Murray Surname
The Murray surname is a common Scottish name. I do not know the meaning of the name, nor do I know much about the ancestry of our family. Our earliest definitive ancestor was James Murray, born 1819 in Pennsylvania. Current belief is that he was a grandson of Daniel Murray of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, this is unproven.I would like to get in touch with any living male Murray descendant of James Murray. I will gladly pay for a DNA sample, so that we can attempt to put the issue to rest.
(Note: This line is not proven as there is no proof of James Murray's (1819-1885) parents. The only clue is the 1820 census with the only Murray household in the area where we know James Murray to be born is the family of David Murray. David Murray was probably the son of Daniel Murray, that much we know. There was a David Murray who married Barbara Baker and later moved to Clarion County, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, this David may be the son of Daniel Murray, but if that is the case James Murray cannot fit into that family. Perhaps James was the son of a different Murray brother, Thomas Murray?)
1st Generation:
Daniel Murray was born circa 1750 in Scotland (or possibly in Ireland). Daniel died after 1810 in Pennsylvania or Ohio.
According to family tradition, he joined the British Army during the American Revolution to fight the colonists. It is said though that after arriving in America, he deserted the British army and joined the American army. Sometime after the war (or probably during the war, late 1770's) Daniel settled himself down in an area on the frontier of the American border, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.Daniel married name unknown circa 1770's in Pennsylvania. She appears to have died Huntingdon Co., Pennsylvania sometime between 1790 and 1800.Daniel married in the late 1770's, although the name of his wife is not known. They had 5 known children: John, Thomas, David (see next generation), Catherine, and Daniel. Daniel continued living in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania (this area would become a part of Blair County, Pennsylvania in the 1840's) in Franks Township. Daniel's wife appears to have died sometime during the 1790's. Daniel died sometime after 1810. While he probably died in Pennsylvania, it is possible that he moved with his son John to Montgomery County, Ohio, and died there. According to his grandson, Daniel was a very tall man, who constantly spoke about his physical feats as a young man. Also, he is said to have been rather poor in his old age and sold knit stockings in order to survive.
(Note: a new gedcom file on the internet, lists that Daniel Murray married Janet Peterson on May 19, 1770 in Edinburgh, Scotland and had several children in Scotland and would have come to the United States later than assumed, 1780's?)
They had the following children:
1 John Murray was born circa 1775 in Bedford (now Blair) Co., Pennsylvania. He died on December 10, 1819 in Montgomery Co., Ohio. He married Elizabeth Welbaum in about 1801 in Frankstown Twp., Huntingdon (now Blair) Co., Pennsylvania. (She was born on December 31, 1784 in Bedford (now Blair) Co., Pennsylvania. She died on June 29, 1851 in Madison Twp., Montgomery Co., Ohio.) 2 Thomas Murray was born circa 1778 in Huntingdon (now Blair) Co., Pennsylvania. He died in what is now Blair Co., Pennsylvania. 3 David Murray 4 Catherine Murray was born circa 1784 in Huntingdon (now Blair) Co., Pennsylvania. She died in Ohio. She married Mr. Taylor. 5 Daniel Murray was born circa 1790 in Huntingdon (now Blair) Co., Pennsylvania. He died after 1815.
2nd Generation:
David Murray was born circa 1780 in what was then Huntingdon but is now Blair County, Pennsylvania. He died after 1820.
He married to name unknown in about 1802 in Huntingdon (now Blair) Co., Pennsylvania. She died after 1820.Father: Daniel Murray The David Murray who was living in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania in 1820 (with what appears to be a wife and 6 children) is most likely the father of James Murray. It is probable that this David Murray was the son of Daniel Murray, a pioneer of Huntingdon County. What is not at all clear is what happened to David Murray and his family after 1820. He left no further trace (that I can find) in Huntingdon County (or surrounding counties). According to an autobiography by David's nephew; David had a large family, of whom two of the sons were named Jacob and Daniel. Apparently the family made plans to move to "northern Pennsylvania", and then lost contact with them at the time.
