The Origin of The Muldrew’s
Muldrew Coat of Arms
The following brief history was provided by James F. Muldrew of England.
Over the years there has been much speculation in my family as to the origins of the Muldrew surname; Scots, French Hugenot and Dutch have all been suggested. From my own research I have little doubt that it is native Irish. One thing is certain, it is extremely rare in Ireland. I only know of two distinct family lines, and each of them come from the same small geographical area in county Armagh in Northern Ireland.
So far as I can tell the name is an Anglicised form of the Gaelic, O’Maoldoraidh, pronounced O – Moil-Dre, a pronunciation which survived in county Armagh until forty years ago and which means descendant of the servant of a recalcitrant king. They came from Tyreconnel, which is now part of the modern County Donegal in the Irish Republic. Though still very rare there are still traces of them to this day on the Atlantic coast near the town of Donegal. Their rarity is due to two factors; they were all but wiped out some nine hundred years ago in a local battle in Donegal; and perhaps more speculatively, one family moved from Tyreconnel to Armagh following the flight of the last of the native Irish Earls in the early seventeenth century and the confiscation of their lands by the crown, at which time the O’Maoldraidh name was Anglicised, like those of others and they changed their religion to Protestant, becoming Protestant being the only way native Irish were able to hold land in any quantity or of any quality.
There may have been two original families occupying two farms at Teemore in the 1860s, near Tandragee in County Armagh. I do know that two younger sons left for America in 1858 (Andrew [Archibald? ed.]) and 1860 (David) and others, whose names I do not know, left for New Zealand, Australia and Canada, while the elder brothers William – my great grandfather, and John his brother or cousin, remained.
I suspect that most if not all the Muldrews spread throughout the world may originate in the first instance from Tyreconnel and then from Teemore near Tandragee County Armagh in more modern times.
More from the Muldrow Newsletter John McMuldrough provided the following account for Molley McManus- Muldrow on the Muldrow Newsletter
Maolruanaidh O`Maoldaraighe first assumed the surname. His Great Great grandfather was Maoldarach( “darach”:Irish an oak) a quo O`Maoldaraighe. In 1027 Maolruanaid went on a pilgrimage to Rome. In Marie Flanaghans book “Irish Society Anglo Norman Settlers Angevin Kingship” .Clarendon Press 1989 it states on page 11 that he died in Rome in 1027.
1011 After a coordinated military and naval battle against Mael Doraid, king of Cenel Conaill MD submitted to Brian Boruma and was taken to Kincora were he accepted a large stipend from BB and “made complete submission to him”. p177 of Flanaghans book.
Maolruanaidh had a brother Criochan and his great great grand son was Flaithbertach Mael Doraid
1181 Brian Luignech and Aed, sons of Toirrdelbach Ua Conchobair were defeated and killed by Flaithbertach, King of Cenel Conaill, ally of Donnchad. “A New History of Ireland” viii “A Chronology of Irish History to 1976″ Part I. Oxford
1182 Flaithbertach is defeated by Ruaidri Ua Conchobair.
1185 Ruaidri Ua Flaithbertaig, contestant for kingship of Cenel Eogain was killed by Flaithbertach.
1188 Flaithbertach kills Ruaidri Ua Canannain at Sligo
1197 Flaithbertach dies on Inis Saimer succ. by Echmarcach Ua Dochartaig. ” The Annals of the Four Masters” describes Flaithbertach’s death as follows: ” Flaherty O`Muldory, Lord of Kinel-Connell and Kinel Owen, and Oriel defender of Tara heir presumptive to the sovereignty of all Ireland, a Connell in heroism, A Cuchullin in valour a Guave in hospitalty and a McLughan in feats of arms, died on Inis Saimer on the second day of February, after a long and patient suffering, in the 30th year of his reign and the 59th of age, and was interred at Drumhome with due honour”.
1203 Domnall Carrach Ua Mael Doraid was killed in an attempt to win the kingship of Cenel Conaill with support of Meiler, son of Meiler fitz Henry, and the de Nangles. (Thereafter the family falls into obscurity – John’s note)
On p14 of “A New History of Ireland” II Medieval Ireland 1169 – 1534 Oxford 1987 it states “Their former dynastic rivals, the Cenel Connaill, were confined to Tir Conaill, the diocese of Raphoe; by the end of the century their royal families of Ua Mael Doraid and Ua Cannannain had so exhausted each other in internecine feuding that they were replaced first by Ua Taircheirt and then Ua Dochartaig, until in the 13th century Ua Domnaill (O`Donnell) obtained the monopoly….until the passing of the old order in 1603”.
John’s note- Cenel is Irish for Clan; Ua is the old Irish form of “O”; Muldory is an anglisized version of 0`Maoldaraighe. It is clear the Muldragh, Muldarach follow the original gaelic. It is clear to me that our Surname in all its forms is extremely old.
The United Kingdom Branch
From Will Muldrew of Milton Keynes, England:
My name is William James Muldrew. I’ve just finished at Rugby School where I held a scholarship, and am taking a year out before I go to university at Imperial College in London, probably to do physics. I’m currently working full-time at a small computer science R&D company specialising in computational intelligence, although how I got the job I cannot figure! The company is literally next door to me so it’s a case of rolling out of bed and 9.25 in the morning! I’m heavily involved in music, having played bass guitar in a few bands, and my double bass in my county youth orchestra. I’m looking forward to a Cyprus tour in the spring which has been paid for by their government but it may be rather hot, and the Muldrews over here are rather fair skinned!
