This Is Archive Seven
01 January 2001 -03 February 2003 
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Ohio Murnane Looking for Help  

I just visited your website again. You have some really great information. I was wondering how I could put up a notice on the bulletin board. I am trying to research the Murnane family as I am married to one:) I have very little information and I am hoping that someone out there can help me out. My father in law Jeremiah Murnane was born in Columbus Ohio. Both of his parents emmigrated from Ireland, not sure where from. He is one of 11 children and I do know that most of the children still live in that area. My father-in-law is not exactly close with his relatives so he can't give me a lot of information. His father was Timothy Aloysius Murnane and his mother was Ellen Louise Ryan Murnane. I think that they were from Kilkenny, Ireland. If you can help me with any information at all I would be grateful.

Help Find Bridget Murnane, Born in Tipp in 1810 

I am looking for information on a Bridget Murnane, born in county Tipperary Ireland in 1810. She Married Michael O'Neill. I am not sure on the date of marriage but they both are buried in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. These are my wife's great-grand parents. If you have any info please e-mail me.

Murnane Family of Limerick City 

Hi, my name is George and my father was born in Limerick City. He left Ireland in 1927 for New York. The reason I am writing is that my grandfather William Purtill, born 5/20/1861 Married Catherine Murnane who lived on Cathedral Place, Limerick City. They were married 7/17/1880, St John's Cathedral, Limerick City, witnessed by Edward Sheehan and Anne Harris. Her father was Michael Murnane a pigbuyer. They had 8 children, I have the names, dates and sponsors if you would like them . Catherine Murnane died in 1896. If I can be of anymore help, please contact me.

Info on Murnans of Hancock, Indiana 

I am checking in with your web site in hope that someone might be able to provide a clue as to when and where my ancestral line of Murnans first came to America, and where they came from in Ireland. The little history that I know is that my father, Ephraim W. Murnan was born July 18,1889, in Hancock County, Indiana. His father was John Murnan and I believe he also was born in Hancock County. His father was Michael Murnan and I am not sure if he was born in Indiana , or possibly Kentucky.

My name is Chuck Murnan and I was born in 1925 in Indiana. As a boy I attended a Murnan reunion several times at Greenfield, Indiana. I can remember that Murnans from around the Covington, Kentucky area sometimes attended these reunions . The discussions included the fact that this line of Murnans probably came from Virginia and/or the Carolinas during the 1700's or early 1800's.

Any information will be greatly appreciated. I check your web site often and want to congratulate you for the great job you are doing for the clan.

Murnanes Lived in New York, New Jersey 

I wanted to find information on my Murnane heritage. My dad named William Robert Murnane born December 27, 1929, and his sister, Gladys Ann Murnane, born August 15, 1934, to Myra Kent Murnane and Jack Murnane is all my dad knows of his father. I was born in New York City as well as my father we then moved to New Jersey in the late 1950's and early 1960's. If you can put any of this together for me we would all be grateful. I live in Syracuse, New York. My dad, William, and my brother Thomas live in Virginia now. My other brother, William Robert, Jr. died in 1987 at the age of 27. There is a cousin Dennis Murnane, born October 21, around 1953, who now lives in Pennsylvania.

Carlow Marnane Likes Our Research    

Well done on the reseach. I’m a Tipperary Marnane at heart.

Seamus Marnane
Carlow, Ireland
marnanes@eircom.net
24 March, 2002

Hello from England   

Hi to all the Murnanes around the globe.

I am new to the web and I came across your very interesting website. I am a Murnane too, my name is Patricia Murnane and I live in the Swindon area of England. My father is James Patrick Murnane, and he lives in London and so does my older brother Neil (Cornelius) Murnane.

My father originates from the Knocklong area of Limerick and his parents were called Cornelius and Mary ( I think ?). I would like to wish everyone a very happy St. Patrick's Day and very much look forward to visiting this brilliant website often.

More Murnanes To Add To The Tree  

Hi, My name is Korey Murnane. I am the son of Thomas Michael Murnane who is
the son of Robert Murnane, and he is the son of Thomas J. Murnane who is the son of Thomas J. Murnane who is the son of Thomas Murnane who came to America with Bridget Kirby. You can follow this when you go to Murnanes of Limerick. I have the children of Thomas Michael Murnane, Michael Robert Murnane, and Susan Marie Murnane, so here they are:

Thomas Michael Murnane: Married Kandy Simmons

Children are:

    Kevin Patrick Murnane 2/29/84
    Kelly Cathleen Murnane 11/11/86
    Korey Alan Murnane 5/26/89
    Kacie Christine Murnane 9/27/91

Michael Robert Murnane: Married Rhonda Mitchell

Children are:

    Cathleen Michelle Murnane 2/13/82
    Claire Maureen Murnane 4/21/83
    Caroline Mitchell Murnane 7/12/85

Susan Marie Murnane:

Children are:

    Kristin Murnane 10/31/77
    Luke Murnane 3/24/85
    Joseph Murnane 4/15/88
    Molly Murnane 8/31/89
    Madalin Murnane 9/15/94

Also, Robert Thomas Murnane is still living to this day. That is all I have for you and if anything else happens I will let you know and if you have any questions please email me at mrnan8888@aol.com.

Looking for Hyland-Murnane Connection 

Hello from Connecticut,

My mother in Dublin told me that an ancestor of hers (a Hyland) had married a man who was the Postmaster General of the USA and that she thought his name was Murnane. Do you have any information on this, by any chance?

More About Murnanes of Minnesota 

I am the descendant of E.J. Murnane of St. Paul, Minnesota. I know much about our Minnesota history but little from when my family arrived from Ireland. If anyone can help me, please feel free to e-mail me.

