Helen's Family Trees - MacDonald

Descendants of Mary MACDONALD / MCDONNELL

First Generation

1. Mary MACDONALD / MCDONNELL was born 1814 in prob. Knocklonogad area, Co. Carlow. She died 24 Oct 1894.

It's thought the MacDonald / McDonnell family may have come from the Knocklonogad area in Garryhill, Co. Carlow. Note: In some older references to Knocklonogad, its parish is given as Sliguff rather than Garryhill.
Mary's surname was probably MacDonald rather than McDonnell, but on the baptismal records of some of her children, Mary's surname is given as McDonnell. The McDonald spelling is also used.

Note: Both the MacDonald and McDonnell surnames are very common and are widely distributed throughout Ireland. The names are commonly confused with each other, but they do share the same origin, coming from the the Scottish or Irish personal name "Domhnall", meaning "world mighty". However true MacDonalds are descendants of the powerful Scottish clan of the same name. The Scottish MacDonalds' involvement in Ireland started in the thirteenth century when they first arrived as gallowglasses or mercenaries. Such was their success that they were employed in virtually every local war, spreading and settling throughout the country over the following centuries. Their main connection however remained with Ulster. A secondary influx into that province of settlers bearing the MacDonald name occurred in the eighteenth century, when the Highland clearances caused great forced migration from Scotland. There was also a native Irish McDonnell family in Ulster who were rulers of Fermanagh before they were displaced. They then settled in the north of adjoining Co. Monaghan and remain numerous in the area. Another McDonnell family arose in the old kingdom of Thomond in the Clare/Limerick area.

Mary married John MURPHY, son of William J. MURPHY and Mary MURPHY. John was born 1811 in prob. Knocklonogad area, Co. Carlow. He died 1887.

They had the following children:

+ 2 M i William MURPHY was born 1846 and died 1932.
3 M ii

Thomas MURPHY was born about 26 Oct 1847 in Knocklonogad, Garryhill, Co. Carlow and was christened 26 Oct 1847 in Myshall, Co. Carlow. He died 16 Apr 1883.

Sponsors at Thomas' christening were Patrick MacDonald and Margaret Connors.

4 M iii

Patrick MURPHY was born about 11 Mar 1849 in Knocklonogad, Garryhill, Co. Carlow and was christened 11 Mar 1849 in Myshall, Co. Carlow. He died Oct 1936 in Knocklonogad, Garryhill, Co. Carlow.

Sponsors at Patrick's baptism were Laurence MacDonnell and Mary Nolan.

The Carlow Genealogy Project has found a record of a marriage of a Patrick Murphy to Anne Fenlon in Myshall in 1877. Was this our Patrick?

5 M iv

James MURPHY was born about 2 Mar 1851 in Knocklonogad, Garryhill, Co. Carlow and was christened 2 Mar 1851 in Myshall, Co. Carlow.

Sponsors at James' christening were John MacDonnell and Bridget (no last name given).

The Carlow Genealogy Project has found records of the following marriages of a James Murphy:
Bride: Elizabeth Kennedy; Place: Myshall; Year: 1880
Bride: Bridget Rourke; Place: Myshall; Year: 1882
Bride: Teresa Lowry; Place: Bagenalstown; Year: 1892
Do any of these marriages relate to our James?

6 F v

Bridget MURPHY was born about 16 Jan 1853 in Knocklonogad, Garryhill, Co. Carlow and was christened 16 Jan 1853 in Myshall, Co. Carlow. She died 28 Jul 1926.

Sponsors at Bridget's christening were Thomas MacDonnell and Joanne MacDonnell.

The Carlow Genealogy Project has found a record of a marriage of a Bridget Murphy to Michael Nolan in Bagenalstown in 1878. Was this our Bridget?

+ 7 F vi Mary MURPHY was born about 29 Mar 1857 and died Apr 1932.
8 M vii

John MURPHY was born about 28 Aug 1859 in Knocklonogad, Garryhill, Co. Carlow and was christened 28 Aug 1859 in Myshall, Co. Carlow.

Sponsors at John's christening were Patrick Young and Mary Young.

The Carlow Genealogy Project has found records of the following marriages of a John Murphy:
Bride: Bridget Lynch; Place: Leighlinbridge; Year: 1879
Bride: Mary Coogan; Place: Rathvilly; Year: 1881
Do either of these marriages relate to our John?

9 F viii

Margaret MURPHY was born about 1 Mar 1862 in Knocklonogad, Garryhill, Co. Carlow and was christened 1 Mar 1862 in Myshall, Co. Carlow.

Sponsors at Margaret's baptism were Hugh Curran and Anne MacDonald.

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