I have a sister – Beth Muldrew. She’s 17 in January and is currently at Charterhouse school near London. She’s also into music and plays the cornet and also the trumpet in the county youth orchestras.
My Dad (James Ferguson Muldrew) was born and brought up in Co. Down. As I said, his father was a grocer – T.F.Muldrew – and owned quite a successful shop back in the 30s and 40s. Unfortunately my grandad died before I was born and so I know little of him. My grandma, Jeanette, moved over to England in the 70s, but she passed away last summer.
My Mum (Vivien Muldrew), although not a blood Muldrew, was brought up in Zimbabwe, and was the daughter of an R.A.F pilot and a nurse. Although I never met her father, her mother is still alive and well and emigrated to England about 10 years ago.
The Canadian Branch
The Victoria settlement (by way of New Zealand) from Mrs Leila Muldrew, Victoria, BC, Canada.Her connecting ancestor being Henry Muldrew who was one of the sons of Hugh Muldrew and Mary Jane Heaney. She says in her letter that it “appears that Henry was left in Ireland in the care of his maternal grandparents after his mom died while his other five siblings journeyed to NZ to join their father. Henry emigrated to Victoria BC c 1906, and worked for his uncle Joseph Heaney who started a horse and dray business here in 1890.”
Henry Muldrew was born on 11 March 1885 at Ballynagarrich Co Down N Ireland. He married Elizabeth (Cissy) Ward and they had five children. Joseph Henry Ward (Leila’s late husband), Mora Mary Jane, William Albert, Gerald Douglas and George Hubert.
The Ontario Settlement
I should know more about this, but I don’t. My sincere apologies to all my close relatives for not remembering the stuff that’s missing. Also, I’m just kludging this together, so some of the easy stuff is just missing because I haven’t got to it yet.
Archibald Muldrew Sr., from Kilcon, near Mount Norris, Armagh, Ireland, settled on Lot 8, Con.2 (N) Clarke Twp, in l861.( Clarke Twp. Is on the north shore of Lake Ontario about 45 miles east of Toronto) He had five children: Archibald Jr., William, James, Margaret (Mrs. David Gray) who died in Victoria, B.C. and David (my Great-Great Grandfather – ed.)
Archie’s homestead
From some of the information on Molley McManus-Muldrow’s newsletter, the most likely scenario leading up to Archibald Sr. seems to be:
William was Principal of Gravenhurst High School in 1901 (Gravenhurst Ontario is in the Muskoka region , near Georgian Bay and Muldrew Lake is named for him – – take a look) He was also Dean of Macdonald College, Guelph Ontario in 1903 and 1904 and died in office in 1904.
Archibald Muldrew Jr. married and lived at Elizabethville, Ont. He had eight children, Violet (d.l966) Wilhelmina and Hannah in California: Lawrence retired in Elizabethville;: Agnes Anette (Mrs. Russell Savery) of Starkville, William – Oshawa, Stanley – Whitby, and Gordon who died in infancy. William and John Muldrew were listed as merchant and tailor in l85l and l865 on Lot 8 Con 2 but could have been in the village.
James Muldrew lived on the family farm at Elizabethville Ontario (about 15 miles north east of the original family settlement in Clarke Twp.). This is a very picturesque area with rolling hills, a trout stream running through the property with deer rabbit etc. often seen. He had two sons, Orville and Harvey. Harvey Muldrew’s son has inherited his grandfather’s farm and lives on it. Orville’s two sons -John and William (Bill) still live on the farm next door. All of the children of Archibald Jr. are now deceased. The eldest son of Archibald Jr. was Lawrence, (Marilyn Evelyn’s father), Violet married Wm. Walter, no children: Wilhelmina never married, Hannah married Harry Fowlie, had two sons and moved to California (her grandson is also working on family tree). William married and had one son who died at birth. Annette had one daughter, Betty Bothwell living in Wasaga Beach Ont. Stanley never married.
David Muldrew (1854-1939) married Margaret (Maggie) Walters (1855 -1922) of Port Granby. (She had three sisters: Susanna (Mrs. Jared Kimball) and Mary Jane (Mrs. Symons Wade) both of Port Granby and Mrs. John Chestnut, Fortuna, California.) David taught school in Starkville and other Ontario schools before l880, joined the Newtonville L.O,L, No. 3ll in March l876 and remained active in this Order as well as in municipal affairs and agricultural organizations. Was member of Presbyterian Church. In l882 he moved to Virden Man., where he worked for the C.P.R. for a year then settled on a homestead. Their first child, Alfred William, born in 1889 married Jessie McTavish, May 24, 1922. The second child, Cecil, died in WWI. Their other children were Agnes Evelyn, Edmund, and Walter.
Alfred moved to Winnipeg to become a teacher, and eventually a school principal. Alfred and Jessie had five boys and one girl in Winnipeg. Cecil (1923), Jim (1925), Milton (1927), Fraser (1929), Lucille (1931) and Don (1934).
Cecil remained in Winnipeg to become a teacher and, also, a school principal. Cec married Eva Harvey and they had three children: Dennis, Betty, and Larry.
Cecil married Margaret Maier in 2001. Dennis is a school teacher and has recently left Fort Assiniboine in Northern Alberta and moved to the Banana Belt in south central Saskatchewan. He teaches Math/Computers in Glentworth just north of the east block of the Grasslands National Park.
