Murphy Family
HISTORY OF THE MURPHY NAME :
The name MURPHY originally appeared in Gaelic as O Murchadha or Mac Murchadha, meaning sea warrior.
According to Irish lore, the Murphy family are descendants of the ancient line of Heremon, who along with his brother Heber, is the ancestor of all the ancient Kings of Ireland.
Variations of the name include O’Murphy, MacMurphy, Murphy, Murfree, Morphy, Morfey and many more.
The earliest record of the name Murphy was found in several places in Ireland, where distinct septs arose. Septs called Murphy were found in the counties of Tyrone and Sligo, and are now also common in Armagh and other parts of Ulster. However, the most important Murphy sept held a family seat I the county of Wexford in Leinster, where the Chief of the Name was styled O’Morchoe.
The Murphys have produced many notable ecclesiastics, scholars, baards, and soliders. Two of the most famous were the Catholic priests Rev. John Murphy and Rev. Michael Murphy, both of whom were slain in the 1798 uprising.
Thousands of people left Ireland for North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. A number of people bearing the Irish name Murphy or a variant arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.
OUR MURPHY FAMILY :
William Murphy
William was born in 1805 in Armagh, Ireland. He married Jane MURPHY on 6 June 1844.
William & Jane and two of their children arrived in Auckland, New Zealand from Armagh on the Fencible Ship "Ann" on the 16 May 1848 and settled in Otahuhu, Auckland. William was granted a 5 acre allotment of land in Otahuhu on 22 December 1854.Children of William and Jane:
James was born in Armagh, Ireland in 1844. He arrived in Auckland, New Zealand on the Fencible Ship "Ann" with his parents on 16 May 1848. As a youth he served in the militia in Clevedon and in other parts of the province. Later he farmed land in Taranaki. In about 1912 he returned to Auckland, residing in Mangere for a time and then retiring in Otahuhu. He did not marry.
James donated funds to the Holy Trinity Church in Otahuhu as well as the east windows of the church in memory of his mother. Shortly before his death in 1932 he presented four acres of land, including an acre of land granted to his father, to the borough of Otahuhu for the purposes of a public playground to be known as "Murphy’s Park" and which is still in use today.
James died on 30 January 1932 aged 87 years and was buried at the Holy Trinity Cemetery in Otahuhu.
Elizabeth was born on 4 March 1849. She married Francis WINTERE. Elizabeth died on 1 April 1891 and was buried at the Holy Trinity Cemetery in Otahuhu. Francis died on 17 October 1911 and was buried at the Holy Trinity Cemetery.
Jane was born in Auckland on 31 July 1851. She married Frederick BROWN. Jane died 12 April 1913 aged 62 years. Frederick died on 3 November 1933. Jane and Frederick were buried at the Holy Trinity Cemetery in Otahuhu.
Robert Foster was born about 1855 and died 16 August 1916 aged 61 years.
David Murphy was born about 1860. He was a member of the Mancester Unity Loyal Franklin Lodge. David died 12 May 1916 aged 56 years and was buried at the Holy Trinity Cemetery in Otahuhu.
Eliza was born in Otahuhu on 9 May 1863. She married Henry MITCHELL. Eliza died on 19 January 1927 and was buried at the Holy Trinity Cemetery in Otahuhu.
William died on 23 September 1872 and was buried at the Holy Trinity Cemetery, Otahuhu. His wife Jane died on 3 November 1905 aged 82 years and was also buried at the Holy Trinity Cemetery.
Eliza was the youngest child of William and Jane Murphy. She was born in Otahuhu on 9 May 1863. She married Henry Mitchell in Otahuhu in April 1884. The family settled in that borough. The children were Gertrude Annie born around 1884, Nina Eliza born 1886, Gertrude Jane born 1890, Frederick Andrew born 1901, Jessie Elizabeth born around 1894 and William.
Eliza died on 19 January 1927 aged 65 years and was buried at the Holy Trinity Cemetery, Otahuhu. Henry died on 11 February 1922 aged 65 years and was also buried at the Holy Trinity Cemetery.
