Of the many families scattered throughout the United States and Canada bearing this name in one of its various forms (Bascom, Bascome, Bascum, Bascomb and Bascombe), by far the largest proportion are descended from a common ancestor — Thomas, who came to this country from England, about the year 1634, probably in the "Mary and John." He is the American ancestor of the family of Bascom of Fort Edward herein recorded.
(I) Thomas Bascom, a Massachusetts colonist, was established at Dorchester in the year 1634. He removed to Windsor, Connecticut, in 1639, being one of the second company that settled at that place. He later removed to Northampton, Massachusetts. The first mention of his name to be found in the records of the latter place is the date of his own and wife's admission to full communion to the church, May 14, 1661. In 1666, he was elected town constable. He was made freeman May, 1670, took the oath of allegiance February 8, 1679, and died there, May 9, 1682. His will is recorded at Northampton, Massachusetts. He married in England (date unknown) Avis ————, who died February 3, 1676. Children:
- Hannah, born before 1640; married (first) John Broughton; (second) William Jaynes.
- Abigail, baptized at Windsor, Connecticut, June 7, 1640; married John Ingersoll.
- Thomas, see forward.
- Hepzibah, born at Windsor, Connecticut, April 14, 1644; married Robert Lyman.
(II) Thomas (2), only son of Thomas (1) and Avis Bascom, was born in Windsor, Connecticut, February 20, 1642. He married, March 20, 1667, Mary, daughter of Thomas Newell, of Farmington, Connecticut. Thomas and wife Mary were admitted to full communion in the Northampton church in March, 1670. He died there September 11, 1689. His will is recorded at Northampton, Massachusetts. Children:
- Thomas, see forward.
- John, born 1671, died young.
- John, born October 14, 1672; married Thankful, daughter of Thomas and Abigail Webster, and granddaughter of Governor John Webster.
- Mary, died young.
(III) Thomas (3), eldest son of Thomas (2) and Mary (Newell) Bascom, was born about the year 1668. He inherited the homestead at Northampton, and died in that town February 3, 1714. He married Hannah, daughter of John Catlin, of Deerfield. She survived him many years and died January, 1747. By his will, dated January 28, 1714, he gave to her one-half of his house, land and "movables," so long as she remained a widow. Children, all born at Northampton, Massachusetts:
- Samuel, born January 27, 1692; married (first) Experience Parsons; (second) Sarah, widow of Comfort Barnes.
- Hannah, born September, 1694, married Thomas Judd.
- Thomas, died in infancy.
- Thomas (2), died young.
- Ezekiel, see forward.
- Abigail, died in infancy.
- Ruth, born April, 1703, married ———— Curtis.
- Jonathan, born 1706; he was one of the earliest settlers of Southampton, where his home was fortified against Indian attack; he married Mindwell King.
- Joseph, born January 20, 1709; married Hannah Rider.
- Mary, married Noah Sheldon.
- Martha, born September 16, 1713; married Nathaniel White (2), of South Hadley.
(IV) Ezekiel, son of Thomas (3) and Hannah (Catlin) Bascom, was born at Northampton, Massachusetts, November 22, 1700, and died in 1746, at Greenfield or Deerfield. He married Sarah Severance, March 6, 1728, who died September 9, 1729, at Deerfield. He married (second) Rebecca Clary, May 23, 1734. The children were:
- Moses, born June 8, 1736;
- Elias, see forward;
- Rebecca, married Captain Caleb Chapin;
- Ezekiel, born 1742.
(V) Elias, son of Ezekiel Bascom, was born probably at Hatfield or Deerfield, Massachusetts, May 8, 1737. He resided successively at Hatfield, Hadley, Deerfield and Northfield, Massachusetts, at which latter place he settled in 1760. He was a clothier or weaver, and until an advanced age wrought woolen cloth, flannel and linen for his household, as well as for some of his neighbors. Another account says: "While an apprentice to a clothier, during a season of bad health he learned to weave, and when too old for farm work (which was his occupation in Vermont) he asked for a loom for exercise, and continued to use it until he was very old. He was so strictly temperate that when past ninety years old he objected to a second pint of gin, prescribed by his physician, saying he feared he "should learn to like it." In 1829 he headed the family list of names for the first temperance society formed in the town. He served three months in the French and Indian war, at Lake George, New York, and was present at the battle of Saratoga as a volunteer soldier from Northfield, Massachusetts. From Northfield he removed in 1779 to Newport, New Hampshire, and in 1792 to Orwell, where he died November 29, 1833, at the advanced age of ninety-six years. He was deacon of the Congregational church at Orwell. He married (first) at Deerfield, Massachusetts, March 13, 1761, Eunice Allen, mother of all his children; (second) Thankful Graves, of Greenfield, Massachusetts. His children were:
- Elias, born February 27, 1762.
