Gertrude Mae Sackett

(1886-1969)
Father___ Sackett
MotherSusie Cronin
(Src: Westfield, vol II (images of America), The Westfield Athenaeum)
Gertrude Mae Sackett, daughter of an unidentified Sackett father and Susie Cronin, was born in Westfield, Hampden County, MassachusettsG, on 8 July 1886.1,2,3 She died aged 83 on 29 September 1969 and was buried at Pine Hill Cemetery, WestfieldG.4,5 She married in Hartford, ConnecticutG, on 30 June 1909, George M Clark, son of Charles K Clark and Georgianna Miller.6 George was born in WestfieldG on 30 June 1885.3,7 He died aged 78 on 9 July 1963 and was buried at Pine Hill Cemetery, WestfieldG.4
     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, WestfieldG. 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, ConnecticutG, 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, HartfordG, 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, HartfordG, 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 HartfordG, 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, HartfordG, in the household of her husband George, 64, an accountant in an aircraft factory, and was recorded as Gertrude M Clark, aged 63.17

Westfield City Directory

1902–1908Sackett Gertrude Miss, bds 43 Montgomery
1909Sackett Gertrude Miss, clerk M. C. Ryan, bds Alquat
Gertrude M (Sackett Cronin) Clark (1886–1969), Pine Hill Cemetery, Westfield, Massachusetts
(Src: Find a Grave, Marlana Ambridge)

Children of Gertrude Mae Sackett and George M Clark


Attendance of 1,000
With Many Odd Costumes and Local Hits of Masked Variety

There were a thousand people in attendance and 164 couples in the grand march at the 13th annual masquerade of the Young Men's Social club in Columbia Hall Wednesday evening. ... The grand march was lead by Geo. M. Clark and Miss Gertrude M. Sackett. ... The following prizes were awarded: Best dressed couple, George M. Clark and Miss Gertrude M. Sackett...

Hampden County Leader, Westfield, Massachusetts, 1 Feb 1907, p 1

Merry Dancers in Costume
Young Men's Social Club Masquerade a Success
.
... Under the leadership of George Clark and Miss Gertrude Sackett the maskers marched around the hall finally ending up in rows of eight. It was a beautiful sight and brought forth considerable applause from the spectators. The judges were L. R. Sweatland, Parker Montgomery and Walter J Smith, and after some time they announced their awards as follows: Best dressed man, George Clark, leader of the grand march; best dressed woman, Miss Gertrude Sackett, with Mr. Clark in the march. ...

The Valley Echo, Westfield, Massachusetts, 2 Feb 1907, p 1

Masquer's Great Hit
Young Men's Social Club Scores A Great Success
.
... best dressed couple, Gertrude M. Sackett and George M. Clark. ...

The Valley Echo, Westfield, Massachusetts, 29 Feb 1908, p 1


Mrs. Gertrude S. Clark
Mrs. Gertrude Sackett Clark, of 355 Capitol Ave., died Tuesday at a local convalescent home. Born in Westfteld, Mass., she lived in Hartford for several years. She leaves two sons, Owen Clark of West Hartford and Burgess Clark of Rocky Hill; a daughter, Mrs. Robert Nief of Granby; eight grandchildren. The funeral will be Thursday at 11:30 a.m. with a graveside service in Pine Hill Cemetery, Westfield, Mass. Friends may call at the James T. Pratt Funeral Home, 71 Farmington Ave., today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