My great-grandmother was Mary Murnane of Chicago. Here is what I have been able to uncover about her so far:

She was born in Illinois in 1869 or 1870. According to the 1880 Chicago census she was a 10 year old living at 195 Des Plaines Street (Enumeration District 96) with her sister Maggie, her mother Margaret Murnane McMahon and her step-brothers Timothy and John McMahon. According to Illinois marriage records, Margaret Murnane (Mary's mother) married Timothy McMahon on June 29, 1873 (License number 00010478). Mr McMahon died before the 1880 census. I don't know what happened to Mary's father, although once I get her death certificate I should be able to find out more about him.

Mary married Denis Bernard Franklin in Chicago December 5, 1888. She gave birth to 7 children:

    Edward (May, 1889);
    Robert (September, 1891) - my grandfather;
    Helen (Nellie) (May, 1894 - February, 1895);
    Denis (January, 1896 - February, 1896);
    Hubert (January, 1897);
    George Dewey (July, 1898);
    Francis (November, 1899).

Mary died November 21, 1904 and is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Evanston, Illinois with her children Nellie and Denis.

If anyone has any connection to Mary's branch of the Murnane family, I'd appreciate your information.

Adopted at 10; Looking for Murnane Heritage 

Hello, My name is Kristen and I am a Murnane. My grandparents are Robert and Helen. I am 24 years old. I was adopted at age 10 but have recently decided to change my name back to my blood name of Murnane. I would love to learn more about this and if we are all actually related.

Here’s Hello From Tim Murnen’s Brother, David 

Hello. My name is David Murnen, originally spelled Murnan. Pronunciation almost the same; spelling obviously Americanized by some census clerk, no doubt. We have also traced our roots to the same region of Ireland, County Cork. Actually located the parish that our ancestors who left Ireland for the USA in the mid-1800's, were married in. My Brother Timothy has researched fairly in depth. Just thought I would give you a hollar. Haven't gone throught your site thoroughly, however plan to look it over.

(Hello David, Your brother Tim is a great researcher and a great contributor to his web site; we link to his site right here. – Ed Murnane)

Some Info on First Murnane Family in Chicago 

I am a descendant of the first family of Murnanes to arrive in Chicago. My great-great- great-grandfather and mother were here as early as 1865. Their names were Michael and Annie Murnane (her maiden name was Moroney). They had 9 children and lived at 68 Wilson Street (it was near 12th & Halsted) and attended Holy Family Church. In the Chicago Directory they sometimes spelled his name Murnan. I'm still doing research to find their records in Ireland. I also know Michael Murnane had a brother named James in Chicago and he was a fireman.

I'm still trying to find out if Michael fought in the Civil War. I think he may have been naturalized in Kane County in 1860. I have all their records from the church. I'm still trying to locate their Irish records but I think Michael was from Kilteely Parish, County Limerick. I just thought you'd be interested. I would appreciate any feedback.

(Ron, Good Luck! As a Chicago Murnane, I’m interested in all new information! – Ed Murnane)

Looking for Info on Murnanes of Dunmanway, County Cork  

I have been interestingly reading about the Murnanes and I thought I would contact you. I belong to the Murnane family, my father coming from just outside of Dunmanway, in County Cork. He was born in 1921. His father, Denis married Hannah O'Leary; they had four children: Hannorah, Mary, Patrick (my father) and Vincent.

I know little else about the family tree as my grandfather died, around 1929/30 and the family had to leave the farm.

Just a long shot, that perhaps, sometime, someone may be in contact with you with some information that might tie up.

Would enjoy hearing from you.

Looking for Links to Marnans (Murnanes)
Of Kilmore (Tipperary) and Queensland, Australia   

I have been researching my Murnane family history and came across your amazing Murnane website. My family is related to the Marnans (Murnanes) of Kilmore, County Tipperary and Queensland, Australia.

On your site:

William married Mary Ellen Breen of County Tipperary on February 20, 1867 at Knockavilla Parish. They had twelve children - Michael, Amy, James, Ellen (Ellie), William, John, Thomas, Mary, Patrick, Catherine, Matthew and Bridget ("Delia.").

Amy (2nd born) is my great-great-grandmother who arrived in Brisbane, Queensland in 1890. She moved to New South Wales and married James Fleming in 1897. We would be interested in being added to your site, and finding out any other information you have about our family.

Please let me know how I can find out more.

Rachel Steele
bono@froggy.com.au
26 November 2001

More About Chicago Murnans 

Just wanted to update you on our Chicago Murnan research. I haven't gotten much further, but every little bit counts.

I made contact with Mark J. Murnan of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida murnan@adelphia.net.   It turns out that he is the descendant of my great-grandmother's brother, Thomas Murnan. He had a lot more information about his Murnans than I had about mine.

Here is what he gave me:

The first ancestor we know about is supposed to be Edward Murnan, but all we know is his name -- nothing else. Mark isn't sure where his grandmother got that information, so we don't give it a lot of credence at this time. We are hoping to get hold of some birth/death/marriage certificates before we get too locked in on this name. We know his daughter was born in Chicago in 1864, and his son was born in Chicago in 1870. What Murnan heads-of-families were in Chicago at that time?

"Edward" had "several sons," including Thomas (born 1870 in Chicago, died 1906 in Chicago) and three daughters, including my great-grandmother, Katherine "Kitty" or "Kate" Murnan (born 01 March 1864 in Chicago, died 22 January 1947 in Chicago).

