I have recently been inspired to talk about my Bradleys in Schuylkill County. Through marriages the Bradleys have added surnames of Murtha, Campbell, Versavage, Leary, and more that I can't think of right now. I received several comments about them, which caused me to take another look and see if I could discover more about them. All of the comments came from Margaret M., who must be a cousin that I didn't know I had, but I am grateful for the information that she gave me.
I love the little things that Margaret said about her grandmother, Mary Cecilia Bradley Murtha. First off, I didn't know her middle name was Cecilia, but the other thing is that she would never tell her age. Most of the documents I found say that she was born in 1881, but to find out that she was actually born in 1875 is amazing, and it makes you feel like you are family to know the secret. After all, only very few people knew the truth (until now that is). Just so you know, Mary was my great grandmother, Madge's (or Maggie's) little sister. I also didn't know that she is buried in No. 3 St Patrick's Cemetery in Pottsville.
Margaret also left me a message about Francis Pepper. She says that Francis Pepper was the first son of Patrick and Margaret (Madeline) Pepper. This makes Francis the older brother of Annie Pepper Bradley. Annie is the mother of my Great Grandmother Madge (Maggie) and Mary Cecilia Bradley Murtha. Francis and Annie were born in New York and moved to Mine Hill, near Ashland, PA. Oddly enough, I actually found a headstone for Francis Pepper, I think it is in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Ashland. I figured he was related, but didn't know how. Now I know.
I also got some information about Susan Bradley Campbell. Margaret's grandmother said she was a wonderful woman and her children always stayed close to her, calling her "Aunt Mame". But thanks to Margaret talking about Sister Miriam Delora (and telling me that she was Catherine Campbell before entering the order) I found this picture of her at her Golden Jubilee.
This is from the Evening Herald, Shenandoah, Pa. on Tues 16 Jul 1974, page 6. That is her on the top left. This is great stuff. So Margaret, thank you so much for your comments. It is very nice to hear the little things about my (our) family that makes you feel like you are part of it. This is why I write this blog. So thanks again.
Hi Tom .... apologies if this is a duplicate post, however I appear to have lost connection when publishing! My name is John Joseph Brady from the UK. My dad's uncle (John Joseph Brady) immigrated to Philly from Scotland in 1927. I've found him and his family in both the 1930 and 1940 census. By 1940 John and his wife, Margaret, and their two sons, Thomas (b. 6th Feb 1927 / d. 13th Sept. 1999) and John Jnr (b. 25th Sept 1933 / d. 17th Dec 2004) were living on Westmorland Street Philadelphia. My initial research indicates that John Jnr lived in Scranton. I am keen to locate any relatives as I have inherited 3 hand written letters sent by John Snr in 1927 that may be of interest to his descendants. I wondered whether the above names and dates mean anything to you as they may have come up in the Scranton area serches that you've already conducted ? If you have any infrmation that may help me find John Jr. or Thomas's children, that would be most welcome. I can be contacted directly at jjb57@hotmail.com. Best Regards
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