A Matthew Basset arrived at St Helena on the 3rd January 1684 on board the ship Charles II  and is listed as a soldier in the pay of the Honourable East India Company. (1)  Basset certainly was of French origin, possibly being a Huguenot refugee to England. This assertion is partly borne out by his surname, as well as by his knowledge of French (in 1707 he translated a will into English) (2), but is mainly supported by an incident in 1699 in which Basset is called a "nasty french fellow" by the island's chaplain. (3)

The earliest extensive mention in the 'Records' of Matthew Bazett, as he later spelt his name, is an entry on 28th February 1690, when Bazett was called before the Governor and Council for refusing an order to act as an assistant or bookkeeper at the Company's plantation. Asked whether he would after all obey the order "the said Bassett said that if he Might goo up to ye Plantation he would, But he was sent hither to be a soldr, and not a slave". (4)

Despite his early attitude problems, Matthew Bazett impressed his masters sufficiently to merit, on 17th January 1710, the appointment to the position of storekeeper and fifth member of council, as he had "behaved himself very well". (5)  Having in time risen to the position of second in council, Bazett became one of the most prominent inhabitants of St Helena, and, for seventeen days in June/July of 1714, he held the office Acting Governor following the departure of Governor Boucher and prior to the arrival of Governor Pyke. (6)

Of particular interest amongst the numerous references to Bazett in the 'Records', as well as in the correspondence between St Helena and the East India Company in London, is Bazett's temporary  dismissal from the Company's service on 2nd October 1712. At the consultations on that date he is accused of "being very sottish, much adicted to strong drink, neglecting his business, and very disrespectful to the Governor". (7)

Also of interest is a letter by the Governor and Council of St Helena to the East India Company in London, dated 31st March 1714. It refers both to accusations suppossedly made by Bazett against Governor Boucher and to accusations of gambling and neglecting his business which had previously been made against Bazett himself. Bazett refused to sign this letter, despite his position on the council. (8)

On 8th July 1718, however, the 'Records' note Bazett's confirmation in the posts of storekeeper, second in council and Deputy Governor, and also in the rank of Captain (with respect to military affairs). (9)

But Bazett also prospered materially. At the census of March 1719 (10), one month before his death, Matthew
Bazett is listed as having a family, slaves, cattle and land, consisting of the following:
 

Whites - 7
(1 woman, 2 youths, 1 maiden, 1 boy, 2 girls; excl. Bazett himself)
Blacks - 9
(3 men, 3 women, 3 boys)
Cattle - 47
(1 bull, 18 cows, 7 bullocks, 8 heifers, 2 steers, 11 calves)
Land - 55 acres
(35 free, 20 hired)

Capt. Matthew Bazett signed his will on 3rd April 1719 (11) and died two days later, on 5th April 1719 (12), while still in office.

Bazett’s most famous descendant is the writer Sir Henry Rider Haggard (1856-1925), the author of King Solomon’s Mines.
 

References (St Helena Government Archives):

1: St.Helena Records, Vol.2, 1683-7
2: Register of Wills 1682-1745, p.94; the will is that of Stephen Poirier.
3: St.Helena Records, Vol.6, 1699-1703, p.7
4: St.Helena Records, Vol.3, 1687-1693, p.161
5: St.Helena Records, Vol.10, 1709-12, p.35
6: St.Helena Calendar 1833, p.54
7: St.Helena Records, Vol.10, 1709-1712, p.256
8: St.Helena Letters to England, 1706-14
9: St.Helena Records, Vol.15, 1717-8, p.315-21
10: St.Helena Records, Vol.16, 1718-20, p.160-1
11: Register of Wills 1682-1745, p.135-6
12: St.Helena Records, Vol.16, 1718-20, p.43