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Bassett Hall Chronology
- Year
- Owner or Occupants
- Late 17th century to 1753:
- Bray family
- ca. 1749 – 1753:
- Col. Thomas Bray
- 1753 – 1789:
- Col. Philip Johnson and wife, Elizabeth Bray Johnson
- 1771 – 1773:
- Richard Hunt Singleton, renter
- ca. 1793 – 1796:
- Richard Corbin
- 1796 – ca. 1840:
- Burwell Bassett
- 1840 – 1843:
- Abel Parker Upshur
- 1843 – 1845:
- John Coke
- 1845 – 1869:
- Col. Goodrich Durfey
- 1869 – 1879:
- Israel Smith
- 1879 – 1927:
- Smith heirs
- 10/22/27:
- Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin acquired the property for Colonial Williamsburg, granting Edith and Alice Smith life tenancy.
- 5/16/30:
- Fire destroys most of the roof and part of the second floor interiors; most earlier portions remain intact.
- 8/17/31:
- Life tenancy in the main house is released in exchange for a monthly stipend and a life right in Bassett Hall cottage for Edith Smith and a stipend for Alice Smith.
- 12/27/33:
- Colonial Williamsburg deeds all of Bassett Hall property, except nine and one-half acres on which the house is located, to John D. Rockefeller Jr.
- 11/36:
- The Rockefellers move into Bassett Hall.
- 4/25/36:
- Colonial Williamsburg transfers nine and one-half acres with the house to Bassett Hall Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Colonial Williamsburg, Inc.
- 1/30/42:
- Bassett Hall Inc. transfers nine and one-half acres with the house to John D. Rockefeller Jr.
- 10/21/43:
- Edith Smith dies, ending all Smith life rights to Bassett Hall.
- 11/18/48:
- John D. Rockefeller Jr. gives Bassett hall to John D. Rockefeller 3rd, reserving a life interest for himself.
- 5/11/60:
- John D. Rockefeller Jr. dies. John D. Rockefeller 3rd assumes responsibility for Bassett Hall.
- 7/10/78:
- John D. Rockefeller 3rd dies leaving Bassett Hall property to family members who present it to Colonial Williamsburg.
- 5/9/79:
- John D. Rockefeller 3rd Fund Inc. gives furnishings of Bassett Hall to Colonial Williamsburg.
- 6/15/80:
- Bassett Hall opens to the public as a house museum.
- 2000 – 2002:
- Bassett Hall undergoes renovation
- 12/9/02:
- Bassett Hall reopens to the public
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