Brady Boys Discovered

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 28^th 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.