Murphy and Lister/Lyster/Leicester of Offaly/King's County

OffalyFerbane (Offaly)

My Great Grandfather James Murphy said he was born to John Murphy and Bridget Lister on Dec 26th 1846/50 (on reception to Nazareth House 1850, but on Marriage in Sept 1881 he said 34 yrs old, so maybe 1846 - by lack of hair on photo, the more likely!) at Doon King's County.

This was at the height of the famine.

There are no other Murphys in King's - well very few. There are no Listers! (or Lyster or Leicester)

So ... with SUCH a common name to research I seemed to be on a winner with the birthplace and mother.

On Marriage in 1881 he said his father was John Murphy, Farmer of Ferbane, King's County, deceased.

Ferbane is 10mls south of Doon - a Hamlet.

On Griffiths Valuation - 1856 John Murphy has two plots either side of the present Hill Street - 3 miles east of Cloghan and 5 south of Ferbane, Co Offaly. My cousin who lives in Ireland feels this is unlikely to be same lad, I don't see why not ... being the only Murphy, nevermind John Murphy.

James and his wife Mary O'Shea had a horrendous life in the wage slavery of Wigan's dark Satanic Mills and mines. Of five children, only one son survived to old age, my Grandfather Patrick, who told his 8 children NOTHING of his parents.

Tiny bits came through - 'James had a Bull neck. He came from King's Co, his wife from Queen's - Laoise (She didn't she was from Baltinglass, Wicklow). 'He was a miner, injured, ended up in Nazareth house.' True. But ''there was some sort of talk of James and a brother being the only ones surviving the famine and coming to Lancashire together.' I find no evidence. No relation to either James or Mary has anything to do with their marriage or Godparenting 5 children.

So - anybody looking for Murphys in the Northern part of Offaly, King's County 1840s?

Kevin Patrick Murphy

- See more at: http://www.irelandxo.com/ireland-xo/message-board/murphy-and-listerlyst

Kevin.Patrick.Murphy

11 years ago

3 replies

Hi Kevin

I have replied to your earlier post

Best wishes

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support

IrelandXO member

11 years ago

Kevin, I just stumbled onto your message. I am working on one of my daughter-in-laws lines. It has taken me back to Ferbane. I noticed that your message speaks of a James Murphy and that you indicate that there are few or any other Murphys in the area. Well I search for a James Murphy who married a Mary Whelan and had a daughter Julia Anna born Jan. 21, 1866 in Ferbane,Kings,Ireland. Now your James was married in 1881. I wonder if he had another marriage before then or if there is some family connection between your James and my James. Do you have any thoughts? Reply in the message board or feel free to email me at: mardl1@aol.com. Thank you, Don

IrelandXO member

11 years ago

Don: Just saw your response. My grandfather, James Arthur Murphy, was born April 9, 1863 (or 1865) to a James Murphy and Mary Whelan in Ferbane. He was baptized at St Mary's Church, Ferbane. He had a sister, Elizabeth, born November 1864. I was told the family eventually moved to Athlone. My grandfather emigrated to Brooklyn before 1900. At his wedding in 1914 one of the witnesses was a John Murphy. I was told that my grandfather had a half-brother who owned a grocery store in Flatbush (Brooklyn). This John Murphy may have been him. I was not aware of a Julia Anna but that is good information to know.

secheron

9 years ago