James Joseph Murphy 1880 : Short Biography

References

NZ man visits Arklow RNLI - The Journal article

Ireland

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James Joseph Murphy 1880

Wexford Town (Wexford) New Ross (Wexford)

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Place of migration

Migrated to/Born in New Zealand

James was the only survivor of the wreck of his father Laurence's schooner "Express of Wexford" in 1897 on Arklow bank.

He moved to New Zealand c.1908. (after the death of his mother in 1900). Four of his sibling (Murtagh, John, Nicholas and Margaret) later followed him.

Two of his sisters (Alice & Ellen) stayed in Wexford. Ellen married Frank Poyntz in New Ross. Alice never married.

James Joseph Murphy Pahiatua Feb 1931.jpg (314Ã757)

Additional Information
Date of Birth	11th Feb 1880
Date of Death	28th Aug 1954

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Comments

Thanks for your email regarding James Murphy who emigrated to New Zealand.
In addition to the siblings mentioned, there was another brother viz. Laurence
who emigrated to Cape Town, South Africa probably around 1903/04. He followed his
friend from Wexford, James Walsh (my grandfather), who was already here. Later, he married James's
sister-in-law Octavia Harriet Drake. They had a daughter Mary (b 1918 d 1982).
James died in 1934 when knocked over by a train outside Kalk Bay station, a small fishing village, when
working on the railway line.
Regards
Kevin Whyte

kevinw

Monday 20th April 2020 09:56AM

Hi Kevin. Thanks for pointing out that omission. Yes James Murphy's younger brother Laurence (named after their father Captain Laurence Murphy who drowned off Arklow) did settle in South Africa, marry and had one child (Mary) as you say, but you mistakenly said James (having just spoken of James Walsh) was struck and killed by a train - but instead it was Laurence Murphy. You very kindly sent me a photo of his grave years ago.

Cheers. Philip Murphy.