Denis
MURPHY (or possibly Denis MURPHY) had been a farmer in County Wexford, Ireland, before he emigrated to Australia in November 1854.
The Griffith Valuation for the Parish of Mayglass, Union of New Ross, in the County of Wexford for 1853 listed the following rateable properties:
(a) in the Townland of Bog West:
* occupier - Denis Murphy
* immediate lessors - Hamilton KG Morgan
* description of tenement - land (area 5A 3R 56P) and house, offices & land (area 1A 0R 25P)
* number & letters of reference to map - 7 A, B & C
* occupier - John Murphy [NB This supports my view that John and Denis MURPHY were brothers.]
* immediate lessors - Hamilton KG Morgan
* description of tenement - land (area 6A 2R 30P) and house, offices & land (area 1A 1R 36P)
* number & letters of reference to map - 8 A, B & C
(b) in the Townland of Churchlands:
* occupier - William Murphy
* immediate lessors - Patrick Busher
* description of tenement - house & garden (area 0A 0R 36P)
* number & letters of reference to map - 4 b
* occupier - Patrick Murphy
* immediate lessors - E M Daniell & partners
* description of tenement - house, offices & land (area 1A 2R 33P)
* number & letters of reference to map - 5
(c) in the Townland of Coalspit:
* occupier - John Murphy [NB This also supports my view that John and Denis MURPHY were brothers.]
* immediate lessors - Hamilton KG Morgan
* description of tenement - land (area 5A 3R 39P)
* number & letters of reference to map - 3
* occupier - Denis Murphy
* immediate lessors - Hamilton KG Morgan
* description of tenement - land (area 5A 3R 31P)
* number & letters of reference to map - 4
(d) in the Townland of Loughgunnen Great:
* occupier - Thomas Murphy
* immediate lessors - Charles A Walker
* description of tenement - house, offices & land (area 47A 2R 1P)
* number & letters of reference to map - 2
(e) in the Townland of Middletown:
* occupier - Michael Murphy
* immediate lessors - E M Daniell & partners
* description of tenement - house, offices & land (area 7A 1R 11P)
* number & letters of reference to map - 4
* occupier - James Murphy
* immediate lessors - Samuel Walsh
* description of tenement - house & offices
* number & letters of reference to map - 7 b
* occupier - Nicholas Murphy
* immediate lessors - James Codd
* description of tenement - house
* number & letters of reference to map - 8 b
(f) in the Townland of Randalstown:
* occupier - Mary Murphy
* immediate lessors - William Jeffers
* description of tenement - house
* number & letters of reference to map - 2 B b
* occupier - John Murphy
* immediate lessors - William Jeffers
* description of tenement - house
* number & letters of reference to map - 4 Ac
* occupier - John Murphy
* immediate lessors - Christopher Jeffers
* description of tenement - house and garden (area 20P)
* number & letters of reference to map - 10 c
* occupier - Denis Murphy
* immediate lessors - Christopher Jeffers
* description of tenement - land (area 2A 3R 33P)
* number & letters of reference to map - 13
(g) in the Townland of Silverspring:
* occupier - William Murphy
* immediate lessors - John Nunn
* description of tenement - house
* number & letters of reference to map - 3 e
The following is an extract from the late Leslie BOXWELL's email of 6 Jan 2003 about Denis/Dennis MURPHY in County Wexford, Ireland:
'I looked at the Tithes [in the Tithes Applotment Book] for 1827 and 1828.
In 1827 Patrick Murphy had a half acre at Bog East. Denis Murphy had seven & half acres at Colespit & Bog West. Philip Murphy had eight & three quarter acres at Colespit & Bog West.
In 1828 Widow Walsh had 50 acres at Bog East. Denis Murphy had seven & half acres at Colespit & Bog West. Paid 7 shillings & 6 pence tithes. Philip Murphy had 8 & three quarter acres at Colespit & Bog West and Randalstown. Paid 8 shillings & 9 pence tithe.
I wonder was Patrick the father of Philip!
In 1853, the index to Griffiths Primary Valuation Survey shows that Denis Murphy had land at Bog West, Colespit, and Randalstown. I have yet to look at the actual amounts of land he held and at which there was a house.'
