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Note: Hugh was born in New York City on October 2, 1914. This is documented on his baptismal certificate from The Church of St. Peter (Catholic), 22 Barclay Street, New York City. He was baptized on October 24, 1914. His parents name on this certificate were given as James Cockman and Mary Sweeney. (I believe the surnames may be reversed).
Before we get to more of Hugh's information, let's go back a little farther to his mother Mary. Family has stated that Mary's mother was Katherine McBride (Kauffman, Cockman, Cochran) and that she raised Hugh after his mother died. A marriage record was found for Mary Kauffman and John Joseph Moffet dated March 16, 1903 in Manhattan. Mary is listed as 22 years old and her parents were Joseph Kauffman and Katherine McBride. Both the bride and groom list their address as 239 E. 13�sup�th�/sup� Street, New York City. They were married at the 14�sup�th�/sup� Street Presbyterian Church, New York City. Witnesses were Arthur and Annie Herron.
The name Kauffman runs through the Gillen ancestry. However on the census accounts, Mary's parents are both said to be from Ireland.
The 1905 New York State Census has Mary Moffett as the head of household and John is gone. There are no children listed for her. Mary's mother Kate Caufman and Hannah Caufman (18) are listed as boarders. Hannah may be a sister? They are living at 35 Washington Street in Manhattan. Also at the same address is James Sweeney and wife Maggie and their four children.
If you look at Joseph's birth certificate, you will see that he was born in 1908 to a John Gillen and Mary Kauffman. John Gillen listed his address at the time as 55 Washington Street, while Mary stated she was living at 35 Washington Street.
It is believed that Hugh's mother was not married when Hugh was born. His baptism certificate shows his parents as James Cockman and Mary Sweeney. I believe the surnames are reversed. The 1910 U.S. New York Census still shows Mary Cockman (25) living with her mother Kate Cockman (56) a widow. It states Mary has been married for one year with no children. Two boys are listed as sons of Kate (but that is believed an error) James (5) and Joseph (10). It is also believed the ages are reversed. Hugh is not present obviously. They are still living at 35 Washington Street in Manhattan. James Sweeney is still living at the same address with his family, minus his wife.
On the June 1, 1915 New York State Census, Hugh is 210 days old. He is living with his grandmother Kate Cochran, mother Mary and brothers James (10) and Joseph (6). The family is at 162 W. Broadway in Manhattan. The census still claims that Mary, James, Joseph and Hugh are Kate's children. Kate is now 63 and again I believe she is the grandmother to James, Joseph and Hugh.
When the 1920 New York U.S. Census comes about, the family is now living at 90 Laight Street in Manhattan. Mary is again using the surname Moffet and living with her mother Kate Kaufman (name variations may be due to Kate's accent). Also present are James (14), Joseph (10), and Hugh (5). Mary is supposely married, however husband not present. The census now states that the boys are Kate's grandsons.
The 1925 New York State Census does not show Mary, Hugh's mother, living with the family. Hugh had told family his mother died when he was six years old. The family is still living at 90 Laight Street in Manhattan. Kate Cockman (68) in the U.S. for 50 years from Ireland and a citizen through her husband. Grandsons James (20) is an office boy, Joseph (16), and Hugh (10) at school are living with her.
I have not been able to locate them on the 1930 census.
Hugh enlisted in the Marines in 1934 and his paperwork indicate that his brother "Joseph J. Gillen" attested to his identify and was his guardian. His address was 457 Washington St, NY, NY at the time. It was later changed to 281 Alter Ave, Dongan Hill, Staten Island, NY prior to his release. This address later shows up on an old photo of Katherine McBride (Marie has photo).
Hugh's enlistment corresponds to his brother Joseph's marriage to Mary Gordon also in 1934. Joseph at the time of his marriage listed the address of 457 Washington St, NY as his residence. Joseph listed his parents on his marriage record as Joseph (no surname) and Mary Kaufman.
Hugh changed his name to Gillen after being dishonorably discharged from the Marines in 1937 because of a car theft incident.
Hugh married Rita Gordon, who was the sister to Mary (his brother Joseph's wife) on April 21, 1940.
Hugh became more involved in the trucking and transportation business in Manhattan into the 1940s. He went to work for Spector Motor Services around 1944 where he eventually met Marion Reardon who was working for Spector.
On May 10, 1948, he appeared before the U.S. Senate Special Committee Investigating Small Business Enterprises under the authority of Senate Resolution 191. He spent two days in Washington, D.C. testifying for at this time an unknown reason. With him was John J. Cullen, who was the uncle of Marion Reardon.
On March 11, 1974, Hugh went to work at his business Clover Express located at 550 Duncan Avenue, Jersey City, NJ. He received a phone call and said he was going to lunch, never to return. He was suppose to testify against a mobster by the name of Dominic DeQuarto in Florida. He had already testified in 1973 at a grand jury, only after he had been put in jail for several days when he refused. DeQuarto also disappeared at the time. Hugh was declared deceased by court order in 1979.
Patricia Reardon Gault 2015
Address may have been 317 Sherman Street, Teaneck, NJ in the 1940s. Information found in Marion Reardon's phonebook.
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