A chronological list of events on the lives of the Murray family from Inniskeen, concentrating on the family members who remained in the Inniskeen area, rather than those who left for the Woodford area of County Galway.
My search for information about my Murray ancestors began in 1986. I knew from Australian certificates that my great great grandfather was Patrick Murray and was fortunate that my mother’s cousin, Loreto Sheehan, remembered that his daughter Mary Murray had named her house in Port Pirie in South Australia after the area she had left in Ireland – Allendarra. Letters back and forth established that Allendarra was a townland near Woodford in County Galway and the local librarian was able to put me in contact with an elderly relative – Paddy McEneny. Through Paddy I made contact with other elderly relatives, Annie Sullivan and Anna Bolton. All three knew that our common ancestors were from further north, perhaps County Monaghan or County Cavan, but they didn’t know the exact location or the names of the parents of Patrick Murray. It was Paddy’s son, Seamus McEneny, who was able to pinpoint the area near Inniskeen as the original location of ‘our’ Murray family, through an unusually specific entry in an English census record. Then in 2016 I began this webpage and twelve months later Nick Hodgson from England contacted me with some amazing information. Nick is a Dooley descendant and his family have preserved some of the correspondence between the Dooley family and their cousins the Murray family. Among the correspondence was a letter from Father Thomas Francis Murray, outlining the structure of the Murray family in a letter to his father. It was in this 1916 letter that Father Murray named the parents of Patrick Murray as Michael Murray and Bridget Dooley as well as providing a lot of other information about the various family members. There are some mistakes in some of this information, sometimes Father Thomas has mixed up the names of the family of Michael Murray – he named Owen Murray’s wife as Mary when she was Anne, Mrs McEneny as Anne when she was Bridget, and Terence (not John) McGuire’s wife as Bridget when she was Anne. Since there are now three records that have been found that name Michael Murray’s wife as Mary, I feel Father Thomas may also have made a mistake with the Christian name of Michael’s wife, and that she was actually Mary Dooley rather than Bridget Dooley.
A brief account of the lives of the family who moved to Woodford has been included on this page, in order to see how they fit in to the overall picture, and hopefully find a connection between them and the family who remained in Inniskeen. The latter have resided in the townlands of Moyles and Drumnanaliv since the available records began. In his 1916 letter, Father Thomas indicated the Murray family who moved to Woodford were originally from the neighbouring townland of Shancoduff. These townlands are situated in the civil parish of Donaghmoyne in the Union of Carrickmacross in the County of Monaghan.
Members of the Murray family who lived in Moyles and Drumnanaliv are likely to have used the church in the neighbouring townland of Drumcattan. The church is currently being used as a museum.
Kednaminsha
It’s likely that Mary Dooley was also from the Inniskeen area where there were a number of Dooley families, some in the townlands of Kednaminsha, Coolderry, Ballakelly and Drumcattan. DNA connections are suggesting a link to the Dooley family from Kednaminsha, and Father Thomas Francis Murray indicated there were still Dooleys in the Inniskeen area in his 1916 letter to his father.
In the absence of birth records in the early 19th Century, approximate birth dates have been calculated from death records, where they exist.
A chronological List
9 February 1773: The date of a lease from William Richards to Faithful Fortescue, for 20 years from the 1st November 1774, recorded in the Landed Estates Court Rentals for Blackshaatagh, alias Shancoduff.
The family of Michael Murray & Mary Dooley
About 1802: Michael Murray married Mary Dooley. No record of the birth of Michael Murray or Mary Dooley has been found, but their eldest child was born around 1803, so Mary Dooley might have been born in the 1780s, Michael Murray perhaps earlier. Michael and Mary and their family left the Inniskeen area around 1844, with many of them moving to Allendarra near Woodford in Galway, and some of them moving to England. Michael Murray and Mary Dooley had nine children – six males and three females, although only six of their names were known by elderly relatives in 1986. They were Owen, Henry, Thomas, Patrick, Ann and Brigid. Since DNA testing has become widely available, DNA matches are suggesting the unknown daughter may have been Mary Murray who moved to Cincinnati in the US. Another might have been Michael Murray, who was a sponsor at the baptism of Henry McEneny in 1872 in Woodford.
The birth of Owen Murray, son of Michael & Mary
About 1803: Owen Murray was born, the eldest son of Michael Murray and Mary Dooley. Owen’s birth date has been calculated from his monumental inscription, and it might be that it is not exactly accurate, as there is a large gap between his birth date and that of the next known child of Michael Murray and Mary Dooley. Owen left the Inniskeen area around 1844 and settled in Allendarra West in County Galway, where he was a farmer. By 1849 Owen had married Anne Murray, who may have been a cousin, though nothing is known of her parents. Owen died in 1875 at the age of 72.
The Inniskeen Murray Family
Members of the Murray family who remained in the Moyles and Drumnanaliv area who were probably from the same generation and possibly siblings or maybe cousins were Patrick, Henry, Philip, Bridget, Thomas and Ellen Murray. The parents might be any or all of the names Patrick, James, Owen, Matt or other Murray.
The birth of Patrick Murray (1806-1891)
1806: Patrick Murray was born. The names of Patrick’s parents are unknown, but since he was born in the same era as the children of Michael Murray and Mary Dooley, it might be that his father was a brother of Michael Murray who moved to Woodford. Patrick spent his life farming in Moyles and Drumnanaliv, and he and his wife Bridget McCabe were the antecedents of the Murray descendants who currently live in the Inniskeen area. Patrick was 85 when he died in 1891.
The birth of Bridget Murray (c1811-1891)
About 1811: Bridget Murray was born, a sister of Patrick Murray (c1806-1891) of Moyles. Bridget married Owen Meegan in 1839 and they lived in Mullaghunshinagh, a neighbouring townland of Moyles. Bridget was said to be 80 when she died in 1891, but considering her youngest child was born in 1861, it might be that she was younger than 80 at the time of her death, and therefore born later than 1811.
The birth of Philip Murray
Philip Murray was presumably born around this time. Philip married Mary Brennan and records have been found for two children born to Philip and Mary – Anne in 1839 and John in 1852. An Anne Murray occupied the largest section of land in the townland of Mullaghunshinagh at the time of Griffith’s Valuation in 1861 and seems to have had a connection to the Murray family from Moyles.
The birth of Thomas Murray of Moyles
1812: Thomas Murray of Moyles was born. He married Rose Comiskey and they had at least three children – Bernard in 1849, Mary in 1855 and Bridget in 1858. In 1861, Thomas Murray was occupying 7 Irish acres in Moyles and he died at the age of 80 in Moyles in 1892. It’s possible Thomas Murray was a brother of Patrick and Bridget, but as yet, no proof has been found.
The birth of Thomas Murray, son of Michael & Mary
1815/1819: Thomas Murray was born, another son of Michael Murray and Mary Dooley. Thomas moved to Leeds in England where he was a Tailor, before moving to Middlesbrough where his brother Henry lived. Thomas married Anne Riley in Leeds and had four children and five grandchildren, but no further descendants. Thomas died at the age of 47 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire.
The birth of Henry Murray, son of Michael & Mary
1815/1821: The birth of another son for Michael Murray and Mary Dooley – Henry Murray. Henry moved to England where he was a Cordwainer in Middlesbrough, before becoming a Beerhouse Keeper in the same town. Henry married in Leeds to Bridget Green who was also from the Inniskeen area. Henry and Bridget did not have any children and Henry died in 1890 in Middlesbrough at the age of 75, just three months after the death of his wife Bridget.
The birth of Ann Murray, daughter of Michael and Mary
1820: Ann Murray was born, a daughter for Michael Murray and Mary Dooley. Ann moved to Allendarra in County Galway and married Terence McGuire – they had at least four children. Ann died in Allendarra in 1897 at the age of 77.
The birth of Ellen Murray (1822-1897)
1822: Ellen Murray was born – Ellen lived in Drumnanaliv after her marriage to Michael Hearty. She was the informant at the birth of two of the children of Patrick Murray of Moyles, and may have been his sister. Ellen and Michael Hearty had a son Michael in 1849 and no other records of children have been found as yet.