- Reuben, April 22, 1763.
- Eunice, August 25, 1764; married Daniel Buell.
- Jerusha, November 23, 1765.
- Joseph, baptized February 13, 1767; died February 14, 1767.
- Joseph, born March 30, 1768.
- Zeri, January 13, 1770.
- Artemidorus, see forward.
- Elisha, baptized October 13, 1776.
- Cynthia, married Daniel Blandon.
- Lucy, born August 17, 1778; married Thomas Cutts; fourteen children.
- Rebecca, married Reuben Wright.
- Ira, born 1783.
- Lucinda, born 1786; married Clark Sanford.
(VI) Artemidorus (commonly called Dorus), son of Elias and Eunice (Allen) Bascom, was born at Northfield, Massachusetts, December 19, 1774. He accompanied his father to Orwell, Vermont, in 1792, where he married, March 11, 1800, Chloe Hulburd, born September 30, 1778, daughter of Ebenezer Hulburd and Polly Sheldon. He was for many years a deacon of the church and a justice of the peace. He had a high appreciation of the importance of education. He was earnest minded, had a strong love of justice and much kindliness of temper. He died at Orwell, August 26, 1841. His widow died there October 1, 1851. His children, all born at Orwell, Vermont:
- Thankful, born December 23, 1800; married, October 17, 1820, Horace Cobb, died February 19, 1829.
- Priscilla Elvira, born March 7, 1802, married, March 10, 1822, Linus Wilcox, died March 13, 1831.
- Clarinda, born October 27. 1804; married, November 28, 1830, Samuel Howard; married (second), May 28, 1833, Alonzo Safford, died April 15, 1872.
- Emily, born August 21, 1806, married, October 14, 1828, William Riley Sanford.
- Oliver Hulburd, born February 16, 1810; married, September 4, 1834, Lucretia Olcott Young.
- Semanthe Eunice, born December 18, 1811, married, March 17, 1840, Rev. H. H. Bates.
- Dorus, born April 18, 1814; married, February 12, 1839, Elizabeth Clark, died June 23, 1839; had one son, Dorus Clark Bascom, born December 7, 1839.
- William Franklin, born January 17, 1817; married, September 16, 1845, Annie F. Strong.
- Samuel Hopkins, see forward.
(VII) Samuel Hopkins, son of Dorus and Chloe (Hulburd) Bascom, was born at Orwell, Vermont, February 27, 1819, died December 4, 1895. He married (first) May 23, 1842, Elizabeth Clark, born November 25, 1816, daughter of Moses A. and Rebecca (Wyman) Clark, died December 4, 1870. He married (second) Florinda Nichols, of Royalton, Vermont, who died in 1885. He married (third), 1888, Hattie Preseau. He was throughout his entire life actively identified with all movements tending to the advancement and prosperity of his community. In 1857 and 1858 he represented Orwell in the Vermont legislature, and at different times held several of the town offices. He was for many years a prominent factor in the affairs of the Congregational church, a most efficient clerk for fifty-three years, succeeding his father in the office; also serving as deacon, treasurer, and superintendent of the Sunday school, each for a term of years. He was a man of intellectual acumen, of marked breadth of vision and interest, of strong moral vigor and pronounced religious faith. His children, all by his first wife, were as follows:
- Anne Elizabeth, born July 6, 1844, married Clayton N. North, of Shoreham; Vermont.
- Samuel Jay, born March 27, 1846; married, May 25, 1870, Olive J. Longley.
- Wyman Hulburd, born March 9, 1848; married, September 22, 1871, Ella Francella Wyman, died July 16, 1879, at Orwell, Vermont.
- Clorinda, born March 7, 1850, died March 8, 1853.
- George, born August 22, 1852, died February 9, 1909.
- Robert O., see forward.
- Jesse, born November 3, 1857, died January 4, 1858.
