Don, Maybe there were two Morgan's Rifleman. Here's my ancestor's info: Catlett James- 1 CL and 10 CL: 1 Virginia Reg't of the Continental Line and 10 Virginia Reg't of the Continental Line Orange Petitioner. Catlett James-Morgan's Riflemen. I was really getting excited there, hoping for a McMurry "fit." But, as usual, can't place mine. Thanks, Dorles -----Original Message----- From: Don McMurray [mailto:don@norrishouse.com] Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2002 2:59 PM To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [McMurry] RE: William McMurry Delores, my ancestor, William McMurray served as a private in Capt. Parr's Company from the Shenandoah Valley (Botetourt Co.), Va. The nucleus of Colonel Daniel Morgan's regiment was Capt. Parr's company of men who were recruited in the valley (James Graham, "Life of General Daniel Morgan." In Michael J. O'Brian, ed. Irish Settlers in America, 304-308, 312. Benson L. Lossing, ed. Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution, Vol. I, 61, 62 & 565. In O'Brian, Ibid. Vol. II. Charles Neilson, "Burgoyne's Campaign." In O'Brian, Ibid. Vol. II ). It's possible, of course, that some men from Orange County came over to the Shenandoah Valley to enlist and join the fun with Col. Morgan. Regards, Don -----Original Message----- From: Repass, Dorles L [mailto:dorles.repass@eds.com] Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2002 11:24 AM To: 'don@norrishouse.com' Subject: William McMurry Don, The following comment from one of your emails caught my eye: And the fact that William served in Morgan's Riflemen in the Revolutionary War. Do you know which William this is? I have another ancestor who married into the McMurry family whose brother served in Morgan's Riflemen. He was from Orange county, VA. Maybe there was more than one Morgan's Riflemen? I didn't realize that any William McMurrys were in the Orange county, VA area. Can you help me out here? Thanks. Dorles Repass

Don't think so. However, Wilda McMurry is on this list and should see your inquiry. I will forward your query on to her just in case she doesn't see it. -----Original Message----- From: Patricia Davis [mailto:pgdavis47@hotmail.com] Sent: Monday, May 13, 2002 8:15 PM To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: [McMurry] RE: McMurry Book Would this by any chance be a lady by the name of Wilda that is kin to the Bullion Family.If so I have been trying to get in touch with her and the email address I have wont work.If so my email is PGDavis47@hotmail.com Patty Davis >From: "Repass, Dorles L" <dorles.repass@eds.com> >Reply-To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com >To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: RE: [McMurry] RE: McMurry Book >Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 09:27:29 -0500 > >Wilda, Nothing came through except your message. Arlington?? TX? Name?? > >-----Original Message----- >From: YeloRibbon@aol.com [mailto:YeloRibbon@aol.com] >Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2002 10:55 PM >To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [McMurry] RE: McMurry Book > > >If you actually have any info on Arlington, Civil War, etc., get his Civil >War file. Surely, if he's buried in Arlington, there'd be some info >available. > _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com

Would this by any chance be a lady by the name of Wilda that is kin to the Bullion Family.If so I have been trying to get in touch with her and the email address I have wont work.If so my email is PGDavis47@hotmail.com Patty Davis >From: "Repass, Dorles L" <dorles.repass@eds.com> >Reply-To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com >To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: RE: [McMurry] RE: McMurry Book >Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 09:27:29 -0500 > >Wilda, Nothing came through except your message. Arlington?? TX? Name?? > >-----Original Message----- >From: YeloRibbon@aol.com [mailto:YeloRibbon@aol.com] >Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2002 10:55 PM >To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [McMurry] RE: McMurry Book > > >If you actually have any info on Arlington, Civil War, etc., get his Civil >War file. Surely, if he's buried in Arlington, there'd be some info >available. > _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com

Wilda, Nothing came through except your message. Arlington?? TX? Name?? -----Original Message----- From: YeloRibbon@aol.com [mailto:YeloRibbon@aol.com] Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2002 10:55 PM To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [McMurry] RE: McMurry Book If you actually have any info on Arlington, Civil War, etc., get his Civil War file. Surely, if he's buried in Arlington, there'd be some info available.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: McMurry, Guiney Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/0E0.2ACEB/78 Message Board Post: ISO info on my great great great grandparents Robert J. Guiney and Eliza Jane McMurry from County Down, Ireland. Robert J. Guiney was born March 27, 1810 Ireland Eliza Jane McMurry was born Sept 8, 1817 Ireland They came to the U.S. in 1863 greg_sheila@netzero.net Thanks, Gregory Guiney

If you actually have any info on Arlington, Civil War, etc., get his Civil War file. Surely, if he's buried in Arlington, there'd be some info available.