The Tithe Applotment Books
1823: The Tithe Applotment Books record the results of a land survey held to determine the amount of tax payable to the Church of Ireland by landholders. The survey was held across Ireland between 1823 and 1837 and the results were originally recorded in nearly 2,000 hand written books. The amount of tax payable was based on the size of the holding, its quality and types of crops, and was calculated with a formula that used the average price of wheat and oats from 1816-1823. The names of the landholders were recorded in each townland where they held land, so that people who held land in more than one townland are listed more than once. Some parishes had more than one survey.
1 November 1823: The Tithe records were compiled in the Civil Parish of Donaghmoyne.
Moyles
1 November 1823: There were four Murrays listed in the townland of Moyles – M Murray with 4¾ Irish acres, Mat Murray with 4¾ Irish acres, James Murray with 2¼ Irish acres and Pat Murray with 3¾ Irish acres. It’s likely that one of these was the father of Patrick Murray (1806-1891) of Moyles and Bridget Meegan of Mullaghunshinagh.
Other names listed in Moyles were Thomas and Pat Duffy, Pat Finigan, Hugh Finigan, Felix McCue, Alex McDonald, John Meegan, Owen Ruddy, James Keenan, Pat Agnew, William Conlan, Thomas Callan, John McGahan, William Brennan, John McCanna and Partners. The assessable area of Moyles was 73 Irish acres.
Drumnanaliv
1 November 1823: Drumnanaliv was known as Drumnanella and its assessable area was 62½ Irish acres. Members of the Murray family occupying over one acre in the townland were Michael Murray with 3 Irish acres as well as sharing over 1½ Irish acres with William Brennan, Pat Murray with over 5½ acres and another Pat Murray with over 3¾ Irish acres, James Murray and brothers with over 5½ Irish acres, Owen Murray with over 7½ Irish acres and Matt Murray with 4 Irish acres. It’s likely that Matt Murray, James Murray and Pat Murray held land in both Drumnanella and Moyles. Michael Murray may be the same person as the M. Murray who held land in Moyles. Michael Murray is also likely to be the same person whose family moved to Allendarra in Galway.
Other householders in Drumnanella were Widow McCue, Peter Curtis, Pat and Hugh Conlan and Michael Byrne.
Shancoduff
1 November 1823: There were no members of the Murray family shown in Shancoduff in the Tithe Applotment Book. There were eight names listed in Shancoduff, they were John Carroll, Michael Meegan, John Woods, Pat McMahon, Pat Brennan, John Rooney, Matt Rooney and Harvey Pratt Esq, covering an area of 79 acres in total.
County of Monaghan to Wit We Harvey Pratt and Stanus Daniel Commissioners duly appointed to carry into effect the Act to Provide for the establishment of Composition for Tithes for the Parish of Donamoyne maketh oath in the Holy Evangelists & saith that we have compared this book with the original book containing the Composition of Said Parish & to the best of our knowledge & belief it contains a true & faithful copy of said original composition & do further swear that we have ….. the original composition fairly and honestly to the best of our skills & knowledge this 29th day of June 1824 Harvey Pratt (signed) Stas Daniele (signed)
National Archives of Ireland
The birth of Patrick Murray, son of Michael & Mary
1824: Patrick Murray was born to Michael Murray and Mary Dooley. Patrick moved to Allendarra with other members of the family in 1844 and married Bridget Murphy around 1853. Patrick and Bridget had twelve children and Patrick died in 1897 at the age of 73. Bridget Murphy was also born in County Monaghan and moved south with her family, apparently to Flagmount in County Clare.
The Revised Tithe Applotment Book
November 1826: The Tithe Applotment Book for the Parish of Donaghmoyne was updated and Eamon G Hall has listed the changes in his book “The Parish of the Universe”. In Moyles the names of Pat Duffy, John McGahan and Felix McCue who had been in the 1823 version were now omitted. The new additions since 1823 were Peter Duffy, Pat McGahan, Frank McCue and Pat Murray.
November 1826: People recorded in Moyles were M Murray, Mat Murray, James Murray, Pat Murray, Thomas and Peter Duffy, Pat Finigan, Hugh Finigan, Frank McCue, Alex McDonald, John Meegan, Owen Ruddy, James Keenan, Pat Agnew, William Conlan, Thomas Callan, Pat McGahan, William Brennan, John McCanna and Partners, and another Pat Murray.
November 1826: In Drumnanaliv, Thomas ?, William Brennan and Henry Murray had been added to the list from 1823.
November 1826: The Drumnanaliv list now included Michael Murray, William Brennan, Pat Murray, another Pat Murray, James Murray, Owen Murray, Matt Murray, Henry Murray, Widow McCue, Peter Curtis, Pat and Hugh Conlan and Michael Byrne.
The birth of Brigid Murray, daughter of Michael and Mary
1833/36: Brigid Murray was born, the youngest child of Michael Murray and Mary Dooley. Brigid moved to Allendarra and married John McEneny in 1851. The McEneny family were another family who had moved from County Monaghan to Allendarra in County Galway. Brigid died in 1923 at the age of 89.
The Valuation Office Books
24 January 1837: The Valuation Office Book for Shancoduff described five properties and indicated that there weren’t any houses in the townland that were worth £5. The area was 135 acres 3 roods and 35 perches, with a value of £101 9 10.
The beginning of the Baptism Register
1837: The beginning of the baptism register for the parish of Inniskeen. Many of the images are faint and difficult to read.
14 February 1837: Henry Murray was baptised at Inniskeen, the son of Henry Murray and Mary Murray. The sponsors were Laurence Dooley and Catherine McCue. Unfortunately a townland was recorded according to the Roots Ireland transcript.
22 February 1837: The Valuation Office Book for Drumnanaliv described five properties and indicated that there weren’t any houses in the townland that were worth £5.
The Topographical Dictionary of Ireland
1837: Samuel Lewis published the Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, which provides historical and statistical descriptions of the parishes of Ireland, often using statistics from the 1831 census.
DONAGHMOYNE, a parish, in the barony of FARNEY (called also, from this parish, DONAGHMOYNE), county of MONAGHAN, and province of ULSTER, 2½ miles (N. N. E.) from Carrickmacross; containing 14,070 inhabitants. It is situated on the mail coach road from Dublin to Londonderry, and comprises, according to the Ordnance survey, 25,604 statute acres, of which 102¼ are in Lough Muckno, and 258¼ in the smaller lakes with which the parish is interspersed. Nearly the whole of the land is in tillage; the soil is fertile and produces tolerably good crops, but the system of agriculture is in a very unimproved state. Limestone abounds in the southern part of the parish, and is quarried for building and for agricultural purposes; and coal has been discovered on the townland of Corlea, but has not been worked. At Thornford there is an extensive corn-mill. The principal gentlemen’s seats are Longfield, the residence of J. Johnston, Esq.; Rahens, of J. Read, Esq.; Donaghmoyne, of J. Bashford, Esq.; Cabragh Lodge, of J. Boyle Kernan, Esq.; Rocksavage, of J. Plunkett, Esq.; Broomfield, of W. Henry, Esq.; Thornford, of Hamilton McMath, Esq.; and Longfield Cottage, of R. Banan, Esq.
The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Clogher, and in the patronage of the Crown; the rectory is impropriate in J. B. Kernan, Esq. The tithes amount to £1430. 15. 4½, of which £476, 18. 5½ is payable to the impropriator, and £953. 16. 11, to the vicar. The glebe-house is a comfortable residence, with grounds containing seven acres; the glebe comprises 50½ acres. The church, a neat modern structure, was erected on a site presented by Jas. Bashford, Esq., by aid of a loan of £1250 from the late Board of First Fruits. In the R. C. divisions the parish is partly in the union or district of Inniskeen, and partly a benefice in itself; there are three chapels, situated respectively at Donaghmoyne, Lisdoonan, and Tapla, belonging to the parochial benefice, and one at Drumcatton belonging to the union of’ Inniskeen. There are schools at Lisdoonan and Donaghmoyne, supported by subscription, in which about 70 children are instructed; and 13 pay schools, in which are about 460 boys and 170 girls, also a Sunday school. At Fincairn, in the northern part of’ the parish, are several large stones, supposed to be a druidical monument. On the townland of’ Cabragh was formerly an abbey dependent on the abbey of Mellifont; and on the townland of Mannon are the remains of an ancient castle, or Danish fort, which, from its elevated situation, and the remains of the buildings on its summit, appears to have been a strong and very important post; it commands an extensive view of the surrounding country.
