Edward Murphy Family History
Edward’s Siblings
Edward’s Family Chart
Patrick Murphy
1858 - 1932
Elizabeth Tierney
c.1863 - 1927
Mary Catherine
1888 - 1962
EDWARD
1890 - 1939
Patrick
1894 - 1986
Anne
1898 - 1901
Sarah
1892 - 1948
James
1896 - 1935
Edward had three sisters and two brothers. One sister, Anne, died aged three in 1901 from diarrhoea.
Mary Catherine
Mary Catherine was known as Mary Kate. She was born on 28th September 1888 at Bruce Street, Belfast. She was baptised in St. Malachy’s church in Belfast on 7th October 1888, and a Mary Tierney was sponsor*. She was living with the family in Pump Entry, Monaghan in 1901. She has not been found in Monaghan or anywhere in Ireland in the 1911 census. She married William Bernard McAnulty in St. Matthews church, Belfast on 12th May 1914. Her address at the time of her marriage was White Street, Belfast. James and Sarah Murphy (her brother and sister) were witnesses.
They had at least three daughters and two sons*. Mary Catherine died on 15th March 1962, at the White Street address, and her son William was present at her death. Her daughter, Nora, was at Mary Catherine’s brother James’ funeral described below.
Sarah
Sarah (known as Sadie) was born on 9th February 1892 at Dunlop Place, Belfast. Mary Tierney was present at the birth – possibly an aunt. Sarah was baptised in St. Malachy’s church, Belfast on 11th February 1892*, and was in the family home for the 1901 and 1911 censuses. Sarah married Patrick McGuirke of Straghan, Co. Monaghan in Monaghan Cathedral on 5th August 1920.
Family lore suggests Pat McGuirke was a difficult man. The family lived in Glaslough Street and
Plantation Terrace which was opposite the Masonic Hall. They had two daughters and two
sons*.
Their daughter Sarah was born in 1930. Their son Eddie McGuirke is captured in a photo in
“Old Monaghan” p. 85[2].
Here is a photo of Pat McGuirke with Edward’s son Jim in Warrenpoint in 1926.
Sarah and Pat cared for old Pat Murphy after Elizabeth died in 1927. Patrick McGuirk died in the County Sanatorium in Monaghan in 1945 and Sarah died at home in 1948.
Patrick (Pat)
Patrick was born on 29th January 1894 in the Belfast workhouse. Conditions in these institutions are described here.
Patrick married Rose Finnegan in Monaghan on 29th June 1925 and they lived in Mall Road for some
years. They had a family of twelve children. The family later moved to
Blackwatertown,
Co. Armagh.
Pat was a painter by trade and family lore indicates that he was very talented, did a lot of
work for churches but found it difficult to make ends meet for the large family. Rose
supplemented the income by taking in washing.
Their eldest daughter Elizabeth (Lily) was still alive in 2019, living in the USA. Patrick died on 7th February 1986 and Rose died on 13th December 1988. The photographs are of a young Patrick, and a middle-aged Rose.
James
James was born at Pump Entry, Monaghan on 4th April 1896. His Uncle Francis and Aunt Elizabeth Murphy were sponsors. Family lore indicates that James was a favourite within the family, and much loved by Edward. He may have participated in the Spanish Civil war.
James spent some time in the Irish Army (reported in his obituary) and was a soldier in Dundalk
barracks in 1922 when he married Esther Crawford on 1st December 1922. He worked with the County
Registrar and in the Northern Standard (local newspaper). Esther converted to Roman Catholicism
to marry James. She was working as a mental health nurse in Monaghan hospital when she met James.
They lived in Coolshannagh. They did not have any children of their own, although they adopted a girl called Mamie Courtney. The photos show Edward with Esther and Mamie, and James.
James died after a short illness on 26th October 1935, aged 39.
After his death Mamie was returned to her family in Rathfriland, Co. Down.
James was very popular in Monaghan; he had a lengthy obituary in the local newspaper. Esther died in hospital in Castleblayney of cancer a few years after James.
Anne
Anne (known as Annie) was born in 1898. The sponsors at her baptism were Francis Murphy (presumably her paternal uncle) and Sarah Tierney (possibly an aunt). She died on 1st Sept 1901.