Does anyone have any information on McMurry's going from OH to MI? I show, from Census and a death cert, that my Samuel McMurry was born in New York, abt 1796. He later shows up in OH, where at least 4 children were born, then on to MI. Samuel Jr was in the Civl War and is buried in Arlington Nat'l Cemetery. Our family goes that the McMurry's came from Ireland, a wife died in New York, then he was remarried. Moved west into Ohio. There is also a version of how there was a disagreement between brothers and some moved out west and up into Canada Anything would be a great help. Thanks Bobbi __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience http://launch.yahoo.com

There is so many inaccuracies in Bone's "McMurry Family" that it is hard to detail everything. Some examples: The "researchers" (there were at least eight of them) who attempted to detail the McMurray family in the early years (1700's and early 1800's) failed to deal with the problem of the age of William McMurray as it relates to the records unearthed by the early and more experienced researchers (Ernest I. Lewis and W.F.G. McMurry). These two couldn't explain the date problems and, as serious researchers, made no attempt to do so. They just kept digging for more records. Then there is the fact that all of William's sons were born in America, not in Ulster. How does this square with the family tradition (from Lewis) that William brought his family of five sons to America? Oops, someone in the McMurry Family group should have seen this flag, right? And the fact that William served in Morgan's Riflemen in the Revolutionary War. Now, how was this possible if he was an elderly codger in 1758 claiming to be too old to have to pay taxes? Etc, etc., etc. Couple the above with the real problem of an insignificant number of records identified to support the statements in McMurry Family. Books have a life of their own and it appears that there was more effort expended to complete the book than there was in being accurate about the family in the early days. There was obviously very little research done on William McMurray and his sons beyond what Ernie Lewis and W. Fletcher G. McMurry contributed. I have no doubt that the compilers and Marilyn Bone, the editor of McMurry Family, meant well but the book is merely a series of unproven statements. Folks reading it should carefully search for verification and proof before accepting anything in the book as a fact. Regards, Don -----Original Message----- From: Rosemary Filyaw [mailto:jfilyaw2009@charter.net] Sent: Sunday, May 05, 2002 9:29 PM To: Don McMurray Subject: McMurry Book Hi Don, I have been following some of the queries on the McMurry list and wondered, do you know which parts of Marilyn Bones book are incorrect? I have seen many references to the fact of many errors. I have a copy of the book and don't know what need changed. Don, it is so good to have you the help us that don't get to research like you have. I trust your work, without doubt. Thanks. Rosemary Birchfield Filyaw jfilyaw2009@charter.net

Is your Thomas the son of Samuel McMurry who dies and has a will in Rutherford Co NC? If so he may be a bro to my James. Sons were James, John, Thomas, Andrew and Samuel. Not in order of birth. One desc. states on census that my James was born in Ala. another states Tn. I think Samuel may have gone into Tn and Ala. then back to NC before he died.

In a message dated 5/6/2002 1:16:40 AM Central Daylight Time, Aug67@att.net writes: > Leslie, Thank you for the URL. Janet > > Janet <Tcmcmurray@aol.com> asked: > > How do you look into the archives of this board? > ```````````````` > Janet and All... > To search the archives of this list, click onto this URL. > http://searches2.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl > Once there, type in McMurry to search the messages > of this list (or McMurray for the sister list). > > Leslie - List Owner >

