Warwickshire (Birmingham): Arthur BASSETT, born c1840.

[BAC3]

Hello,

The Arthur BASSETT I am researching had a brother William, born in 1826, and together they had several scrapes with the law, for instance, February 1850 when they lived in Freeman Street and June 1850 in John Street according to Birmingham Journal reports.    The 1841 Census seems to place them in Norton Street, although Arthur's age is a little dubious.   William was eventually transported to Western Australia.

The last known whereabouts for Arthur BASSETT was on 20/05/1857 when he was transferred from Parkhurst Prison to Pentonville Prison, with approximately two and a half years outstanding on a 7 year transportation sentence laid down on 22/10/1852 at the Birmingham Quarter Sessions that was never carried out. 

I wonder if anyone can shed light on Arthur BASSETT's movements from 1857 onwards please.

Thank you,

BAC3

[chempat]

Do you know if this is Arthur, as he is age 4 in 1841?
 Birmingham, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1912
   Arthur Basset
Baptism Date   16th May 1836 at Birmingham, St George, Warwickshire
Father  James Basset    Mother   Susannah Basset
DRO 9     M19/M20

[chempat]

This Arthur was living in Norton Street:

Birmingham, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1937
Arthur Bassett, widower, labourer
Married   6th June 1878   age   40   at  Hockley, All Saints, Warwickshire, England
Father   James Bassett

Spouse   Emma Carnall  age  38
Spouse's Father   Edward Carnall
   DRO 39      533

[ShaunJ]

He was moved from Pentonville to Chatham on 23 March 1858

[ShaunJ]

Arthur & Emma Bassett from England can be found in Cambridge Massachusetts in the US censuses for 1900, 1910 and 1920. Arthur was 84 in 1920

[BAC3]

chempat and ShaunJ,

Thank you for the research most of which seems to be quite relevant.......I am extremely grateful.   However, the USA connection will have to be disregarded for, unless I have misread the documents, this particular Arthur BASSETT seems to have emigrated there in 1860.

The range of ages cited for Arthur BASSETT is difficult to rationalise, not unknown in research circles, but I am fairly confident we are dealing with the correct person

For the moment,

BAC3

[ShaunJ]

Re the Massachusetts Arthur, his dates vary a lot.

Per his 1889 naturalisation index card, he was born 24 October 1834.

Per the 1900 census, he was born in October 1838 and came to the US in 1860 (should that read 1880 perhaps?)

Per the 1910 census, he was born circa 1838/9 and came to the US in 1883

Per the 1920 census, he was born circa 1835/6 and came to the US in 1881

[ShaunJ]

I've found the naturalisation petitions from 1887 and 1889:

He declared that he was born in Birmingham on 24 October 1834, came to the US on or about  6 March 1860. Occupation Blacksmith.

The signatures match that on the 1878 marriage register page from All Saints, Birmingham. 

So presumably he first came to the US in 1860, returned to the UK at some point, and came back to the US with wife Emma circa 1881

[BAC3]

ShaunJ,

There are some entries in Ancestry's New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957, which also include an Emma, but unfortunately I do not have access.  The 1860 reference to his migration depends on when he was eventually released from prison, which should have been about October 1859, but again I cannot confirm his release.

It looks increasingly likely that you may have resolved some of his biography.    It is now simply a matter of getting all the ducks in a row.

My thanks,

BAC3