O'Laughlin Family

> The O'Loughlin Family Clover

The O'Loughlin (O'Laughlin) family originally came to New Ireland from Ennistymon, County Clare, Ireland. It is believed they came between 1863 and 1865. They were unique because they came to New Ireland as a family of three brothers. John was the eldest, and his two brothers were Patrick, and Michael. The O'Loughlin's left behind a very large clan in Ireland, but their family continued to grow in the United States. Each of the three brothers fathered 6-11 children. John, Michael, and Patrick all worked as laborers and their descendents remained in New Ireland for over a half century. After the O'Loughlin's came to New Ireland, they became very involved in the oil industry. New Ireland (often referred to as "Little Ireland") and other areas of Limestone and Pennsylvania contained oil. The O'Loughlin brothers were each owners of several acres of land, where they raised cows, and grew vegetables, such as rhutabagas.

When visiting New Ireland, I specifically looked for the O'Loughlin land, but was unsuccessful in finding any of their three properties. After closer examination of a picture that we have obtained of one of the O'Loughlin houses, I noticed that there seemed to be no foundation. This suggested to me that the O'Loughlin's may have initially been poor and were unable to afford the luxury of a stone foundation. However after several other visits to New Ireland and a further search of the area we have discovered two of the O'Loughlin foundations, each being made up of two rooms. Along with these foundations we have discovered a huge barn. The barn foundation is made of such large stones and is of such immense size we believe that the three brothers may have built it together and used it as a communal storage area. We also located a pasture with a man made pond and a working well that may have been used to take care of the O'Loughlin's livestock.

Some members of the O'Loughlin family became quite famous in this community. Anne O'Loughlin, daughter of John, became known for her kind, and loving heart. She served as a midwife because doctors were not readily available for child birth during this period. She raised several young boys from Father Baker's home in Lackawanna, NY. This provided them with the opportunity to work and live in a more stable environment. Michael Cornelius O'Loughlin, son of Patrick became a politician in Limestone. He drove an expensive car, with a chauffer, and eventually moved to Fredonia, where he lived in a large home with his wife, Catherine Townsell, and his daughter, Mary Eileen. The political position he had ascended to, gave Michael the opportunity to attend President Roosevelt's innauguration and the Democratic Convention, held in Texas.

The entire O'Loughlin family attended St. Patrick's Church located in Limestone. Many marriages and baptisms of the O'Loughlin family took place here.family album

After searching through the federal and state census records, I found that three farm hands stayed with the O'Loughlin's. They were Norman and Jack Handy, along with Frederick Rydor. The census indicated that they were born in the Limestone-Bradford area and resided with the O'Loughlin family for several years. We also have determined that the O'Loughlin's rented their house to a William Neely. On the map of 1914 you will see the name W.A. Neely appears on what is O'Loughlin's property. It should be noted that the name O'Loughlin varied in spelling between church records, land deeds, immigration records, census data,etc. This was not odd for the time in our history as many people in America at that time were illiterate and relied on census takers, clerks and immigration officials to spell their name correctly. Put the Irish brogue into this mix and you can easily understand how names appeared as two different spellings.

To see a land deed of the O'Loughlin property click here.

Family Tree

This is a family tree that shows the marriage and births of the three original O'Loughlin brothers, John, Patrick, and Michael. All of the marriages of the three brothers took place in Ireland. It also shows some of their ancestors, including uncles, an aunt, their mothers and father.

Key to O'Loughlin Descendency

People who remained in Ireland People who came to the United States, but were born in Ireland People who were born in the United States(first generation Americans)

Time: Early 1800's -Ennistymon, County Clare, Ireland

Patrick O'Loughlin(1801)

Michael O'Loughlin(1805)-married Anne Mulquinney (parents of New Ireland settlers)

John O'Loughlin(1809)-married Johanna(1810)

Michael O'Loughlin--------M.----------Anne Mulquinney

children

John(1824)(mother Anne Mulquinney)

Parick(1828)Mary(1831)Michael(1833)Thomas1836)