William McMurray died in Morgan Co., GA, in 1815. His will listed wife, Eleanor, as well as sons, John & William, and daughters Elizabeth Evans & Mary Anderson Burney. The will also listed grandchildren, Franklin Augustus McMurray, John McDonald McMurray, Augusta Ann McMurray, and Clarissa Evans. Other than Clarissa, I do not know which of William & Eleanor's children were the parents of the grandchildren listed. Franklin Augustus McMurray was born in 1810 in Morgan Co. He married in Walton Co., GA, in 1832. He migrated to Randolph Co., AL, in 1839. He died in Randolph Co., AL, in 1906. He served in the Creek Wars in 1836. John McDonald McMurray was born around 1811. He married the first time in Washington Co., GA, in 1832, and the second time in Chambers Co., AL, in 1843. He later lived in Russell Co., AL. William McMurray Senior transferred property to his daughter, Mary, in November of 1815. (Morgan County, Georgia – Superior Court, Deed Book E, 1815-1818, Page 37) A legal notice was found in the Georgia Journal, a Milledgeville, GA, newspaper, for letters of administration for the estates of William and Elenor McMurray. A William McMurray appeared on a Tax List in Clarke Co., GA in William's District in 1805. There was also a William listed on a Tax List in Lane's District in Morgan Co., GA, in 1810. There was a William McMURRAY listed as a Grand Juror in Washington Superior Court, Washington Co., GA, for the September 1796 term. This list of jurors appeared in the 29 DEC 1796 issue of The Southern Centinel & Universal Gazette, as well as the 24 DEC 1796 issue of The Augusta Chronicle & Gazette of the State. A William McMurray was listed as Clerk of Inferior court on two Georgia Indian Depradation Claims in 1802. A William McMurray drew land in the 1807 Land Lottery of Georgia in Wilkinson County. He was listed as living in Howard's Military District in Washington Co., GA. And, a William McMurray appears in Headright Grants in Washington Co., GA, in 1786, 1790, and 1792. Anyone interested in the text of the will of William McMurray, let me know and I'll e-mail it you. Elisabeth

Don, How do you look into the archives of this board? Janet McMurray

Janet <Tcmcmurray@aol.com> asked: > How do you look into the archives of this board? ```````````````` Janet and All... To search the archives of this list, click onto this URL. http://searches2.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl Once there, type in McMurry to search the messages of this list (or McMurray for the sister list). Leslie - List Owner

Hi Elisabeth I am searching for a "John McMurray [McMurrin] who may be the father of "Mahala McMurray" of Newton County, GA. Mahala McMurray married Joseph Henderson 1825 in Newton County, GA and lived in Henry County, GA [ counties share lines] I can not find my notes, but I believe that John was in a county that was split off to make Newton. If you have any information that I can help research to find this John McMurray or a "David McMurray" could be brothers or same person . Charles H Henderson alicia@dalton.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Elisabeth Green Streeter" <egstreeter@knology.net> To: <MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, May 04, 2002 7:31 PM Subject: Re: Re: [McMurry] McMurry family book > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <BCalla6711@aol.com> > To: <MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Friday, May 03, 2002 2:42 PM > Subject: Re: Re: [McMurry] McMurry family book > > > > John appears to have gone to Georgia. > > What sort of documentation is presented that John went to Georgia? Any idea > where in Georgia? > > Thanks, > > Elisabeth >

