The Basan Family

From England to a Jamaican Plantation

Nola met her great uncle, Fonny (Alphonso) Basan, which enabled her to learn even more about the family Basan history. Although this branch came to Australia from England, it is believed they originally came from Spain, and, from later information, the matriarch's family, Reitti, came from Italy.

Alphonso and Nola

The earliest known ancestor is Jacob Basan who was born in England, in approximately 1780 and who died, in 1816 in Philadelphia, USA. His wife was Judith Reitti who was born in England, around 1860, and who died, approximately 1834, possibly in Jamaica.

It is believed Jacob and Judith ran a plantation in Jamaica which included some 35 slaves. They had three children, George, Sarah, Caleb and Elizabeth (Esther). I don't have any information about Sarah or Elizabeth (Esther) or Caleb. There is also mention, in Jacob's will, of an 'eldest son, David Basan'.

In the Knowles Collection, Jews of the Caribbean, there is a David Jacob Basan, who was born in 1799 and who died on 18 July, 1827 at Kingston in Jamaica. A burial is mentioned for him at the Orange Street Cemetery at Kingston. It is not known if this is the son of Jacob.

The latest information is that the Basans were Sephardic Jews who were probably a Portugese Jewish family as an extract from the will of Jacob Basan shows he bequeathed some of his estate to the Portugese Jewish Synagogue in Philadelphia while the Rietti's appear to be Sephardic Jews from the town of Rieti in Italy

This is an extract from the will of Jacob Basan: "BASAN, JACOB. A resident, when at home, of the Parish of Port Royal, in the Island of Jamaica, but now a sojourner in Phila. (October 30, 1816. December 6, 1816.) To my wife, Judith, and my four children: Sarah, Esther, George and Caleb Basan. To eldest son, David Basan. Execs. in Jamaica: wife Judith Basan, Abraham Vetti or Rietti, of Kingston, Jamaica and Ralph Brandon and sons, merchants of London. Execs.in United States of America: Friends Samuel Bens Akin and Abraham Elken. To Eve Elkins, wife of said friend, Abraham Elkins. To Portuguese Jews Synagogue of Phila. Wit: Robert Beck Laidly, John Brown, Joseph Alexander."

There is a register of slaves for Jacob dated 17 September 1817 and a register of slaves for Judith dated 5 July 1823.

George, who was born in 1809, died in 1881 in Prahran, Victoria, Australia. He was married to Mary Folwell who was born in England in 1810. Their offspring included Georgina (1833-1912), George (1834-1897), Alphonso (1837-), Conrad (1841-1909), Theodore (1842-1915), Harold (1847-1901), Arabella (1853-1853)and Medora.

Georgina Basan was born around 1833 in London, England and died in 1912 at San Remo in Victoria, Australia. She married George Hull (1822 to 1910) in 1851 in Melbourne, Victoria. Their children were George (1852-), Mary (1854-), Georgina (1857-), Lucy (1859-1884), Fanny (1861-1897), Emily (1862-1928), Alice (1864-1916), Alfred (1868-), Ann (1870-1870), William (1871-), and Edward (1874-).

Georgina Hull (daughter of Georgina Basan and George Hull) was married to Llewellyn Rhun Davies-Griffith who was born in 1850, at Llandudno, Wales. Their children were Hugh (1881-), George (1882-), Owen (1884-), William (1886-), Frederick (1887-), and Leslie (1889-).

George Basan was born in 1834 in England and died in 1897 at Collingwood in Victoria, Australia. He married Matilda Craig who was born in 1835 and who died in 1865. Their children were George (1858-1877), Alfred (Alphonse) (1862-), and Matilda Mary Medora (1860-). George was later married to Charlotte Louisa Peachman. George and Charlotte (1848-1898)had a child who was born and died in 1873 and two daughters, Rebecca Jane (1878-1879) and Minnie Ethel (1881-).

George and Matilda’s son, Alfred (Alphonse) later changed his surname to Thomas. He was born in 1862 at East Collingwood, Victoria, Australia. Alfred married Martha Elizabeth Jane Streeter (1867-1928)who was the daughter of Edward Streeter (1842-1908)and Mary Pollard (1842- 1921). Alfred and Martha’s children were Dora (1885-), Albert Henry (1888-1962), Fanetta (1891-), Vera (1893-), Alphonso (1897-1984), Theodore, and Alma (1885-).

Albert who was born in 1888 at Waterloo, Sydney and who died in 1962 at Charters Towers in Queensland, was married to Alice McMurray who was born in Charters towers in 1896 and who died in 1923. Her parents were William George McMurray and Mary Jane Bamford.

Conrad Basan (the son of George and Mary Folwell) was born in London in 1841 and died in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1909. He was married to Sarah Sutton who was born in 1853 in Melbourne and who died in 1933 in Dunedin. Her parents were Oliver Lewis Sutton (1816-)and Sarah Cecelia Taylor (1824-). Conrad and his wife Sarah has the following children, Conrad (1873-), Mary (1877-), George (1879-), Maud (1881-), Laura (1884-1945), Sarah (1886-), Flo (1888-), Martha (1890-), and Eveline (1894-).

George and Mary Folwell’s son, Theodore Basan was born in Kent, England in 1842 and died in 1915 at Cranbourne, Victoria, Australia. He married Mary Jane Henderson who was born in 1842, Newcastle on Tyne, Northumberland, England and who died in 1928, at Tooradin, Victoria, Australia. Their children were Arabella (1869), Mary (1871), Medora (1872-1958), Theolinda (1875), Constance (1877 lived 6 months), Horace (1879), Theodore (1880), Eileen (1882 lived 9 months), Ivy (1883 lived 3 months), Jennie (1885-).

Flowers for 2011

Flowers for 2011