Uncertified death

[MonicaL]

Hi Betty

What was the name of James' wife? Could it be Rose McCabe?  Here in 1871:

James Murphy 30 hammerman
Rose Murphy 31
Hugh Murphy 6
Maniel Murphy 5
Margt Murphy 3
Ellen Murphy 1

Address: 21 Duncan St, Greenock

Monica

[mcmacey]

Hi Monica,

No, I’m aware of that record but it’s definitely a different family. My James Murphy was married to Susan Murphy (also MS Murphy). Coincidentally they also had daughters named Mary Ann and Margaret, but it’s their daughter Sarah who was my great grandmother.

There was also another baby sister, Catherine, who only lived a few months - she died in March 1975.

I can’t find the 4th child referred to as still living in the newspaper article. James and Sarah were married in Belfast in 1862 or 1863; I know Mary Ann was born in Belfast in 1866; and Sarah was born in Anderson in 1869. Margaret was probably born in Glasgow about 1868. So there is room for another child but the family seems to be absent from the 1871 census, just to complicate matters.

Thanks for your interest,

Betty

[capricorn]

The family appear to be back in Ireland in 1871.

There is a birth for a Susan Murphy, born 4th Dec. 1871 in Belfast.
Parents James Murphy and Susan Murphy (maiden name)
The image is available on Irish Genealogy site

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/civil-search.jsp

[mcmacey]

Thank you for that - I don’t really know my way round the Irish records though I managed to find Mary Ann in there. I suspected they might have gone back as although she was born in Glasgow, Granny Sarah thought she had been born in Ireland because she remembered coming to Scotland as a very young child.

But poor wee Susan - she was another victim of the dreaded bronchial disease that afflicted so many people then. She died in 1875 two months after her father's death.

[MonicaL]

So you now have all 5 daughters for James and Susan? Not sure on the birth order, but from the names you mention:

Mary Ann b. 1866
Sarah...your grandmother
Margaret ?
Catherine died 1875, before father James
Susan b. 1871 and died 1875, after father James

Given Catherine died before father, there would have been four children as reported by newspapers.

Monica

[MonicaL]

Is this daughter Catherine's birth?

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQ7G-S5S

Catherine Murphy
22 Jun 1874
GOVAN, LANARK
James Murphy
Susan Murphy

If so, her birth cert will have her parents' marriage date and place if you don't have it yet.

Monica

[mcmacey]

Hi Monica

Yes that is Catherine. Her cert says the marriage took place on 20 September 1863 in Belfast, but Sarah's cert says it was September 1862 - hence my equivocation.

I think (hope) that's it for James Murphy's children - I don't really want any more infant deaths! Susan remarried and had two more children, both boys.

Can I ask what source you are using? I do use Scotlandspeople but I resent how expensive their charging structure is.

Betty

[MonicaL]

Family Search is good for Scottish indexes particularly up to mid 1870s www.familysearch.org (you need to register but it is free to use).

Scotlands People is the only source for original BMDs and online images.

Monica

[MonicaL]

I think (hope) that's it for James Murphy's children - I don't really want any more infant deaths! Susan remarried and had two more children, both boys.

Betty, there is one entry I saw earlier...wondered whether it could be for a first born:

Sarah Catherine Murphy
13 Apr 1864
Birthplace ANDERSTON, GLASGOW
Father's Name    James Murphy
Mother's Name    Susan Murphy

And also to the same parents in the Anderston area:

Sarah Murphy
9 May 1869

Couldn't see any reference to them in 1871. If your James and Susan, they could have been going back and forth.

Monica