Harry W Cunningham (1887 - 1901)

Born 4 Sep 1887 in Somerville, Middlesex County, United States of America

Ancestors

Died 27 Jun 1901 at age 13 in Arlington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States of America

Biography

Birth

Harry was born on 4 Sep 1887 in Somerville, Middlesex County, Massachusetts to Alfred Cunningham and Anna L. Woodman. His birth record appears on the first line of page 262 of the Births Registered in the City of Somerville, Middlesex, Massachusetts for the year of 1887. His birth was recorded on 24 Mar 1887. The record states the family was residing on Holland Street of Somerville, Massachusetts. His father's occupation is listed as Provisions. His father and mother are specifically stated as Alfred J and Anna.

Since Harry passed away at the age of 13, he should appear in the 1900 census for Massachusetts.

Death

Harry W. Cunningham]] passed away on 27 Jun 1901 on Page 326 Deaths Registered in the Town of Arlington from accidental drowning in Arlington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. His residence at the time of his death is listed as 143 Orchard Street, Nashville, Tennessee. Harry was aged 13 years, 9 months and 23 days when he passed away from an accidental drowning. Harry was to be buried in Newton, Massachusetts. The death record specifically states Harry's father as being Alfred J Cunningham, born in Nashville, Tennessee. His mother is listed as Anna L. Woodman being born in Boston, Massachusetts. Alfred is listed as having died in Arlington, Massachusetts. There are a couple of bodies of water that Harry could have been swimming in when he drowned. Once is Spy Pond, the other is Hills Pond. Spay Pond did have a boat dock. Unless the death certificate or other document emerges, it's not likely that his specific place of death will be discovered.

There is filed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a Return of a Death Record for Harry W. Cunningham having passed away on 27 Jun 1901, aged 13 Years, 9 Months and 23 Days. His residence matches that of the record above and so does his places of birth and death. The father and mother are also identical. The physician signing the document is Dr. William D. Swan. I will leave the source for the other death found and provide the discrepancy, but will use the 27 Jun 1901 as the actual date of death.

It's interesting and strange that Harry is also listed as passing away on 27 Oct 1901 on Page 754 Deaths Registered in the Town of Somerville from accidental drowning in Arlington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. This Harry W. Cunningham is said to be a year older and passed away at the age of 14 years, 9 months and 23 days. It's possible this is a brother of the other Harry, but till more documentation is uncovered, I will leave the sources for both death records.

There is a Find A Grave Memorial that uses the 27 Jun 1901 date. This memorial does not contain any additional information other than the name and date of death.

Sources

• "Massachusetts Births, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FX69-QBJ : 1 March 2016), Alfred J. Cunningham in entry for Harry Cunningham, 04 Sep 1887, Somerville, Massachusetts; citing reference ID #p262 631, Massachusetts Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 1,428,239.
• "Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NWFG-5ZD : 10 December 2014), Alfred J. Cunningham in entry for Harry W. Cunningham, 27 Oct 1901; citing Arlington, Massachusetts, v 517 cn 671, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 2,057,734.
• "Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NWXZ-Z4R : 10 December 2014), Harry W. Cunningham, 27 Jun 1901; citing Arlington, Massachusetts, v 517 cn 326, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 2,057,734.
• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2D1-2LXK : 5 January 2017), Harry W Cunningham, 27 Jun 1901; citing Death, Arlington, Arlington, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 2,438,666.
• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2B1-8Z49 : 10 March 2017), Harry W. Cunningham, 1901; Burial, Newton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States of America, Newton Cemetery; citing record ID 173491842, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.