On June 1, 1929 my great grandfather Anthony Zesut died of pneumonia at Hartford Hospital.
Born Antoni Rzeszut on May 12, 1895 in Dabrowica, Austria-Poland, he immigrated to the United States in 1909 with his mother and four siblings joining his father Kasper who had immigrated in 1907.
In 1916 Anthony married Victoria Puscizna and they went on to have five daughters: Frederica, Mary, Wanda, Sophie and Ann.
Anthony and his family lived in Glastonbury, CT until they moved to Hartford in 1923 where they lived down the street from the Colt’s Firearms Manufacturing Company where Anthony had been employed as a polisher for many years.
He left behind his wife Victoria and their five daughters. He also left his mother and step-father Anna & Peter Spark, two sisters, three brothers, three nephews and one niece. He was previously deceased by his father Kasper in 1917 and his brother Joseph in 1924.
I obtained a copy of Anthony’s death certificate from the State Of CT Department Of Vital Records. Following is a scan of that document. Click on it to view an enlargement.
SOURCE: Connecticut State Department Of Health. Bureau of Vital Statistics. Medical Certificate of Death. June 1, 1929
Connecticut State Department Of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Medical Certificate Of Death
- 1. Full Name Of Deceased: Anthony Zesut
- 2. Primary Cause Of Death: Lobar Pneumonia
- 3. Duration: 10 Days
- 4. Secondary Cause Of Death: blank
- 5. Duration: blank
This portion of the certificate is dated June 1, 1929 and was signed by Dr. J.T. Woodson, Anthony’s physician at Hartford Hospital.
Undertakers Certificate - Personal & Statistical
- 1. Full Name Of Deceased:Anthony Zesut
- 2. Place Of Death - Town: Hartford - Hartford Hospital
- 3. Number Of Families In House: blank
- 4. Residence At Time Of Death: 111 Huyshope Ave. Hartford, CT
- 5. Occupation: Polisher
- 6. Condition: Married
- 8. Date Of Death: June 1, 1929
- 9. Date Of Birth: May 12. 1895
- 10. Age: 34 years, 20 days
- 11. Sex: Male
- 12. Color: White
- 13. Birthplace - Town: blank - Country: Poland
- 14. Father’s Name In Full: Kaspar Zesut
- 15. Father’s Birthplace - Town: blank - Country: Poland
- 16. Mother’s Maiden Name: Annie Kopar
- 17. Mother’s Birthplace - Town: blank - Country: Poland
- 18. Place Of Burial: Glastonbury, Connecticut Cemetery: St. Augustine
- 19. Name Of Informant: Mrs. Zesut Address: Hfd, Connecticut
- 20. Was Body Embalmed : Yes If So, Name Of Embalmer: Frank M. Lowe License No. 664
Certificate is signed by the embalmer Frank M. Lowe of East Hartford, Conn.
From the Wikipedia entry for Pneumonia:
A lobar pneumonia is an infection that only involves a single lobe, or section, of a lung. Individuals with underlying illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, tobacco smoking, alcoholism, or immune system problems are at increased risk for pneumonia. These individuals are also more likely to have repeated episodes of pneumonia.
This past fall I hadn’t been sure where Anthony was buried. When I found this death certificate and saw it indicated he was at St. Augustine cemetery in Glastonbury I drove to the church’s office to find out where. I had previously searched St. Augustine but was unable to locate a headstone. The clerk at St. Augustine’s was extremely helpful and located the index card for the Zesut plot and it indicated that Anthony was indeed in the same location as several other members of his family. This was also how I came to find out that Kasper, Anna, and Joseph Zesut were buried in the same area. Unfortunately there are no headstones for any of them. Many years later one of Anthony’s daughters had a family marker placed at their gravesite.
Times would not be easy for Anthony’s family following his death. The Great Depression was just beginning and I can only imagine what hardships his widow and five daughters faced.
Since I started this blog I’ve felt that the articles on my Rzeszut ancestors have been leading up to this one. The lack of knowledge about my Great Grandfather is one of the main reasons I began researching this family in the first place. Through the past several months I feel as though I’ve gotten to know my Polish immigrant forebears which is extremely rewarding. I’ve met relatives I never knew and through old photos have placed names to faces. Quite interesting!
