Francis Bassett facts for kids

The family crest of the Basset family.

Sir Francis Bassett (born 1594 – died 1645) was an important person from Tehidy in Cornwall, England. He held several key roles, including Sheriff of Cornwall, Vice-Admiral of North Cornwall, and a judge (called a Recorder) for the town of St Ives. A famous painter named Vandyck even painted his portrait! Sir Francis was also known for enjoying sports like hawking.

He was the son of James Bassett and Jane Godolphin. His family was well-known in Cornwall.

Important Roles and Duties

Sir Francis Bassett held several important jobs during his life:

• He was the Vice-Admiral of North Cornwall from 1623 until he passed away in 1645. This meant he was in charge of naval matters and protecting the coast in that area.
• He also served as the High Sheriff of Cornwall from 1642 to 1644. The Sheriff was a very important official who helped keep law and order in the county.

Role in the English Civil War

During the English Civil War, which started in 1642, Sir Francis Bassett was a strong supporter of King Charles I. He was a Royalist.

• In 1643, he helped the King's side in western Cornwall. He raised money and trained soldiers for the Royalist army.
• Letters he wrote to his wife are still around today. These letters describe important Royalist victories, like the Battle of Stamford Hill and the Battle of Braddock Down.
• Sir Francis was present at or soon after the Battle of Braddock Down. After this battle, the King himself knighted Sir Francis on the battlefield. This was a great honor!
• He wrote to his wife that the King told him, "Dear Mr. Sheriff, I leave Cornwall to you safe and sound." This shows how much the King trusted him.

The St Ives Loving Cup

In 1640, Sir Francis Bassett gave a special gift to the town of St Ives: a beautiful loving-cup. This cup had a poem engraved on it. The poem showed his hope for peace and friendship among the people of St Ives. It said:

This poem means that if friends in St Ives ever argued, he hoped his cup would help them make peace. He wanted his gift to be a lasting symbol of friendship.

Family Life

In 1620, Sir Francis Bassett married Ann Trelawny. She was the daughter of Sir Jonathan Trelawny.

• They had children, including their eldest son, John Basset (who died in 1661).
• Their second son was also named Francis Basset. He lived in Taunton. In 1661, he was wrongly accused of plotting against King Charles II. Luckily, it was proven that the letter used against him was fake, and he was found innocent.

Sir Francis Bassett passed away on September 19, 1645. After his death, his eldest son, John, faced difficulties because of his father's support for the King. Even though John had not fought in the war, he had to pay a large fine to the new government. This forced him to sell St Michael's Mount in 1660. St Michael's Mount has been owned by the St Aubyn family ever since.

See also

• Baron Basset
• Great Cornish Families
• Tehidy Country Park