Abram Bassford, Sr

Abram Bassford, Sr

Male Abt 1795 - 1864  (~ 69 years)

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  • Name Abram Bassford  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25] 
    Suffix Sr 
    Born Abt 1795  New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18] 
    Gender Male 
    Birth 1797  New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [26] 
    Residence Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [13] 
    Residence New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [13] 
    Residence New York, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [9, 12, 13, 16] 
    Residence New York, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [18] 
    Residence 1820  New York Port, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [18] 
    Residence 1820  New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [7, 12, 13, 16, 17, 27] 
    Occupation: Turner 
    Residence 1830  New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [16] 
    Residence 1830  New York Port, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [18] 
    Residence 1835  [12, 13, 16] 
    Residence 1835  [18] 
    Residence 1839  New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [12, 13, 16] 
    Residence 1839  New York, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [18] 
    Residence 1840  New York, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [18] 
    Residence 1 Jun 1840  New York, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 16] 
    Residence 1850  New York, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 16, 26] 
    Residence 1850  New York Port, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [18] 
    Residence 1855  New York, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [18] 
    Residence 1855  Brooklyn, Kings, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [12, 13, 14, 15, 16] 
    Age: 60; RelationToHead: Head 
    Residence 1857  New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [18] 
    Residence 1857  New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [8, 12, 13, 16] 
    Occupation: Pianos 
    Residence 1860  New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [11] 
    Residence 1863  New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [6, 12, 13, 16] 
    Residence 1863  New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [18] 
    Residence 1864  Manhattan, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [17] 
    Died 13 Jun 1864  New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 4, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 28] 
    Cause: Apoplexy 
    Buried 1 Jun 1889  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [13, 17] 
    Person ID I1743  My Family
    Last Modified 11 Aug 2020 

    Father William Bassford,   b. 1734, Hempstead, Nassau, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1801, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 67 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Mrs. Thankful Duryee,   b. 9 Apr 1767, Putnam, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Oct 1851, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 84 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Married 1790  New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [16] 
    Married 31 Jan 1833  [17] 
    Family ID F1845  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Abagail Catherine Kipp,   b. 1810, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 May 1878, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 68 years) 
    Married Bef 1832  New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married 1832  New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [14] 
    Children 
     1. Mary Bassford,   b. Abt 1832, New York, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12/11/1851? New York, New York  [natural]
     2. Abram Lockwood Bassford,   b. 1832, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Apr 1882, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 50 years)  [natural]
     3. Thomas Franklyn Bassford,   b. Abt 1834, New York, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Nov 1856  (Age ~ 22 years)  [natural]
     4. Florine Augusta Bassford,   b. Apr 1836, New York Port, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Jan 1912, New York Port, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 75 years)  [natural]
     5. Victoria C Bassford,   b. Abt 1838, New York, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Jan 1883, New York, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 45 years)  [natural]
     6. William Kipp Bassford,   b. 1839, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Dec 1902, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 63 years)  [natural]
     7. Adelaide Bassford,   b. Abt Jul 1841, New York, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 16 Apr 1843, New York, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 1 years)  [natural]
     8. Abby Jane Bassford,   b. 7 Sep 1845, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 22 Jan 1850, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 4 years)  [natural]
     9. Warren S Bassford,   b. 1849, New York, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 Sep 1883, New York, New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 34 years)  [natural]
    Last Modified 11 Aug 2020 
    Family ID F789  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Maria Toy,   b. 1788, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Oct 1865, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 77 years) 
    Married 12 Nov 1812  New York, New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [12] 
    Children 
     1. Samuel William Bassford,   b. 29 Feb 1816, Washington, District of Columbia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Jun 1861, Manassas, Prince William, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 45 years)  [natural]
    Last Modified 11 Aug 2020 
    Family ID F790  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - Abt 1795 - New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 1797 - New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - - New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - - New York, New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - - New York, New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 12 Nov 1812 - New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1820 - New York Port, New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Occupation: Turner - 1820 - New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1830 - New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1830 - New York Port, New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - Bef 1832 - New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 1832 - New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1839 - New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1839 - New York, New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1840 - New York, New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1 Jun 1840 - New York, New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1850 - New York, New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1850 - New York Port, New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1855 - New York, New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Age: 60; RelationToHead: Head - 1855 - Brooklyn, Kings, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1857 - New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Occupation: Pianos - 1857 - New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1860 - New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1863 - New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1863 - New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1864 - Manhattan, New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - Cause: Apoplexy - 13 Jun 1864 - New York, New York, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - 1 Jun 1889 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
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    Documents
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    BASSFO_3489.jpg    		BASSFO_3489.jpg
    BASSFO_4490.jpg    		BASSFO_4490.jpg
    BAC50F_1491.jpg    		BAC50F_1491.jpg

