Benjamin Gordon (1905 - 1977)

Born 8 Mar 1905 in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States

Ancestors

Died Jan 1977 at age 71 in Fort Lauderdale, Broward, Florida, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Gaile Connolly [send private message] and Iris Sherman [send private message]

^{source index: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]}

Biography

Ben was born March 8, 1905 in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States (see Notes). His parents were Sam Gordon and Sadie (Bresnick) Gordon (see Notes).^[1]

The family, consisting of Ben, his younger brother, Harry, and their parents, lived in the area of Manhattan known as the Lower East Side, which was primarily populated with Jewish immigrants at that time. They lived in closely knit clusters of immigrants from the same country. Harry's family would have lived in the Russian community there.^[2]

Ben was only three years old when his father died,^[3] although for the rest of his life Ben believed that his father had abandoned the family (see Notes). After that, Ben's mother, with Ben and his brother, went to live with her brother, Morris, in Benezette, Elk, Pennsylvania, United States, where they were In 1910^[4] (see Notes).

Sometime before 1915, the family moved to Woodridge, Sullivan, New York, United States, a small town in the Catskill Mountains,^[5] where they stayed until sometime after 1920.^[6] Ben's mother worked for the local doctor, cleaning his office and performing clerical tasks.^[2]

Between 1920^[6] and 1925, Ben moved to Brooklyn with his mother and brother,^[7] where they lived in the neighborhood of Bensonhurst. Their home was an apartment on the third floor of a building with no elevator. Ben, a lifelong bachelor, lived in the same apartment with his mother until her death and alone after that until 1975.^[2] During this time, the most major change in Ben's life was that in 1930, his mother was head of the household^[8] but by 1940, Ben had become the head.^[9]

When he moved to Brooklyn, Ben got a job as a teller in a local bank. He worked at that same job in the same capacity, until he retired. When talking about his work, he often referred to "the big bosses", which were most likely the head teller and local branch manager.^[2]

In 1975, the year after his brother, Harry moved to Florida, Ben moved to Fort Lauderdale, Broward, Florida, United States. Shortly afterward, he became ill, was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and died January 26, 1977 in Fort Lauderdale, Broward, Florida, United States.^[10] His remains were cremated and the ashes were scattered at sea.^[2]

Notes

Birth and Parents
The birth record cited^[1] has two discrepancies, both easily attributable to clerical error. Ben's name is shown as Samuel (his father's name) instead of Benjamin and his mother's LNAB is shown as Bresnek instead of Bresnick.

There is a birth record for a person named Bennie Gordon, also born in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, to Russian immigrant parents. This person was born two days after Ben and his parents were named Sam Gordon and Jennie Bograchow.^[11] Despite the similarities, this is a different person with coincidentally similar name, age, birth place, and parents' names.

1905 Census
A 1905 Census record identifies a couple named Sam and Sadie Gordon who lived in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States with a one year old daughter, in the same household with another family named Gordon that included a one year old son named Benjamin.^[12] Despite the similarities, this is a different family group with coincidentally similar names and ages.

Father's Death
According to Ben's mother, Sadie, what became of his father, Sam, is a complete mystery. Her story is that Sam left for work one day, never returned home, and nothing more was ever known about him. The family lived in Woodridge, Sullivan, New York, United States at the time and Sadie was thereafter shunned by the community, who wondered what she had done that was so bad that it caused her husband to leave her. The local doctor took pity on her and employed her to take care of his office so that she and her children could survive.^[2] This story is obviously inconsistent with existing records. Sam's death was recorded in Manhattan in 1908^[3] and Sadie and her sons did not move to Woodridge until after 1910.^[4]

1910 Census
A family, consisting of Sam and Jennie Gordon and their sons Ben, Harry, and Fred, lived in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States in 1910.^[13] Despite the similarities, this is a different family group with coincidentally similar names, ages, and relationships.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909, index, FamilySearch (accessed 10 June 2015), Samuel Gordon, 08 Mar 1905; citing Birth, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm, includes:

