One thing that's been on my mind lately is when my great-grandparents, Fred McRae and Maude Monroe, got married.
Since Fred was a native and lifelong resident of Brockton, Massachusetts and Maude had grown up in that city for most of her life, I always assumed that's the city they married in. But I never called or went to the Brockton City Clerk's office to confirm it because they had created a search fee a few years ago where they charge you in order for them to search their records. And whether or not a record was found, they kept the search fee. I didn't want to go there, pay them money to search for a record, only to find out it's not there and lose my money for nothing. Plus, even if they did find the record, it costs $20 for a certified copy. (Years ago, it used to only cost $5).
But today, I decided to take a chance and call them, hoping I would get someone who was pleasant and helpful or at least sympathetic. I called, asked how much a copy of a record costs (sadly, it's still $20), and then asked if she could confirm if the marriage record was there. I could tell she was hesitant at first but she eventually did. I gave her the names and date, she put me on hold, and then came back after a couple minutes and told me that the record was indeed there!
She told me that Fred and Maude were married on May 29, 1920 in Brockton, Massachusetts. After getting over my excitement at having the date, I looked at it for a moment and remembered that Maude was born in July of 1902. I realized that Maude was seventeen when she married (and Fred would have twenty-eight as he was born on May 10, 1892). This was interesting as one of my assumptions about the marriage has always been that Maude was eighteen when it took place.
The year of marriage being 1920 is very helpful to me because now, instead of having to spend $20 on a copy of the marriage record at the Brockton City Clerk's office, I should be able to get a copy for 50¢ at the Massachusetts State Archives.
So now that I have a marriage year, I must, besides get a copy of the actual marriage record, return to Brockton Public Library at some point soon to see if anything was published in the local newspaper regarding the marriage.
Showing posts with label Fred McRae. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fred McRae. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Motivation Monday - Follow Up Visits to Pine Hill Cemetery and Brockton
There were two things I planned to do today - visit Pine Hill Cemetery in West Bridgewater and Brockton Public Library,
I've been wanting to visit Pine Hill Cemetery for the past couple weeks after discovering that there are a few more family members of mine buried there. Once I got there, I spoke with a woman at the cemetery office who gave me the section and plot numbers of the graves I was looking for along with a free map of the cemetery. After this, I was able to find the graves I was looking for quite easily. However, these past few days, Massachusetts has received quite a few inches of snow. And although it didn't snow today, the clouds in the sky combined with the snow left on the ground did make it difficult to get decent pictures. So I need to go back at some point when the sun is out and take new photos.
One surprising thing that happened while at the cemetery was that I located the grave of John A. McRae. John was the son of Walter L. McRae and Laura Belle Spaulding. I knew John had died before Walter (Walter died in 1966; John is not listed as a survivor in his obituary). I called Pine Hill Cemetery the other week and asked if John happened to be buried there. They checked and told me he wasn't. And that was that.
So today, as the woman was going through the files, she pulled out the card that listed all the McRae's buried in Pine Hill. I glanced at it and noticed Walter's name, Laura's name, and two others. One was a female named Gracie whom I have never heard of. And the other was of a John Alton McRae. Curious, I asked her if John was buried with Walter and Laura. She looked it over and told me he was! So much for him not being buried there. . .
Following my trip to the cemetery, I went to Brockton Public Library so that I could search through some newspaper articles and look through the Brockton Poll Taxes once more. On my top list of priorities was finding John's obituary (I now had a death date), the obituary of his niece, Cheryl Scibetta, and some "In This City" articles (articles that tell of the activities of Brockton residents).
But when I got there, I started out looking through the poll taxes and got so wrapped up in them that I didn't have time to find search through the newspapers.
I have been trying to figure out more about the marriage between my great-grandparents, Fred J. McRae and Maude Monroe, and when my great-grandmother would have been committed. I had a breakthrough today thanks to the poll taxes.
