Josephine (Barrett) Henry (1834 - 1887) Author and Candidate for Mayor of Brooklyn

Question

Josephine Barrett was born on May 08, 1834 in . Her parents were Solomon Barrett and Apphia Miller. She married John Henry on February 06, 1856 She died on December 13, 1887 in Vermont…

I need help figuring out if she was a mayor candidate for Brooklyn New York? If so she died there? Or did she pass away in vermont where she is buried? How did she die so young at prime of life?

Author of short stories but I can’t find her stories??

Was she a notable? Prob not but possible?

Her husband was appointed Post Master by President Lincoln 

Comments

I don't have any actual knowledge, but think it would not be possible for her to have been a mayoral candidate in New York City.  First of all, each borough (Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island) has a borough president, not a mayor, although there is a mayor of all of New York City.  The real show stopper, though, would be that women weren't allowed to vote until about 1920, so how could she possibly have been a candidate for office?

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Ok good point so why is it mentioned in obit or is it a different meaning ?

Good insight

Thank you

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Oh I get it. Her husband was the candidate! I misread it!

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I believe the husband from the sources was a senator and held political offices. A notable I believe

Answer 1

Husband's lineage: JOHN F.  HENRY died May 25 1893 (4093) Son of James M. and Matilda M. (Gạle) Henry; grandson of Peter and Hannah (Tottingham) Gale; great grandson of Peter Gale - private, Jacobs Mass. Regt,; great grandson of Isaac Gale Jr. - Sergeant Mass. Militia

Son: JOHN F HENRY JR New York City 4329 Son of John F. and Josephine (Barrett) Henry; grandson of James M. and Matilda M, (Gale) Henry; greatgrandson of Peter and Hannah (Tottingham) Gale; great grandson of Peter Gale; private Jacobs Mass. Regt.; great grandson of Isaac Gale Jr., Sergeant Mass Militia

A NATIONAL REGISTER OF THE SOCIETY SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, COMPILED AND PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE NATIONAL PUBLICATION COMMITTEE BY LOUIS H CORNISH NEW YORK,  PRESS OF ANDREW M. KELLOGO,  PEARL ST., NEW YORK, NY, 1902, p. 784

https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_National_Register_of_the_Society_Sons/BwyqRbA-2ykC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=josephine+barrett+Henry&pg=PA784&printsec=frontcover

Answer 2

There is a published genealogy of the Henry Family available online, including at Ancestry.com. [Eldridge, William Henry, The Descendants of Samuel Henry and Lurana (Cady) Henry. (Boston: Press of T.R. Marvin & Son, 1915)]

The book has a fairly detailed biography of Josephine's husband, John Francis Henry. He was a druggist, but was also very active in New York politics. He did run for the New York (not U.S.) Senate and was also the Republican candidate for NYC mayor in 1877, losing to James Howell.

I have added some details to his profile in the "Research Notes" section.

By the way, the book also mentions that Josephine was a short story writer and that her father was a scholar who introduced the system of diagraming sentences used in the public school system.

One suggestion: As someone who regularly researches "notables" I find the old newspapers equally or more beneficial than the online genealogy sites - especially if you are looking for details. If you have a narrow focus and don't want to pay for a full annual subscription, many newspaper sites have a free trial period which should allow you enough time to get the info you need free of charge.