The Union of James Gordy and Sallie Pennewell

Just How Many Children Did Sallie and James Have and Who Were They?

Did All of the Gordy Children Die?

James M Gordy grew up in Sussex County in the state of Delaware with what could have been a typical childhood. We know that he grew up with many siblings and his father was a farmer, “1897 Hanging of James M Gordy from Delaware.” Before going any further to view all of the newspaper articles and accounts that lead to the death of Mrs. Mary E Gordy and his hanging. I wanted to try and clear up the questions as to whom he was married to, their children, and what happened to his father. There are questions as to what happened to one of his own children and his father, you’ll read more about that in the next post.

 

Marriage

 

[1] Delaware Return of Marriage

[2] Delaware Marriage Record

Return of marriage record in Sussex County in the state of Delaware shows groom as James M Gordy, white, living in Delaware, occupation as Farmer and 23 years of age. The bride is Sallie Pennuel, white, living in Delaware, no occupation listed, and 20 years of age at the time. The date of marriage is 25 September 1886.

Births and Deaths

 

[3] Delaware Certificate of Birth

State of Delaware Certificate of a Birth in Sussex County shows the birth of a female, white with the date of birth July 15th, 1887 and place of birth Gumborough Hundred.  Father listed as James Gordy, occupation as farmer. Mother with the maiden name listed as Sallie Pennuell. This is her first child and first child in the family. The midwife was Nancy S Collins.

 

[4] Tatnall Tombstone Collection

Tatnall Tombstone Collection reference Sussex County, page 223, shows the name of deceased as Mary H. Gordy, daughter of James M., date of birth July 28th, 1887, date of death October 21st, 1888. Cemetery listed Gordy, 3 miles West Lowes Cross Roads.

 

[5] Tatnall Tombstone Collection

Tatnall Tombstone Collection reference Sussex County, page 223, shows the name of deceased as Infant daughter Gordy and father listed James M., date of birth January 18th, 1890, date of death January 18th, 1890. Cemetery listed Gordy,3 miles West Lowes Cross Roads.

 

[6] Delaware Certificate of Birth

State of Delaware Certificate of a Birth in Sussex County shows the birth of a female, white, with the date of birth February 10th, 1891 and place of birth Gumborough Hundred. Father listed as James Gordy, age 26, occupation as farmer, American native. Mother with the maiden name listed as Sallie Pennell, age 23, American native. This is her second child and second child in the family. Noted at the top of the certificate is a twin.

 

[7] Delaware Birth of Certificate

State of Delaware Certificate of a Birth in Sussex County shows the birth of a male, white, with the date of birth February 10th, 1891 and place of birth Gumborough Hundred. Father listed as James Gordy age 27, occupation as farmer, American native. Mother with the maiden name listed as Sallie Pennell, age 24, American native. This is her third child and third in the family. Noted at the top of the certificate is a twin.

 

[8] Delaware Birth of Certificate

State of Delaware Certificate of a Birth in Sussex County shows the birth of a male, white, with the date of birth February 10th, 1891 and place of birth Gumborough Hundred. Father listed as James Gordy, age 26, occupation as farmer. Mother with the maiden name listed as Sallie Pennewell, age 25. This is her third child and third child in the family. The midwife was Nancy S Collins.

 

 

[9] Delaware Death of Certificate

State of Delaware Certificate of Death in Sussex County shows Peter B Gordy as the name of the deceased, 69 years of age, white, place of birth Delaware. The last place of residence listed Gumborough Hundred, occupation listed was farming. He was married at the time of death, living in Sussex County, Delaware, parents were Marrican. Cause of death listed as blood vessel broke, date of death January 14, 1895.

 

[10] Delaware Death Record

Death Record for Peter B. Gordy, 67 years of age, white, Delaware, American native, place of residence Gumborough Hundred, occupation as farmer, married, male. Cause of death listed as blood vessel broke, date of death January 14th, 1895.

 

[11] Tatnall Tombstone Collection

Tatnall Tombstone Collection Card shows Sussex County, page 223, name of deceased Peter B. Gordy with a date of birth December 19th, 1825, date of death January 14th, 1895. Cemetery listed Gordy, 3 miles West on Lowes Cross Roads.

 

 

[12] Delaware Birth Record

Birth of Adolphue J Gordy, male, date of birth February 10th, 1895, place of birth Gumborough in Delaware. Father listed as James Gordy, age 26, occupation as farmer, American native. Mother with the maiden name listed as Sallie Pennewell, age 25, American native, the third child of the family, the third child of the mother.

 

[13] Delaware Death Record

Death record for Sallie C. Gordy, 28 years of age, white, American native, residence listed Rodney, Delaware, occupation listed as a housewife, married, female. Cause of death listed Spasms, date of death listed June 11th, 1895.

 

[14] Tatnall Tombstone Collection

Tatnall Tombstone Collection Card shows Sussex County, page 223, name of deceased Sallie C. Gordy, wife of James M. Gordy, with the date of birth May 28th, 1867, date of death June 11th, 1895. Cemetery listed Gordy, 3 miles West Lowes Cross Roads.

