Story of Two Families
Abram Bassford, Sr

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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 [5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18]
Gender Male Birth 1797 New York, USA [26]
Residence Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA [13]
Residence New York, New York, USA [13]
Residence New York, New York, New York, USA [9, 12, 13, 16]
Residence New York, New York, New York, USA [18]
Residence 1820 New York Port, New York, New York, USA [18]
Residence 1820 New York, New York, USA [7, 12, 13, 16, 17, 27]
Occupation: Turner Residence 1830 New York, USA [16]
Residence 1830 New York Port, New York, New York, USA [18]
Residence 1835 [12, 13, 16] Residence 1835 [18] Residence 1839 New York, New York, USA [12, 13, 16]
Residence 1839 New York, New York, New York, USA [18]
Residence 1840 New York, New York, New York, USA [18]
Residence 1 Jun 1840 New York, New York, New York, USA [2, 16]
Residence 1850 New York, New York, New York, USA [3, 16, 26]
Residence 1850 New York Port, New York, New York, USA [18]
Residence 1855 New York, New York, New York, USA [18]
Residence 1855 Brooklyn, Kings, New York, USA [12, 13, 14, 15, 16]
Age: 60; RelationToHead: Head Residence 1857 New York, New York, USA [18]
Residence 1857 New York, New York, USA [8, 12, 13, 16]
Occupation: Pianos Residence 1860 New York, USA [11]
Residence 1863 New York, USA [6, 12, 13, 16]
Residence 1863 New York, USA [18]
Residence 1864 Manhattan, New York, New York, USA [17]
Died 13 Jun 1864 New York, New York, USA [1, 4, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 28]
Cause: Apoplexy Buried 1 Jun 1889 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA [13, 17]
Person ID I1743 My Family Last Modified 21 Jun 2022
Father William Bassford, b. 1734, Hempstead, Nassau, New York, USA , d. 1801, New York, USA
(Age 67 years)
Relationship natural Mother Mrs. Thankful Duryee, b. 9 Apr 1767, Putnam, New York, USA , d. 28 Oct 1851, New York, New York, USA
(Age 84 years)
Relationship natural Married 1790 New York, USA [16, 29]
Married 31 Jan 1833 [17, 29] Family ID F1845 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 1 Abagail Catherine Kipp, b. 1810, New York, New York, USA , d. 18 May 1878, New York, USA
(Age 68 years)
Married Bef 1832 New York, USA Married 1832 New York, New York, USA [14]
Children 1. Mary Bassford, b. Abt 1832, New York, New York, New York, USA , d. 12/11/1851? New York, New York [natural]
2. Abram Lockwood Bassford, b. 1832, New York, USA , d. 1 Apr 1882, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA
(Age 50 years) [natural]
3. Thomas Franklyn Bassford, b. Abt 1834, New York, New York, New York, USA , d. 2 Nov 1856 (Age ~ 22 years) [natural]
4. Florine Augusta Bassford, b. Apr 1836, New York Port, New York, New York, USA , d. 21 Jan 1912, New York Port, New York, New York, USA
(Age ~ 75 years) [natural]
5. Victoria C Bassford, b. Abt 1838, New York, New York, New York, USA , d. 23 Jan 1883, New York, New York, New York, USA
(Age ~ 45 years) [natural]
6. William Kipp Bassford, b. 1839, New York, New York, USA , d. 24 Dec 1902, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, USA
(Age 63 years) [natural]
7. Adelaide Bassford, b. Abt Jul 1841, New York, New York, New York, USA , d. 16 Apr 1843, New York, New York, New York, USA
(Age ~ 1 years) [natural]
8. Abby Jane Bassford, b. 7 Sep 1845, New York, New York, USA , d. 22 Jan 1850, New York, New York, USA
(Age 4 years) [natural]
9. Warren S Bassford, b. 1849, New York, New York, New York, USA , d. 5 Sep 1883, New York, New York, New York, USA
(Age 34 years) [natural]
Last Modified 21 Jun 2022 Family ID F789 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 2 Maria Toy, b. 1788, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA , d. 18 Oct 1865, New York, USA
(Age 77 years)
Married 12 Nov 1812 New York, New York, USA [12]
Children 1. Samuel William Bassford, b. 29 Feb 1816, Washington, District of Columbia, USA , d. 21 Jun 1861, Manassas, Prince William, Virginia, USA
(Age 45 years) [natural]
Last Modified 21 Jun 2022 Family ID F790 Group Sheet | Family Chart
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Event Map = Link to Google Earth
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Photos PAGEFR_1493.jpg PAGEFR_2494.jpg
Documents BASSFO_2488.jpg BASSFO_3489.jpg BASSFO_4490.jpg BAC50F_1491.jpg
Headstones BAC50D_1492.jpg
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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.
