Thomas Neary – A tradition begins

Thomas Neary was born in Ireland on April 1832 and was the son of a blacksmith. He married Elizabeth, who was born in Ireland on February 13, 1833. According to the 1880 Census, Thomas Neary was a saloon keeper in Naugatuck in 1880.

His son John, who was 23 at the time of the Census, also worked in the saloon. His son Richard was 18 years old and a son William was 12 years old. A daughter Julia who was 12 worked as a domestic servant. Lawrence Neary, who worked in the foundry, boarded with the family. Catherine, age 8, and Catherine, age 8, (spelling error or census duplication) completed the 1880 household.

William undertook the fireman’s test and became a Naugatuck Borough Fireman, who stayed in good condition for the next 40 years. William operated a combination saloon and retail liquor business on Water Street.

Quote section from George Ciesley - “I never said all Democrats were saloon-keepers. What I said was that all saloon-keepers are Democrats.”

Source

The Bridge - Electronic Newsletter from the Naugatuck Historical Society
Volume 1, Issue 3
April 2011