Larry lives in Winnipeg with his wife Gail. They have three children: Dawn, Nicole, and LeAnne. Dawn lives in Red Deer now.
Betty lives in Winnipeg with her husband Hank Lodewyks and their four children: Colleen, Jan, Paul, and Michael.
Jim became an entomologist and married Gwen Munro. They had four children, Craig (1959), Ken (1962), Shawn (1965), and Sandy (1967). They moved to Edmonton, Alberta in 1970.
Craig is professor of history at Cambridge University, Cambridge, England.
Ken is a professor of biophysics at the University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta. He married Terry Thain (nee Hayes) in 1991 and assumed co-stewardship of Terry’s daughters Colleen (1978) and Jennifer Thain (1980). Ken and Terry had Nicole in 1992.
Shawn is a computer engineer and lives in Edmonton, Alberta. He married Kristan MacLoed in 1997. They have two daughters, Edie (1999) and Nellie (2001).
Sandy works for the CBC in Edmonton as a video editor and also runs a video rental store that specializes in old movies (you know: grainy, black and white, sort of a ‘Kiss Me Deadly’ look)
Milton became a school teacher as well, and married Grace Rempel. They also had four children, Ruth (1957), Sheila (1958), Ross (1960) and Sharon (1967). Milton married JoAnne Kutcher in 1987
Ruth works in public relations and lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick with her Walter. She has discovered the internet and can no longer participate in real life.
Sheila lives in Winnipeg with her husband Craig Mensforth. They are both computer programmers/analysts and have three kids: Alexandra (Ally 1988), Cameron (1990) and Evan (1992).
Ross lives in Winnipeg with his wife Roberta, they have two girls: Shauna (1985) and Angie (1987).
Sharon married Tom Penner in 1995; Sharon is teaching English as a Second Language and Tom is teaching English at the University of Winnipeg. They have one child, George, born in 1997.
Fraser became a minister and married Marion McCutcheon. They had four children: David (1960), Fiona (1963), Rod (1965) and Pat (1969).
David is doing farming and construction work.
Fiona is teaching near Anola and started a co-housing project in 2003 (3 households share 80 acres of mostly bush on the beautiful rushing Hazel Creek). Her son Aandeg (A.J.) was born in 1998.
Rod and Patwork for Arrow Graphics in Toronto.
Lucille married David Hunter and they had 2 girls, Marnie (1956) and Linda (1958). Lucille later married John Andrews; they live in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Marnie lives on the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, and has three sons: Merlin Naylor (1979), Martin Bullock (1987) and Max Bullock (1989)
Linda lives in Vancouver with her husband Russell Stephens. They have three daughters, Madeleine (1990), Sadie (1993), and Juliette (1995).
Don (1934) became an ionospheric physicist and married Pat Fuller (1941) in 1960. Don moved to Ottawa in 1957 and Pat moved to Ottawa from Medicine Hat in 1958. Pat and Don both worked for the Defence Research Board when they met. They have three children: Shannon (1962), Linda (1964), and Andrea (1967).
Shannon graduated from Queens and Lakehead Universities in psychology and is now a pharmaceutical representative. She married Luc Boulay in 1996. He has almost completed his PhD in experimental psychology. They live in Ottawa and have two sons: Liam (1997) and Avery (1999).
Linda graduated from Birmingham Dental School in England and is now a dental hygienist in Kingston, Ontario. She married Brent Tureski in 2000; he is a nurse working at the Kingston penitentiary. They live in Perth, Ontario.
Andrea graduated from Wilfrid Laurier and Fort Kent (Maine) Universities in education. She is presently a supply teacher. She married Sean Kennedy in 1996 who is a Conservation Officer. They live near Perth in an 1860 farm house. They have two children: Juliet (1997) and Andrew (2000).
The Beach
The Winnipeg Clan have always spent the summers of their youth, and many more, at the beach; Victoria Beach on Lake Winnipeg. For us, the beach is an integral part of being Muldrew; our young lives sometimes intersected and mostly ran parallel, often separated by years or even generations, but tied together by the common thread of shared experience. It is a bond built on memories and meetings, and it is so central to our shared identity, that I will have more to say about it when I find some time (I encourage others to contribute as well). Victoria Beach
The American Branch
A brief note from Tara Muldrew of Fort Worth, Texas, USA:
My Great-Great Grandfather, Issac Muldrew arrived here in 1863 as a freedman from what I now know is, the County of Armagh. He established himself in Emmit, Arkensas and married a woman named Dora. I’m still unsure of how many sons he had, but my Great- Grandfather Alec, also married a woman named Dora. My father always told me that my Grandfather Jake never talked about his family, so it is unknown how many brothers he had. I have found evidence of three. there was a family reunion a few years ago and one of them have compiled it together in a family album. I have it at home (Forth Worth Texas).
The confusing part is that Issac was a freedman, and when he arrived he wasn’t sold back into slavery. I want to know if our family had that much clout when they arrived, or was he “passale” (black, but light enough they couldn’t tell the difference. My mother’s father was mixed, and they had a lot when they were growing up, because no one knew my grandfather was black, until they met my grandmother. Intriguing huh?
The New Zealand Branch
From Max Muldrew, whom you see beneath this section.