Kate married George Francis "Frank" Egan. George Francis Egan, Sr. was a tailor with the Singer Sewing Machine Company. During WWI, he made puttees for the soldiers. He was a tiny man, standing only 4'11" tall. Katherine Murnan was also tiny, standing 4'10". Her granddaughter, Rosemary Egan Garon, remembers her having a scratchy voice and being somewhat demanding. A small eccentricity was her penchant for wearing her shoes on the wrong feet! She would wear them correctly for a few days until the new shoes were softened up, then would begin wearing the right shoe on the left foot and the left shoe on the right foot. George and Kate and all of their children worked together to build their big house at the corner of 95th and Loomis Streets (1414 West 95th Street, Chicago, Illinois). They hand cast the rough-form cement blocks with a brick maker they won at a church bazaar, and made everything else in the house themselves, too.

They ran the house as a tourist home, or what we would call a bed-and-breakfast today. It was a huge house, and at one point they were approached to sell it to a mortuary firm, but turned the offer down. The house stood for many years, but has since been torn down. The Egan children, especially the boys, received good educations, and the boys went on to responsible positions in the community. Frank Jr. (my grandfather) graduated as a mathematics major from Loyola College in Chicago, and the college offered him the position of math professor, but he had already accepted a position as chief of security and alarms for part of the City of Chicago, and turned down the professorship.

Thomas, Kate's brother, lived at 800 S. Center Avenue in Chicago. He worked for a crane company. He married Nellie Mahon in 1900. Nellie was the daughter of Thomas Mahon of Ireland, and Catherine Brooks of County Roscommon, Ireland. This couple had only two children, John Anthony Murnan and Loretta Bernice Murnan . They lived on the west side of Chicago. Mark says, "After Thomas's premature death in 1906,

Nellie took John (Mark's grandfather} and his sister, Loretta Bernice, back home (to Ireland), where she was one of seven sisters, two of whom were Mary and Rose. John spent many summers with his aunt, Kate Egan and her family. He became quite close to Frank Egan (Susan's grandfather) and Marie and Florence (Susan's grandfather's sisters). He attended grammar school at St. Matthew's on the west side, but did not attend high school. Later he joined the railroad and eventually became the youngest engineer on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroads."

An accident ended the career of John Anthony Murnan I, "and he married Katherine Kelly in Feb. '34. He died of cancer/heart attack? in Decembeer, 1962." Mark goes on to state that John Anthony Murnan and Katherine Kelly Murnan had only one son, Mark's father, John Anthony "Jack" Murnan, II. Jack married and had two sons, Mark and his brother John Anthony Murnan III. Mark has one son, Evan Murnan.

If possible, please add this material to your Murnan/Murnane web page, and maybe we can get somebody to contact us. If you have any ideas as to who our first Chicago Murnan might have been, we would sure love to hear from you!

Susan Wyatt
sdwyatt@themastersnet.com
26 November 2001

Research Advice from a Murnane (Murphy now) in Ireland   

A friend has just sent me your Web site address and guess what I found: someone looking for my Uncle. My Married name is Murphy but I am a Murnane. I am a public respresntative at Local/County Level in Kildare (my origins are Dublin) One of the Towns the town I live in is Twinned with (sister city) is Niles near Chicago. I had the great pleasure of signing the agreement on behalf of Leixlip (where I live). We spent a very pleasant week there last year and expect to go back at some point in the future.

A great place to start looking for records for people who are coming to Ireland is the National Library in Dublin. Their web site is www.nli.ie/fr_site.htm. They have a family history section there and have most of the church/state records (a few counties retain them and you need the Bishop's consent to see them; Limerick is one of those counties) Once you have this letter of consent, the library can let you look at the records. In most counties, its straightforward. They also have ship's logs for both Queenstown (now called Cobh, County Cork) and Kingstown (now called Dun Laoghaire, Dublin) where most emigrants left from.

State records commenced in the 1860's but you have to rely on Church records prior to that. The Library system in Ireland often have a family history section also in some cases they are quite good, in Kildare some of that is stored on www.kildare.ie.

Some of the Counties have good web sites. The Department of the Environment and Local Government may have a link from its site. The Health Boards also can provide birth certificates for a small fee (about £5) but you have to have reasonable details.

Many people dropped the "O" which frequently preceded the name. I’m not sure how true it is but the story is when aid was being dispersed during the 1840's particularly, at famine time, it was done in alphabetical order and the "O" was easy to drop. O'Murnain may have become Murnain for some because of this. Names were often changed because people were not very literate but I am sure you are aware of that.

A lot of Census records were destroyed in the Irish Civil War when the Four Courts, Dublin was set on fire. The National Library does however have what remains and there is quite a good deal. Dublin Corporation’s Library in Pearse Street Dublin has a good deal on Microfilm (for the entire country) some of this records great detail about who was living in the accommodation at the time the census of population was taken this happened each decade commencing in 1821. That changed in the early 1920's because of the Civil War and the Free State.

My Murnane roots are from Michael Murnane-Elizabeth Ryan. Both came from Castleconnell in Limerick. I understand Michael was born around 1840. I know nothing about his siblings. I have just started doing some research. Hopefully I will have something to send to your site within the next few months.

A later (by a few hours) message:

I had a look at the Department of the Environment to see if there are links. The following is the information for the Department of the Environment: www.environ.ie/

If you choose Links after you enter the above site and then select Local Authority links you can may be able to find some information under either "Recreation/Arts" or "Library." All the counties are included. There is a good deal of web site development underway by the Irish Local Authorities and these sites will be improving all the time, "hopefully."

