Position:Home>Genealogy> BRAGG family history roadblock?

Okay!.!.!. I checked the 1920 and 1930 census for Massachusetts!. There are a few Edward Braggs, but none were lawyers, and none seemed to fit (either too old, too young, or had nice big happy families)!.

However, I did find Edna and two of her sister in 1930:

1930 Census – Marlborough, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Harry Taylor – 63 – Carpenter
Minnie Taylor – 57 – Wife
Edna Bragg – 8 – Ward – born MA – father born MA - mother born MA
Florence Bragg – 6 – born MA – father born MA - mother born MA
Ethel Bragg – 5 – born MA – father born MA - mother born MA

Not far away is a Gladys Bragg who was the right age to be their sister:

1930 Census – Holliston, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Lovell E!. Littlefield – 45 – Farmer
Lucy B!. Littlefield – 50 – Wife
Gladys M!. Bragg – 13 – Boarder – born MA – father born NH – mother born MA

I looked for Gladys back in 1920 (the other girls weren't born yet of course), and this appears to be her:

1920 Census – Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts
James M!. Drew – 27 – Box Maker
Florence G!. Drew – 22 – Wife
Fannie M!. Drew – 4 – Dau
Dudley H!. Bragg – 35 – Lodger – Married -NH-NH-NH – Cleaner, Shoe Factory
Evelyn M!. Bragg – 18 – Lodger – Married - MA-ME-MA – Pasting Heels, Heel factory
Gladys M!. Bragg – 3 yrs 7 mos – Lodger – MA-NH-MA
Henry F!. Bragg – 6 mos – Lodger – NH-NH-MA

Note Gladys' age: this census was taken in January 1920, which means this Gladys would've been born around April or May of 1916!. I found your Gladys on the Social Security Death Index, and her age seems to match exactly:

GLADYS M JONES
born: 12 MAY 1916
died: 15 FEB 2008
last residence: North Reading, Middlesex, MA

So I think it's safe to say that the Gladys on the 1920 census is the same person, along with brother Henry!.

Soooo!.!.!. who are Dudley and Evelyn!? Could they be the parents of these children!?!? They do appear to be married to each other, as Dudley listed Evelyn as his nearest relative on his WWI draft registration form:

WWI Draft Registration – Sept 1918
Dudley Howard Bragg
434 Merrimac, Newburyport, Essex, MA
Born Aug 1 1884
Occupation: Shoemaker Employer: Bliss and Perry
Nearest Relative: Mary Evelyn Bragg, 434 Merrimac
Height: Short
Build: Medium
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown

I went back to 1930 to find Dudley and Evelyn!. Dudley had moved in with a cousin, and lists himself as married, although Evelyn isn't there (and there's no other wife):

1930 Census - Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts
Nellie F!. Bragg – 53 – Married – MA-MA-NH – Cleaner, Shoe Factory
Olive M!. Bragg – 18 – Dau – MA-MA-MA
Anna L!. Dow – 34 – Dau - married- MA-MA-MA – Laborer, Shoe Factory
Francina M!. Dow – 7 – granddaughter
Olive L!. Dow – 2 – granddaughter
Arthur B!. Dow – 36 – Son – Moulder, Shoe Factory
Dudley H!. Bragg – 45 – Cousin – married –md at age 29- NH-NH-NH – Laster, Shoe factory

It looks like this could be Evelyn, up in New Hampshire and working as a servant!. She also lists herself as married, but no husband is present:

1930 Census – Dover, Strafford County, New Hampshire
Thomas J!. Brennan – 44 – Northern Ireland – Life Insurance Agent
Carolyn Brennan – 44 – wife – ME-NH-ME
Mary Brennan – 10 – Dau – NH-Northern Ireland – ME
Evelyn Bragg – 28 – Servant - Married – married at age 16 – MA-MA-MA – Servant

I did find Dudley Bragg on some earlier censuses with his parents; but unless you feel confident that he is your "Edward", it'd be silly go tracing him too far!.

If you write to the Essex County Courthouse, you may find some guardianship records, or maybe a divorce record, that would verify who your grandmother's parents are!.

I hope this helps some!Www@QuestionHome@Com

---

---