Nehemiah B. Bassett

by


According to traditional sources, Nehemiah B. Bassett was born in Middletown, Connecticut about 1770.

He was married and had a family. These Bassetts were members of the Albany Presbyterian church. Nehemiah was a church elder.

By the late 1790s, he was living in Albany in a modest house on what became Division Street. In 1800, his first ward home with two adults and two children was configured on the Albany census.

He was a noted silver and goldsmith and beginning in 1813 was identified as a watchmaker with a house on Division Street and a shop at 42 State Street. Within a few years, his address was given as 31 South Pearl Street. He was a member and officer of the Albany Mechanics Society. A number of his finely crafted clocks have survived.

About 1818, he was called on to verify information regarding the will of first ward neighbor Thomas Barret. At that time, he was still a goldsmith living in the city of Albany.

About 1820, he removed to Schenectady where he died in December 1844. Nehemiah B. Bassett had lived seventy-four years.

 'Bassett' engraved stamp on a silver spoon


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Nehemiah B. Bassett is CAP biography number 7261. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.





first posted: 7/20/08