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

Don - Sometimes the simplest answer is the obvious one - Crab Orchard is where Catherine Robinson and her family were. Catherine's grandfather, John Miller, moved his family to Lincoln County in 1779. Whether Thomas and Catherine were acquainted back in Augusta County is still open to question, but entirely possible. At any rate, Thomas would have had to wait a few years for Catherine to become old enough to marry - and even then she needed her mother's permission! Marilyn Bone's book contains some utter nonsense about Catherine being "lost" to the family, etc., but that tale is off by a generation. The one who was "lost" was Catherine's aunt, Elizabeth Miller, who married Zachariah Isbell and remained behind in Virginia, much to her family's dismay. Sally Don McMurray wrote: > > 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.

Typical McMurray, always chasing the girls, right? You're right about "McMurry Family," interesting but full of nonsense until, perhaps, the later generations. Thanks for the info, Don -----Original Message----- From: Sarah Barker [mailto:Sarahbarker@sprintmail.com] Sent: Friday, May 03, 2002 4:21 PM To: MCMURRY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [McMurry] McMurry family book Don - Sometimes the simplest answer is the obvious one - Crab Orchard is where Catherine Robinson and her family were. Catherine's grandfather, John Miller, moved his family to Lincoln County in 1779. Whether Thomas and Catherine were acquainted back in Augusta County is still open to question, but entirely possible. At any rate, Thomas would have had to wait a few years for Catherine to become old enough to marry - and even then she needed her mother's permission! Marilyn Bone's book contains some utter nonsense about Catherine being "lost" to the family, etc., but that tale is off by a generation. The one who was "lost" was Catherine's aunt, Elizabeth Miller, who married Zachariah Isbell and remained behind in Virginia, much to her family's dismay. Sally Don McMurray wrote: > > 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. ______________________________