He first appears on the public record 20 Nov 1669, when he witnessed a deed in Northumberland County, Virginia. He next appears 21 Dec 1670 when Samuel Tracy of Baltimore, MD, proves his right to 200 acres of land for transporting himself and three others, including Edmond Bayse, to Maryland. (Family tradition was that they landed at Old Point Lookout, MD.) Based on other cases, it is felt that they arrived in MD a couple of years before the claim was filed. The public records show that very shortly thereafter he crossed the Potomac river and settled in Northumberland County, Virginia where he lived the rest of his life. Edmond made a will, dated 2 Oct 1714, in the parish of Wicomico, County of Northumberland and named the children as shown in these records. His wife was not mentioned, which seems to indicate that she had deceased prior to that date. When making this will, it is possible that Edmond Basye contemplated a trip to England for business or other reasons, or that he was very sick or had suffered some personal injury and was not expected to live. But he recovered and lived until 1724. In January of that year (old style 1723) apparently he again became sick and added to his will a codicil which was witnessed by his son Isaac and another. Otto Basye took issue with some other publications about the records of Edmond Basye that show him to be a Huguenot refugee, born in France and having come directly to America from that country. He used the following argument: "I am very confident that the last three books (shown in his book) are in error in stating that Edmond Basye was born in France, and that he came directly from France to America. I am very confident that our first Edmond Basye, of Norman-French ancestry, came from England to America, and not directly from France to America. The Virginia Company, which was organized in England by the king's authority to explore and develop the colony of Virginia, sought as its colonists those who were to be found in England -- not France -- and caused them to be transported in English vessels, thereby conforming to the English Navigation law in spirit, if not to the very letter. From a study of all these public records we find that Edmond Basye was a lawyer familiar with English forms and procedure, which he would have to learn in England. He could not learn it in France. He wrote wills in the English language for other persons; he acted as Executor; he appeared in Court; he engaged in litigation; he bought and sold land; he was a landed proprietor; he was a planter; he was a soldier; he was a road overseer; he was a vestryman in the Church of England; he was a leader in his community and stood high as a counsellor to his neighbors. If he had been born in France and had come directly from France to America, he would have spoken French and could not be expected to know anything about English law and procedure, nor the courts, nor could he have taken the active part which he did in business affairs, nor could he have been a leader and counsellor in his community composed of Englishmen. He married Eliza Taylor the members of whose family were adjoining neighbors in Virginia and had come from England. In Otto Basye's book about the Basye Family, he draws some interesting conclusions from an inspection of the inventory of Edmond's estate. For example: 1. While a young man he had probably made voyages at sea. His inventory shows "three old chests with locks and keys,: such as sailors had. 2. After acquiring a large tract of land and prospering financially, and after becoming a recognized leader in the community, he was a "country gentleman," as appears from his powdering tubs, hat brush, "wearing clothes," and cane. 3. After he had reached the peak of his success, sometime after middle age, he probably returned to England to have his eyes treated, for we find in the inventory a pair of spectacles. These could not be made in America at that time, and would have to be fitted to the individual. Also, there were other items mentioned in the inventory that had been made abroad. If he did return to England, the time might have been soon after making his will in 1714, which may have been made in anticipation of such a journey. 4. From the fact that he had a small library, writing paper, a pen knife (used for quill pens), and a silver seal, and from is writing of wills and other activities, we may reasonably conclude that he had more education than many of the average American colonists of that day."