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

[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 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?

I'm prepared to accept this - even if it does mean I now need to hunt for her parents again.

[Wexflyer]

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?

For the Murphys in Clonakilty, I really think your best bet in terms of understanding what happened to them might be to look at the Valluation Office book records (cancelled rates books). I believe you can view at LDS FHCs

[Sinann]

Have you names for the other children of Daniel Murphy and Ellen Mahony?

Just looking at this marriage of a Michael Murphy Clashflugh to Honora Nugent in 1864
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1864/11614/8275247.pdf

I think his father is Daniel, it’s difficult to read and I doubt the bride is 98, more likely 18. This could be Honora in 1901.
http://census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Cork/Kilnagross/Ballinoroher/1096638/

[Wexflyer]

To return to the Murphys of Clonakility area: John Murphy was born in the townland of Ballinoroher in 1876
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1876/03028/2109681.pdf

[Wexflyer]

Ballinoroher is in the DED of Kilnagross, and civil parish of Templequinlan.
https://www.townlands.ie/en/cork/east-carbery-east-division/kilnagross/ballinoroher/

[Wexflyer]

Griffiths Valuation for Ballinoroher, published 1851, shows a Daniel Murphy in lots no. 8 and 9, with a farm of 39-0-20 A-R-P.
As John had an elder brother named Daniel, and as his father, Thomas, was a farmer in Ballinoroher in 1876, this suggests that Thomas was the son of this particular Daniel Murphy.

[Wexflyer]

1901 census has family of Daniel Murphy, farmer in Ballinaroher.
https://www.townlands.ie/en/cork/east-carbery-east-division/kilnagross/ballinoroher/

Likely John's elder brother?
[Subsequent edit - he isn't]

[Wexflyer]

1901 census has family o Daniel Murphy, farmer in Ballinaroher.
https://www.townlands.ie/en/cork/east-carbery-east-division/kilnagross/ballinoroher/

Likely John's elder brother?

Not so. This Daniel is a son of Denis Murphy
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1885/10864/5966678.pdf

[Wexflyer]

There is also another Daniel Murphy in the 1901 census of Ballinaroher, with siblings Patrick and Annie.
https://census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Cork/Kilnagross/Ballinoroher/1096638/
Are their ages consistent with John's siblings? [Family posted earlier in reply No. 38 by Sinann]

However, they are with mother named Hannah, which is not consistent.
Most likely the family of Michael Murphy, son of Daniel, probable brother of Thomas, as pointed out by Sinann