----- Original Message ----- From: "Lei Zimmerman" <zbbess@earthlink.net> Subject: [D-G LIST] Murray of Murraywaithe "I am looking for information on the Murray family of Murraywaithe in Dumfries. I am a direct descendant of DR. John Murray, who had a brother Dr. William Murray. Both would be in the 1700's. William came to Charleston, SC in 1749-1750. Both brothers seem to have traveled between Charleston and Murraywaithe in Scotland. John married Lady Anne Mackinzieat some point. This is all I know in details at the moment. Any help would be appreciated" Dear Lei Zimmerman, The family and estate papers of the Murrays of Murraythwaite are now in the keeping of the National Archives of Scotland, and the following extract is taken from their catalogue: "Moriquhat or Murraywhat, in the parish of Cummertrees, re-named Murraythwaite by a crown charter of 1766, belonged in the fifteenth century to the family of Ednam. In 1466 Elizabeth Ednam, who is said to have married John Murray, brother of Sir Charles Murray of Cockpool, granted the lands to her son, Patrick. Patrick's son, John, had sasine in 1532 of certain property in and around Annan, the name of which, Ednam Lands, suggests that it too, had belonged to the Ednam family. John's great-grandson, Andrew (d. 1645), married Janet Murray, daughter of Sir George Murray, and was bailie or chamberlain for her uncles, Sir Richard Murray of Cockpool, and John Murray, first Earl of Annandale. His son, William, acquired the lands of Isle and Dyke, in the parish of Dalton. William's grandson, also called William, died in 1729, and was succeeded by his elder son, John (born 1726). John and his brother were resident in South Carolina at various dates between 1749 and 1763 and he held office as Secretary of the Province. John, known as the 'Auld Laird', owned Murraythwaite for 94 years, and died unmarried in 1823, having outlived his brother, William (1728-1818) of Murrayfield and Tundergarth, and his nephew, John (1775-1822) of Tundergarth. He was succeeded by his grand-nephew, John Dalrymple Murray (1800-1863), who sold most of the Tundergarth estate. His son, Commander John Murray R.N. (1828-1872), was succeeded by the latter's son, Major William Murray M.P. (1865-1923), with whom the male line of the family came to an end." The family papers are described thus: "The papers are mainly of family or local interest and are primarily concerned with properties in Dumfriesshire, but there are a few Renfrewshire documents 1642-1684 (GD219/144-5, 173, 178) of uncertain provenance. There are papers relating to Andrew Murray's management of the Cockpool and Annandale estates, 1617-1641 (GD219/127, 130, 131, 134-7, 141-3, 280-1) and an important group relating South Carolina, 1747-1799 (GD219/284-90, 292, 298, 310-1, 314-8, 320-2, 326). The 19th century papers include some relating to the naval career of Commander John Murray and his uncle, Captain (later Rear-Admiral) Alexander Murray (1805-1870) (GD219/303-4, 339-40, 342-3, 347, 349)." For further information, use the search option at http://www.nas.gov.uk/ . This information seems to conflict with your data - the John Murray you mention (brother of William Murray) may be the "Auld Laird" described above, but the "Auld Laird" apparently died unmarried. This is confirmed by the entry for the Murrays of Murraythwaite in the 1937 edition of "Burke's Landed Gentry" (the authoritative reference book on British landed families). When Major William Murray died in 1923, there was no male heir; and the estate was inherited by his widow , Mrs. Evelyn Murray, who I think was in possession until at least 1940, probably later. She again had no male heir, and was succeeded by her daughter Margaret Elizabeth, who had married (in 1920) a Major James Edward Evans Galbraith. Again Mrs Galbraith had no male heir, and was eventually succeeded by her only daughter, Anne Marion Galbraith. Anne Marion married first (in 1948) Lieut. Peter Weston Dolphin, RN; and secondly (date unknown) Frank Holt. Kind regards, Ian Anderson