I found out that in 1923, my great-grandparents, Fred McRae and Maude Monroe, were living at 136 Myrtle Street, Brockton, Massachusetts. But in the 1924 Poll Taxes, Maude disappeared. She was no longer living with Fred and wasn't listed as living with her parents either so I can only guess that some time between 1923 and 1924, she was committed. Maude shows up again in the Poll Taxes for 1940. It lists her living with her parents and half-brother and her occupation is listed as "At Home". It said she had been living with them in 1939 too but she didn't actually appear in the 1939 Poll Taxes. So based on evidence, Maude was released between 1939 and 1940, meaning she was institutionalized for about sixteen years.
I also discovered that Maude's father, Harvey, was a restaurant proprietor. I'm not sure how long the restaurant lasted but I'm very interested in finding more information about it (such as a name, for starters).
The other thing I'm interested in finding more about is the death place of my great-great grandfather, James R. McRae. His death certificate (he died in Brockton on March 5, 1910) lists his death place as "City Farm". When I first read it, I simply assumed it meant he owned a farm in the city. But I've heard recently that a city farm was a type of jail for people with debts and such. I want to look more into it and figure out what exactly a city farm was and why James would have been in it.
I've been wanting to visit Pine Hill Cemetery for the past couple weeks after discovering that there are a few more family members of mine buried there. Once I got there, I spoke with a woman at the cemetery office who gave me the section and plot numbers of the graves I was looking for along with a free map of the cemetery. After this, I was able to find the graves I was looking for quite easily. However, these past few days, Massachusetts has received quite a few inches of snow. And although it didn't snow today, the clouds in the sky combined with the snow left on the ground did make it difficult to get decent pictures. So I need to go back at some point when the sun is out and take new photos.
One surprising thing that happened while at the cemetery was that I located the grave of John A. McRae. John was the son of Walter L. McRae and Laura Belle Spaulding. I knew John had died before Walter (Walter died in 1966; John is not listed as a survivor in his obituary). I called Pine Hill Cemetery the other week and asked if John happened to be buried there. They checked and told me he wasn't. And that was that.
So today, as the woman was going through the files, she pulled out the card that listed all the McRae's buried in Pine Hill. I glanced at it and noticed Walter's name, Laura's name, and two others. One was a female named Gracie whom I have never heard of. And the other was of a John Alton McRae. Curious, I asked her if John was buried with Walter and Laura. She looked it over and told me he was! So much for him not being buried there. . .
Following my trip to the cemetery, I went to Brockton Public Library so that I could search through some newspaper articles and look through the Brockton Poll Taxes once more. On my top list of priorities was finding John's obituary (I now had a death date), the obituary of his niece, Cheryl Scibetta, and some "In This City" articles (articles that tell of the activities of Brockton residents).
But when I got there, I started out looking through the poll taxes and got so wrapped up in them that I didn't have time to find search through the newspapers.
I have been trying to figure out more about the marriage between my great-grandparents, Fred J. McRae and Maude Monroe, and when my great-grandmother would have been committed. I had a breakthrough today thanks to the poll taxes.
I found out that in 1923, my great-grandparents, Fred McRae and Maude Monroe, were living at 136 Myrtle Street, Brockton, Massachusetts. But in the 1924 Poll Taxes, Maude disappeared. She was no longer living with Fred and wasn't listed as living with her parents either so I can only guess that some time between 1923 and 1924, she was committed. Maude shows up again in the Poll Taxes for 1940. It lists her living with her parents and half-brother and her occupation is listed as "At Home". It said she had been living with them in 1939 too but she didn't actually appear in the 1939 Poll Taxes. So based on evidence, Maude was released between 1939 and 1940, meaning she was institutionalized for about sixteen years.
I also discovered that Maude's father, Harvey, was a restaurant proprietor. I'm not sure how long the restaurant lasted but I'm very interested in finding more information about it (such as a name, for starters).
