Hello all,
I'm hoping that someone here would be so kind as to help me break through my brick wall...
Here is the problem I have been struggling with for the last ten years.
I must first apologize for the length of this post, but I believe it is necessary to explain the situation properly and as clearly as possible.
I keep seeing this over and over again on so many genealogy and forum sites on the internet, that John Murray & Anne Bennett are the parents of William Murray born 1722/3 somewhere in Massachusetts, who married Joanna Tupper on 17 Apr 1761 in Liverpool, Queens Co., Nova Scotia, Canada.
My problem is this... according to the various family documents I have found on the internet, this William just does not seem to fit in...
From the book "LETTERS OF JAMES MURRAY, LOYALIST - Edited by NINA MOORE TIFFANY"
on page 2 -
Among James Murray's papers is the following memorandum :
The Births of the Children of John Murray of Unthank tennant born
4 Febry 1677 by Annie Bennet his wife born Novr 1694, married
the 29th day of April 1712.
1. James Murray, born Sunday, Augst 9th, 1713.
2. Archibald, born Friday, April 15th, 1715.
3. Barbara, born Sunday, Febry 3, 1717.
4. Anne, born Friday, Jany 23, 1719.
5. John, born Tuesday, Jany 18, 1721.
6. Andrew, born Jany 3, 1723.
7. William, born Wednesday, Apr. 10th 1724.
8. Elizabeth, born Thursdy, July 7th, 1726.
9. Andrew, born Wednesdy, Apr. 10th, 1728.
This William was born on 10 Apr 1724 in Unthank, Scotland...
Although I agree this is a minor point, as birth dates and places often become mixed up and confused over time, but this is only one small point of a much bigger issue.
on page 44 -
"The Spanish War, alluded to in the last letter,* presented
to William an opening for a military career. North Carolina
had raised four companies for General Oglethorpe's
expedition against St. Augustine. That expedition having
failed, the North Carolina contingent was to be sent to join
the Enghsh forces at Jamaica, and with it were to go
Captain James Innes, Mr. Murray's " most intimate friend
next to T. Clark," and also two cousins of the Murrays,
Lieutenant Archibald Douglas and Lieutenant Pringle. William
was, in his brother's opinion, unfitted for a planter's
life. On the other hand, his inheritance was sufficient to
procure him a commission, and an opportunity was now offered
to enter the army under Captain Innes's special care. At
Jamaica, moreover, he would find his brother John, graduated
from his " studies of pharmacy and surgery," and appointed
surgeon's mate on board the Tilbury, English man-of-war. So,
with all these advantages on his side, and further
fortified by a letter to John Stuart, Aide-de-camp to Lord
Cathcart, William set out for the war."
* JAMES MURRAY TO JAMES RUTHERFORD - Cape Fear, Sep 4, 1739
on page 48 -
In a letter from James Murray to Mrs. Bennett of Chesters from Cape Fear, NC dated Sep 1740, James writes:
..."When the rest of the Gentlemen going hence on the
Expedition were making their Wills Billy also made his at my
request and left all he has to my sister Betty & when he
gave her the paper and told her what it was the tears run
down her Cheeks like hail."...
This obviously means that William (at just 16) was indeed unmarried in 1740 when he left for the army...
And again on the Elizabeth Murray site, (http://http://www.csulb.edu/projects/elizabethmurray/EM/collection.html) in a letter from John Murray, MD to James Murray dated Dec 10, 1761, John writes:
..."Brother Will being released from his confinement*, has
obtained leave to return to Britain, he has been in London
about a month; I expect him here every day to spend the
Christmas with me, and to endeavor by mirth and good cheer,
to rub off the rest of melancholy formed by the late events
in my family."...
* I do not know the meaning of 'released from confinement' in this context (was he captured and held a prisoner of war?, or, maybe just held for being mixed up in some trouble?). Something to research at a later time...
But surely he could not have been in Nova Scotia in April of this year to marry Joanna...
And then, back to the book...
on page 136 -
A letter from James Murray (while visiting England) to his daughter Dorothy Forbes in Boston, dated June 21, 1771.
..."My Presence here has already had one good effect. I have
persuaded my Brother Will to sell out of the Army, by which
he will have L.2000 to dispose of at his death to such of
Nephews or Nieces as stand most in need or favour. I expect
him every day from Ireland, where he leaves the
Regiment."... "Not being able to visit my native country in
the splendor that others who started with me have done, I
have hesitated about making the tour, though I have had
several pressing Invitations, but I believe I shall pluck up
Resolution to take a glimpse of our friends there with
brother Will."...
Here William is to sell out of the army from Ireland in 1771, it appears he is still unmarried as James mentions leaving to nephews or nieces most in need or favor, Williams' life savings, something that would surely not have been done had he had a wife or children somewhere...
So my query is this, does anyone know of, or maybe are descended from William Murray & Joanna Tupper, and are willing to share what information they have with me? William and Joanna are my 5th great-grandparents and I am getting tired of staring at this brick wall...
Thank you all very much.
