Patrick Moran – Irish Immigrant, and His Namesake

by David Parmer

The Voyage

The immigrant ship Wyoming of the Philadelphia Cope Line, full of sail, ploughed through troughs of stiff waves and tacked against the prevailing western winds of the north Atlantic in the winter of 1848. Bound for Philadelphia and sailing out of Liverpool, the sailing ship Wyoming was full of Irish immigrants fleeing the potato famine and hopeful that they would find prosperity in a new land. Facing a journey at sea of about a month, the Irish farmers were mostly steerage passengers and were not used to the unsteady footing of a sailing ship and being out of sight of land.

left above: The Jeanie Johnston, a replica of the original four masted barque that brought the Irish to America during the potato famine.

right: Irish immigrants on shipboard, leaving Liverpool, England.

below left: County Roscommon is in gold on the map of Ireland.

Three of the passengers on the Wyoming were natives of the parish Kilbride in County Roscommon, a landlocked central Irish farming county, whose largest body of water was Lough Ree and the Shannon River. Those three sea-faring Irish immigrants were Patrick Moran, a farm laborer, who was twenty five years of age and his wife, the former Catherine Tulley, the daughter of Michael and Sarah Tulley, who was twenty, according to the 1850 census, and their daughter Bridget, who was toddler. The Morans were looking forward to life in America and getting off the ship as soon as possible in Philadelphia. Also, aboard ship were Catherine’s parents, Michael and Sarah Tulley, and sons Michael, Martin and John who were also looking ahead to a life in a new land.

America and the Birth of John Moran

After disembarking from the Wyoming in Philadelphia in December 1848, not much is known about the travels of the Moran family from the Delaware River seaport, until the record of birth of John Moran, the first American born son of Patrick and Catherine (Tulley) Moran, who was born in Cumberland, Maryland on June 17, 1849. John was baptized on June 21, 1848 by Fr. B. Leonard Obermyer of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Cumberland.

A Time in Maryland

The descendants of Patrick Moran do not have a record of Patrick’s work activities in the western Maryland area. It is known however that many Irish immigrant families had found cheap land and had taken up farming, while other Irish immigrants found work on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad or with the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal which was in a race with the railroad to complete a connection to Cumberland. A short time before the arrival of the Patrick Moran family in America, the Baltimore and Ohio had won the race with the canal builders, and had stretched its tracks through Cumberland and was laying rails westward from that western Maryland town.

According to the 1850 census of Allegany County, Maryland, the Patrick and Catherine (Tulley) Moran family lived in dwelling 1,771. This dwelling is believed to have been in the Westernport, Maryland area. The members of the household were Patrick, head of household, aged 28, Catherine, aged 20, Bridget, aged 5, all of whom were born in Ireland, and John, aged 1, whom, as reported above, was born in Maryland. Margaret Tulley, aged 16, who was born in Ireland, was also a member of the household. The house closest to the Patrick Moran family, dwelling 1,770, was occupied by Catherine Moran’s parents and brothers: Michael Tulley, aged 61, his wife Sarah Tulley, aged 59, and sons Michael, Martin and John, aged 27, 19, and 11 respectively. All members of this household had been born in Ireland.

Patrick Moran, the Immigrant, Dies

Although no record could be found, it is believed that Patrick Moran died in 1855 at age 32 in Maryland when his wife was pregnant with their fourth child and third son whom Catherine named Patrick. The older three Moran children were Bridget, John, and Michael. John would become the father of Michael V. Moran, the Orlando undertaker; Michael would die at a young age; and Bridget would marry a Durkin from Philadelphia and lose touch with her West Virginia brothers. Catherine (Tulley) Moran was still a young woman when her husband died and her four children were all under the age of ten.

