William Bass
1707–1775
✦ direct ancestor — Owen's 7×-great-grandfather · Temple line appears 2× in the tree — pedigree collapse
Life
- Born
- 5 Dec 1707 · Henrico, Virginia, United States
- Died
- 21 Jan 1775 · Dale Parish, Chesterfield County, Virginia
Parents
Marriage & children
William Bass (1732–1735)
Mary Bass (1733–1789)
Frances Bass (1735–1790)
William Bass (1737–c. 1775)
Martha Bass (1740–1744)
Henry Bass (1744–c. 1796)
Elizabeth Bass (1748–)
Lucy Bass (1750–)
Archard Bass (1752–1820)
Edward Bass (1754–1834)
Martha Ann Bass (1756–1822)
Thomas S Bass (1759–1833)
Joseph Bass (1767–c. 1794)
Timeline
- 6 May 1731MarriedMartha Clay — Henrico, Virginia, United States
- 31 Oct 1747MarriedMary Walthall — Henrico, Virginia, United States
Records behind this page
Unnamed source
Bell (1961), p. 21 (and p. 38 for the Nottoway Bible)
read the transcript
The CHESTERFIELD BASS FAMILY BIBLE record, as PRINTED BY BELL at his p. 21. Verbatim: "Wm Bass son of Wm and Mary Bass born Dec. 5th, 1707"; and the same record enters John: "John Bass son [of Wm and Martha Bass] born" 27 Nov 1738. ⛔ PROVENANCE — THE ORIGINAL WAS NEVER SEEN. The Bible is at the Library of Virginia; what this project read is BELL'S PRINTED TRANSCRIPTION. Grade: PRINTED ABSTRACT, not original. Do not read the words 'family Bible' in this citation as a claim that the book was handled. STRENGTH: John Bass Sr's parentage (William Bass x Martha Clay) rests on a DOUBLE-BIBLE MATCH — this Chesterfield Bible and John's own Nottoway family Bible BOTH give b. 27 Nov 1738 (Bell pp. 21 and 38) — plus the 1769 will of the father. Two independent family records agreeing on an exact day is strong; both being printed by the same compiler is the caveat. Also verified here against the Bible: William Bass's two marriages (Martha Clay 6 May 1731; Mary Walthall 31 Oct 1747) and 14 children; Martha Clay's death 1 Mar 1745 and her 5 surviving children. Martha's birth 10 Aug 1713 is FAMILY-RECORD grade only. CORRECTIONS THIS SOURCE FORCED, recorded so they are not re-introduced: William's birthplace Nansemond -> HENRICO (the Nansemond Indian Bass line is a DIFFERENT Norfolk Co. family, and Bell — the standard pro-Nansemond source — himself keeps the Chesterfield line outside it); and Martha Clay's 'Hanover' birthplace REMOVED as contamination from the statesman Henry Clay, whose great-aunt she was.
Bell (1961), pp. 15-16; orig. Chesterfield WB 2:221
read the transcript
Will of WILLIAM BASS, Chesterfield County, Virginia, Will Book 2:221 — dated 17 Aug 1769, proved 1775. Read as BELL'S ABSTRACT at pp. 15-16 (full text at Bell pp. 13-15 for the father's will, Chesterfield WB 1:115). Supports: William's death 21 Jan 1775, Dale Parish, Chesterfield Co.; his identity; and his parentage via the father's will WB 1:115. ⛔ PROVENANCE: PRINTED ABSTRACT. The original will book page has NOT been read by this project. A will's own text routinely names people an abstract drops — this is a candidate for upgrading to the original.
Research notes
Working notes from the research, kept verbatim — what was read, what it proved, what stays open.
Research note · 26 Jul 2026
Audited 26 Jul 2026 - Junction #5: identity, both marriages (Martha Clay 6 May 1731; Mary Walthall 31 Oct 1747), 14 children, and death 21 Jan 1775 verified against the Bass family Bible (LVA; Bell 1961 pp. 20-21) + his will (Chesterfield WB 2:221, dated 17 Aug 1769, pr. 1775; abstract Bell pp. 15-16). Birthplace corrected Nansemond->Henrico (Nansemond Indian Bass line = different Norfolk Co. family). Parents per Bible + the will of the father WB 1:115. See ancestry/bass-clay-junction.md.
Elsewhere
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