McPhillips

McPhillips from County Louth

Until a few days ago this McPhillips family line was unknown to us.  Earlier in the week Sue Eberle relayed a story how our shared ancestor, Michael McPhillips, met his future wife, Mary Smyth.  While working or seeking work in Scotland, Michael met one of Mary’s brothers and they became friends.  Mary’s brother worked as a clock maker or similar occupation.  Mary’s brother introduced his sister, Mary, to Michael and the rest, as they say, is history.  This story reminded me of something I read in “Irish” John Smith’s travel journal about a McPhillips family living in County Louth.  These are the relevant entries from John’s journal and his adventures in County Louth.

From Irish John Smith’s Journal:

July 15th 1908 - Left my Cousins Smiths for Dundalk to see McPhillips

July 30, 1908 - Ardee Louth Co Irland morning fine.  Saw Mr McPhillips Found Him well and in good health.

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The last time I really did any serious research on this Dundalk family was in 2008 but found nothing at that time.  This time I searched the ‘findmypast.com’ website using the following keywords:  Surname - McPhillips; County - Louth; District - Ardee

Only one record appeared for 1911 Irish Census (see below):

First name(s)	John
Last name	Mc Phillips
Relationship to head	Boarder
Marital status	Widowed
Marital status as transcribed	Widower
Sex	Male
Age	55
Birth year	1856
Birth place	Scotland
Occupation	Engine Driver
Townland/Street	Castle Street
District electoral division	Ardee Town
County	Louth
Country	Ireland
Religion	Roman Catholic
Image link	http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Louth/Ardee_Town/Castle_Street/905652

 

Interesting to note that this John McPhillips was born in Scotland. He worked as an engine driver, or railroad engineer if you will.  John probably worked as an engineer with the Great Northern Railway of Ireland.  From its Dundalk hub, this railway service operated services between Belfast and Dublin; Dundalk and Derry; and Dundalk to Enniskillen in County Fermanagh. 

If our Michael McPhillips was seeking work or working in Scotland, perhaps he stayed with John’s family there.   So I decided to look at the 1901 Irish Census and find out more about John McPhillips and his family.  The following census record is what I found.

1901 Irish Census:

First name(s)	Last name	Relationship to head	Marital status	Age	Birth year	Birth place
John	McPhillips	Head of Family	Married	45	1856	Scotland
Maryanne	McPhillips	Wife	Married	38	1863	Cavan
John	McPhillips	Son	Single	11	1890	Londonderry (Derry)
Francis	McKenna	Friend	Single	7	1894	Fermanagh
Margaret	Scully	Sister	Widowed	60	1841	Fermanagh

Both 1901 and 1911 Census reports say this John McPhillips family lives in Mullanstown, Louth, Ireland

Marriage - John McPhillips and Maryanne McKenna

In 1886 John McPhillips married Mary Ann McKenna in County Derry aka Londonderry.  This marriage license indicates John worked as an engine driver in Derry too; however, another interesting tidbit is learned.  John’s father, Francis McPhillips, worked as an engine driver too and lived in Derry.  One of the wedding sponsors was named Edward Scully.  The 1901 census shows John’s sister, Margaret Scully, living with his family in Mullanstown, County Louth. Margaret was born in County Fermanagh, which means Francis McPhillips and his family lived in Fermanagh before moving to Scotland.  At the turn of the 20th century, tragedy struck this family.  John’s wife and two daughters died.

Death of daughter, Mary McPhillips, 3 yrs old, on April 2, 1897

Death of daughter, Ann McPhillips, 7 yrs old, on May 19, 1897

Death of Mary Ann McPhillips on May 13, 1905

 

John McPhillips Remarries

John McPhillips remarried, this time to a gal who lived in Clones Parish.  As a railroad engineer John would have traveled the width and breadth of Northern Ireland, and very likely traveled back and forth from Dundalk to County Fermanagh.  John married Mary Ann McAiney from Clones on May 15, 1915.

John McPhillips Death Record

What does this record tell us?  It shows John McPhillips died in 1937 and had lived in Ardee, County Louth, for at least 40 years.  Also, John’s wife, Mary Ann McAiney, was still alive.

