Descendants of Daniel J. Coughlin: The Connecticut Coughlins

March 2018 marks a month of incredible breakthroughs in my genealogical research of my Coughlin ancestors from Poughkeepsie, New York and now the trail has led me to Connecticut in search of more Coughlin ancestors and their descendants.

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.

My great grandfather William H. Coughlin's Border Crossing Card (1929)

The Coughlin family, Wallaceburg, Ontario around 1917

The Coughlin family, Windsor, Ontario 1949

My great grandfather William Henry Coughlin (1872-1952) was a glassblower in Wallaceburg, Ontario at the Sydenham Glass Works .

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)

 

Michael and Margaret (Duffy) Coughlin were both born in Ireland in 1842 and emigrated to New York during the potato famine. They were married around 1865 and had three sons who survived to adulthood: John J., William H., and Daniel J..

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. 

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..")

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..

My great grandfather William H. Coughlin

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.

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.

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:

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 two surviving children, Margaret and Daniel, married and moved away from Poughkeepsie, New York (and his wife moved with them as well) to Connecticut. Here is what I have found out about them so far.

The Connecticut Coughlins

Mother: Lillian (Griffin) Coughlin (1882-1965)

Daniel's wife Lillian moved to Coventry, Connecticut and died there at the age of 83 years in 1965.

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 )
 

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

John's wife Helmi was born in Brooklyn, New York an was a member of the Finnish American Heritage Society and was retired from Pratt and Whitney Aircraft after many years of service. The obituary for Helmi R Pucino (Aalto) with photos can be found here: http://smallandpietrasfuneralhome.com/book-of-memories/1279932/Pucino-Helmi/obituary.php

(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.

 

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.

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."

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

Year: 1930; Census Place: Poughkeepsie, Dutchess, New York; Roll: 1420; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 0048; FHL microfilm: 2341155

Daniel and Ruth had a son Daniel C. a graduate of Eastern Connecticut State College and teacher at Bolton Center School.

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.

Source: The Hartford Courant 11 Feb 1979 Page 28

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

Emigration Information of the Nineteenth Century

Most genealogists would be delighted to have the detailed information that I have on my ancestor's emigration from Kerry, Ireland to the New World. I have the name of the ship and the Captain. I know how long the trip lasted (45 days) and many other important and interesting details.

Emigration Year c. 1825

I also know that the time period (give or take a few years) circa1825 (given that the family arrived in Windsor in 1828 after having spent three years in Pennsylvania.)

But what if, even loaded with all of that rich information, you find yourself at a "relative dead end"? No records of departure or arrival, no passenger list, no ship information etc?

Our wonderful source for the emigration information, Timothy Moynahan ,""came over when I was nine years of age, my folks settling in Pennsylvania where we lived three years before coming to Windsor."

More details from my blog post :The voyage from the old sod": "The Thomas of Cork, Captain Bamfield , master, was the ship upon which we sailed. She was an old war remnant, as slow as molasses in January and the trip occupied six weeks and three days." 

Old War Ship: The Thomas of Cork

I found a ship called the Thomas sailed twice from Cork in 1820 (based on the Quebec Mercury) and would certainly qualify as "an old war remnant" as Timothy put it:

Aug 13 1820

Ship Thomas and Mary

Master J. Dysart

Sailed 49 days

From Cork

7 officers and 86 men of the Royal Artillery

to Govie

Aug 29 1820

Ship Thomas

Master Wm Bothwick

Sailed 11 July

From Portsmouth

46 officers and men of the 76th, 37th, 60th and 70th regt.

To R. Hamilton & Co

62 Women, A Flute Player and A Piper Aboard

This is an important clue from Timothy  about who will appear on the passenger list:
"A lonely voyage it would have been too if it had not been for the fact that there were sixty-two women, a flute player and a piper aboard. The women were wives of soldiers that were serving the crown in this country, and they were coming over to join their husbands."

Captain Bamfield Master

 Or could it be Captain James Banfill?

Emigration from Cork to America 1800-1833

My search for more emigration information on my ancestors continues. I have compiled a list of helpful links below.

EmigrationLinks

• Immigrants To Canada
• Emigration Information of the Nineteenth Century
• http://www.theshipslist.com/
• LAC Passenger Lists, 1865-1935
• Emigration Handbook of 1820
• Irish Ships to America: Famous Ships of Irish Immigrants

52 Ancestors #6 : The Voyage "From The Old Sod"

November 1900 Timothy Moynahan told his life story to theDetroit Free Press. The article is a gift loaded with genealogical information. I am dividing the newspaper article into several smaller pieces for #52Ancestors. Here Timothy describes his passage from Kerry, Ireland to Windsor, Ontario.

"To begin at the beginning, I was born in Count Kerry eighty seven years ago"

The Detroit Free Press newspaper article was written in November 1900 and therefore this would mean that Timothy was born around 1813 in Ireland. There are several discrepancies with respect to Timothy's birthdate when compared to the census records

• 1851 census: Timothy is recorded as 30 years at his next birthday and therefore born circa 1821
• 1861 census: Timothy is recorded as 41 years at his next birthday and therefore born circa 1820
• 1871 census: Timothy is recorded as 53 years old therefore born circa 1818
• 1881 census: Timothy is recorded as 63 years old therefore born circa 1818
• 1891 census: Timothy is recorded as 73 years old therefore born circa 1818
• 1901 census: Timothy is recorded as 82 years, born 1819 and arrived/ immigrated to Canada 1828

"and came over when I was nine years of age, my folks settling in Pennsylvania where we lived three years before coming to Windsor."

Based on the 1901 census, if Timothy arrived in Canada 1828 then the family lived in Pennsylvania around 1825. If Timothy was 9 years of age then he was born circa 1816.

The following detailed information on the ship and the Captain were found in the Detroit Free Press article. 

To date, I have failed to locate the passenger lists.

"The Thomas of Cork, Captain Bamfield , master, was the ship upon which we sailed. She was an old war remnant, as slow as molasses in January and the trip occupied six weeks and three days."

The following excerpt provides details on who else was on board. If the ship's purpose was to deliver the wives to the soldiers in America then perhaps I should be looking in other places for the detailed passenger lists.

"A lonely voyage it would have been too if it had not been for the fact that there were sixty-two women, a flute player and a piper aboard. The women were wives of soldiers that were serving the crown in this country, and they were coming over to join their husbands."

Another entertaining detail about the "six week and three days" passage across the Atlantic:

"Between the women and the musicians, the time passed pleasantly. The piper was an untiring Highlander, and he succeeded in driving all the rats from the old schooner. The music of the Scotch bagpipes will do that same you know.”

Next week: 1829 - The Day Of The Horse Boat

·        #52Ancestors #5: Timothy Moynahan the Kerryman

·        #52Ancestors #6: From The Old Sod

·        #52Ancestors #7: 1829 - The Day Of The HorseBoats

·        #52Ancestors #8: The "Shillelagh Guards" in action

·        #52Ancestors #9: Timothy's kin?

The images above illustrate the ships that would carry Irish emigrants over two decades after Timothy set sail. 

I have included them for visual interest not historic accuaracy.

Sources:

Illustrated London News, May 10, 1851

Harpers Weekly, June 26, 1851