June 19, 2015
There’s been a lot of talk this week about the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, but for one South Burnett family the celebrations have had an extra special significance.
Retired Kingaroy businessman Barry Randall is a descendant of the Bassett (or Basset) family, two members of which (Thomas and Alan) were amongst the barons whose signatures appear on that original historic document.
The first Magna Carta – there were several issued in the 13th century – was signed by King John under pressure from various barons “in the meadow which is called Runnymede, between Windsor and Staines, on the 15th day of June” 1215.
Barry told southburnett.com.au this week that the connection was through his father’s side of the family.
His great-grandfather, William James Randall, married Alice Mary Bassett on February 5, 1893, in Nevertire, central NSW.
The Bassett family were originally of Norman stock, coming into England via the Norman Conquest.
In the 13th century, they made up a significant part of the landed gentry of Wales and Cornwall.
But by the time the 18th century rolled around, some branches of the family had fallen on much harder times.
Members from these Bassetts made their way to Australia like many of Britain’s earliest arrivals … in chains.
Five Bassett men – all related – were transported as convicts at separate times during the early 19th century from the small village of Timsbury, midway between the family heartlands of Wales and Cornwall.
The first to arrive in New South Wale was Thomas who landed aboard the “Neptune” in 1817, convicted of stealing a flitch of bacon. Then arrived William (stealing a donkey), Samuel (a watch); and then another Samuel and his brother George (3lb of pork, a dutch oven, two jugs, eight candles and a bottle).
Barry’s great-grandmother Alice, who was born at Gulgong, was the granddaughter of this second Sam Bassett, who arrived in the colony on the “Westmoreland” in 1835.
Over the past 200 years, in Australia and Canada, the descendants of these colonial Bassetts have multiplied and prospered, turning the family’s fortunes around full circle – but not quite to the point where they could force Her Majesty to sign away her rights on a piece of vellum …
