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#Post#: 2057--------------------------------------------------
Re: John A. Lee
DIR By: Kattrup
Date: August 17, 2023, 3:35 am
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In the NJ 1905 census, John A Lee is living with Mary A Lee, but
his birth is april 1850 and her birth is September 1834, in
Ireland.
He’s listed as a Salesman, hardware.
In the NJ censuses of 1885 and 1895, there’s a John A Lee living
with an Ella A Lee.
Are there two John A Lee in Cranford, or is it the same guy
living first with his wife Ella and then with his mother Mary?
#Post#: 2058--------------------------------------------------
Re: John A. Lee
DIR By: HowBrown1953
Date: August 17, 2023, 3:55 am
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Kattrup...this is from Nina :
In 1880, John A. was listed as a 'stone dealer' with a wife,
mother, three sisters, and a brother living at 175 Dean St. in
Brooklyn.
In 1900, they have the wife's information but the mother's name
( Mary) on the census.
In 1905, the mother is listed on the census....but the wife
isn't.
In 1909, the wife died in Brooklyn ( December)., leaving a will.
Are there two John A Lee in Cranford, or is it the same guy
living first with his wife Ella and then with his mother Mary?
-Kattrup-
Yes sir....just one John A. Lee.
More to come.
#Post#: 2059--------------------------------------------------
Re: John A. Lee
DIR By: Kattrup
Date: August 17, 2023, 4:08 am
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Got it, thanks for sorting it out
#Post#: 2060--------------------------------------------------
Re: John A. Lee
DIR By: HowBrown1953
Date: August 17, 2023, 7:32 am
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Pete, Mike...
Do you guys notice how difficult it is to sort stuff out in this
case? I'm telling ya....between the conflicting press reports
from the headline-hunting hacks and weird stuff like a
contractor claiming to be a clerk on an official document ( the
census), it's enough to make you scream.
Take this weird situation, for instance.
In 2007, on the second day Nina and I had been together, we went
to Salem, Mass, to one of the town's two cemeteries, Greenlawn.
I found a grave of a woman named Caroline Brown, who died in New
York in April 1891, and who was married to a man named Charles.
4 matches and yet, it wasn't her!!! She's buried in Harmony
Grove. Jose Oranto went to the right cemetery and shared the
photos.
#Post#: 2065--------------------------------------------------
Re: John A. Lee
DIR By: Kattrup
Date: August 21, 2023, 4:15 am
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Howard, did you or Nina find John A's middle name?
#Post#: 2066--------------------------------------------------
Re: John A. Lee
DIR By: Kattrup
Date: August 21, 2023, 4:30 am
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What kind of hardware-company in Cranford or environs would have
a clerk and a salesman employed?
I cannot find much. In December 1892, J. L. Derby's hardware
store in Cranford burns down. In 1895, the hardware store of H.
C. Thornton is damaged by fire and water, damages $500.
#Post#: 2067--------------------------------------------------
Re: John A. Lee
DIR By: HowBrown1953
Date: August 21, 2023, 8:23 am
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Pete:
I called Nina at work to get the answer and she told me that she
tried but didn't learn what the 'A' stood for.
What kind of hardware company in Cranford or its environs would
have a clerk and a salesman employed?
I cannot find much. In December 1892, J. L. Derby's hardware
store in Cranford burns down. In 1895, the hardware store of H.
C. Thornton is damaged by fire and water, damages $500.
I'll pass this on to Nina. Interesting stuff. Good job, Pete !!
Cranford had a population of 1,717 people in 1890.
Hmm....seems like a risky business to run in Cranford, doesn't
it, Pete?
#Post#: 4173--------------------------------------------------
Re: John A. Lee
DIR By: Kattrup
Date: February 12, 2025, 3:02 pm
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So frustrating not finding this guy’s middle name.
Here’s s possible clue:
His mother’s name was Mary A. Lee, she died at his Forest Ave
home on 24 December 1907 at 88 years of age. Meaning she was
born ~1829.
Here’s a story from Cranford Chronicle May 2nd 1894 about John A
Lee’s connections:
[attachimg=1]
Mere Democratic connections: The company that Lee got the
subcontract to the Croton Aqueduct work from was Clark and
O’Brien.
John J. O’Brien was chairman of the democratic State Committee,
and the contracts given out for the aqueduct was accused of
being corrupt, e.g. Clark and O’Brien bidding 50.000 above
lowest bidder, but still being awarded the contract because of
quality concerns, afterwards subcontracting the work to the
lowest bidder and pocketing the difference, the accusations
being that the money went to democratic governor Hill’s
campaigns.
The article in Cranford Chronicle states Lee sold the blue stone
flagging “many years ago”. In NY 1880 directory there’s a “John
A. Lee, stone” at 198 Broadway. Same name and working with stone
- is he our Lee?
With a mother born around 1829, John would have been born around
1855-60, I imagine, maybe before.
There’s an Edward A. Lee mentioned around 1908, a relative (a
son)? If yes, finding him or the mother Mary in other sources
could help figure out Lee’s middle name.
#Post#: 4174--------------------------------------------------
Re: John A. Lee
DIR By: HowBrown1953
Date: February 12, 2025, 3:51 pm
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Nice work, Pete.
One quick comment. If his mother died at the age of 88 on
December 24, 1907, she would have been born in 1819, not 1829.
I just told Nina about your post. Hopefully, she can get
something on our end.
Thanks!
#Post#: 4175--------------------------------------------------
Re: John A. Lee
DIR By: Kattrup
Date: February 13, 2025, 1:32 am
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--- Quote from: Howard Brown link ---
>
> Nice work, Pete.
>
> One quick comment. If his mother died at the age of 88 on
December 24, 1907, she would have been born in 1819, not 1829.
>
>
--- End Quote ---
Yes, thank you, calculation error.
I just hope we might find more about him if we know his middle
name.
I should add the Edward A Lee is mentioned in Cranford (in the
Chronicle) that’s why there might be a connection.
In the 1902 or 1903 Cranford directory there’s mentioned only
John A Lee and Mary A Lee at 109 Forest Av.
But a Mrs. John A Lee is mentioned, coming down with
tonsillitis, in a mention around 1907.
So either the wife wasn’t mentioned in the directory or he
didn’t marry until after 1903.
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