Murtha Morrow

[Suse]

Am researching the family of a friend with ancestors from the Murtha and Morrow families who lived in Sunderland and worked in the dockyards in the second part of the 19c,,,any advice on sources where I could find out more about them/where they might have worked etc would be much appreciated
Rgds
Suse

[O1dgobbo]

Hi Suse

The 1881 census has a Murtha family living in Monkwearmouth Shore, Sunderland (RG11/5006 160 p93):
Michael Murtha, Head, 62, Labourer to blacksmith, b. Ireland
Ann Murtha, wife, 58, -, b. Ireland
Barnard Do, son, 27, Plater's lab,b. Ireland
John Do, son, 24, Do Do, b. Durham, Sunderland
William Do, son, 22, Do Do. b. Durham, Sunderland

There is a Morrow family living in Sunderland, (RG11/5000 42 p78)
William Morrow,Head, 54, Boiler maker's labourer, b. Durham, Gateshead
Eliza Do, Wife, 47, -, b. Durham, Sunderland
John Do, son, 27, Baker Journeyman, b. Do, Do
Henry Do, Do, 19, Boilersmith apprentice, b Do, Do
William Do, Do, 17, Do Do, b. Do, Do
Eliza Do, Daur, 14, General Servant, b. Do, Do
Joseph Do, Son, 12, Scholar, b. Do, Do
Elizabeth Do, Daur, 10, Do, b. Do, Do
Margaret Do, Do, 8, Do, b. Do, Do
Anne Do, Do, 6, Do, b. Do, Do

Are these the families that you are asking about?

All the best

Gobbo

[peter brownlee]

Hello Suse'
If that is the Murthas you're after in Church St Monkwearmouth, then a walk straight down Church st would bring them to one of the biggest yards on the north shore, J L Thompson & Sons who began building iron ships there in 1871 andexpanded to swallow up all the small wooden shipbuilders slipways there. They built mostly standard  tramp and bulk carriers, the workhorses of the seas by the turn of the century.
Peter

[diplodicus]

Michael Murtha came to Sunderland in 1856 from Dundalk, Co Louth. He had ten chidren,all boys! Michaels younger brother John (b1823) also came over; he is my gggggrandfather. The Murtha family tree is large with many descendents still living in and around Sunderland.
I don't have the marriage details of all of them but of those I do have, there is no Morrow among 'em.
I believe that the Murthas were a force in the docks - and not people to mess with!

[Colin Cruddace]

There's a possible marriage in the last quarter 1905 at Sunderland, with George Morrow and Mary Murtha being 2 of the 4 names on the page.

Colin

[diplodicus]

  Oops.I,ve found them.

Mary Murtha b1881 married George Morrow (b c1881) Marriage Q4/1905 Sunderland 10a1064.

Mary in 1891 census: 7 Back East Cross St, Bishopwearmouth.

Mary is daughter of Nicholas Murtha and Elizabeth. He was b1851 and if the census is to be believed, he is the son of Michael. However, all the Murthas born before 1856 were in Dundalk and there is no baptismal record other than a Nicholas son of Michael's younger brother, John. (The dates fit). So, my pet theory is that Nicholas is actually John's son but came to live with Michael during the families moves from Dundalk. Can't prove it though.

I know of about fifty descendents of Nicholas. Mary had five brothers. I haven't any family after George and Mary on that particular branch.

[Suse]

Thanks for info - George and Mary 1911 census lived in 10 East cross Street: he was a plate riveter hold up and they had three children: George, Norman and Elizabeth Jane who was the mother of the friend whose family I am researching. I have not been able to find out more about the Dundalk connection but belong to an irish database and there seems to be a marriage of Michael (b1819) and Ann (Welch or Walsh) with father's Michael Murtagh and Pat Walsh (possible rather than proved). Also a Michael Murtagh appears with land in Griffins Valuation of Dundalk. If you have any other info or stories about the Murthas would be grateful...
Thx
Suse

[diplodicus]

Michael Murtha b1819

Louth archive rec no:08.02621
Married Ann Walsh 14 Aug 1842 in Dundalk.
Ann was living at seatown, Dundalk.

1843-1845 Living at Hill St Dundalk A Michael Murtha is a tenant of Earl of Roden in Upper Dundalk. Lease passes to Alexander Filgate.
Emigrated 1855/56 (sons before born in Dundalk and afterwards in Bishopwearmouth!

http://www.rootsweb.com/~fianna/county/louth/loufree1837.html Nicholas Murtha living in Park Street, Dundalk. also shown as householder in 1837

C1871: Black Cock Open, Monkwearmouth
C1881: Michael and Ann lived: 114 Church Street with Bernard, John and William. Blacksmith's labourer.

Anne Murtha née Walsh.

by 1891: Living on own 11 Howick St.

Michael and Anne had either ten or eleven sons (see my earlier message about Nicholas).

I've 42 blood descendents in my tree, mostly thanks to others sharing theirs with me through GR. I've sent you a PM with my email address.

The surname is spelt either Murtha or Murtaugh in the Dundalk parish records.

[Suse]

Thanks tried to send you an e mail via your e maio on your website but it bounced back? I have a pic of Mary Murtha b 1881 which you may like...
Rgds
Suse