William Selby Bassett (1865 - abt. 1920)

Born 1865 in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Ethel (Blackall) Bassett — married 21 Feb 1906 in Fawkham, Kent, England

Died about 29 Nov 1920 at about age 55 in Friston, East Sussex, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

William was born in 1865.^[1] He was the son of Reverend William Bassett and Jane McLaws.

UK Census Date 1871: Living with his parents and five siblings in Brunswick Terrace, Penrith, Cumberland, England. Aged 6 and a Scholar.

UK Census Date 1891: Recorded in Battersea, London, England. Aged 26 and single.

Occupation: Assistant Teacher

In the UK Census of 31 March 1901 William was recorded in Reigate, Surrey, England. Aged 36.

Occupation: SCHOOL MASTER

His father died in 1901.

At the age of about 41 William married 34 year old Ethel Blackall (daughter of Reverend Thomas Blackall) on 21 February 1906 at Fawkham, Kent, England, after Banns^[2]. The witnesses were Healey James Evans and Elsie Blackall.

Unlikely they had children.

Sadly his oldest brother John passed away in New Zealand in 1907, having taken his own life.

UK Census Date April 2, 1911: Living at 9 Trematon, Hurst Road, Eastbourne, Sussex, England with his wife Ethel, Lady Help Esther Evans and four pupils. He was a Schoolmaster.

His mother Jane died in about May 1920.

William disappeared from his home in late November 1920:

Scouts and school children are assisting the Eastbourne and East Sussex police searching for a missing school master. Mr. William Selby Bassett, principal of the Home Preparatory School, Ocklynge, Eastbourne. He left his home 12 days ago. leaving a note behind. He had been in failing health.^[3]

His remains were found in March 1921:

SCHOOLMASTER'S FATE.

Last Note: "I Have Tried and I Have Failed."

What are supposed to be the remains of William Selby Bassett, the schoolmaster who disappeared early in November, were discovered on a desolate part of the downs near Eastbourne.

Joseph Freelove, a labourer, who was gathering firewood, found a raggedly clothed skeleton in a clump of furze. The only means of identifying the body are a watch, cigarette-case, and walking-stick.

At the time of Bassett's disappearance the Boy Scouts made a very thorough search of the ground between Eastdean and Jevington.

That Bassett might come to a tragic end was feared on account of a message he left for his wife which in effect bade her good-bye. "I have tried and I have failed," it said. Bassett was the proprietor of a home preparatory school in Hurst Road, Eastbourne, and was a well-known local man.^[4]

A SUICIDE'S LAMENT.

A verdict of "Suicide while of unsound mind" was returned at an inquest on Saturday on William Selby Bassett, a school Proprietor of Eastbourne, whose body was found in the gorse on the Downs with the throat cut, while an open razor lay on the ground near by.

The widow said that her husband suffered from neurasthenia, and worried unnecessarily over pupils. Before leaving home he said he was going for a long walk. In a note which was subsequently found the deceased wrote: "Best and most beloved of wives, would that I had been worthy of her!"^[5]

FUNERAL OF MR. W. S. BASSETT.—The remains of the late Mr. William Selby Bassett, school proprietor at Eastbourne, were interred on Tuesday in Friston churchyard, the service being conducted by the deceased's brother.^[6]

His will was proved on 20 April 1921 at London to Ethel Bassett, widow^[7]. Effects: £129 14s. 2d.

Last address: 9 Hurst Road, Eastbourne, Sussex

Burial

St Mary the Virgin Churchyard, Friston, Wealden District, East Sussex, England^[8]

Inscription:

In

Loving memory

Of

William Selby Bassett

Nov 29th 1920

Love ever gives

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2XMP-9NJ : 1 October 2014), William Selby Bassett, 1865; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006,"
2. ↑ "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NX2J-KJP : 10 December 2014), William Selby Bassett and Ethel Blackall, 21 Feb 1906; citing Fawkham, Kent, England, reference 2:3LPG315; FHL microfilm 1,473,678.
3. ↑ Gloucestershire Echo 13 December 1920, Pg 4, https://search.findmypast.co.uk/
4. ↑ Sheffield Daily Telegraph 19 March 1921, Pg 8, https://search.findmypast.co.uk/
5. ↑ Sheffield Daily Telegraph 21 March 1921, Pg 8, https://search.findmypast.co.uk/
6. ↑ Eastbourne Chronicle 26 March 1921, Pg 5, https://search.findmypast.co.uk/
7. ↑ "England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPLC-RYZD : 17 September 2018), William Selby Bassett, 20 Apr 1921; citing Probate, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Great Britain.; FHL microfilm .
8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134074942/william-selby-bassett), memorial page for William Selby Bassett (unknown–29 Nov 1920), Find a Grave Memorial ID 134074942, citing St Mary the Virgin Churchyard, Friston, Wealden District, East Sussex, England ; Maintained by Adrienne (contributor 47022212)

• "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVH9-CGCT : 4 September 2014), William S Bassett, 1921; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Eastbourne, Sussex, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

Census Records

• "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRM3-6S8 : 24 July 2015), William S Bassett in entry for William H Bassett, 1871.

• "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QZHW-1N2 : 14 October 2015), William Selby Bassett, Battersea, London, England; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census,"

• "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9XL-23Z : 28 August 2015), Wm Selby Bassett, Reigate, Surrey, England; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census,"

• "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7BK-G58 : 29 June 2017), William Selby Bassett, Eastbourne, Eastbourne, Sussex, England; from "1911 England and Wales census,"