INNISKEEN, or ENNISKEEN, a parish, partly in the baronies of LOUTH and UPPER DUNDALK, county of LOUTH, and province of LEINSTER, but chiefly in the barony of FARNEY, county of MONAGHAN, and province of ULSTER, 4 miles (N.) from Louth, on the road to Castle-Blayney; containing 3698 inhabitants. According to the Ordnance survey it comprises 6192¾ statute acres, of which 86¼ are in the barony of Louth, 1116½ in Upper Dundalk, and 4990 in Farney; 5534 acres were applotted under the tithe act. Here is a constabulary police station. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Clogher, and in the patronage of the Bishop the tithes amount to £447. 13. 10¼. The glebe-house was erected by aid of a loan of £675 from the late Board of First Fruits, in 1821. The church is a neat plain structure with an ancient burial-ground, in which is a vault bearing the date 1672, built by Col. MacMahon, a descendant of the corbes of Clones: the belfry is one of the ancient round towers. In the R.C. divisions the parish is the head of a union or district, including also part of Donaghmoyne, and containing a neat chapel here and one at Drumcatton, erected on land given by F. Evans, Esq., of Mountjoy-square, Dublin, who also gave a site adjacent for a school-house. The parochial school, which is a good stone building, was erected at an expense of £200 by subscription and a grant from the Lord-Lieutenant’s fund. Here are also two Sunday schools. St. Dagens is said to have founded an abbey or bishoprick here in the beginning of the sixth century, which is not mentioned later than the eleventh century, although some remains of it still exist. Here is an extensive Danish fort.
Philip Murray & Mary Brennan
Before 16 October 1839: Philip Murray married Mary Brennan – there are two known children of Philip and Mary, but it is likely they had more children.
The birth of Anne Murray
16 October 1839: One of the early baptisms recorded at Inniskeen was for Anna Murray, the daughter of Philip Murray and Mary Brennan. She may be the Anne Murray who held a large parcel of land in Mullaghunshinagh in 1861 and possibly the 65 year old visitor recorded in the house of James Meegan in Mullaghunshinagh in 1901.
More Valuation Office Books
15 November 1839: The Valuation Office book for Moyles described seven properties, and indicated that there weren’t any houses in the townland that were worth £5.
1839: The Valuation Office book for Shancoduff listed 14 properties, but didn’t describe any of them. It states “No houses”, but that might mean “no houses worth £5 or more”.
The marriage of Bridget Murray & Owen Meegan
1839: Bridget Murray married Owen Meegan. Their marriage date was given on the Census Search Form when their daughter Catherine applied for the pension in 1921. Bridget and Owen settled in the townland of Mullaghunshinagh and had eleven children. Bridget was a sister of Patrick Murray of Moyles.
19 April 1840: The baptism of Patrick Meegan at Inniskeen, son of Owen and Bridget Meegan. The sponsors at his baptism were Peter Meegan and Margaret McKenna.
Townland populations in Donaghmoyne Parish
1841: Although the Census from 1841 hasn’t survived, the 1861 Census Report gives historical information, and indicates that the townland of Shancoduff had a population of 50 people and 7 inhabited houses in 1841, Drumnanaliv had 87 people in 18 houses while Moyles had 47 people in 10 houses.
31 January 1842: John Meegan was baptised at Inneskeen, son of Owen and Bridget Meegan. The sponsors at his baptism were Michael and Margaret Meegan. John died at the age of 4 years – his birth and death were recorded on the Census Search Form in 1921.
10 December 1843: The baptism of Mary Meegan at Inniskeen, daughter of Owen and Bridget Meegan. The sponsors were Owen and Mary Meegan.
A departure to Galway
About 1844: Michael Murray and Mary Dooley and their family left the Inniskeen area, with some of them moving to England while others moved to Allendarra near Woodford in County Galway. There is no record of their move but Paddy McEneny remembered that his grandmother, who was their daughter Brigid, was about ten years old when she moved to Galway.
28 November 1844: Bridget Meegan was baptised at Inniskeen, a daughter of Owen and Bridget Meegan. The sponsors were Patrick Murray and Mary Donahy. Patrick Murray was likely to be Bridget’s uncle.
The Great Famine of Ireland
1845: The beginning of the Irish Famine, when half of the potato crop failed due to a potato blight fungus. The following year nearly the whole crop failed and it was also a very cold winter. Approximately one million people died with the peak of the death toll occurring in the winter of 1847/48. Another two and a half million people emigrated from Ireland during the famine, which continued until 1851.
The marriage of Thomas Murray & Rose Comiskey
1 January 1846: Thomas Murray of Moyles married Rose Comiskey in the Parish of Donaghmoyne. Thomas Murray and Rose Comiskey had at least three children – Bernard, Mary who married John Falls and Bridget who married Thomas Ruddy.
1847: The death of John Meegan at the age of 4, a son of Owen Meegan and Bridget Murray.
1847: Thomas Meegan was born, another son for Owen Meegan and Bridget Murray. Thomas was to become the informant of the death of his uncle Patrick Murray as well as of his mother Bridget Meegan, enabling the connection to be made between the Murray and Meegan families.
The marriage of Michael Hearty & Ellen Murray
Before 1849: Michael Hearty married Ellen Murray. Michael and Ellen lived in Drumnanaliv for the rest of their lives, and Ellen appears to have been a midwife in the area. Only one child has been found for Michael Hearty and Ellen Murray at this stage, and that is Michael Hearty who was baptised in 1849.
20 February 1849: The baptism of Michael Hearty, son of Michael Hearty of Drumnanaliv and Ellen Murray. The sponsors were Michael Lennon and Mary Murray. Michael Hearty died a bachelor in 1912.
2 March 1849: Owen Meegan was baptised at Inniskeen, son of Owen Meegan and Bridget Murray of Mullaghunshinagh. The sponsors were John and Catherine Cullerton. Owen died at the age of 2.
The marriage of Thomas Murray and Anne Riley
26 May 1849: Thomas Murray married Anne Riley at St Ann’s Catholic Church in Leeds. Thomas was a son of Michael Murray and Mary Dooley and on the marriage record his parents were named as Michael and Mary of County Galway. Anne’s parents were Mathew and Rose but their abode wasn’t given, rather R.I.P. in the space for abode. So they had both died by 1849, but Michael and Mary Murray were presumably still alive and living in County Galway. This document also helps clarify that Michael Murray’s wife was Mary Dooley rather than Bridget Dooley, as written by Father T F Murray in 1916.
17 August 1849: Bernard Murray was baptised at Inniskeen, the son of Thomas Murray and Rose Comisky of Moyles. The sponsors were Philip Murray and Catherine Ruddy. Nothing more is known of Bernard at this stage.
The Encumbered Estate Act
1849: In Ireland, Estate land was owned by a landlord, who usually rented it out in smaller parcels to tenants. The population of Ireland had declined because of the famine, and many landed estates struggled with fewer tenants and labourers as well as declining rents. The Encumbered Estate Act allowed creditors of bankrupt estates to have the estate sold in order to receive payment. It was after this Act that some of the Irish Catholic tenants began purchasing their land rather than renting it.
31 October 1850: Peter Meegan was born in Inniskeen, son of Owen Meegan and Bridget Murray. Peter’s birthplace and birth date were given on his headstone in New Zealand.
1850: Owen Meegan died at the age of 2, the son of Owen Meegan and Bridget Murray of Mullaghunshinagh.
