generations_of_murray-priors_in_ireland [Murray-Prior History Wiki]

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====== Murray-Priors in Ireland ======

| [[John Murray/Murray-Prior]] (1720-81). Tom Prior’s cousin and heir. m (1) [[john_murray_murray-prior|Mary O’Neil]] (1720-61)    | |
| [[Andrew Murray-Prior]] (c.1747-95)  m 29 April 1772  [[andrew_murray-prior|Frances Morres]] (b. c.1751)    | |
| [Thomas Murray-Prior]] (1773 - 5 November 1854) m. 1799  [[Thomas Murray-Prior|Catherine Palmer]] (d. 1802)  m. (2) or de facto? [[Thomas Murray-Prior|Mary Ann Thompson]] and other possible liaisons producing children. This Thomas Murray-Prior was the first of a continuing, unbroken line of Thomas Murray-Prior.|\\

With the acquisition of a country property with tenants, the Priors and subsequently Murray-Priors established themselves as part of the Anglo-Irish gentry. The men were accorded the courtesy title [[wp>Esquire]], usually shortened to Esq. after their name. Arguably, when the estate was lost to the family, one of TLM-P's key motivations was to re-establish the prestige of his family. It is possible too, that in re-establishing his family's status, TLM-P was the first to add a hyphen in the surname. For the sake of consistency, I have used one from the formation of the name on Tom Prior's death in 1751. 

==== The Thomas Tradition ====

Ever since the above Thomas M-P was born in 1773, the tradition has been followed that each Thomas and his wife call their first-born son Thomas. It’s a bonus that the name celebrates the first Prior in Ireland as well as the great Tom Prior whose will prompted the formation of the Murray-Prior name. It is less of a bonus when trying to keep track of which Thomas is which! Nevertheless it is an incredible achievement, indicative of a strong family identity. How many other families can match this tradition?