Thanks Don, I keep hoping to find a link to this Thomas but no luck so far. Beth ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don McMurray" <don@norrishouse.com> To: <MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, May 05, 2002 12:10 PM Subject: RE: [McMurry] Don-Samuel McMurry of TN/VA > Michelle, your grandfather is right. If you look in the archives of this > list you will find my explanation of how the MacMurray name became McMurray > or McMurry. It has to do with the enumerators and their inability to spell > (or understand the dialect) and their use of abbreviations. You can see the > results in the early 1600's in the Ulster militia rolls for County Down, > Ulster and later for all of Ulster Every man named MacMurray or MacMurry > (misspelled from MacMurray) is listed as M'Murray or M'Murry. The > enumerators were using shorthand to avoid writing the extra letters. I > suspect, bur don't know, that is also how McMurry came into existence. > > We are a sept of the Highland Murray clan. In 1160 the Murrays and > MacMurrays were scattered all over Scotland. This occurred after a major > defeat in their homeland, the old Province of Moray (Murray), the center of > which is about where Inverness is now located. I like to joke about how > provident the defeat was, otherwise our ancestors would have been among the > mooners depicted in the movie Braveheart. In that case, our gang would > never have made it to Ulster in 1606 and ultimately to America. > > My guys turned up in the Shenandoah Valley of Va. in 1749. They may have > stopped first in Lancaster Co., Pa. but, so far, I can't prove it. A short > stay in Pa. was typical of the Ulster Scots when they landed in America. > They were offered free land to farm (but not own) in return for acting as > buffer against marauding Indians. For an Ulster connection for the family, > the big problem is that most of the records have been lost during various > rebellions in Ireland. The only hope is church records. So, out of > frustration, I have spent my time tracing the movement of the Murray and > MacMurray families from the Highlands to the Lowlands of Scotland, then to > Ulster in 1606. A date, incidentally, the preceded the Great Plantation of > Ulster in 1611. Another bit of luck; our guys went to County Down in 1606 > so they readily survived a later Irish rebellion against the hated English, > a rebellion that almost destroyed King James's plantation scheme in the rest > of Ulster. > > Regards, Don > > -----Original Message----- > From: Michelle McMurray de Luces [mailto:smcmurray@nc.rr.com] > Sent: Saturday, May 04, 2002 3:09 PM > To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: RE: [McMurry] Don-Samuel McMurry of TN/VA > > > My grandfather tells me that somewhere down the line, our name McMurray was > originally MacMurray. I'm not sure at what point in time, but it would be > interesting to find out and may help alot of us out there. > > Does anyone have McMurray/McMurray/MacMurray relatives researched past 1750s > yet? I am just curious since I am stuck on Thomas E.T. McMurray around > 1785. It made me wonder if we are all having the same problem with time > period. > > Michelle McMurray > > -----Original Message----- > From: Don McMurray [mailto:don@norrishouse.com] > Sent: Saturday, May 04, 2002 6:42 AM > To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: RE: [McMurry] Don-Samuel McMurry of TN/VA > > > Lisa, several researchers have tried to discover the ancestors of the > McMurray/McMurry men in Washington Co., Va. I'm pretty sure there is a > connection for them. This because in 1782 John and Thomas McMurray, sons of > William (son of William the Elder) were in Washington Co., Va. I think it > was because their aunt, their father's sister, was there. She and her > husband settled in the county after their marriage in Botetourt Co., Va.. > Their farm was probably a good stopping-off place for John and Thomas > between treks from home (on the Cowpasture River) back and forth to Ky. or > N.C. Thomas was by then ready to move to Ky. permanently because in the > same year, 1782, he had moved to Lincoln Co., Ky. > > Incidentally, I may have mentioned this before, don't put too much emphasis > on the McMurray vs. McMurry names. It was usually the fault of enumerators > and our gang could care less about their surname. Given names were > all-important in those days. Several family groups of our McMurrays > eventually became McMurrys. My direct line are the only ones to hold onto > McMurray and a couple of them even went back to MacMurray. I've considered > this but it would be too much work. > > TTYL, Don > > -----Original Message----- > From: FP4SALE@aol.com [mailto:FP4SALE@aol.com] > Sent: Friday, May 03, 2002 11:31 AM > To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [McMurry] Don-Samuel McMurry of TN/VA > > > I enjoyed reading your McMurray info, but still can't tie it in with mine. > My Samuel McMurry was born in Sullivan Co. TN about 1786 He was the son of > Smauel and Elizabeth McMurray. He married Jane Ramey in about 1808 in what > was probably then Washington CO VA. I have the following children: John, > my > ancestor born 1809 and married Edna Grizzle in 1831, Elizabeth, Joseph who > had a son named Sanuel born 1866, the only other Samuel in this line, Sarh > "Sally", Robert, Emaline, James, Ellijah J., Eliza Jane, Mary Jane. They > resided in Scott CO Va. Samuel passed away November 6th, 1858 and his > parents are listed on his death certificate. I believe that all of the > Scott > Co McMurrys decended from them. Do you have any more clues for me? WIth > the > name Samuel, and the location, I was hoping they tie in some how. If not, I > would like to know where he came from. > > Thanks, > Lisa Stephenson > > ______________________________ > > ______________________________ > >

I will have to go back to my notes but as I recall, there was an deed or estate file in NC on either old Thomas McMurray or one of his sons dated 1770 which names John McMurray "of Georgia" as one of heirs. Some early researchers suspect that John may have moved to the area of GA that became Oglethorpe Co., but as far as I know there has been no info found to prove this. In Oglethorpe Co. GA in 1799 an Andrew McMurry married Elizabeth Callahan and in 1800 a James McMurry married Rebecca Callahan. Elizabeth and Rebecca were daughters of William Callahan previously of Rutherford Co. NC who moved to GA in the late 1780's. It is not known who the parents of the McMurrys were. Andrew apparently died before 1820 and James moved to Lauderdale Co. AL where he and Rebecca died.

