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The Losty Family
History Illustrated Narrative
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HOLYOKE MASSACHUSETTS
MATTHEW J. LOSTY 1855 - 1930
Matthew
is the son of John & Julia
Losty of Kildare County Ireland. He was born April 15th 1855 and
arrived in the U.S. on May 9, 1863 with his Mother and siblings.
Matthew moved into the city of Holyoke during the late 1800's and
remained there the rest of his life. Matthew's childhood years
are documented on his parents
history page. In 1877 Matthew was twenty years old living in Holyoke
and working as a "paper
maker". During that same year on May
2nd he married Miss. Catherine T. Burns of Holyoke, Massachusetts in St. Jerome's Church
located at 169 Hampden St in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
MATTHEW'S WIFE -
CATHERINE T. BURNS
In 1844, Catherine's
parents, Daniel Burns and Mary Wade, were still in Ireland and welcoming
the birth of their eldest son Patrick Burns. The following
year, Daniel, Mary and Patrick immigrated to the United States. Two years
later the Burns family was living in New Hampshire welcoming the birth of,
the newest member in their family, little Miss. Ameila Burns.
By 1850 Daniel
moved his family to Greenville, Massachusetts 1850 U.S.
Census where
they remained for about eight years -- and during which time, they
welcomed the arrival of their youngest two children. Daniel Burns
born in 1850 and Matthew J. Losty's bride to be, Miss.
Catherine Burns born on January 19, 1855, Greenville Massachusetts.
Matthew
& Catherine's Wedding
Matthew J. Losty & Catherine Burns were married by Reverend R.F.
Walshe, in St. Jerome Catholic Church at 169 Hampden Street in Holyoke
Massachusetts May 2, 1877. Witness to their union were George Hammon
& Mary Gorman.
To
view Matthew and Catherine's marriage
documents click on each of the adjacent documents to enlarge
MATTHEW
& CATHERINE'S FIRST BORN
In 1878 Matthew and Catherine welcomed the birth of their
first born, John F. Losty. Sadly, 'baby John', who was named after
Matthew's father, passed away 5 months later on
September 15th 1878. Reference Line 294
The following year in October of 1879 Matthew became a United
States Citizen by order of the Common Wealth of Massachusetts Superior
Court. Matthew was 24 years old. Witness to Matthews intentions of becoming a U.S. citizen as well as his
residency within the State of Massachusetts are M?dard Como and John Norton.
It is notable
to mention in these documents Matthew states he arrived in New York on - or about
- June 1862. The correct arrival date
is May 9th 1863 as recorded in the Cultivator of New
York Passenger list. Reference
In 1880 Matthew (age 25) - is listed on
page 13 line 6 of the Holyoke, Massachusetts U.S. Census living on Walnut Street in Holyoke, Massachusetts and working in
a paper mill. Bridget
Losty, (Matthew's sister) was living in Matthew and
Catherine's home. Bridget and Catherine also worked in a paper mill. Reference
On
March 11th 1881 Matthew J. Losty & Catherine (Burns)
Losty welcomed the birth of their second son George J. Losty who later married
and produced eight of Matthew & Catherine's eleven grandchildren. Learn
more about George J. Losty
On September 11th 1883 Matthew & Catherine
welcomed the
birth of their third son Daniel Losty.
Daniel never married.
On January 28th 1886 Catherine gave birth to
Matthew's first daughter
- Mary J. Losty. She married George Glidden but
they did not have any children.
On August 4th 1888 their second daughter
Clara Losty was born. Sadly,
little
Clara passed away three years later on April 12th 1892.
In the 1889 and 1890 Holyoke City
Directories Matthew was employed with the American Pad and Paper company and
living at 292 Dwight Street in Holyoke,
Massachusetts.
Two years later on November 28, 1891 Matthew's wife Catherine
gave birth to their third daughter Julia C. Losty. Julia married Michael Shaughnessy. They did not have any children.
On September 9th 1893 Catherine
gave birth to Matthew's fourth son and he was named William Burns Losty.
He was given his mothers maiden name which is Burns. William later married
and produced three of Matthew & Catherine's eleven grandchildren. Learn
more about William Burns Losty and his family
It is important to mention
- in the 1900
U.S. Census for
Matthew and Catherine Losty, Mrs. Losty is questioned about how many
children she has and how many are living in the household. She
answered: 8 total children and 5 living at home. We have located no
records for an 8th child. In 1910 she is questioned again about how
many children she has and she answered 7. It is unknown if this is an
enumerator's error but having found no record of an 8th child it is safe to
assume it is an error.
In the 1896 Holyoke City Directory Matthew
was a superintendent at the Essex Paper Company. Matthew, his wife and
children were living at 202 Dwight Street in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
Matthew's sister Bridget was also living with Matthew during 1896 and she was
working at the Whiting Paper Company in Holyoke.
Reference
Note: Matthew's
address on Dwight Street changes periodically as the city of Holyoke grew.
