Manuals of Catholic Philosopy: Moral Philosophy or Ethics and Natural Law - Richard Edward Moran

Biography

Richard Edward Moran (1870-1898)

Richard Edward Moran was born on 8 February 1870 to Ellen Ryan and Richard Moran, of Irish ancestry, on Prince Edward Island. He was baptized at St. Dunstan’s Cathedral in Charlottetown on 9 February 1870. He was an only child.

In the 1881 census, his household consisted of his father, Richard (40), who was born in Quebec and is listed as a Sea Captain. Ellen Moran married Richard, who is listed as 53 in the Canadian census, but in her death record, she is listed as 76 years old, leading us to the baptismal record from 1835. A servant named William Morrissy (17) is also listed as living in the household. Richard E. is listed as attending school at the time.

In the “Souvenir booklet and directory of all students registered since January 17, 1855: seventy-fifth anniversary of St. Dunstan's College, August 7 & 8, 1929,” there is a Richard Moran listed as attending during the years of 1883-1886. Since Richard and his father go by the same name, it is tricky to distinguish who actually attended, but in late 1883 Richard, the book's owner, would have been almost 14, so it is assumed that he attended St. Dunstan’s instead of his father.

Throughout his life, Richard E. was involved in the C. M. B. A. (Catholic Mutual Benefit Association) branch 216 in Charlottetown. The description of this society is: “The C.M.B.A. was a fraternal society that dealt primarily in life and health insurance. Members paid dues and were assisted with a stipulated weekly payment during times of sickness or disability.”

Richard E. was also a supporter and employee, a bookkeeper, as reported in the 1891 census of the Herald Newspaper in Charlottetown. On 9 February 1893, The Daily Examiner reported that Richard E. Moran and a man named James M. Sullivan had both, respectively, been given promotions of business manager and associate editor of the Herald Newspaper. The person who had shares sold theirs to both Moran and Sullivan, becoming the newspaper's new owners.

On 27 July 1896, Richard married spinster Mary Alice Sullivan, sister to his business partner James M. Sullivan, who was born on 15 May 1870 to Andrew Sullivan and Mary McArthy, having four other siblings. Together Richard and Alice had one child, Mary Ellen Moran, known lovingly as Nellie, born on 22 April 1897. She was baptized on 25 April 1897 at St. Dunstan’s Basilica.

A little more than a year later, on 11 May 1898, Richard Edward Moran passed away due to “an illness of several months.” He was 28 years old. He left behind his wife, daughter, and both of his parents. His wife, Alice, at the time of his death, was rather ill and on 15 May 1898, she passed away less than a week after her husband. She was 28 years old. This was shocking to the family, friends, and everyone who adored him at the C.M.B.A. Their daughter went to live with Captain and Mrs. Richard Moran.

On 22 August 1898, Captain Richard Moran donated $1000 of life insurance on behalf of his son to 216 C.M.B.A., Charlottetown, an organization that Richard was deeply involved in.

On 2 September 1898, roughly three months later, devastation hit the Moran family of Charlottetown once more as Nellie tragically passed away, only one year and four months old. This left Captain Richard Moran and his wife with no heirs.

Captain Richard and Ellen Moran outlived their son, daughter-in-law, and their grandchild. Captain Richard passed away on 16 October 1912 at 73 years old, then less than a month later, on 6 November 1912, Ellen followed: 76 years old. Tragically their legacy would not live on.

The book, “Manuals of Catholic Philosophy,” has the inscription: “R. E. Moran Charlottetown Dec 1891.” It was later donated by Rev. W.J. McGuigan, another man featured on our website.

Bibliography
1881 Census of Canada. Item number 43598; Reference number RG31 - Statistics Canada; Family Number 124; Queens, Charlottetown Royalty, Prince Edward Island; Page 29.

1891 Census of Canada. Item number 3190994; Reference Number RG31 - Statistics Canada; Family Number 60; Queens, Charlottetown Royalty, Prince Edward Island; Page 12-13.

1901 Census of Canada. Item number 774715; Reference Number RG31 - Statistics Canada; Family Number 23; Queens West, Charlottetown (City), Prince Edward Island; Page 2.