This is second hand information from my point of view, I have no proof of the move. Ben, do you have anything about John going to Georgia? Or did this statement come from Harold Rollins. Don -----Original Message----- From: Elisabeth Green Streeter [mailto:egstreeter@knology.net] Sent: Saturday, May 04, 2002 7:32 PM To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: Re: [McMurry] McMurry family book ----- Original Message ----- From: <BCalla6711@aol.com> To: <MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, May 03, 2002 2:42 PM Subject: Re: Re: [McMurry] McMurry family book > John appears to have gone to Georgia. What sort of documentation is presented that John went to Georgia? Any idea where in Georgia? Thanks, Elisabeth

Beth, it is possible but unlikely that a second give name was used in the late 1700's. The use of second names began as a result of two many kids with the same first name. Like my ancestor, William's name, it was the name of our patriarch so every son and grandson had a son named William. There were so many William McMurrays in 1795-1805 period in Ky., Tenn. and Va., that I had to trace eight of them to find my guy. And not one had a second given name. Keep in mind that the "naming way" was sacred for many families but not for all families. Or there could have been a reason for a change in the pattern. The pattern is a good tool but not infallible Don -----Original Message----- From: Beth & Les Clarke [mailto:bethnles@tampabay.rr.com] Sent: Saturday, May 04, 2002 7:15 PM To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [McMurry] McMurry family book Don, If I use the Sottish naming patterns to try to track my Thomas who was in Blount AL, his son Robert named his first son John. That may mean that his father's name was John Thomas. This is the Thomas none of us seem to be able to trace back beyond him. Have you ever run across a John Thomas born about 1785 in NC or TN. Thomas named his first son Samuel and his second son Robert. They may not have followed the pattern because Robert did not name any son after his wifes father. I am beginning to think we will never trace this Thomas McMurry. Beth McMurry Clarke ----- Original Message ----- From: "Don McMurray" <don@norrishouse.com> To: <MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, May 04, 2002 12:45 PM Subject: RE: [McMurry] McMurry family book > Michelle, there are several books on the Scottish naming pattern, one > excellent book is "Albion's Seed" by David Fischer (sp?). Another good > reference book is Eyre-Todd's "The Highland Clans of Scotland." > Essentially what they say about naming children is that the family's given > names were all-important, surnames came along relatively late in the game. > So it was essential for the given names to be honored, protected, and > repeated in a set way. Even to the point of re-using a special given name > in the event of the death of a child (this could through things off a bit). > This occurred in my family from the very beginning in the Highlands of > Scotland to America in the mid-1800's. > > Here's the "naming way" for boys, first son named after the paternal > father, second son named after the maternal father, third son named after > the father, fourth son named after a brother or honored uncle, and so on. > For girls it was reversed, first daughter named after the maternal mother, > second daughter named after the paternal mother, third daughter named after > the mother, fourth daughter named after a sister or honored aunt, and so on. > > Regards, Don > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Michelle McMurray de Luces [mailto:smcmurray@nc.rr.com] > Sent: Friday, May 03, 2002 5:02 PM > To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: RE: [McMurry] McMurry family book > > > Thanks for the information Don! > > I have never heard of the Scot's "naming way" until now. Is it a book? > > My grandmother says her family bible states my Thomas "E.T." McMurray was > born about 1785 in NC. That makes Thomas number one more of a fit. Maybe > he was born there, then moved to Kentucky. > > I may need some help on this. Just keep your eyes open for any Thomas > McMurrays born about 1780 on. > > Thank you everyone! > > Michelle McMurray > > -----Original Message----- > From: Don McMurray [mailto:don@norrishouse.com] > Sent: Friday, May 03, 2002 12:38 PM > To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: RE: [McMurry] McMurry family book > > > Michelle, Thomas McMurray, son of William (son of William the Elder) was the > first of the siblings to move to Ky. Interestingly, and I have never found > out why, he settled in and died in Crab Orchard, Lincoln Co., Ky. This > wasn't too far from where the other siblings settled in 1789 on Thomas's > brother, John's 1,000 acre claim on the Rolling fork near what is now > Bradfordsville, Ky. > > The men you should consider for your Thomas McMurray's father are the > brothers, John (the oldest), James (my ancestor), and Thomas of Crab > Orchard, Ky. Another brother, Robert left the Shenandoah Valley of Va. > (near where I now live) in 1811 to join the McMurray siblings (John, James, > and their two married sisters) on the Rolling fork but Robert didn't have a > son named Thomas. > > 1) Jane & James McMurray's son, Thomas was born circa 1794. The date is > based on an 1815 Tax List in which this Thomas is listed in James's > household as a "White male above 21." I know that Thomas is Jane & James's > son because he and his brother, William (my ancestor), served together in > the same outfit in 1814 at the Battle of New Orleans (as did several other > McMurray cousins in other outfits). As you know, militia companies were > formed in specific areas of a county. I have no information who Thomas > married if, in fact, he did marry. > > 2) Christina & Thomas McMurray's son, Thomas was born about 1795, nothing > else is known about him as far as I know. > > 3) Elizabeth & John McMurray's son, Thomas was born 19 June 1806. He > married a Rebecca Pettus 1/24/1828. There is a lot of information on his > family. > > As you can see, your best bets, depending on the age issue, are No's 1) and > 2). Since nothing is known about these two sons named Thomas you may hit > pay dirt. It will take someone like you to move back in time to identify > your Thomas as a son of one of the McMurray men. Are you familiar with the > Scot's "naming way"? It helped me a great deal when I traced my William to > his birth location on the Rolling fork. At that time, there were eight men > in Va., Ky. & Tenn. named William McMurray. I had to trace every one of > these men named William until I found my guy. > > Good hunting and let me know if I can help. > > Don > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Michelle McMurray de Luces [mailto:smcmurray@nc.rr.com] > Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2002 12:37 PM > To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: RE: [McMurry] McMurry family book > > > Hi Don, > > That is quite a story! Thank you for taking the time to help others with > your knowledge. > > I am wondering if the Thomas (brother of John)you mentioned is the Thomas I > am looking for. The only info I have is Thomas E. T.? McMurray having lived > in Kentucky or Illinois. He married a woman named "Mary." I have no date > of births for these folks. I know that my Thomas was probably born around > the late 1700's. Your Thomas may be too old to be the same guy. Tom & Mary > bore a son named Huston (Houston?)Gillespie McMurray around 1825. > > It makes me wonder how in the world I'm going to find out since no one kept > any records that are still with us. > > Michelle McMurray > > ______________________________ > > ______________________________