Fred Murray
[email protected]
I'm hoping that someone here would be so kind as to help me break through my brick wall...
Here is the problem I have been struggling with for the last ten years.
I must first apologize for the length of this post, but I believe it is necessary to explain the situation properly and as clearly as possible.
I keep seeing this over and over again on so many genealogy and forum sites on the internet, that John Murray & Anne Bennett are the parents of William Murray born 1722/3 somewhere in Massachusetts, who married Joanna Tupper on 17 Apr 1761 in Liverpool, Queens Co., Nova Scotia, Canada.
My problem is this... according to the various family documents I have found on the internet, this William just does not seem to fit in...
From the book "LETTERS OF JAMES MURRAY, LOYALIST - Edited by NINA MOORE TIFFANY"
on page 2 -
Among James Murray's papers is the following memorandum :
The Births of the Children of John Murray of Unthank tennant born
4 Febry 1677 by Annie Bennet his wife born Novr 1694, married
the 29th day of April 1712.
1. James Murray, born Sunday, Augst 9th, 1713.
2. Archibald, born Friday, April 15th, 1715.
3. Barbara, born Sunday, Febry 3, 1717.
4. Anne, born Friday, Jany 23, 1719.
5. John, born Tuesday, Jany 18, 1721.
6. Andrew, born Jany 3, 1723.
7. William, born Wednesday, Apr. 10th 1724.
8. Elizabeth, born Thursdy, July 7th, 1726.
9. Andrew, born Wednesdy, Apr. 10th, 1728.
This William was born on 10 Apr 1724 in Unthank, Scotland...
Although I agree this is a minor point, as birth dates and places often become mixed up and confused over time, but this is only one small point of a much bigger issue.
on page 44 -
"The Spanish War, alluded to in the last letter,* presented
to William an opening for a military career. North Carolina
had raised four companies for General Oglethorpe's
expedition against St. Augustine. That expedition having
failed, the North Carolina contingent was to be sent to join
the Enghsh forces at Jamaica, and with it were to go
Captain James Innes, Mr. Murray's " most intimate friend
next to T. Clark," and also two cousins of the Murrays,
Lieutenant Archibald Douglas and Lieutenant Pringle. William
was, in his brother's opinion, unfitted for a planter's
life. On the other hand, his inheritance was sufficient to
procure him a commission, and an opportunity was now offered
to enter the army under Captain Innes's special care. At
Jamaica, moreover, he would find his brother John, graduated
from his " studies of pharmacy and surgery," and appointed
surgeon's mate on board the Tilbury, English man-of-war. So,
with all these advantages on his side, and further
fortified by a letter to John Stuart, Aide-de-camp to Lord
Cathcart, William set out for the war."
* JAMES MURRAY TO JAMES RUTHERFORD - Cape Fear, Sep 4, 1739
on page 48 -
In a letter from James Murray to Mrs. Bennett of Chesters from Cape Fear, NC dated Sep 1740, James writes:
..."When the rest of the Gentlemen going hence on the
Expedition were making their Wills Billy also made his at my
request and left all he has to my sister Betty & when he
gave her the paper and told her what it was the tears run
down her Cheeks like hail."...
This obviously means that William (at just 16) was indeed unmarried in 1740 when he left for the army...
And again on the Elizabeth Murray site, (http://http://www.csulb.edu/projects/elizabethmurray/EM/collection.html) in a letter from John Murray, MD to James Murray dated Dec 10, 1761, John writes:
..."Brother Will being released from his confinement*, has
obtained leave to return to Britain, he has been in London
about a month; I expect him here every day to spend the
Christmas with me, and to endeavor by mirth and good cheer,
to rub off the rest of melancholy formed by the late events
in my family."...
* I do not know the meaning of 'released from confinement' in this context (was he captured and held a prisoner of war?, or, maybe just held for being mixed up in some trouble?). Something to research at a later time...
But surely he could not have been in Nova Scotia in April of this year to marry Joanna...
And then, back to the book...
on page 136 -
A letter from James Murray (while visiting England) to his daughter Dorothy Forbes in Boston, dated June 21, 1771.
..."My Presence here has already had one good effect. I have
persuaded my Brother Will to sell out of the Army, by which
he will have L.2000 to dispose of at his death to such of
Nephews or Nieces as stand most in need or favour. I expect
him every day from Ireland, where he leaves the
Regiment."... "Not being able to visit my native country in
the splendor that others who started with me have done, I
have hesitated about making the tour, though I have had
several pressing Invitations, but I believe I shall pluck up
Resolution to take a glimpse of our friends there with
brother Will."...
Here William is to sell out of the army from Ireland in 1771, it appears he is still unmarried as James mentions leaving to nephews or nieces most in need or favor, Williams' life savings, something that would surely not have been done had he had a wife or children somewhere...
So my query is this, does anyone know of, or maybe are descended from William Murray & Joanna Tupper, and are willing to share what information they have with me? William and Joanna are my 5th great-grandparents and I am getting tired of staring at this brick wall...
Thank you all very much.
Fred Murray
[email protected]