Putnam-Wright Chronicles: February 2022

Monday, February 21, 2022

Possible information on Frederick Connelly's death

I had the pleasant surprise of being contacted by my second cousin from my Grandmother Connelly side of the family. He had come across some of my research and photos tied to my Great Grandmother Mary Ann Weatherby, but new her under the name Anne. He had heard from his Uncle Fred (my first Cousin Once Removed) that my Great Grandfather Frederick Patrick Connelly died in a fire in Boston. So I went to see if I could find documentation of that fire but didn't come up with anything. I did find the following article from January 25th, 1924.

F. P. CONNOLLY DIES OF GAS POISONING

West Somerville Man Victim of Accident

Frederick P. Connelly of S Cutter av. West Somerville, who was found in his room on the second floor of the house last night by patrolmen A.J. Fitzpatrick and Edward Butman of the Somerville police in an unconscious condition, suffering from accidental gas poisoning, died at the Somerville Hospital at 1 o'clock this afternoon, without regaining consciousness.

Occupants of the house detected an odor of gas and summoned officers Fitzpatrick and Butman, who forces the door of the room and found Connelly fully dressed lying on the bed in an unconscious condition. Gas was flowing from a gas jet attached to a gas stove. The windows were open, and the police think that Connelly was making tea on the gas stove, when the wind blew out the flame and he became suddenly ill and, falling on the bed, was overcome by the fumes of the gas.

Connelly had been rooming at the house since last May. Mrs. N. M. Fletcher, in charge of the house, informed the police that Connelly was in the habit of cooking meals, when home, on the gas stove.

So is this my Great Grandfather? I had Frederick living at 59 Dow Street, Arlington, MA in the 1920 census. and the article shows this Frederick Connolly having moved to the S. Cutter Ave address in May of 1923. I suspect this is him, and the family story has altered from death by gas to death by fire over time.