James and Ruth Muldrew left Ireland and arrived in New Zealand in August 1874 with seven of their Children and a nephew. There appears to be some doubt about whether the nephew Nicholas Muldrew actually was assisted and sponsored by his uncle or not. Recent research suggests that his two sisters also came out at the same time. One Annie Jane Muldrew who later married in Northern Ireland Colin McLachlan. It is also believed that Annie Jane came out in the place of Margaret Muldrew her cousin who stayed in Northern Ireland.
They were later joined by their oldest son Hugh Muldrew, while their daughter Margaret stayed in Ireland and later married a Mr Clarke.
After arriving in Oamaru James Muldrew secured a job with the Hon. Mathew Holmes and they lived near where he worked on what is now known as Holmes’s Hill. Four years later in 1878 James and William bought 50 acres of land at Maheno about seven miles south of Oamaru where they lived for the remainder of their lives. Over the years the original farm was added to and remained in the family up until 1973 when it was sold.
James Muldrew was born in 1817 and his father was Hugh Muldrew and his mother was Margaret Thomson. Ruth Steele was born in 1825 and her father was William Steele and her mother was Mary S Donald.
Their children are as follows, Hugh Muldrew born in County Armagh, Northern Ireland in 1847, died 24-10-1919 in Maheno NZ. Elizabeth Muldrew, Margaret Muldrew, Mary Muldrew born 12-12-1853, Sarah Muldrew born 1854 in Northern Ireland and married Nicholas Muldrew then George Campbell then married Charles Adam. William James Muldrew born 10-12-1856 in Ballymacanuallen County Down, Northern Ireland, married Agnes McLeod, Ruth Muldrew, Martha Muldrew and Esther Muldrew.
James Muldrew was a Presbyterian Minister with a string of degrees and doctorates behind his name. At the age of fifty he gave up his ministry ( possibly because “he did not approve of the singing of hymns in church) and went farming in Northern Ireland, then at the age of fifty eight he then emigrated to New Zealand.
William James Muldrew married Agnes McLeod a neighbour who was the first born of James McLeod and Jane Morton of Springhills, Kakanui. Agnes was born on the good ship Cheviot enroute to New Zealand from Scotland and arrived here in 1862. They had eleven children James, Hugh, William, John, Agnes, Robert, Jean, Ruth, David, Andrew and Morton. John married Ruth Knox Chapman and had three children Ian James Muldrew, Alison Agnes Muldrew and Ruth Knox Muldrew. Ian married Eunice Isobel Ledley and they had four children Maxwell Ian Muldrew (the provider of this edited genealogy), Jan Christine Muldrew, Adair Denise Muldrew and Christopher John Muldrew.
The above is a brief comment on the family from Max. He has 2333 names in a genealogy programme on his computer. Max is also President of the South Canterbury branch of the Clan MacLeod Society and is the New Zealand President and Chief of the Society.
Muldrow Family History
Variations: McMuldrough, Muldrough, McMuldroch, McMuldrow, McMuldro, Muldrou, Muckldrough, McMuldrew, Muldrove, Mulder
References Page
Muldrow Family Tree (descendents of John of SC) Descendents of Andrew of W. Virginia/Kentucky
The Muldrew Family Info from Ken Muldrew’s page
This is the Muldrow (et variations) History as compiled by John McMuldroch
The Origin of the Family Name
It is the view of Edward McLysaght (former Chief Herald of Ireland ), Cairney etc. that McMuldroch/ Muldrow/ Muldrew etc are variants of O`Maoldaraighe (O`Muldory, O`Mulderry) a Donegal name prominent in the 10th, 11th and 12th Centuries and a founding family of the O`Donnell Clan. John Harts “Irish Pedigrees” refers to O`Muldory in the Mulroy pedigree as an ancestor of O`Maoldaraighe descended from Anmire son of Seadneach brother of Fergus who is No91 in the O`Donnell pedigree. No 100 in the Mulroy pedigree is Maoldarach (darach is Irish for oak; a quo O`Maoldaraighe). Cairney in his book “Clans and Families” of Ireland and Scotland” considers Muldrew and Muldragh to be linked to O`Muldory and part of the O`Donnell Clan or more accurately Cinel Connell or Clan Connell of which St Columba was a famous member.
The Family in Scotland
McMuldroch/McMuldrow have been associated with Galloway in SW Scotland for some considerable period of time. The earliest reference is 1538 but a local historian considers the family were in Galloway well before that. The family were mainly tenant farmers on lands owned by the Stewarts and the Gordons. There are three branches of the family which have been connected:
Minnigaff McMuldrochs
Minnigaff is a small village on the banks of the River Cree in Wigtownshire, SW Scotland. The earliest record of a McMuldroch in this area is 1538. A Charter referring to the Carrick area (close to Minnigaff) mentions Wil. Makmulzeroch in Little Ferding. Mr Truckell a well known expert on the Galloway area and its families is of the view that this is a variant of McMuldroch. Black in his Surnames of Scotland says that in Mid Scots “lz” is pronounced “ll” as in the French “Mouille”. Other examples Archibald MacMulyeroch servitor to George Stewart of Baltersane 1605, Alexander McMulzerdoch who signed the national covenant list in 1638 in Minnigaff and Bessie McMulzeroch mentioned in a Will in 1592. The Archibald mentioned above also spelt his name McMuldeoch (1631) and Murdoche (1621). In my view the name at this time was McMulderoch (cf Maoildaraighe).