   Name: Samuel Gordon

   Event Type: Birth

   Event Date: 08 Mar 1905

   Event Place: Manhattan, New York, New York, United States

   Gender: Male

   Race: White

   Father's Name: Sam Gordon

   Father's Birthplace: Russia

   Father's Age: 23

   Mother's Name: Sadie Bresnek

   Mother's Birthplace: Russia

   Mother's Age: 23

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6} Remembrance of Ben's niece, Gaile Connolly and/or his brother, Harry, and/or Ben as told to Gaile.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949, index, FamilySearch (accessed 4 June 2015), Sam Gordon, 06 Oct 1908; citing Death, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm, includes:

   Name: Sam Gordon

   Event Type: Death

   Event Date: 06 Oct 1908

   Event Place: Manhattan, New York, New York, United States

   Address: 21 Bowery, Manhattan Borough

   Residence Place: , New York, New York

   Gender: Male

   Age: 26

   Marital Status: Married

   Race: White

   Occupation: Presser

   Birth Year (Estimated): 1882

   Birthplace: Russia

   Burial Date: 09 Oct 1908

   Cemetery: Silver Lake Cem.

   Father's Name: Simon

   Father's Birthplace: Russia

   Mother's Name: Yatta Gordon

   Mother's Birthplace: Russia

4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} United States Census, 1910, index and images, FamilySearch (accessed 6 June 2015), Harry Bresnick in household of Morris B Bresnick, Benezette, Elk, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 33, sheet 1A, family 6, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,375,354, includes:

   Name: Harry Bresnick

   Event Type: Census

   Event Year: 1910

   Event Place: Benezette, Elk, Pennsylvania, United States

   Gender: Male

   Age: 3

   Marital Status: Single

   Race: White

   Race (Original): White

   Relationship to Head of Household: Nephew

   Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Nephew

   Birth Year (Estimated): 1907

   Birthplace: New York

   Father's Birthplace: Russia

   Mother's Birthplace: Russia

   Household Role Gender Age Birthplace

   Morris B Bresnick Head M 22 Russia

   Sadie Bresnick Sister F 29 Russia

   Ban Bresnick Nephew M 8 New York

   Harry Bresnick Nephew M 3 New York

5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} New York, State Census, 1915, index, FamilySearch (accessed 7 June 2015), Benjamin Gordon, Fallsburg, Sullivan, New York, United States; from "New York, State Census, 1915," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing p. 09, line 24, state population census schedules, 1915, New York State Archives, Albany, includes:

   Name: Benjamin Gordon

   Event Type: Census

   Event Date: 1915

   Event Place: Fallsburg, Sullivan, New York, United States

   Gender: Male

   Age: 10

   Relationship to Head of Household: Son

   Birth Year (Estimated): 1905

   Years in United States: 10

   House Number: 345

   Page: 09

   Line Number: 24

6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} United States Census, 1920, index and images, FamilySearch (accessed 3 June 2015), Harry Gordon in household of Sadie Gordon, Fallsburg, Sullivan, New York, United States; citing sheet 6A, family 103, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,264, includes:

   Name: Harry Gordon

   Event Type: Census

   Event Year: 1920

   Event Place: Fallsburg, Sullivan, New York, United States

   Gender: Male

   Age: 13

   Marital Status: Single

   Race: White

   Race (Original): White

   Relationship to Head of Household: Son

   Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Son

   Birth Year (Estimated): 1907

   Birthplace: New York

   Father's Birthplace: Russia

   Mother's Birthplace: Russia

   Household Role Gender Age Birthplace

   Sadie Gordon Servant F 37 Russia

   Benjamine Gordon Son M 14 New York

   Harry Gordon Son M 13 New York

7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} New York, State Census, 1925, index, FamilySearch (accessed 8 June 2015), Benj Gordon, Brooklyn, A.D. 16, E.D. 58, Kings, New York, United States; from "New York, State Census, 1925," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing state population census schedules, 1925, p. 40, line 15, New York State Archives, Albany.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} United States Census, 1930, index and images, FamilySearch (accessed 3 June 2015), Benjamin Gordon in household of Sadie Gordon, Brooklyn (Districts 1251-1500), Kings, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 1416, sheet 1B, family 26, line 89, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1524; FHL microfilm 2,341,259, includes:

