MURPHY FAMILY ORIGIN - as written by Hazel Kendall
The earliest spelling was Murfee, Murrough, Morrow. Murphy originated with Dermot MacMorrough, King of Leinster, Ireland, southeastern section. He married Devorgil and died in 1171. In 1460 Murtagh Murphy of Tobberlimny was chief of his clan. He held his land by descent according to the English law. He had a charter entitling him to use the English law over his sept (clan). His original name was Murtagh O'Morchoe. John Murphy of Kilkenny was proprietor of the Barony of Crennagh. A few years later in the Barony of Forth, liberties were confiscated of John Murphy, Robert Murphy and Phelim Morcho (Murphy). Edward Murphy of Ballylorcan in Kilkenny, Ireland, a gentleman died in 1657. He was a landed man of some means.
The name MURPHY is derived from the word "sea warrior", for those who lived along t.he coast of Ireland in Wexford County shores. Richard Talbot ruled the county and his relative was given land in Cecil County, Maryland. Proprietor George Talbot owned Susquehannah Manor which extended from the Northeast River to the Susquehannah and to the Chesapeake Bay in Cecil County, Maryland. The manor was known as New Connaght, 1680. Talbot parceled out land on easy terms to the first settlers. Whole neighborhoods came to the manor after 1690 from County Kilkenny, Ireland and from southeastern Ireland. The sea-loving Murphys were among the first settlers and moved restlessly along the Susquehannah river, not settling on land, because the men were in charge of sailing ships bringing passengers. In 1705 widow Elizabeth Murphy said she saw the ruins of an early fort that stood one half mile above the mouth of Octorara creek where it emptied into the Susquehanah river (Pa. Archives 2nd series Vol. xvi PP522 reference). When the Murphys were ready to be land bound and had finished their sea duties, they took up land near Charlestown, Cecil Co, Maryland. The Murphys had clothing, furniture, plenty of cooking utensils as a law bade proprietors to furnish them. They lived quietly and paid their taxes for generations with their neighbors. As proprietors changed through the years, forced leases for land were imposed on the settlers. Finally, on Dec. 23, 1779 they petitioned for fairness and respite from financial burdens. Among those signing were Edward Murphy, John Cameron, William Dickson, William Currier, Thomas McClary, John Caswell, John McKewn, Norton, John Murphy, Campbell (Md. History Mag. vol. 5, page 59 reference). In Cecil County, Maryland, the Murphy and Bateman families lived in close relationship and may have been relatives. Edward Murphy born 1757 took his oath of allegiance in 1778 when he was 21. In October 1784 he owed Charles Brookings 19 pounds and 5 shillings, so he gave a cow and other personal property to Brookings in settlement of the debt. (Deed Book 16) On October 29, 1785 Edward Murfee gave Basil Williams a bond for 81 pounds to cover payment of a mortgage for 40 pounds on a tract of 108 Ac owned by Murfee, the land being "part of Susquehanna Manor, now in possession of Edward Murfee." (Deed Book 16, page 10, Cecil County, Maryland) Nearby in Cecil County, Maryland, John Bateman, merchant, on July 20, 1658, had surveyed to him 2,000 acres which he later patented at Perry Point south of Principio, known as Perry Neck. In 1790 Basil Williams lived in Charlestown as an esquire. Charlestown was a great shipping center with merchants fairs and a court. It rivaled Baltimore then. Basil Murphy also lived near. He married Orpha Thomas. Probably his mother was a daughter of Basil Williams and he may have been a nephew of Edward Murphy. By 1790 Edward Murphy had left Cecil County, Md. to live in western Maryland with relatives where he died. His sons moved up into Pennsylvania for a few years before moving to Ohio in 1805. With son Abner in Belmont Co. was Benjamin whose children were John Wesley, Benjamin, Margaret, James, Mamie, Eleanor and Hester Ann. George Alsop speaks of the native Marylander as "conveniently, reservedly subtle and quick in apprehending."