Catherine Murphy (nee Murnane)
cathymurphy@eircom.net
26 November, 2001

 Looking for Thomas Murnane Info; Ireland, then Kansas 

I am looking for the family of Thomas Murnane, born 1838 in Ireland; died 1914 in Girard, Kansas, USA; married Ellen Hayes, born 1845 and died 1903 in Girard, Kansas. Thomas Murnane emigrated from Ireland to New York.

Mary Hayden
Topeka, Kansas
TheHaydens@PeoplePC.com
26 November, 2001

Hello from Limerick City   

My name is Gerard Murnane from Limerick City. My father is Louie Murnane who has lived in limerick all his life. He has one brother Michael who lives in Union, New Jersey. My father’s father, John, was also from Limerick City. I have four brothers: Michael, John, David and Aidan Murnane, who also live in Limerick City. Between us we have ten children. My father’s address is 13 Athlunkard Street Limerick.

Murnanes in Battle of the Boyne in 1690   

In the 1950s two of my Murnane maiden aunts heard that Murnane was an Irish name. They went to Dublin to look up our ancestors. They were told that the last Murnane they had knowledge that one or more of our ancestors fought under King James at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. King and his army were defeated by William of England. James and some of his army fled to France.

We don't know how long our ancestors stayed in France, but a Michael Murnane was born in France September 29 but we don't know the year. He turned up in Norfolk in England and was part of the British Dragoons. He married in England to Anne Kelsall.

Michael died in 1818 and his wife in 1864. He had 3 children the first being John born 1811 and died in 1860.

Through him and his wife my ancestors came. They had nine children of which my father Sydney was number seven. He was born December 13, 1883. At 17 he left England for the U.S.A. He worked for an uncle by marriage in Kansas raising cattle corn.

He than decided to go back to Norwich in Norfolk. He then decided to come to Canada where he bought a home in Alberta. At 34 years of age he married my mother, Florence Rowsell who had come from Somerset. England I was their first child of three.

This is all for now but if you wish to know of my descendents just let me know.

I Found Old Owen Murnane and Catherine Cronin! 

I have some great news to share.

I received a reply letter from Mrs. O'Brien, the sacristan/genealogist at Bantry parish, County Cork, Ireland. In the envelope were 4 certificates: 1 marriage certificate and 3 baptismal certificates.

In the parlance of genealogists, I have found the Point of Origin of our ancestors in Ireland!! And of course there is a story as to how I came about the information, but I'll spare you those details for now.

Here is what we have already known about our family origins, from family lore as well as genealogical research done by Jean Murnen Lynn and her brother Edgar Murnen of Washington, research done by Mary Alice Murnen of Ohio, and correspondence between Florence Murnen McDonald and Kathryn Murnen Fahey:

Owen Murnane and his wife Catherine Cronin left Ireland in 1847 or 1849 with at least one child--Patrick. Owen left behind his parents Timothy Murnane and Nora Sullivan. Owen and Catherine arrived in Montreal, Canada where they were processed. From there, they went to Ogdensburg, New York along the St. Lawrence River, where they lived for the rest of their lives. They had 8 children: Patrick, Margaret, John Henry, Timothy, Mary, Owen Hannah, and Michael.

Patrick and Mary never married, but remained at home, and cared for their mother into her old age. Hannah went to a convent in Syracuse, and became Sister. Dioneysha. John Henry went west, and settled in Washington, and raised a large family. Timothy and Owen ended up in Toledo, Ohio, where there are still many of his descendants. And Michael stayed in Ogdensburg and raised a family as well. Most of you on this list are descendants of either John Henry, Timothy, or Michael.

Enough of the background info. Here is what I found out from the folks in Bantry parish!!

1. Owen Murnane & Catherine Cronin were married in the church of St. Finbarr, Bantry parish, Diocese of Cork-Ross, County Cork, on 26 January 1839. The witnesses were John Cronin (Catherine's brother, probably) and Owen Murnane (I don't know if this is a different Owen, or whether one can claim to be witness at one's own marriage. I am guessing this is another Owen, but that will be another mystery to unravel down the road. It is not Owen's father, as his name was Timothy.)

2. Elisabeth Murnane was born/baptized on 16 November 1842 in the church of St. Finbarr, Bantry parish, Diocese of Cork-Ross, County Cork by the Reverend Chris Freeman. The parents are listed as Owen Murnane and Mary Cronin. (Perhaps "Mary" is a mistake, but I doubt it. As far as we know, this Elisabeth was never on our radar screen. There is no mention of her in family lore as far as I know, and she didn't make the crossing with Owen and Catherine and Patrick and Margaret in 1847 or 1849. My guess is that she is the daughter of the other Owen Murnane. I know this might sound absurd--this two Owen theory--but there were so many overlappings of names in these old church records that it is more likely than you'd think. For example, in one set of parish records I studied, there were 5 Catherine Cronins and 9 John Cronins all born within about three years of each other in the same parish! So I'm sticking to my "two Owen" theory for now.) The sponsors were John Casey and Mary Donovan.

3. Patrick Murnane was born/baptized on 22 March 1844 in the church of St. Finbarr, Bantry parish, Diocese of Cork-Ross, County Cork by the Reverend Chris Freeman. The parents were Owen Murnane and Catherine Cronin. The sponsors were John Cronin and Mary Cronin. (These were mostly likely Catherine's brother and (probably) sister-in-law.)

4. Margaret Murnane was born/baptized on 30 September 1846 in the church of St. Finbarr, Bantry parish, Diocese of Cork-Ross, County Cork by the Reverend Chris Freeman. The parents were Owen Murnane and Catherine Cronin. The sponsors were Patrick Cronin and Margaret Harrington.

That's the info that came to me in the mail, from the sacristan/genealogist of Bantry parish.

