John Walter Bratton (1867 - 1947)

Born 21 Jan 1867 in New Castle, Delaware, United States

Husband of Dorothy M (Zimmerman) Bratton — married 22 May 1907 in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States

Died 7 Feb 1947 at age 80 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States

Biography

John Bratton is Notable.

Summary: John Walter Bratton composed at least 250 songs during the "Gay Nineties" (1890's) including his most popular song "Teddy Bears' Picnic."

John Walter Bratton was born on the 21st of January 1867 in Wilmington, Delaware.^[1] His parents, per his marriage record, were John F. Lynch (of Ireland) and Emma Bratton.^[1][2][3] His death record, however, listed his mother as Sarah Henderson (his grandmother's name).^[1] John was raised by his grandmother, Sarah Bratton, near Wilmington.^[4][5] When John was age thirteen his grandmother (age sixty-four) also had a granddaughter Mary Bratton (20) in the home, a grandson James H Bratton (10) in the home, and Emma Ross (21) living with them and marked as "other."^[4] John composed a song titled "She's Been a Mother To Me" in 1896 and dedicated it to "Mrs. Sarah Bratton, who has been a mother to me."^[6]

Music by John W. Bratton

John had moved to Manhattan, New York by 1900.^[7] He was "age thirty" (his birth date is listed incorrectly, he would have been thirty-three) and living as a "lodger" while working as a composer. His first song, "Rose Glenroy," had been published in 1893.^[8] John had composed two other songs that year: "Marie (Gavotte)" and "Two Picture (Dear Parents Faces)."^[9] Five years later he was still in Manhattan. He was thirty-eight years old and living as a "guest" with a number of other people and working as a Composer.^[10] John composed the song "Teddy Bears' Picnic" in 1907, the only song of his that remained a hit. The Teddy Bear, created by Morris Michtom, was an instant hit. John's whimsical song fit the stuffed furry "doll" perfectly. John married Dorothy Zimmerman that same year at the age of thirty-nine.^[2][3] The blessed event took place on the 22nd of May 1907 in Manhattan, New York.^[2] John and Dorothy had at least one child together:

1. Marjorie Eleanor (Bratton) Venetucci b 8 Mar 1909^[11][12][13]

On the 7th of August John and Dorothy returned from a trip, sailing aboard the S. S. Teutonic from Southampton to New York.^[14] So soon after the wedding this could have been a honeymoon trip. Subsequent travels did not include Dorothy.^[15]

The Teddy Bears Picnic

John was fifty-one in 1920 and working as a theater manager.^[16] His wife Dorothy was thirty-four and stayed home. Marjorie, their ten-year-old daughter, attended school that year. She is the only documented child found of John and Dorothy. Five years later, at age fifty-seven, John listed his occupation as "Theatrical Producer."^[17] John and Dorothy lived in New York (Brooklyn) in 1930.^[18] John had retired and he and Dorothy owned their home.^[18] Marjorie (20) was an 'operative' in an unspecified industry.^[18] John was seventy-three years old in 1940. He and Dorothy, then fifty-seven, lived in New York City.^[19] John was still retired and received income from other means. Their daughter Marjorie, thirty-one, was single, not working, and living in their home.^[19]

Marjorie (31) was still living with John and Dorothy in 1940.^[20] He had reached the age of seventy-three which was a noticeable difference over Dorothy's fifty-seven. John died on the 7th of February 1947 in Brooklyn.^[1][21] He had reached the age of eighty.^[1] John was laid to rest on the 11th of February in the Green-Wood cemetery.^[1] He had composed at least 250 songs^[22] over his lifetime, with "Teddy Bears Picnic" remaining the most popular. John was survived by his wife Dorothy and daughter Margaret.

Green-Wood Cemetery Entrance

Research Notes

• It appears John married before Dorothy as he had a daughter named Rosa Mulford Bratton who married William Henry Lane in 1905.^[23] Rosa's mother (and John's first wife? or partner?) was Hannah M. Robinson.

• John's "The Teddy Bear's Picnic" was part of the 1925 Compilation Score of "The Gold Rush" (A silent film starring Charlie Chaplin).^[24]