.
Catherine Re-Marries

After the birth of Patrick in 1855, Catherine married Michael

Farrell, a fellow Irish immigrant from Parish Kilgefin in County Roscommon. Kilgefin Parish bordered Catherine’s home parish of Kilbride. It is unknown when or where the marriage took place since the records of Allegany County, Maryland make no note of it. Although it is only speculation, it is possible that Michael Farrell was a widower and that the Farrell and Moran families were acquainted. On record in the book Western Maryland Catholics 1819-1851 by Phyllis Davidson and Richard Koch is a notation that Patrick Moran and Elizabeth Farrell were witnesses for the marriage of William Hussen and Bridget Tulley in February 1851. It is possible that the Elizabeth Farrell referenced may have been the wife of Michael Farrell, and had died, and that the Catherine, widow of Patrick Moran and Michael Farrell, the widower of Elizabeth Farrell, may later have married.

right: On this map of County Roscommon, Ireland, Kilbride Parish is the medium gray area and Kilgofin Parish is the dark gray area.

left: Western Virginia Lunatic Asylum

Construction of the

Western Virginia Lunatic Asylum

In the 1850s, the Commonwealth of Virginia appropriated substantial revenues to build a lunatic asylum in western Virginia at Weston. Since this ambitious plan entailed building the largest hand cut stone building in America, it required many laborers, stone masons and other tradesmen. Many Irishmen, newly immigrated to the United States, found employment in the construction of the asylum. Among those employed in Weston at the time of the 1860 census was Michael Tulley, who along with his wife Bridget, were enumerated by the census taker. Michael and Bridget Tulley show up later in the 1880 census as neighbors of the Michael Farrell and Catherine (Tulley) Moran-Farrell family on Ben’s Run. John and Bridget Tulley were also enumerated in 1860 in the Weston area and later according to the census in 1880 were living in the Three Lick area. The migration of Tulley families to the Lewis County area, as well as the John Farrell family which came to Lewis County in 1857, may well have enticed the Michael Farrell and Catherine (Tulley) Moran-Farrell family of western Maryland to join kinfolk in Lewis County.

Travel

By the late 1840’s, travel from the east had been greatly improved over the former Indian trails of the earlier generation. The Northwestern Turnpike which originated in Winchester, Virginia passed through the Cumberland, Maryland area on its way to Parkersburg and was completed in the 1850’s, although it was constantly in a state of continuing work to improve or repair it. The Staunton and Parkersburg Turnpike which originated in Staunton, Virginia with a destination of Parkersburg, was in the process of construction when the Moran family was living in the Cumberland area. The route of this road included Beverley, in Randolph County, Buckhannon and Weston. Migrating families in the 1850’s therefore had some ease of travel by the time the Moran family decided to re-locate from Maryland to Lewis County.

.
The Orlando Community

Weston land speculators owned large tracts of remote hilly land in southwestern Lewis County and eastern Doddridge County in the mid 1850’s and were enticing Irish immigrants to those counties with favorable terms on the purchase of small farms. It is known that a number of Irish immigrants who first settled in the western Maryland area later came to southern Lewis County because of more favorable farming conditions, owing greatly to a milder climate. Among the Irish immigrants to take advantage of the offers of cheap land that could be paid for on time was the Tulley family, relatives of Catherine (Tulley) Moran, and the John Farrell family, as well as other families of County Roscommon with whom the Tulley, Farrell and Moran families were undoubtedly familiar. .

.

The George Arnold Deed: The Orlando Connection

Adding a little mystery about the connection of the immigrant Patrick Moran to Orlando is the fact that he purchased real estate at the head of Ben’s Run prior to his death and without apparently having lived on the land that he bought.

.

George J. Arnold was one of the real estate speculators of Weston who sold land to Irish immigrants in southern Lewis County and often sold the land on installment purchase. George J. Arnold and Patrick Moran entered into such an agreement for a one hundred acre tract at the head of Ben’s Run for the purchase price of two hundred eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents. The date of this agreement is unknown.

.

As stated elsewhere in this story, it is believed that Patrick Moran, the immigrant, died in Maryland around 1855 when his wife Catherine was pregnant with Patrick, Junior. By a deed dated September 3, 1859 , George J. Arnold conveyed to the heirs of Patrick Moran the one hundred acre tract at the head of Ben’s Run. Based upon the date of the deed and the believed date of death of Patrick Moran, it would appear that the installment purchase price for the land was possibly paid in full over roughly a five year period and after the death of Patrick Moran. Usually when land was purchased on an installment agreement in the mid -1800’s, the deed of conveyance was not prepared until the installment payments were completed. However, it is noted that the deed of conveyance was not notarized until 1869, a period of ten years after the date of the instrument. The date of notarization of the deed can mean one of two things: (1) the purchase installments were not completed until 1869, or (2) the installment payments were completed in 1859 but the grantees were still living in Maryland and not ready to take possession of the Lewis County land until 1869. As noted elsewhere in this story, the first record of the Moran-Farrell family living in Lewis County was the 1870 census enumeration which found the family living on Ben’s Run.

