Birth: February 18, 1869 in Navan, Meath, Ireland
Marriage: February 7, 1899 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
Death: November 9, 1952 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States
Patrick Joseph Bradley, born on February 18, 1869, in Navan, Meath, Ireland, had a life filled with transitions and challenges. As the eldest son of Bernard E. Bradley and Martha Philips, he started his journey in St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Navan, where he was baptized on February 21, 1869.
Patrick’s life took a significant turn when his father relocated to the United States after the passing of his mother. In 1885, at the age of 16, Patrick and his siblings joined their father in Boston, Massachusetts, settling on Dorchester Street. This marked the beginning of his American chapter.
Over the years, Patrick underwent various changes in residence and occupation. He moved to C Street and then West Broadway in Boston, becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen on October 11, 1890. In 1898, he formed a partnership with Harry W. Farmer, establishing Bradley & Farmer, a business focused on selling intoxicating liquors and wholesale dealings. The location was called the Coffee Tree Inn.
After the dissolution of the partnership in February 1902, Patrick continued the enterprise as the sole owner, renaming it P.J. Bradley & Company and locating it at 14 Keyes Street, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. His wife, Mary, joined him as a partner in March 1905.
Family played a significant role in Patrick’s life. On February 7, 1899, he married Mary Frances Tracy, with whom he had nine children. The family moved from Weld Hill to Tower Street in Jamaica Plain in 1900 and 1904, respectively.
Financial troubles struck in December 1909 when Patrick filed for bankruptcy with liabilities amounting to $709. Despite this setback, the family persevered, residing on Mechanic Street in Boston in 1910 and eventually settling on Montfern Avenue in Brighton by 1920.
Patrick’s occupational journey continued, shifting from a “clerk in the liquors industry” in 1900 to a “machinist in an iron arsenal” by 1920. Between 1920 and 1930, Patrick became a homeowner on Montfern Avenue.
In 1930, Patrick, now listed as a “laborer in the meat packing industry,” continued to adapt to changing circumstances. By 1940, he had retired, enjoying a more leisurely phase of life.
The final chapter in Patrick’s story unfolded on November 9, 1952, when he passed away due to cerebral thrombosis resulting from hypertensive cardiovascular disease. His funeral and burial were handled by the J. Warren Sullivan Funeral Home, featuring a Solemn High Mass of Requiem at Our Lady of the Presentation Church in Brighton. Patrick found his resting place on November 12, 1952, in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in West Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts. His journey, marked by resilience and adaptability, left an indelible mark on his family’s history.
Sources:
- Ireland, Births and Baptisms, 1620-1911
- Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915
- Ireland, Civil Registration Births Index, 1864-1958
- Ireland, Catholic Parish Baptisms, 1742-1881
- Massachusetts, State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1798-1950
- Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840-1915
- U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791-1992 (Indexed in World Archives Project)
- Newspapers.com – The Boston Globe – 2 Apr 1898 – Page 11
- Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910
- Massachusetts Marriage Certificate
- 1900 United States Federal Census
- Jamaica Plain Historical Society
- www.pre-pro.com Distillers & Importers
- Newspapers.com – The Boston Globe – 6 Feb 1902 – Page 10
- Newspapers.com – The Boston Globe – 4 Mar 1905 – Page 11
- Newspapers.com – The Boston Globe – 4 Dec 1909 – Page 14
- 1910 United States Federal Census
- 1920 United States Federal Census
- 1930 United States Federal Census
- 1940 United States Federal Census
- 1950 United States Federal Census
- Massachusetts, Death Index, 1901-1980
- Massachusetts Death Certificate
- Boston Globe Death Notice
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current