Hartford Courant, Hartford, Connecticut, 1 Oct 1969, p 25

 Notes & Citations

  1. This record of Gertrude Mae Sackett is based substantially on research carried out by Ralph Silberman, husband of Gertrude's granddaughter Margaret Clark, Sackett Family Association member 594.
  2. Gravestone, "Gertrude M. Clark/ July 8, 1886/ Sept. 29, 1969."
  3. Marriage record.
  4. Find a Grave.
  5. "Connecticut Death Index 1949–2012" (Ancestry transcript), "Clark, Gertr M, d. Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, 29 Sep 1969, age 86 Years, widowed, res. Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, spouse Geor."
  6. "Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840–1915" (Ancestry image), "30 Jun 1909 Westfield, MA, register, marriage place Hartford, Conn, George M Clark, 24, 1st m., of Springfield, MA, bookkeeper, b. Westfield, father Charles K Clark, mother Georgianna Miller; to Gertrude M Cronin, 23, 1st m., of Westfield, clerk, b. Westfield, [father blank], mother Susie Cronin. By J C Adams, Clerg, Hartford, Conn."
  7. Gravestone.
  8. Census.
  9. Records of the Westfield Athenaeum.
  10. "Massachusetts, Death Index, 1901–1980" (Ancestry image).
  11. A 1900 census record for Gertrude Sackett or Cronin has not been found. In 1900 her mother Susan was living at 79 Orange Street, Westfield, in the household of her widowed sister Mary Birge, 37. Susan was recorded as Susan Cronan, single, aged 44, born September 1855 in Massachusetts. Also in the household were Mary's three sons and Mary and Susan's 78-year-old mother Mary Cronan.
  12. "US City Directories, 1822-1995" (Ancestry image).
  13. 1910 United States Federal Census, Roll T624_133, p 10a, Enumeration District 0191, FHL microfilm 1374146
    Lion Street, Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut, 19/20 Apr 1910
    Clark, George M, head, 24, m1. 3y, stock chaser, tool factory, b. MA, father b. MA, mother b. MA, home rented
    Clark, Gertrude, wife, 23, m1. 3y, 1 ch, living, b. MA, father b. MA, mother b. MA
    Clark, Oen L, son, 1/12, b. CT, father b. MA, mother b. MA.
  14. 1920 United States Federal Census, Roll T625_183, p 10B, Enumeration District 112
    40 Glendale Ave, Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut, 6 Jan 1920
    Clark, George, head, 34, manager, tool factory, b. MA, father b. OH, mother b. MA, home rented
    Clark, Gertrude, wife, 33, b. MA, father b. MA, mother b. MA
    Clark, Owen, son, 9, b. CT, father b. MA, mother b. MA
    Clark, Burgess, son, 8, b. CT, father b. MA, mother b. MA
    Clark, Virginia, daughter, 5, b. CT, father b. MA, mother b. MA.
  15. 1930 United States Federal Census, Page 4A, Enumeration District 0118, FHL microfilm 2339997
    151 Central Avenue, East Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut, 5 Apr 1930
    Clark, George M, head, 43, m. at 22, general manager, factory, b. MA, father b. MA, mother b. MA, home rented, $43
    Clark, Gertrude M, wife, 44, m. at 22, b. MA, father b. MA, mother b. MA
    Clark, Owen L, son, 20, book keeper, bank, b. CT, father b. MA, mother b. MA
    Clark, Burgess M, son, 18, clerical work, economy warehouse, b. CT, father b. MA, mother b. MA
    Clark, Virginia M, daughter, 16, b. CT, father b. MA, mother b. MA.
  16. 1940 United States Federal Census, Roll m-t0627-00503, p 13B, ED 2-57
    40 Silver Lane, East Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut, 1 May 1940
    Clark, George M, head, 54, route salesman, laundry, b. MA, home rented, $38, 1935 same place
    Clark, Gertrude M, wife, 50, b. MA
    Clark, Virginia M, daughter, 26, clerk, laundry, b. CT.
  17. 1950 United States Federal Census, Roll 670, district 10-175
    355 Capitol Av, Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut, Apr 1950
    Clark, George M, head, 64, accountant, propellers, b. MA
    Clark, Gertrude M, wife, 63, b. MA.
Sackett Family Association descendants
Margaret Clark.
Generation.Tree9Q.3
Last Edited13 Oct 2023
 

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