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February 1997

What a surprise!

Though my wife and I are now living in Orlando, I am originally from Michigan, near Detroit. I am one of 8 children (Irish Catholic) of Richard G. Loftus. He is one of 5 children of George Loftus, who I understand, came to America during the famine. My aunt has more details, since she trace the genealogy (sp?) of our branch.

Just for a count, I have 4 brothers, 3 sisters, 9 cousins, 5 nephews, and 7 nieces. Most of the family is in southeastern Michigan, with travelers in Ohio, Florida, and an uncle whose last location is unknown to me.
If you would like more information, I would be happy to track it down.

Cheers,
Rick

March 1997

Hi Duane.

My name is Michael Loftus.
I was born and currently live in Ireland.
I currently live in the city of Cork.

My father was Tom Loftus from Emly, a village in Tipperary, Ireland.
My grandfather was Thomas Loftus from a village called Pallasgreen in Limerick, Ireland.
My greatgrandfather was Michael Loftus also from Ireland - I'm not sure of the exact address.

I have many aunts and uncles in Ireland, the UK and the US who have done family tree research. If anyone is interested then I would gladly check out any potential linkages between us and them!

I'd be happy to help any Loftus who's researching their Irish ancestry if any of the above locations are meaningful to them.

My email address is mloftus@nimt.rtc-cork.ie

Best regards,
Michael Loftus

March 1997

Hello

My name is Noreen Patricia Loftus-Spilman. I happened upon your sight as I was wandering around various places looking for Loftus relatives...I'm very much a neophite. I really enjoyed your site. Thought I'd add my Loftus clan to the page. Feel free to use my E-mail address. And thanks again for all your efforts on behalf of the Loftus clan everywhere.

My great grandfather was Timothy Loftus from County Galway, Ireland. He married Penelope (LEE). They had 12 Children (not necessarily in birth order) The children were all born in County Galway, Ireland. This is also where both Timothy & Penelope died.

Mary Loftus, Anthony Loftus, Nora Loftus,Coleman Loftus, John Loftus,Michael Loftus married to Ellen Folan, Redmond Loftus married to Catherine Flaherty, Thomas Loftus married Delia Flaherty, Martin Loftus married Delia Naughton,Timothy Loftus married Nellie Connolly, Bartley Loftus married Agnes Flaherty, Patrick J. Loftus, Sr. (twin brother of Michael - died 1968) married Elizabeth Jane O'Flaherty (1893-1994).

Patrick & Elizabeth are my paternal grandparents. They lived in South Boston, Massachusetts & had 4 children. Several of the other family members lived close by in South Boston also.

Mary Loftus married Robert Travis- 2 children Robert & James
Nora Loftus married Timothy Joyce- 5 children Patricia Ann, Jane, Deborah, Marsha, Michelle (1 child male died at birth)
Penelope (Penny) Loftus married Joseph Trahey- 1 child Sheila (1 child female died soon after birth)
Patrick J. Loftus, Jr. (b. 1927) married Nora T. M. Shaughnessy (b.1926) in (1951)

Patrick & Nora are my parents. Both were born & raised in South Boston, Massachusetts, this is also where they were married. They had 4 children.

Noreen Loftus married:
1. Denver L. Whaley 1985 div. 1990
married
2. James M. Spilman, Sr. 1993
AKA Noreen Loftus-Whaley, currently Noreen Loftus-Spilman
1 child --Brendan Shaughn Loftus Whaley (b. 1986)

Elizabeth Jane Loftus ( b.1953) married Paul McAuliffe 3 children--Jennifer, Melissa & Paul McAuliffe
Patrick J. Loftus, III (b.1954) married Mary Roche 2 children-- Katherine Cleary Loftus & Patrick Flaherty Loftus

William Francis Loftus (b. 1959) married Kerry O'Connor 2 children-- William F. Loftus & Molly Elizabeth Loftus

Noreen Patricia Loftus-Spilman

April 1997

Hi,

Just saw the Loftus home page. Interesting stuff.

Here's some more.

I am a third-generation Loftus. A great-grandfather, Anthony, came to America during the great famine of the mid-19th century. Men in the family line are named Edwin, Nelsen, Norman. Women named Gladys, Margaret.

Distinguishing physical characteristics for the men are hair that goes from blond to light brown with age, blue eyes, small chins, short stature (most are around 5 feet 6 inches tall unless that married into tall families), broad shoulders. Most are so white they're clear. Men also tend to age well (usually looking from 5-10 years younger than they really are) and live fairly long lives (well into 80s.)

