Edward 1876

The following information was contained in September 2008 e-mails from John Ivan Laughton, great nephew of Edward Laughton and grandson of David Laughton 1861.

It is my understanding that after the death of Edward's wife "Bert" in 1964, Edward returned to the Niagara Falls, New York area and lived with other members of the Laughton Family.

In amongst the letters that came in the package from John Ivan Laughton in March 2009 was a letter from Jim and Jane Alexander (so if it was a relative, Jane was a Laughton) that refers to the passing of "Bert" in 1964. As of this date we have not identified Jim and Jane. If you can help, the letter is posted here:

Jim and Jane Alexander letter to Edward Laughton - November 30, 1964

The original of this letter was with John Ivan Laughton, so there must be a connection?

There were a number of additional photographs of the Edward Laughton 1876 group in the package that was received in April 2009 from John Ivan Laughton. These have all been scanned are posted below. I have had to use some logic to sort these out as not all were labeled in full and some of the names appeared in question or were reversed. What I have shown below is what I believe is the most logical (names) when you compare all the photographs.

Edward 1876 Portrait

Edward Laughton 1876, son of John Laughton 1829.

Buried in the Niagara Falls Riverview Cemetery in a separate plot from him mother and father.

Great Uncle Edward and his wife Bertha had three sons:

	Reid married Mollie, no children
	Norman married Betty, no children
	Bruce was their third son, but he was killed by a train when he was young

Edward Laughton is the second grave site found in the Niagara Falls Fairview Cemetery, which was visited and photographed in the summer of 2008. There are separate markers for each of Edward and his wife Bertha Loosley.

Edward dated August 16, 1938

I have no information as to the significance of this picture, however it would appear that something of importance happened on August 16, 1938.

Perhaps John Ivan can fill us in with details?

It became apparent during the review of the cemetery records in Niagara Falls that Edward had looked after the graves of his parents, John Laughton 1829 and his mother Catherine Margaret Murphy. They are buried in the same cemetery as Edward but in a different location. Also buried with the parents are their daughters Julia, Jean "Jennie" and Margaret. To the rear of the John Edward family plot is an older stone marking the grave site of Bruce Laughton, which is now explained by John Ivan as an early death as a result of a train accident. The stone is marked 1901-1904. The cemetery records show his name as Bruce K. Laughton.

John Addison Corbett and Uncle Ed

John Addison Corbett Laughton 1895 on the left, was the 2nd son of David Laughton, shown here with his Uncle Edward Laughton.

John 1895 is the father of John Ivan Laughton 1929 for whom we are grateful for the many letters and photographs that we have been able to add to this site in 2008 and 2009.

Edward 1876 and brother David 1861
David's wife Minnie & Ed's wife Bert

The women are crossed from the men in this picture, so that Edward (on the left) is standing in front of David's wife "Minnie" (Mary Eleanor McAlmon). David (on the right) is standing in front of Ed's wife "Bert" (Bertha Loosley).

Brothers David, John and Edward
August 26, 1928

There was a notation on the back of this photograph "Where is brother William (William Severn Laughton 1927). He would not be available for this picture as he died on March 8, 1927. Refer to other picture with William's twin sons (below), who were raised by the rest of the family, as William's wife Amy had died earlier in 1925.

This must be my Great Grandfather John Hugh Laughton - had not seen a photograph of him prior to this collection!

Brothers David, Edward and John
Twins either side, Norm or Reid in middle

Brother William Severn Laughton is not in this photograph as he died in March of 1927. I presume Edward took the "Twins" out to Nelson, British Columbia to visit Uncle David.

These series of photographs are dated August 26, 1928 and are noted as "girls back yard".

Might be able to figure out Norm/Reid from other photographs.

Twins are twins, doubt that can be resolved!

Uncle Ed and wife Bertha with their two sons
and their wives

From comparison to other photographs I would suggest that Reid is on the left and Norm is on the right. That would match their wives sitting in front of them (Reid & Mollie, Norm and Betty).

The back of the photograph also notes there was a 3rd son that was killed in a train accident when young. From out previous investigations, we know that was Bruce Laughton (1901-1904) who is buried in Niagara Falls, Ontario with his grandfather John Laughton 1829 and the rest of his family.

Edward and Bert are also buried in that same cemetery but they died many years later and are in a separate plot. For details see the cemetery page for Niagara Falls.

Note that the Norman Laughton reported here as married to Betty is not the Norman Laughton listed as the son of Jerome Laughton 1834, as that Norman is "Bruce Norman Laughton (1917)".

Edward's sons Norm and Reid Laughton

These are Edward's two surviving sons Reid (married to Mollie) and Norman (married to Betty). Neither of the boys are reported as having children.

The third son of Edward and Bert was Bruce Laughton who we have reported was killed by a train in 1904 and is married in the Niagara Falls cemetery with his Grandfather John Laughton 1829 and family.

We do not have any dates for the births or deaths of Norm (on the left) and Reid (on the right). From a 1981 letter from Eleanor Laughton (wife of William Alfred Laughton 1913) we know that Norman Laughton was deceased at the time of the 1981 letter and that Reid was still alive.

At this time I do not have any additional information on the movement, whereabouts or current status of the family of Edward Laughton. As there were no reported children, this line will cease to exist with the passing of Reid Laughton.

Family of Edward Laughton 1876
Photo Courtesy of John Ivan Laughton

Thanks to whoever had the good sense to write the names of the people on that photograph, as the people match the family tree.

On the left is Reid Laughton and his wife Molly (or is it Mollie?).

To the right is Norm Laughton and his wife Betty.

Edward's wife Bertha "Bert" is on the far right.

The other son Bruce was killed by a train in 1904.

Family of Edward 1876

My interpretation of this photograph after comparing it to all the others in the collection is as follows:

On the left side is son Reid, his mother Bertha (Bart) and Reid's wife Mollie.

On the right side is son Norm, an unknown lady looking at the dog and then Norm's wife Betty.

Reid, Edward and Norman

Location and date of photograph unknown but it does state it is Red, father Edward and brother Norman. With the number of photographs of Reid and Norman it is possible to differentiate the two bothers.

Norman is reported to have died prior to 1981. I have no information regarding Reid at this time.

Norman, Reid ... then I am confused!

The back of this photograph says it is Norman and Reid and we can tell which one by comparing it to the others. It says "2nd Cousins" probably because that notation is from John Ivan Laughton (maybe should be 1stC1R).

It also says Davie (cousin Uncle Will Muir) and Will was John Ivan's uncle and David Benson was William's son. So is the younger fellow at the back William Muir Laughton (1893) and the young lad his son David Benson Laughton (1920)? That seems to be what it is saying but the fellow looks too young to be William 1893 and father of the younger David?

Perhaps John Ivan can give us the answer?

If you have any additional information on the family of Edward Laughton and the survivors (if any), please send me that information so it can be added to this page.