The Bradley Family

 

Peter Bradley was born in Ireland about 1810 and married Mary Kelly, the daughter of Dennis and Susan Kelly. Mary was born in Ireland on 31 January 1810 and died 12 April 1885 in Berlin, Minnesota and is buried in Bath Cemetery.

 

Children of Peter and Mary (Kelly) Bradley (two missing):

 
        Hugh Bradley, b: 16 Jan 1833 in Ireland, d: 19 Aug 1905, m: Honora (Hannah) Maria Lonergan on 18 Nov 1865 in Steele County

 
        Susan Bradley, b: 19 April 1835 in Ardstraw, Co. Tyrone, Ireland, d: 13 June 1893 in Berlin, MN and is buried in Bath Cemetery, m: William Lonergan

 
        Patrick Bradley, b: ca 1838

 
        James Bradley, b: ca 1840

 
        Margaret Bradley, b: 1842

 
        Mary Bradley, b: 1844 in Lowell, MA

 

The Marquis of Abercorn was a major landowner in County Tyrone
 and he lived in Ardstraw parish. He was the only wealthy person in Ardstraw Parish. His annual income from his Irish holdings was 34,000 pounds at a time when a few pounds was most common. In the early 1800s, the Abercorn holdings were 47,615 acres in County Tyrone alone. Probably for a better life, the Bradley family reportedly moved to America in 1838 and first lived in Lowell, MA. Lowell was noted as a destination for immigrants from County Tyrone. The earliest record for the family in America is the 1844 birth record for Mary (who must have died as an infant). In the 1847 and 1851 Lowell Directories, he is listed as working for Hamilton Manufacturing, a textile and  print works  company. He probably operated a loom as he is listed as an  operative
 in the 1850 census for Lowell, MA. It was a natural profession as textiles was also a major industry in County Tyrone.

 

Above is where the Bradleys lived in Lowell, Massachusetts at 20 North Street.   The map at left shows North Street and also the Hamilton Mills where Peter had an easy walk to work.

 

 

 

 

 

We can only assume that Peter died about 1858 as he is not listed in the 1859 Lowell Directory nor the 1858 Nashua Directory. Mary is in the 1860 census for Hudson, Hillsborough, NH as a widow. Hugh is still living with her (couldn
t read his occupation). James is also there and is listed as a shoemaker. Patrick is also in Hudson with his wife, Catherina at 28, and two children (Mary A. at 3, Peter at one month). After the marriage of Susan to William Lonergan in 1860 in Nashua, N.H. they move west to Minnesota and Mary Bradley joins them. Mary lives with her daughter until her death on 12 April 1885.

 

Hugh Bradley was in the army from 6 August 1862 until 16 August 1865. He served in Company F of Minnesota
s 7^th Regiment during Indian battles and the Civil War.

 

Bradley farm, built about 1860 in Steele County, MN. Purchased from a Lonergan (James?)

Bradley family: Hugh and Hannah, William Lonergan (Susan Bradley?)

 

Susan Bradley was born in Ardstraw, Co. Tyrone, Ireland on 19 April 1835 to Peter Bradley and Mary Kelly and died on 13 June 1893 in Berlin, Minnesota. Susan married William Lonergan in 1860 in Nashua, NH. Ardstraw is both a village and a parish. The village of Ardstraw stands on the River Derg, about 5 miles from Newtownsteward (population of about 300) and is central to Newtownstewart, Sion Mills, Victoria Bridge, Strabane and Castlederg. Emigration from the area in-between 1821 and 1841 was due primarily to economic downturn as a result of the decline of the textile manufacturing in Ulster, in particular, from competition to cotton manufacture in England and mechanized production elsewhere.

With Thanks to Jerry Franck: RIP
 Obituary 2016