You will note house # 202, 290 and 1226 Dwight Street as we continue the
story. However, they are all for the same house. (see photo below)
June 4th 1900 Matthew was 45 years old
and owned his home at 290 Dwight Street in Holyoke. He was free of debt. He was employed as an "Overseer"
more than likely at a Paper Mill. The census
does not indicate Matthew was supervising in a Paper Mill but he surely was
because "Paper" was all he ever did. Catherine was at home
keeping house and caring for 5 of their children ages 19 -6 all attending
school. George J., Daniel J., Mary J., Julia C., & William B. (who is listed as Burns
Losty). Reference
Photo Above: Matthew's wife -
Catherine Burns Losty and 4 of their 7 children at home. (1226 Dwight Street
and corner of Forestdale)
Matthew J. Losty & Sons Ruling Shop
Sometime
between 1900 and 1906 Matthew had opened his own Paper
Ruling Shop located at the corner of, Cabot and Bigelow Street, in
Holyoke. During 1906, Matthew J. Losty & Sons placed an ad in the
local paper advertising their services.
In the Holyoke, Massachusetts 1910 U.S.
Census Matthew J. Losty was listed as an employer operating
a "Ruling
Shop". We know from the news ad (above) it was Matthew J. Losty &
Sons Ruling Shop. view
full page of the advertisement. Note the year of this
advertisement is hand written at the top of the page. (author unknown)
It is also noted in the 1910 U.S.
Census Matthew and his children - Daniel, Mary, Julia and
William Burns Losty between the ages of 24 and 16 were working with him in the Ruling
Shop and his wife Catherine was at home keeping house at 1226 Dwight Street. Matthew,
Daniel and William were "Rulers" in the shop. Mary was the
stenographer and Julia was the inspector. Matthew age 53 and his son
Daniel age 24 are listed as the employers.
Matthew's
son George J. Losty married in 1905 and was not
living at home. Ten years later in 1920 Matthew was 65 years
old and still working. The census indicates Matthew owned his home
but had taken out a mortgage. He was listed as a "Roller"
working in a paper mill. Catherine was 66 and only her children Daniel age 32
and Julia age 23 were still at home. Julia was working as a telephone
operator. Reference
The Hillside Service Station
In 1921
Matthew retired from the paper industry and opened the Hillside Service
Station located beside his home. Reference
1Reference
2
In order to accommodate the new Service Station customers, Matthew &
Catherine sacrificed their front yard and put in the station's driveway.
The photo of Matthew's home at the top of this page shows his home with a
fence and Trees in the front.
On May 2, 1927 Matthew and Catherine Celebrated
their Golden Wedding Anniversary and it was noted in the local paper. read
the article
Error in Article: The
article mentions Matthew having arrived in the U.S. when he was 3 years
old. That is incorrect. Matthew arrived when he was 7 years
old. Catherine, on the other hand, arrived in Holyoke when she was 3 years
old emigrating from Greenville, Massachusetts with her parents.
Matthew & Catherine's
granddaughter, Mary Losty, now Mary Burgess, recalls visiting her grandparents:
"The picture of the Hillside Service Station brought back so many memories. My first recollection
of it was when I was about 4 or 5. My father (William Burns Losty) used to take
me to the gas station and I used to stay with Grandpa. He would
be in the back yard (behind the gas station) and he would be taking care of his
flowers. I remember his mustache and he was always smoking his pipe.
Grandma Losty had beautiful white hair and she looked beautiful to me."
Sadly, on January 28th 1929, two years
after celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, Catherine passed away. Matthew
laid her to rest in St. Jerome
Cemetery in Holyoke, Massachusetts in the Losty Family Plot. References:
Catherine's
Death
Record and Obituary
The following year on April 1st 1930,
The U.S Census was taken which listed Matthew J. Losty, age 74
years as the proprietor of the Hill Top Filling Station, although he was not
actually working in the station, and his home at 1226 Dwight Street was valued
at 18,000 dollars. Matthew's son Daniel now age 47 was living with Matthew
and his youngest son William Burns Losty was operating the station and soon became
the sole proprietor.
39 Days after the U.S. Census was taken our dear beloved Matthew passed
away on May 11, 1930. He was 75 years old. Obituary
and Death
Record
Matthew is laid to rest in the St. Jerome Cemetery in
Holyoke, Massachusetts along side his wife
Catherine Losty. All of his children who passed away are also buried in
Matthew's plot except for William Burns Losty who purchased a seperate
plot in St. Jeromes Cemetery.
View
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew J. Losty & children's - DOD
Our
Name Lives on ....
Those
of Matthew's children who blessed him and Catherine with
grandchildren where their sons - Williams Burns Losty having three
daughters, (Mary, Irene & Claire) and George
J. Losty producing six as you will learn in the next chapter of our
story. Continue
Our Story
On
March 11th 1881 Matthew J. Losty & Catherine (Burns)
Losty welcomed the birth of their second son George J. Losty who later married
and produced eight of Matthew & Catherine's eleven grandchildren. 