The 1851 Census Search Forms
1851: The 1851 Census of Ireland is no longer available, but in the early 20th Century it was used to prove the age of some applicants for the pension. One such applicant was Catherine Meegan, the daughter of Owen Meegan and Bridget Murray. Catherine’s siblings were named and included her brother Thomas Meegan who was born around 1847. Thomas Meegan was the informant of the death of his uncle Patrick Murray in 1891.
Townland populations in Donaghmoyne Parish
1851: The historical information from the 1861 Census Report indicates that the population of the townland of Shancoduff had dropped by more than 50%, from 50 in 1841 to 24 people ten years later. There were 6 inhabited houses, one less than in 1841. Drumnanaliv had lost 24 residents with a population of 63 in 1851 in 16 houses – 2 less than in 1841. Moyles’ population had decreased to 33 people from 47 previously, with 6 inhabited houses rather than 10.
2 July 1852: John Murray was baptised, a son of Philip and Mary Murray, with Owen Curtis and Mary Murray being the sponsors. John was probably a younger brother of Anne Murray who had been baptised in 1839. No other children for Philip Murray and Mary Brennan have been found as yet.
9 August 1852: Catherine Meegan was baptised at Inniskeen, daughter of Owen Meegan and Bridget Murray. Bridget Meegan was the sole sponsor. In 1921 Catherine applied for the pension, a process which required the 1851 Census to be checked, and consequently provided the details to enable the Meegan family to be linked to the Murray family.
The Shancoduff bog
18 June 1853: Rose Murray of Moyles and Ellen Murray of Drumnanaliv were in trouble with the landlord for trespassing on the bog at Shancoduff. Rose Murray of Moyles might have been the wife of Thomas Murray, Rose Comiskey.
Complainant: N. H. Kenny Esq
Defendants: Rose Murray of Moyles; Ellen Murray of Drumnanaliv
Malicious trespass on a bog the property of complainant on the 1st inst. at Shancoduff
No appearance
Dec 1854: James Meegan was baptised at Inniskeen, son of Owen Meegan and Bridget Murray. The sponsors were Michael and Mary Murray.
The marriage of Patrick Murray (1806-1891) & Bridget McCabe
About 1855: Patrick Murray married Bridget McCabe. Bridget was born around 1835 and came from the townland of Miskish. Patrick and Bridget farmed in the townland of Moyles and had eleven known children – Mary, Thomas, Catherine, Bridget, John, Michael, Patrick, James, Owen, Anne and Maggie.
17 August 1855: Mary Murray was baptised, a daughter of Thomas Murray and Rose Comiskey. The sponsors were James and Anne Commiskey. Mary married John Faul in 1880 and they farmed in Shancobane.
2 February 1856: Mary Murray was baptised at Inniskeen, the eldest daughter of Patrick Murray and Bridget McCabe. John McCabe and Mary Murray were the sponsors. Mary lived in Drumnanaliv after her marriage to Owen McGahan.
The marriage of Henry Murray and Bridget Green
24 March 1856: Henry Murray married Bridget Green at St Patrick’s Church in Leeds in Yorkshire. The church record indicated that Henry was from York Street and that his parents were Michael and Mary. Bridget’s parents were John and Ann. The witnesses were Daniel Doherty of Bowman Lane and Ann Hanratty of Harper Yard. Henry and Bridget settled in Middlesbrough in Yorkshire and did not have any children.
21 August 1856: Rose Meeghan was baptised at Inniskeen, daughter of Eugenii (Owen) Meeghan and Bridget Murray. The sponsors were Peter Finegan and Cath Meeghan.
12 November 1857: Thomas Murray was baptised at Inniskeen, the eldest son of Patrick Murray and Bridget McCabe. Hugh and Mary McCabe were the sponsors at the baptism. Thomas farmed in Moyles and died a bachelor in 1904.
28 February 1858: Bridget Murray was baptised, another daughter for Thomas Murray and Rose Comisky. The sponsors were Patrick Ruddy and Mary Boyle. Bridget continued to live in Moyles after her marriage to Thomas Ruddy in 1883.
11 June 1858: Michael Meegan was baptised at Inniskeen, son of Owen Meegan and Bridget Murray. The sponsors were Patrick Flynn and Rose Agnew, Rev. John Beggen was the Officiating Minister. Michael migrated to New Zealand and his monumental inscription in the Timaru Cemetery indicates he was born in Inniskeen on the 11 June 1861, three years after the date of this baptism record. Either there were two sons named Michael, one born in 1858 and one in 1861, or there was some confusion with his age at death. There are plenty of examples of people putting their age down in order to satisfy immigration conditions, perhaps Michael did the same.
28 December 1859: The baptism of Catherine Murray, the third child of Patrick Murray and Bridget McCabe. Bernard Rooney and Rose Agnew were the sponsors.
Townland populations in Donaghmoyne Parish
1861: Moyles’ population had remained stable for the last decade with 17 males and 16 females living in six inhabited houses. Griffith’s Valuation indicates that these six houses were occupied by the families of Patrick Murray, Thomas Murray, Thomas Lennan, John Dickie, William Magee and Owen Doolaghan. There were two uninhabited houses in the townland. It had an area of 121 acres 3 roods 10 perches and value of £169 15 0, an increase since 1851 when it was valued at £112. Moyles was the smallest of the three townlands but the most valuable.
1861: Drumnanaliv’s population had dropped to 60 – 25 males and 35 females in 14 houses, down from 87 people and 18 houses in 1841. It had an area of just over 133 acres and value of £104 5 0 in both 1851 and 1861. Griffith’s Valuation listed occupants for 15 houses – Michael Heraghty (Hearty), Peter Byrne, Patrick Keenan, Margaret Murray, Mary Murray, Michael Callan, John Ward, Henry Conlon, John Conlon, Owen Curtis, William Brennan, Owen McCue, Bridget Conlon, Edward Ruddy and Rose Keenan.
1861: The Census Report indicates that the population of Shancoduff had increased by three people since 1851 – there were now 14 males and 13 females living in six houses. Griffith’s Valuation indicates the six houses were occupied by Anne Fee, John Dickie, John Reynolds, Denis Brennan, John Rooney and Patrick Rooney. Shancoduff had an area of 135 acres 3 roods 35 perches and it’s value had dropped to £99 15 0, compared to £111 5 0 in 1851.
Griffith’s Valuation for the Inniskeen area
Sir Richard Griffith supervised a tax survey of the whole of Ireland, involving a detailed valuation of every taxable piece of agricultural land or built property. Griffith’s Valuation was published between 1847 and 1864, depending on the County. It was published in 1861 in Monaghan. The list of Occupiers was accompanied by a map showing exactly which piece of land they occupied.
27 February 1861: Griffith’s Valuation was made for the civil parish of Donaghmoyne.
27 February 1861: In Drumnanaliv, Patrick Murray was a tenant of the Rev. Wm. Steele on Section 2A, B & C, an area of 18 Irish acres 3 roods and 15 perches with a rateable value of £13 5s, and he was also leasing a house to Peter Byrne. Margaret Murray and Mary Murray were also tenants of the Rev. Wm. Steele, and each had a house and land, Margaret on 3 Irish acres 3 roods 10 perches with a rateable value of £3 5s on Section 5, and Mary on Section 6 on 1 Irish acre 2 roods 15 perches with a rateable value of £2.
A house and land were occupied on Section 1 by Michael Heraghty. This is likely to be Michael Hearty who married Ellen Murray and had a son Michael in 1849.
27 February 1861: In Moyles, Patrick Murray was a tenant of Joseph Plunkett, having a house and land on Section 1 with an area of 13 Irish acres 2 roods and 35 perches and a rateable value of £11 15s. Thomas Murray, also a tenant of Joseph Plunkett, had a house, office (sheds) and land on Section 3 – 7 Irish acres 2 roods 30 perches with a rateable value of £7 5s. The Plunkett family had been the landlords in Moyles since the late 1690s, when Capt James Plunkett, grandson of the 7th Lord Louth, became the largest resident landlord in the Parish.
