McPhillips Origin3

The McPhillips

The following shows where the McPhillips lived in Latnamard townland:

Patrick (1) (1a)

Edward (3)

Edward (5)

Thomas (7a)

Patrick (7A)

Michael (11a)

Francis (12)

Mary (18)

Patrick (21a)(21b)

Michael McPhillips of Tattintlieve

Tattintlieve is a townland located east northeast of Lathnamard and appears to border Kilmore Civil Parish. Liscumasky townland was one townland away from Tattintlieve. The following McPhillips heads-of-household were found listed: Michael McPhillips, Bernard McPhillips, William McPhillips, James McPhillips and Patrick McPhillips. James Gallagher is listed as a co-tenant with James McPhillips, and this might indicate a familial relationship. This location remains a strong contender since McPhillips lore tells us Michael may have lived in Aghabog Civil Parish

The following McPhillips were listed in the Griffith Valuation Survey (1847 – 1864) for Tattintlieve Townland:

Michael McPhillips (2)

Bernard McPhillips (3)

Williams McPhillips (4)

Patrick McPhillips (5a and 5b)

James McPhillips (14a and 14b)

Michael McPhillips of Coolaty Townland, Parish of Clones (Monaghan)

McPhillips family history suggests Clones as another possible location for Michael’s nativity. Griffith’s Valuation Survey shows only one Michael McPhillips living there during the period of 1847 to 1864, and this Michael lived in Coolaty townland. Two McPhillips’ names show up here including Michael and Catherine. There is no Patrick McPhillips living in this location; however, this is another strong contender for where Michael lived. Why you ask? A short distance from Michael’s home is the railyard and rail station located in Smithborough. It is possible Michael worked as a railworker as a young man living in Ireland. Also, Smith family lore suggests Michael and his family lived quite a distance away, perhaps 14 miles from Rossnaglogh East. Coolaty would have been some distance away but more like 6 to 7 miles away.

To make it easier for you we have highlighted the locations where the McPhillips lived in Coolatty:

Michael (5 – Yellow)

Catherine (4 – Purple)

Michael McPhillips of Cornasoo – Parish of Drumsnat

This entry is not a strong contender for where Michael McPhillips lived in Ireland; however, Drumsnat is adjacent to and northwest of Aghabog Civil Parish. Lathnamard and Tattintlieve townlands are also close to Drumsnat. There were only 9 entries for Michael McPhillips listed in the Griffith Valuation Survey, and we have included all references here. In this townland you will see two McPhillips listings – Michael McPhillips and John McPhillips.

Cornasoo Civil Parish:

2A – Michael McPhillips

11 – John McPhillips

Cornasoo is not a strong contender for where Michael McPhillips lived in Ireland; however, we know so little of his life that we included this information here for you.

Michael McPhillips of Drumacreeve (Ematris Civil Parish)

If one follows family lore then this entry probably is not relevant; however, this townland located in Ematris Civil Parish is adjacent to Aghabog Civil Parish. Ematris is located east of Aghabog townland. This parish can be found between two other Civil Parishes – Aghabog and Ballybay. We included this entry because family lore suggests Michael McPhillips could have lived in either Aghabog or Ballybay. If so, it is possible (remote perhaps) that he could have lived in Ematris during this time frame.

Drumacreeve Townland. This townland is located in Ematris Civil Parish. Ematris is located to the east of Aghabog Civil Parish and near where the McPhillips lived in Ireland.

In this map we see a ‘Michael McPhillips’ who lived in this townland sometime during the period of 1847 and 1864.

Did our great ancestor live here? Maybe, but probably not.

Michael McPhillips of Urcher (Kilmore Civil Parish)

Although not mentioned in McPhillips family lore, we did find a ‘Michael McPhillips’ living in Urcher townland, Kilmore Civil Parish. Beside his residence lived a Catherine Smyth. The ‘Smyth’ spelling variation is not common down in this part of Ireland. Urcher townland is located very near Corravilla townland in Aghabog townland, County Monaghan. It is located north northeast of Corravilla about three townlands over.

We find a ‘Michael McPhillips’ living in Urcher during this time period. This ‘Michael McPhillips’ lived in the area shaded blue.

Urcher is also home to many Greenans. Peter Smith married a Catharine Greenan and she may have lived near this area.

Michael McPhillips of Sheskin Townland (Parish of Tedavnet)

We do not spend a lot of time analyzing this data since Tedavnet is located further north in Monaghan County. This area has not been suggested as a possible site for where Michael McPhillips and his family lived in Ireland. However, there were only nine entries listed for ‘Michael McPhillips’ and we try to include all of them here.

East Rossnaglogh, Tonagh and Corravilla Townlands

This is my number one choice for where the McPhillips family lived in Ireland. Part of the McPhillips family thinks Michael was born in ‘Rusanglaugh’, County Monaghan. Are they talking about Rossnaglogh East townland, which is found in County Monaghan? As you know, this is the same townland that ‘Irish’ John Smith claims for his home area. In addition, we know our great ancestor, Susan McPhillips, was born in Corravilla townland which actually is right next door to Rossnaglogh East townland.

We could not find an entry for Michael McPhillips living in either Rossnaglogh East or Corravilla; however, we found references to other McPhillips living there. In Aghabog Civil Parish alone there were 33 families with the surname ‘McPhillips’ listed in the Griffith’s Valuation Survey. We did not find a reference showing ‘Michael McPhillips’; however, we did find a land parcel assigned to a Patrick McPhillips as tenant. Was this Patrick McPhillips father to Michael or was he a brother? This may suggest Michael was never given a piece of the family tenement, and may explain why he carried a grudge throughout his life.

Anyway, we do not want to make any judgments one way or the other. We only present this information to you so that you can make your own judgment.

The McPhillips tenants in Corravilla include the following: Hugh McPhillips and John McPhillips.

In Rossnaglogh East we find Denis McPhillips and Patrick McPhillips tenants for a bog. Others who shared this tenement included Owen Kearns (Red) and Arther Kearns. It was not unusual for family members to share a tenement, especially a bog. This was part and parcel of survival in Ireland during this time. The Kearns were probably relatives of the McPhillips. In addition, Owen Kearns has a moniker beside his name of ‘Red’. Nicknames were used in the Griffith Valuation Survey to differentiate between two people who had similar names. This Patrick McPhillips was probably Patrick McPhillips, Jr., who also lived in Tonagh townland.

According to this valuation we find three McPhillips living in Tonagh townland: Patrick McPhillips, Patrick McPhillips Jr. and Denis McPhillips. Look at the Griffith’s Valuation Survey for Rossnaglogh East and you will find Patrick McPhillips and Denis McPhillips as co-tenants for a bog. This probably refers to Patrick McPhillips Jr. and Dennis McPhillips. Who was this other Patrick McPhillips? Was he Michael’s father? Were the other people listed in this valuation survey Michael’s brothers? Are we looking at distant family relatives?