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(continuation of message posted earlier) Patrick was, however, among the relatively small number saved the next day from the remains of the ship's mast and rigging. The story of the wreck and horrific accounts of loss of life, and of heroism and rescue (but always allowing for some rank overstatement inspired by patriotic indulgence on the part of some writers, painters and poets alike) is graphically told in books on the tragedy and in accounts accessible over the internet and elsewhere. One anecdote now creeping into popularised accounts and directly naming Patrick and Mary -- but spelling the name incorrectly with an 's' added, as 'Mullins' no doubt because his enlistment and/or embarkation records misspelt the name in the first instance -- must be quite firmly refuted as being patently absurd. It has them apparently blissfully unaware of the other's rescue for seven years(!) following the tragedy, in a gross distortion of a tale that has its basis in an already questionable 'spicy family tradition' (that holds that they were parted for an extended period of some months or more). The facts are that within the seven years following the tragedy they produced another three children(!), and still thereafter, another two -- seven surviving children, and from the photographs we have all uncannily resembling one another! John and Bridget were, as I said, born in Ireland, at or near Clifden, Connemara; the children born in South Africa were Patrick(1854), Thomas(1857), Margaret(1859), Mary Ann(1861) and Peter(1862). The youngest, Peter, was our grandfather. Patrick pursued a full military career in the Cape Colony, most of it centred on King William's Town in the Cape's eastern border region, before finally retiring there. 'King', as the town has for long been popularly known, is synonymous in our family lore with the family's name and with its presence in South Africa. Patrick and Mary were well-known members of the 'King' community (the family legacy to 'King' is in part their donation of the frontal stained-glass windows in the church there). For his military services Patrick had earlier(1861) received a grant of land, but ultimately, on his retirement, purchased farming property north of King William's Town that he passed to his sons. Patrick(11/8/1896) and Mary(8/7/1900) died at King William's Town and are buried there, as are a number of their children, either there or at the northern neighbouring town of Stutterheim in a pretty, mountainous setting. My father and his brother and sisters grew up on one of those farms, still known today as 'Woodlands', on which a mission convent was established on a portion thereof donated by my grandfather Peter, and his brother Patrick, for that purpose. The convent still exists, but now as a church-run medical clinic. The farming properties have by now all passed into the hands of others. Our book that I referred to at the outset (now in an advanced draft stage and ultimately intended really only for the benefit of our own future generations), tries to capture our separate childhood experiences in Rhodesia and South Africa. It also relies heavily upon very many letters written by our parents to my father's family back in South Africa. Our own written contributions are intended really only to enhance the story told by the letters. Thank you for bearing with me in this, and I now look forward to any news and any help that may take us back into our Irish roots. Dermott O'C Mullin Dorset, UK -formerly of Zimbabwe (prev. Rhodesia)

My name is Brendan Mullins from Dublin, Ireland. I have completed a University Genealogy course and I have my own website :- www.irishfamilyroots.com
As with most Irish surnames, the spelling changed at different times. This is because they are anglicized versions of Gaelic Irish surnames. The best book on Irish Surnames is -'The Surnames of Ireland' by Edward MacLysaght. In it Mullen/Mullins is described as follows -
(O) Mullan/Mullins - Ó Maoláin (maol, bald, hence tonsured). Mullan is now indistinguishable from Mullen, Mullins, Mellon and (Mac) Mullen in many parts of the country, being very numerous in all the provinces except Munster, for which see Mullane. It can definitely be assigned historically to two areas - Derry and Galway. (Clifden is in Galway).
In many cases people were illiterate, and others spelt the name as they thought so.
The following are extracts from the website -
The use of surnames in Ireland began mainly in the 11th century, although some, like Ó Neill and Ó Cléirigh, began much sooner. In most of the earlier instances, Mac was prefixed to the father’s Christian name and Ó to that of a grandfather or earlier ancestor. It should also be noted that there are many surnames, with several septs, descended from ancestors that are not related.

A. The Mullins/Mullen Ancestors, Dublin
One of my first discoveries about my paternal grandfather was the change in spelling from Mullen to Mullins. In the 1901 Census he was Joseph Mullen, but on his marriage certificate in September 1907 to Anne Clarke, he became a Mullins. However, the first three of their eleven children were born with the surname ‘Mullen’ on their civil birth certificates. Both of these surnames, and their variants, originated from many sources throughout Ireland .

I would be delighted to assist you further, if you forward the information you already have.

Hi
As this is an old thread click on Dermotts name, if he is still a member and he has the same email addy, he will receive notification.

good luck
Jan x