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MarkCDodd wrote:January/February birth and a November/December birth would still allow full term babies.
Dennis wrote:Hi folks, it's good to be be back! I've kept looking out for families I know, but this is the first for a while.
Mark and I have been in touch about these Murphys, the dates (and places) of birth are very confusing, but I think Mark has found the solution. They're connected to my family, the Woods of Oldbury, through the marriage of Patrick Murphy's daughter Hannah, also known as Annie b. abt March 1860 in Oldbury, to my great grandfather William Wood (1832-1898)'s son William (1863-bef. 1931) by his first wife Mary Ann Blott (1842-1863), wedding at St Francis Xavier's R C church, Oldbury, on 2 February 1891. William Wood jnr and Hannah had at least 7 children in Oldbury, Mary Ann 1892, Lucy 1895-1977, William Bernard 1897, Anna 1901, Thomas 1903, Joseph 1905 and John 1908. The other children of Patrick and Catherine Murphy I know about married as follows: Elizabeth to Thomas Nugent in 1879 and to John Duggan 2 July 1892 St Francis Xavier''s; and John Murphy to Catherine Whitehouse in 1892 W. Brom.
There is another Oldbury Murphy line I'm connected to, but whether it's linked to Patrick and Catherine's family I don't know: Charles Murphy 1844-1869 married Elizabeth Plant 1846-1896 on 28 April 1862 at Handsworth parish church. Elizabeth, my great grandmother, was the daughter of Warwick Plant 1816-1892. They had children Sarah Ann Murphy 3 Jun 1863 Oldbury, Selina 1866 and John 1868. The family on the census with Lily Rebecca Murphy (1892-1968) is this John's family. Would it help if I added some of this info (which I've acquired only over the past few weeks) on both lines to BCC?
Very interesting, Rob, about the Murphys you remember. I can see the old St Francis Xavier's so clearly in my mind's eye, ditto Penncricket etc. I never knew any Murphys because I went to Titford Road, Langley, rather than St Francis's.
Rathdrum birth, I mean. But it's not impossible that the couple met / were married there, it's 40 miles south of Dublin. According to the family tradition I heard from a living descendant, the Murphy family crossed from Dublin and walked barefoot across Wales to settle in Oldbury. The glass and chemical works in Oldbury offered work to many unskilled labourers, although shovelling powerful chemicals could mean ruined health... Interesting that these Murphys were canal boat builders, a safer option. There was a boat builder at Valencia Wharf, Oldbury, I think it belonged to Joseph Holloway. Later Les Allen built boats in Oldbury. (Oldbury once had an old canal arm that passed right through the middle of the town, under Birmingham Street, it was filled in c. 1970.) The nationally famous canal carriers based there were Thomas Clayton and T & S Element, I remember the Elements' yard. MarkCDodd wrote:Just read an article published in July that says Joseph Holloway Ltd is in trouble for trying to fill in the canal area that Les Allen used to operate from.
In the early 70's I remember taking Grandma Ford's spoilt little Corgi for a walk near one of the unused parts of the Canal system. The water had this green covering that made it look like mown grass.
The stupid Corgi thought so and walked straight into the canal and proceeded to sink.
I couldn't see the thing but looked for some bubbles and lept in where I thought it was.
Landed on the silly thing and managed to grab it and stagger back onto the pavement.
We both stank something horrible and Gran spent a hour scrubbing us both clean.
