My great grandfather (GG) William Henry Coughlin (1872-1952) was born in Poughkeepsie New York and emigrated to Canada in 1898 at 26 years of age. I knew so little about the Coughlin family he left behind and I was unsuccessful at any and all previous attempts to locate these ancestors in New York records.
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| My great grandfather William H. Coughlin's Border Crossing Card (1929) |
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| The Coughlin family, Wallaceburg, Ontario around 1917 |
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| The Coughlin family, Windsor, Ontario 1949 |
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| Source: University of Windsor; SWODA: Glass Works, Wallaceburg, Ont. (1907) (Public Domain) |
William H. Coughlin's
Poughkeepsie Kin
In March 2018, I located William's Coughlin family in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. and learned that many of them had lived their entire lives in Poughkeepsie in the same neighborhood near the Hudson River and that they were all baptized, married and buried at St. Peter's Roman Catholic church and cemetery.
Michael and Margaret (Duffy) Coughlin
(My 2nd great grandparents)
Eldest Son: John J. Coughlin (1867-1932)
(My 2nd Great Uncle)
John J. Coughlin was the eldest son of Michael and Margaret Coughlin. Census records indicate that he was married twice. His first wife had died some time before 1920.
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| John J. Coughlin (1867-1932) |
In the 1920 Poughkeepsie census, John J. Coughlin is widowed and he is living with his brother Daniel's family and his widowed father Michael.
John J. was employed as an Inspector at the Horse Shoe Works.
When John J. died on August 31, 1932, his obituary mentions his two step-daughters and his brothers Daniel J. and William H. Coughlin who is said to be in Montreal which was his original destination when he left for Canada. (See William H. Coughlin's Naturalization Papers where he stated that he: "went directly to Wallaceburg, Ontario, remained there for about one month, then went to Montreal stayed for nearly four months and had only periodic work, he then returned to New York, and stayed for one year and lived at Poughkeepsie, N.Y., he returned to Wallaceburg, Ontario where he remained for 15 years during the time he spent there he got married and bought a home..")
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| Source: Poughkeepsie Eagle News; 02 Sep, 1932 |
Middle Son: William Henry Coughlin (1872-1952)
(My great grandfather)
I have written extensively about Michael and Margaret Coughlin's middle son who was my great grandfather William H. Coughlin. Visit the links at the bottom of this page for more details about his son and daughters and their lives in Ontario, Canada and Michigan, U.S.A..
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| My great grandfather William H. Coughlin |
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| The Coughlin Family: Michigan and Ontario |
In 1940, William H. Coughlin indicated that he was applying for naturalization under Section 8, "to renew old Nat. Papers so he may obtain a passport to visit relatives in the States."
In 1952 when he died, William was the last living of his Poughkeepsie family (mother, father and brothers) and his obituary does not mention any nieces and nephews still living in the United States.
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| Source: The Windsor Daily Star: Jan 30, 1952 |
Youngest Son: Daniel J. Coughlin
(My 2nd Great Uncle)
Michael and Margaret Coughlin's youngest son Daniel J. lived his entire life in Poughkeepsie, New York. He married Lillian Griffin in 1898 and they had four children.
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| The family of Daniel J. and Lillian (Griffin) Coughlin |
Of the four children of Daniel J. and Lillian (Griffin) Coughlin, two sons died very young:
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| Headstones for William H. and John J. Coughlin at St Peter's Cemetery, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. |
- (2.) William H. Coughlin (1900-1913) died at 13 years-of-age after falling into a hole behind St. Peter's school and drowning. (read the story here)
- (3.) John J. Coughlin (1904-1925) died at 21 years-of-age following a car accident
(read the story here)
The Connecticut Coughlins
Mother: Lillian (Griffin) Coughlin (1882-1965)
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| St Bernard's Cemetery, Rockville, Connecticut |
Daughter: (1.) Margaret R. Coughlin (1899-1964)
(My 1st cousin twice removed)
Margaret was the eldest child and only girl born to Daniel J. and Lillian (Griffin) Coughlin in Poughkeepsie, New York. (Note: Margaret's obituary states that she was born in Hyde Park, NY)
Margaret married John Carmen Pucino who was born in Italy in 1895 and died suddenly at home in 1953. He was a veteran of WWI. He is buried at St Bernard's Cemetery Rockville, Connecticut
John Carmen and Margaret (Coughlin) Pucino had three children, two sons (John Joseph and Daniel A.) and one daughter (Evelyn).
