Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Etta May Burdick


Key:1.“+” before a child’s name indicates the child has their own entry in the next generation.
 2.“born xxxx” indicates the child is under 18 years of age so the birth date is not shown.
This family history features Etta May Burdick and one of her descendants down to the second generation.


First and Second Generations
1. Etta May Burdick,1 born 13 May 1893 in Noank, New London County, Connecticut, the daughter of Walter Elsworth Burdick and Fannie E. Griswold;1, 2, 3, 4 died 18 September 1919 in Groton, New London County, Connecticut.1 Etta married, ca. 1914, George Anthony Fish (born 9 February 1879 in Noank, New London County, Connecticut, the son of Moses A. Fish and Ella P. _____;5, 6, 7 George died 18 September 1919 in Groton, New London County, Connecticut6). Etta is buried in Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic, Stonington Borough, New London County, Connecticut.1 George is buried in Noank Valley Cemetery, Noank, New London County, Connecticut.6

Etta and her daughter Frances were shot and killed by her husband George, who then hanged himself. The following article summarizes the tragic events.8

THREE DEATHS IN NOANK TRAGEDY

The family of George A. Fish, of Noank was wiped out Thursday by a double murder and suicide. The dead are:

George A. Fish, 38.

Mrs. Etta Fish, 32, his wife.

Frances Fish, 4, their daughter.

Fish, who has been a lifelong resident of Noank, drove an automobile to the Poqounnoc town hall shortly after noon, whee he found his wife, assistant to the judge of probate, eating her lunch in an upstairs room, with Miss Irene Lavers, assistant to town clerk, Henry L. Bailey. Fish was in a violent tempter and at once began a harsh verbal attack upon his wife, scaring Miss Lavers from the room, and she was in the hallway when she heard shots fired. She ran for help to the home of Joseph Gray across the street, and when she returned found that Fish had shot his wife in the head and escaped. Mrs. Fish died in about half an hour.

Fish jumped into his automobile, where his four year old daughter, Frances, was sitting, and drove to his home in Noank, taking the child into the grage where he shot her dead and then hung himself.

After Fish had shot his wife and had fled in his machine from the Poquonnoc town hall, the police of this city and New London were notified to be on the lookout for his machine, whose registration number was given as Conn. 64,838. While the search for him was still under way, the news of the end of the triple tragedy came from Noank.

Mr. Fish, who within recent years conducted a grocery store in Noank, was employed in the time keeper’s office at the New London Ship and Engine Co. He suffered a sunstroke a year ago last July. Since that time he has been unwell physically and mentally. At times, it is said, he was nearly blind due to his condition.

Mr. Fish and his wife have not lived together for the last six months, the dead man having made his home iwth his sister while his wife and daughter lived with Mrs. Fish’s mother, Mrs. Walter Burdick, in Noank. The two homes were across the street from each other.

For years before her marriage Mrs. Fish held responsible positions with both town clerk and the judge of probate, Arthur P. Anderson, knowing the business of the office as well as the judge himself.

She was born in Noank, attended its school and graduated from the business college.

Besides her parents she leaves a baby daughter, a sister, Ada, and two brothers, Eugene and Herbert Burdick, both of Noank.

The dead man was a respected member of the community in Noank, although people have realized of late that he was suffering from some peculiar ailment which found expression in his bearing and actions.


Child of Etta May Burdick and George Anthony Fish:

 2i. Frances Ella Fish, born 1914;9 died 18 September 1919 in Noank, New London County, Connecticut.9 Frances is buried in Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic, Stonington Borough, New London County, Connecticut.9

  1. Find a Grave (website). Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic, Stonington, Connecticut, Etta May Burdick Fish, born: 1894 in Noank, New London County, Connecticut; died: 18 September 1919 in Groton, New London County, Connecticut (from record, which provides the names and links for her spouse and child).
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, Connecticut, New London County, Groton, Enumeration District 449, Sheet No. 23A, family of Walter Burdick (30, Connecticut, Sept. 1869, lobster fisherman); wife of 19 years Fannie E. Burdick (37, Connecticut, Jan. 1863, 6 children, 6 living); son Walter E. Burdick (18, Connecticut, Sept. 1881, day laborer); daughter Sadie D. Burdick (16, Connecticut, Dec. 1883); daughter Nellie D. Burdick (13, Connecticut, Nov. 1886); son James H. Burdick (9, Connecticut, Aug. 1890); daughter Etta M. Burdick (7, Connecticut, May 1893); son Thomas E. Burdick (4, Connecticut, Aug. 1895).
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, Connecticut, New London County, Groton, Noank Village, E.D. 505, Sheet Nos. 1A and B, Walter Burdick, 50, Connecticut, married once, fisherman, lobster; wife of 29 years Fannie Burdick, 47, Connecticut, married once; son Walter Burdick, 28, Connecticut, laborer, railroad; son Herbert Burdick, 19, Connecticut, machinist, machine shop; daughter Etta Mae Burdick, 16, Connecticut, stenographer, court house; son Eugene Burdick, 14, Connecticut; son Edwin Burdick, 11, Connecticut.
  4. History of the Descendants of Peter Spicer, compiled by Mrs. Susan Spicer Meech and Miss Susan Billing Meech, 1911: Stanhope Press, F. H. Gilson Co., Boston, Mass. Available at google.books.com. Pages 159-160, in the family of James Spicer (1779-1867) and his wife Francis Averill: a great-grandchild, Fannie E. Griswold (daughter of Samuel Griswold and Frances Mary Louise Averill), married Walter Burdick. The text provides the names and birth dates for their eldest six Burdick children (Walter, 21 Sep. 1883; Saidee, 11 Dec. 1885; Dora, 25 Nov. 1888; J. Herbert, 16 Aug. 1890; Etta M., 13 May 1893; and Eugene, 7 Aug. 1895). Some birth dates in this book vary from other sources.
  5. Draft Registration Card, World War I, Serial No. 2080, Order No. A-4613, George Anthony Fish, born: 9 February 1879; clerical work; nearest relative: Mrs. Etta May Fish, Noank, New London County, Conn.
  6. Find a Grave (website). Noank Valley Cemetery, Noank, New London County, Connecticut, George A. Fish, born: 9 February 1879 in Noank, New London County, Connecticut; died: 18 September 1919 in Groton, New London County, Connecticut (from record, which provides the names and links for his father, spouse, and sibling).
  7. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, Connecticut, New London County, Groton, Noank Village, E.D. 505, Sheet No. 6A, Moses A. Fish, 60, Connecticut, seaman, sailing vessel; wife of 38 years Ella P. Fish, 58, South Carolina, 3 children, 2 living; son George A. Fish, 29, Connecticut, grocer, own store; daughter Abbie P. Fish, 26, Connecticut, typewriter, grocery store.
  8. Norwich Bulletin, Norwich, Connecticut, 19 September 1919, Three Deaths in Noank Tragedy, detailing the deaths of George A. Fish, his wife Etta, and daughter Frances on 18 September 1919.
  9. Find a Grave (website). Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic, Stonington, Connecticut, Frances Ella Fish, born: 1914; died: 18 September 1919 in Noank, New London County, Connecticut (from record, which includes the name and link for her mother).