The other thing I'm interested in finding more about is the death place of my great-great grandfather, James R. McRae. His death certificate (he died in Brockton on March 5, 1910) lists his death place as "City Farm". When I first read it, I simply assumed it meant he owned a farm in the city. But I've heard recently that a city farm was a type of jail for people with debts and such. I want to look more into it and figure out what exactly a city farm was and why James would have been in it.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Military Monday - PFC Fred J. McRae
My great-grandfather, Fred J. McRae served in World War I as a Private First Class. A military funeral was held for him following his death in February of 1952.
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| Friday, March 2, 1951 , Brockton Daily Enterprise - Page Two |
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| Calvary Cemetery, Brockton, Mass, 2011 |
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| Calvary Cemetery, Brockton, Mass, 2011 |
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Sunday's Obituary - "Maude M. McCrae, 86, resident of Brockton"
On November 9, 1988, my great-grandmother, Maude M. (Monroe) McRae, passed away.
Born in 1902, Maude was originally from Nova Scotia and arrived here with her family in the early part of the 20th century. She made her home in Brockton, Mass and was a lifelong resident of the city. She married Frederick J. McRae, a man ten years her senior, in the early 1920's and gave birth to their only child together, Clayton Frederick McRae, on June 9, 1921.
At some point after that, Maude went insane. In one instance, Maude was found selling pencils on the side of a street. Maude ended up being committed and remained so for the rest of her life. By the time Maude died in 1988, both Clayton and Fred were dead (Clayton in 1982; Fred in 1951).
Following her death, a funeral service was held at South Easton Cemetery on November 22.
As well as being survived by a sister and several nieces and nephews, Maude was also survived by several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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| Monday, Nov. 21, 1988 , The Enterprise - Page 15 |
Friday, July 29, 2011
Funeral Card Friday - Military Funeral Held For Frederick McRae
On February 27, 1951, my great grandfather, Frederick McRae, passed away at his home in Brockton, Mass. A Private First Class during World War I, a military funeral was held for him on March 2 from the funeral home, 403 Main Street. Interment was in Calvary Cemetery.
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| Friday, March 2, 1951 , Brockton Daily Enterprise - Page Two |
Monday, July 18, 2011
Mystery Monday - What's Your Name?
Throughout my time researching, I occasionally come across a piece of information that will conflict with another piece of information I already have. An example of this would be the name of my great-great grandmother.
Throughout my research, I have come across two different names for her - Bridget & Theresa.
I first found her name in the obituary of her son, Frederick McRae (my great grandfather). Her name is listed as "Bridget (Kane) McRae"
Throughout my research, I have come across two different names for her - Bridget & Theresa.
I first found her name in the obituary of her son, Frederick McRae (my great grandfather). Her name is listed as "Bridget (Kane) McRae"
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| Brockton Daily Enterprise - Wednesday, February 28, 1951 |
Her name was also listed as Bridget in a 1900 United States Census.
However, when I looked up Fred's birth certificate, her name came up as Theresa Kane.
I went to an Irish Festival where there was a genealogy booth. I told the genealogist my dilemma and she recommended that I go by the name I found on the birth certificate because it would be the most accurate. And I went with it.
Later on, I found the marriage certificate of her marriage to my great-great grandfather, James R. McRae, at the Massachusetts State Archives and her name was listed as "Theresa McCormick (Kane)". The McCormick part is correct because she was previously married to a McCormick.
I frequently use the genealogy website, familysearch.org, and have recently discovered that my great-great grandparents had another child before Walter. His name was also Fred E. McRae. However, he died in 1991, a year before my great grandfather, Fred McRae, was born. On both his birth and death records, his mother is listed "Theresa Kane".
I also found a census record from 1880 during the time of her first marriage and it lists her name as "Bridget" although it is actually misspelled on the census as "Btiget".
The death record of Thomas H. McCormick has his mother listed as "Bridget Kane".
In the obituary of Mary A. McCormick, her name is given as "Bridget" but once again, the question of accuracy comes into play because of several other typos in the obituary (ex. Kane is spelled as Cain).
On Mary McCormick's birth certificate, the name of her mother is also listed as "Bridget".
