Searching for Mathew Brady

[SharonS]

I went looking for the new sign marking Mathew Brady's birthplace (or not, as you'll see later) last week in Warren County NY, northwest 0f Lake George Village on Route 28. The new sign was necessary because somebody stole the old one, post and all, last summer. Must have been really fond of Civil War photography.

In the discussions surrounding the campaign to replace the sign, information that had been around for a few years gained new credence. Although Brady himself claimed in interviews that he had been born in Warren County in 1822 or 1823 (he varied the date) the only documentary evidence ever found suggests otherwise. One census record from the 1850's and Brady's own draft registration from 1863 lists his birthplace as Ireland. So the new sign marks Brady's childhood home instead of birthplace. Here it is.

 

[James N.]

I had NO idea Matthew Brady was from Lake George - one of my absolute favorite places to visit! I first became interested in it and its history after working on Last of the Mohicans in 1991, so afterward made a point to visit there. I subsequently have returned twice more but never saw any connection with him. Above is an honest-to-goodness photo I took one October morning that I have absolutely NO idea why it came out as it did! (It's NOT Photoshopped in any way.) These are more pedestrian:

 

[Mike Serpa]

I had NO idea Matthew Brady was from Lake George - one of my absolute favorite places to visit! I first became interested in it and its history after working on Last of the Mohicans in 1991, so afterward made a point to visit there. I subsequently have returned twice more but never saw any connection with him. Above is an honest-to-goodness photo I took one October morning that I have absolutely NO idea why it came out as it did! (It's NOT Photoshopped in any way.) These are more pedestrian:

The first photo is cool!

 

[Private Watkins]

I went looking for the new sign marking Mathew Brady's birthplace (or not, as you'll see later) last week in Warren County NY, northwest 0f Lake George Village on Route 28. The new sign was necessary because somebody stole the old one, post and all, last summer. Must have been really fond of Civil War photography.

In the discussions surrounding the campaign to replace the sign, information that had been around for a few years gained new credence. Although Brady himself claimed in interviews that he had been born in Warren County in 1822 or 1823 (he varied the date) the only documentary evidence ever found suggests otherwise. One census record from the 1850's and Brady's own draft registration from 1863 lists his birthplace as Ireland. So the new sign marks Brady's childhood home instead of birthplace. Here it is.View attachment 109775

Awesome, thanks so much for sharing this with us! I can just see some goofy Civil War buff with that sign now in his back yard... red card!!

 

[Seduzal]

The first photo is cool!

It does not look like a photo but, water colors. Great photo
and an interesting story. Thanks for sharing.

 

[SharonS]

I had NO idea Matthew Brady was from Lake George - one of my absolute favorite places to visit! I first became interested in it and its history after working on Last of the Mohicans in 1991, so afterward made a point to visit there. I subsequently have returned twice more but never saw any connection with him. Above is an honest-to-goodness photo I took one October morning that I have absolutely NO idea why it came out as it did! (It's NOT Photoshopped in any way.) These are more pedestrian:

The area is certainly best for searching for Seven Years War sites, some of them pretty obscure, like this one:

But there are Civil War-related sites, too, like Grant's Cottage just south in Wilton. It's where he completed his memoirs and then died. It has a good little museum and a spectacular view.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Thanks for this! Wonder why Brady would be elusive on birthplace? Was the anti-Irish prejudice so tough being born there would have been a drawback for someone?

 

[civilwarincolor]

Thanks for this! Wonder why Brady would be elusive on birthplace? Was the anti-Irish prejudice so tough being born there would have been a drawback for someone?

This was not long after the potato famine and there was a lot of resentment of Irish taking "American" jobs, so it would not be a surprise if someone tried to hide that part of their story.

There is more information about the story here. What I have not seen yet though is any evidence of a birth certificate, early baptismal, immigration records etc. that place him outside of the US. Not saying that it's not true (his parents came from Ireland, where is their immigration records?). You think if he was born in Ireland that the Irish would want to claim him today. There has to be some record of his family there, hopefully someone will discover evidence showing when his parents immigrated to the US and this will help to establish that he could or could not have been born in the US.

