Person Page - 4603

Gertrude Mae Sackett, daughter of an unidentified Sackett father and Susie Cronin, was born in Westfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts^G, on 8 July 1886.^1,2,3 She died aged 83 on 29 September 1969 and was buried at Pine Hill Cemetery, Westfield^G.^5,6 She married in Hartford, Connecticut^G, on 30 June 1909, George M Clark, son of Charles K Clark and Georgianna Miller.⁴ George was born in Westfield^G on 30 June 1885.^3,7 He died aged 78 on 9 July 1963 and was buried at Pine Hill Cemetery, Westfield^G.⁵
     A birth record for Gertrude Sackett or Cronin has not been found. She gave her birthplace as Westfield on her marriage record. Her gravestone has her date of birth as 8 July 1886. There were no births recorded in Westfield on that date and no possible record in the name of Sackett or Cronin has been found in preceding or subsequent years. It would appear that her birth went unrecorded. Before marriage, she was named as Gertrude Sackett in directory entries and in newspaper stories in Westfield. At marriage, she was recorded as Gertrude M Cronin. This change of surname may have been because, while she named her mother as Susie Cronin, she could not name her father for the official record. Susie Cronin was born in Massachusetts in September 1855, a daughter of Terrance and Mary Cronin. She was a frequent patient at the Westfield Alms House from 1903, becoming a permanent resident there in 1909, before being transferred to the Northampton State Hospital on 4 February 1913. She was still a resident at the Northampton Hospital in 1930 and 1940. She died unmarried aged about 92 in Northampton in 1948.^8,9,10
     Present-day descendants of Gertrude report that her birth origin seemed to be something of a family secret, although it was understood that her birth father was a Sackett, some believing that her father was Seymour Austin Sackett. Gertrude's granddaughter Margaret Clark has matched DNA test results with several of Seymour's known descendants. If Seymour was the father, this would mean that Gertrude Mae Sackett, born to Susie Cronin on 8 July 1886, and Gertrude Adella Sackett, born to Seymour's second wife Mary Norwood on 16 July 1887, were half-sisters.
     A 1900 census record for Gertrude Sackett or Cronin has not been found.¹¹
     Gertrude was listed as Miss Gertrude Sackett in the Westfield City Directory in the years 1902 to 1908. She was boarding at 43 Montgomery Street, Westfield^G. This was the home of her mother Susie's uncle Owen Cronin, brother of Susie's father Terrance Cronin.¹²
     In 1910 Gertrude was living at Lion Street, Hartford, Connecticut^G, in the household of her husband George Clark, 24, a stock chaser in a tool factory, and was recorded in the census as Gertrude Clark, aged 23 and born in Massachusetts. Their son Owen, aged one month, was living with them.¹³
     In 1920 she was living at 40 Glendale Avenue, Hartford^G, in the household of her husband George Clark, 34, manager at a tool factory, and was recorded as Gertrude Clark, aged 33. Living with her were her children, Owen, 9, Burgess, 8, and Virginia, aged five.¹⁴
     In 1930 she was living at 151 Central Avenue, Hartford^G, in the household of her husband George, 43, general manager at a factory, and was recorded as Gertrude M Clark, aged 44. Living with them were their children, Owen, 20, Burgess, 18, and Virginia, aged 16.¹⁵
     In 1940 she was living at 40 Silver Lane, East Hartford^G, in the household of her husband George, 54, a salesman at a laundry, and was recorded as Gertrude M Clark, aged 50 [actually 53]. Their daughter Virginia, 26, was living with them.¹⁶
     In 1950 she was living at 355 Capitol Avenue, Hartford^G, in the household of her husband George, 64, an accountant in an aircraft factory, and was recorded as Gertrude M Clark, aged 63.¹⁷

Newspaper reports—Westfield Masquerades Obituary

Elna Lurissa Sackett, daughter of Samuel Edwin Sackett and Kathryn (Hager) Flack, was born in Pennsylvania^G in 1910.¹ She married in Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania^G, on 31 March 1934, Byron Ball.
     In 1910 Elna was living at Mountain Valley Road, Liberty, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania^G, in the household of her parents Samuel and Kathryn, and was recorded in the census as Elna L Sackett, aged three months and born in Pennsylvania.²
     In 1920 she was living at Schlager Street, Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania^G, in the household of her parents Samuel and Kathryn, and was recorded as Elma Sackett, aged ten.³
     In 1930 she was living at West Elm Street, Scranton^G, in the household of her parents Samuel and Kathryn, and was recorded as Elnna Sackett, a bookkeeper, aged 19.⁴

Paul Sackett Murdock, son of Thomas Frederick Murdock and Marion Josephine Sackett, was born in Ontario, Canada^G, about 1917.
     In 1921 Paul was living at 179½ Waller Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada^G, in the household of his parents Thomas and Marion, and was recorded in the census as Paul Sackett Murdock, aged four and born in Ontario.¹

Charles Sackett was born about 1820. He died aged about 76 in Manhattan, New York City^G, on 27 May 1896.^1,2 His parents have not been identified.