Mother: UnknownSome researchers have postulated that he was the same David Murray who had married Barbara Baker and settled in Clarion County, Pennsylvania before his death in 1844. Unfortunately if that is true, he could not have been the father of our James Murray (David and Barbara Murray had a son named James Murray who was obviously a different person). There was also a David Murray and wife Agnes "Nancy" Murray who settled in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania where this David died in 1828. More research is obviously needed.
An educated guess at the name of David's wife is "Mary."
They had the following children:
1 Jacob Murray was born circa 1803 in Huntingdon (now Blair) Co., Pennsylvania. He died after 1820. 2 Daniel Murray was born circa 1803 in Huntingdon (now Blair) Co., Pennsylvania. He died after 1820. 3 unknown female Murray was born circa 1808 in Huntingdon (now Blair) Co., Pennsylvania. She died after 1820. 4 unknown female Murray was born circa 1812 in Huntingdon (now Blair) Co., Pennsylvania. She died after 1820. 5 unknown female Murray was born circa 1814 in Huntingdon (now Blair) Co., Pennsylvania. She died after 1820. 6 unknown male Murray was born circa 1816 in Huntingdon (now Blair) Co., Pennsylvania. He died after 1820. 7 James Murray
3rd Generation: James Murray was born on December 30, 1819 in Martinsburg, Huntingdon (now Blair) County, Pennsylvania 1,2,3. He died on May 3, 1885 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 1,3. He is buried in the Central Point I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Central Point, Jackson Co., Oregon. He married Flora Ann Bartlow on November 3, 1850 in Loran Twp., Stephenson Co., Illinois 4.
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1 David Murray was born on August 29, 1851 in Loran Twp., Stephenson Co., Illinois 2. He died on December 2, 1855 in Loran Twp., Stephenson Co., Illinois 2. 2 Samuel H. Murray was born on June 3, 1853 in Loran Twp., Stephenson Co., Illinois 2. He died on September 8, 1918 in Central Point, Jackson Co., Oregon 5. He is buried in the Central Point I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Central Point, Jackson Co., Oregon. He married Martha Richardson on May 11, 1879 in Millville, Shasta Co., California. (She was born in March 1862 in Iowa and died on February 7, 1947 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. She is buried in the Central Point I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Central Point, Jackson Co., Oregon.)They had the following children:
Ruby Everett Murray (1880-1949)
md. Daisy May VanderkarrOlive J. Murray (1883-1901) Myrtle Ellen Murray (1885-aft. 1947)
md. 1st. George Frederick Hamlin
md. 2nd. HayesAnna Lavena Murray (1889-1967)
md. 1st. William Franklin Kelsoe
md. 2nd. Patrick Marshall Morrison3 James Murray was born on August 30, 1854 in Loran Twp., Stephenson Co., Illinois 2. He died on June 18, 1856 in Loran Twp., Stephenson Co., Illinois 2. 4 George W. Murray was born on November 15, 1855 in Loran Twp., Stephenson Co., Illinois 2. He died on November 7, 1930 in Hanford, Kings Co., California. He married Mary Isabell Merritt on May 11, 1879 in Millville, Shasta Co., California. (She was born on March 24, 1860 in Fox River Twp, Davis Co., Iowa. She died on March 3, 1935 in Hanford, Kings Co., California.)They had the following children:
James Murray (c. 1880-bef. 1900) George Carl Murray (1882-1963)
md. Ethel LinnChester William Murray (1886-1953)
md. Nola OwensFlora Jewel Murray (1889-1976)
md. OwensGladeus V. Murray (1891-1968)