- Cassius Clay, born September 15, 1861, died October 31, 1894, at Orwell, Vermont.
(VIII) Robert O., son of Samuel H. and Elizabeth (Clark) Bascom, was born in Orwell, Vermont, November 18, 1855. He was educated in the public school of Orwell, Newton Academy, Shoreham, Vermont, and the Fort Edward Collegiate Institute, where he was graduated in 1876. After his graduation and while studying law at Fort Edward, Mr. Bascom was an instructor in history, English and elocution at the institute for a few years. He took up his residence at Fort Edward, where he commenced the study of law in the office of Don D. Winn. After the death of Mr. Winn (which occurred shortly after), he entered the office of the Hon. Edgar Hull, where he continued reading until his admission to the bar in 1885. He opened an office at Fort Edward, where he practiced law until his death, May 19, 1909. Mr. Bascom was always interested in politics, and held various minor offices in the town in early life. He was for a number of years corporation counsel for the village of Fort Edward. He was chairman for the Washington County Republican Committee for a number of years, and was appointed district attorney of Washington county by Governor Frank W. Higgins, January 12, 1905. He was elected to that office in the autumn of 1905 for the full term, and in 1908 was re-elected. He was one of the charter members and a moving spirit in the organization of the New York State Historical Association, was secretary of that body for a number of years, and held the office at the time of his death. He was a charter member and first president of Adirondack Chapters, Sons of the American Revolution. He was also a member of the Vermont Historical Society, of the National Geographic Society, of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, the New York State Bar Association, Fort Edward Lodge, F. and A. M., was a trustee of Glens Falls Academy, Glens Falls, New York, and at one time was a member of Jane McCrea Lodge, I. O. O. F., Washington Counsel, Royal Arcanum, an officer of of Washington County Agricultural Society at the time of his death and was a member of the board of education of Fort Edward for several years. Mr. Bascom was a student of the history of Vermont and New York, and was the author of several works dealing with local history. He published the Fort Edward Book in 1903; Captain Norton's Orderly Book, a short time previous, and was the author of many addresses dealing with Vermont, the Green Mountain Boys, Ethan Allen, Allen's Capture of Ticonderoga; Mount Independence, Jane McCrea, Duncan Campbell and of the local history of Fort Edward. Several of his addresses upon historical subjects have been published by the New York State Historical Association. Mr. Bascom was especially interested in Fort Ticonderoga and its history, and had compiled a list containing the names of fifty-three men who are known to have entered the fort with Ethan Allen. By those familiar with the subject, he was conceded to be the best authority in America upon this matter. Mr. Bascom was a collector of rare coins, Indian relics, stamps and curios.
He was a Republican in politics, and was on the stump during every gubernatorial and presidential campaign, and was a forceful and agreeable speaker. No mention of the man would be complete without reference to the factional fight which shook the politics of Washington county to its very foundation. Mr. Bascom was a member of the Howland-Hobbie-Burleigh-Bascom faction which wrested the control of Washington county from the "bosses," and which culminated in the famous Argyle convention in 1896 when the sheriff of the county, under the guise of preserving the peace, swore in a large number of deputies and attempted by force to prevent the organization of the convention. Many of the Howland delegates were forcibly ejected from the hall; tables and chairs were broken, several men received serious injuries, and the convention was at a stand-still and could not be organized because no one could be found with the temerity to call the roll of the delegates, until Mr. Bascom, despite the sheriff, called the towns on the question of the selection of a chairman. He was forced from the platform several times, and was the object of attack of every bully in the room, but defied the mob and organized the convention. He was afterward counsel for the taxpayers' league of Washington county which preferred charges against Sheriff John N. Hevlett before Governor Roosevelt, which led to the resignation of the sheriff, his subsequent indictment, and the restoration of about ten thousand dollars to the treasury of the county. He was also a member of the grievance committee of the Bar Association, and was secretary of the sub-committee of the grievance committee which heard the charges against Judge Warren Hooker, made by the Jamestown Bar Association. Jointly with Dean Huffcut, of the Cornell Law School, he was the author of the report of that committee. Mr. Bascom represented the highest type of American citizenship and was a practical politician. He was able to deal with men and conditions as he found them, but never "crooked the pregnant hinges of the knee that thrift might follow fawning." In his administrations of the various public trusts reposed in him, he was never actuated by anything other than the desire to discharge the duty which he owed to the electorate which chose him. No innocent man was ever harassed because he stood in the politician's way. No rogue escaped punishment because he had "friends at court." He was an able lawyer, a kind father and a faithful citizen. Mr. Bascom was for a number of years a warden and vestryman of St. James Episcopal church of Fort Edward. He married, December 20, 1882, Mary Larabee Platt, daughter of Myron and Sarah (Larabee) Platt, born August 22, 1857. Children: all further mentioned.
