James Loughran was born around 1815 in Ireland. He married a woman named Sarah, and they had at least seven children: John, born around 1838; Rosanna, born around 1840; Mary, born around 1842; Bridget, born around 1844; James, born around 1847; Catharine, born around 1849; and George, born around 1856. He eventually immigrated to America and settled in New York City. He earned a living as a stonecutter, and he died sometime after May 1862.