Mr. Truckell is of the view that McMuldroch was in Galloway much earler than 1538. All the Galloway surname references of the last century refer to McMuldrow and McMuldroch as variants of the same surname. Trotter in his book “Galloway Gossip”1901 describes the name as follows:-
“Usual Wey McMuldroch/ Familiarly Muldroch/ Genteel Wey Muldrow.”
“Macs in Galloway” a paper published in 1888 spells the name “McMuldroch – row”.
Minnigaff was in the heart of the Old Galloway nation which was a kingdom between 1000 – 1235.
There are only three McMuldrochs left in the area. Betty McMuldroch is the eldest and lives in Minnigaff. She can trace her family back to the 1690s. The name appears frequently in the the Parish registers of Minnigaff and Penningham for births, deaths and marriages. It also appears in the Kirk Session Records. This was the church court. Examples are;-
Jan 29th 1695 George McMuldroch in Minnigaff was detailed as a breaker of the solemn fast by threshing corn.
Feb 10th 1734 Janet McMuldroch in Minnigaff guilty of fornication by being with child to John McCammond.Kilmarnock McMuldrochs
Betty’s Gr Gr Gr grandfathers brother was a John McMuldroch (born 1777) who moved to Colmonel in Ayrshire, Scotland and eventually on to Kilmarnock which is a major town in Ayrshire. George McMuldroch who was born in Kilmarnock in 1805 had eight children. One of the children of his son John, Archibald moved to the US. He had four children Marion, Margaret, Jean and John. Another son had one son called Peter who moved to Canada in 1909. George also had a son Robert who was born in 1844. His son John moved to Liverpool to start a carpet cleaning business. Johns eldest son Robert was a Major in the Liverpool Scottish and fought at the Battle of the Somme in the 1914-18 War as did his younger brother Archibald who was in the Liverpool Kings Regiment.
In the 1880s a James McMuldrow lived in Kirkcudbright near Minnigaff . He had four sons Peter, Charles , George and Alexander.The son Peter lived in London most of his life. He married Blanche Ethel….. and had a son and two daughters. The son was Peter McMuldrough, and the daughters were Blanche Helen Annie McMuldrow and Betty Mitchell McMuldrow.
The Witch
Janet McMuldroch was burnt at the Stake in Dumfries 1671 for witchcraft. The court records are very detailed. Nine people gave evidence against her for amongst other things making their cows dry or killing their children.
The Family in Ireland
The distribution of the Muldrews in Ireland during the 16th & 17th century
In the Annals of the Four Masters there are lots of references to O`Maoldaraighe and O`Muldory. They were Princes of Tirconnel (Donegal).The last famous member was Flaherty O`Muldory , described as Lord of Kinel Connell and Kinel Owen and heir presumptive to the throne of Ireland. He died in 1197 at the age of 59. After that date the family fall into obscurity with the O`Donnell side of the clan becoming more prominent. In my view the family of our many name variations (which is not uncommon for Gaelic names) moved east settling in County Down and Armagh. Muldrew and Muldragh still exist in Armagh and County Down. From County Down the family moved to the US and much earlier a branch moved to Scotland. There was frequent movement between Galloway and Ireland and many of the Clans in the West of Scotland are of Irish origin.
Go to the records pages for Muldrew to view records of Births, Marriages and Burials.
The Family in the U.S.
There was a Major Hal Eustace in the 1950s whose mother was a Muldrow. What follows is quoted from his letters of the ’50s:
“As I stated previously the American Muldrows apparently came from Ballynahinch, County Down, Northern Ireland about 1730. With them at Ballynahinch were McElroy and Irvine families and those families apparently came to America with the Muldrows. The families were much intermarried through the years of being together in America and Ireland”
Hal had found three early implantations of Muldrows in America but suspected there was a fourth. Andrew Muldrough living in Virginia as early as 1745. His sons were John and Hugh. Hugh Muldroh lived about the same time in Pencader Hundreds of New Castle County. Delaware, near the eastern shore. His sons were Andrew, John, David and probably Robert. This branch had male members as late as 1825.
The third branch is the family of John Muldrough who was living on the Pee Dee River, Darlington District as early as 1763. This John had two wives. His first wife was Mary McLauchlin his second was Mrs Adam Cussack (nee Frances Orum). He had three daughters and sons John, William, David, Andrew, James, Hugh and Samuel. Descendants of this John had a small whetstone inscribed ” J.McMuldroch- Bellynahinch-1706″. Ballynahinch is in County Down, Northern Ireland.
“The descendants of the Andrew Muldrough above, of Virginia are the ones who were much intermarried with the McElroys and Irvines of Ballynahinch. Further there is strong evidence that John McMuldrough lived in Virginia near Andrew Muldrough before he went to South Carolina. We have never found out exactly what the relationship was between these three early settlers , Hugh of Delaware, Andrew of Virginia and John of South Carolina. The descendants of Andrew migrated from Virginia to Kentucky and later to Missouri.(Colonel Billy was one of these). The descendants of John are still in South Carolina and scattered across the southern tier of the states in Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas etc. The descent from John to Hal Esutace is 1 John 2 James 3 William 4 James Boyd 5 Joseph Burch 6 Pearl 7 Hal.”
