Marchioness Ellen McLaughlin (1829-1915), Brooklyn, New York

December 7, 2011 By 9 Comments

MRS. HUGH McLAUGHLIN
Democratic Leader’s Widow, Made a Marchioness, Dies at 85
The New York Times, April 3, 1915

Mrs. Sarah Ellen McLaughlin, the widow of Hugh McLaughlin, for many years the Democratic leader of Kings County, died yesterday morning at her home 163 Remsen Street, Brooklyn, at the age of 85 years. She was a Marchioness of the Roman Catholic Church and was known for her philanthropic and charitable work, hospitals and orphan asylums, being her particular benefactions.

Mrs. McLaughlin was born in Lafayette, Sussex County, New Jersey, and was a daughter of Martin R. Kays, a farmer of that place. Her family were of the Dutch Reformed faith, but before her marriage she joined the Roman Catholic Church. She met Mr. McLaughlin while visiting the Brooklyn Navy Yard with friends. Mr. McLaughlin was at that time a foreman of workers in that yard. He was called “Boss” McLaughlin by the men under him and this appellation stuck to him when he entered politics and became a leader. Explaining how he came to be so called, Mr. McLaughlin always claimed, with evident, that he was “the only original political boss.”

After her marriage in 1862, Mrs. McLaughlin became one of the most active workers in the Catholic Church in Brooklyn. Her particular care was St. Mary’s Hospital. She was also interested in the St. Vincent’s Home for Boys, and in other like institutions in the borough. In memory of her husband she erected the Church of St. Hugh, in Huntington, L.I. Three years ago she provided for a monument to mark a spot near her birthplace in New Jersey where the Continental Army camped in the Revolution.

Because of her work for the church, Mrs. Mcaughlin in 1908 was given the title of Marchioness of the Papal nobility by Pius X. Mrs. McLaughlin is survived by two daughters, Mrs. William C. Courtney and Mrs. Benedict C. Roache. Funeral services will be held on Monday in St. James’ Pro-Cathedral. The Right Rev. George W. Mundlelein, Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn, will officiate.

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About Pat McNamara
  • chris ahrens

    i just acquired a set of prayer books from the 1800′s with prayer cards and correspondence belonging to Mrs Hugh McLaughlin. i have the prayer card for the passing of their son Hugh Harvey in 1878, and the letter showing the prayer books as a gift to her from the Appleton and Co Firm in NYC. also came were the prayer cards for the passing of her husband Hugh, and her own passing in 1915. there were a few more articles belonging to her hidden in the pages of these books, which came bundled in a leather case. i got this on eBay for $40… not sure the guy knew what he had. these articles are very personalized, with handwritten notes by her hand, and a handwritten note from william appleton to her apologizing for taking so long to get this Christmas 1872 gift to her. her name is emblazoned on the cover. very cool. please contact me if it is believed these items belong better where they can be appreciated by her family or admirers. seems like very personal items of hers, not sure i should have them. she has a small envelope containing violets she picked in La Salette, France, 1876, and Olive leaves from Gethsemane she picked in 1876. all this was handwritten by her on this small envelope. thanks !

    • Margaret DeAcetis

      Chris Ahrens,
      You indeed have a treasure. I have been researching the Hugh McLaughlin family, and a obituary for their oldest daughter who died in Feb 1936 indicates she was survived by a son and daughter and seven grandchildren. There must be family out there who would want these items. I hope they will find their way to the family with your help. Best wishes

      • chris ahrens

        with a little research, i found her GREAT GREAT GREAT Granddaughter !! i returned these items to her this week via UPS. i would expect a post from her here, soon. she is an amazing woman, from an amazing family, and it was my honor to be a small part of returning her family’s heritage to its rightful owner. i thank GOD for this privilege.

        • chris ahrens

          i have her email if you would like it. she has quite a bit of information regarding her family’s proud history. if you are wanting to fill in some of the gaps of your research, she is the one to talk to !

  • Margaret DeAcetis

    To patmcnamara,
    Thank you for posting that lovely portrait of Mrs. Hugh McLaughlin.
    I have been researching her family and was disappointed that I’ve not come across photographs of her and her husband. They were extremely well known in their lifetime.

    • chris ahrens

      email me at cjahrens@mac.com so i can connect you to their great granddaughter (x3), who is a excellent source of information for this family. she is a delightful woman who is rightfully proud of her family history.