This whole name conflict remains one of the biggest mysteries and whether her name was in fact Bridget or Theresa may never be known.
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| United States Census, 1900 |
However, when I looked up Fred's birth certificate, her name came up as Theresa Kane.
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| Names written on Fred McRae's birth certificate. Dated May 10, 1892. |
I went to an Irish Festival where there was a genealogy booth. I told the genealogist my dilemma and she recommended that I go by the name I found on the birth certificate because it would be the most accurate. And I went with it.
Later on, I found the marriage certificate of her marriage to my great-great grandfather, James R. McRae, at the Massachusetts State Archives and her name was listed as "Theresa McCormick (Kane)". The McCormick part is correct because she was previously married to a McCormick.
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| Names written on marriage certificate. Dated February 19, 1887. |
On the birth certificate of Walter McRae, the second son she had with James, her name is listed as Theresa (although Theresa is misspelled in this document and written as Tressa).
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| Names written on Walter McRae's birth certificate. Dated Aug 17, 1889. |
However, the name Bridget started coming up again when I went looking for her death record. After looking through the records at the Brockton Public Library, I found her. She died on December 9, 1926 and was listed in the book as "Bridget T. McRae". The complete accuracy of her death record is questionable though because they listed her mother as Maria Horne, when in fact Maria was actually the mother of her husband, James.
And her obituary and death notice listed her as "Bridget T. Kane" as well.
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| Friday, December 10, 1926 , The Brockton Times - Page 3 |
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| Friday, December 10, 1926 , The Brockton Times - Page 13 |
I frequently use the genealogy website, familysearch.org, and have recently discovered that my great-great grandparents had another child before Walter. His name was also Fred E. McRae. However, he died in 1991, a year before my great grandfather, Fred McRae, was born. On both his birth and death records, his mother is listed "Theresa Kane".
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| Names written on Fred E. McRae's birth record. Fred was born on December 11, 1887. |
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| Names written on Fred E. McRae's death record. Fred died on April 5, 1891. |
I also found a census record from 1880 during the time of her first marriage and it lists her name as "Bridget" although it is actually misspelled on the census as "Btiget".
The death record of Thomas H. McCormick has his mother listed as "Bridget Kane".
In the obituary of Mary A. McCormick, her name is given as "Bridget" but once again, the question of accuracy comes into play because of several other typos in the obituary (ex. Kane is spelled as Cain).
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| Thursday, November 13, 1958 , Brockton Daily Enterprise - Page Two |
On Mary McCormick's birth certificate, the name of her mother is also listed as "Bridget".
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| Names listed on Mary McCormick's birth certificate. Mary was born on January 30, 1879. |
This whole name conflict remains one of the biggest mysteries and whether her name was in fact Bridget or Theresa may never be known.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Tombstone Tuesday - There's More Than Meets The Eye in Calvary Cemetery
The city of Brockton, Massachusetts has many cemeteries and if I look around hard enough, I can probably find someone of relation in each one. But the one that holds, how should I put this, the most distinction to me is Calvary Cemetery. Located on North Cary Street, Calvary Cemetery is the eternal resting place to many ancestors of mine.
Among the many ancestors laid to rest there, one of them was my great-grandfather, Fred McRae. Now finding his grave was tough when I first went looking for it a few years because there was a wreath covering the names. But once I found it, I saw that there were three other people buried with him: his sister, Mary McCormick, their boarder (Mary and Fred took in a lot of boarders), John Doherty, and Fred's adopted grandson, Kevin Newell.
Now around the headstone where two in-ground stones. Towards the front right of his stone was a memorial commemorating Fred's time in the army during World War I. And towards the back left of the headstone was a little in-ground stone with one word on it, "MOTHER" (I'm going to save the story surrounding this stone for Mystery Monday).
So after all was said and done and I had copied down the information I needed and took pictures, I left, thinking nothing more of it.