• His songs were featured in many other musical comedies including The Rainmakers (1894), Star & Garter (1900), The Office Boy (1903), The Toreador (1904), The Rollicking Girl (1905), and The Merry-Go-Round (1908).^[25]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 14 November 2019), John W Bratton, 07 Feb 1947; citing Death, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 2,167,621.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940," database, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 14 November 2019), John Bratton and Dorothy Zimmerman, 22 May 1907; citing Marriage, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,452,188.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "New York Marriages, 1686-1980," database, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 14 November 2019), John Walter Bratton and Dorothy Zimmerman, 22 May 1907; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 1,452,188.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 14 November 2019), John W Bratten in household of Sarah Bratten, Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware, United States; citing enumeration district ED 15, sheet 398D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,119.
5. ↑ Note: It is incorrectly noted on other sites that John lived with his grandmother "Mary Bratton." There are no records to indicate that Sarah Bratton was called Mary, though she had a granddaughter in the home named Mary when John lived with her.(Silva-1055 20:42, 18 November 2019 (UTC))
6. ↑ "She's Been a Mother to Me. Song and Chorus," the Lester S. Levy Sheet Music Collection, John Hopkins Sheridan Libraries & University Museums (LevySheetMusic.mse.jhu.edu : accessed 19 November 2019).
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 14 November 2019), John W Bratton in household of Minnie P Hey, Borough of Manhattan, Election District 10 New York City Ward 25, New York County, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 678, sheet 6B, family 136, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,111.
8. ↑ "Rose Glenroy" John Bratton, composer, Library of Congress {loc.getarchive.net : accessed 19 November).
9. ↑ "Bratton Ford Songs.. up to 1901," anthology, Bear-Teddy (Bear-Teddy.com : accessed 19 November).
10. ↑ "New York State Census, 1905," database with images, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 14 November 2019), John W Bratton in household of Frack P Lewis, Manhattan, A.D. 29, E.D. 05, New York, New York; citing p. 17, line 6, various county clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 1,433,110.
11. ↑ "New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909," database, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 14 November 2019), John W. Bratton in entry for Marjorie Eleanor Bratton, 08 Mar 1909; citing Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, reference cn 12842 New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,992,518.
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 14 November 2019), John Bratton, Brooklyn Ward 31, Kings, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1406, sheet 22A, family 37, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 984; FHL microfilm 1,374,997.
13. ↑ "New York State Census, 1915," database, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 20 November 2019), John M Bratton, New York, Kings, New York, United States; from "New York, State Census, 1915," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2012); citing p. 09, line 38, state population census schedules, 1915, New York State Archives, Albany.
14. ↑ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924", database with images, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 14 November 2019), John W. Bratton, 1907.
15. ↑ "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924", database with images, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 14 November 2019), John W. Bratton, 1909.
16. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 14 November 2019), John W Bratton, Brooklyn Assembly District 2, Kings, New York, United States; citing ED 123, sheet 17A, line 40, family 381, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1147; FHL microfilm 1,821,147.
17. ↑ "New York State Census, 1925," database, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 20 November 2019), John W Brattan, Brooklyn, A.D. 02, E.D. 01, Kings, New York, United States; records extracted by Ancestry and images digitized by FamilySearch; citing p. 10, line 01, New York State Archives, Albany. John W (57), Dorothy (48) and Marjorie (16) were in the home.
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1 18.2} "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 14 November 2019), John W Bratton, Brooklyn (Districts 1251-1500), Kings, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1332, sheet 13A, line 1, family 1, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1498; FHL microfilm 2,341,233.
19. ↑ ^{19.0 19.1} "New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909," database, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 14 November 2019), John W. Bratton in entry for Marjorie Eleanor Bratton, 08 Mar 1909; citing Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, reference cn 12842 New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,992,518.
20. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 20 November 2019), John W Bratton, Assembly District 2, Brooklyn, New York City, Kings, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 24-238, sheet 2B, line 61, family 46, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2552.
21. ↑ John W. Bratton obituary. Los Angeles, California, The Los Angeles Times, 9 February 1947, p. 14, col. 8.
22. ↑ "The Works of John W Bratton," anthology, Bear-Teddy (Bear-Teddy.com : accessed 19 November). Note: This home page shows a photograph of John W. Bratton as well as a picture of his tombstone.
23. ↑ "New York Marriages, 1686-1980," database, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 14 November 2019), John W. Bratton in entry for Wm. Henry Lane and Rosa Mulford Bratton, 17 Oct 1905; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 1,558,497.
24. ↑ Lochner, Jim. "The Music of Charlie Chaplin" (NC: McFarland, 2018), p. 380.
25. ↑ Bratton family history, "Appendix...American John Walter Bratton.."

• Bratton family history, "Appendix ... American John Walter Bratton, The Composer of Teddy Bears' Picnic (TBP)"

• John Walter Bratton on Wikipedia.org.

See Also:

• The Teddy Bear Picnic song
  
  on YouTube (sung by Anne Murray)

• "New York Book Indexes to Passenger Lists, 1906-1942," database with images, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 14 November 2019), John W Bratton, age 15 1906-1942; citing Immigration, New York, United States, citing ship , New York Passenger Lists, 1906-1942 NARA microfilm publication T612. Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, RG 85 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll Roll 55 Cunard, Anchor, 1907 Sep-Nov; FHL microfilm 1,463,655.

• Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 18 November 2019), memorial page for John Walter Bratton (21 Jan 1867–7 Feb 1947), Find A Grave: Memorial #63191643, citing Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, Kings County (Brooklyn), New York, USA ; Maintained by Thomas McCarty (contributor 47387639) . Photo added by Thomas McCarty.

• Strickler, Dave. "John W Bratton," biography, WindRep.org (windrep.org : accessed 18 November 2019), biography of John W Bratton. Note: No sources listed other than Wikipedia

• Who's Who in Music and Drama; An Encyclopedia Biography of Notable Men and Women edited by Harry Prescott and Dixie Hines.