This is Captain John L. Murphy, but not the John Murphy known as "John the Penman" who was the brother of Matthew Murphy. In what may seem an unbelievable coincidence, this John Murphy also operated steamboats in the Upper Ottawa River for the Union Forwarding Company, just as "John the Penman" did! This John Murphy was first based in Aylmer and later Pembroke.
He was the second son of James "Jemmy" Murphy, the first governor of the County Jail at Aylmer, Canada West (when Aylmer was the county seat of Ottawa County). The eldest brother, William James, left medical school to join the Confederate forces of the American Civil War, in which he lost his life. They had a sister named Mary.
Captain John L. Murphy became a financier and later bought out the other partners in the Union Forwarding Company. He eventually sold the assets of the UFC to the Upper Ottawa Improvement Company.
A family portrait, taken in Clonmel, County Tipperary, showing James "Jemmy" Murphy (seated) and his three children: "Willy", "Johnny" and "Mary".
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A second photograph, apparently double-exposed, of Captain John L. Murphy.
The following is the Last Will and Testament of "the other" John Murphy's father, James "Jemmy" Murphy.
It was found in the "John Foran Fonds" of the National Archives of Quebec. It is the last will & testament of James Murphy, dated April 22nd, 1882.
The testament was dictated to John Foran, a lumber magnate, advocate and notary public well-known in Aylmer. James marked his assent with an "x" since he was unable to write (whether due to ill health or never having achieved literacy is not clear).
The will was in Foran's files because Foran purchased the James Murphy house at 12 Broad Street on Aylmer Square after James' death. This will proved that his heirs were entitled to sell the property. The beneficiaries of the will are named as "my aunt Bridget Cavanagh and her two daughters namely Winny Cavanagh and Anny Cavanagh". However, when John L. Murphy arranged the sale of the house, he mentions that his sister Mary will be given the proceeds. At that time he may not have been aware of the provisions of the will...
I James Murphy being infirm of body but of sane and sound mind make this my last will and testament revoking all wills or promises previous to this date.
First I will that all my lawful debts be paid secondly all I die possessed of every kind of Real Estate and moveable property as herein after described to my aunt Bridget Cavanagh and her two daughters namely Winny Cavanagh and Anny Cavanagh to have and enjoy the same for ever for their own use and benefit.
The Real Estate being only the house and lot where I and them now occupy and dwell in with all the appurtenances thereinto belonging also four cows being my Lawful Property which I am to receive from Miss ______ Luptons on the 4th of November.
Next reference to my agreement with them will more clearly explain and shew.
This testament being made at the request of the testator James Murphy and dictated by him to the subscribing witness and read to him by said witness and he declared he could not write but made his mark in the usual way.
His
James X Murphy
mark
Witness to this Will
John Foran
This photograph was published in "Aylmer: It's Heritage" by Diane Aldred. It is known variously as "The Jean Delisle House" and "The John Foran House". The building, at 12 Broad Street, is one of the two original structures bordering Aylmer's Market Square to have survived the Great Fire of 1921.
It was built for Jean Delisle, a lawyer who came to Aylmer in the 1850's, and was sold to John L. Murphy in the mid-1860's.
The house was constructed of hand-hewn square timbers, with beamed ceilings. It is believed to have been the final home of Mr. James Murphy.
Various accounts (in Diane Aldred's and Joan Finnigan's histories) state that the house was sold after John Murphy's death by his widow, Abigail Draper. Documents in the National Archives of Quebec contradict this, with correspondence between John Foran and John L. Murphy arranging the sale of the house. The confusion is quite understandable, with the existence of two DIFFERENT Captain John Murphys, each employed by the Union Forwarding Co!
Back to Murphy Family of Ottawa, Canada Web site.