In approximately 1847, at the height of the great potato famine, Owen Murnan(e) left County Cork, Ireland, with his wife Catherine Cronin and their young son Patrick. They may also have left with daughter Margaret, although it is unclear when and where Margaret might have been born. Owen was probably born around 1819, and Catherine around 1823. Patrick probably was born in 1845, and Margaret in 1846-48. We also know that Catherine Cronin's brother John Cronin (b. 1820?) came with them, and brought his daughter Mary (b. 1839?).

Family lore has it that Owen had a brother who came over at the same time, but went to Plattsburgh, NY. Owen and his brother were never to see each other again. To this day we do not know what might have become of the "Plattsburgh" Murnanes. We do not even know how they might have spelled their name in the US.

Of our family history before Owen we know nothing except that his father and mother were Timothy Murnane, (we assume "Murnane" spelling) and Nora Sullivan of County Cork, Ireland. However, even as slim as that information is, it's actually quite a lot to go on!

As for the crossing to America, we also know very little. Family lore has it that Owen and Catherine entered North America at Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and came up the St. Lawrence River into the United States and settled in Ogdensburg, NY, although I do not know the source of this assumption. Conversation with Joseph Murnane of Williamson, NY, suggests that most Murnanes who ended in upstate New York came through New York City as their point of entry, and then moved north. However, Jean Murnen Lynn's sources suggest Grosse Ille and Montreal; she also has information to suggest that Irish immigrants by 1847 were opting for the Canadian entry because authorities in New York City were feeling the strain on the overburdened resources of the city. Point of entry remains a mystery.

Although Patrick was born in Ireland, the rest of the siblings--Margaret (the child who drowned in the well), John Henry Murnen, Timothy Murnen (pictured above), Mary Murnen, Michael Murnen, Owen Murnen, Jr., and Hannah Murnan (Sr. Dioneysha)--were all born in Ogdensburg, with the possible exception of Margaret. However, the family splits apart in two ways at the generation of these siblings. First, the name splits, as some siblings spell the name "Murnan" and some spell it "Murnen." Second, the children move off in different geographical directions. Patrick, Michael, and Mary Murnen remained in Ogdensburg. Hannah Murnan became Sr. Dioneysha in a Franciscan convent in Syracuse, NY.

Timothy Murnen settled in Toledo, Ohio, along with brother Owen, Jr. In Toledo Tim married Julia Donnelly, and together they raised a family, and a clan, to which I belong. The saddest and most significant split in the family surrounds John Henry Murnen, who went west to Gibbon, Nebraska, and then to Tacoma, Washington, where he settled and raised a family. Jean Murnen Lynn of Tacoma writes: "Our Western Murnen branch is Protestant. My grandfather John went to a Methodist camp meeting when about 12--and was banished from home when he became interested in it." Florence Murnen MacDonald noted that on her deathbed in 1903, Catherine Cronin Murnen called out for her son John Henry.

Photographs of these siblings appear on the "Ancestor Photos" page.

As to the connection between the Washington Murnens and the Toledo Murnens there is an interesting cluster of stories to tell. John Henry Murnen had four children--Edgar, Arthur, Winfred, and Helen. Edgar had two children--a boy and a girl--Edgar, Jr. and Jean. As Jean Lynn writes: My father knew nothing of his "roots" until my grandfather was dying. After retiring he (Dad) and mom drove to NY and met some cousins and found out more of the history and corresponded for years with Michael's daughter in NY, and Ray in Toledo." Edgar, Jr. continued contact with Michael Murnen's daughter, Florence (Murnen) MacDonald, still in Ogdensburg at that time, and with Ray Murnen in Toledo, Ohio. Meanwhile, the Toledo Murnens had maintained a bit of contact with the Ogdensburg Murnens in the first half of the 20th century. After Ray's death in 1976, Edgar, Jr. continued contact with Ray's youngest son Tom, my father. Uncle Edgar and Tom share the same birthdate, January 9.

Two incidents sparked my interest in family history: the increasing phone contact with Uncle Edgar, and the death of my grandmother Kathryn Lawrence Murnen in 1979. In early 1980 I expressed an interest in visiting the western Murnens. About that time, Mount St. Helens exploded, piquing my curiosity to go west and see what was brewing. So at age 16, I hopped on a plane in August of 1980 and spent two weeks with the folks out there. It was a strange but welcome feeling to see "Murnen" written on the name plaque on the front door! We have maintained contact with the Washington Murnens, and I went west again in 1991, taking my brother David with me, where he met his long lost cousin of the same name.

I have (sort of) inherited the task of family genealogist from my Aunt Mary Alice Murnen, the Sister Mary Alice Murnen mentioned in Ed Murnane's webpage, which can be found at www.murnane.org. Or maybe I have "taken up" the challenge. I'm not sure. As well, my second cousin Sarah Murnen has been in contact with me and Aunt Jean in Tacoma. Sarah is part of the Toledo clan, and has been working on the genealogy from her own angle. I hope to be able to show more evidence of our collaboration in the near future. She has already clarified several dates for me.

There is more to tell, but not today.