James "40 Acres" McLaughlin aka James McLaughlin Sr. (1821-1911) and his wife, Ann McKinney (1822-1888), were the first members of the family to leave Ireland for the United States, emigrating in 1848 after the deaths of their three young children, starvation victims during the potato famine. James and Ann McLaughlin settled in Skaneateles, NY. He bought 40 acres in Skaneateles, started a teasel business, and picked up a new nickname.

A letter from Henry W. McLaughlin, a great-grandson of James "40 Acres" McLaughlin, to Edward F. McLaughlin, author of "This History of the McLaughlin Family," said it was his understanding that his great-grandmother's maiden name was McKenna, not McKinney, and that it had been mistakenly recorded as the latter. Proper spelling of names is frequently a matter of dispute when tracing ancestors. This particular example is further complicated because the Skaneateles death records list Ann McLaughlin's maiden name as McKenny.

The eleven children of James and Ann include Mary, Donald and William, all of whom died in Ireland, and eight who were born in the United States – sons James Jr., Dennis, William, John, Daniel, Hugh and Cornelius, and daughter Margaret. For some of them there are more detailed family trees on separate pages, as noted by the blue, underlined type.

NOTE: New information has been added, particularly that which describes Margaret McLaughlin. The source is a 1910 obituary in the Skaneateles Free Press. Obituaries are not always reliable, but I have no reason to question this one.

Mary McLaughlin (1844-1848), born and died in Ireland during the "potato famine."

Donald McLaughlin (1846-1846), died in infancy.

William McLaughlin (1846-1848), born and died in Ireland

James McLaughlin Jr. (1849-1914) m. Mary Jane O'Neil (1851-??)
James McLaughlin Jr. took over his father's teasel business. His wife, Mary Jane, was born in Canada. They had four children:

Dennis R. McLaughlin (1851-1925) m. Mary O'Hara (1851-1905).
After the death of Mary O'Hara McLaughlin, Dennis married Bridget O'Brien (1866-1922). Dennis moved to Syracuse and became a building contractor, constructing many houses in the Burnet Park area. Mary O'Hara was the sister of Edward H. O'Hara, onetime publisher of the Syracuse Herald. His son, Edward A. (Bud) O'Hara later also was publisher of the Herald. Dennis McLaughlin had nine children:

William McLaughlin (1853-1914 ) m. Anna Conroy

I found no mention of this particular William McLaughlin in "The History of the McLaughlin Family," which is strange because he was the central figure in one of the most tragic and bizarre stories in the history of the McLaughlin family's American experience. Eventually this story had a happy twist, at least in the newspaper telling, but unfortunately the tale is like an iceberg – most of it lies well below the surface. For what is known, read William McLaughlin: Lost and Found.

There seems to be much confusion over two Williams McLaughlins who were about the same age. One was born in Ireland, the son Cornelius McLaughlin, who brought the boy to the United States and left him in the care of his brother, James "40 Acres" McLaughlin. This William McLaughlin is mentioned in the book about the McLaughlin family.

Not included in the book is the William McLaughlin who is listed as being 26 years old in the 1880 U.S. Census. This William McLaughlin was born in the United States, was married and at that time had two children, neither of whom had names that jibed with those listed in the book for the family of the Irish-born William McLaughlin.

We've listed the wife of the American-born William McLaughlin as Anna Conroy, which is how she is identified by St. Mary's Cemetery in Skaneateles where she is buried. A Skaneateles newspaper listing of William McLaughlin's marriage in 1876 identifies his bride as Ann Conway.

NOTE: The list of children that follows is an educated guess, based on St. Mary's Cemetery Records, the 1880 census and the newspaper story referred to earlier. The newspaper account and the cemetery date for the death of the fourth McLaughlin child (in a five-year period) do not agree, nor does the age for William McLaughlin as mentioned in the newspaper story. My assumption – which will stand until I find facts to the contrary – is that the journalist who wrote the story relied on statements given by people whose recollection of dates was clouded somewhat by the passage of so many years.

John McLaughln Sr. (1854-1934) m. Elizabeth (Libby) Kerwin (1857-1939).
John McLaughlin was a partner in the McLaughlin Brothers teasel firm. He also was mayor of Skaneateles in 1903. He and James McLaughlin Jr. and Dennis McLaughlin arranged for the installation of electrical power at the Glenside Woolen Mills in Skaneateles Falls. Dennis was the engineer in charge at Glenside. At the same time John McLaughlin arranged for installation of transmittal lines to supply electrical power to the village of Skaneateles, which led to the formation of the Skaneateles Municipal Power Company. John and Libby McLaughlin had two children:

Daniel McLaughlin (1856-1881)
The 1880 census had him listed as working in the family's teasel shop.

Margaret McLaughlin (1859-1910 ) m. Dr. Dennis J. McLaughlin (18??-1909)

From the Skaneateles Free Press, Tuesday, August 9, 1910:

Mrs. Margaret McLaughlin, widow of Dr. Dennis J. McLaughlin, died Saturday, August 6, 1910, at St. Joseph's Hospital, Philadelphia, of cancer.

Mrs. McLaughlin was the only daughter of James and Ann McLaughlin and was born on Jordan Street in this village, November 4, 1858. She was married to Dr. Dennis J. McLaughlin of Philadelphia about 30 years ago. They resided several years at Skaneateles Falls, but some years ago removed to Philadelphia. Her oldest son, Dr. Charles McLaughlin, died a few years ago and her husband died about a year ago.

She is survived by six children – Annie, Louise, Mary, Margaret, Hugh and James – all of Philadelphia; also by her father, James McLaughlin of Skaneateles Falls, and six brothers – James Jr., John and Cornelius of this town; William of Fulton; Dennis of Syracuse and Hugh of Arkansas.

The funeral will be held from her late home in Philadelphia tomorrow morning. Burial will be made beside her late husband and son Charles in that city.

Hugh McLaughlin (1861-1918)
The 1880 census had Hugh McLaughlin working in the family teasel shop; newspaper obituaries for family members in the 1900s have Hugh living in Arkansas, then Missouri, finally Chicago where he died in 1918.

Cornelius McLaughlin (1862-1942) m. Elizabeth O'Hara (1864-1916).
After Elizabeth's death, in 1918, Cornelius McLaughlin married Helen Purcell. He was a Skaneteles village trustee for 22 years. He and Elizabeth McLaughlin had four children: