[Excerpts from "The Family Histories of MURPHY, Klaumann, Jones, Eckart,
Scidmore, Ellison and others", by James R. Murphy, c. 1964]
[excerpted 10 Oct 2003]

p. 6
The MURPHY Family
	From "The Family Murphy in the U.S." a pamphlet issued July 3, 1938:
"The home of the Murphys was originally in the eastern part of Wexford. The
family is traced back to Muirchu (sea warrior) the fiftieth Christian King
of Leinster d. 1090.  Later the name O'Moroghu was translated into English
as O'Murphy and finally Murphy.  The family maintained their independence 
and estates with their own soldiers until finally dispossessed by the 
English in 1613.  From then on, we find them all over Ireland and all over
the world.  No small portion of them found their way to the American 
colonies."
	"The family coat of arms show four lions red and silver counter-
changed.  A dark band in the center with three sheaves.  The crest is a 
lion holding a golden sheaf.  The motto is "Brave and Hospitable." Lions
in heraldry symbolize courage and warlike qualities.  Sheaves indicate the
possession of land with the possibility to show hospitality."
	"To explain why there are not more statistics given two difficulties
will be mentioned, with examples.  The first of these is the fact that 
certain names were very common which often makes statistics very hard to
check.  A case in point can be taken from the Connecticut muster-rolls for
the French and Indian wars.  According to these records a James Murphy of
New London served under Major Dennison from April 12, 1755 to November 15,
1755.  A James Murphy of Norwich enlisted in Col. Chauncey's regiment 
September 6, 1755 and was discharged December 13, 1755.  A James Murphy
enlisted in Captain Lee's New London company on March 30, 1756.  James
Murphy of Middletown enlisted April 10, 1756 in Captain Starr's company.
James Murphy of Wethersfield served in Lyman's regiment from March 8, 1757 
to December 12, 1757.  A James Murphy enlisted in the same regiment April 
7, 1758 for seven months.  Finally a James Murphy served under Major
Herlihy from March 18 to December 16, 1759.  There are seven entries and
at least four different individuals.  Such entries as these makes one
hesitant about statistics.  In this particular instance dates and places
are mentioned to help the situation.  If it were not for that it could be
one or seven individuals."
	"The second difficulty is one of spelling.  The early Irish
immigrants spoke Gaelic and their names for some time were at the mercy of
the clerks who
p. 7
were not faultless. One example will be given fo a Murphy who was elected
to the General Assembly of North Carolina in 1759.  When he took office
he was recorded as William Murphee.  Later that same year in a list of
assemby[sic] men he is down as William Murphue.  In 1760 he is listed on
one committee as William Murphree.  Another instance in the same state is
found among the land grants of Craven County.  Records for the year 1744 
show grants to John Murphy, John Murfey, John Morphie, and John Murfee.
This may explain why some of the forty-eight towns and cities names[named?]
after Murphys have not conventional spelling.  It also adds one more
difficulty about delving into a past where Murphy, Murphee, Morphie, 
Murfy, Murphew, and Morfy are all the same name."
	New England
	"The early colonists in New England were not friendly to either
Irish or to Catholics.  The first record of a Murphy is that of Edward in
Boston 1635. (The Mayflower landed in 1620).  Bryan Morfy was married in
1661 by Governor Endicott.  Only 12 are mentioned in the 17th century
records.  William is mentioned as Captain of the ship "Hopewell" and later
the "Friendship" sailing to the West Indies in 1678 and 1679.  Richard at
Marblehead in 1699 is referred to as Master of the Arcana Galley sailing
on a voyage to Leghorn.  James was commended for gallantry in the Great 
Swamp Fight of King Phillips' War in 1675."
	"In the 18th century, Murphys are almost too numerous to record.
In Maine, George is mentioned in 1722 and John in 1724.  In New Hampshire
the marriage of Patrick Murphy is recorded in 1755.  The seven records
of James Murphy mentioned above belong here.  In Connecticut is mention
of a Simon Murffie a sailor and another James as a sea captain.  Robert
a schoolmaster who died in 1774 was an ancestor of the late Gov. Frank
Murphy of New Jersey.  In the Revolution there were three Captain Murphys,
one Lieutenant and 116 others serving in New England troops."
	Other States
	"In New York one of the earliest references is to Peter, the
master of a merchant ship.  William married a Dutch girl in 1713.  From
then on we find mentioned in wills, in grants of land, in the militia and
in the papers."
p. 8
	"In Delaware Murphys are found in the Probate records as early as
1691.  Seventeen families are listed besides McMurphys.  In New Jersey, 
we have the first record of a Murphy as a physician.  Timothy settled near
Middletown in 1766.  He was a physician, schoolteacher and Judge.  His son
and grandson were judges and his great grandson was a U.S. minister to
Holland.  The young men of Revolutionary days learned the rudiments at
the Murphy School."
	"Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia were favorite settling points
for the Irish and that means the Murphys as well.  During the Revolution
the 1st Pennsylvania which covered Washington's retreat across Long Island
was nicknamed the "Line of Ireland."  In it were at least ten Murphys.
There are many civil records of Murphys including a will probated in 1759
in which Cornelius Murphy left his money to his wife and children in Cork
to be sent there by Father Hardin of Philadelphia.  In 1745 there are six
Murphys listed among redemptioners (A redemptioner was one whose passage
was paid by one in this country and in turn he worked for a period of 
years) landing in Philadelphia.  In Maryland we hear of a John Murphew in
the year 1648.  In 1662 Maurice Murfee an immigrant was in a sad plight
when his clothes and money were stolen.  Again the name appears in grants
and probate records too numerous to mention.  The name appears 110 times
in the rolls of Maryland troops during the Revolution.  In Virginia we
find 20 year old Thos. arriving from the West Indies in 1634.  Several
Murphys served in the militia under Washington in the French and Indian
wars.  Several also worked for him in various capacities at Mount Vernon.
Forty-two different surnames appear among the Murphys serving from Virginia
in the Revolution."
	"North Carolina in colonial days is known by its claim that its
Mechlenberg Declaration of Independence antedates the more popular one. In
this birthplace of freedom we find a Judge Murphy as early as 1766.  In 
the first census (1790) there are ninety Murphy families listed in 27 
different counties of this state.  Several items referring to some of 
them were mentioned above.  In South Carolina 72 families are listed in
the first census of 1790."
	"The middlewest took its early settlers from these states and
always we find some Murphys.  In Illinois at the close of the Revolution
we find John Murphy among General Clark's soldiers entitled to
p. 9
some land.  Bernard, John and Edward were among those receiving grants in
1817.  Several Murphys served with the Illinois troops in the Blackhawk
War.  Once the state really became settled it is well nigh impossible to
record them all."
	"In the Texan struggle for independence we find a J.B. Murphy
among the signers of the Declaration of Independence at Columbia in 1835.
In the same year William escaped the Fannin butchery.  A David was in the
battle of San Jacinto and another in the battle of San Antonio."
	"Out in California Martin and his four soon were among those who
took part in the battle of Chauvenga 1844.  After its independence he
settled with his nine children and their families in the Santa Clara
Valley."
	The Revolution
	"Briefly the above shows that not only now but throughout the
history of the country there were always some Murphys.  Perhaps a truer
picture can be given with some statistics on the Revolution.  At least
494 Murphys fought with the American troops.  One Timothy Murphy "the
hero of Saratoga" is called by Dr. Guilday as "the most romantic figure
of the Revolution."  He is credited individually with turning the tide
of Battle of Saratoga.  He was famed and feared as an Indian fighter and
was one of the few of Lieut. Boyd's scouting party to escape when
surrounded by Indians.  In a list of men on the prison ship "Jersey" in
New York harbor we find seven Murphys.  There were Murphys at Lexington,
Bunker Hill and Yorktown.  There were sailors as well as soldiers.  May
we not all gain inspiration from the fact that our family has simply 
grown up with the country.  May we ever be true to her ideals and
traditions."