   Name: Benjamin Gordon

   Event Type: Census

   Event Year: 1930

   Event Place: Brooklyn (Districts 1251-1500), Kings, New York, United States

   Gender: Male

   Age: 25

   Marital Status: Single

   Race: White

   Race (Original): White

   Relationship to Head of Household: Son

   Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Son

   Birth Year (Estimated): 1905

   Birthplace: New York

   Father's Birthplace: Poland

   Mother's Birthplace: Lithuania

   Household Role Gender Age Birthplace

   Sadie Gordon Head F 49 Lithuania

   Benjamin Gordon Son M 25 New York

   Harry Gordon Son M 23 New York

9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} United States Census, 1940, index and images, FamilySearch (accessed 3 June 2015), Benjamin Gordon, Assembly District 16, Brooklyn, New York City, Kings, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 24-1788, sheet 62B, family 158, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 2592, includes:

   Name: Benjamin Gordon

   Event Type: Census

   Event Date: 1940

   Event Place: Assembly District 16, Brooklyn, New York City, Kings, New York, United States

   Gender: Male

   Age: 35

   Marital Status: Single

   Race (Original): White

   Race: White

   Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head

   Relationship to Head of Household: Head

   Birthplace: New York

   Birth Year (Estimated): 1905

   Last Place of Residence: Same Place

   Household Role Gender Age Birthplace

   Benjamin Gordon Head M 35 New York

   Sadie Gordon Mother F 59 Russia

10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Florida Death Index, 1877-1998, index, FamilySearch (accessed 7 June 2015), Benjamin Gordon, 26 Jan 1977; from "Florida Death Index, 1877-1998," index, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : 2004); citing vol. , certificate number 1133, Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, Jacksonville, includes:

    Name: Benjamin Gordon

    Event Type: Death

    Event Date: 26 Jan 1977

    Event Place: Broward, Florida, United States

    Gender: Unknown

    Age: 71

    Race: White

11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909, index, FamilySearch (accessed 8 June 2015), Bennie Gordon, 10 Mar 1905; citing Birth, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm, includes:

    Name: Bennie Gordon

    Event Type: Birth

    Event Date: 10 Mar 1905

    Event Place: Manhattan, New York, New York, United States

    Gender: Male

    Race: White

    Father's Name: Sam Gordon

    Father's Birthplace: Russia

    Father's Age: 26

    Mother's Name: Jennie Bograchow

    Mother's Birthplace: Russia

    Mother's Age: 24

12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} New York, State Census, 1905, index and images, FamilySearch (accessed 3 June 2015), Benjamin Gordon in household of Samuel Gordon, Brooklyn, A.D. 05, E.D. 06, Kings, New York; citing p. , line , county offices, New York.; FHL microfilm, includes:

    Name: Benjamin Gordon

    Residence Place: Brooklyn, Kings, New York

    Age: 1

    Birth Year (Estimated): 1904

    Birthplace: United States

    Relationship to Head of Household: Son

    Race: W

    Household Role Gender Age Birthplace

    Samuel Gordon Head M 26y Russia

    Sadie Gordon Wife F 23y Russia

    Emma Gordon Daughter F 1y United States

    Abraham Gordon Head M 33y Russia

    Rebecca Gordon Wife F 29y Russia

    Morris Gordon Son M 8y United States

    Leo Gordon Son M United States

    Henry Gordon Son M 3y United States

    Benjamin Gordon Son M 1y United States

    Sarah Abert Boarder F 16y Russia

    Louisa Clabotsky Boarder F 22y Russia

    Anna Brindle Boarder F 16y Russia

13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} United States Census, 1910, index and images, FamilySearch (accessed 7 June 2015), Benjamin Gordon in household of Samuel Gordon, Manhattan Ward 19, New York, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 1014, sheet 10A, family 259, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,375,051, includes:

    Name: Benjamin Gordon

    Event Type: Census

    Event Year: 1910

    Event Place: Manhattan Ward 19, New York, New York, United States

    Gender: Male

    Age: 5

    Marital Status: Single

    Race: White

    Race (Original): White

    Relationship to Head of Household: Son

    Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Son

    Birth Year (Estimated): 1905

    Birthplace: New York

    Father's Birthplace: Russia

    Mother's Birthplace: Russia

    Household Role Gender Age Birthplace

    Samuel Gordon Head M 34 Russia

    Jennie Gordon Wife F 29 Russia

    Benjamin Gordon Son M 5 New York

    Harry Gordon Son M 3 New York

    Fred Gordon Son M 1 New York