The Gordon and Hynes families of Newburgh

We know that great grandmother Bessie Gordon was born in Newburgh, New York in 1873, a year after after her parents were married in Essex County New Jersey. We know that great grandfather James Louis Hynes came to Newburgh from Newfoundland with his family around 1895 (age 11). James and Bessie would live in parallel in Newburgh until their marriage in 1905.

Information on both families’ lives in Newburgh comes from birth records, census records, and Newburgh City Directories. Using this information we can trace their movements around the city for a century between the 1860s and the 1970s:

Bessie’s father, Dr. James Gordon, immigrated from Northern Ireland in 1857 at age 19. The first record of him in Newburgh comes from the 1860 census. The 1870 census shows him living alone in Newburgh, already working as a physician. Records of James in the Newburgh City Directories begin in 1871 (living at 54 South Street), 1872 (64 First Street), and 1875 (138 Liberty Street). It is not known how he and Jeanette Johnston met although it seems most likely that, when she came of age, she came to Newburgh from rural New Jersey (about 50 miles distant) to find work and met Dr. Gordon there. The two of them would have traveled back to her home in New Jersey to be married in 1872 before starting their lives together in Newburgh.

Bessie was the oldest of 4 children. The others were Edward (b.1875) (a physician like his father), Adaline (“Addie”, b.1877), and Jennie (b.1884). The 1880 census shows James, Jeanette, Bessie, Edward and Addie living at the family home at 182 Liberty Street. This would be the family home for the next 80 years.

By the 1900 Census, Bessie (age 27) was a schoolteacher and Edward (age 25) a physician. By 1903, Edward had moved out of the family home.

The only known records of the Hynes family’s immigration to the United States are from United States Census records. The 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 censuses each show a different immigration year, so there is uncertainty, but I believe 1895, as reported in the 1900 census, seems the most credible.

James Louis Hynes was the oldest of 5 children, all born in Newfoundland to parents Matthew and Hannah Cobb Hynes. The others were Gilbert (b.1886), John (b.1888), Blanche (b.1891) and Philip Charles (b.1892), all born in Little Bay. Philip Charles does not appear with the family in the 1900 census, so it is likely that he died as a young child, before the family left Newfoundland.

The 1900 census lists Matthew Hynes’ occupation as Ship’s Carpenter, as does the 1900 Newburgh City Directory and all future records. The family lived at 24 Edward Street in downtown Newburgh. James Louis (who was 16) is listed as an employee working at 92 Water Street, six blocks from home.

By 1902, the family is still living on Edward Street, 18 year old James is listed as an employee at the “Register Office”.

By 1904 the family had moved to 25 Benkard Lane, a couple of blocks away from the previous home. James (age 20) still works at 92 Water Street, and John (age 16) is listed as a clerk.

James and Bessie were married on September 6, 1905. The two family homes at 25 Benkard Lane and 182 Liberty Street were eight blocks apart. Much about their marriage lies in the range between “disturbing” and “horrifying”. At the time of the marriage James was 21 and Bessie 32–it’s difficult to imagine what scenario in 1905 would attract a 32 year old schoolteacher to a man 11 years younger from a family well-below hers in social standing. Their first child, Eleanor, was born March 17, 1906, six months later–it seems their marriage was not entirely optional and/or voluntary. And given the serious transgressions that would occur later in James’ life, it is not unreasonable to wonder if James’ initial relationship with Bessie was consensual.

Eleanor was born not in Newburgh but in Watertown NY, near the Canadian border 200 miles away from Newburgh. The first publication of the 1905 Newburgh City Directory shows the family living at 25 Benkard Ave. The second publication indicates James Louis “removed to Watertown” and brother John “removed to Brooklyn”, and father Matthew Hynes deceased. The family fell apart quickly. James and Bessie may have gone to Watertown to escape whatever scandal surrounded them in Newburgh.

In October 1905, father Matthew Hynes died in New Haven Connecticut. It is not clear what he was doing there–records show him living in Newburgh within a half year of his death. James was executor of the estate, the settlement of which was not beneficial. The estate papers show that a $190 estate was balanced with a $200 expense or fine, plus James’ travel expenses from Watertown. James’ mother and three living siblings are listed on the paperwork.

By 1907 James and Bessie were back in Newburgh, where their last three children were born. They were (our grandfather) James Gordon (b.1907), Eleanor (b.1909), and Gilbert (b.1910). The 1908 Newburgh City Directory shows the family living at 45 Carpenter Ave, Newburgh. There are no other Hynes listings in Newburgh at this time. The 1910 Census shows the family still at 45 Carpenter Ave, this just before the birth of their last son Albert. The 1910 Newburgh City Directory shows James Louis Hynes “removed to Cornwall” (NY).

The 1910 Census shows Matthew’s wife, Hannah Cobb Hynes and daughter, Blanche living at 819 40th Street in Brooklyn. Hannah lived until 1950 (83 years old)–she died on Barr’d Island, Newfoundland, so she must have returned there after her husband’s death. Perhaps Blanche went with her. I have no information on the year or place of Blanche’s death.

Dr. James Gordon, Bessie’s father, died in 1912 in Newburgh. His wife, Jeanette and daughters, Addie and Jennie continued to live in the house at 182 Liberty Street. His son, Dr. Edward Gordon, moved away from Newburgh around the time his father died.

Although James Louis and family left Newburgh in 1910, they continued to be linked to Newburgh and the Gordon family in shocking ways in the years to follow. We will continue this story in a future post.