NYDELAWA-L Archives

From: "Frank Hathaway" <>
Subject: Cook/Bassett
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 13:38:25 -0500

Hello List,

I have a brick wall at my g-g-grandparents, Ward and Nancy (Bassett) Cook,
both born about 1807 and married about 1830. I know that Ward was born in
Middlefield, Otsego County, but lived in Tompkins, Delaware County from 1821
on.

In 1832, Ward Cook left Deposit as a crew member on a log raft going to
Philadelphia. He never returned. Family tradition says that he arrived
there, was paid, and then robbed and murdered on the way home. I'd love to
solve that mystery, and also find his wife, Nancy (Bassett) Cook, who at age
25 would have been left with two infant children. My question is this:

In order to remarry or even sell her husband's property, would there not
have been some legal procedure that Nancy would have to exercise? My
thinking is that such a legal document would certainly provide information
about her husband's disappearance, and perhaps a clue as to what happened to
her.

I shall therefore appreciate hearing from anyone who can shed some light on
how, in those early days, one would go about having a spouse "declared
legally dead."

Thank you.

Frank Hathaway
Lewisburg, PA

This thread:

• Cook/Bassett by "Frank Hathaway" <>