My Family Tree

Massachusetts Death Index
Name: Mary J Mclaughlin
Event Date: 03 Feb 1987
Event Place: Medford, Massachusetts
Certificate Number: 018862
Birth Date: 27 Apr 1920
Birthplace: Massachusetts
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USA Social Security Death Index
Age: 67
Given Name: Mary
Surname: Mclaughlin
Birth Date: 27 Apr 1920
State: Massachusetts
Last Place of Residence: Middlesex, Massachusetts
Previous Residence Postal Code: 02155
Event Date: Feb 1987
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About 1930 Mary was brought from a foster home in Peabody, Massachusetts to the home of John Morrissey and his wife on Ridgeway Road in Medford, Massachusetts. Her sister had been living with the Morrissey's since she was an infant. Apparently, the Morrissey's called Ada Elizabeth, Betty or Betty Ann for short. The sisters were raised as foster children by the Morrissey's until the age of majority (18 years old.) [Not quite correct as Mary was there aged 20 on the 1940 census.] My mother came to regard Mrs. Morrissey as her mother. During this time Mary was told her middle name was Jane. From her birth record we only know that her middle initial was A.

During World War II Mary worked for the 197 Electric Shop at the Charlestown Navy Yard. The navy yard was engaged in the constructions, repair and servicing of vessels of the USA Navy. She said that during her work at the navy yard many of the ships that came in for repair were English ships. While working at a buffing machine cleaning coils her hand was crushed. Her left thumb was severed off and all the fingers in her hand were broken. She said, "All I remember was seeing a lot of blood and I passed out." After recovering from the injuries she returned to work at the navy yard in a clerical assignment.

My mother Mary only saw her father Thomas one time since the family break-up. When she was separated from her first husband Thomas Fraser and contemplating marriage to my father George McLaughlin, she decided to take the bus to Worcester to meet her father. She said she didn’t stay long… She said, “He was No Good and I didn’t want anything to do with him, and that was that.”
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USA Census, 1940
Name: Mary Novelle
Event Place: Ward 3, Medford, Medford City, Middlesex, Massachusetts
Gender: Female
Age: 20
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household: Boarder
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Birth Year (Estimated): 1920
Last Place of Residence: Same House
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Mary Morrissey Head F 55 Massachusetts
Mary Novelle Boarder F 20 Massachusetts
Ada Novelle Boarder F 18 Massachusetts
District: 9-311 , Family Number: 210 , Sheet Number and Letter: 11A , Line Number: 31 , Digital Folder Number: 005460883 , Image Number: 00470
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USA Public Records
Name: Mary A Mclaughlin
Residence Date: 01 Mar 1985
Residence Place: Somerville, Massachusetts
Address: 105 Rogers Ave., Somerville, Massachusetts 02144
Address Date: 01 Mar 1985
Possible Relatives: James J Mclaughlin
Record Number: 14716219