Over the years, I continued my research and made some very interesting discoveries. After looking at the death certificate of Fred's father, James R. McRae, I found out Mary was actually a step-daughter to James (half-sister to Fred). On a 1900 U.S Census Record, I found the names Edward and Thomas McCormick (spelled McCormack on the census). Now I had originally assumed that Thomas or Edward was Mary's spouse and the other was a brother of said spouse.
But after reading the obituary of Fred's mother, I found out that Thomas and Edward were actually Mary's brothers (Fred's half-brothers). Also on the obituary was another child named Ben! I was quite suprised by this.
But now the big question for me was - what the heck happened to them all?!
One problem I had been having was not being able to find Mary's death date (She died in 1958; records at the library stopped around the 1940's and the records at the city hall were too much (there's a fee just to look).) So yesterday, I decided to call Calvary because I thought maybe they could give me her burial date. And wasn't it quite a shock when the man told me that the grave was actually a ten-person grave! I was stunned and even more so when the names he read off to me included Thomas McCormick (spelled McCormack on the records there), Edward McCormick, and Benjamin McRae!
Bingo! I found them!
But now, the one thing that puzzles me is why they are all buried there but only Mary, Fred, John, and Kevin's names appear on the headstone. Hmm . . . maybe, I should have saved this story for Mystery Monday as well.
Among the many ancestors laid to rest there, one of them was my great-grandfather, Fred McRae. Now finding his grave was tough when I first went looking for it a few years because there was a wreath covering the names. But once I found it, I saw that there were three other people buried with him: his sister, Mary McCormick, their boarder (Mary and Fred took in a lot of boarders), John Doherty, and Fred's adopted grandson, Kevin Newell.
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| Mary McCormick (1879 - 1958) Fred J. McRae (1892 - 1951) John E. Doherty (1897 - 1962) Kevin F. Newell (1952 - 2001) |
Now around the headstone where two in-ground stones. Towards the front right of his stone was a memorial commemorating Fred's time in the army during World War I. And towards the back left of the headstone was a little in-ground stone with one word on it, "MOTHER" (I'm going to save the story surrounding this stone for Mystery Monday).
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| Marker commemorating Fred's time in the military during World War I. |
So after all was said and done and I had copied down the information I needed and took pictures, I left, thinking nothing more of it.
Over the years, I continued my research and made some very interesting discoveries. After looking at the death certificate of Fred's father, James R. McRae, I found out Mary was actually a step-daughter to James (half-sister to Fred). On a 1900 U.S Census Record, I found the names Edward and Thomas McCormick (spelled McCormack on the census). Now I had originally assumed that Thomas or Edward was Mary's spouse and the other was a brother of said spouse.
But after reading the obituary of Fred's mother, I found out that Thomas and Edward were actually Mary's brothers (Fred's half-brothers). Also on the obituary was another child named Ben! I was quite suprised by this.
But now the big question for me was - what the heck happened to them all?!
One problem I had been having was not being able to find Mary's death date (She died in 1958; records at the library stopped around the 1940's and the records at the city hall were too much (there's a fee just to look).) So yesterday, I decided to call Calvary because I thought maybe they could give me her burial date. And wasn't it quite a shock when the man told me that the grave was actually a ten-person grave! I was stunned and even more so when the names he read off to me included Thomas McCormick (spelled McCormack on the records there), Edward McCormick, and Benjamin McRae!
Bingo! I found them!
But now, the one thing that puzzles me is why they are all buried there but only Mary, Fred, John, and Kevin's names appear on the headstone. Hmm . . . maybe, I should have saved this story for Mystery Monday as well.
Ben McRae (Burial June 10, 1932)
Thomas H. McCormack (Burial December 4, 1941)
Child of mgt (Burial January 7, 1944)
Child of James Newell (Burial September 3, 1946)
Edward McCormack (Burial August 31, 1950)
Fred McRae (Burial March 2, 1951)
Mary McCormack (Burial November 15, 1958)
John E. Doherty (Burial December 14, 1962)
Kevin Newell (Cremation June 27, 2001)
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