.
Another mystery brought to light by the 1859 deed to the heirs of Patrick Moran, the immigrant, is the fact that the deed was conveyed to Bridget, John, Michael, and Patrick, the known children of Patrick. However, the deed also references a full one-fifth share to “Margaret Moran.” No distinction is made in the deed between the known Moran children and Margaret. It is believed that Margaret Moran was actually Margaret Tulley, who was enumerated in the 1850 census of the Patrick Moran family, and listed as age 16, when they were living in Allegany County, Maryland. It is possible that Patrick had either formally or informally adopted Margaret and that she was considered as one of his children for purposes of the designation of his heirs. Whatever the case might be, Margaret later married George Bales of Philadelphia and lived in that city, as did Bridget Moran who had married William Durkin. Both Margaret and Bridget were living in Philadelphia in 1892.

The Farrell-Moran Family
Moves to Lewis County

The first mention of Michael Farrell and Catherine (Tulley) Moran-Farrell in Lewis County was in the 1870 census when they were recorded as living in the area of Ben’s Run. Close neighbors were the families of John Tulley, aged 50, Michael Tulley, aged 53 and Martin Tulley, aged 38, who are believed to be brothers of Catherine (Tulley) Moran-Farrell, who was aged 43, according to the 1870 census. John Tulley, Junior, aged 30, was living on Grass Run at that time. His near neighbor was Patrick Farrell, whose daughter Elizabeth married Patrick Dolan, patriarch of the Dolan family who operated the Dolan Hotel in Orlando. Patrick Farrell had come to Lewis County in 1857. It is believed that Patrick Farrell was the brother of Michael Farrell, the husband of Catherine (Tulley) Moran-Farrell.

.

Patrick Moran, Junior

The intent of this biographical sketch is to chronicle the story of Patrick Moran, the youngest child of Patrick Moran, the immigrant, and his wife, Catherine (Tulley) Moran. As indicated above, Patrick Moran Junior did not know his father who died a few months before he was born. The father figure in his life was his step-father Michael Farrell. In the 1870 census of Lewis County, Patrick, aged 15, and his brother John, aged 20, were still living with their mother and step-father. Older sister Bridget was no longer living with the family and presumably was married to Mr. Durkin of Philadelphia at the time. John would subsequently marry Margaret Griffin of Flesher’s Run in 1874.

.
In the 1880 census of Lewis County, Patrick who was then aged 23, according to the census taker, was still living with his mother Catherine and his step-father Michael Farrell on Ben’s Run. The census taker listed the family as being engaged in farming.

.

Patrick Gets Married

and Raises a Family

In 1881, Patrick married Mary Ann Murphy, the daughter of John and Anaseth (Woods) Murphy, at St. Bridget’s Church on Goosepen. Father John Tracy officiated at the wedding and subscribing witnesses were Thomas Feeney and Mary Ann Feeney. Patrick and Mary Ann took up residence in the Three Lick area, began farming and raising a family. They were particularly successful at the later pursuit and within a few years were the parents of ten children: Margaret, born in 1882; Bridget, born in 1884; Thomas, born 1886; Patrick, born 1888; John, born 1890; Michael, born 1891; Daniel, born 1894; Charles and his twin, William "Wick", born 1898; and Leo, born 1904.

.
Left, front row, L to R: Leo Moran, Patrick Moran, Mary Ann Murphy Moran Back Row, L to R: William "Wick" Moran, Charles Moran, Dan Moran, Tom Moran, John Vinson Moran, Bridget Irene Moran, Margaret Catherine Moran.

As did most of his neighbors, Patrick Moran carried on the occupation of farming. Hard workers, Patrick and Mary and their family were highly respected in the Orlando community and were successful farmers, which in those days was judged by whether you could feed your family, pay your taxes, and have a little left over to buy commodities which could not be raised on a central West Virginia farm. Patrick and Mary built a new, commodious two story house on Three Lick which served the family well over the next three decades.

