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5 Murphy sisters Co. Cork to Massachusetts mid 19th century

CorkKilmichael (Cork)

Family tradition says WILLIAM J.MURPHY was a school employee (we don't think he was a teacher) in Co. Cork.  Adult daughters had to leave lest they distract the young male students, so five daughters of William and his wife ELLEN MAHONY/EY, came to Massachusetts.  We dont know birth dates or order, but they were probably all born in the mid 1840s to early 1850s.  They were:

MARY A. MURPHY, who had already caught the eye of student MICHAEL J. MURPHY. He followed her to Cambridge, MA where they married @ St. Mary RC Church in1868.  See post on them @ KILMICHAEL/CORK&ROSS.

CATHERINE, married widower JOHN SULLIVAN, a stonecutter born CORK @ Cambridge 1881;  He died there 1888, she 1920.

HONORA married widower CORNELIUS McCARTHY @ Cambridge1875. She died there 1871 & he 1914. Cornelius was baptised @ Kilmichael/Cork&Ross 9 Nov 1845, parents Thomas McCarthy & Mary Sheehan; sponsors, Patrick Sheehan & Kate Sheehan.

ELLEN died unmarried @ Lynn MA 1833

JOHANNA married Eugene McCarthy (born Cork) Boston MA 1891; She died there 1924, he, 1925.

On trishgenealogy.ie RC records for Ballinhassig/Cork & Ross I found a marriage for WILLIAM MURPHY & ELLEN MAHONEY 1 Jan 1840, witnesses Timothy Dolohery & Ellen Reed. Also a baptism in the same parish for ELLEN MURPHY d/o WILLIAM MURPHY & ELLEN MAHONEY, sponsors Patk Towhig & Margt Neil.  These looked like my people, but as I found no baptisms for the other sistere, it is open to question. 

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Hi,

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Genealogy Suppor

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I have recently found baptismal records for 4 children of William Murphy & Ellen Mahony in Ballincollig RC parish records.  They are : 1. on 27 Oct. 1840 (given name unreadable, could be Catherine), sponsors Dan Mahony & Norry Connell;  2. on 23 May 1842, MARY 9i believe this is my g-grandmother, Mrs. Michael J Murphy) sp: --Geary &Mary Mahony; 3. on 21 June 1844, Abby (unknown  in Family), sp: ? Mahony & Margaret Murphy; 4. on 11 June 1846, Norry (likely our Honora, Mrs. Cornelius McCarthy), sp: Thomas Connell & Julia Murphy.  Barbara

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Closer look @ the Balloncollig RC baptismal register (NLI site) reveal  a baptism for Catherine d/0 William Murpuy & Ellen Mahony on 4 April 1844, sponsors: Mat? Hogan & Marg't Kelleher.  This would be more likely "our" Catherine, as she was believed to be younger that her sister Mary, and older than Honora.  Who the child born in 1840, and Abby, b. 1844 are is confusing.  Perhaps there were two couples William Murphy & Ellen Mahony. 

I have still found no other likely Marriage for the parents, or baptism for Ellen than the ones in Ballinahassig.  Nor have I found any record for Johanna, supposedly born much later than the others. 

IrelandXO member

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