Colonel Billy was born in Kentucky in 1798. He settled near where the City of Hannibal Missouri is now. It is said that Mark Twain based one Colonel Mullberry Sellers, a central character in his book the Guilded Cage, on Colonel Billy. Twain or Samuel Clemens was born and raised where Billy settled. Colonel Billy started a new city as a promotion on the banks of the Mississippi called Marion City. Billy was a real estate promoter and salesman. The town was flooded out by the river and the project was a disaster. He made the Gold Rush in California in 1849. He remained in California until after the Civil War. He became a business partner of John Sutter, the man on whose land the first gold strike was made in California. Billy aquired from Sutter a deed of property formerly held by the Russian Fur Trading Company during Mexican occupancy, which ended in 1848. The property now known as the Russian River Valley ,is worth a fantastic sum, however, Billy never got it. The US government never would recognise the validity of the Ruusians`s possessions under Mexican sovereignty.
“Col Bill’s branch of the family is (remember Hal was writing in the 50`s) nearly extinct in the Muldrow name. All that remains is one 45 year old man living in St Louis who has only a 16 year old daughter named Betty. Her father’s name is Frank Richardson Muldrow, and he is employed by one of our largest chemical companies, Monsanto.”
Hal referred to his (Hal’s) relative Colonel Robert Muldrow of the US Air Force whose uncle was Major General Henry L Muldrow commanding general of the 45th US Army Division in Oklahoma who fought with his division in Europe in World War II and in Korea. Hal said he shared information with the sons of two other Muldrow girls, Rev James English Coursar of Savannah , Georgia and Mr Donald Mackintosh of Florence, South Carolina.
The Family in Canada : Canadian McMuldrochs
There are a number of families in British Columbia who stem from Peter (of Scotland) mentioned above.
Muldrew of Ballygorman, County Armagh, Northern Ireland Marion Paquet Posted 3 Jan 2004
In researching Irish church records of my ancestors (surnames McCune, Armstrong and McKinley), I’ve come across these Muldrew connections which I am posting in case it may help someone:
1. Thomas McCune married Mary Muldrew, Ballygorman on 05 May 1827 at Mountnorris Presbyterian Church. Thomas was, we believe, one of the twelve children of David McCune and wife unknown. (One of David’s daughters, Maria McCune, is my great-great grandmother who emigrated to Riviere-aux-Pins, 20 kms. north of Quebec City in 1828-1830 along with five other McCune siblings.) It is unclear whether Thomas and Mary continued to live in Ballygorman or moved elsewhere in Ireland, or possibly even emigrated to Canada or the USA.
2. Moses Kinnel or McKinley (the second), birth date unknown but circa 1805, married Hannah Muldrew, also of Ballygorman. (His brother Andrew McKinley married Sarah McCune and emigrated to Quebec in 1828.) Moses and Hannah raised their family in Ballygorman. They had these children baptized at Mountnorris Presbyterian Church:
(a) Sarah McKinley , 19 Feb 1838 – married a Finch
(b) Andrew McKinley , 14 Apr 1843
(c) Agnes McKinley, 09 June 18456
(d) John McKinley (date unknown)
(e) Moses McKinley III (date unknown)
3. James Muldrew married ____ Kinnel (which is also spelled McKinley in some records) on 05 December 1820 at Mountnorris Presbyterian Church.
4. David Kinnel married Jane Muldrew on 10 August 1809 at Mountnorris Presbyterian Church.
The Muldrow Newsletter page 2 : Volume 1, Number 8 : August 1999
1. Alexander Muldrow Spouse: Mary Vint M: 13 Jun 1845 Loughgilly, 0371, Armagh, Ireland
2. Archibald Muldrew B: 1830 Of, Armagh, Ireland
3. Archibald Muldrew M: 1850 Of, Armagh, Ireland Spouse: Agnes Hawthorne
4. David Muldrew B: 3 Jan 1854 Kileon, Armagh, Ireland Father: Archibald Muldrew Mother: Agnes Hawthorne
5. David Muldrew B: 25 Feb 1812 Armagh,Ireland Relatives: Edward G. Hampton
6. Elizabeth Muldrew B: 31 Oct 1865 Banbridge, 0206, Down, Ireland Parents: Father: John Muldrew Mother: Margaret Liggett
7. Eliza Jane Muldrew B: 16 Jan 1864 Market Hill, Armagh, Ireland Parents: Father: James Muldrew Mother: Mary Bratty
8. James Muldrew Spouse: Mary Bratty Marriage: 20 Nov 1861 Mullaghbrack, Parish Church, Armagh, Ireland
9. Margaret Muldrew B: 1857 Kileon, Armagh, Ireland Father: Archibald Muldrew Mother: Agnes Hawthiorne
10. Martha Muldrew Birth: 1860 Guilford, Down, Ireland
11. Martha Muldrew Birth: 1860 Guilford, Down, Ireland
12. Mary Muldrew Birth: 22 Apr 1864 Market Hill, 0079, Armagh, Ireland Father:Samuel Muldrew Mother: Catherine Gibson
13. Mary Muldrew Birth: 1771, Ireland Marriage(s): Joseph Wilkinson
14. Mary Muldrew Wilkinson Death: 1852, Ireland Relatives: Rebecca Wilkinson
REPORT
The IGI contains births from the birth registers 1864-7. Some of the marriage entries are from the church records indexed by the LDS. When the name of a relative is given the information was supplied by the relative and is not always accurate.
By searching the Marriage Index I found all but 2 of the marriages on the list and some others of interest. During the search I noted all Muldrew and variants.