 

[SharonS]

This was not long after the potato famine and there was a lot of resentment of Irish taking "American" jobs, so it would not be a surprise if someone tried to hide that part of their story.

There is more information about the story here. What I have not seen yet though is any evidence of a birth certificate, early baptismal, immigration records etc. that place him outside of the US. Not saying that it's not true (his parents came from Ireland, where is their immigration records?). You think if he was born in Ireland that the Irish would want to claim him today. There has to be some record of his family there, hopefully someone will discover evidence showing when his parents immigrated to the US and this will help to establish that he could or could not have been born in the US.

It may have been particularly important to Brady to hide a supposed "taint" of Irish birth. As a young teenager he studied with the portrait painter William Page, whose clients included important figures in society and government. Brady's own photography studios were somewhat like the art studios that Page maintained in Saratoga Springs, Albany, and NYC, which the young Brady knew well. If Brady had turned out to be a better (or more successful) portrait painter, somebody else may have become the most famous photographer of the Civil War.

 

[civilwarincolor]

It may have been particularly important to Brady to hide a supposed "taint" of Irish birth. As a young teenager he studied with the portrait painter William Page, whose clients included important figures in society and government. Brady's own photography studios were somewhat like the art studios that Page maintained in Saratoga Springs, Albany, and NYC, which the young Brady knew well. If Brady had turned out to be a better (or more successful) portrait painter, somebody else may have become the most famous photographer of the Civil War.

Yeah, always thought it was interesting that even after achieving success as a photographer that he still referred to himself as an artist. I think by that time he saw the photograph as an art form. I would not be surprised if he was trying to hide Irish roots, I just would like to see evidence for or against for him being born in Ireland or NY. If you can find the immigration records and it shows his parents immigrated after his birth, then pretty strong evidence. If they immigrated before, then support for a NY birth.

Not a big deal either way, just more curiosity.

 

[SharonS]

Yeah, always thought it was interesting that even after achieving success as a photographer that he still referred to himself as an artist. I think by that time he saw the photograph as an art form. I would not be surprised if he was trying to hide Irish roots, I just would like to see evidence for or against for him being born in Ireland or NY. If you can find the immigration records and it shows his parents immigrated after his birth, then pretty strong evidence. If they immigrated before, then support for a NY birth.

Not a big deal either way, just more curiosity.

People in that part of the Adirondacks have been trying for years to pin down Brady's origins. Since NY state census records were fairly good, or at least better than in many other states, in the early 19th century, I never understood why they have been unsuccessful. Then I was up there one winter. The census takers probably got lost in the snow (just kidding). But it is a mystery.

 

[civilwarincolor]

People in that part of the Adirondacks have been trying for years to pin down Brady's origins. Since NY state census records were fairly good, or at least better than in many other states, in the early 19th century, I never understood why they have been unsuccessful. Then I was up there one winter. The census takers probably got lost in the snow (just kidding). But it is a mystery.

That is why I was suggesting to start in Ireland. Look at his parents records to help prove or disprove his information. The external link said there was "strong evidence" because the draft records from 1863 said "Ireland" as a place of birth, but since he contradicted himself later I would like to see other records. Are there any legal records in that part of NY & Ireland for purchase of land in the 1820's, marriage records, death records for siblings that died young, court documents, mention in the local papers for any reason.

I don't have a horse in this race (other than curiosity) and am not in the NY area. Hopefully someone with experience can do these kind of things in NY & Ireland and help to solve the mystery.

 

[James N.]

The area is certainly best for searching for Seven Years War sites, some of them pretty obscure, like this one:View attachment 109786
But there are Civil War-related sites, too, like Grant's Cottage just south in Wilton. It's where he completed his memoirs and then died. It has a good little museum and a spectacular view.

The Grant Cottage was one place I ATTEMPTED to visit the last time I was in the region, but since it's just within the grounds of the local penitentiary It's naturally OFF LIMITS other than a during a ridiculously short "tourist season". (And believe me, I TRIED!)

