Biography of James Bassett 1526-1558

Paternal Family Tree: Basset

In 1515 [his father] John Bassett of Tehidy and Umberleigh (age 53) and [his mother] Honor Grenville Viscountess Lisle (age 21) were married. The difference in their ages was 32 years.

In 1526 James Bassett was born to John Bassett of Tehidy and Umberleigh (age 64) and Honor Grenville Viscountess Lisle (age 32).

In 1529 [his step-father] Arthur Plantagenet 1st Viscount Lisle (age 64) and [his mother] Honor Grenville Viscountess Lisle (age 35) were married. She by marriage Viscountess Lisle. The difference in their ages was 29 years. He the illegitmate son of King Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Waite.

On 31st January 1529 [his father] John Bassett of Tehidy and Umberleigh (age 67) died.

In 1538 James Bassett (age 12) entered the household of Bishop Stephen Gardiner (age 55).

In 1553 James Bassett (age 27) was elected MP Taunton. Nominated by Bishop Stephen Gardiner (age 70).

In 1554 James Bassett (age 28) was elected MP Downton.

In 1554 James Bassett (age 28) was elected MP Devon.

In 1555 James Bassett (age 29) was elected MP Devon.

Before June 1556 James Bassett (age 30) and Mary Roper (age 33) were married.

In May 1557 [his son] Philip Bassett was born to James Bassett (age 31) and [his wife] Mary Roper (age 34). He was named after Philip "The Prudent" II King Spain (age 29) who was godfather by proxy to Philip Basset at his christening at which he gave a great gilt cup.

In 1558 James Bassett (age 32) was elected MP Devon.

On 21st November 1558 James Bassett (age 32) died. On 26th November 1558 he was buried at St Ann Blackfriars Church.

Henry Machyn's Diary. 26th November 1558. The xxvj day of November was bered at the Blake Frers in Smythfeld master Bassett (deceased) sqwyre, on of the [privy] chambur with quen Mare; and he had ij whyt branchys, and xij torchys, and iiij gret tapurs, and a harold ... a cote armur, a penon of armes, and ij dosen of [shocheons.]

All About History Books

The Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson. Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback.

In 1559 [his son] Charles Bassett was born to James Bassett and [his former wife] Mary Roper (age 36) posthumously.

On 20th March 1572 [his former wife] Mary Roper (age 49) died.