SCOTLAND ROMAN CATHOLIC PARISH BAPTISMS

One may wonder why I did not start with John McPhillips’ Scottish baptismal record.  Very simply put, there were multiple ‘John McPhillips’ baptisms recorded from 1854 to 1858.  So it was important to get as much information from Irish records as possible to help identify the correct baptismal record.  From John McPhillips’ two marriage records we learn his father was named ‘Francis McPhillips’.  By searching Scottish baptismal records I honed in on only one most likely record.  It was a baptism conducted in Glasgow, Scotland, for an infant named John McPhillips whose parents were Francis McPhillips and Mary Murphy.  Now we know the name of the mother, and the location of where Michael McPhillips may have befriended his future wife’s brother.

Last name	McPhilips
Sex	Male
Birth year	1855
Birth date	29 Apr 1855
Baptism year	1855
Baptism date	07 May 1855
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Baptism place	Glasgow
Parish	St Andrew
Diocese	Glasgow
County	Lanarkshire
Country	Scotland
Father's first name(s)	Francis
Father's last name	McPhilips
Mother's first name(s)	Mary
Mother's last name	Murphy

Where and When Francis McPhillips Married

We may never know this answer.  Unfortunately, marriage records for Clones Parish, County Fermanagh only start in 1862.  At this point we assume Francis McPhillips and Mary Murphy married in Clones circa 1840.  This is based on Margaret McPhillips Scully’s birth year (1841) as indicated on the 1901 Census of Ireland.  However, is it possible Francis had two wives?  Yes.  There is a gap between Margaret and John McPhillips birth years, but we do not know of any other siblings.  If a gap exists, then this could suggest a second marriage.

I did find a marriage record for a Francis McPhillips and Mary Murphy solemnized in Rockcorry, Ematris Parish, County Monaghan, on May 31, 1854.  Corravilla Townland, where our ancestor Mick McPhillips lived, is quite close to Rockcorry.  This record is just one possibility.

Other Dundalk McPhillips Families:

The following results appeared when searching for Dundalk only:

Household Members - 1911 Irish Census

First name(s)	Last name	Relationship to head	Marital status	Age	Birth year	Birth place
Francis	McPhillips	Head of Family	Single	43	1868	Co Monaghan
James	McPhillips	Brother	Single	39	1872	Clones, Co Monaghan
Margaret	McPhillips	Sister	Single	53	1858	Co Monaghan

Francis McPhillips above was a Railway Engine Driver, just like John McPhillips who lived in Ardee.
James McPhillips was a carpenter, unemployed in 1911; in 1901 listed as unemployed Rail Fireman
** Also in 1901 there was one other person listed in this family’s census and that was for ‘Mary McPhillips’ head of household, widowed, age 64 born in 1837.  Family in 1901 lived in Bachelor’s Walk, County Louth, Ireland.  Because this Francis and James worked with the railroad too makes me think they were related to John McPhillips.  James McPhillips above was born in Clones Parish, County Monaghan, not County Fermanagh.  However, Clones Parish actually is one parish or was one parish that encompassed land in both Fermanagh and Monaghan Counties.

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The following Louth McPhillips families were reviewed but not determined to be part of our own McPhillips family line:

James McPhillips family but James born in County Cavan (1911 Census)

Daniel McPhillips family but Daniel born in County Cavan (1911 Census)

Kate McPhillips family but Kate was widowed and from County Cavan; assume
her birth surname was not McPhillips (1911 census)

Thomas McPhillips family, but Thomas and family from Louth.  Thomas was a
farm laborer.  They were from Black Ridge, Louth, Ireland

James and Anne McPhillips family, but all from Louth.  James was a farmer who
lived in Balgatheran Townland; St. Peters Rural No. 2; County Louth, Ireland

Bridget McPhillips, Windmill Lane, County Louth but born in Louth.  She must have
had money as she had servants even though quite elderly.

James and Ellen McPhillips family.  James was from Monaghan, Ellen from Armagh, and children born in Belfast.  Was he part of RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary)?

Ann McPhillips family, she was born in 1836 at County Louth as was her son and
daughter.  Balgerteran Townland, County Louth.

William and Peter McPhillips two pre-30s guys living together in Westgate, Louth.
Birthplace was listed as Drogheda, County Louth.