 

[15] Delaware Certificate of Death

State of Delaware Certificate of Death in Sussex County shows Arthur Bell Gordy as the name of the deceased, age 2 months, white, male, place of birth Delaware. The last place of residence is listed as near Milton, Delaware. Parents listed James Gordy and Sallie C Gordy, the cause of death appears to be cholera. Date of death listed July 17th, 1895.

 

[16] Delaware Death Records

Death Record of Arthur Bell Gordy, 2 months of age, white, state of Delaware, American native, residence in Milton, male. Parents listed as James and Sallie Gordy, cause of death cholera, date of death listed July 17th, 1895.

 

[17] Tatnall Tombstone Collection

Tatnall Tombstone Collection Card shows Sussex County, page 223, name of deceased Gordy, Arthur B., son of James M., with the date of birth June 2nd, 1895, date of death July 24th, 1895. Cemetery listed Gordy, 3 miles West on Lowes Cross Roads

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow while you're reading the articles and some links that I refer to, you will notice that there are many questions about the number of people he killed. Some believe he played a role in the death of his own father, wives and possibly one of his children. Yes, he was even compared to H.H. Holmes who is believed by some to be the first serial killer. There are even questions, thoughts that he escaped his own execution. Finding out who James M Gordy was after viewing that article brought about a few more questions.

          “Who was Mary E Gordy?”

          “Why does it appear Peter B Gordy’s surname might have been Hitchem?” (refer to yesterday’s post)

          “Why was he compared to H. H. Holmes?”

          “Was he, James M Gordy a serial killer?”

          “Why aren’t the names of the Gordy children listed on their Certificate of Births?”

          “Did they have three children or four?”

          “Why were there multiple Certificates of Birth for one of the twins, the female?”

I’m not looking to answer all of those questions,  just wanted to share a few pieces of information that I found.  Some additional information that I found about Sallie C. Pennewell was that she had three other siblings, one who also married a Gordy. Maybe some of you already know the answer to these questions and maybe the answers will be found in tomorrow's post. But I do know this there is a lot more to this piece of Delaware history.

 

[1]Delaware Marriage Records 1744-1912 Ancestry.com (http:www//ancestry.com: accessed July 2017) Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2008 Delaware Public Archives. Record Group #RG1325; Subgroup#003;Series#004. 
[2]Delaware Marriage Records 1806-1933 Ancestry.com (http:www//ancestry.com: accessed July 2017) Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010 Delaware Vital Records, Microfilm. Delaware Public Archives, Dover.
[3]Delaware Birth Records 1800-1932 Ancestry.com (http:www//ancestry.com: accessed July 2017) Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Delaware Public Archives; Dover, Delaware; Collection Number: Birth Records-44; Roll Number:44
[4]Delaware Vital Records 1650-1974 FamilySearch.org (http:www//familysearch.org July 2017)FamilySearch digital folder 005099543
[5]Delaware Vital Records 1650-1974 FamilySearch.org (http:www//familysearch.org July 2017)FamilySearch digital folder 005099543
[6]Delaware Birth Records 1800-1932 Ancestry.com (http:www//ancestry.com: accessed July 2017) Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Delaware Public Archives; Dover, Delaware; Collection Number: Birth Records-44; Roll Number:44
[7]Delaware Birth Records 1800-1932 Ancestry.com (http:www//ancestry.com: accessed July 2017) Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Delaware Public Archives; Dover, Delaware; Collection Number: Birth Records-44; Roll Number:44
[8]Delaware Birth Records 1800-1932 Ancestry.com (http:www//ancestry.com: accessed July 2017) Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Delaware Public Archives; Dover, Delaware; Collection Number: Birth Records-44; Roll Number:44
[9]Delaware Death Records 1811-1993 Ancestry.com (http:www//ancestry.com: accessed July 2017) Provo, UT, USA; Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Delaware Vital Records, Microfilm. Delaware Public Archives, Dover.
[10]Delaware Death Records 1811-1993 Ancestry.com (http:www//ancestry.com: accessed July 2017) Provo, UT,USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Delaware Vital Records. Microfilm. Delaware Public Archives, Dover.
[11]Delaware Vital Records 1650-1974 FamilySearch.org (http:www//familysearch.org July 2017)FamilySearch digital folder 005099543
[12]Delaware Birth Records 1800-1932 Ancestry.com (http:www//ancestry.com: accessed July 2017) Provo, UT, USA:Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Delaware Public Archives; Dover, Delaware; Collection Number: Register of Birth-4; Roll Number: 107
[13]Delaware Death Records 1811-1933 Ancestry.com (http:www//ancestry.com: accessed July 2017) Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Delaware Vital Records. Microfilm. Delaware Public Archives, Dover.
[14]Delaware Vital Records 1650-1974 FamilySearch.org (http:www//familysearch.org July 2017)FamilySearch digital folder 005099543
[15]Delaware Death Records 1811-1933 Ancestry.com (http:www//ancestry.com: accessed July 2017)Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010 Delaware Vital Records. Microfilm. Delaware Public Archives, Dover.
[16]Delaware Death Records 1811-1933 Ancestry.com (http:www//ancestry.com: accessed July 2017) Provo, UT, USA; Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Delaware Vital Records, Microfilm.Delaware Public Archives, Dover.
[17]Delaware Vital Records 1650-1974 FamilySearch.org (http:www//familysearch.org July 2017)FamilySearch digital folder 005099543