27 February 1861: In the townland of Mullaghunshinagh, Anne Murray was the largest landholder with House and sheds on just over 17 Irish acres of land with a rateable value of £19 10s, leasing from Francis Evans. Anne Murray was occupying Section 13 and leasing a house and garden on Section 14A to Owen Corrigan.
27 February 1861: Owen Meegan and his wife Bridget Murray and family were occupying a house and land on Section 6 in Mullaghunshinagh, 11 Irish acres 2 roods 20 perches with a rateable value of £10 5s, also leasing from Francis Evans.
17 December 1861: The baptism of Bridget Murray, the fourth child of Patrick Murray and Bridget McCabe. The sponsors were James Murray and Catherine Hearty.
Trespassing Cattle
26 August 1862: Four head of cattle belonging to Anne Murray were trespassing on the property of John Smith, which would be Section 19, next to Section 14.
5 September 1862: Petty Session Records – John Smith Complainant and Anne Murray Defendant. Four head of Cattle Trespassing on oats the property of Complainant on the 26th August last at Mullaghunshinagh in Said County.
12 March 1864: Lease of Miss Anne Murray’s land in Mullaghunshinagh – Lease dated 12th March, 1864, from John Ogle Evans to Mary Murray and Annie Theresa Murray, of all that farm of land in the townland of Mullahunshina, containing 12 acres 2 roods late Irish plantation measure; and also all that farm of land in the townland of Mullahinchina, containing 2 acres 1 rood 20 perches plantation measure, for the term of 42 years from the 1st day of November, 1863, at the yearly rent of £28 sterling.
1864: Landed Estates Court Rentals for Mullaghunshinagh and Drumnanaliv, the Estate of John Ogle Evans.
1864: Three members of the Murray family received a mention in the above Rights of Way which were to be preserved in the conveyance to the purchaser. The only other people to receive a special mention were Thomas and Owen Brennan of the townland of Muff. The special mentions were –
The right of way of Thomas Murray, a tenant on the townland of Moyles, on foot through this Lot along the roadway lettered O R on map, which leads to the public right of way at O.
The right of way of Anne Murray, a tenant on the townland of Mullaghunshinagh, whose holding is intersected by the Railway, for horses, cars, cattle etc, over the line at the point marked C on the map.
The right of way of Patrick Murray, a tenant on the adjoining townland of Moyles, for horses, cars, cattle etc, through this Lot along that part of the road lettered K M N O P Q on map, which leads between the points M and N.
The right of way of Thomas Murray, a tenant on said adjoining townland of Moyles for horses, cars, cattle etc, through this Lot along the lane lettered M B, on map which leads to the public right of way at M.
The following tenants of this estate have heretofore had permission from the owner to cut turf in the bog in the townland of Drumnanaliv for their own use; but this permission will not however bind the purchaser, viz: Patrick McCue, Widow C. Tuite, John Smyth, Edward Traynor, Patrick Keenan, Lawrence Campbell, Peter Meegan, Owen Keenan, Widow Ruddy, Michael Kindellan, Peter Finnegan, Daniel Tuite, Peter Tuite, Widow Mary Meegan, Owen John Meegan, Denis Jennings, Patrick Finnegan (Arthur) Patrick Goodman, Catharine Kindellan, Thomas Smyth, representatives of Hugh and Judith Kindellan and Patrick Smith.
5 April 1864: The baptism of John Murray, the son of Patrick Murray and Bridget McCabe. The sponsors were Peter McCabe and Rose McCabe. He may have been the John Murray who was a sponsor at the baptism of his nephew John McGahan in 1884.
Civil Registration
13 April 1864: The birth of Michael Murray at Moyles to Paddy Murray and Biddy McCabe. With eight days between the baptism record of John and the birth record of Michael, it’s possible they were one and the same person. Since there was a fine for late registration of births, many birth dates have been altered to avoid the fine.
14 April 1864: Paddy Murray of Moyles, farmer and father of Michael, was the informant of Michael’s birth.
29 March 1866: Dog Licence records indicate that Patrick Murray of Moyles had a brown half Greyhound dog.
7 May 1866: The birth of Michael Murray at Moyles to Patrick Murray, farmer of Moyles and Bridget McCabe.
16 May 1866: The baptism of Michael Murray at Inniskeen, the sponsors were Thomas Hearty and Judith Rooney.
18 May 1866: Ellen Hearty, a neighbour of Drumnanaliv, was the informant of the birth of Michael Murray. Ellen Hearty was formerly Ellen Murray and possibly an aunt of Michael Murray.
23 April 1867: Patt Murray of Moyles paid the registration fee for a black cur dog.
The death of Michael Hearty
1868: Michael Hearty died at the age of 60. His 46 year old widow Ellen Murray continued to live in Drumnanaliv with her 19 year old son Michael Hearty.
12 March 1868: Patt Murray of Moyles registered two dogs, a black cur and a white half cur.
24 November 1868: The baptism of Patrick Murray at Inniskeen, the seventh child of Patrick Murray and Bridget McCabe. The sponsors were Bridget Meegan and Michael Agnew.
13 December 1868: The date that was registered for the birth of Patrick Murray at Moyles, son of Patrick Murray, farmer of Moyles and Bridget McCabe.
28 December 1868: Patrick Murray’s birth was registered by Thomas Murray of Moyles, who was present at the birth. It’s possible that Thomas Murray was Patrick’s uncle.
18 March 1869: Patt Murray of Moyles registered a black cur.
31 March 1870: Pat Murray of Moyles registered a black cur.
24 January 1871: The baptism of James Murray, the son of Patrick Murray and Bridget McCabe. The sponsors were Catherine and James Meegan. James moved to the US where he married Catherine Rooney and they later returned to Ireland and settled in Moyles.
2 April 1871: The date of birth recorded for James Murray, who was born at Moyles, son of Patrick Murray, farmer of Moyles and Bridget McCabe.
14 April 1871: James Murray’s birth was registered by Mary Murray of Moyles who was present at the birth.
The 1871 Census Report
1871: Drumnanaliv had 13 occupied houses and 21 Out offices and Farm Steadings. There were 59 people – 26 males and 33 females, compared to 25 males and 35 females ten years previously.
1871: In Moyles, the population had decreased by seven after having been stable for the last two decades, there were 26 people – 13 males and 13 females. There were five houses with only four of them occupied, down from six occupied houses in 1861.
1871: Shancoduff had seven occupied houses, an increase of one house since 1861. There were 14 Out Offices and Farm Steadings. The population had increased by 10 to 37 people – 19 males and 18 females.
1872: Anne Murray was no longer leasing Section 13 in Mullaghunshinagh. Her name has been crossed out in the Griffith’s Revision Book, with no replacement written. The name of her house tenant on Section 14A, Owen Corrigan, has also been crossed out.
27 March 1873: Thomas Murray of Moyles obtained a dog licence for his black and grey Collie.
31 March 1873: Patrick Murray of Moyles obtained a dog licence for his black dog.
31 March 1873: Thomas Murray of Moyles paid the dog registration fee for a black and white collie dog.
22 April 1873: The baptism of Owen Murray at Inniskeen, the son of Patrick Murray and Bridget McCabe. The sponsors were Peter McCabe and Rose Meegan. Owen married Alice Dooley and they have many descendants still living in the Inniskeen area today.
14 May 1873: The date registered for the birth of Owen Murray at Moyles, to Patrick Murray, farmer of Moyles and Bridget McCabe.
11 June 1873: Bridget Murray of Moyles, the mother of Owen, registered his birth.
13 July 1876: The baptism of Anne Murray at Inniskeen, the daughter of Patrick Murray and Bridget McCabe. The sponsors were Thomas Meegan and Margaret Rooney. Anne didn’t marry, she lived in Moyles for a time and then in the village of Inniskeen in Paris Row. In her later years she lived in the home of Owen Murray in Drumnanaliv where she died.
19 October 1876: The date registered for the birth of Anne Murray at Moyles to Patrick Murray, farmer of Moyles and Bridget McCabe.
