While I haven’t made much progress in tracing our Brady linage back to Ireland, I haven’t been totally stymied in adding a few new facts to the Brady family story.
My first discovery focused on
Francis J. “Frank” Brady. Frank is the
son of Francis Edwin “Frank” Brady and the grandson of Michael John Brady, our
first U.S. ancestor. His birthdate had
been estimated using census records. It
is clear he was born in New Britain, Connecticut and lived there until at least
1920 where the census enumerates him as a single male living in the household of
his father and working as a timekeeper in a cutlery factory. Obituaries for family members record him as
living in New Britain in 1956 and Meriden in 1969. I was able add a little more to Frank’s story
after finding his senior entry in the New Britain High School yearbook, called
the Beehive, for 1919. The senior
entries for that year include a date of birth and Frank listed his birthday as February
29, 1900. Unfortunately, 1900 was not a leap year! My initial thought is that Frank had a bit of
Brady mischievousness. I base that on my
father who despite being a reserved and quite person, was apt to play a prank
or otherwise have a good chuckle. I’m
assuming the correct birth date is February 28th or close to
it. Best of all the entry included a picture
of Frank.
1919 New Britain High School Beehive entry for Francis
J. Brady
My second discovery focused on
one of our John Michael Bradys. The John
in question is the son of Joseph Francis Brady, Sr., grandson of State Senator John
Michael Brady, and the great grandson of Michael John Brady, our first U.S.
ancestor. Research had already confirmed
John died in Hartford, Connecticut in 1957.
John died of smoke inhalation during a mattress fire in his boarding
house room. At the time of his death he was
34 years old, divorced with one daughter and working at a local auto body shop.
He is buried in the Brady family plot at
Mount St. Benedict Cemetery, 1 Cottage Grove Road, Bloomfield, Connecticut. I was able to find an entry for John in the Weaver
High School (25 Ridgefield Street, Hartford, Connecticut), Portal 1941
yearbook. It includes a photo, a nickname
– Jackie – and the fact that John was in the school band and “blows a mean
trumpet”. For me the musical hints are the
most compelling. Mary Jane Katherine
Egan (née Brady), John’s niece, recalled impromptu musical recitals during her
visits to the family home on Holcomb Street in Hartford. My mother recalled her father-in-law, and my
grandfather, Harold Sr., being a skilled saxophone player. We can now place John as our family trumpet
player! While not a ringer for my father
Harold Jr. – John’s nephew – I do think there is a family resemblance especially
from mid-nose down.
1941 Weaver High School Portal entry for John Michael
Brady
Hope you enjoyed the latest
updates.
