Certificates of Death and Obituraries
Obituary for Olivier (Greenleaf) Bashaw (Sept 9, 1897)
Death Certificate – Robert Bashaw (May 11, 1920)
Below is the death certificate of Robert Bashaw, my Uncle Roland referred to him as Grandpa Rob. His given name in our family tree is Gilbert.
Looking at the death certificate, it appears that whoever fills it out takes the antidotal information from a family member and that information becomes public record. This is the nemesis of anyone doing genealogical searches. Robert was widowed, and his wife’s name was identified as Paula Bashaw. In other supporting records we have her identified as Appoline, Pauline and Marie Appoline Raymond [Bashaw]. So although initially misleading, Paula is plausible.
His father Oliver Bashaw, born in Canada and mother Katherine ------, we identify as Dandurand, born in Canada. So although there are some holes, I believe it is safe to assume this is our Gilbert. To add further support, the person who gave witness to the authenticity of the information supplied was Thomas Snye of Peaseeleville. Thomas is the husband of Mrs. Thomas Snye sister of Levi Bashaw [see obituary of Levi Bashant] thus making her the daughter of Robert [Gilbert] Bashaw. Thomas was witnessing the death certificate of his father-in-law.
We also learn that this family member was a farmer, born in Canada, a resident of Peaseeleville and died at 86 of a cerebral hemorrhage.
Death Certificate – Levi Bashaw
Below is the death certificate of Levi Bashaw. Deciphering it is not as complicated compared to that of Robert [Gilbert] his father. This death certificate was witnessed by Juliet Trudeau of the Champlain Hospital in Plattsburg. I assume a staff member. According to his obituary, Levi suffered a long illness, dying at age 81. His wife was Marcella [Kelley], father Robert Bashaw, born unknown location [census reports say Canada] and mother Marie Raymond, born unknown location [Census report say Canada]. He was a retired laborer. Cause of death was a cerebral embolism, which coincidentally was identified as the cause of death for his father Robert.
Obituary for Peter Kelley, June 12, 1908
Death Certificate – Marcella Kelley Bashaw
Below is the death certificate of Marcella Kelley Bashaw. She was married to Levi Bashaw. This death certificate was witnessed by the St Lawrence State Hospital [no name given]. She was born in Beekmantown and her father was Peter Kelly from Canada and her mother was Marceline Abear from Canada. She died at 71 in 1928 so she predeceased Levi by 8 years. She died from Chronic [undecipherable] and contributory factor was arterial sclerosis.
Obituary for Levi Bashant [Bashaw] [1936]
Death Claims Levi Bashant
Old Tupper Lake resident dies at 81 in Plattsburg Hospital – 3 sons, 9 brothers and sisters survive
Death claimed another old resident of this village on Thursday February 6th, when Levi Bashant died in Champlain Valley Hospital at Plattsburg after a long illness. He was 81 years of age. Funeral services took place in Ausable Forks Saturday, and interment was in the family plot there, where his wife had preceded him seven years ago.
Mr. Bashant was born in Keeseville on January 31, 1855. He was the eldest of 10 children, of whom 9 are still living. During his youth he learned the cooper’s trade. He married Miss Marcella Kelley at Peasleeville and moved soon after that to Swanton, VT where he remained 10 years as a storekeeper.
In 1892 he returned to New York State, and in 1906 he came to Tupper Lake to work on the New York Central wrecking crew. For the past thirty years he made his home here, except for periodic visits with his children in the years following the death of his wife.
Surviving him are three sons, Solomon Bashant of Faust; Albert of Moorers Forks, and Clemis of Keeseville; one daughter, Mrs. Frank Favreau of Wells Bridge,; six brothers, Robert of Keene Valley, Louis and Joseph of Peru; Frank of Peasleeville, Fred of Willsboro; and Exave of North Brookfield, MA; and 3 sisters, Mrs. Thomas Snye of Piercefield; Mrs. Rose Beauleau of Munson, MA, and Mrs. Sam McGee of Peasleeville. The latter, the youngest surviving member of the family, is 57 years of age.
Obituary for Solomon Moses Bashant 1964
November 15, 1964 - Solomon M. Bashant, 81, retired New York Central Railroad engineer and a Tupper Lake resident most of his life, died at 9:55AM at his home, 43 Washington St.
He had been in failing health since he suffered a stroke about five years ago. Funeral services were held Tuesday at 9AM at the Holy Name Church and interment was in Holy Name Cemetery.
He was born in Keene Valley April 12, 1883 son of Levi and Marcella Kelley Bashant [Bashaw] and came to Tupper Lake 63 years ago working first at the Underwood Mill. He started his railroad career on March 15, 1907. From 1909 to 1911 he worked as a stave joiner at the Brooklyn Cooperage Co. plant here, but in February 1911 he returned to New York Central employ as a fireman on the Adirondack Division. On September 6, 1918 he was promoted to engineer and for the next 32 years he was at the throttle on the Adirondack Division locomotives. Before his long railroading career ended he saw the advent of diesel electric power and operated the first diesel electric locomotive to run on this division. Mr. Bashant retired October 31, 1950.
On August 22, 1907 he married Miss Ella LaBounty, she died unexpectedly here on June 25, 1964.
Surviving are three daughters: Mrs. Edward (Theresa) Woulf and Miss Marion Bashant, Tupper Lake; Mrs Dorothy Chichester, Hollis LI; seven sons Gordon, Utica, Floyd and Rolland, Tupper Lake; Lester, Rensselaer; Howard, Troy; Kenneth, Terrytown and Lt. Col. Norman Bashant, commanding officer of the Titian missile base at Aurora, Colorado; two brothers, Albert Bashaw, Keesesville and Clemis Bashaw, Peasleeville; one sister Mrs. Georgiana Favreau of Wells Bridge; 40 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Mr. Bashant was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
[My note, His brother Alexander predeceased him, see news article below - His sister Victoria (Bashaw) Moore predeceased him and lived in Tupper Lake at the time of her death]
Obituary for Ella [LaBounty] Bashant 1964
November 15, 1964 Mrs. Solomon Bashant 75, died suddenly last night at her home at 43 Washington Street, Tupper Lake. She was taken ill and rushed to Mercy General Hospital by Risher Ambulance but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Mrs. Bashant, the former Ella LaBounty, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Adelard LaBounty came to Tupper Lake about 67 years ago and was married on August 7, 1907 to Solomon M. Bashant who survives.
Her husband is a retired New York Central Rail Road engineer and has been in failing health for several years.
Surviving besides her husband are seven sons, Gordon of Utica, Lester of Rensselaer, Howard of Troy, Kenneth of Terrytown, Major Norman with Strategic Air Command, and Floyd and Roland both of Tupper Lake; three daughters, Mrs. Martin Chichester of Hollis, Mrs. Edward Woulf of Tupper Lake and Miss Marion Bashant at home; and several grandchildren.
The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1962. Funeral arrangement are incomplete.
Obituary for Gordon Howard Bashant 1983
Newspaper report on Myrtle Bashant [1931] 