My father's particular branch of the family is so odd that when I was about 7 years old (almost 40 years ago) he decided to sever all contact with them. I saw my Uncle Nelsen at my father's funeral more than 20 years later. According to talk I've heard since, the family adopted the name Lofthuus in Norway about 900-1,000 years ago. They came to Ireland to work as tax collectors for the Viking rulers of Dublin. When Anthony came to America, other family members came too. Some of them moved to upstate New York. Loftus is fairly common name around Albany. Others moved on to Australia in two separate voyages, one of which ended in a shipwreck.

The men tended to marry the whitest white women around, usually picking women of Irish or Scots descent. My father was ill-thought of because he married a first generation German-Hungarian. As fair-skinned as I am, I was considered dark to the other Loftuses.

Also, many of them allegedly have some mystical fascination with the number 5. Many are born in May or close by in April or June. Also alleged to me is that all Loftus men of my father's family somehow acquire five scars on their right hands. Hogwash, I always thought, but before I was 30, I had them.

What surprised me growing up was how common the name is. Loftuses were everywhere. When I went to high school, there was a John Loftus sitting in front of me in home room. A few years ago, when I was borrowing money for some home renovations, I had to sign a piece of paper in which I had to swear I wasn't another John Loftus who lived in the same little town that I do (population about 9,000) because that John Loftus had defaulted on some loans.

Hope this helps.

John Loftus, Loftus646@aol.com

April 1997

What a great site.

My name is Stephen E Loftus. I was born in Holyoke Ma. and raised in Chicopee Ma. I currently live in Bakersfield Ca. My grandfather John Loftus came to the United States from Bellmulet Co Mayo around 1900 and settled in Holyoke Ma. There he met and married my grandmother Annie Lavelle also a native of County Mayo. My maternal grandparents where also natives of County Mayo, family names of McIntyre and Cauley.

What I find interesting reading through everyones story is that most Loftus' come from County Mayo. I guess County Mayo is one place you would find the last name of Loftus very common. Keep up the good work on the website.

April 1997

i just stopped by your loftus page, and must say i like it. i haven't started to pursue my loftus line yet, but i have a decent foundation and am planning to move in that direction soon. looking through your inquires area, i didn't notice any means to submit, so image i send my request directly to you. here goes... john loftus b. ireland m. mary mcginnis b. ireland issue: ? (female) loftus m. miles lentz raymond i. loftus b. 03 jan 1898 in phila, pa d. 11 apr 1957 in phila, pa (a vaudevillian for the keith circuit & jc mack co; used stage name 'lynn', but later reverted to his own; entertained us troops in australia during ww2) m. 1)grace genevieve lynch b. 29 dec 1900 in phila, pa d. 13 mar 1976 in moutain view, ca issue: john francis 'jack' loftus b. 29 nov 1920 in phila, pa d. 16 dec 1987 in palo alto, ca m. catherine theresa kenny b. 24 jan 1925 in phila, pa d. 26 mar 1984 in phila, pa issue; maureen ellen loftus b. 12 apr 1943 in phila, pa (my mother) 2)mary ??? issue: nadine loftus lorraine loftus colleen loftus maureen loftus

if any of this looks familiar (or familial!) drop me a line.

thanks, john j. fenton, 3rd

jjfenton@erols.com http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/1746/

April 1997

My name is Mary Loftus. My father was Thomas P. Loftus. He lived in Pittston and Scranton, Pa. Was born in 1901 to Patrick Loftus and Bridget (Belle) Kerns. His brothers (I don't know all of them) were: Richard (2 of them. One died.) Michael, William, John, Patrick, Joseph. Sister Margaret was married to an Ambrose. Uncle Patrick was a protestant minister during the 40's in Pittston. My information is that the family came from Sligo. That is all I know by way of ancestry. I do know that Patrick, William, John and Thomas seem to be the recurring names. Professional research discloses that a John Loftis (sic) settled in Barbados in 1634; John Lofthouse arrived in Philadelphia in 1878 preceded by John Loftus in 1682; Biddy and Elan Loftus in Quebec in 1848 along with Michael, Mary and Thomas. John, Michael, Patrick and Thomas Loftus all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860. Pennsylvania was a popular spot because New York State closed down to Irish emigrants for some years.

My father came to Buffalo around 1919 and stayed here. He died in 1956. My grandmother, Bridget, was remarried in Pennsylvania to a Cranston and had one son, James Cranston.

I have a certificate which purports to be the Ancient History of the Distringuished Surname of Loftus (sure know how to sell, don't they) which does list a rather distinguished history. If anyone wants to give their address, I will mail then a copy.

Go to Certificate

I am interested in learning about the Loftus family in Scranton and Pittston, Pa.

Thank you.

My EMail address is greenphinque@sprynet.com