Lester Sackett, son of Harry Sacofsky/Sackett and Gussie Cohen, was born in Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut^G, on 25 February 1912.^1,2,3 He died aged 97 in New York City^G on 27 January 2010.^4,5 He married in the Bronx, New York State^G, in 1950, Lillian Rubin, daughter of David Rubin and Clara Mogelefsky.⁶ Lillian was born in Manhattan, New York City^G, on 7 August 1921.² She died aged 75 in Flushing, Queens County, New York State^G, on 4 January 1997.^7,8
     In 1930 he was living at 48th Avenue, Queens County, New York State^G, in the household of his parents Harry and Gussie, and was recorded as Lester Sackett, a bookkeeper in a glass business, aged 18 and born in New York.⁹
     In 1940 he was living at 48th Avenue, Queens County, New York State^G, in the household of his parents Harry and Gussie, and was recorded as Lester Sackett, a NY City policeman, single, aged 28.¹⁰
     Lester served in the New York Police Department for more than twenty years from the 1930s, notably as a plain clothes youth officer in Manhattan's 23rd Precinct. During his later years he lived at a retirement home at Atria, Kew Gardens, Queens County^G. At a special ceremony there on 25 April 2008 he was honored by fellow NYPD officers and the Shomrim Society of Jewish policemen, the president of the society presenting Officer Sackett with a commendation. Lester Sackett, then 96, was the oldest member of the society.¹¹

Harry Sacofsky, son of Louis Sacofsky/Sackett and Rose/Florence Frankel, was born in Ekaterinoslav (now Dnipro, Ukraine), Russia^G, on 15 December 1881.¹ He changed his name to Sackett after immigrating to the United States. He died aged 66 in Brooklyn, New York City^G, on 27 March 1948 and was buried at Beth David Cemetery, New York City^G, on 28 March 1948.^4,5 He married in Manhattan, New York City^G, on 2 August 1909, Gussie Cohen, daughter of Hans Cohen and Annie Stafkoff.^2,3 Gussie was born in Minsk, Russia^G, on 12 March 1887^6,7 and died aged 73 in Queens County, New York State^G, on 28 August 1960.⁸
     In 1900 Harry was living at Watkins Street, Brooklyn, New York City^G, in the household of his parents Louis and Rose, and was recorded in the census as Harris Sacofsky, a tailor, aged 19 and born in Russia.⁹
     In 1905 he was living at Stone Avenue, Brooklyn, New York City^G, in the household of his parents Louis and Rose, and was recorded as Harry Sacofsky, a tailor, aged 20.¹⁰
     Harry removed to Bridgeport, Connecticut, by 1908 when he was listed in the Bridgeport City Directory as a partner in the firm of Sackett Bros (Myer, Harry, Harris and Samuel Sacofsky), tailors, trading at 32 P O Arcade and 1986 Main, Bridgeport^G. Harry was living with his parents at 56 Highland Avenue. In 1910 he was also engaged in a dry goods business with his brother Myer. They used the name Sackett for the dry goods business while continuing to use Sacofsky for the tailoring business.¹¹
     In 1910 Harry was living at 56 Highland Avenue, Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut^G, and was recorded in the census as Harry Sackett, a tailor, head of household, aged 29. His wife Gussie, 22, was living with him. They were living next door to Harry's parents Louis and Rose.¹²
     In 1913 Sackett Brothers, clothing manufacturers and tailors, now comprising Harris, Harry, and Samuel, had premises at 983 State, Bridgeport^G. Harry was living at 44 Highland Avenue with his brothers Harris and Samuel. In 1914 Harry and his brother Samuel were in business as grocers at 666 Harral Avenue, Bridgeport. Harry appears to have been sole proprietor of the grocery business by 1916. In 1918 he was again listed as a tailor, now living at 183 Madison Avenue. In 1921 he was a tailor, living at 214 James.¹¹
     Harry completed a military census questionnaire at Bridgeport^G on 17 February 1917. He was aged 36, married with four dependents, living at 664 Harrall Avenue. He was a grocery merchant, with experience as a tailor. He was a Russian Jew and had taken out first papers for US citizenship. He had no military experience but could drive an automobile and was a good swimmer.¹³
     Harry completed a World War I draft registration card on 12 September 1918. He was then aged 36, and was living at 183 Madison Avenue, Bridgeport^G, with his wife Gussie. He was employed as a tailor by B Weinkofsky.¹⁴
     Harry became a naturalized US citizen by grant of the Fairfield County Superior Court at Bridgeport, Connecticut, on 24 September 1918, having declared his intention to become a US citizen on 18 September 1914. In 1918 he was living at 183 Madison Avenue, Bridgeport^G, with his wife Gussie and their children, Esther, Lester, and Harold. Harry's brother Samuel petitioned at the same court. Their brother Myer was a witness to the petitions.¹⁵
     In 1930 he was living at 48th Avenue, Queens County, New York State^G, and was recorded as Harry Sackett, proprietor of a stationery business, head of household, aged 46 and born in Russia. He rented his home. Living with him were his wife Gussie, 42, and their children, Esther, 19, Lester, 18, Harold, 15, and Irving, aged six.¹⁶
     In 1940 he was living at 48th Avenue, Queens County, New York State^G, and was recorded as Harry Sackett, a tailor (own store), head of household, aged 57. Living with him were his wife Gussie, 53, and their children, Lester, 28, Harold, 25, and Irving, aged 16. Also in the household were Harry's married sister Jessie Greenman, 44, and her son Milton, aged 19.¹⁷
     Harry completed a World War II draft registration card on 27 April 1942. He was aged 60, unemployed, and living at 41-23-39 Palace, Long Island City, Queens County, New York State^G, with his wife Gussie.¹⁸