John Bason **

   Cause of his death was Paralysis, General Decay.

   Another name for John was Basting.

  General Notes:

When he was married in 1827 he signed the Register with his mark suggesting he could not write, but his wife Mary signed her name.

At the time of the 1841 Census, John's wife Mary was living in Blackwell End, Potterspury. He was not recorded in the same household that day. Mary was aged 40 and born in the County. Living with her were her children, William, 12, Maria, 9, Thomas, 8, Susanna, 6, Mary, 4, Sarah, 2 and Reuben 3 months. All children were born in the County. Living nearby were a Joshua Bason, aged 30 a Journeyman Mason (like John), his wife (apparently) Frances Bason aged 35, and Ann aged 1 month. All were born in the County.

There is a record of a John Bason, Bricklayer, living in the Savile Buildings No 3, London at the time of the 1841 Census. He was aged 30 and not born in the County. Living with him also was his son George Bason, aged 11. The preceding entry is for a John Woodward, Bricklayer aged 25. Woodward is a surname that also is commonly represented in Potterspury records (in fact some elderly Woodwards were living a few doors away from John's family in the 1841 Census). It appears that John Bason and John Woodward were in London for work.

At the time of the 1851 census John, 48, a Bricklayer is living in Potterspury with his family who were all born in Potterspury. Wife Ann was 53 and children: George, 20, single, a Bricklayer; Maria,19, single a lacemaker; Thomas, 16, labourer; Susanna,15, a lacemaker; Mary, 13;Sarah, 12; Rueben, 10, a labourer. His widowed brother Joshua was living next door with his 2 children.

John is believed to have emigrated to New Zealand on the Queen Margaret, arriving in Nelson on 18th October 1855, having paid 20 pounds on the 15th June 1855 and a Promissory Note of 5 Pounds to Mr Horsley, Agent for G Young & Co Shipping Agents. His sister, Mary, who married John Henson also emigrated to NZ in about 1854.

John's death certificate records that 8 of his children, 4 males and 4 females were still living when he died. His first wife is named as Mary WILKS on this document.

His second wife, Jane Windiate nee Spong was the mother of his daughter-in-law, Emma Spong Windiate who was married to his son Reuben.

  Noted events in his life were:

• He emigrated to New Zealand from England about 1855.

• He worked as a Bricklayer at the time of daughter Sarah's birth on 27 Feb 1839 in Potterspury, Northampton, England.

• He worked as a Mason at the time of daughter Sarah's baptism on 31 Mar 1839 in Potterspury, Northampton, England.

• He worked as a Bricklayer according to his Death Certificate on 29 Jan 1885 in Wanganui, New Zealand.

• He worked as a Mason according to daughter Sarah's Death Certificate in 1893.

John married Mary Wills ** on 22 Mar 1827 in Cosgrove Parish Church, Cosgrove, , Northampton, England. (Mary Wills ** was born circa 1798 in Potterspury, Northampton, England and was buried on 30 May 1853 in Potterspury, Northampton, England.)

  Marriage Notes:

Witnesses were Ann Gray and Maria Wills (who made her mark).

John next married Jane Spong, daughter of Henry Spong and Charlotte Unknown, on 22 Mar 1827 in Cosgrove Parish Church, Cosgrove, , Northampton, England. (Jane Spong was born on 4 May 1823 in Guildford, , Surrey, England and died on 17 Oct 1891 in Wanganui, New Zealand.)

  Marriage Notes:

Witnesses were Ann Gray and Maria Wills (who made her mark).