  • Rose Mary Grasso

    My name is Rose Mary Grasso. I am the lady that Chris Aherns speaks of. Mr. and Mrs. Mclauglin in deed have living decendents. I am one of 5 siblings. My e-mail address is nightengale101@tampabay.rr.com. I had difficulty getting to this site so if Margaret DeAcetis wishes to contact me, please e-mail. I was very surprised to open this site and see the picture of my Grandmother. I have the matching sketch of my Grandfahter Hugh. I am isterested as to why you are researching him and and wondering if you could put to rest some questions I have about Hugh as to wether they are myth or not. They are family legends. I have numerous Brooklyn Newspaper Articles on my Grandfather. I also possess the portrait of his mother which was done when the same artist did the judges of the Kings County Court house at the time which was 1870. I was surprised to find there were two daughters. I am of the line of the daughter listed as married to William Courtney. This daughter’s husband was a doctor and her died shortly after the marriage of Brights Disease which is now known as renal failure. I do not believe they produced a child but she remarried and from that line I come. I also have 7 first cousins of the Mclaughlin line. Four are direct blood lineage and and 3 are adopted. You will find many of our direct ancestors buried within the Holy Cross Cemetary in Brooklyn. Hugh purcahsed a huge plot there. He and his wife and those to follow are buried there. I do not know if Hugh Harvery is there. The huge introductuctory monument lists where Hugh’s family was from and it is very large and pointed. My Aunts are buried there and I believe my Uncle as well. Their last names are Fleming. My dad is buried here is Florida.

    The other daughter of Hugh is vaguely known to me. I met one of that line as she was first cousin to my Dad and I recall my Dad saying there had been a divorrce that divided the family that were very devout in their Catholic faith and he never saw his little cousin again until they were in there 60′s. I do not recall how they reunited.

    I have many newspaper articles on Hugh including one that celebrates his and Ellen’s 35th Wedding anniversary. By the way. My Grandmother’s name was Sarah Ellen which my family has told me was not so but I got the proof when Chris sent me the books and memorial prayer cards.

    The grandchildren of my father number 9. I have 2 children and 2 grandchildren.

    I can not tell you what it was like to have Chris contact me. It came at a sad moment in my life. The books he sent me are over 100 years old. They traveled 100 years and thousands of miles to reach my hands. I do not think anyone can deny that being a miracle. Chris commented that it was like my Granmother reached out and touched me but I said no that rather God had reached out and touched me.

    What was the odds that these books containing these wonderful momentos would tavel 100 years in time, be on E Bay where millions could have bought them, be purchased by a Catholic man with a sense of ethics and travel via his hands to me, the only practicing Catholic I know of in the family. I might add that they came from a grandmother who cared for the needs of orphans. I was orphaned when my mother died
    leaving 5 children under the age of 6. My father gave me up but I have his will declaring me as his child and my Baptisimal certificate with my given name, Rose Fleming on it. So through all those years these books traveled to the type of child my Grandmother most wanted to help………………….the orphan grandchild. Tell me that is not a miracle. I shall never forget this very wonderful moment in my life and I owe it to Chris.

    God bless all who read this. this is no small miracle.

  • Margaret DeAcetis

    I am happy to say Rose Marie tracked me down this evening. We had a wonderful talk and we will be in touch.

    Margaret DeAcetis

  • Laura Dalzell

    I stumbled on this blog while looking for the correct spelling of Marchioness! What a surprise to find! I come from a long line of McLaughlin’s AND McNamara’s!
    My name is Laura Dalzell. My Great-great grandmother, Pauline D Kays is Sarah Ellen Kays McLaughlin’s sister. Both Ellen AND Pauline married men named Hugh McLaughlin! The men were uncle and nephew or cousins, we are not sure which. Pauline and Hugh had a son, another Hugh, who married May A Thompson. Hugh and May had two girls, Margaret Grace and Marie Antoinette (Nettie). Grace married George Dalzell; the younger of their two sons, Robert, is my father who married Elizabeth Cuff, my mother.
    Here’s where McNamara comes in, which leads to another wonderful connection of family service to the Catholic Church. My maternal Grandmother is Loretta McNamara Cuff. Loretta married Thomas J Cuff, who was honored in Dec ’11 at the 75th anniversary ball for helping to found Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre, NY

    http://www.mercymedicalcenter.chsli.org/press-release/489-hospital-honors-memory-of-friends-of-mercy-founder.html

    I have emailed RoseMary Grasso and hope to connect with Margaret DeAcetis. I have a photo portrait of the Marchioness and will be happy to send it on to whom ever is interested.
    Kind Regards, Laura Dalzell