RESEARCH SOURCES
The development of a family history requires extensive and time consuming research usually over a period of many years. This Murphy family history was substantially researched between December 1997 and April 1995, although work on so called loose ends or blank spots will go on for years as time and opportunity present possibilities of gaining new insights or sources.
In this modern age the study of family history and genealogy has been made infinitely easier through access to the internet, including the availability of literally unlimited numbers of genealogy and organizational websites and databases as well as ease of contact via email. The availability of search engines like google and others can be a valuable and oft used tool.
This history could not have been researched and developed without constant and continuous contact by the author with dozens of internet websites and email contact with substantial numbers of people. These contacts provided significant and timely information which otherwise could easily have taken many additional years to accumulate and put together. The following describes and documents the authors sources and contacts in a generally chronological order as they were accessed and utilized.
December, 1997 Documents re. father Joseph E. Murphy inherited after mothers death in 1992.
December, 1997: Website of Michigan Department of Community Health re. downloading form to request copy of death certificate of Michael Joseph Murphy died November 1920 Jackson, Michigan
January, 1998: Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS) Contact through website to obtain forms to apply for membership, order county and township maps of Ontario and apply for membership in London& Middlesex and Elgin Branches
January, 1998: Archives of Canada website to access online database search of 1871 Ontario heads of household census for Kilgallin name
January, 1998: Ontario Cemeteries Finding Aid (OCFA) website access to database search of Ontario cemeteries for Kilgallin and Murphy names
February, 1998: Archives of Canada, Sparks Street Ottawa re. written application for copies of full 1871 census record for Kilgallin names found in database search
February, 1998: St Peter's Cathedral Basilica London Ontario written request for records of two 1890's Murphy- Kilgallin marriages
February, 1998 London&Middlesex Branch OGS written request for Inquiry search for Kilgallin name in Branch databases
April, 1998: George Dekay London Ontario contacted as coordinator of a history of West Williams Township in County of Middlesex as seen on London& Middlesex website
May, 1998: Don Read Nepean, Ontario contacted as researcher and developer of a 150 year history of St. Columba Catholic church at Bornish West Williams Township. Mr. Read had full micro-film recoprds of St Columba, St. Peter's Mission and Mount Carmel
July-August 1998: London&Middlesex Branch OGS. Contact by mail to purchase copies of cemetery transcription books for St. Columba Bornish, St. Peter's Mission, Mount Carmel, Parkhill Municipal and St. Peter's London. and other land ownership index/maps
July, 1998: Registrar General Ontario, Thunder Bay. Written contact by mail seeking death records for Patrick Kilgallin and Michael Murphy
September, 1998: Site visits and photographs of gravestones and cemeteries Bornish St. Columba, St. Peters R.C. Mission, Mount Carmel, St. Peters London and Holy Angels St. Thomas
September, 1998: Achives de Quebec Laval campus Quebec City. Personal visit to earch micro-film records of St Patricks de Quebec church.
November,1998: Susan Murphy Toronto. Receipt by mail of research findings by Susan at Archives of Ontario, Toronto re. Patrick Kilgallin
December, 1998 Mormon Library Edmonton. Visit to research available micro-film on Ontario death records and order micro-film from Salt Lake City re. St. Patricks de Quebec
January, 1999: The Donnelly Album by Ray Fazakas. Read to obtain historical context and information regarding 1854 Huron court reference to Patrick Kilgallin
February, 1999: Huron County Branch OGS. Contact to obtain maps and publication list re. Kilgallin research
April, 1999: Elgin County Branch OGS. Contact made to order copy of Holy Angels cemetery transcription book
May, 1999: National Library of Canada. Contact made through St. Albert Library under the inter-library loan program to order four books as follows; History of the Township of McGillivray, 1992; History of the County of Middlesex C.W.&C.L Goodspeed, 1889; St. Patrick's Quebec 1827-1933, Marianna O'Gallagher Carraig Books; Sure An This is Biddulph, Jenny Raycraft Lewis 1964.
June,1999: Ted Murphy Souris, Manitoba. Provided key data from private researcher regarding Andrew Murphy family in 1881 London census and Annie Murphy in 1901 St. Thomas census.
February, 2000; Website, Huron County Library. Contact made re. obtaining 1851 and 61 census McGillivray and Biddulph Townships.
