Francis "Frank" Connolly : Short Biography

Francis “Frank” Connolly was the third son born to James Connolly and Mary Anne Fox on June 30, 1901.

According to the Census of 1911, Frank was shown as a “Scholar” although by that age he was certainly also charged with assisting with the farm’s work.

In approximately 1919 he emigrated to Glasgow Scotland to find work as it was certainly pre-ordained that the farm would pass to his older brother, James, and that he would have no future as a farmer in Ireland. Frank found work in Glasgow as a “Chemical Worker” possibly in a power plant. Frank was married to Bridget Canning, his girl from down the road in Drumcoura in 1919, and they resided on Canning Place in Glasgow for the next 8 years. Though Canning Place was usurped by one of the Glasgow colleges and no longer exists on the map, it was there that their first four children, Mae, William Francis, James and John Gerard were born. Sadly, John Gerard died within two weeks of his birth and is buried in Glasgow.

It appears that they may have made summer vacation trips to Drumcoura/Drumlea frequently. Their daughter, Mae recalls helping out on the Canning farm, bringing lunch down to her uncles as they worked the fields, and riding on the cart into town with her grandmother to sell the pig.

Finally, Frank and Bridget left Scotland on December 31, 1927 aboard the SS Caledonia, and arrived in Ellis Island on January 9, 1928. Ellis Island was closed as a general port of embarkation, however since Bridget was apparently sick during the voyage, they were required to pass through there for a health check. The “sickness” was related to her pregnancy with her next son, Alfred.

After their arrival, they resided at 112 East 118^th Street in Manhattan. Bridget apparently had some custodial employment in the building, as her daughter recalls that she had to polish all of the brass in the lobby. Frank worked at the outset as a day laborer. As the story goes, he was standing on a corner with a shovel and a fellow in a truck asked if he “knew how to use that thing.” Saying yes, he was hired to shovel coal for the day. Sometime thereafter, his brother-in-law, Marty Rogers, was able to get him hired as a union worker in Calvary Cemetery. Frank was a sturdily built man of average height, perhaps 5’9” or so. In later years, photos of Frank showed very well developed shoulders and biceps obviously the product of his years of work as a grave digger.

After arrival in the States, their sons Alfred Emanuel (named after Alfred E. Smith, the Irishman running for President,) Joseph and daughter Anna were born.

After some time, the family relocated to 389 East 138^th Street in the Bronx where they resided until each of their deaths. They enjoyed socializing at the Leitrim House, across the street from their apartment where Frank enjoyed a few drinks and his Camel cigarettes.

Bridget passed away on May 31, 1953 and Frank died on May 3, 1967. Both are buried in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Plot 359. Section 47, Grave 10.