This much we knew already:

Owen & Catherine came from County Cork, leaving behind Timothy Murnane and Nora Sullivan (Owen's parents). They came to North America in either 1847 or 1849.

They arrived by way of Montreal, Canada, and came up the St. Lawrence to Ogdensburg, New York, where they settled and lived for the rest of their life.

Catherine's brother John Cronin and his daughter Mary Cronin came over with Owen and Catherine and also settled in Ogdensburg. Patrick made the crossing with Owen and Catherine. Owen and Catherine had 8 children.

This info, as far as I know, is new info:

Margaret was also born in Ireland, and would have made the crossing with Owen, Catherine, and Patrick. Until now, we weren't sure if she had been born in the US or not.

Elisabeth might be a daughter we never knew about, or she might be the daughter of a different Owen Murnane.

So we now know these details of where our ancestors are from:

Townland:  Letterlicky East

Civil Parish:  Kilmocomoge

Catholic Parish:  Bantry

Church:  St. Finbarr's

Diocese:  Cork-Ross

County:  Cork

Is Murnin Connected to Murnane?   

My surname is MURNIN - do you think there might be a connection?

(Pauline, probably. Lots of variations in spelling and pronunciation. – Ed Murnane)

How Can I Add My Family Tree?   

I have my Family Tree written up for many generations going back to John Mournan born 1793. He lived at Clonatty County Fermanagh. The last of the family left there around 1925. How could I get it on to your web site?

Peadar Murnane
17 Main St., Ballybay, County Monaghan
peadarlmurnane@eircom.net
11 November 2001

(Peadar, send it to us (e-mail or postal) and we’ll add it. Peadar did, and we’ll add it soon. – Ed Murnane)

My Name is Josh Murnane 

Hi, my last name is Murnane. I live in East Troy, Wisconsin. My family doesn't know much about our family heritage, but I am a Murnane.

(Hi Josh, send us more information and we’ll share it. – Ed Murnane)

 Murnane Bulletin Board Helps Another Connection!   

Just thought I'd drop you a line to say Thank You. I am not an "orphan," it seems, far from it. I was contacted by a cousin, Gael Maskell, from Newcastle, New South Wales, who has filled in the gaps of our Murnain Family Origins.

She has checked your Bulletin Board and found my story and was so excited she wrote me straight away. It was absolutely fascinating and answered a number of questions I had about name changes on Certificates.

We are hopefully going to meet at some stage later in the year when I go to Newcastle to catch up with Family.

Not only do I have a number of convicts, I have also inherited a couple of poor souls who ended up in Mental Asylums, not a very good way to end out one's days, I wouldn't think. But it certainly adds colour to our story.

Once again, deepest thanks for your wonderful site, I have achieved an Ancestry that was a real mystery and now opened a door of discovery and adventure.

More About Minnesota Murnanes 

More about my family. My grandfather, Edmond Boyle Murnane came to Minneapolis, Minnesota in the 1890's. He was from County Tipperary.

My father told me that his brothers and sister were named after his father’s family. So there was a Roscoe, Lillian and Christopher Murnane in the original family in Ireland. By the way, my Aunt Lillian just died about three weeks ago at the age of 101.

Hello from Another Minnesota Murnane 

I just discovered the Murnane website. How wonderful! I am Patty Murnane Adams of Minnesota. I have glanced through the Bulletin Board and think that I am probably related to Bob Murnane (message dated March 19, 1999).

My grandfather was Joseph Edward Murnane, born in St. Paul in 1878. He was also one of 13 children. (I assume he is a brother of the Eugene Leonard Murnane in Bob's note). Joseph Edward Murnane married Adeline Rose Marcotte.

They had five children. Margaret Mary, Joseph Edward Jr., Patricia Louise, Helen Winnifred and Richard Michael (my dad).

Richard Michael married Marylois Juaire and they also had five children: Patricia Lynne (me), Priscilla Marie, Richard Michael II, Raymond Allen and Sarah Adeline.

Please let me know if I can provide you with anymore information from this corner of the world.

I'm a Murnane, Too; Links to London, Texas, St. Louis 

My name is Margaret Murnane Yoxall, aka Midge.

Here is my Murnane history. Great grandfather was Thomas Murnane born in either Limerick or Tipperary, Ireland and I don't know his birthday. Later he and his wife moved to London or outside of London where my grandfather was born.

My grandfather was Thomas Joseph Murnane, born 1852 near London. Later he and his parents moved to St. Louis. This was sometime after the Civil War. My great grandfather ran a floral nursery in St. Louis. One story says he did work for Forest Park in St. Louis.

My grandfather married and later moved to Dallas. His siblings remained in St. Louis. A brother was named Joe and two sisters whose names I don't know. They are buried in Calvary cemetery in St. Louis.

My grandfather and family came to Dallas in the 1880's. My dad Thomas George Murnane was born July 19, l888 on McCoy Street in Dallas. He remained here his entire life except for World War 1. He was an attorney with the firm Coke & Coke. He died in his office March 21, l953. Dad and Mom had three children.

My sister Ellecia Hall was born February 4,1924 and lives in Fort Worth. My brother Thomas George Murnane was born May 5,1926 and lives in Fort Worth. He is a retired army general and a veterinarian. That leaves me: born June 15, 1933.

Proud to be a Murnane. It is often mispronounced. It is a beautiful name.

 (Hello Midge,  I've heard our name pronounced at least four different ways, and have seen it spelled in even more ways; I don't think there is any mispronunciation, nor is there any misspelling; whoever holds the name can pronounce it as he or she prefers.
-- Ed Murnane)

I'm very much into genealogy myself and wish I had more time to devote to it. Just came across your site today.

