Our Family's Journey Through Time
1 2 3 Next» » Slide Show
About Col. James Murray (1736-1816)
From Find A Grave Memorial# 52353197
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Murray&GSiman=1&GScid=44586&GRid=52353197&
Col.
Murray served in the Revolutionary War under Col. James Potter. He was a
Lt. Col. from the fall of 1776 until March 10, 1777 in Col. Potter's
Pennsylvania Regiment. He was commissioned May 21, 1777, Colonel of the
Second Battalion of Northumberland County Militia and served until the
end of the war.
(special thanks to PattyB #47090714 for the
following info) Col. James Murray was born in Sherman's Valley,
Cumberland (then was Perry County), PA. Died in Chillisquaque, near
Watsontown, in what was Northumberland Co. (now Montour), PA. His widow
stated he died in 1816, but the stone shows 1817 (see below). His father
was James Murray Sr. (~1706 County Armagh Ireland - Dec 1757 Sherman's
Valley, Cumberland, PA( & his mother was Jean or Janet (last name
unknown)(~1706 Ireland - after 1758 in PA).
In 1769, James and
his brothers, John & William, along with James McMahon, Thomas
Hewitt, Johnson Chenney & William Fisher crossed over into
Chillisquaque Valley where they took up about 300 acres of land on the
south side of the Chillisquaque Creek. They built their homes on the
north side. (now Pottsgrove). According to the survey of James McMahan's
farm it was the month of April 1769.
Col. Murray owned most of
the land north of Pott's Grove including the present town site. Col.
James entered and had surveyed a large tract of land on the west side of
the Creek beginning at some distance above the present Catawissa
Railroad Bridge and running SE to about where the Presbyterian Church of
Pottsgrove now stands, and then turned SW with the bend of the creek,
to a white oak tree which marked the corner between the James McMahan
and Murray farms. The same white oak tree still stands and has been for
many years, the established corner of 4 different farms. Brother John
entered a large tract on the opposite side of the creek and William
still higher up.
Col. James Murray served his country and served
well. After peace was declared, he retired to private life, spending his
time in his farm cultivation, was a useful man in his community and
among the pioneers of Presbyterianism in the new settlement. He was
found in death, having gone out to bring in his sheep. His passing came
on April 1, 1816 according to his widow's deposition, though his
tombstone says 1817. Ann said he was upward of 75 years old. The
tombstone says age 80. It may well be that Ann's memory had faded in the
20 or so years since her husband's death when she gave her deposition.
Inscription: In Memory of James Murray Who Died April 1, 1817, Aged 80
Years.
Per Samuel McMahan, Esq. in his "History of the McMahan Family":
Colonel
Murray was a brave, fearless soldier and an efficient officer. He too,
like Capt McMahan, gave of his own means to keep men in the field; but
his descendants were more fortunate than those of his brother-in-law
McMahan, inasmuch that the government reimbursed them dollar for dollar
with interest. The colonel served in different capacities during the
entire war. He served the country and served it well, and after peace
was declared he retired from the active duties of a soldier to that of a
private citizen--spending his time in the cultivation of his farm. He
was a useful man in the community and among the pioneers of
Presbyterianism in the new settlement--active in the formation and
support of the Chillisquaque church, of which organization one of his
grandsons is an active ruling elder at the present time. The colonel
lived to be an old man, and died like Jacob, leaning upon the top of his
staff. He had gone out in the evening to bring in his sheep to house
them from the depredation of dogs, and not returning, a member of his
family went in search of him, and found him cold in death, with his hand
holding the top of his staff--which had run into the ground--supposed
to be by the pressure of his weight in falling. Thus ended the life of a
useful man. 'Verily man knoweth not his time.' Although this soldier,
citizen and christian fell by the way, he still lives in the life of his
descendants, many of whom were and still are active members of the same
religious organization he helped to form more than a century and a
quarter ago.
-----
Children with 1st wife, Margaret or
Mary Ann Fisher: Mary (~1762-1831 married 1st James Morrison, married
2nd William Reed Jr., Esq.); Thomas (~1766-1838 married Jane "Jennie"
McMahan); and Samuel (~1768).
Children with 2nd wife, Ann "Nancy"
Winn: James Potter (1779-1848 married Margaret unknown); Margaret
(1781-1842 married Mr. McCoy); Isabella "Belle" (1785-1842 married
Daniel Gray); Robert (1787-before 1846); John (1789- ? married Mary
unknown); Jonathan (1792-?); Hester "Kittie" (1794-after 1855 m1 George
Barclay, m2 John R. Ketler); Mary Jane (1796-1844 married Capt William
Boyd Barrett); William (1798-1883 married Jane S. Kerr); and James
(1800-?).
Linked to | Col. James Murray, II (Name) |
1 2 3 Next» » Slide Show
I strive to document all of the sources in this family tree. If you have something to add, a suggestion or you have a question please let me know: Contact Me