    Headstones
    BAC50D_1492.jpg    		BAC50D_1492.jpg

  • Notes 
    • He served as a musician in the War of 1812. He first served in the Company commanded by Capt. Hartell in the Regiment of New York Infantry commanded by Col. R. Swartroach(?), having volunteered at New York City on or about the 28 Aug 1812, and being honorably discharged at New York City on or about 25 Nov 1812. (He was apparently a French horn player since one is included in the list of "clothing and equipment, depreciated, worn out, lost and destroyed" during the war.) He also served a second term as a musician in Capt. Davidson's Company of the District of Columbia Militia. He volunteered at Georgetown, Washington, D.C. on or about 1 Jul 1814 and served for a term of about 6 months, and was honorably discharged at Washington D.C. on or about the 1 Jan 1815. [22]

      After the end of the war, he settled for a time in Georgetown, Washington, D. C., before returning to New York City in 1818. Apparently they lived with Maria's family in their suburban Mulberry St. home, before moving to 479 Pearl St. in lower Manhattan by 1820. Abraham's brother Thomas and his wife Rebekah lived with them there. By 1823, Abraham had moved next door to 477 Pearl St. [1]

      He received a pension for his service in the War of 1812 (Claim #4663). [23]

      He is listed in the New York City directories for a number of years: [25]
      1820-1 turner, 479 Pearl St.
      1824-33, ivory turner, 477 Pearl St.
      1834-5, ivory turner, 547 Pearl St. & 218 Broadway
      1839, billiards, 4 Ann
      1845, billiard saloon, 196 Water.
      1845, foundry, Pearl
      1845, billiards, 149 Fulton & 14 Ann, res. 149 Fulton
      1849-50, billiard table maker, 8 Ann, res. 26 Jones
      1861, billiards, 149 Fulton & 8 Ann, res. 26 Jones
      1861, pianos, 63 centre, res. 26 Jones
      1862-3, billiards, 149 Fulton & 8 Ann, res 26 Jones
      1864, billiards, 149 Fulton, res. 26 Jones

      He was a cabinet maker and ivory turner by trade, and also worked as a musician. [1] He amassed a large fortune in the manufacture of billiard tables and pianos, and retired at the at of 49. In his early business life, he was a neighbor of Commodore Vanderbilt on Staten Island. Before his retirement, he began purchasing farms in the Bronx, then known as Westchester County. The old deeds show that a considerable portion of the land obtained for the Harlem and Hudson River Railroad was purchased by the elder Vanderbilt from his neighbor Abraham Bassford. His investment in lands, particularly in the Bronx, continued on a large scale for many years, and he was known at the time to be one of the wealthiest investors in the city. [19]

      On 8 May 1829, he sold 77 acres of land with Thankful Bassford, together with several other of his family members

      In 1851, Abraham and Abby moved with their children, to 26 Jones St. in Greenwich Village. [1]

      For his service in the War of 1812, he received a Land Warrant (#52,379) for 80 acres. On 26 Aug 1853, Abraham Bassford, age 59, of 26 Jones St., New York, NY, filed a declaration to obtain additional pay, and contingent expenses of clothing and equipment, depreciated, worn out, lost and destroyed during the war. He applied for $98.50, of which $79.50 was awarded on 6 Mar 1854. On 16 Jun 1855, he filed a declaration for the purpose of obtaining an additional bounty land, to which he may be entitled under the Act of 3 Mar 1855, for which he received a second Land Warrant (#31,590) for 80 acres. [21], [22]

      He might be the Abr'm Bashford listed in the 1860 census for West Farms, Westchester Co., NY, p. 412. [26] (The entry is mostly illegible)