Patrick and Mary (Murphy) Moran with Grandchildren
Back Row, L to R Ralph Posey, Gordon Posey, Mary Posey, Edna Posey, Addie McCauley (Dolan) (Cousin), Perry Posey
Front Row, L to R Joe Moran, Myrtle Posey, Mike Posey, Lucy Posey, Patrick Moran (Grandfather), Tommy Posey, Sterling Moran, Mary Murphy Moran (Grandmother), Johnny Moran (on lap), Leo Posey, Harry Posey

right below: Dan Moran in his WW1 uniform

As the children of the Patrick and Mary became older, they left Orlando for employment in other fields. The two older girls, Margaret and Bridget, married into the Posey family of Oil Creek. Margaret married Richard Posey and Bridget married Bruce Posey. The oldest son, Thomas was engaged in the oil and gas drilling business, as were his brothers Patrick, who re-located to Texas, and John, who worked first for the Gowing Veneer Mill in Burnsville and also later worked as a plumber in Burnsville and with the West Virginia Water Company. Daniel, after serving in the American Army during World War I, lived in Allentown, Pennsylvania and worked for the Central Railroad of New Jersey. Charles worked for Hazel-Atlas Glass Company of Clarksburg. His twin brother Wick stayed on in Orlando and worked the family farm but eventually moved to Akron and worked for Firestone Rubber. Leo, the youngest child of Patrick and Mary lived in Fairmont and worked for Hess Transfer. Michael, the third son of Patrick and Mary, died at a young age
.

above left: Bridget (Moran) Posey and Margaret (Moran) Posey
above, right: John Vincent and Myrtle (Knight) Moran
left: Charles Moran, glass worker in Clarksburg, who married Mona Marple
below left: Wick Moran, father of young William who died of appendicitis.

Old timers of Orlando will remember Wick Moran’s son, William, who died of appendicitis as a young boy while a student at the Orlando School, and whose funeral was one of the largest in Orlando’s history. Helen Jeffries, a school classmate of William, recalls that he was always smiling and was such a nice boy. Helen also recalls that the funeral at Mt. Zion Methodist Church "was packed and there wasn’t a dry eye in the place." .

Death Visits

Catherine (Tulley) Moran-Farrell who was known as "Aunt Kitty" to her family and the Orlando neighborhood died on August 25, 1889. She was seventy-three years of age at her passing. Her husband, Michael Farrell died in 1899.
.

Patrick Moran passed away during his sixty-seventh year in 1922 while still living on the Three Lick farm. His widow, Mary, moved into Weston and lived with her son Thomas until her death in 1934. Patrick and Mary were buried in the church cemetery at St. Michael’s on Flesher’s Run. When the Burnsville Dam was built, their graves at St. Michael’s were moved, along with the whole cemetery, to the Little Kanawha Memorial Gardens at Heaters.

.
right: Thomas Moran
left: the grave stone of Patrick and Mary Ann (Murphy) Moran

The gravestone of Patrick and Mary Murphy Moran in the Heaters cemetery is not the only reminder of the time of the Patrick Moran family in Orlando. At the ancestral home of Patrick’s son, John, and his wife Myrtle, in Burnsville, is a natural stone chair which was found by John when he was a boy, on the hill above the Patrick Moran home on Grass Run. The large rock chair was carried off the hill by young John and a brother and was used as a lawn ornament at the Moran home on Grass Run. When the Patrick Moran home on Grass Run was sold, John brought the stone chair to his home in Burnsville where it reposes to this day, over one hundred years from its discovery.

NOTE about Patrick Moran:

Some difficulty is always expected when researching the history of a family using census records. Census takers were sometimes not the most literate of recorders of family history. Too, the families who gave information to the census takers often merely guessed at ages and frequently used nicknames rather than formal given names in identifying members of households. The writer believes there are some factual inconsistencies with regard to names and ages in the census records relied upon for this story and apologizes for any repeated errors.

Some of the information in this story is given by way of family tradition and was passed down over the generations.

comment 1:

According the United States government records, in the year 1848, 173,744 Irish immigrated to the United States . In 1849, 204,771 additional Irish immigrants came to this country. Between the years 1830-1860, approximately two million Irish, over half of Ireland’s population, set sail for America.

comment 2:

On the far right of this detail from a photo of Beham Henline's funeral in 1912 are Perry Posey with his father-in-law Patrick Moran. On the left is a closeup of that detail, showing Perry Posey and Patrick Moran. ( Perry Scott Posey was the son of Benjamin and Cynthia (Robinson) Posey, grandson of pioneers Edward and Catherine (Scott) Posey.

See the complete photo at Beham Henline's Funeral.