My father Jerry, is from Tipperary. He came to Chicago in 50's, was captain of the Tipperary hurling team.

I've done research on and off over the years and the furthest I've gone is to my great-great-great-great grandparents Thomas Hayes and Judy Murnane.

They were born around the 1780's in Tipperary and their daughter Bridget was my great-great-great grandmother. I found her baptism recorded in the Kilcommon Church where my grandparents were married.

Bridget Hayes was born in 1815. She married Daniel Lynch. Their son James was born in 1835. He had a son Daniel born in 1864. Daniel had a son James who was my grandfather. Their records are in the Kilcommon parish.

I live in Chicago too. Jerry lives about an hour west in Kane County, Illinois. It's definitely a small world.

Searching For Murnain Ancestors   

Today I found your site and was overjoyed to read so much information relating to the Murnane Family, I thought I was an orphan (just kidding). My connection to the Murnain family is still a little bit of a mystery, but I will continue searching to find out more about the family roots.

My maternal grandfather, Cecil Horgan, was the son of Jane Adelaide Murnain and Martin Horgan. Jane was the daughter of John Henry Murnain and Margaret Ann

Goodwin. John Henry Murnain was the son of Dennis Murnain and Johannah Coghlan. They lived and died in the Newcastle area of New South Wales.

I have very little information at present as the family have had no contact in years but I hope someone may have found out a little more than I have at this moment.

My Family Tree has Irish Roots with names such as Mahoney, Horgan, Keough, Griffin, Bremmell and O'Keefe and these families seem to have emigrated to Australia from the Cork, Tipperary and Limerick areas.

I recently discovered a number of Murnane's here in Canberra, but have also discovered that a member of the Murnain family by marriage is related to a convict sent out to the colonies around 1834 on the ship "Adelaide."

The gentleman was a chap by the name of William Challinor and down the line his great great-grandaughter was Jane Adelaide Murnain. How thrilling!!. My grandfather would have been delighted to know this connection. I love the history behind genealogy and have had many sleepless nights pondering our family tree.

If anyone can help me in my search I would be most appreciative

Thank you a wonderful site.

Moira Leech(Mahoney)
Canberra, ACT, Australia
moira@apex.net.au
Moira.Leech@dcita.gov.au
15 August 2001

More Murnan's in Minnesota 

My great grandfather, Patrick Murnan, emigrated to the USA around 1848-50.

He was born in 1805 in Ireland and died in Minnesota in 1873. He married Mary Whelan in Ireland and had three children born there.

Bridget is believed to have been born in County Tipperary in 1832; Catherine born in Limerick in 1836; and William in 1841. Mary died three weeks after the birth of James. Patrick them came to the USA with his children during the Famine. We think a brother, Michael came with them.

They entered the USA through the port of Philadelphia. He lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for about four years. While there, he married Mary Flanagan. They moved to Nicollet County in Minnesota. They served in the army at Fort Ridgely, where there was at times some conflict with the Sioux Indians.

My grandfather, John, and his brothers, Patrick and William, were born in the USA. My grandfather John could have been born in Pittsburgh. The others born in Nicollet County in Minnesota. Patrick Murnan was a farmer. We don't have knowledge of where they came from in Ireland. My father James Murnan and his one sister, Mary, lost their parents at a young age so there wasn't any memorabilia or family records passed on to them that we know of.

Patrick Murnan's first wife, Mary Whelan, was a daughter of Sir Thomas Whelan, it says in one account of history we have found. If you have any knowledge about any of this, would you please respond or lead us to the homeplace? Their Murnan website has gotten me more cousins than I ever thought I'd connect with in my lifetime. Jim Jackson is the main coordinator and his email is jackson@stinet.com.

We'd love to hear from Ireland!

Found Grandparents Through Ellis Island Records! 

It's been a long search, but I finally found my grandparents on the Ellis Island web site. My grandfather,William Murnane, came here in April,1899, on the Teutonic,from the port of Queenstown, Cork, Munster, Ireland. My grandmother, MaryEllen Delaney came here from Clonbur, Ireland, in August, 1904 with her sister Julia. She traveled on the Teutonic,and her port of departure was Queenstown. Both of my grandparents were single.

My grandfather signed in on the ship as a cooper and his birthdate was documented. His destiny was Chicago. I also found some of his brothers and sisters: Patrick, Mary, Thomas, Briget, and Nora. I don't think my grandfather knew some of his family was here because some settled in New York. In the original document many wrote where they were going to stay or who sponsored them. I once saw my grandfather's signature. It looked like a match. Certainly, my grandmother's signature was recognizable. They had her profession as a teacher and her sister, Julia, signed in as a teacher, too. I went to the original ship's manifest and found most of the information.

My grandmother was a teacher and my grandfather was a cooper. Anyone else know these fine people?

Looking for Information About G-Grandfather,   
Son of Catherine Mornane of Melbourne, Australia 

My name is Gabrielle Barry. I am researching my great-grandfather's background. He left a birth certificate which he said was his but I have found no further evidence that this is so.

On the birth certificate it says that he, Thomas Clarke was born in 1875 in Melbourne and that his parents were William Clarke and Catherine Mornane. William and Catherine were apparently married in South Australia in 1874 but I have not located any evidence of this. William Clarke was born in South Australia whilst Catherine was born in Tipperary, Ireland.

I have not been able to locate any further information of these people and have only my great-grandfather’s word that he is Thomas Clarke. Apparently when he was a young boy his "Aunt" changed his name from Thomas to Frederick and that name was what he was always called.

