Date: Thu, 26 Mar 1998
From: Gary Bastin
Subject: More Rooster Tales (Rooster Bastin Legends)
Resent-From: BASTIN-L@rootsweb.com
The following comes from Glenda Bastin and is forwarded with her permission (thanks, Glenda!) I have added parenthetical identifying information to explain better the family relationships -- Gary
"From the stories passed down through both Jim's (Jim Lile, son of Pearl Bastin Lile) family and Dad (James Glen Bastin), Rooster was quite a character. Dad says he probably got the nickname of Rooster because he was always ready and willing to fight at the drop of a hat - like a fighting rooster. You may recall the story Dad tells about Rooster. Rooster was out fishing (like any good Bastin is so-inclined to do) in his boat. At the end of the day, he didn't show up at home. Family and neighbors started looking for him. They found his boat with his rifle still in it - but, no sign of Rooster. They dragged the river and sent out search parties but could not find his body. About 2 years went by and one day Rooster just showed up. He walked into his house as if he had just gone out that morning. No explanation was given as to where he had been for the past 2 years. Some of the family said, "Why Rooster, we thought you was dead!" To which Rooster replied, "Why, I knowed all the time I wasn't dead!" He never did tell anyone where he had been during his 2-year disappearing act.
Rooster died away from this area. (outside Metcalfe, Hart, Barren Co, KY) Jim Lile seemed to think he died in Illinois. Uncle Charlie Bastin said he would pay to have his body brought back home if he could be certain that it was indeed Rooster's body. It had been so long since he had seen him that he wasn't sure if he would even recognize him. Charlie knew that Rooster had lost a leg (how?, when? where?). He viewed the body and positively identified it as that of his brother. Uncle Charlie paid to have Rooster's body returned and also paid his funeral/burial expenses."
(Thanks, Glenda!)
My information on Rooster is also rather sparse. I do remember the 'Gone Fishin' for 2 years story :-) According to James Cordis Bastin, Rooster probably died in Illinois. His disappearing act was in the 1920's or 1930's (probably in the 1930's). I have speculated that he might have been the Raymond Bastin from Green County, KY who was in Illinois during the depression, but this is pure speculation on my part. I have no records that he was ever married, but who is to say if he married during his "Gone Fishin" disappearance :=) The rest of the family never knew what happened to him for those two years!
Does anyone know of any more information on Rooster? Or, if there are any descendants (of Mallory S. 'Rooster' Bastin)? We do have several descendants of Rooster's siblings on our list, and perhaps someone knows more about him. (Lisa, the Uncle Charlie Bastin mentioned was your great grandfather Charlie Bastin; do you know any more about Rooster?)
Best Regards,
-- Gary Bastin
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