Thomas Murphy and Catherine Driscoll of rural Clonakilty, 1870s onwards

[Wexflyer]

Both John (1895) and Martin Dixon (1890) appear to be the children of Thomas Dixon and Mary Lavelle.

I have run into a major contradiction. Here are Thomas and Mary (Lavelle) Dixon in the 1901 census, with son Martin, and daughter Catherine, in the townland of Corclogh. The location where John (1895) and Martin (1890) were born.
https://census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001070579/

[Wexflyer]

Here is the correct Kate Dixon in the 1901 census, living with the same Lavelle family as in 1911, in same location
https://census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001070544/

Kate appears to have siblings John and Martin.

The Catherine Lavelle in the 1901 and 1911 census returns is nee Catherine Dixon, widow of Anthony Lavelle.

[Wexflyer]

The ages for the Lavelle family on the 1901 and 1911 census returns are somewhat off.
For example, Anthony was born 1871, but is said to be 25 in 1901, and 45 in 1911.

[mattjreid]

Here is the correct Kate Dixon in the 1901 census, living with the same Lavelle family as in 1911, in same location
https://census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001070544/

Kate appears to have siblings John and Martin.

The Catherine Lavelle in the 1901 and 1911 census returns is nee Catherine Dixon, widow of Anthony Lavelle.

You've done some good work on this, please confirm if my summary - in reverse chronological order - is correct:

* My great-grandmother - Kate Dixon - dies in 1975 aged 89; this is supported by the grave and the death certificate. This puts her birth year as around 1886
* She gave birth to five children to John Murphy, all in Belmullet: most recent is Thomas (my maternal grandfather); eldest is Mary (later went by the name of Maureen, mother to the actor Richard LeParmentier)
* Kate is living with cousin Anthony Lavelle's family with John and infant daughter Mary in 1911. The household includes her aged aunt Catherine
* She is living with aunt Catherine's family in 1901, along with her two kid brothers Martin and John. Also in the household are aunt Rose and her husband Michael.

Can we assume the following:

* The Dixon children are orphaned, given the young age of John Dixon?
* The Lavelle family have a larger-than-average farm, and are in regular need of labour. Along comes outsider John Murphy of Cork and he seems like a good match for Kate?

[Wexflyer]

You've done some good work on this, please confirm if my summary - in reverse chronological order - is correct:....

I would agree with this, with the exception of the following.

Having found some discrepancies, I no longer think we can assume that the Kate, John and Martin Dixon listed with the Lavelle family on the 1901 census are siblings. They may all be nieces/nephews of Catherine (Dixon) Lavelle, but may be cousins of one another rather than brother and sister. Lots of Christian names in common in multiple Dixon families.

Also, I don't think we can accept at face value any of the ages - John Dixon could have been older than 3.

Finally, not sure that they are orphans - the two sets of potential parents identified so far for Kate are both alive in the 1901 census (see next post).

[Wexflyer]

Here is yet another inconsistency - the family of Darby Dixon and wife Mary Connolly in the 1901 census.
https://census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Mayo/Belmullet/Tallagh/1580354/

Darby is listed as farmer and blacksmith - so the same chap identified by OP as Kate's potential father.
But note son, Martin, age 8. That is now three Martin Dixons, of approximately the same age, in three families of interest.  No Kate/Catherine.

Occurs to me that we might have to consider double counting in census.

[mattjreid]

Here is Darby Dixon's household in 1911:

https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Mayo/Belmullet/Tallagh/708259/

We have Katie Dixon, aged 22 - hovering close to the birth year of 1886. I cannot a Katie or Catherine of this age to Mary Connell and Darby Dixon.

I'm not sure why Kate could have been booted out of the Darby Dixon household at such a young age - I don't have much a knowledge of rural Ireland at this era so any of my guesses may be wide of the mark.

I've been thinking about the suggestion that Thomas Murphy and Catherine Driscoll's family emigrated en masse - it doesn't feel right that they would leave the youngest son, John. Again, I concede there may be some historical / cultural information I am missing. Could there have been a disaster - en route from Clonakilty - and John was the sole survivor?

[Wexflyer]

Here is Darby Dixon's household in 1911:

https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Mayo/Belmullet/Tallagh/708259/

We have Katie Dixon, aged 22 - hovering close to the birth year of 1886. I cannot a Katie or Catherine of this age to Mary Connell and Darby Dixon.

I thought you mentioned that you had this birth of Kate to Darby Dixon and Mary Connell in 1886
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1886/02599/1959792.pdf

Given that your Kate Dixon is married and living with her husband John Murphy, and daughter Mary in the 1911 census, this latest 1911 census entry showing a Kate Dixon unmarried, with parents Darby and Mary Dixon surely proves that OP's Kate is not the latter Kate Dixon?

[Wexflyer]

I'm not sure why Kate could have been booted out of the Darby Dixon household at such a young age - I don't have much a knowledge of rural Ireland at this era so any of my guesses may be wide of the mark.

Why would you assume she was "booted out"? Children visit and stay with relatives all the time. Nothing unusual.