Matilda Ellen Laughlin

Matilda’s story runs through several surnames, but the family connections stay at the center: wife of S Luster and mother of Joseph Mart and Elizabeth Etta. The new Sinclair obituary lead helps bring those children into the same story.

Matilda Ellen Laughlin: following the surnames

One woman, several married surnames—and a trail that makes considerably more sense when we keep them together. Matilda appears in the working marriage timeline as Nugent, Chambers, and Sinclair.

Research Notes / Sources

• John W. Nugent: marriage reportedly July 3, 1863. Original record still needed.
• Silas Luster Chambers: December 6, 1867, under Matilda E. Nugent, supported by the supplied compiled Martin County marriage entry. Original register still to be checked.
• Wayman Sinclair: marriage reportedly June 10, 1876, under Matilda E. Chambers. Original record still needed.

Matilda reportedly died March 19, 1909. A transcription citing Greene County, Indiana, Death Record Book H-6, page 26, record 232 identifies her father as Osman Laughlin and mother as Elizabeth Geyher. These are transcription-based research leads awaiting the original death entry. Neither parent has been added to the confirmed tree.

Mrs. Wayman Sinclair’s surviving children

An obituary excerpt supplied in Sandy’s research names Mrs. Joe Hartman of Washington, Pennsylvania and Joseph Chambers of Johnstown, Pennsylvania among Mrs. Wayman Sinclair’s surviving children. This provides valuable additional support for Elizabeth Etta Chambers Hartman and Joseph Mart Chambers as Matilda’s children.

Source status: obituary excerpt reported by Sandy; full original clipping, newspaper title, publication date and page still needed for inspection. “Mrs. Joe Hartman” is the wording of the excerpt; identifying her as Elizabeth Etta is supported by the related Hartman records. This is additional evidence beyond Find a Grave contributor statements, not a claim that the original clipping has been inspected here.