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- 1870 Federal Census of Fulton Township, Gratiot County, Michigan (1 Jul 1870)
Noah Sooy 53 M Ohio Farmer 1700 1122
Sarah 47 F Ohio Keeping House
Benjamin 16 M Ohio Farm hand
Sherman 10 M Ohio At home
Jemima Bassett 26 F Ohio Domestic Servant
Dudley Bassett 1 M Michigan
1880 Federal Census of Elmira, Otsego County, Michigan
Henry D. Bassett 33 M MI NY EN Head Farmer
Olive 37 F PA -- -- Wife Keeping House
1880 Federal Census of Fulton, Gratiot County, Michigan
Noah Sooy 64 M OH NJ NJ Head Farmer
Sarah 58 F OH PA NJ Wife Keeps House
Avary 32 M OH OH OH Son At Home
Sherman 20 M OH OH OH Son At Home
Dudley 11 M MI IN OH GSon At School
Law Division of the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C. WO 1193535, dated 26 Oct 1922
It appears that Martha and Henry D. Bassett were ceremonially married in Otsego County, Mich., March 1, 1882, and lived together only a short time when she left him owing, she alleges, to her having been informed that their marriage was not legal as he had at the time a living undivorced wife by a prior marriage. On August 11, 1886, Martha was married under her maiden name to one Charles A. Pangburn, with whom she lived until he died, December 12, 1919. Panburn was a soldier during the Civil War, and on January 10, 1920, she filed a claim for a pension as his widow, which was rejected April 9, 1920, on the ground that she did not become his lawful wife until November 11, 1909, "the date of death of her lawful husband, Henry D. Bassett".
Evidence obtained by special examination shows that her marriage to Henry D. was legal. He was married only twice previous to his marriage to Martha. His first marriage, to one Jemima Sooy, was dissolved by divorce on May 5, 1874, and his second wife, Olive Nichols died February 10, 1881. After Martha left Henry D., he, on August 27, 1892, was married at Detroit, Michigan to one Viola Westfall, a widow, with whom he lived until his death, November 11, 1909.
Viola filed a claim for pension as his widow, January 15, 1917, which was rejected September 5, 1919, on the ground that Viola was not his lawful widow, as he had, at the date of her attempted marriage to him, a wife from whom he had never been divorced and who was still living. Henry D. Bassett and Martha Isabel appear to have both been legally competent to marry at the time in 1882. Martha admitted to a special examiner that there were domestic infelicities, and it is evident that if she was led to believe that her marriage to Henry D. was illegal, she was very easily pursuaded, and did not make such inquiry as she should have done before contracting another marriage. However, it would be difficult to show that she did not remarry in good faith. She was apparently never divorced from Henry D. and the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, Washington D.C. has conceded that she was his lawful wife at the time of his death. Martha's marriage to Charles A. Pangburn was therefore void, but in the State of Michigan, where said marriage was contracted and where she and Pangburn were domiciled until Charles' death, a common law marriage may be presumed from continued cohabitation for more than thirty years.
The Plymouth Mail, Friday, November 19, 1909
Obituary Section, Plymouth, Michigan
Henry Bassett was born April 5th, 1846, and died Wednesday, Nov 10th, 1909, at his home in Newburg, aged 63 years and 7 months. He enlisted in the First engineers and Mechanics October, 1863, and served till the close of the war. About 17 years ago he was married to Mrs. Viola Westfall. He lived in Newburg for the past 16 years. Besides his widow, a brother, Edward Bassett also of Newburg, survive him. He was a member of Ryder Post. His health had not been good for several years.
The funeral was held at Newburg church on Firday afternoon last and a very large number were present to pay their last tribute. The service was conducted by Rev. E. King of Plymouth, and the remains were laid to rest in Newburg cemetery.
The Plymouth Mail, Friday, November 19, 1909
Local Section, Plymouth, Michigan
The family and friends of Henry Bassett of Newburg were terribly shocked Wednesday afternoon when it was ascertained that he had committed suicide by hanging. Mrs. Bassett had left the old gentleman shortly after dinner to come to the office of Dr. Patterson in Plymouth to get some medicine for him. Upon her return home about four o'clock he was not to be seen about the house and a search was instituted by Mrs. Bassett and daughter. The door of the granary was found nailed up from the inside and upon breaking it open Mr. Bassett was discovered hanging by the neck, the rope having been fastened to a rafter above.
Assistance was summoned and Dr. Patterson sent for, who found that Mr. Bassett had been dead at least three hours. Mr. Bassett had been in ill health for some months and it was undoubtedly despondency over this cause that led to his committing the deed. He was an old veteran of the civil war and was about 65 years of age. The funeral occurs this afternoon.
Justice E.C. Bassett, acting as coroner, empanelled a jury who viewed the remains and in inquest will be held next Monday.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1846 - 1909 (63 years)