Norfolk-Nansemond Co., VA
4) William	b. 25 Dec 1618 London, Middlesex, England m. 20 Sep 1641 Sarah Batton d. Norfolk, VA
5) Anthony	b. 13 Mar 1620 London, Middlesex, England Was in Westmoreland Co., Va. 1654, sponsored by Giles Bren
6) Edward	b. 8 May 1622 London, Middlesex, England m. abt.1644 Mary Tucker, Norfolk-Nansemond Co., VA Mary was a Nansemond Indian d. abt.1696 Chowan Co., NC Edward traded with Showanee Indians in Carolinas
7) Anne	b. 9 Oct 1624 m. 11 Jun 1640 Thomas Burwell Jr.
TWINS
8) Genevieve	b. 9 Oct 1624, 10 minutes after Anne London, Middlesex, England m. 11 Jun 1640 Peter Knight
9) Richard	b. 27 Aug 1625 London, Middlesex, England
10) Gregory	b. 10 Dec 1628 London, Middlesex, England came to Virginia 1642, sponsored by Wm. Prior
TWINS
11) George	b. 11 Dec 1628 several hours after Gregory, London, Middlesex, England d. 1681 Norfolk-Nansemond, VA
12) Son	b. 17 Jan 1629/30 - stillborn (Mother Mary Jordan Basse dies)

The first English settlement in the area known by the Indians as Warrosquoake (Isle of Wight Co., Virginia) was made by Captain Christoper Lawne, Sir Richard Worsley, Knight & Baronet, and their associates NATHANIEL BASSE, Gentleman, John Hobson, Gentleman, Anthony Olevan, Richard Wiseman, Robert Newland, Robert Gyner and William Willis. They arrived at Jamestown with one hundred settlers on 27 April 1619 in a ship commanded by Captain Evans. They immediately settled on the south side of the Warrosquoake River (James River) and established the plantation "Warrosquoake", to be known as "Lawne's Creek". When their patent was confirmed it was to become known as the "County of Isle of Wight".

NATHANIEL BASSE and others undertook to establish another plantation in the same neighborhood, to the east, known as "Basse's Choice" situated on the Warrosquoake River (James River) and Pagan Creek. His patent was received 21 Nov 1621 for 300 acres plus 100 acres of marshland. The houses on Captain Basse's plantation were being built when at midday on Good Friday, 22 Mar 1622, the Indians attacked the settlers killing 347 of the 1240 English inhabitants in the 80 settlements on the north and south sides of the river (James). 26 at Isle of Wight were among those killed. The settlers made a valiant defense of themselves with guns, axes, spades and brick-bats. It is thought that Nathaniel and his wife, Mary, were in England at the time, and some of the children were at "Basse's Choice" with a nurse. The story is told that five-year old JOHN was one of the children that escaped and was rescued by some friendly Nansemond Indians! His older brother Humphrey died that day.

A census taken 16 Feb 1623/24 showed a total of 53 persons living at "Worwicke-Squeak" and "Basse's Choice". Nathaniel Basse and Samuell Basse among those listed.

Nathaniel was appointed to the House of Burgesses at the first Legislative Assembly representing Warrosquoake (Isle of Wight) for 1623/24. He was again a member of the House of Burgesses in Oct 1629 and 1631, appointed to Harvey's Council 1631/32 and a member of the Great Council 1631/32. On 6 Mar 1631/32 Nathaniel was commissioned to "trade between 34 and 40 N Latitude, England, Nova Scotia and West Indies to invite inhabitants hither". (If they were tired of cold and damp!) He was also commissioned to trade to the Dutch Plantation and Canada. He was given power of Justice of Peace.
(Virginia Council & General Court Records 1626-1634)

Basse's Choice originally called for 300 acres but it's acreage was closer to 400. Mr. Peter Knight, married to Nathaniel's daughter Genevieve, patented 150 acres of the same in 1640, and 255 acres in 1643. Peter Knight sold the tract to John Bland, an eminent London Merchant.

Nathaniel Basse was buried 3 July 1654 in the Church of St. Alphage, Cripplegate, London. Mary, his wife, had died 17 Jan 1630 with the birth of a stillborn son. After Nathaniel's death in 1654, the General Assembly of Virginia in 1659/60 ordered Mr. Wm. Drummond as agent of the Co-heirs of Nathaniel Basse to pay to Theodorick Bland of Westover, 2500 lbs tobacco in settlement of a suit affecting the land.

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