Murphy family

The Murphy family is an American family of Irish heritage that was heavily involved in the development of California ranches and real estate in the 19th and 20th centuries. They controlled at one time or another large swathes of California real estate, particularly in the Santa Clara County, much of it derived from Mexican land grants.

History Over several generations, their holdings included Rancho Ojo del Agua de la Coche, Rancho San Francisco de las Llagas, Rancho Refugio de la Laguna Seca, Rancho Las Uvas, Rancho La Purísima Concepción, Rancho San Pedro, Santa Margarita y Las Gallinas, and Rancho Pastoria de las Borregas,Castro, Doris (July 27, 1968). "There Were These Two Irishmen, See..." The Record. p. 34, 57. Retrieved 2025-11-23 – via Newspapers.com. totaling well over 100,000 acres.

Five of the Murphy family members served in the California legislature: Patrick W. Murphy, Bernard D. Murphy, John C. Murphy, J. E. Murphy, and R. W. Murphy. The family were the subject of Marjorie Pierce's book, The Martin Murphy Family Saga (2000); and the PBS documentary film, The Forgotten Journey (2021), produced by John Krizek.

A historical marker dedicated to the Murphy family is located in San Martin, California, and was erected by the Santa Clara County Parks Department.

Murphy genealogy Martin Murphy Sr. (1785–1865) born in County Wexford, Ireland, emigrated in 1820 to Quebec Province, Lower Canada (now Canada); m. Mary Foley [9 children]; settled in Rancho Ojo del Agua de la Coche in Santa Clara County (including what is now known as San Martin, California)

Martin Murphy Jr. (1807–1884) born in County Wexford, Ireland, emigrated in 1820 to Quebec Province, Lower Canada (now Canada); married Mary Bulger in 1830 [11 children]; settled in Rancho Pastoria de las Borregas in Santa Clara County (now known as Sunnyvale, California); his former residence is the Martin Murphy House, which was recreated to form a museum Patrick W. Murphy (1837–1901; the child of Martin Murphy Jr.) born in Quebec, Lower Canada (now Canada); married Mary Catherine O'Brien [2 children]; was a member of the California State Assembly, and served as a California State Senator. Bernard D. Murphy (1841–1911; the child of Martin Murphy Jr.) born in Quebec, Lower Canada (now Canada); married Anna Lucy McGeoghegan [6 children]; was a lawyer, businessman and politician; served one term as a California State Senator, and multiple terms as the Mayor of San Jose, California Elizabeth Yuba Murphy (1844–1875; the child of Martin Murphy Jr.), married William Post Taaffe (1842–1869); the family was early settlers in Los Altos, California (formerly Rancho La Purísima Concepción) James Murphy (1809–1888), married Anna Martin; established a large farm called "Ringwood Farm" in San Jose, California near Milpitas Margaret Murphy (1811–1881), married Thomas B. Kell Jr. (1804–1878) an English-born settler; they had an early wheat farm in San Jose, California, near Milpitas Martin D. Kell (1840–1902; son of Margaret Murphy), was a Democrat that served in many political and civic roles in Santa Clara County, including on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Johanna Murphy (1813–1899), married to Patrick Fitzgerald (1797–1849); ranchers and landowners in Gilroy, California Mary Murphy (1815–1882), married James S. Miller (1812–1890) an Irish-born settler in San Rafael, California; and one of the earliest settlers in Marin County at Rancho San Pedro, Santa Margarita y Las Gallinas William J. Miller (1836–1916, child of Mary Murphy), born in Canada, he was a California state legislator, and acquired part of Rancho Nicasio in California from Benjamin Buckelew, as well as other land in the Nicasio area Bernard Thomas Miller (1855–1927, child of Mary Murphy), born in Marin County, California, served as a Marin County Supervisor, and was a large land holder in the Nicasio area of Marin County. Bernard Murphy (1818–1853), married Catherine O'Toole; they settled at Rancho Las Uvas; he died from an explosion on the Jenny Lind traveling from Alviso, California to San Francisco, California. He traveled with his nephew Thomas J. Kell (1829–1853) when they both died. Helen Murphy (1822–1895), married Bavarian-born businessman Carl David Maria Weber (1814–1881); an early settler in Stockton, California Charles M. Weber II (1851–1912; child of Helen Murphy) married Grace May Sinnott Charles M. Weber III (1893–1987; the child of Carl Maria Weber II), served in the California State Assembly John Marion Murphy (1824–1892) born in Frampton, Quebec, Lower Canada (now Canada); married Virginia Elizabeth Blackenstoe Reed [9 children]; established a trading post and started a mining town called Murphys, California; served as the Santa Clara County Sheriff, and County Recorder, as well as Mayor of San Jose Daniel Martin Murphy (1826–1882) born in Frampton, Quebec, Lower Canada (now Canada); married Maria Fisher Ceseña in 1851 [6 children]; established a trading post and started a mining town called Murphys, California; settled at Rancho San Francisco de las Llagas (Burnett Township); one mile south of present-day Morgan Hill, California Diana Helen Murphy (1869–1937; child of Daniel Martin Murphy), married Hiram Morgan Hill; she inherited the Santa Clara County ranch land after her father died, and co-founded the city of Morgan Hill, California