1911 Census of Canada. Item number 7539309; Reference Number RG31 - Statistics Canada; family Number 137; Queens, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Page 12.

Baptismal Record - Ellen Ryan, 1835. Place: Charlottetown, St. Dunstan’s Basilica. Record book number 1. Record page number 128. Source: Prince Edward Island, Public Archives and Records Office.

Baptismal Record - James Michael Sullivan, 1868. Place: Charlottetown, St. Dunstan’s Basilica. Record book number 3. Record page number 219. Source: Prince Edward Island, Public Archives and Records Office.

Baptismal Record - Mary Alice Sullivan: 1870. Place: Charlottetown, St. Dunstan’s Basilica. Record book number 3. Record page number 247. Source: Prince Edward Island, Public Archives and Records Office.

Baptismal Record - Mary Ellen Moran: 1897. Place: Charlottetown, St. Dunstan’s Basilica. Record book number 5. Record page number 149. Source: Prince Edward Island, Public Archives and Records Office.

Baptismal Record - Richard Edward Moran: 1870. Place: Charlottetown, St. Dunstan’s Basilica. Record book number 3. Record page number 243. Source: Prince Edward Island, Public Archives and Records Office.

“Catholic Mutual Benefit Association.” Beaton Institute. https://beatoninstitute.com/catholic-mutual-benefit-association#:~:text=occupations%20and%20activities-,The%20C.M.B.A.,times%20of%20sickness%20or%20disability.

“Catholic Mutual Benefit Association (Baie-Egmont, Î.-P.-É.).” Memory PEI. http://www.gov.pe.ca/paroatom/index.php/catholic-mutual-benefit-association-baie-egmont-i-p-e

Death Record - Ellen Moran: 1912. Place: Charlottetown. Entry Number 6796. Source: RG19/s2/ss6: Death registration books, 1906-1913, p. 153. Source: Source: Prince Edward Island, Public Archives and Records Office.

Death Record - Richard Moran: 1912. Place: Charlottetown. Entry Number 6797. Source: RG19/s2/ss6: Death registration books, 1906-1913, p. 153. Source: Prince Edward Island, Public Archives and Records Office.

“Died - Richard E. Moran.” The Daily Examiner, 12 May 1898, page 3. Accessed through UPEI | Robertson Library, Island Newspapers catalogue.

“Died - (...) Alice, relict of Richard E. Moran.” The Charlottetown Guardian, 16 May 1898, page 3. Accessed through UPEI | Robertson Library, Island Newspapers catalogue.

“Died - (...) Nellie, infant daughter (...).” The Charlottetown Guardian, 2 September 1898, page 5.

“Local and Other Items - About Town - Mr. James McIsaac.” The Daily Examiner, 30 August 1893, page 3. Accessed through UPEI | Robertson Library, Island Newspapers catalogue.

“Local and Other Items - C. M. B. A. & Died Yesterday.” The Daily Examiner, 12 May 1898, page 3. Accessed through UPEI | Robertson Library, Island Newspapers catalogue.

“Local and Other Items - Journalistic.” The Daily Examiner, 9 February 1893, page 3. Accessed through UPEI | Robertson Library, Island Newspapers catalogue.

Marriage Record - Richard Edward Moran & Mary Alice Sullivan. Year: 1896. Source: RG19/s3/ss3: Marriage registers, 1893-1898. Source: Prince Edward Island, Public Archives and Records Office.

“Resolution of Condolence.” The Daily Examiner, 19 May 1898, page 6. Accessed through UPEI | Robertson Library, Island Newspapers catalogue.

“Souvenir booklet and directory of all students registered since January 17, 1855 : seventy-fifth anniversary of St. Dunstan's College, August 7 & 8, 1929.” St. Dunstan's University Alumni Association. Accessed through Special Collections UPEI. LE3.S2A83 1929.

“The Late Captain Moran.” The Charlottetown Guardian, 19 October 1912, page 9. Accessed through UPEI | Robertson Library, Island Newspapers catalogue.