Dade County History Book

It is believed that the Basden family originated in England or Scotland. The first documented record of our Basden family is of William and Margery Wentworth Basden living in Southampton, Bermuda in 1680. Their son, Hugh, and his son, James and wife, Elizabeth Lightbourne Basden are found in Warwick, Bermuda in 1725. By 1730 James and Elizabeth Lightbourn Basden had come to American and settled in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. They remain in Isle of Wight/Southampton County, Virginia until about 1763 when some of our direct ancestors migrated to Onslow County, North Carolina. They are first found on a census record in Onslow County, North Carolina in 1790 where most of the Basdens remain. James and Sarah Basden, parents of our David migrate to Franklin County, Alabama around 1830. From there our David goes to Liberty County, Florida where he purchases land and he and wife, Anna Jane Rouse Basden’s first child, John Henry Basden, is born.

By 1840 David and Anna Jane Rouse Basden have settled at Trenton, in Dade County, Georgia. They live there for the rest of their lives. Our Basdens have all been members of the Church of Christ. Family tradition says that their religion was set by Martha Ann Wakefield. Some of the Basden family from Virginia and North Carolina migrate to coastal Georgia, settling in Glynn, Chatham, Troup, and Mclntosh counties. The early Basdens were mariners by profession and those who settled in costal Georgia continued in that tradition. However, our David strayed from that occupation and chose the galley of Dade County to seek his fortune and raise his family. If the Basdens in our family are the result of this choice, it was a good decision. (Refer to family articles under David Basden, John Henry Basden and Martha Ann Wakefield, Mary Jane Basden and Phillip Schmidt, and Sarah Catherine Basden.) (Submitted by Jo Treece Basden, Norman, OK 73069.)