Members

Martin Murphy Sr.

Martin Murphy Jr. Ellen Murphy Patrick W. Murphy Henry F. Murphy Martin Joseph Murphy Mary Murphy Bernard D. Murphy Mary Genevieve Murphy Wright Evelyn A. Murphy Martin J. Murphy Elizabeth Yuba Murphy Derby Bernard D. Murphy Gertrude Julia Murphy Patrick W. M. Murphy Helena Daniel Murphy Sanders Elizabeth Yuba Murphy Taaffe Mary Ann Murphy Carroll Ellen Genevieve Murphy Arques James Thomas Murphy James Murphy

James Murphy Martin Murphy Mary Frances Murphy Machado Ellen Independence Murphy Martin Daniel Murphy Helen Elizabeth Murphy William Bernard Murphy Elizabeth Murphy Bull Julia Murphy Helen Murphy Daniel James Murphy

Margaret Murphy Kell William Kell Thomas James Kell Martin Kell Ann Kell Colombet James Kell Mary Kell Mary Ann Kell Martin Daniel Kell John James Kell Mary Ellen Kell Carroll Thomas Bernard Kell

Johanna Murphy Fitzgerald Ellen Fitzgerald James Fitzgerald James Fitzgerald Mary Fitzgerald Kane Ann Fitzgerald Marcella Fitzgerald John S. Fitzgerald

Mary Murphy Miller William J. Miller Catherine Miller Keys Mary Annie Miller Ross Ellen Miller Martin Van Buren Miller Julia Miller Ellen Independence Miller Teresa Sophia Miller Jane Frances Miller Bernard Thomas Miller Fannie Miller Josephine Louise Miller Kirk Tessie S. Miller

Bernard Murphy Martin John Charles Murphy

Helen Murphy Weber Charles M. Weber II Helen May Weber Kennedy Charles M. Weber III Julia Helen Weber Thomas Jefferson Weber

John Marion Murphy Mollie Mary Murphy McAran Lloyd Martin Murphy Mattie H. Murphy John Marion Murphy II Virginia R. Murphy DeGreayer Julia Ada Murphy Howes Daniel J. Reed Murphy Annie Mabel Murphy Thaddeus Stanley Murphy

Daniel Martin Murphy Mary L. Murphy Chapman Daniel Martin Murphy II Julia Murphy Diana Helen Murphy Hill

See also Stephens–Townsend–Murphy Party San Martin, California Murphys, California Murphy's Corral Burnett Township Dixie Schoolhouse

References

Further reading

External links

Murphy Family Papers at Santa Clara University Library Weber Family Collection, 1836–1986 from the San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum Miller, William James, March 16, 1976 [interview], from Marin County Free Library