Michelle, your grandfather is right. If you look in the archives of this list you will find my explanation of how the MacMurray name became McMurray or McMurry. It has to do with the enumerators and their inability to spell (or understand the dialect) and their use of abbreviations. You can see the results in the early 1600's in the Ulster militia rolls for County Down, Ulster and later for all of Ulster Every man named MacMurray or MacMurry (misspelled from MacMurray) is listed as M'Murray or M'Murry. The enumerators were using shorthand to avoid writing the extra letters. I suspect, bur don't know, that is also how McMurry came into existence. We are a sept of the Highland Murray clan. In 1160 the Murrays and MacMurrays were scattered all over Scotland. This occurred after a major defeat in their homeland, the old Province of Moray (Murray), the center of which is about where Inverness is now located. I like to joke about how provident the defeat was, otherwise our ancestors would have been among the mooners depicted in the movie Braveheart. In that case, our gang would never have made it to Ulster in 1606 and ultimately to America. My guys turned up in the Shenandoah Valley of Va. in 1749. They may have stopped first in Lancaster Co., Pa. but, so far, I can't prove it. A short stay in Pa. was typical of the Ulster Scots when they landed in America. They were offered free land to farm (but not own) in return for acting as buffer against marauding Indians. For an Ulster connection for the family, the big problem is that most of the records have been lost during various rebellions in Ireland. The only hope is church records. So, out of frustration, I have spent my time tracing the movement of the Murray and MacMurray families from the Highlands to the Lowlands of Scotland, then to Ulster in 1606. A date, incidentally, the preceded the Great Plantation of Ulster in 1611. Another bit of luck; our guys went to County Down in 1606 so they readily survived a later Irish rebellion against the hated English, a rebellion that almost destroyed King James's plantation scheme in the rest of Ulster. Regards, Don -----Original Message----- From: Michelle McMurray de Luces [mailto:smcmurray@nc.rr.com] Sent: Saturday, May 04, 2002 3:09 PM To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: [McMurry] Don-Samuel McMurry of TN/VA My grandfather tells me that somewhere down the line, our name McMurray was originally MacMurray. I'm not sure at what point in time, but it would be interesting to find out and may help alot of us out there. Does anyone have McMurray/McMurray/MacMurray relatives researched past 1750s yet? I am just curious since I am stuck on Thomas E.T. McMurray around 1785. It made me wonder if we are all having the same problem with time period. Michelle McMurray -----Original Message----- From: Don McMurray [mailto:don@norrishouse.com] Sent: Saturday, May 04, 2002 6:42 AM To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: [McMurry] Don-Samuel McMurry of TN/VA Lisa, several researchers have tried to discover the ancestors of the McMurray/McMurry men in Washington Co., Va. I'm pretty sure there is a connection for them. This because in 1782 John and Thomas McMurray, sons of William (son of William the Elder) were in Washington Co., Va. I think it was because their aunt, their father's sister, was there. She and her husband settled in the county after their marriage in Botetourt Co., Va.. Their farm was probably a good stopping-off place for John and Thomas between treks from home (on the Cowpasture River) back and forth to Ky. or N.C. Thomas was by then ready to move to Ky. permanently because in the same year, 1782, he had moved to Lincoln Co., Ky. Incidentally, I may have mentioned this before, don't put too much emphasis on the McMurray vs. McMurry names. It was usually the fault of enumerators and our gang could care less about their surname. Given names were all-important in those days. Several family groups of our McMurrays eventually became McMurrys. My direct line are the only ones to hold onto McMurray and a couple of them even went back to MacMurray. I've considered this but it would be too much work. TTYL, Don -----Original Message----- From: FP4SALE@aol.com [mailto:FP4SALE@aol.com] Sent: Friday, May 03, 2002 11:31 AM To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [McMurry] Don-Samuel McMurry of TN/VA I enjoyed reading your McMurray info, but still can't tie it in with mine. My Samuel McMurry was born in Sullivan Co. TN about 1786 He was the son of Smauel and Elizabeth McMurray. He married Jane Ramey in about 1808 in what was probably then Washington CO VA. I have the following children: John, my ancestor born 1809 and married Edna Grizzle in 1831, Elizabeth, Joseph who had a son named Sanuel born 1866, the only other Samuel in this line, Sarh "Sally", Robert, Emaline, James, Ellijah J., Eliza Jane, Mary Jane. They resided in Scott CO Va. Samuel passed away November 6th, 1858 and his parents are listed on his death certificate. I believe that all of the Scott Co McMurrys decended from them. Do you have any more clues for me? WIth the name Samuel, and the location, I was hoping they tie in some how. If not, I would like to know where he came from. Thanks, Lisa Stephenson ______________________________ ______________________________

