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| Misc. Notes | ||||||||||
| ï Supposedly went to Colebrook, Conn., but in Census of 1790 he could not be found in New England states, Pennsylvania or New York. Loyalist died in either Rev. or Bennington, VT area; family received land grant Prescott, Ontario (handwritten note). ï The father, and husband, Adonijah Bass, had been killed, it is assumed, during an early battle of the American Revolutionary War. ï Their father, Adonijah Bass, had been a medical doctor and a "staunch Loyalist." He died perhaps as early as 1776, serving in the War on the British side. ï I am indebted to Mr. Fred P. Smith, of Kingston, for the history of the Bass family in the dim misty past. They were natives of the island of Islay and the original name was MacBeth. They crossed over and located in different parts of Scotland and became hereditary physicians to the MacDonalds. They came to the Mohawk Valley with Sir William Johnston's Highlanders and, spreading out, entered Vermont before the Revolutionary War. At this time they were still physicians and Dr. Adonijah MacBass, (pronounced MacBase) located in the vicinity of Bennington. He died before the Revolutionary War was over, presumably killed while serving with the British Army. At the time of the battle of Bennington the Dr. MacBase home was close to the battlefield and as stray bullets were striking their house the mother and her three children hid in the cellar for safety. Joseph, the oldest, was eight years of age at this time. The brothers, Joseph Church Bass, aged 18 and John Bass, aged 16, sons of Dr. Adonijah MacBass, and his wife, Lydia Draper, came to Canada on foot and direct to Lots No. 10 and 11 in the fourth Concession of Augusta township in the early summer of 1789, camping the first night beside a large rock on the part of lot No. 11 now owned by Mr. H. O. Bass. Hannah Bass, sister of Joseph and John, married James Martin and their home was the farm now owned by John Durant. ï Dr. Adonijah Bass resided at Bunker Hill where the celebrated battle was fought. His family, consisting of 2 sons and 1 daughter, witnessed the engagement. They were all staunch loyalists, and determined to remove to Canada. Dr. Bass dying, one son, Joseph, made his way to Augusta, and having examined the country, returned to this native place, and with his mother and the rest of the family, started for Canada. They had disposed of their farm for stock, which was driven the entire distance by the boys. They settled on the 4th and 5th concessions of Augusta. ï He, it is thought, settled in Colebrook, or somewhere in the western part of this State, and was the ancestor of the Basses of Litchfield county. ï I do not have any information on Adonijah between his birth in Scotland, Windham Co., CT and the statements by the family in Canada. I do not know even what it took to be called a doctor at that time. ï I would guess that Adonijah Bass died 1776-1778 since there are only three children. It seems most likely, despite the wishes of his descendants, he did not die defending the British cause. I think the act would have come down to us. Adonijah Bass is not listed as buried in the Shaftsbury cemetery. ï I have been in contact with and Fraser Carr, a UEL, and have been told that because Adonijah was doctor, he would have been assigned to the regimental level. He doesn't appear on the muster rolls. | ||||||||||
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| Last Modified 1 Jan 2003 | Created 26 Nov 2004 by Reunion for Macintosh |