mellamphy.com

The search for the missing link

This page summarizes where we are in the family search, where we're from in the grand scheme of things, places to look for further research, and people to consider as potential links between our families.

Been there, done that

Genealogy has been traced from the 2nd century King of Ireland to his 6th-7th century descendant, the first Maolanfaidh. It is even suspected that the mystery has been solved as to how this Maolanfaidh/Mael Anfaidh/Molana monk — who obviously foreshadowed our present dilemma of multiple spellings of the surname! — took time out form his prayers to father a clan now spread far and wide across the continents! Through records from parishes, land claims, immigration papers etc., today's family members have been traced to Mellamphys from the 18th century onwards. There's the small matter of a millennium or so to fill in, but *you* know Irish Time! And the branch we've reached is the one that should really get us swinging, because we're not far from linking our many families for good...

Location, location, location

Most of the currently-known family lines can eventually be traced back to the North Tipperary area, around Borrisokane, Cloughjordan, and Coolbawn (by Lough Derg). These include ancestors of Malamphys, MeLampys, Mellamphys, Molamphys, Mollamphys, Mullampys, and Mullanphys. Some families of present-day descendants came from the North, around Co.Fermanagh and Derry, including Melanaphys and Mullanphys.

It should be emphasized the the different spellings of the surname do not necessarily indicate separate families until the fourth generation or so: the same person may be listed as "Mullampy" on their birth certificate, go by "Molamphy" in day-to-day life, become"Malamphy" when they immigrate, and end up "Mellamphy" for their final chapter... Technical writers will have their way!! Further complicating issues is the fact that Irish census records especially pre-1920 are sketchy at best, so family researchers must rely on rant and rumour and any bit of paper they can find, to build the mighty mental Mellamphy mosaic. [back to top]

Of noses and grindstones

Since the Irish census isn't of much use with respect to the generation of ancestors we are presently trying to connect (and since the ancestors in question quaffed their final pints a few too many years ago for those of us here to remember their stories first-hand!) the best place to look to find mention of our forefamily is within Parish birth, marriage, and death certificates in Ireland. Local public records should also be looked over, such as land claims, civic duty records, immigration and naturalization papers, etc. Places to consider include pretty much anywhere in Co.Tipperary; some work has been done at Cloughjordan, Shinrone, and Terryglass-Kilbarron... Also of interest are Counties Clare, Cork, Waterford, Fermanagh, and Derry. Please feel free to send in your research so it can be compiled and compared with that of other family branches! There are also online resources that provide official personal information; see links from the bottom of the MalanaphyFamily.com home page.

On the other side of the pond, special mention should be made of the extensive research done by Mrs. Harriet "Dot" Lane Cates Hardaway Mullanphy of St. Louis Missouri USA, descended from John Mullanphy b.1758 Co.Fermanagh. She spent many years collecting official data, forms, certificates etc., resulting in more than 80 pages of detailed manuscript and a family chart with over 400 names, and these all pre-1940! (The story of her research is discussed in the family forum.) Much of her extensive library has been presented to the St. Louis Library, so this is certainly something to check out. (ouch; sorry!) [back to top]

Women of Honora and other potential links

My interest was piqued with the reoccurrence of the rather unusual name Honora Mullanphy/Malamphy, from "unrelated" Mellamphy branches. Further investigation led to a few potential links, including Honoras, Daniels, Francis/Williams, Michaels, Sarahs, and Catherines. These "coincidentalinks" and related questions are listed below, using the same colour-coding as the family tree:

• The earliest ancestors: b.18th century.
• The next level: b.1810s.
• The first "full" generation: b.1820s-1840s.
• The second generation: b.1850s-1870s.
• The third generation: b.1880s-1910s.

To add information, please click here.

HONORAs
There are four Honoras born over the decades, related to two or three branches:

1. Honora Mullanphy c. 1810? Wife or sister of Michael? @ Terryglass-Kilbarron RC church, listed as Sponsor @ 1829 Baptism of John Mullanphy and Margaret Costello’s son, Patrick.
2. Honora Mullanphy b.1846-04-05, daughter of John Mullanphy and Margaret Costello.
3. Honora Mullanphy b.1864-07-14 Nenagh Co.Tipperary Ireland, daughter of William Mollamphy and Mary Kennedy (3-person cluster found in the Mormon databases).
4. Honora "Nora" Malamphy b.1895-10 MD USA, daughter of James E. Mullamphy/Malamphy b.1864? Ireland d.1914 USA (+ Bridget Toohey b.1865 Ireland d.USA), who in turn is the son of American Malamphy branch patriarch and matriarch Michael Mullamphy/Molamphy + Ellen Smyth/Smith (b./d.Ireland).
   

QUESTIONS: How is the first Honora related to the family? Are the second and third Honoras cousins? Is the American Nora named for one of the first three, perhaps a favourite aunt of her father James E. Mulamphy/Malamphy (b.1864? Ireland d.1914 USA)?