Is there any chance you can help? Or be able to direct me to where I may be able to find out more information?

I think I'm a Murnane!   

I think the Murnane family is the one I've been looking for. All I know about my great-grandmother Eliza is that she was born in Ireland in 1848 (in Cobh, Cork, according to family tradition) and came to the Whitehaven/Cleator Moor area in Cumbria (UK) with her family in the 1850's or 60's (she married Thomas Meloy/Maloy at Whitehaven on 1st May 1867 according to the Scottish birth certificates of her children, but no marriage record exists in the GRO indices).

I have never known her surname. On my grandfather’s birth certificate she is given as Eliza Murnien but it is different on almost every other record. Variations include 'Murrien,' 'Mournin,' 'Mournyen,' 'Morning,' 'Monyan,' 'Murnioung' and 'Murnion.' None of these seem to be "real" Irish names and are obviously just phonetic spellings by English form-fillers attempting to spell what she said.  I guess Murnane is the obvious true form of her name but I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts or advice.

Mark Frost
Deal, Kent, England
mfrost71w@aol.com
22 June 2001

Another Murnane Family from Cork  

My name's Trevor Dowdney. My Mother is Kathleen Murnane from Cobh in County Cork.

Her sister Margaret and herself were born in Cobh in 1927 and her sister a few years later in the early 1930's I believe. Margaret left Eire in the early 1950's and Kath left in the early 60's where she met my father Kenneth Dowdney. They married and produced one only, being yours truly in 1964.

Margaret also had only one child, Patricia, who was born to Margaret and Paddy her hubby in the late 1950's.

I have moved to the U.S. and live in Oceanside, California with my wife Jennifer.

Totally stoked to find this site and I will be back to visit and update the info on the family as soon as I can.

Looking for Timothy Murnane Connections;   
Was Boxer (fighter) in Colorado in July 1920

My name is Peter Murnane from Queensland Australia and I am trying to trace any descendents of Timothy Murnane known to have been in Colorado on 4 July 1920. I have three photos of Timothy at a boxing match and on the back of one in his handwriting he has written the following:

    "My last fight for the Amature Championship of North Western America
    with Spider Kelly Champion of the South West on 4th of July 1920.

    i am 53 years Old

    Timothy Murnane
    Mount Strecher
    Colorado
    USA"

Timothy Murnane is believed to have been one of my father’s uncles who left Bantry to seek his fortune in the Gold diggings in Alaska at the turn of the Century.

Murnanes in U.K. Looking For Connections   

Hello all you Murnanes out there! Are we connected?

We are stuck in the late 19th/early 20th Centuries. Things we know:

My husband Ron's father was John Murnane, born 1906 Westminster Hospital, Sheffield Street, Stand, London. He married Lillian Mary Cocklin (Coughlan?) in 1927 at St George's Cathedral, London S.E. 1

John Murnane's father was John Joseph Murnane, born in Ireland around 1862, who was married to Ellen Crowe (no other information).

They had two other sons born in England: Edward born in 1916 and Thomas, born in 1913 and a daughter Eileen born 1909 (?).

Ron's Mum, Lillian Mary Cocklin, born 1903 was the daughter of Bartholomew Cocklin, born in Ireland around 1871. He was a scaffolder who married Lilian Ann Millard in Littlehampton, Sussex when he was working there in 1896

Family stories say these Murnanes originated from Tipperary and that one of their relatives went to New York working in the Police force.

Another story relates to a William Murnane born 1846 in Daventry and Edward Francis Murnane born 1853 in Dublin. They were both Canons in the Catholic Church working in Bermondsey, London. In fact there was a street named after them. They were the sons of Edward Murnane born around 1824 and Catherine Holland or Mullholland born around 1822 in Ireland.   Edward was possibly born in Limerick and was a Captain in the 4th Battalion Leinster Regiment when he retired.

Can anyone out there help us find the next step back? Please get in touch.

Michele Murnane (Minneapolis, now Seattle) Is Searching 

My name is Michele Murnane. My father was Edmond Boyle Murnane, Jr. His father, same name, came over from Ireland in the 1880's-90's, at the age of approximately 18. My father had a brother Christopher and another, Roscoe, and also a sister, Lillian. He told me they were named after his father's own brothers and sisters. My father was the youngest, born in 1904. My father's sister Lillian is the only one still alive at 101.

We have relatives in Dublin whom I visited in 1969 but no longer have their name or address. Their name was not Murnane. They had visited us in the U.S. in the late 50's I believe. He was a doctor and I believe they had a couple of children.

My father said we were from County Tipperary. To the best of my knowledge no other immediate family of my grandfather ever came to the U.S. I do not know my grandfather's parents names or any other information.

Do I fit into anyone's family tree? Please let me know, as I would love to keep in contact.

My great grandmother was Mary Murnane. She was born in 1869 in Illinois and died in 1904 or 1905 in Illinois of TB. She married Dennis Bernard Franklin (who was born in Canada March 16, 1861. They had 6 children: Edward J (born May, 1889); Robert John (born September, 1891); Hubert J (born January, 1897); George Dewey (born July, 1898); Francis J (born November, 1900); and a sister Ann (birth date unknown, thought to have died in infancy). They lived at 475 Loomis in Chicago in 1890. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Kristine L. Minarsini
MIN-R@prodigy.net
30 March 2001

Any Information on Byngs of Ireland?   

I've been researching my Byng ancestors of Ireland for many years now, and while looking for Byng information on the Internet, I came across your amazing website!

I noticed a Byng listed in your family tree and am wondering if there's any connection between my Byngs of the Enniskillen area, County Fermanagh, and the Byng you have listed in your tree. I have traced my family back to the late 1700's, but I'm at a standstill at the moment.