18 November 1876: Bridget Murray of Moyles, the mother of Anne, registered her birth.
27 March 1879: Patrick Murray of Moyles registered a black cur.
The marriage of John Falls & Mary Murray
17 August 1880: Mary Murray married John Falls at Inniskeen. Mary was the daughter of Thomas Murray and Rose Comiskey and John was a farmer from Shancobane and the son of James Falls. Witnesses at the marriage were Patrick McCue and Bridget McMahon. John’s surname was sometimes spelt Fall and sometimes Faul. John and Mary had eleven children – James, Rose, Catherine, Patrick, Owen, John, Thomas, Luke, Peter John, Mary Anne and Bridget. Some of the descendants of John and Mary Faul live in the Inniskeen area today.
The marriage of Owen McGahan & Mary Murray
12 October 1880: Mary Murray married Owen McGahan at Inniskeen. Mary was the eldest child of Patrick Murray and Bridget McCabe and Owen was from Drumnanaliv, the son of James McGahan. The witnesses at the marriage were Bernard Rooney and Margaret Rooney. Owen and Mary had nine children – Alice, James, John, Bridget, Mary Anne, Thomas, Patrick, Kate and Owen.
The 1881 Census of England
3 April 1881: In Yorkshire, Henry Murray was a 66 year old Beerhouse Keeper, living with his 69 year old wife Bridget at 51 Hill Street in Middlesbrough. Also recorded in the household was 18 year old domestic servant Annie Donnelly, who had been born in Glasgow.
Henry was the son of Michael Murray and Mary Dooley, and his birthplace had been given as ‘Ireland’ in the 1861 and 1871 Census records. The 1881 Census record gave a specific place of birth of Blackstaff for Henry Murray and Moyles for his wife Bridget Green.
Birthplaces of Blackstaff and Moyles
This was a significant piece of information, as birthplaces of Blackstaff and Moyles enabled the original location of the Murray family to be traced. In order for the census to be completed over the whole country on a specific date, the Enumerator for a district handed out forms to each household which were be completed by the householder. After the census date he collected the forms from each household and they were entered into a register in the format that we see in the records.
Since the original forms were being copied into a central register there is room for error, and it might be that the birthplaces of Henry Murray and Bridget Green have been swapped. As yet, there have been no records that indicate that any members of the Murray family had any connection to Blackstaff, though there are plenty of records indicating they lived in Moyles. Meanwhile, there are no records of a family by the name of Green living in Moyles, but a John Green was living in Blackstaff in 1823. Since Bridget Green was born around 1815 and her marriage record names her parents as John and Ann Green, it seems likely she may have been born in Blackstaff. A Greene family have been living in Blackstaff until relatively recently.
The 1881 Census Report for Ireland
1881: The Census Report indicated that the 1870s had been a period of population decline for the townlands of Drumnanaliv, Moyles and Shancoduff. At the same time that the population was declining there was a large increase in the number of farm buildings being built. The entire parish of Donaghmoyne had been declining in population every ten years since the census was recorded in 1841.
1881: The population of Drumnanaliv had reduced significantly in the last decade – 41 people, down from 59 in 1871. There were 14 males and 27 females, compared to 26 males and 33 females in 1871. There were still 13 houses, though one of them was unoccupied, and there were 16 Out Buildings compared to 21 in 1871.
1881: Both Shancoduff and Moyles had also reduced population in the last decade. Shancoduff’s population had reduced by 6 people to 31 – 19 males and 12 females. There were five houses and an increase in the number of Out Buildings – from 14 in 1871 to 22 in 1881. In Moyles the population was down to 18 people, 10 males and 8 females. There were six houses, though only four were occupied, and a massive increase in Out Buildings – from 18 in 1871 to 52 in 1881.
24 May 1881: The birth of Margaret Murray at Moyles, the youngest child of Patrick Murray and Bridget McCabe. Margaret was known as Maggie, she went to America where she became a nurse. She didn’t marry and returned to Inniskeen in her later years and lived outside the village beside the old mill.
24 May 1881: The baptism of Margaret Murray at Inniskeen. The sponsors were John Murray & Mary Keenan.
31 May 1881: Margaret Murray’s birth was registered by the nurse who was present at the birth, Ellen Hardy of Drumnanaliv. This is likely to be Ellen Hearty, the neighbour of Drumnanaliv, who had registered the birth of Michael Murray in 1866, and who was formerly Ellen Murray, and probably Maggie’s auntie.
The death of Rose Murray nee Comiskey
1 March 1882: Rose Murray died at Moyles at the age of 55. Her husband Thomas Murray of Moyles was the informant.
The marriage of Thomas Ruddy & Bridget Murray
16 October 1883: Bridget Murray of Moyles married Thomas Ruddy of Moyles. Bridget was the daughter of Thomas Murray and Rose Comiskey, and Thomas Ruddy was the son of Michael Ruddy, Farmer. Witnesses at the marriage were Edward Ruddy and Bridget Murray. Thomas and Bridget had seven children – Patrick, Michael, Kate, Mary, Edward, Thomas and Rosey.
The 1891 Census Report
1891: Drumnanalive’s population had increased, from 41 in 1881 to 52 in 1891, living in 12 houses. Moyes had also increased in population, 31 people compared to 18 in 1881. There were 5 houses in Moyles. In Shancoduff the population had decreased to 24, from 31 in 1881.
24 March 1891: Pat Murray of Moyles paid the License Fee for two dogs – a white Collie and a Grey Collie.
The deaths of Patrick Murray and Bridget Meegan nee Murray
6 June 1891: Bridget Meegan died at Mullaghunshinagh from old age. Just ten days later, Bridget’s elder brother Patrick Murray died at Moyles, also from old age. Bridget and Patrick’s deaths are recorded consecutively in the register, having been registered on the same day by Bridget’s son Thomas Meegan.
16 June 1891: Patrick Murray, the patriarch of the Moyles family, died from old age at Moyles at the age of 85. At the time of Patrick’s death, his eleven children ranged in age from 35 to 10 years of age.
27 June 1891: Thomas Meegan of Mullaghunshinagh registered the deaths of both his mother Bridget Meegan and his uncle Patrick Murray.
10 March 1892: Thomas Murray of Moyles registered a grey collie and white cur.
The death of Thomas Murray of Moyles
7 July 1892: Thomas Murray, Farmer of Moyles died at the age of 80. Thomas died from old age, a condition he had had for one week. The informant was James Fall of Shancobane, the father-in-law of Thomas’ daughter Mary.
1894: In New Zealand, Michael O’Meeghan, youngest son of Owen Meegan and Bridget Murray, married Ellen Buckley.
The death of Ellen Hearty nee Murray
5 July 1897: Ellen Hearty died at Drumnanaliv. Ellen was a 75 year old Farmer’s Widow and her surname was given as Hardy. The informant of her death was her son Michael Hardy of Drumnanaliv.
1897: In New Zealand, Peter O’Meeghan married Sarah Ellen Patterson. Peter was the 47 year old son of Owen Meegan and Bridget Murray.
The 1901 Census of Ireland for Moyles
31 March 1901: The House and Building return for Moyles listed seven houses in the townland, with the heads of the households John F Maguire, Thomas McKenna, Bridget Murray and Thomas Ruddy owning the houses they were living in. Patrick Meegan was living in a house owned by John F Maguire and John Deloughlan in a house owned by Thomas McKenna who also owned an uninhabited house.
31 March 1901: Bridget Murray was a 60 year old widowed farmer living in Moyles with four of her children – 40 year old Thomas Murray, 25 year old Owen Murray, 21 year old Anne Murray, 19 year old Maggie Murray and 18 year old nephew Patrick McGahan.
31 March 1901: Bridget Ruddy was living in Moyles with her husband Thomas Ruddy and five of their children – Patrick, Kate, Mary, Edward and Thomas. Bridget was a daughter of Thomas Murray and Rose Comiskey.
