Mary Gertrude Connelly (1895-1972)-C1

Now I will try and add some information on my grandmother, Mary Gertrude Connelly Putnam (C1).  Much of the information I have for her will be a repeat of what I posted for my grandfather so I will center in on her early life.  First, some facts:

Mary Gertrude Connelly (1895-1972) (C1)
Birth: June 6th, 1895 in Needham or Boston, MA
Father:  Frederick Patrick Connelly (1859-1921) (C2)
Mother: Mary Ann Weatherby (1862-1939) (C3)

Married: Ervin Earl Putnam (1893-1988) (P1) in 1926 at Leeds, MA

Children:

Robert Ervin Putnam (1927-2011) (P0)

Living Son

Died: May 4th, 1972 in Houlton, ME

Mary was born on June 6th, 1895 in either Needham or Boston, MA. the Massachusetts vital records list Boston, but that could mean Needham. Her parents Frederick Patrick Connelly (C2) and Mary Ann Connelly (C3) where from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Frederick was a carpenter.

The 1900 U.S. Census shows her at age 4 living with her parents and siblings in Cambridge MA. 

In all the census records, Mary Ann is listed as Annie M.

 The siblings were:

• Brother: Edwin A. age 11
• Sister: Maud M. age 8
• Sister: Helen L. age 7
• Sister: Jueannette age 2
• Sister: Madeline age 1

The 1910 U.S. Census shows she is still living with the entire family at age 14.  We get a bit more detail here, including that they were living at 50 Cedar St in Cambridge, MA.  She is marked as attending school and being able to read and write.  

Mary Gertrude Connelly, 1924

In the 1920 U.S. Census, she is still living at 50 Cedar st with her mother, brother Edwin (Edward), and sisters Jueannette, and Madeline.  It is interesting that her father doesn't appear because the information I have says he died in 1921.  This could be in error, or could be explained by the fact that Frederick traveled back to Canada allot.   The family is marked down as renters.  Mary Gertrude is marked down as being employed by the U.S. Civil Service as a stenographer.  

In 1926 she married Ervin Earl Putnam (P1) in Leeds, MA.  Given that they where both living in the Boston area before this, my suspicion is they met in Boston and Mary followed Ervin out to Leeds when he got a job at the hospital there.  Since Mary was working for the civil service and Ervin was working at the Veteran's hospital it could be they met through work.

Mary Connelly Putnam at
a cabin on Togue Pond, 1926

Mary Connelly Putnam at Togue Pond, 1926

As I said in the posts about Ervin, they honeymooned at Togue Pond in Maine.  After this, much of the rest of her life is obscured in the records and I wont repeat the information I posted under Ervin. I will post a few more pictures so you can get a feeling of her life.

Mary with son
Robert Ervin Putnam
1928

On boat trip to
Nantucket, MA
1931 or 32

Mary, Ervin, Robert
and Madge Connelly
at the beach, 1931

Mary, Ervin and sons at camp, 1931

Mary and son, Robert

Mary and son shooting at the camp

Mary Gertrude Connelly Putnam

Mary died on May 4th, 1972 in Houlton, ME. She is buried along side her husband in Evergreen Cemetery, Houlton, ME. To see a picture of her grave goto Find a Grave.

• Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988: Births: 1891-1895; Vol· 46, Candrey - Dogherty
• 1900 United States Federal Census: Database online. Year: 1900; Census Place: Cambridge Ward 5, Middlesex, Massachusetts; Roll: T623_31077_4113842; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0730; FHL microfilm: 1240657.
• 1910 United States Federal Census: Year: 1910; Census Place: Cambridge Ward 11, Middlesex, Massachusetts; Roll: T624_597; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 0789; FHL microfilm: 1374610
• 1920 United States Federal Census: Year: 1920; Census Place: Cambridge Ward 11, Middlesex, Massachusetts; Roll: T625_707; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 101; Image: 440
• U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989, Northampton, MA-1928,1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1957
• Massachusetts, Marriage Index, 1901-1955 and 1966-1970: Volume 39, Page Number 575
• 1930 United States Federal Census: Database online. Year: 1930; Census Place: Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: 912; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 36; Image: 921.0; FHL microfilm: 2340647.
• 1940 United States Federal Census: Database online. Year: 1940; Census Place: Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: T627_1600; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 8-59.
• Maine Death Index, 1960-1997: Certificate 7203806