      He apparently died of apoplexy. He was found on the ground beneath a third floor window of his home, near which he had been sitting. Having suffered several apoplectic seizures previously, it was assumed that he had fallen from the window during such an attack. His family was quite surprised to find that he died leaving no will. As a result, there was considerable confusion and controversy regarding the title to large pieces of land that Abraham owned in New York City. The legal proceedings to resolve these issues stretched on for many years, and at the time that a newspaper article was published in 1907 had not been completed. There was speculation that the family had somehow been cheated out of the rights to the property. [19]

      There is a Bassford Ave. in the Bronx that was apparently named after this family. [27, p. 26]

      [1] indicates that he was born in 1793 in New York City.

      [19] indicates that he was born in England in 1785 to an "aristocratic family," and came to America as a boy. This article also gives the date of his death as Aug 1864

      Abraham filed for divorce on 15 Aug 1823, claiming that Maria had committed adultery with several men, often in his own house. A subpoena ordering Maria to appear in court was issued, and a notice of the court order was published in the New York American and New York Patriot, but she had apparently moved to Philadelphia and did not appear to defend herself. The court granted the divorce "pro confesso."

      Abraham second marriage to Abagail Kipp who was related to the Knickerbocker family and in her youth was one of the distinguished society beauties of the city took place approximately 1830 in New York. With the aid of investments this second wife put in to Abraham's business of manufacturing pianos and billiard tables, Mr. Bassford became a very rich man. Years later he wished to reimburse his wife the money put into the business with interest. He also divided up among his 6 children of this union and Samuel from his former marriage $40,000.00 each.

  • Sources 
    1. [S464] U.S., Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704-1930, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2014;).
      Record for Abram Sr Bassford
      US, Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704-1930 - Abram Bassford      		 US, Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704-1930 - Abram Bassford


    2. [S650] 1840 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;).
      Online publication - Ancestry.com. 1840 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1840.M704, 580 rolls. , New York, New York, roll 299, page 53.

    3. [S1050] New York, Genealogical Records, 1675-1920, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2004;).
      Online publication - Ancestry.com. New York Genealogical Records, 1675-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004.Original data - For individual sources please see the source information listed with each record. Many of the source documents are available in the Genealogical Research Library collection or at the Family History Library. Please note: The original data.

    4. [S659] New York, Death Newspaper Extracts, 1801-1890 (Barber Collection), Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2005;).
      New York, Death Newspaper Extracts, 1801-1890 (Barber Collection)      		 New York, Death Newspaper Extracts, 1801-1890 (Barber Collection)


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      1790 United States Federal Census      		 1790 United States Federal Census


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      Record for Abm Bassford
      US IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 - Abram Bassford      		 US IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 - Abram Bassford


    7. [S1103] U.S., Craftperson Files, 1600-1995, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2014;).
      Record for Abraham Bassford
      US, Craftperson Files, 1600-1995 - Abram Bassford      		 US, Craftperson Files, 1600-1995 - Abram Bassford


    8. [S313] U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 (Beta), Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2011;).
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      Record for Abraham Bassford

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      Record for Abraham Bassford
      New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999 - Abram Bassford      		 New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999 - Abram Bassford


    11. [S1105] New York, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 1999;).
      Record for William Bassford

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      Record for Samuel William Bassford

    14. [S419] Ancestry Family Trees, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;).
      Record for Abby Catherine Kipp

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      Record for A Bassford
      New York, State Census, 1855 - Abagail Catherine Kipp      		 New York, State Census, 1855 - Abagail Catherine Kipp


    16. [S956] Ancestry Family Trees, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;).
      Record for William Bassford

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      Record for Thankful Duryea

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      Record for Florine Augusta Bassford

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      Online publication - Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Seventh Census of the United States, 1850. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1850.M432, 1,009 rolls. New York Ward 9 District 3, New York, New York, roll M432_544, page 475, image 457.

    27. [S1052] 1820 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;).
      Online publication - Ancestry.com. 1820 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2004.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fourth Census of the United States, 1820. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1820.M33, 142 rolls. New York Ward 6, New York, New York, roll M33_77, page 450, image 231.

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