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DANIELs
There are two Daniels born around the same time in Ireland:

1. Daniel Mullanphy b.1842-11-13 Ireland, son of John Mullanphy and Margaret Costello.
2. Daniel Molamphy b.Ireland, d.USA + Margaret "Peggy" Ryan b.Ireland, d.USA. They had 5 children; descendants of one of these traced to the USA Molamphy/Bonwell (5-generation cluster).
   

QUESTION: Is this the same Daniel?

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FRANCISes/WILLIAMs
Three names, two possibilities, one time-frame:

1. William/Francis/Frank/Uncle Willie Malamphy b. 1860s? Ireland, lived in Missouri, d.Missouri? Peggy Larsen’s great-grandfather, Michael Joseph Malamphy (b.1862 Cork, d.1934 USA) spoke of a brother who lived in St-Louis.
2. Francis Molanphy Sr. + Ann Lennon, merchants in Dublin who travelled considerably for business (most of his trips were to the Americas, including the Caribbean islands), immigrated to New York from Dublin 1881-04-09 on the Abyssinia, with one infant (other children born in US; descendants in US and S. America).
3. William McLampy/Molamphy b. 1858-03-21 Ireland, son of American Malamphys patriarch and matriarch Michael Mullampy/Molamphy + Ellen Smyth/Smith Mullampy/Molamphy (b. Ireland m. 2/22/1848 d.Ireland).
   

QUESTIONS: Are the first and second Francis the same person? Or, if #1 went by William instead, is William McLampy/Molamphy “Uncle Willie”?

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MICHAELs
There are three Michaels born c.1810s/1820s, and two born c.1850s/ 1860s, all in Tipperary:

1. Michael Mullanphy (brother or husband of Honora Mullanphy b.1810?) @ Terryglass-Kilbarron RC church, listed as Sponsor @ 1829 Baptism of John Mullanphy and Margaret Costello’s son, Patrick.
2. American Malamphys patriarch Michael Mullampy/Molamphy b./d.Ireland + Ellen Smyth/Smith b./d.Ireland m.1848-02-22.
3. Michael Mullanphy, son of John Mullanphy and Margaret Costello (only in some records).
4. Michael Molamphy b.1857, d.1884, son of Patrick Molamphy b.1815, d.1879 Co.Tipperary Ireland + Julia Keough b.1821, and granddaughter of Morgan Molamphy a.k.a. "The Mayor of Tipperary" + Catherine Cummings (part of a 3-generation cluster).
5. Michael Mullamphy / Mellamphy b.1863-03-15 Ireland, son of James Mullanphy and Jane Gleeson.
   

QUESTIONS: Are the first and second Michael the same person? That is, was American Malamphys patriarch Michael Mullampy/Molamphy the baptismal sponsor for John Mullanphy and Margaret Costello’s son? (In which case Honora would be a sister or cousin...) Is the third Michael (if among his elder siblings, b. later 1820s) the same person? That is, was American Malamphys patriarch baptismal sponsor and also (eldest?) son of John Mullanphy and Margaret Costello? (In which case Honora would be an aunt or cousin...) Are the fourth and fifth Michael the same person?

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SARAHs
There are two Sarahs born around the same time in Tipperary:

1. Sarah Molamphy + Thomas Nolan, listed as Sponsors @ baptism of James Kilby / Kirby / Kiley Jr. b.1855 (2-5 person cluster).
2. Sarah Melampy / Mellamphy b.1820/24 Co.Tipperary Ireland, d.1888 AU (single entry).

QUESTIONS: Is the first Sarah sisters with Catherine Molamphy (mother of James Kilby / Kirby / Kiley Jr.)? Are these two Sarahs the same person?

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CATHERINEs There are three Catherines born in same period in Tipperary:

1. Catherine Mullanphy b.1831-06-04, daughter of John Mullanphy and Margaret Costello.
2. Catherine Molamphy + James Kilby / Kirby / Kiley, mother of James Kilby / Kirby / Kiley Jr b.1855-11-29 (3-5 person cluster).
3. Catherine C. Molamphy 1851 - 1935 + Patrick Sullivan, daughter of Patrick Molamphy (b.1815, d.1879 Co.Tipperary Ireland) + Julia Keough (b.1821), and grand-daughter of Morgan Molamphy a.k.a. "The Mayor of Tipperary" + Catherine Cummings (3-generation cluster).
   

QUESTIONS: Are the first 2 Catherines the same person? That is, did John Mullanphy and Margaret Costello’s daughter marry James Kilby / Kirby / Kiley? Is the second Catherine sisters with Sarah Molamphy (who was James Jr’s baptismal sponsor)? And is the third Catherine a first- or second-cousin, as they are all from Tipperary?

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