Introduction
Frederick W. Gilling
FREDERICK WILLIAM “FREDDIE” GILLING was born in England in 1854 to William and Louisa Gilling. His family came to the United States when he was 8. After spending some time in upstate New York, the Gilling family moved to Vineland NJ. William E. Gilling fought on the side of the Union during the Civil War, and after moving to Camden around 1869, was a member of the Thomas M.K. Lee Post No. 5 of the Grand Army of the Republic. By 1880 the William Gilling family was living at 432 Jasper Street, where they would remain into the 1890s.
Freddie Gilling began delivering newspapers in the Centerville section of Camden, not far from his home, in December of 1884. He would spend the rest of his life employed in selling newspapers. For several years he conducted paper delivery routes, employing several boys. In the 1900s he purchased a news stand at South 3rd and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia, and became acquainted with many members of Philadelphia’s banking community.
When the Census was taken in January of 1922, Freddie Gilling was living with his widowed sister, Mrs. Bessie Hart. She had been married to Camden Police Department detective William D. Hart.
Freddie Gilling retired in 1922, but after two years of inactivity, he purchased another news stand, this one at 3rd and Federal Streets in Camden, where he became well known to many in Camden. He worked right up until 10 days before his death on May 11, 1934.
A member of Tabernacle Baptist Church of Camden for over fifty years, Freddie Gilling was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Camden NJ.
‘Freddie’ Is Dead; Oldest ‘Newsboy’
Camden Courier-Post —
Gilling, Familiar Figure at Third and Federal Victim of Heart Attack
“Freddie” is dead.
Frederick William Gilling, Camden’s oldest “newsboy,” passed away yesterday. At “Courier Corner,” Third and Federal streets, where he had a newsstand for 10 years, he was “Freddie” to everybody.
The last time Gilling was at his stand was 10 days ago. In ill health a long time he suffered three heart attacks within the last 10 days. The last one came at 6 a. m. yesterday at the home of his sister, Mrs. Bessie Hart, 412 South Fifth street, with whom he had resided for the last 16 years.
Gilling had lived in Camden 65 years and spent half a century in the newspaper business. For years he conducted newspaper routes here, employing several boys. Twelve years ago he retired, but two years of inactivity was all he could stand. He opened his stand about 10 years ago and ever since then, Winter and Summer, no matter what the weather, you were sure to find him at his stand.
Gilling was born in London and came to this country when eight. His father had come on before he and his mother migrated. First the Gillings went to upper New York state and then they moved to Vineland.
“Vineland wasn’t much more than a tiny village then,” Gilling used to say. “And in Camden—well, Third and Federal was right in the main business section. Broadway was just lots and cornfields. City hall was considered ‘way out of town.’”
Gilling never forgot the day he started serving papers. It was December 20, 1884, and he remembered all the big things that had happened here since.
Gilling started as a newsboy in the old Centreville district as a morning carrier, when the late J. C. White owned the franchise for everything south of Kaighn avenue.
Some 30 years ago he purchased a newsstand at the corner of Third and Chestnut streets, Philadelphia, at that time in the center of the financial district there. During the year or more he conducted the stand, he became acquainted with many of that city’s prominent financiers.
Gilling never tired of telling that he was one of six carriers who used to cover the whole “town of Camden” on foot.
He never married.
“There’s no sense to that,” he would say. “It’s better to stay by yourself.”
Gilling was for 50 years a member of Tabernacle Baptist church. Besides Mrs. Hart, he is survived by two brothers, Preston, of Haddon Heights, and Harry, of Brooklyn. The funeral will take place at 2 p. m. Monday and burial will be private in Evergreen cemetery.
Frederick W. Gilling Buried in Evergreen
Camden Courier-Post —
Funeral services were held yesterday for Frederick Filliam [sic] Gilling, Camden’s oldest “newsboy” who died Friday. Gilling, who was 80, was known as “Freddie” to many with whom he came in contact at Third and Federal streets, where he had conducted a newsstand for 10 years.
Gilling resided with his sister, Mrs. Bessie Hart, 412 South Fifth street. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery.
Gilling had been a resident of Camden 65 years and spent half a century in the newspaper business. He conducted newspaper routes here for years. Besides Mrs. Hart, he is also survived by two brothers, Preston, of Haddon Heights, and Harry, of Brooklyn.