The 1901 Census of Ireland for Drumnanaliv
31 March 1901: There were eleven households recorded in Drumnanaliv, ten of whom were living on their own property while Michael Hearty was living on a property owned by Thomas Murray. The heads of the households were Michael Hearty, John Martin, Owen McGahan, Peter Conlan, Mary Conlan, Mary McCue, Michael Fee, Michael Mallon, Luke Brennan, Mary Boyle and Bessy Kavanagh. There were 49 people living in the townland and the census forms were collected on the 15 April 1901.
31 March 1901: Michael Hearty was a bachelor living on land owned by Thomas Murray, they were possibly cousins.
31 March 1901: Owen and Mary McGahan were living in Drumnanaliv with seven of their children – Alice, James, Mary Anne, Bridget, Thomas, Kate and Owen. Their son Patrick was in Moyles with his grandmother Bridget Murray and four of her children, though he was described as her nephew on the Census form. He would have been the nephew of the children of Bridget Murray.
The 1901 Census of Ireland for Shancoduff
31 March 1901: There were no members of the Murray family living in Shancoduff at the time of the Census. The heads of the six households in Shancoduff were Hugh Rooney, Peter Gartland, Bridget Fee, Thomas Reynolds, Denis Brennan and Bernard Rooney.
31 March 1901: In Mullaghunshinagh, Anne Murray was a visitor in the household of James Meegan and his son Hugh. Anne Murray was possibly a cousin of James’ wife Rose Murray, who had died in 1886.
31 March 1901: Mary Fall was living in Shancobane with her husband John Fall and seven children. Mary was a daughter of Thomas Murray and Rose Comiskey.
The 1901 Census Report
31 March 1901: Drumnanaliv had a population of 49 people – 22 males and 27 females, living in 11 houses. There were 24 Out offices and Farm Steadings. Moyles’ population had remained stable for the last decade, with 31 people living there – 15 males and 16 females. There were seven house with six of them being occupied, and 26 Out buildings. Shancoduff’s population had also remained stable with 24 people – 15 males and 9 females in 6 houses. There were 35 Out buildings.
The marriage of James Murray & Catherine Rooney
14 April 1901: James Murray married Catherine Rooney in Manhattan, New York, USA. James was a son of Patrick Murray and Bridget McCabe. James and Catherine had five children, they returned to Moyles after the birth of their first child in 1902.
23 April 1903: Thomas Murray of Drumnanaliv was ordered to pay four shillings in total for allowing three of his goats to trespass on land sewn with oats, the property of John Martin of Drumnanaliv.
The death of Thomas Murray (1857-1904)
5 June 1904: The death of Thomas Murray, the eldest son of Patrick Murray and Bridget McCabe. Thomas was a bachelor and his mother Bridget was the informant of his death.
11 November 1904: Administration of the estate of Thomas Murray was granted to his mother Bridget.
The death of Thomas Ruddy
29 October 1905: Thomas Ruddy died at Moyles at the age of 57. His widow Bridget Ruddy nee Murray was the informant at Carrickmacross two and a half months later on the 12 January 1906.
The marriage of Owen Murray & Alice Dooley
16 October 1906: Owen Murray married Alice Dooley at Inniskeen. The witnesses at their wedding were Bernard Rooney and Mary Agnew. Owen was a son of Patrick Murray and Bridget McCabe and Alice was the daughter of Thomas Dooley and Catherine Gartlan, and was born in the townland of Kednaminsha in 1879. Owen and Alice had seven children.
25 March 1907: Bridget Murray of Moyles paid the registration fee for a black collie dog.
The death of Peter O’Meegan
20 May 1910: Peter O’Meeghan died in Timaru, New Zealand, at the age of 59. Peter was a son of Owen Meegan and Bridget Murray. He had spent time in the US before settling at Timaru and somewhere the spelling of his name became accepted as O’Meeghan, rather than Meegan. His monumental inscription in the Timaru Cemetery reads as follows –
In loving memory
of
Peter O’Meeghan
Born Inniskeen
Co. Louth, Ireland
Oct. 31st 1850
Died Timaru
May 20th 1910
Also
his beloved wife
Sarah Ellen
Died 15th May 1919
The 1911 Census of Ireland
2 April 1911: The widow Bridget Murray was still farming at Moyles, aged 76. In the same household was her 28 year old daughter Anne Murray, 38 year old son James Murray and his wife Cathrine and their four children – 8 year old Thomas, 7 year old James, 5 year old Patrick and 8 month old Mary.
2 April 1911: Bridget Ruddy nee Murray was a widow living in Moyles with four of her children – Patrick, Edward, Thomas and Rosey.
2 April 1911: Owen Murray, who had been living with his widowed mother Bridget in Moyles at the time of the 1901 Census, was now living in the neighbouring townland of Drumnanaliv. With him was his 30 year old wife Alice Dooley and their three children, 3 year old Alice Murray, 2 year old Bridget Murray and 11 month old Patrick Murray.
2 April 1911: Mary Falls nee Murray was a widow living in Shancobane with five of her children.
The 1911 Census Report
2 April 1911: The population of Drumnanaliv had declined by 10 people, down to 39 – 15 males and 24 females. There were 12 houses and 28 Out buildings. In Shancoduff there were 29 people – 13 males and 16 females, an increase of five people in the last decade. There were six houses and 37 Out buildings. In Moyles there were 33 people, an increase of two since 1901. There were 19 males and 14 females. There were 7 occupied houses, one unoccupied house and 31 Out buildings.
24 October 1914: Thomas Meegan died at Mullaghunshinagh at the age of 67. In 1891, Thomas had been the informant of the death of his mother Bridget Meegan and his uncle Patrick Murray.
15 May 1919: Sarah Ellen O’Meeghan, the widow of Peter O’Meeghan, died at Timaru. In her will Sarah left a bequest of £100 to the wife of Thomas Meegan of Inniskeen.
A letter from Father Thomas Francis Murray
September 1916: Father Thomas Francis Murray visited his relatives at Allendarra in County Galway, and wrote the following letter to his father, Michael Henry Murray. Father Thomas was a great grandson of Michael Murray and Mary Dooley. The notes that have been written on the letter were written by Michael Kelly, whose mother was Rose Dooley, a cousin of the family of Michael Murray and Mary Dooley. The last page of the letter was a pedigree of the family of Michael Murray, and father Thomas notes that they left Shancoduff, Inniskeen and moved to Allendarra.
Anglegrove,
Allendarra,
Woodford,
Co. Galway.
My dear Dad,
I am here for the last fortnight among my relations, and I have found plenty of news.
In the first place, I must say they are all of them in comfortable circumstance with 20 to 40 acres of land bought out under the Land’s Act. Of course these last years they have been doing exceptionally well, & lately they were able to get unheard prices for their produce.
Uncle Pat’s Farm is occupied by his wife – a real old darling – but very old and frail now. The place is very neglected for want of a man. Ellie, her youngest daughter had a good place at Clery’s, Dublin, but gave it up when her brother Phil died here, & came back to live with her Mother. This Farm will go to Pat, who will be leaving the R.I.C. in about 3 years with a pension.
The only other remaining Murray is close by. Harry and his sister Anne. Harry is very intelligent and has taught himself surveying so Maths gets a lot of that kind of work to do, for which he is well paid. He is now up to 50 or so and not married, which is a great pity, as he has two farms with about 30 acres. Anne is the very soul of good nature. I stayed a week there.
I am now at McEneny’s.
No need to say that every one is trying to outdo the other in hospitality, so that I am often confused.
The McEnenys have a fine high house 2 stories high, & I am very comfortable here.
I enclose a list of the different families around here related to you. The extraordinary thing is the number of those who are in America & Australia.
All of them have done well and many are now in a large way of business – with their own motors etc. I am sure you will be glad to know about them. There are other Murrays in Inniskeen – descendants of your Grand Uncle – there are Dooley’s also. Hoping you are all quite well & that business is brisk your loving son Tom
Pedigree of our Family
Letter courtesy of Nicholas Hodgson
Michael Murray our Grandfather married Bridget Dooley.
Left Shankoduff Inniskeen Co: Monaghan & settled in Allendarra.
