May was 38 years old when she married John H Loughrin, a professional singer
Perhaps a photo or sketch of Miss May Kate Shackford exists in a brochure from the Boston Ideal Opera Company or one of the other operas where she performed.
"In Boston, Dec. 28, 1885, MAY K., wife of J. H. Loughrin. Also, infant child Dec 21. Mr Loughrin being a former resident of Plattsburgh, many will deeply sympathize with him in his affliction. We clip the following from the Boston papers.
Miss May K. Shackford, wife of J. H. Loughrin, died in this city on Saturday. A Boston young lady, formerly a singer in the choir at the Cathedral, and latterly connected with the Boston Ideal Opera Company for three years. Miss Shackford was well known in amusement circles, and her death will be greatly deplored by her many friends. - Daily Globe.
The funeral services over the remains of Mrs. John Loughrin, wife of Mr. Loughrin of the Boston Ideal Opera Company, will be held in the Cathedral to-morrow morning at 11 o'clock. The deceased was better known to musical people and the public by the name of Miss May Shackford. The ceremonies will be attended by many musicians of Boston and vicinity. - Herald.
REFERENCES
(http://www.thecrimson.com : accessed 15 July 2013). Miss M. K. Shackford, in the delivery of her principal arias, was admirable both in tone and style
2013
of Boston for the Year eighteen hundred and eight-four, John H Loughrin and Mary K Shackford, 5 October 1884; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 July 2013).
[
Historical Newspapers (http://news2.nnyln.net : accessed 17 July 2013).
"Massachusetts: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1900," digital images, NEHGS (https://www.americanancestors.org : accessed 31 March 2020), Catherine May Shackford.
Copyright 2020 Joanne Shackford Parkes, updated Mar 31, 2020 with birth and baptismal information along with update of her name to birth name