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I am trying to locate where my 6th great grandfather, Thomas Murphy, lived.  It is possible that he lived with his family in County Tyrone, based on the inscription on the gravestone of his son, found in South Carolina, "John Murphy, born Tyrone Ireland. 15 May 1746. Dise at his residence in Abbeville the 20 April 1820. age 76 yrs. the Falls of New York, which departed from Londonderry (probably in early January 1766 and arrived at Charles Town (Charleston) on March 7th.

Before I continue I will say that I have been researching my family for more than 30 years and I am fully aware of how difficult it is to find information from so long ago.

Here's the point I want to raise: In depth review of surviving copies of the Belfast Newsletter from the period has shown that passenger ships typically advertized frequently to find passengers.  I found no ads to announce the departure of the ship Falls in January 1766.  I have learned that sometimes entire congregations would pool their resources and hire a ship and crew to take them all to the American provinces.  My Murphys were Presbyterians and very likely Scots Irish.

I hope to find another person researching their family, not necessarily Murphy, who knows of the sailing of the Falls and may have found that members of a particular church were aboard.

Thanks and my apologies for my long-winded post.

geronimo52

Wednesday 31st Jul 2019, 12:37PM

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  • An acknowledged expert on ships from Londonderry in the 1700s is Brian Mitchell at the Tower Museum in Derry. Have you asked him about this vessel?

    www.derry.rootsireland.ie

    Statistically the majority of emigrants from Ulster in the 1700s were Protestant, mainly Presbyterian, so the timing and location fits with Ulster Scot emigration then. I looked at the 1901 census for Tyrone. There were 427 Murphys. 340 were RC, 15 Presbyterian and the remaining 72 were other Protestant denominations.

    Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Wednesday 31st Jul 2019, 01:37PM
  • I will try to get in touch with Brian.  Thank you for your expert help, not only today, but in the past.

    Best regards,

    Jerry

    geronimo52

    Wednesday 31st Jul 2019, 01:51PM

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