His eldest son Owen married Mary Murray
Their children
1 Michael died in Frisco unmarried buried here
2 Anne aged 60 occupy & work their land here unmarried
3 Harry aged 50 occupy & work their land here unmarried
4 Bridget Sr Bertha a nun in Tennesse
2nd son Patrick
His wife Bridget Murphy alive here
4 sons & 2 daughters in Australia
1 died all the rest well & prosperous
Addresses in Australia. Mrs Byrne Allendarra House, Ellendale, Port Pirie, S. Australia
4 daughters 3 boys 1 married
Jas Murray married 6 boys 3 girls
Address John St Leicester Port Pirie S. Australia
Mrs Nulty 5 children address Port Pirie West Extension
Tom Murray is in New Zealand married & has 2 children
At home in Allendarra
Mrs Patrick Murray lives with her daughter Ellie Murray aged about 35 yrs
Rose Ann & Kate both unmarried are running a big laundry in New York
2 Anne Murray. (Fathers youngest sister) Mrs McEneny (husband dead)
6 sons settled in St Louis – one since dead –
Carrying on big builders & Contractors concerns – McEneny’s Bros.
Phil McEneny – married Anne Cooney
3 sons & 2 daughters
Mrs McEneny lives at their house & I am staying here at present. Old lady 85 – alert & bright
Your aunt McEneny has 3 daughters married in Allendarra –
Mrs O’Farrell (widow)
3 sons 4 daughters (2 girls teaching in England)
Mrs Dempsey 5 children oldest 21 & Mrs Molloy 5 boys & 1 daughter 4 in U.S.A.
3 Bridget Murray (d) Married John McGuire (d)
Eldest son John McGuire unmarried left his Farm & went to live in a Monastery at Athlone
There are other McGuires round about here, & 4 in U.S.A. New York
There are some mistakes in some of this information from Father Thomas, sometimes he has mixed up the names of the daughters of Michael Murray – he named Owen Murray’s wife as Mary when she was Anne, Mrs McEneny as Anne when she was Bridget, and Terence (not John) McGuire’s wife as Bridget when she was Anne. Since there are now three records that have been found that name Michael Murray’s wife as Mary, I have concluded that Father Thomas may also have made a mistake with the Christian name of Michael’s wife, and that she was actually Mary Dooley rather than Bridget Dooley.
13 January 1921: The death of Michael O’Meeghan in Timaru, New Zealand, the youngest child of Owen Meegan and Bridget Murray.
His monumental inscription in the Timaru Cemetery reads as follows –
On your charity
pray
for the souls of
Michael O’Meeghan
Born Inniskeen, Ireland
11th June 1861
Died 13th Jan 1921
And of his wife
Ellen
Born 4th October 1864
Died 3 July 1922
3 July 1922: The death of Ellen O’Meeghan, widow of Michael, at Timaru, New Zealand.
The death of Mary McGahan nee Murray
16 July 1923: Mary McGahan died at Lacklum, she was a 68 year old Farmer’s widow. Her daughter Mary Anne McGahan of Drumnanaliv was the informant.
The death of Bridget Ruddy nee Murray
27 January 1936: Bridget Ruddy died at Moyles at the age of 67. She was a farmer and a widow and Thomas Ruddy of Moyles was the informant of her death, presumably her son.
The death of Mary Faul nee Murray
11 January 1937: Mary Faul died from Influenza at Ednamo at the age of 77 (she was more likely 82). Her son James Faul of Shancobane was the informant of her death. Mary was a widow and Old Age Pensioner, she may have been living with her daughter Bridget who married Matt Curtis of Ednamo, a townland just to the west of Inniskeen.
The death of Catherine Murray nee Rooney
22 November 1937: Catherine Murray died at Moyles at the age of 65. Her husband James Murray was the informant of her death.
Footage of Inniskeen
1940-1945: Father Thomas Carrick of Inniskeen received a gift of a movie camera from his uncle in the US. He filmed the local area around Inniskeen and Drumcattan Church and the lifestyle of some of the people around Inniskeen. The footage includes James Murray and Anne Murray and Mary Meegan.
The death of James Murray
24 June 1950: James Murray died at Moyles at the age of 79. His son Owen Murray (1912-1992) was the informant of his death. James was a son of Patrick Murray and Bridget McCabe
A photographer in the family
1950s: Kathleen Byrne nee Dooley was a keen photographer and took the following photos of some of her relatives and neighbours –
The death of Owen Murray (1873-1957)
12 August 1957: Owen Murray of Drumnanaliv died at the age of 84. Owen and his wife Alice Dooley had seven children, many of whom remained in the Inniskeen area and their descendants are still there today.
The death of Alice Murray nee Dooley
1 September 1963: Alice Murray died at the age of 84 at Drumnanaliv, the widow of Owen Murray. Alice was formerly Alice Dooley, daughter of Thomas Dooley and Catherine Gartlan.
Information has been obtained from the following sources –
Ancestry.com, Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61039/
Ancestry.com, National Probate Calendar: England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995, https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/1904/
Ancestry.com, 1837 Topographical Dictionary of Ireland by Samuel Lewis, https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/7262/
Ancestry.com, 1881 UK Census Collection, https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/categories/1881uki/
Ask About Ireland, Griffith’s Valuation of Ireland, http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/
Ask About Ireland, Map Images, http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/
Correspondence from Father Thomas Francis Murray (1881-1973)
Find My Past, England Roman Catholic Parish Marriages, https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-records/england-roman-catholic-parish-marriages
Find My Past, Ireland Census Reports, https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-records/ireland-census-reports
Find My Past, Ireland, Dog Licence Registers, https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-records/ireland-dog-licence-registers
Find My Past, Ireland, Petty Sessions Court Registers, https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-records/ireland-petty-sessions-court-registers
Find My Past, Landed Estate Court Rentals, https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-records/landed-estates-court-rentals-1850-1885
Find My Past, Ireland Valuation Office Books, https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-records/ireland-valuation-office-books
Google Maps, Map Images, https://www.google.co.uk/maps/
Hall, Eamon G. The Parish of the Universe, A collection of essays on South Monaghan, Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork, Republic of Ireland: Lettertec Publishing, 2022.
Inniskeen Film, published by Blackshanco, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X9eeXgs_L6E
Irish Genealogy, Civil Records, https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/
Irish Graveyards, Monumental Inscriptions, www.irishgraveyards.ie/
Lewis, Samuel. A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. Vol. I. London, England: S. Lewis and Co., 1837
Monaghan Ancestry, Professional Research commissioned by Gerald O’Meegan, 1997
Murray, Father Thomas Francis, 1916 letter about his family history, Nicholas Hodgson
National Archives of Ireland, Tithe Applotment Books, http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie
National Archives of Ireland, Ireland Census records, http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie
National Library of Ireland, Parish Registers, https://registers.nli.ie/registers/
Photo album of Rose Byrnes, a grand daughter of Patrick Murray and Bridget Murphy
Roots Ireland, Parish Record transcripts, https://rootsireland.ie/
Timeline Genealogy in Ireland, The History of the Murray and Associated Families, Professional Researchers, https://timeline.ie/
Mary Deery, a descendant of Patrick Murray and Bridget McCabe
Fintan Byrne, a Dooley descendant
Joanne McEntee, a descendant of Patrick Murray and Bridget McCabe
Gerald O’Meeghan, a descendant of Owen Meegan and Bridget Murray
Paddy McEneny, a grandson of John McEneny and Brigid Murray
Seamus McEneny, a great grandson of John McEneny and Brigid Murray
Nicholas Hodgson, a Dooley descendant
John Holloway, whose aunt worked in the Murray newsagency with Agnes Murray
Web page by Sue Boyland, a descendant of Michael Murray & Mary Dooley.
My Gedmatch Number is A776180
The Murray family from Moyles can be found in the Hooper Family Tree on Ancestry at
https://www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/40407481/person/212007973793/facts
Comments, corrections and additions are always welcome, my contact address is sueboyland53 [at] gmail [dot] com
Last updated: 16 April 2024
Boyland and Hooper family events and stories 