- 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]
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Sources - [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 BassfordUS, Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704-1930 - Abram Bassford - [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. - [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. - [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) - [S1051] New York, Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts, 1861-1900, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2011;), New York State Archives, Cultural Education Center, Albany, New York; New York Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts, 1861-1900; Archive Collection #: 13775-83; Box #: 875; Roll #: 531.
1790 United States Federal Census New York, Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts, 1861-1900 - [S742] U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2008;).
Record for Abm BassfordUS IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862-1918 - Abram Bassford - [S1103] U.S., Craftperson Files, 1600-1995, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2014;).
Record for Abraham BassfordUS, Craftperson Files, 1600-1995 - Abram Bassford - [S313] U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 (Beta), Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2011;).
Record for Abraham Bassford - [S1104] New York, Military Equipment Claims, War of 1812, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 1999;).
Record for Abraham BassfordNew York, Military Equipment Claims, War of 1812 - [S459] New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2015;), Administration Bonds, 1753-1866; Author: New York. Surrogate's Court (New York County); Probate Place: New York, New York.
Record for Abraham BassfordNew York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999 - Abram Bassford - [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 Bassford1870 United States Federal Census - [S419] Ancestry Family Trees, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;).
Record for Maria Toy - [S419] Ancestry Family Trees, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;).
Record for Samuel William Bassford - [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 - [S391] New York, State Census, 1855, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2013;).
Record for A BassfordNew York, State Census, 1855 - Abagail Catherine Kipp - [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 - [S956] Ancestry Family Trees, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;).
Record for Thankful Duryea - [S956] Ancestry Family Trees, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;).
Record for Florine Augusta Bassford - [S459] New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2015;), Inventories, 1862-1865; Author: New York. Surrogate's Court (New York County); Probate Place: New York, New York.
New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999 - [S1207] Manhattan, New York City, New York Directory: 1839-1840, Hollister, Catherine, comp, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2002;).
- [S463] Manhattan New York City Directory: 1829-30, Hollister, Catherine, comp, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2002;).
- [S419] Ancestry Family Trees, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;), Ancestry Family Tree.
http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=67470320&pid=172 - [S1294] Washington Post, The (Washington, D.C.), Ancestry.com, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.Original data - The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. Database created from microfilm copies of the newspaper.Original data: The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. Database created from ;).
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=NEWS-DC-THEWASHINGTONPOST&h=475638802&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt - [S1295] Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California), Ancestry.com, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.Original data - Oakland Tribune. Oakland, CA, USA. Database created from microfilm copies of the newspaper.Original data: Oakland Tribune. Oakland, CA, USA. Database created from microf;).
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=NEWS-CA-OA_TR&h=475637796&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt - [S1296] U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patents, 1790-1909, Ancestry.com, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.Original data - United States Patent and Trademark Office. USPTO Patent Full-Text and Image Database. accessed January 2008.Original data: United States Patent and Trademark Office. US;).
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=USPatents&h=26022&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt - [S473] 1850 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2009;).
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. - [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. - [S464] U.S., Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704-1930, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2014;).
- [S956] Ancestry Family Trees, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;).
Record for Elizabeth "Eliza" Bassford
- [S464] U.S., Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704-1930, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2014;).