Help with Mallow, Cork - McDonald, Daily, Murphy
I am asking for help from anyone familiar with Cork. I’ve been researching my Great Great Grandparents McDonald/Murphy line for several years now. After analyzing neighbors, in-laws, Griffiths Valuation, John Grenham, US records and Census reports, I suspect my family stating they were from Cork is correct. No one knew the townland or parish. Wish I had a dollar for every Patrick McDonald and Bridget Murphy I’ve checked out!
What I know to be true – Patrick McDonald, born 1825 in Ireland, came to America approx. 1850. He married Bridget Murphy in 1852, born 1831, came to America approx. 1851 from Ireland. They raised a family in Churchville, Riga, New York. He initially worked for the railroad, then owned property and farmed. Patrick died in 1905 and Bridget 1910 in Rochester, NY.
Death certificates identify Patrick’s parents as Patrick McDonald and Mary Daily; Bridget’s father only listed as Patrick Murphy – I suspect Mary Cuamns was her mother based on St. Patricks records in Fermoy.
US Census reports they were born March of birth years but nothing more substantial has been located.
All records simply state they came from Ireland. Names are common so passenger lists have not been helpful. Due to the early years, no marriage, children baptismal or their marriage records have either been located or helpful to identify the townland or parish.
After tracing neighbors and related parties, there is a good chance Patrick came from Mallow and Bridget from Fermoy. McDonald’s are not common in Cork. Family tales state we may have originally been McDonnell but I have no evidence of that.
Griffith’s lists a Patrick McDonald on Barrick Lane. Daily’s and Murphy’s not far away. I don’t see a McDonald on the 1901 or 1911 Ireland Census so hopes of locating living relatives are slim.
Are McDonald’s as few in Cork as I suspect and locating Patrick’s 1825 birth information impossible? I’ve attempted to read through potential parish registers with no luck.
Perhaps the entire family left around 1850 due to the famine. I have no evidence of siblings but suspect he had local NY cousins Thomas and Patrick, from James McDonald and Delia Healy. They don’t appear in Cork from what I saw.
If family lived on Barrick Lane in a house without land, as noted on Griffiths, how did they survive if not a farmer? Also, would it have been typical to take a ship from Queenstown to America?
I truly would appreciate your thoughts. I originally thought they were from Roscommon but seemed a false lead. We’re hoping to visit Ireland next year and check out these areas. Locating living relatives would be a large bonus! My research journey continues. Thank you!
Audrey