There is a fairly large 'gap' in dates of births an other logical things during the 1800's. It was only in 1752 that England adopted what the rest of the world already had done. This was the Gregorian Calendar. Pope Gregory XIII ordered that 10 days be dropped out of the calendar, thus restoring the equinox to it's accustomed date, March 21. It's a long and hard to digest, chapter in "Searching for Your Ancestors; The how and why of Genealogy". To make a long story short.............England, after all other countries had already done, finally said Ok, today is September 2, tomorrow will be September 14! (Leave it to them......) It caused riots and the like all over the UK. However, it put the equinox back in it's correct place. Therefore, many dates are 'take your pick' during that time period. From what I have read, it took a good while for EVERYONE to adopt the changes. This also included Ireland. So, for about 80 years after 1752, your best guess at someone's birth date is 'within 10 days forward or backward' from the date the paperwork states. So, don't get yourself crazy about 'exact' anything. Hope this helps someone. Deirdra ----- Original Message ----- From: <wdebmurphy@att.net> To: <IRL-CORK-CITY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2003 10:53 PM Subject: [IRL-CORK-CITY] Moses MURPHY and family circa 1800-1850, Cork City > There was once a fine fellow named Moses-----Moses MURPHY-----who, despite > his > biblical name, alas, went astray. > He was arrested in Cork City for larceny of lead (the metal) in 1848. (During > the famine ----- or is that not an adequate excuse?) He may have lived in > Great George's Street at the time. > After 3 years in prison, he was transported in July 1851 to Tasmania where, > after some years, he died. > The public records say that he was 40 years old when he was arrested, 3 July > 1848, which, if literally accurate, suggests a birthdate between 4 July 1807 > and 2 July 1809. (Did I get that right?) > The record of his arrival in Tasmania on 31 October 1851 say that his wife (no > name shown) had been dead for 5 years (1846?) and that his 2 children were in > the Cork Poor Union. That record listed his age as 44, which suggests a > birthdate between 3 July and 31 October 1807. (??) > However, his death record in Tasmania (4 November 1863) lists age as 60 (born > 1803?). So his birthdate seems afloat between 1803 and 1809. > As fetching as it is, Moses MURPHY seems not to be an everyday name. My > interest in this showy-named felon stems from the possibility that he's the > daddy of my great-grandfather, Richard Francis MURPHY, who, at his marriage in > London in 1862, said that his father was Moses, a carpenter, and who said in > the 1871 British Census that he (Richard) was born in Cork. Was Richard one of > the two children left in the Cork Poor Union? > I'm sure that one of you wise and knowing listers has that answer right at your > fingertips! > Bill Murphy, Southampton, New York, USA > > > >