It was difficult to find Margaret (Coughlin) Pucino's death date because she remarried Francis J. Lavoie (1905-2003). (No obituary found; headstone located at St Bernard's )
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| Francis J. LaJoie 1905-2003; St. Bernard's Cemetery, Ct. |
Below is Margaret (Coughlin) Pucino-LaJoie's 1964 obituary: Mrs. Francis J. LaJoie
Margaret (Coughlin) Pucino-LaJoie's Children
(My Third Cousins)
(1.) John Joseph Pucino (1920-1983): John was born in Beacon, New York and married Helmi Aalto of West Waterford. They had three daughters. John died in 1983 and is buried at St Bernard's Cemetery, Rockville, Conneticut https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67754594/john-j-pucino
(2.) Daniel Anthony Pucino (1923-1960): John was born in Poughkeepsie, New York and married Helen Popilchock (1924-2003) of Catiwassa, Pennsylvania and they had two children: Donna and Jean.
Daniel died at 36 years of age in 1960 in Berwick, Pennsylvania while demolishing a building. He was crushed between a crane and a trailer according to the coroner's report below.
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| Source: Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Pennsylvania, USA; Certificate Number Range: 013651-016350 |
Daniel was a veteran of WWII and is buried in Our Lady of Mercy cemetery, Pennsylvania.
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| Source: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards, 1929-1990; Series Number: Series 1 |
(3.) Evelyn Pucino (1925-2016) Evelyn married James Shea. From Evelyn's 2016 obituary: "Evelyn was born in Poughkeepsie NY on March 20, 1925, the daughter of John C. Pucino and Margaret (Coughlin Pucino). She grew up in New Paltz NY and moved with her family to CT living most of her life in Coventry. Evelyn had a strong faith in God and was an active parishioner of St Mary Church in Coventry where, at every event, she could be found in the kitchen cooking and making fried dough. She lived her faith through service including as a Eucharistic Minister. She was proud of her Italian heritage. Long after she prepared the family recipe for meatballs for the last time, she continued to share the stories and music of her childhood. She will always be remembered by those whose lives she so lovingly touched."
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| Evelyn (Pucino) Shea (1925-2016) (My second cousin / once removed) |
Son: (4.) Daniel Coughlin (1907-1979)
(My 1st cousin twice removed)
Daniel was the youngest child born in 1907 to Daniel J. and Lillian (Griffin) Coughlin in Poughkeepsie, New York.
On the 1930 Census, newlyweds Daniel and Ruth E. Curtis Gray are living with Daniel Coughlin Sr. in Poughkeepsie
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| Year: 1930; Census Place: Poughkeepsie, Dutchess, New York; Roll: 1420; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 0048; FHL microfilm: 2341155 |
Daniel died in 1979 in Manchester, Connecticut at 72 years-of-age having worked for thirty years as a supervisor at the Salvation Army in Hartford, Connecticut. He is buried at St. Mary's cemetery with his wife Ruth who died in 1987.
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| Source: The Hartford Courant 11 Feb 1979 Page 28 |
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| Source: The Hartford Courant 25 Nov 1987 D8 |
The Michigan & Ontario Coughlins
- DUFFY-COUGHLIN: Poughkeepsie Brick Wall (Coughlin and Duffy)
- COUGHLIN: Glassblowers in the 1800s
- COUGHLIN: Wallaceburg Schools
- COUGHLIN: Holy Name of Mary Society, Wallaceburg, Ontario; and Updated post
- COUGHLIN: Rhea Coughlin & Parke Davis
- COUGHLIN: Coughlin Golden Anniversary 1949
- COUGHLIN: Trick or Treating
- COUGHLIN: The Photographic Camera and a Photograph Album
- COUGHLIN: Ice Boating in Windsor, Ontario
- COUGHLIN: The Naturalization Papers of William Henry Coughlin
- MOYNAHAN - COUGHLIN: Favourite Photo: My Grandparent's 1929 Wedding
- DEMARSE - COUGHLIN: Sister Madeline Demarse (G.S.I.C) (1928-2010)
- SCHOFIELD-COUGHLIN: Arthur and Margaret Schofield
- COUGHLIN: The Art of Colorizing Photos
- COUGHLIN: The Coughlin's 1940s Sing-Along! Part 1
- COUGHLIN-ANNAL: Coughlin Anniversary Folio Pak Snaps
- COUGHLIN: The Coughlin's 1940s Sing-Along! Part 2
- COUGHLIN: Gretta Marie (Coughlin) Langlois
