Family of Felix Murphy

Mullaghbrack townland  is in the parish of the same name. That RC parish has baptisms for 1798-1802 and then a gap till 1843. There don’t appear to be any around the time Felix was born.  So you probably aren’t going to find his baptism/birth.

Weavers often moved about a bit (to follow the available work) and so can be very hard to trace. 

Elwyn, thank you for responding to my post. Do you think there is anything I can do or a prof genealogist., that knows the area and history? I would love to visit Ireland at some time, is there anything I can do when there? Or do you think I have gotten as far as I can with Felix and his Ireland family? 

Thank you.

Mark Murphy

Mark,

Looking at your post of 25th April I note that you say your ancestor “joined” the British army in 1833.  I assume the double commas indicate some doubt as to whether he joined voluntarily. There was no conscription in Ireland then and so anyone who joined did so voluntarily. People joined then for the same reasons as they do today. (A relatively secure job, training, overseas travel and a pension). It would be unwise to assume that just because your ancestor was Irish and in the British Army that was against his will.  There was never any conscription and huge numbers of Irish people joined the British armed forces. Indeed during WW2, a third of the recently created Irish Army effectively deserted and joined the British Army in order to fight the Nazis. Link here to an article explaining how many of the Irish Army were penalized for that but eventually given an amnesty:

https://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-world-war-2-veterans-immunity-amnesty…

The relationship between Britain & Ireland is complex. Suffice to say that in spite of wishing to be a separate nation for hundreds of years, many Irish joined the British armed forces in the 1800s and continued to do so as recently as WW2. Some still do today.  (There isn’t a family in Ireland that doesn’t have relatives in Britain. Are they Irish or British? There’s a whole separate discussion about this that is probably best outside this forum).

Perhaps you may have got as far back as is possible. But there are many professional researchers who might be able to help you. Ask them. Researchers in the PRONI area: http://sgni.net

If you are visiting Ireland, let us know. Depending on where you plan to go, we may be able to provide someone to meet you.

The family story is that Felix was arested for some crime aginst the crown. He was sentenced to Austraila but was givin the option to inlist in British Army?  While in Canda he struck a British officer, and was going to be executed. Some of his Irish friends helped him escape, the US was just across the river, and they made there way across. On British records said he ran off on the march of July1. So I don't know if these are embelished stories or there is some truth to them? 

When I come to visit Ireland, I plan on flying into Dublin then going into Louth and armagh and County Down Newry. I have other Irish ancestors, I would like to visit those areas as well, and of course the oldest pup in Ireland. I guess i be all over the place.

Thanks again for info.

Mark