I think Martha born 1860 was the daughter of James & Ruth. As they were living at Ballymacanallan I searched Gilford and Tullylish Presbyterian Church Baptisms for their children but none were recorded. I found a child of John Muldrew & his second wife Margaret Ligget and of the first wife Deborah Bright. This was possibly the 1860 marriage in the index
. SOURCES
Marriage Index 1845-51
Muldrow Alexander Newry 1845 8 371
Muldragh James Newry 1846 8 651
Muldragh John Newry 1849 8 566
Muldrock Margaret Ann Newry 1850 8 640
Muldrock Andrew Newry 1851 8 591
Muldragh John Banbridge 1851 2 531
No Archibald Muldrew found
The place listed in the index is the old Poor Law Union and later the Superintendant Registrars District which was comprised of several Registrars Districts. Numbers are of the year, Volume and page.
Marriage Entries
1845/8/371
13 Jun 1845 at Loughgilly Church of Ireland Alexander Muldrow taylor (sic) of Kilion son of John Muldrow taylor to Mary Vint 24 spinster of Cornagrally Loughgilly no father given Witnesses James Hawthorne & William Ross
Note: I cannot identify Kileon or Kilion perhaps Kilcon in Loughgilly Parish though Griffiths Valutation 1864 shows no Muldrew there but Vint Girvin and Hawthorne are present.
1846/8/651
26 Feb 1846 at Cremore Presbyterian Church James Muldragh student of Corlust son of Hugh Muldragh farmer to Ruth Steel sp of Carron daughter of Wiliam Steel farmer Witnesses Andrew Muldragh & John Steel
1851/2/531
20 Mar 1851 at Clare Presbyterian Church John Muldragh farmer of Corlust Parish of ballymore son of Hugh Muldragh farmer to Mary caghey of Ballyshiel Ballymore daughter of John Caghey farmer witnesses James Chambers & Nicholas Caughey (sic) Note Mary signed her name Caghey. This is the brother of James above and I know from search that these were the parents of Nicholas Ca(g)hey Muldrew who was baptised in Cremore Presbyterian Church in 1855
Marriage Index 1867 back to 1860
Muldrew David Banbridge 1867 16 305
Muldrew Sarah Jane Newry 1866 1 1024
Muldrugh Jane Newry 1866 16 1113
Muldra Elizabeth Armagh 1865 11 71
Muldrew John Banbridge 1864 11 211
Muldrew Mary Newry 1864 6 869
Muldrew Mary Newry 1864 11 71
Muldrew Charles Belfast 1861 2 895
Muldrew James Armagh 1861 1 298
Muldrew John Banbridge farmer 1860 2 489
Muldrew Rachel Banbridge 1860 2 542
Muldrew Samuel Banbridge 1860 1 323
Muldrew William John Nil
Marriage Entries
1864/11/211
30 Sep 1864 at Ballymore Church of Ireland John Muldrew widower 33 tailor of Gilford Tullylish son of John Muldrew tailor to Margaret Ligget 24 sp of Tullyhue Ballymore daughter of Robert Ligget farmer Witnesses Samuel Liggett & Arabella Harvey (Probably brother of Alexander of Kilion)
1861/1/298
20 Nov 1861 at Mullabrack Church of Ireland James Muldrew labourer of Market Hill son of David Muldrew labourer to Mary Bratty daughter of Hans Bratty Witnesses James Parr & John McStay
1860/1/323
2 Nov 1860 at Mullabrack Church of Ireland Samuel Muldrew shoemaker of Markethill son of David Muldrew shoemaker to Catherine Gibson minor daughter of Thomas Gibson weaver Witnesses William Muldrew & John McStay
Note; All brides and grooms are single and of full age unless stated
MIC 1P/384 Gilford Presbyterian Church
Baptisms 1851 start – 1867
Mary Ann daughter of John Muldrew tailor Gilford & Deborah Bright born 23 Jly baptised 20 Oct 1861
Elizabeth daughter of John Muldrew tailor Gilford 20 Oct/9 Dec 1865
No children of James & Ruth Muldrew
MIC 1P/385 Tullylish Presbyterian Church
Baptisms 1846-60
More Web Muldrows (John The Elder’s Line)
The following was posted Genforum by Bonnie Weeks Baggett on March 28,1999
My husband’s great grandparents, Mary Ellerson (Ellison) Muldrow b 11-9-1856 Darlington, SC d 1-8-1928 St.Stephen SC. wed Elias Whilden Venning,SR. b10-22-1855 Mt. Pleasant,SC d 2-2-1924 St. Stephen,SC had 6 children. They were married on 5-18-1882.
Elias was a son of William Crawford Venning, a son of Robert Murrell Venning and Eliza Whilden AND Sara Whilden, both of the Mt. Pleasant area.
Mary Ellerson was a daughter of John F. Muldrow and Mary Ellerson (Ellison) the daughter of Matthew Ellison???
John F. Muldrow was a son of Matthew Ellison Muldrow 1794/ Florencs,SC and Sophronia Anderson 1798/1880. A son of John McMuldrough, Jr. (Revolutionary soldier), a son of John McMuldrough, Sr.
Bonnie rebaggett@Charleston.net
The Muldrow Name
A note from Richard Brown (a descendent of John The Elder’s son James)
“I thought I would let you know that I looked up the origin of the name in the New Dictionary Of Family Names by Elsdon C. Smith.