John O'Loughlin(1824)----------M.---------- Anne Kelly(1837)

children

Johanna(1861) Patrick(1862) Mary Ann(1865) John(1866)

Anne(1870) Agnes(1872)

Patrick O'Loughlin(1829)----------M.----------Elizabeth Murphy(1847)

children

Michael(1870)MaryTheresa(1872)Nellie(1872)Ella(1874)

Thomas(1875)Margaret(1877)Martin(1879)Mary(1879)

Michael O'Loughlin(1833)----------M.----------Catherine Cahill(1840)

children

Mary(1862)Bridget(1864)Johanna(1865)Peter + Catherine(twins

1867)*Margaret(1868)Michael(1870)Patrick(1871)Elizabeth(1875)

Francis + Lenore(twins 1879)

*We believe that Margaret died of Scarlet Fever at the age of 5 1/2.

For more detailed information on the O'Loughlin's, see my family library page


This is Jim Keough in front of the O'Loughlin home.	This picture features James Keough, Sonel Adams, Patrick Townsell, unknown, and Mary Keough in front of the O'Loughlin's home.

This is a photo of John "Jack" O'Loughlin, the son of John O'Loughlin.

This document is a statement of Patrick O'Loughlin's intention to become a citizen of the United States. If you look closely you will notice he signed the document with an x indicating he probably could not read or write at that time. It is hand written above and below the x that it is his mark. The clerk William W. Welch most likely signed the name you see on this record.

Mysteries of the O'Loughlin Family History

A John O'Loughlin,Sr. shows up in an 1880 census, with his wife listed as Johanna. John was born in 1809, and his wife , 1810. I assume that he is one of the uncles of John, Patrick, and Michael, but there is no evidence that this is completely true. A Peter O'Loughlin is listed on an 1865 census. It is unknown if he is the brother of John, Patrick, and Michael or if he is related in some other way. John Burroughs, from Visalia ,California sent me information on the O'Laughlin's. He has a birth document that lists the parents of John, Michael, and Patrick asMichael O'Loughlinand Mary Keating. I have other information contrary to this,stating that the parents were Michael O'Loughlin and Anne Mulquinney. I would like to know which is the correct information? It's beginning to fall into place........ Thanks to Betty Thrush, our Limestone/St.Patrick connection, one of my mysteries has been solved. I originally thought that Patrick(1829), married Bridget O'Neil after his wife, Eliza died. However, this proved to be untrue. It was John's son, Patrick(1862), who married Bridget O'Neil in 1890. I am still interested in learning the cause of Eliza' s death at the age of 43. Recently, Teresa Townsell, a descendent of the original Townsell family sent us her information on New Ireland. From this I learned interesting facts about the O'Loughlin's. This can be found on my family library page. Gerry Kinsbury, whom I located on the internet had sent me some information on the O'Loughlin's. She sent me an article on New Ireland. It was published in the 1950's. She also helped me solve a couple of mysteries. Ann, daughter of John remained single. John Handy was possibly born in Canada, and his brother was born in Pennsylvania. Frederick Rydor, another boarder, was also born in Pennsylvania. Nellie O'Loughlin(Ella), was the teenager who died at age nineteen. She died of typhoid fever. John Sr. and Johanna are listed as the parents ofPeter O'Loughlin in the 1865 census. It is still unknown if Peter was another brother or if he was related in some other way. Thanks Gerry for solving almost all of my mysteries. I feel extremely lucky to have met John Walker. Not only did he provide me with first hand information on the O'Loughlins but he was witty and charming to all of us that met him and was like a bridge to another time in history. He was a resident of New Ireland as a child and actually new the original settlers of New Ireland. His stories about the O'Loughlin's can be found throughout the entire New Ireland website.

Jillian Cherre _{The
historical research on the O'Loughlin family and creation of this page
was done by Ms. Jillian Cherre. She has since graduated from
Canisius
College where she has received both her Baccalaureate of Arts and
Masters
of Science in Education. She presently is an elementary school teacher
at Riverview School in the City of Tonawanda School District. If
you are interested in obtaining any information or have something to
add,
please contact Jillian at jilly144@yahoo.com.}