1897 hanging of James M Gordy from Delaware

Who Was James M. Gordy?

While reviewing some newspaper clippings I came across an article about the hanging of James M Gordy back in 1897. It mentioned there was a large turnout to view a hanging in the jail yard, an estimated 3,000 people. What would have made him commit this crime? What about his family, who were they and how did they carry on after such a heinous act. After reading some records and newspaper articles I began to grow more confused.

[1] Hanging of James M Gordy

I found the marriage between him and a Miss Sallie C. Pennewell dated 1886, it was a “Return to Marriage”, record. That is all fine but another article states that the woman who killed, Estella E Gordy is his wife, hence I decided to dig deeper. Boy did I learn more about Mr. Gordy and those whom he affected?  In one article he was even compared to H.H. Holmes, who is believed to be the first serial killer.

While pulling all of this information together I began to realize this was an overload for one posting. The newspaper articles enough are loaded with some valuable information in finding out what happened and what lead to his hanging. Plus as we all know when it comes to a murder that captured the attention of many you are bound to find gossip in those articles. So I’m going to try and break this up into a couple blog postings and follow the timeline.

 The Gordy Family

  [2] 1847 Marriage Record

Delaware State Marriage Record shows that Peter [Hitchem]Gordy and Wingate Matthews paid the fee of 200 dollars to the state of Delaware. The payment was made for the marriage between Peter Hitchem and Rebecca Collins, the date of marriage is recorded as 17 April 1847. Peter Gordy placed his mark.  

 

1850 Census

[3] 1850 United States Federal Census

1850 United States Federal Census from Subdivision 11 in Sussex County in the state of Delaware, shows Peter Gordy as head of household, male, place of birth Delaware, he was 22 years of age at the time of this census. Rebecca is listed as wife to head of household, female, place of birth Delaware, she was 21 years of age at the time of this census. Eliza is listed as a daughter to head of household, female, place of birth Delaware, she was 2 years of age at the time of this census.

 

1860 Census

   [4] 1860 United States Federal Census

1860 United States Federal Census from Broad Creek Hundred in Sussex County in the state of Delaware shows Peter B Gordy as head of household, male, place of birth Delaware.  The value of his real estate is listed at 1000, the value of his personal estate is listed at 200. He was able to read and write, occupation listed as a farmer, he was 35 years of age at the time of this census. Rebecca W is listed in the household, female, place of birth is Delaware. She was able to read and write, no occupation listed, she was 31 years of age at the time of this census. Annie E is listed in the household, female, place of birth is Delaware. Listed that she is attending school, no occupation listed, she was 11 years of age at the time of this census. Sallie J is listed in the household, female, place of birth Delaware. Listed that she is attending school, no occupation listed, she was 9 years of age at the time of this census. Tempy E is listed in the household, female, place of birth in Delaware. Listed that she is attending school, no occupation listed, she was 5 years of age at the time of this census. John H is listed in the household, male, place of birth Delaware. No occupation was listed,  he was 3 years of age at the time of this census. Stephen P is listed as farmer's apprentice to the head of household, male, place of birth Delaware. Listed that he is attending school, he was 13 years of age at the time of this census. 

 

1870 Census

[5] 1870 United States Federal Census

1870 United States Federal Census from the Broad Creek Hundred Subdivision in Sussex County in the state of Delaware, shows Peter Gordy as head of household, white, male, place of birth Delaware, was unable to read and write. Value of personal estate listed at 300, occupation listed as a farmer, he was 45 years of age at the time of this census. Rebecca, white, female, place of birth listed as Delaware, was unable to read and write. No occupation was listed, she was 42 years of age at the time of this census. Eliza A, white, female, place of birth Delaware. No occupation was listed, she was 22 years of age at the time of this census. Sallie J, white, female, place of birth Delaware. No occupation was listed, she was 19 years of age at the time of this census. Lafonte, white, female, place of birth Delaware, was unable to read and write. No occupation was listed, she was 17 years of age at the time of this census. John, white, male, place of birth Delaware, was unable to read and write. No occupation was listed, he was 14 years of age at the time of this census. Joseph, male, white, place of birth Delaware. No occupation was listed, he was 9 years of age at the time of this census. Elizabeth, white, female, place of birth Delaware. No occupation was listed, she was 9 years of age at the time of this census. Benton, white, male, place of birth Delaware. No occupation was listed, he was 7 years of age at the time of this census. Frank, white, male, place of birth Delaware. No occupation listed he was 5 months of age at the time of this census, born in the month of January.

 

Delaware Directory

[6] 1874 Delaware Directory

1874 Delaware State Directory for Low’s Cross Roads P.O. in Sussex County. This county and location is part of the Broad Creek Hundred. Peter B. Gordy has been listed as a resident under the “Farmers and Fruit Growers” heading.   

 

1880 Census

[7] 1880 United States Federal Census

1880 United States Federal Census from the Gumborough Hundred in Sussex County in the state of Delaware, shows Peter B Gordy as head of household, white, male, married, place of birth Delaware, both parents born in Delaware, unable to read and write. Occupation listed as Farmer, he was 54 years of age at the time of this census. Rebecca is listed as wife to head of household, white, female, married, place of birth Delaware, and both parents born in Delaware. Occupation listed as keeping house, she was 49 years of age at the time of this census. Joseph is listed as a son to head of household, white, male, single, place of birth Delaware, and both parents born in Delaware. Occupation listed as working on the farm, he was 19 years of age at the time of this census. Mary E. is listed as a daughter to head of household, white, female, single, place of birth Delaware, and both parents born in Delaware. Occupation listed as at home, she was 19 years of age at the time of this census. Benton is listed as a son to the head of household, white, male, single, place of birth Delaware, and both parents born in Delaware were unable to read and write. Occupation listed as working on the farm, he was 14 years of age at the time of this census. James is listed as a son to the head of household, white, male, single, place of birth Delaware, and both parents born in Delaware were unable to read and write. Occupation listed as working on the farm, he was 12 years of age at the time of this census. Franklin is listed as a son to the head of the household, white, male, single, place of birth Delaware, and both parents born in Delaware. No occupation was listed, he was 9 years of age at the time of this census.

 

[1] Middletown Transcript June 11, 2015; Page 30; by Roger Martin

[2] Delaware, Marriage Records, 1744-1912 Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed July 2017) Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2008. Dover, Delaware: Delaware Public Archives. Record Group: RG 1325; Subgroup #003; Series #400.

[3] 1850 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed July 2017) Provo, UT, USA; Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2009. Census place: Subdivision 11, Sussex, Delaware; Roll: M432_55; Page: 290A; Image: 580

[4] 1860 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed July 2017) Census Place: Broad Creek Hundred, Sussex, Delaware; Roll: M653_99; Page: 386; Family History Library Film: 803099

[5] 1870 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed July 2017) Provo,UT, USA; Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2009. Census place: Broad Creek Hundred, Sussex, Delaware; Roll: M593_122; Page: 435A; Image: 395549; Family History Library Film: 545621

[6] U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed July 2017) Provo, UT, USA; Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

[7] 1880 Untied States Federal Census Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed July 2017) Census place: Gumborough, Sussex, Delaware; Roll: 118; Family History Film: 125418; Page: 565B; Enumeration District:051; Image: 0566.