(IX) Wyman Samuel Bascom, son of Robert O. and Mary Larrabee (Platt) Bascom, was born in Fort Edward, February 14, 1885. He married, July 15, 1908, Esther Louise Cowles, of Glens Falls, Warren county, New York, a daughter of Darius Levens and Hattie (Cronkhite) Cowles. Darius Levens Cowles was a son of Zinah and Elizabeth (Levens) Cowles. Hattie Cronkhite was a daughter of William and Esther (Milliman) Cronkhite. Mr. Bascom was educated in the public schools of Fort Edward; graduated at Glens Falls Academy in 1902, and Albany Law School, in 1905, with degree of LL.B. He was admitted to the bar in May, 1906. In politics he is a Republican, and served as United States Commissioner for the Northern District of New York; corporation counsel of the village of Fort Edward, 1907-1911; indictment clerk and assistant district attorney of Washington county. He is a member of the Glens Falls club, Fort Edward Club, Kappa Alpha Society, National Geographical Society and Vermont Historical Society. He has one son, Robert William Cowles, born July 15, 1909. He is eligible to the Colonial Societies, through Ezekiel and Elias Bascom, and to the Revolutionary Societies through Elias Bascom, Ebenezer Hulburd, Daniel Sheldon (father of Polly), and Lemuel Clark (father of Moses A.); Dorchester Town History, Stiles, History of Ancient Windsor, History of Northfield, Mass., Bascom's Genealogy, etc.
(IX) Robert Platt Bascom, born at Fort Edward, New York, December 29, 1886; educated at public schools of Fort Edward, graduated from Glens Falls Academy, Glens Falls, New York Institute, 1907; graduated from Carnegie Technical Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June, 1911, with degree of C.E.
(IX) Frederick George Bascom, born at Fort Edward, New York, June 15, 1895; educated in public schools of Fort Edward, Glens Falls Academy, and Glens Falls High School.
(The Platt Line)
(I) Mary Larrabee Platt Bascom is of the eighth generation of the Platt family in America. She descends from Richard Platt, who came to America in 1638 and settled in New Haven, Connecticut, where he died in 1684. He married Mary ————, who died in 1678.
(II) Lieutenant Joseph, son of Richard and Mary Platt, was born August 1, 1648. He married, May 5, 1680, Mary, daughter of Daniel Kellogg.
(III) Gideon, son of Lieutenant Joseph and Mary (Kellogg) Platt, was baptized September 29, 1700. He married, February 28, 1726, Mary Buckingham.
(IV) Epenetus, son of Gideon and Mary (Buckingham) Platt, was born February, 1728; married Susannah, daughter of Joseph Merwin.
(V) Epenetus (2), son of Epenetus (1) and Susannah (Merwin) Platt, was born, August 13, 1760. He married (first) August 10, 1783, Mollie Stone; (second), March 17, 1803, Sarah Lobdell.
(VI) Elmore, son of Epenetus (2) and his first wife, Mollie (Stone) Platt, was born August 18, 1797, died July 26, 1880. He married, February 2, 1825, Betsey, born September 23, 1805, daughter of Reuben Peck.
(VII) Myron, son of Elmore and Betsey (Peck) Platt, was born August 15, 1830, died October 17, 1897. He married, August 4, 1856, Sarah E. Larrabee. He was a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York.
(VIII) Mary Larrabee, daughter of Myron and Sarah E. (Larrabee) Platt, was born August 22, 1857. She married, December 20, 1882, Robert O. Bascom. She is now and has been for a number of years a member and officer of Jane McCrea Chapter, D.A.R., and is a member of the Vermont Society of Colonial Dames. She was educated at Glens Falls Academy, Glens Falls, New York, Newton Academy, Shoreham, Vermont, and is a graduate of Fort Edward Collegiate Institute.