James Brady and Rachel Speer

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Husband James Brady ^{1 2}

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           Born: 1764 - Cumberland Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 1839 - Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA 1
         Buried:  - St. Clair Cemetery, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

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         Father: Hugh Brady (1740-      ) 1 2 3 4
         Mother: Jane Young (      -      ) 1 2

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       Marriage: 

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Wife Rachel Speer ¹

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            AKA: Rachel Spear 2
           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried:  - St. Clair Cemetery, Greensburg, Westmoreland Co, PA

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Children

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1 F Jane Brady ⁵

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           Born: 1794 5
     Christened: 
           Died: 1873 5
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Jacob Welty (1791-1864) 6

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2 M Hugh Y. Brady ⁷

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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3 M [Unk] Brady

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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General Notes: Husband - James Brady

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He removed from the Cumberland valley and settled in Ligonier valley, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, at an early day, but went to Greensburg to assume the duties of sheriff, to which office he was elected in 1794, and resided there until his death. He was elected to the house of representatives for a term of three years. He was also a member of the state senate, three terms of four years each. In 1806 he was speaker of the senate. He was called by Governor Heister as one of his cabinet and served as secretary of the land office. The Bradys were Presbyterians and he was the first elder of this church at Greensburg, of whom there appears to be any record. He appeared as elder in the presbytery in 1802. In 1808 he and his pastor were chosen delegates to the general assembly. He frequently represented the church in the meetings of the presbytery, and from the number of committees on which he served in that body he must have been an active and useful member. He was an elder nearly forty years. He was a cousin of Captain Samuel Brady and General Hugh Brady.

He and his wife were the parents of six children.

The following obituary of James Brady appeared at the time of his death:
Death has deprived us of one of our oldest and most respectable citizens, James Brady, Esquire, is no more.
He died at his residence in this town on Thursday night the 2nd, in the 76th year of his age. Mr. Brady was descended from Revolutionary stock, several of whom distinguished themselves in the war of independence and the Indian wars which accompanied and succeeded that event. He was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, but moved to Westmoreland County before the year 1790 and for many years filled a large space in public affairs. In private matters of difficulty he was much consulted as a safe advisor and steady friend. He was elected sheriff of Westmoreland County, then embracing Armstrong and Indiana counties, in the year 1795, and discharged the duties in a manner that endeared him to the people and made him a decided favorite with all classes of citizens. He mingled humanity and courtesy with friendship and whilst the process of the law was duly executed the feelings and the circumstances of the unfortunate were never disregarded. Such was the hold which he obtained upon the respect of his fellow citizens that in the year of 1799 he was elected to the House of Representatives for the State and annually reelected until 1803, when he was chosen to the State Senate and served in that body until 1815. In that period many of the laws were enacted that have given a distinctive character to our institutions, in the maturing of which laws he contributed no small share of counsel. He sustained a high character for integrity, sound sense and mature judgment.
In his legislative career Mr. Brady did not often mingle in the debates, but on occasions of importance he was accustomed to express his views, which he did in a clear, common-sense manner with the brevity which belongs to a business man who understands his subject. In the spring of 1821 he was appointed by the Governor to the distinguished station of secretary of the land office, the duties of which he diligently and faithfully executed for three years. He was an able and valuable secretary. He had an especial eye to the interests of the Commonwealth, but never harassed the warrant holder and settler with needless delays or objections of mere form. His endeavor was to execute the land laws in the same spirit in which they were enacted, having regard to their substance and intent and with a view to the prosperity, settlement and improvement of the state. Since his retirement from that office he has resided constantly among us, attending to his domestic affairs and often affording to persons in trouble about their lands the advice and counsel his ample experience so fully enabled him to give. The habitual character of his life was mild and conciliatory, steady in his friendships. No fitful vacillations disturbed him. Sound in his judgments, direct, a fine Christian character, sincere in his following of his Savior.

1 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 92.

2 —, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Company, 1917), Pg 125.

3 —, History of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warners, Beers & Co., 1886), Pg 296.

4 —, Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905), Pg 67.

5 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 93.

6 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 93, 467.

7 George Dallas Albert, History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1882), Pg 510.