md. Louis C. Saylor5 Mary Elizabeth Murray 6 John B(artlow?) Murray was born on November 15, 1858 in Loran Twp., Stephenson Co., Illinois 1,2. He died on January 31, 1883 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 1,2. He is buried in the Central Point I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Central Point, Jackson Co., Oregon. 7 infant male Murray was born and died on September 16, 1860 in Loran Twp., Stephenson Co.,Illinois 2. 8 infant male Murray was born and died on September 16, 1860 in Loran Twp., Stephenson Co., Illinois 2. (was twin to #7 above.) 9 Eleanor Murray was born on August 27, 1861 in Loran Twp., Stephenson Co., Illinois 2. She died on December 4, 1931 in Multnomah, Multnomah Co., Oregon 6. She married Milton L. Maule on August 27, 1885 in Jackson Co., Oregon. (He was born in January 1853 in Ohio and died on December 7, 1902 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon.)They had the following children:
Eleanor Flora Maule (1886-1955) Azariah Lewis Maule (1888-1961)
md. Anita CosgroveRoy Levi Maule (1889-1940)
md. 1st Daisy Jersy Hockett
md. 2nd Vera Ruby NelsonJohn Howell Maule (1892-1957)
md. Mabel Garness EllisBlanche Gladys Maule (1894-1925)
md. Arthur West10 Sarah Jane Murray was born on June 3, 1863 in Loran Twp., Stephenson Co., Illinois 2. She died on December 11, 1920 in Beagle, Jackson Co., Oregon 7. She married Monroe H. Gorden on November 27, 1884 in Jackson Co., Oregon. (He was born on August 25, 1858 in Decatur, Decatur Co., Iowa and died on March 26, 1944 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon.)They had the following children:
Clara A. Gorden (1885-1968)
md. Clarence Elcanie WilhitePearl Gorden (1887-1898) Milly Hazel Gorden (1889-1986)
md. Elbert Leadner GlassBessie Gorden (1892-1969)
md. Earl M. CaseOlive Gorden (1894-1976)
md. Jesse WalkerMartha Gorden (1896-1985)
md. James Edward RodgersSamuel Alfred Gorden (1899-1965) 11 William M. Murray was born on April 2, 1866 in Loran Twp., Stephenson Co., Illinois 2. He died on April 17, 1921 in Ashland, Jackson Co., Oregon 8. He married Addie Wilson on October 2, 1889 in Jackson Co., Oregon. (She was born circa 1871 in Oregon and died after 1921.)They had the following children:
Grace Murray (1891-1957)
md. Ernest Albert SchatzmanFred M. Murray (1894-1972) Gladys Murray (1898-1980)
md. 1st. Cicero Grimms
md. 2nd. Roscoe Blaine Miller12 Anna E. Murray was born on January 16, 1868 in Loran Twp., Stephenson Co., Illinois 2. She died on March 28, 1905 in Ashland, Jackson Co., Oregon. She married Horace Greeley Fairclo on February 13, 1887 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon. (He was born circa 1858 in California and died on May 3, 1919 in Mt. Laki, Klamath Co., Oregon.)They had the following children:
James Carrol Fairclo (1888-1955) Bessie Fairclo (1892-aft. 1978)
md. 1st. ??? Mitchell
md. 2nd. Herman Austin ScullenJay A. Fairclo (1895-1978)
md. Grace Irene Pattin
4th Generation: Mary Elizabeth Murray was born on May 6, 1857 on her parents' farm in Loran Township, Stephenson County, Illinois 2,9,10,11. She died on October 7, 1923 in Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon 9,10,11. She is buried in the Eastwood I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Medford, Jackson Co., Oregon. Mary married George Francis Merriman on Novemer 8, 1877 in Manzanita Pct. (now Medford), Jackson Co., Oregon 12.
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Sources:
1. Tombstone Inscriptions, Central Point I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Central Point, Oregon
2. Murray-Gorden family bible
3. Death notice of James Murray, unknown newspaper, c. May 1885
4. Marriage record, Stephenson Co., Illinois
5. Death certificate of Samuel H. Murray, 1918, Jackson Co., OR
6. Death certificate of Eleanor Maule, 1931, Multnomah Co., OR
7. Death certificate of Sarah Gorden, 1920, Jackson Co., OR
8. Death certificate of William Murray, 1921, Jackson Co., OR
9. Death certificate of Mary E. Merriman, 1923, Jackson Co., OR
10. Tombstone inscriptions, Eastwood I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Medford, Oregon
11. Obituary of Mary Merriman, Medford Mail Tribune, October 8, 1923
12. Marriage records, Jackson Co., Oregon