Dennis MURPHY emigrated from Mayglass, County Wexford, Ireland, with his spouse, Jane Elizabeth (WHEELOCK) MURPHY, and family on the clipper ship 'Shalimar' arriving in Victoria, Australia, in Feb 1855.
The 'Shalimar', 1467 tons register, the ninth ship of the White Star line, left the Port of Liverpool on 22 November 1854 and was on its first voyage. It was under the command of captain Amos Robertson. The 'Shalimar' accomplished the run 'in something under 76 days' (The 'Argus', Melbourne, Victoria, Friday 9 Feb 1855, page 4) arriving in Melbourne on 9 February 1855.
The children who accompanied Dennis MURPHY (35 years) and Jane MURPHY (nee WHEELOCK) (30 years), according to the passengers list, were William James (13 years), Mary (10 years), Philip (7 years), James (4 years) and Jane (infant). The family were accompanied by Christopher JEFFARES (26 years). Christopher was apparently a relative of Jane WHEELOCK, his mother's maiden name being Mary WHEELOCK. Christopher JEFFERS died unmarried at 60 years on 23 Mar 1889 and is buried at the Epping Cemetery, Victoria, in the same grave as William James MURPHY. Walter MURPHY, aged 30 years, was also listed as a passenger on the 'Shalimar' on its arrival in Feb 1855 but what, if any, relationship exists between him and my MURPHY ancestors is presently unknown.
The reasons why Dennis MURPHY and Jane MURPHY left Ireland in 1854 and came to Australia are not clear. There were severe famines in Ireland in 1817, 1822, 1826, 1831 and 1835 to 1837. Then came the Great Famine of 1845 -1849, so called because it killed some 2 million people directly and forced 1 million more into the hunger-hulks to emigrate: 'The Great Hunger - Ireland 1845-49' by CB Woodham-Smith London (1962) p. 15f. The Great Famine therefore had passed well before 1854. It is worth noting, however, that in November 1855 the English and French were at war with Russia (The 'Argus' , Melbourne, Saturday, 10 February 1855, page 5). As to gold rushes, the 'Argus' own correspondent from Ballarat, Victoria, reported that '[e]verything is going on just as usual on the goldfields, with the exception of here and there a rather more than average amount of success' (The 'Argus' , Melbourne, Saturday, 10 February 1855, page 5).
What was Melbourne like at the time of their arrival? Melbourne was founded in 1835 ['The Enterprise', charted by John Fawkner, entered the Yarra River and moored at the foot of present day William Street. On 30 Aug 1835 settlers disembarked at a site chosen only weeks earlier by John Batman. In 1836 first allotments of land in the CBD were put up for sale for about 5 pounds per half-acre. Robert Hoddle, the surveyor, whose remarkable vision was responsible for Melbourne's wide street grid, conducted the sale.] and was incorporated as a town in the Colony of New South Wales in 1842. In 1842 Melbourne was officially declared a city when the Melbourne Municipal Corporation Act was passed. The beginnings of Melbourne can be traced to the establishment of markets. Market Commissioners were elected in the four wards of Bourke, Gipps, LaTrobe and Lonsdale to manage the markets. On 2 March 1841, Melbourne's population was 4,479. It had grown to 13,500 by 1845. Melbourne was created a Cathedral City by Letters Patent of Queen Victoria in 1847 and began referring to itself as the City of Melbourne about this time. The New South Wales Act conferring Melbourne with the status of City was not passed until 1849. On separation of Victoria from New South Wales in 1851, Melbourne became the capital of the Victorian Colony. Melbourne's structure and boundaries changed markedly between 1850 and 1860.
Occupation(s):
6 Aug 1858 - carter (as per death certificate of Dennis' daughter, Catherine MURPHY)
25 Apr 1865 - farmer (as per marriage certificate of Dennis' son, William MURPHY)
8 Jun 1865 - farmer (as per marriage certificate of Dennis' daughter, Mary MURPHY)
3 Apr 1882 - cab proprietor (as per death certificate of Dennis' son James MURPHY)
20 Feb 1887 - cab proprietor (as per death cert of Dennis' daughter Jane MURPHY)
18 Nov 1895 - cab proprietor (as per Dennis' death certificate)
17 Jul 1909 - cabdriver (as per death certificate of Dennis' son William MURPHY)
7 Aug 1936 - cab proprietor (as per death certificate of daughter, Mary O'SULLIVAN)