Muldrow, Muldrew: It states That it is Irish Grandson of Maolruadh (red chief); the son of the little disciple. There were the Red Branch Knights of Irish legend even before King Arthur, could there be a connection? Who knows.”
Richard Brown
Note: We are seeing a number of name translations… John McMuldroch’s research indicating the darach part of the name being Irish for “oak”…and Richard’s findings above making the whole from “Red Chief”. Just to complicate things I dug out my “Focloir: Gaeilge-Bearla” (Dictionary: Irish-English) ISBN 1-85791-037-0 publ.1977 and found that Modern Irish gives:
dair: Oak (‘darach’ is the genitive singular or “of the oak”) maol: Bare, bald (also: dense,obtuse person) ruadh: variant of rua red
I think at this point we all hope the origin comes out more like ‘bald, of the oak (strong?)’ (a strong elder who was a bit like Sean Connery?) than ‘red haired idiot’. Just a thought….–mkm
From The Muldrow Newsletter page 6 : Volume 1, Number 8 : August 1999
Scottish and Ancient Irish Muldrxxs
More international Muldrews thanks to John McMuldroch!
James Muldragh 1841 matriculated at Glasgow University from Armagh. ” filius natu max. Hugonis agricoloe in parochia de Ballymore et Comitatu de Armagh”
On p14 of “A New History of Ireland” II Medieval Ireland 1169 – 1534 Oxford 1987 it states
“Their former dynastic rivals, the Cenel Connaill, were confined to Tir Conaill,the diocese of Raphoe; by the end of the century their royal families of Ua Mael Doraid and Ua Cannannain had so exhausted each other in internecine feuding that they were replaced first by Ua Taircheirt and then Ua Dochartaig, until in the 13th century Ua Domnaill (O`Donnell) obtained the monopoly….until the passing of the old order in 1603”.
John’s note- Cenel is Irish for Clan; Ua is the old Irish form of “O”; Muldory is an anglisized version of 0`Maoldaraighe. It is clear the Muldragh, Muldarach follow the original gaelic. It is clear to me that our Surname in all its forms is extremely old.
O`Mael Doraid
Maolruanaidh O`Maoldaraighe first assumed the surname. His Great Great grandfather was Maoldarach( “darach”:Irish an oak) a quo O`Maoldaraighe. In 1027 Maolruanaid went on a pilgrimage to Rome. In Marie Flanaghans book “Irish Society Anglo Norman Settlers Angevin Kingship” .Clarendon Press 1989 it states on page 11 that he died in Rome in 1027.
1011 After a coordinated military and naval battle against Mael Doraid, king of Cenel Conaill MD submitted to Brian Boruma and was taken to Kincora were he accepted a large stipend from BB and “made complete submission to him”. p177 of Flanaghans book.
Maolruanaidh had a brother Criochan and his great great grand son was Flaithbertach Mael Doraid
1181 Brian Luignech and Aed, sons of Toirrdelbach Ua Conchobair were defeated and killed by Flaithbertach, King of Cenel Conaill, ally of Donnchad. “A New History of Ireland” viii “A Chronology of Irish History to 1976″ Part I. Oxford
1182 Flaithbertach is defeated by Ruaidri Ua Conchobair.
1185 Ruaidri Ua Flaithbertaig, contestant for kingship of Cenel Eogain was killed by Flaithbertach.
1188 Flaithbertach kills Ruaidri Ua Canannain at Sligo
1197 Flaithbertach dies on Inis Saimer succ. by Echmarcach Ua Dochartaig. ” The Annals of the Four Masters” describes Flaithbertach’s death as follows:
” Flaherty O`Muldory, Lord of Kinel-Connell and Kinel Owen, and Oriel defender of Tara heir presumptive to the sovereignty of all Ireland, a Connell in heroism, A Cuchullin in valour a Guave in hospitalty and a McLughan in feats of arms, died on Inis Saimer on the second day of February, after a long and patient suffering, in the 30th year of his reign and the 59th of age, and was interred at Drumhome with due honour”.
1203 Domnall Carrach Ua Mael Doraid was killed in an attempt to win the kingship of Cenel Conaill with support of Meiler, son of Meiler fitz Henry, and the de Nangles. (Thereafter the family falls into obscurity – John’s note)
The Muldrow Name
A note from Richard Brown (a descendent of John The Elder’s son James)
“I thought I would let you know that I looked up the origin of the name in the New Dictionary Of Family Names by Elsdon C. Smith.
Muldrow, Muldrew: It states That it is Irish Grandson of Maolruadh (red chief); the son of the little disciple. There were the Red Branch Knights of Irish legend even before King Arthur, could there be a connection? Who knows.” Richard Brown
Note: We are seeing a number of name translations… John McMuldroch’s research indicating the darach part of the name being Irish for “oak”…and Richard’s findings above making the whole from “Red Chief”. Just to complicate things I dug out my “Focloir: Gaeilge-Bearla” (Dictionary: Irish-English) ISBN 1-85791-037-0 publ.1977 and found that Modern Irish gives:
dair: Oak (‘darach’ is the genitive singular or “of the oak”)
maol: Bare, bald (also: dense,obtuse person)
ruadh: variant of rua red
I think at this point we all hope the origin comes out more like ‘bald, of the oak (strong?)’ (a strong elder who was a bit like Sean Connery?) than ‘red haired idiot’. Just a thought….—mkm
To view Births Marriages Deaths and other records of Muldrews go to Records pages