I know there were a couple of other Byng families in Ireland at the time, and have even ordered copies of death registrations of these other families, hoping there might be some information on the death record which will tie in to my own Byng family.

I was wondering if you could give me any information at all about Jane Anne Byng and Herbert Crowle, that might help me with my research.

Nancy Byng Pilat
Ontario, Canada
anpilat@sympatico.ca
30 March 3001

Emly Parish (Tipperary) Website Is Back On-Line   

Dear Emly Friends,

At long last I have updated the Emly parish website. I have been offline since just before Christmas and I have had some difficulties (technical and otherwise) in getting back online again.

Now the whole site has been overhauled and some interesting photographs added to each section. The link is: http://homepage.tinet.ie/~rochford/

I hope I will be able to update the news each week from here on in but there may be occasions when this will not be possible. I will make every effort to keep you in touch. Many people have been enquiring about the site and I appreciate that it has been important to many people who look forward to the updates. For that reason I feel it is important that an effort should be made to keep you in contact with Emly.

Seamus Rochford
Parish Priest
emly@eircom.net
30 March 2001

News About Pennsylvania-Ohio Murnanes 

Hello. My name is Maureen Smith. I just thought that I should update you about Murnanes in Pennslyvania. I am the daughter of Maureen Murnane, whois the oldest of eight children, who proceeded to have over fifty grandchildren. My mom and her brothers and sisters spent most of their lives in Havertown, Pennsylvania.

My grandfather's name is David Murnane, and I believe that he moved to Pennsylvania from Ohio, but I am not sure where he was born or anything like that. Well if you could let me know what you think that would be great.

Maureen Smith
molax21@hotmail.com
30 March 2001

Looking for Toleman Family Information 

First, I would like to say how much I enjoyed your genealogy site. You've certainly put a lot of work into it. I saw that you have Tolemans in your family. My grandmother was a Toleman from Bracken County, Kentucky, U.S.A. I have been in search of the origin of the Tolemans for some time. I'm assuming it was probably somewhere in the U.K. but have no proof. Do you have any knowledge of the Toleman origins. It is not a common name over here.

Katherine Embry Marek
kathkem@yahoo.com
30 March 2001

More Information About Warren-Murnane Connection 

My last name is Warren and I always use Murnane when I write my name in Irish (I study the language) because I always believed it to be the Irish of Warren, however absurd the adaptation may have been. Of course I don't know if my family was originally Murnane or the Norman de Warrenne, but my people are from Kerry.

My Irish name is Caitlin Ni Mhurnain, or Kathleen Warren.

Here’s Information About Marnane-Murnanes   
From Tipperary Town and Widnes, U.K.

Here’s some more information for you about some of the Murnane's in our family.

Our name was originally spelled Marnane but changed through a spelling error as my Granddad William Thomas Marnane was moving from Tipperary Town, Ireland to England. He then kept the misspelled version.

1-William Thomas Marnane; born Tipperary, Ireland; died, Widnes, U.K.
   2-James Murnane, b. 1923
      3-William Thomas Murnane, b. 1948
         4-Stephen Murnane
            5-Kieran Murnane
            5-Liam Murnane
         4-Lee Murnane
            5-Leon Murnane
         4-Lisa Murnane
      3-Elaine Murnane
         4-Debra Hallsworth
         4-John Hallsworth
      3-Barry Murnane, b. 1956
         4-Robert Murnane, b.1984
      3-Ian Murnane, b. 1958
         4-Anthony Murnane, b. 1983
   2-Elizabeth Murnane
      3-James
   2-Margaret Murnane
      3-Dennis Golding

More Discussion on Murnane-Marrinan, etc.     
And a Brief Lesson in Gaelic!

I am very much a beginner on using the web but found your compressed data from Mc Lysacht, Woulfe, etc. very interesting. I have always been perplexed by the mis- pronunciations of our surname. I now live in county Waterford Ireland where most locals call me Mernin, a common Waterford name. One teacher at school called me Merryman!

My advice to those outside of Ireland researching the name is ignore spellings, think phonetics, and appreciate the oral tradition of a nation which was denied access to education in 1700 & 1800s. I am not attracted by the connection to Mannanain! I prefer ui Mhuireanain Ivarrynawn. Mh in Gaelic is pronouced V. The v at the start of the name is the genitive case, i.e. "O" " Ui"= son of or descendant of Maranawn. Muireann is an old Irish "Mary' i.e., newer Muire only referring to the mother of Jesus. This first name is becoming popular in recent times. The "AN".. awn at the end of words indicates diminutive. So ": descendant of little Muireann" is my take on the name. Please see my message on Kinsella clan web site.

Here’s Web Address for Murnane Deaths in California 

According to the California Death Index, 43 persons who spelled their name "Murnane" have died in this state between 1940 and 1997.

The URL for the California Death Index is:

http://userdb.rootsweb.com/ca/death/search.cgi

Other spellings of the name are also on this site.

Looking for William Murnane (1912, Cork) Information   

I am researching on behalf of my daughter who has married into the Murnane family.

Does anyone have any information or idea's about a William Murnane born 1912 or 1913 in (and please excuse this) ?Barn a cowe? County Cork. The parish appears to be Garryvoe. He married a Sarah Collins, but where and when I know not. Unfortunately my daughter has no idea of how the place is spelt, hence the phonetics. They have no certificates or any other documentation on the event.

If anyone can shed any light on this place name at least, I would be most grateful.

Pat Parkinson
Cheshire U.K.
John_Parkinson@stockport45.freeserve.co.uk
12 January 2001