Hi Owen, I know very little about the sons of Samuel McMurray of Tenn. other than some information on one of his great-grandsons, a Lt. William J. McMurray. Five McMurray relatives served in the 22nd Tenn. Volunteers in the Civil War. All the men, with the exception of Lt. McMurray, were killed or permanently disabled in the war. This came to light when I read about Samuel's great-grandson, (Lt.) William J. McMurray, M.D. You will find the information in Spears biographical sketch of Dr. McMurray and similar information in J. B. Lindsley's "Military Annals of Tennessee." Good hunting, Don. . -----Original Message----- From: Owen Ross [mailto:rossross@mailhub.icx.net] Sent: Sunday, May 05, 2002 6:58 AM To: don@norrishouse.com; MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: McMurray/McMurry Family Hello Don, Although I am emailing you direct, you can respond to me on the McMurry site if you like. You state in your response to Carol on May 2, 2002 that the sons of Samuel (William, John, and Samuel) are the ancestors of the southern branch of your McMurray family. Do you happen to know the name of John's wife or if any of these three sons of Samuel had a son named John that married a Jane Miller? These are the only facts that I do know about my McMurrays: - My grandmother was Alice Jane McMurray born 1882 in Lancaster, SC. - Her father was James McMurray married to Susan Barker and then Susie Knight. - My great grandfather James McMurray's father and mother were John McMurray and Jane Miller. I was told by one source that this John McMurray (married to Jane) died in 1909. Therefore, he could not be John the son of Samuel born about 1786 or 1787 if these facts as given to me are correct. He would have been over 100 when he died! - My great grandfather James McMurray also had a sister named Margaret who married a Ghant. Margaret was born 1865 and died 1925. One more very abstract piece of information that I will throw in here is the first son of my great grandfather was named Tom. If you follow the old fashion naming pattern to name the first son after the father's father then it would be Thomas, James, John, Thomas. But there are no facts here! Just thought I would throw that in there. Anyway, if you can help me out I sure would appreciate it. You seem to be very knowledgeable regarding all these McMurrays! By the way, my McMurrays spell their name both McMurray and McMurry. Looking forward to hearing from you. Ruby Ross