John Basse Prayer Book

Though living with Nansemond Indians and absorbing their culture, John Basse (1616-1699) was taught by missionaries, who also continued to teach the Indians. John grew, became not only literate, but also a Christian. At some point John acquired an English prayer book, which served as his family Bible, obviously writing family history between "sermons" or "prayers." In ink on the cover is written "Book of John Basse Norfolk Co. A.D. 1675." In it was recorded:

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[Digitized by Coastal Carolina Indian Center]

Nathaniell Basse and Mary Jourdan was marrid ye 21 day of May in ye yeare of our blessed Lord and Savior 1613

Humphrey Basse sonne of Nath'll and Mary Basse his wife was borned ye 15 day of ye month of July in ye year of our blessed Lord 1615, dyed in 1622

John Basse was borned ye 7 day of viiber in ye year of our Lord 1616, ye sonne of Nathaniell and Mary Basse his wife

William Basse sonne of Nathaniell and Mary Basse was borned on ye xxv day of Xber in ye year of our blessed Lord God 1618

Anthony Basse sonne of Nathaniell Basse and Mary his wife was borned on ye xiii day of March in Gods yeare of 1620

Edward Basse ye sonne of Nathaniell Basse and Mary his wife was borned ye 8th day of Maye in ye yeare of God 1622

Anne Basse the daughter of Nath'll and Mary his wife was born in ye yr of X't 1624, ye 9 day of Sber

Geneveve Basse ye daughter of Nathaniell Basse and Mary his wife was borned on ye 9 day of Sber in ye year of our blessed Lord God 1624, about ten minutes after Anne was borned

Blessed be God for His tender Mercies. Amen

Humphrey Basse sonne of Nath'll and Mary dyed ye 22nd day of March in ye yeare of our Lord 1622

John Basse married ye dafter of ye King of ye Nansemund Nation, by name Elizabeth in Holy Baptism and in Holy Matrimonie ye 14 day of August in ye yeare of our blessed Lord 1638

William Basse sonne of Nath'll and Mary Basse was married to Sarah Batten ye 20th day of September in ye yeare of our Lord 1641 A.D.

Edward Basse sonne of Nath'll & Mary Basse yt unregenerated by the Spirit of God took in marriage one virtuous Indian mayd'n by the Christian name of Mary Tucker and went to live amongst the Shownanocs in Carolina in 1644 A.D. - He went to Carolina in later years in persute of trade and not in 1644

This the Book of John Basse - Steal it not...
John Basse borned in 1616 - John Basse dyed in 1699 A.D.

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Norfolk County
Virg'a
This doth certify that William Bass, son of John Bass and grandson of William Bass, is of English and Indian descent and is not a Negroe nor y't a Mulattoe as by some lately and malitiously stated. His late Mother Sarah Ann Bass was a virtuous woman of Indian descent, a daughter of Symon Lorina and Joan Tucker lawfully begotten. Sd Joan Tucker was a sister of Robin Tucker a Christian Indian of ye Nansemund nation.

Ye sd William Bass, ye elder, was a son of Mary Bass and William Bass, Senr. Mary Bass was a daughter of Great Peter, King of ye Nansemunds. These are of common knowledge.

All of the Basses of this County descend from Capt'n Nathaniell Basse, as satisfactorally proved by the records preserved

May ye 17, 1797                           Test: Wm Portlock

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RELATED PAGES & LINKS

BASS ANCESTRY TRACED 

JOHN BASSE, A Story of the New World 

Part Native American