John Basset (1518–1541) facts for kids
John Basset (1518–1541) was a young English gentleman from Devon, England. He belonged to the old Basset family and was set to inherit a lot of land and wealth. His short life is well known because of the Lisle Letters, which are a collection of letters from his family.
John studied law at Lincoln's Inn. When he was 20, he started working for Thomas Cromwell, a very important minister to King Henry VIII. Sadly, John died suddenly at just 23 years old. Even so, he had already married and had a son, who was born after his death.
His stepfather and father-in-law was Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle (died 1542). Lord Lisle was the Governor of Calais and was King Henry VIII's uncle. In 1540, Lord Lisle and John's mother were arrested in Calais. This was a very difficult time for John. He died a year later from an unknown illness. However, his brothers and sisters went on to have successful careers, especially his younger brother James, who worked for the royal court.
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John Basset's Family Background
John Basset was born on October 26, 1518. He was the oldest son of Sir John Basset (1462–1528). His father was from Tehidy in Cornwall and Umberleigh in Devon. Sir John was also the Sheriff of Cornwall and Devon several times.
John's mother was Honor Grenville (died 1566). She was the daughter of Sir Thomas Grenville (died 1513) from Stowe in Cornwall.
John's Brothers and Sisters
John had several siblings who also became notable:
- George Basset (born around 1522–1525), his second brother, who became a Member of Parliament.
- James Basset (born around 1526–1558), his youngest brother, who worked for Queen Mary I.
- Philippa Basset (born 1516), his oldest sister.
- Katharine Basset, who worked for Queen Anne of Cleves.
- Anne Basset (born 1521), his third sister. She was a maid of honour to several queens, including Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard. Some even thought King Henry VIII might marry her.
John's Early Life and Upbringing
John likely spent his first ten years at his father's homes in Umberleigh, Devon, and Tehidy, Cornwall. After his father died in 1528, John was raised by his mother, Honor Grenville. His stepfather was Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle. Lord Lisle was the uncle of King Henry VIII.
His mother's second marriage was very important. It helped the family move from being important local gentry to being part of the highest levels of Tudor society. John's marriage to his step-sister also connected his family to the royal House of Plantagenet.
John's Wardship
When John's father died in 1528, John was only 10 years old. Because he was still a child, his care and marriage were managed by others. This was called "wardship."
First, John Worth and John's mother bought his wardship. Later, before 1532, John's stepfather, Lord Lisle, bought his wardship. Lord Lisle wanted to find a wealthy husband for his daughter, Frances Plantagenet. So, he arranged for John Basset to marry Frances, who was also John's step-sister.
In 1533, Lord Lisle became the Governor of Calais. He moved there with John's mother. John stayed at Lord Lisle's home in Soberton, Hampshire, from 1533 to 1535.
John's Education and Studies
Many details about John's education are found in the Lisle Papers. These papers cover the years 1533 to 1540. Three of John's own letters to his mother are in this collection. Most of the information comes from letters written to his mother and stepfather by their London agent, John Husee. Husee helped them with business and knew about court and legal matters.
John studied Latin for 14 months. In 1534, at age 16, he began studying law at Lincoln's Inn. He stayed there until 1536. The Lisle Papers share many details about his life as a law student. These letters from John Husee often talk about John's clothes, his room rent, his money, and his free time. Husee helped John get into Lincoln's Inn and found him a law tutor and a room. He also advised John on what clothes he needed and how to decorate his room. John even had his own servant named "Bremelcum."
In a letter from January 1535, Husee wrote to Lady Lisle about John's clothes. He explained that John needed new clothes and other items to look proper for his social standing. Husee also mentioned that John needed wood and coal for his room to keep warm.
John's Career
By October 12, 1538, John was 20 years old. He began working in the household of Thomas Cromwell, who was King Henry VIII's chief minister. At this time, John's mother was asking Cromwell for help with some legal issues about John's inheritance.
John started as a waiter, which meant he was present when people met with Cromwell. This kind of job was seen as a good way to move up in society. Some believed that working for Cromwell could help John eventually work directly for the King. However, John's career was cut short when he died early in 1541, at the age of 23.
John's Family Inheritance
Besides his father's lands, John Basset was also set to inherit lands from his great-grandmother, Joan Beaumont. These lands included the manors of Umberleigh and Heanton Punchardon in North Devon.
However, John's father, Sir John Basset (1462–1528), did not have enough money to claim these lands easily. It involved paying fees to the King. To solve this, his father made an agreement in 1504 with Giles Daubeney, 1st Baron Daubeney. This agreement, called the "Great Indenture," said that Daubeney would pay about £2,000 to help get the lands. In return, one of John's father's daughters would marry Daubeney's son, Henry. The goal was for the Beaumont lands to pass to the Daubeney family through this marriage.
The marriage never happened, and Lord Daubeney died in 1508. Luckily for John Basset, his mother, Honor Grenville, later gave birth to him, a son and heir. Because of this, the Beaumont lands eventually came back to the Basset family, though it took a lot of effort. The legal documents for these properties were kept safe by Richard Coffin, a trusted tenant. The issue of John Basset's inheritance was still not fully settled when he died in 1541, even with help from Thomas Cromwell.
John's Marriage and Children
In 1538, John Basset married Frances Plantagenet. She was the daughter of his stepfather, Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle. Frances was also a descendant of King Edward IV.
Frances later married Thomas Monke (died 1583). Through her second marriage, she became the great-grandmother of George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle (1608–1670), a famous general.
John Basset and Frances Plantagenet had the following children:
- Honor Basset, born in Calais in May 1539. In 1540, a difficult time came for the family when Lord and Lady Lisle were arrested. Lord Lisle died in the Tower of London in 1542. It seems John quickly went to Calais and brought his wife and daughter back to England.
- Sir Arthur Basset (1541–1586), born after his father's death on October 4, 1541. He became the eldest son and heir and a Member of Parliament. Because of his royal ancestry, Arthur's son, Sir Robert Basset (1573–1641), later tried to claim the throne after Queen Elizabeth died. This action led to a large fine for the family.
- Eleanor Basset, who married William Whiddon.
John's Death and What Happened Next
John Basset died on April 20, 1541. He had made his will just a few days before, on April 17, 1541. He said he was "whole and perfect of mind and memory and sick of my body." He was buried in an unknown location.
His son, Sir Arthur Basset (1541–1586), inherited his lands. John left all his estates in Devon, Cornwall, and Wiltshire to his wife Frances for her life. He wanted these lands to help her live comfortably. He listed his manors of Trevalga and Femarshall in Cornwall; Whitechapel, Holcombe, Upper Snellard, and lands in Chudleigh in Devon; and Calston in Wiltshire. These lands, along with the main family homes of Tehidy, Umberleigh, and Heanton Punchardon, eventually passed down to his male heirs.
Sources
- Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895.
- Byrne, Muriel St. Clare, (ed.) The Lisle Letters, 6 vols, University of Chicago Press, Chicago & London, 1981, vol.1
- Pole, Sir William (d.1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, Sir John-William de la Pole (ed.), London, 1791