May, 2001:Website of St. Patrick's de Quebec. Search for contact to write to re. cemetery information
June, 2001: Father McAulay Pastor St. Patrick's Quebec City. To solicit information on Quebec City cemeteries.
June, 2001: University of Western Ontario, London. Contact by email to access 1854 Huron court record r. Patrick Kilgallin
June. 2001: Knights of Columbus New Haven Connecticut. Contact by letter and email to obtain records of Michael Murphy as member and confirmation/authentication of Knights uniform in old C.M. Hayes photograph
July, 2001 Marianna O'Gallagher, Author Carraig Book.Contact by letter based on recommendation from Father McAulay above re. cemetery information Quebec City
October, 2001:Wesite Elgin County Branch OGS. Contact made re search for death of Rosana Loughlin
January, 2002: Website London-Middlesex Branch OGS, volunteer Dennis Mulligan. Contact to request fee for service researcher to search London newspapers for Catherine Murphy death in 1919.
February, 2002: Archdiocese of Detroit website to obtain address or phone number re. inquiry on Irish Catholic cemeteries in Detroit in 1920
March, 2002: Diocese of London. Written contact re. burial records for Catherine Murphy
March, 2002: Peter and Paul Jesuit church Detroit. Written/email contact requesting records of Michael or James Murphy burial record if found
March, 2002; Website Elgin County Branch OGS, volunteer Bob Moore. Contact to solicit fee for service researcher to search St. Thomas city directories and land/estate records for Annie/Michael Murphy and family 1899-1925
August, 2002: Vanished Villages of Middlesex, Jennifer Grainger 2002
August, 2002: Website Archdiocese of Lansing, Michigan. Contact by email to obtain information on Catholic cemeteries and burials in Jackson, Michigan re. Michael Joseph Murphy
September, 2002: City of Detroit. Visit to seek information and photograph Mount Elliot and Olivet Catholic cemeteries and Peter and Paul church.
August, 2003: Diane's Genealogy Ferndale (Detroit) Michigan. Contact by internet search and website/email/mail to conduct Detroit area research in search of death/burial of Michael Joseph Murphy.
September, 2003: Registrar Ontario. Written application for death certificate Margaret Helen Murphy
November, 2003: Website Doris Bourrie. Contact to retain fee for service research re. John and Bridget Feely in Quebec
November, 2003: Website Flint Public Library. Contact requesting obituary search of local newspapers fo Joseph Murphy, died Oct 29 1920
January, 2004: Website Archdiocese of Lansing. Contact by email to seek information on which Catholic churches in Flint existed in 1920 re possible burial of Joseph Murphy
February, 2004: Website City of Flint. Contact to download maps of the city and location of Sloan Museum and Buick Gallery, Gracelawn cemetery and accommadation
February, 2004: Website Flint Genealogical Society. Contact to search site death lists for Joseph Murphy, locate Buick Gallery holdings of Loss Funeral Home records
February,2004: St. Matthew's church Flint. Letter received re. burial record for Joseph Murphy
February, 2004; St. Mary's church Flint. email advising on burial record for Joseph Murphy
May,2004: Gracelawn cemetery Flint, Michigan. Visit to cemetery to see Joseph's grave and probe for marker and arrange for stone marker
May,2004: Buick Gallery and Research Centre Flint. Visit to inspect Loss Funeral Home records re Joseph's 1920 burial
May, 2004: Registrar Ontario. re death certificate Margaret Helen Murphy
June, 2004: Detroit Public Library re. authentication of uniform in Michael Murphy photograph by C.M.Hayes
June, 2004: St. Michael church Flint, Michigan re Michael Murphy burial
June, 2004: Website Industrial Mutual Association Burton, Michigan re record of insurance policy for Joseph Murphy died in Flint Oct 29 1920
June, 2004: Website Kettering University Flint Michigan. Contact re archival records for insurance policy by IMC on Joseph Murphy
November, 2004: Website Hotel Dieu Quebec City. re. information on original stone Facade of St. Patrick's de Quebec incorporated in new structure
November, 2004: Website Histoquest.ca. re research for fee work for grave of Bridget Feely(Coronan) Montreal area
November, 2004: Website Backtracks re. fee for service search services for living,burial/death information for Margaret Helen Murphy in Toronto
May, 2005: Website Catholic Knights. Contact re uniform in photograph of Michael Murphy
May, 2005: Website Irish Genealogical Society of Michigan. Contact re. uniform in photograph reference the Detroit Knights of Equity