Frank was born to Thomas Mason and Catherine Loan in Dunboyne, County Meath, Ireland. He was working as a stablehand in Dublin, living in Gt. Britain Street, when he met Ellen Kenny, a domestic servant working/living in Mountjoy Street, nearby. They were married on 20 Apr, 1873, at St. Mary's Metro in Dublin, Ireland. Thomas headed to the United States on the SS Algeria almost immediately (having the last of several run-ins with the local British authorities shortly prior). Ellen followed soon thereafter.
The couple lived at first in Manhattan, NYC, where they had three children - James (1874), Margaret (1878), and William (1880) while Frank worked as a coachman. After the deaths of Margaret and William at very young ages from diptheria, the family moved to rural New Jersey, settling in the Morris Plains area, where their next son, John (1884), was born. The family soon expanded to include children Edward (1886), Thomas (1888), and Ella (1891).
Frank eventually found employment with the family of Thomas Edison, working in their stables. At one point he was the second highest paid stablehand, leading to the conjecture that he also served as a coachman for the family. (That is the family lore.) Edison switched to automobiles in 1908/09, and the stables were closed and razed. Family tales have it that Frank then worked as a driver for a priest for a few years before retiring.
During his life Frank was able to buy a good house in a nice area and build a respectable life for his family - quite a step up from a stablehand running from the occupying militia intent on quashing dissent. His children grew up to be the first badge-holder for the Essex County Police Department, an accountant, a printer, a career Army man, a noted Police Detective, and a homemaker who had several children of her own.
The photo of Frank was taken one day after his wife came home with a photo she'd had taken. Frank had consumed a few beers that day and was purported to have said that if his wife could have a photograph done, then he could have one done as well. He put on his best hat and wandered down to the studio, where the proprietor happily plied his trade.
Frank died of Myocarditis after an illness of a few months, in December 1920 at the Newark Home for the Aged. His wife had pre-deceased him by five months.
The couple lived at first in Manhattan, NYC, where they had three children - James (1874), Margaret (1878), and William (1880) while Frank worked as a coachman. After the deaths of Margaret and William at very young ages from diptheria, the family moved to rural New Jersey, settling in the Morris Plains area, where their next son, John (1884), was born. The family soon expanded to include children Edward (1886), Thomas (1888), and Ella (1891).
Frank eventually found employment with the family of Thomas Edison, working in their stables. At one point he was the second highest paid stablehand, leading to the conjecture that he also served as a coachman for the family. (That is the family lore.) Edison switched to automobiles in 1908/09, and the stables were closed and razed. Family tales have it that Frank then worked as a driver for a priest for a few years before retiring.
During his life Frank was able to buy a good house in a nice area and build a respectable life for his family - quite a step up from a stablehand running from the occupying militia intent on quashing dissent. His children grew up to be the first badge-holder for the Essex County Police Department, an accountant, a printer, a career Army man, a noted Police Detective, and a homemaker who had several children of her own.
The photo of Frank was taken one day after his wife came home with a photo she'd had taken. Frank had consumed a few beers that day and was purported to have said that if his wife could have a photograph done, then he could have one done as well. He put on his best hat and wandered down to the studio, where the proprietor happily plied his trade.
Frank died of Myocarditis after an illness of a few months, in December 1920 at the Newark Home for the Aged. His wife had pre-deceased him by five months.
Frank was born to Thomas Mason and Catherine Loan in Dunboyne, County Meath, Ireland. He was working as a stablehand in Dublin, living in Gt. Britain Street, when he met Ellen Kenny, a domestic servant working/living in Mountjoy Street, nearby. They were married on 20 Apr, 1873, at St. Mary's Metro in Dublin, Ireland. Thomas headed to the United States on the SS Algeria almost immediately (having the last of several run-ins with the local British authorities shortly prior). Ellen followed soon thereafter.
The couple lived at first in Manhattan, NYC, where they had three children - James (1874), Margaret (1878), and William (1880) while Frank worked as a coachman. After the deaths of Margaret and William at very young ages from diptheria, the family moved to rural New Jersey, settling in the Morris Plains area, where their next son, John (1884), was born. The family soon expanded to include children Edward (1886), Thomas (1888), and Ella (1891).
Frank eventually found employment with the family of Thomas Edison, working in their stables. At one point he was the second highest paid stablehand, leading to the conjecture that he also served as a coachman for the family. (That is the family lore.) Edison switched to automobiles in 1908/09, and the stables were closed and razed. Family tales have it that Frank then worked as a driver for a priest for a few years before retiring.
During his life Frank was able to buy a good house in a nice area and build a respectable life for his family - quite a step up from a stablehand running from the occupying militia intent on quashing dissent. His children grew up to be the first badge-holder for the Essex County Police Department, an accountant, a printer, a career Army man, a noted Police Detective, and a homemaker who had several children of her own.
The photo of Frank was taken one day after his wife came home with a photo she'd had taken. Frank had consumed a few beers that day and was purported to have said that if his wife could have a photograph done, then he could have one done as well. He put on his best hat and wandered down to the studio, where the proprietor happily plied his trade.
Frank died of Myocarditis after an illness of a few months, in December 1920 at the Newark Home for the Aged. His wife had pre-deceased him by five months.
The couple lived at first in Manhattan, NYC, where they had three children - James (1874), Margaret (1878), and William (1880) while Frank worked as a coachman. After the deaths of Margaret and William at very young ages from diptheria, the family moved to rural New Jersey, settling in the Morris Plains area, where their next son, John (1884), was born. The family soon expanded to include children Edward (1886), Thomas (1888), and Ella (1891).
Frank eventually found employment with the family of Thomas Edison, working in their stables. At one point he was the second highest paid stablehand, leading to the conjecture that he also served as a coachman for the family. (That is the family lore.) Edison switched to automobiles in 1908/09, and the stables were closed and razed. Family tales have it that Frank then worked as a driver for a priest for a few years before retiring.
During his life Frank was able to buy a good house in a nice area and build a respectable life for his family - quite a step up from a stablehand running from the occupying militia intent on quashing dissent. His children grew up to be the first badge-holder for the Essex County Police Department, an accountant, a printer, a career Army man, a noted Police Detective, and a homemaker who had several children of her own.
The photo of Frank was taken one day after his wife came home with a photo she'd had taken. Frank had consumed a few beers that day and was purported to have said that if his wife could have a photograph done, then he could have one done as well. He put on his best hat and wandered down to the studio, where the proprietor happily plied his trade.
Frank died of Myocarditis after an illness of a few months, in December 1920 at the Newark Home for the Aged. His wife had pre-deceased him by five months.
Gravesite Details
Frank and Ellen are reported to be buried together up near the High Street.
Family Members
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