 

[James N.]

The first photo is cool!

It was taken with my first digital camera and it must've gotten confused somehow, possibly by the early morning haze on mountainside and lake and fall colors in the trees! In an enlargement you can see clearly that items like the wooden shelter, benches, and sign by the lake have registered in the proper brown color.

 

[Mike Serpa]

It was taken with my first digital camera and it must've gotten confused somehow, possibly by the early morning haze on mountainside and lake and fall colors in the trees! In an enlargement you can see clearly that items like the wooden shelter, benches, and sign by the lake have registered in the proper brown color.

Interesting the way it came out. I like it.

 

[Yankeedave]

The Grant Cottage was one place I ATTEMPTED to visit the last time I was in the region, but since it's just within the grounds of the local penitentiary It's naturally OFF LIMITS other than a during a ridiculously short "tourist season". (And believe me, I TRIED!)

Sing sing?

 

[Yankeedave]

And that area is so full of history.

 

[SharonS]

The Grant Cottage was one place I ATTEMPTED to visit the last time I was in the region, but since it's just within the grounds of the local penitentiary It's naturally OFF LIMITS other than a during a ridiculously short "tourist season". (And believe me, I TRIED!)

Fortunately ( or unfortunately) the prison has now closed and the cottage is alone on Mt McGregor. But it's on its own for security, etc. They have just about completed their first year without the presence of the prison and have a couple of more events this season. It's hopeful that they will be able to continue operation but unlikely that the season will be expanded. Many places north of Saratoga Springs have very short seasons. I once went to Lake George Village the very day after Labor Day and an artillery barrage in the center of town wouldn't have injured anyone.

 

[James N.]

Fortunately ( or unfortunately) the prison has now closed and the cottage is alone on Mt McGregor. But it's on its own for security, etc. They have just about completed their first year without the presence of the prison and have a couple of more events this season. It's hopeful that they will be able to continue operation but unlikely that the season will be expanded. Many places north of Saratoga Springs have very short seasons. I once went to Lake George Village the very day after Labor Day and an artillery barrage in the center of town wouldn't have injured anyone.

That was my experience last time I visited - I mistakenly thought October would be a good time to enjoy the fall color of the Adirondacks and around Lake George and Lake Champlain but found much of what I wanted to see closed for the season. The worst thing in that category was Fort Ticonderoga; fortunately, I'd spent an entire day there several years before, so it wasn't like I'd missed seeing it altogether. Fully half or more of the motels and even some restaurants were already closed for the season at Lake George Village - but at least the other half were still available! I'd wanted to visit the area around the time of the Battle of Saratoga and Burgoyne's subsequent surrender at Schuylerville (old Saratoga), so since those areas are mainly in Saratoga Battlefield NHP I had no trouble with that.

 

[civilwarincolor]

That was my experience last time I visited - I mistakenly thought October would be a good time to enjoy the fall color of the Adirondacks and around Lake George and Lake Champlain but found much of what I wanted to see closed for the season. The worst thing in that category was Fort Ticonderoga; fortunately, I'd spent an entire day there several years before, so it wasn't like I'd missed seeing it altogether. Fully half or more of the motels and even some restaurants were already closed for the season at Lake George Village - but at least the other half were still available! I'd wanted to visit the area around the time of the Battle of Saratoga and Burgoyne's subsequent surrender at Schuylerville (old Saratoga), so since those areas are mainly in Saratoga Battlefield NHP I had no trouble with that.

About two years ago I was doing a contract job in Denver for a few weeks. My wife came to visit one weekend and my parents came up the next to visit. When my wife was there we went up to Rocky Mountain National Park. There was a restaurant at the top of the mountain that had these gorgeous views down the mountain. You could sit right at the window and just see forever.

The very next week when my parents arrived I thought (since I was not very familiar with the area otherwise) that I would take them there. It had a great view and getting window table was just spectacular. Well it seems that this was the week that they boarded everything up and started getting ready for winter. There was no snow on the ground yet, but all of the windows had been boarded up and you could not see a thing.

What a difference a week makes!