THE MURRAY FAMILY

James MURRAY was born in Tennessee about 1821. On 20 August, 1840, in Washington County, Tennessee, he married to Sarah BIRDWELL, the daughter of Alexander BIRDWELL and Elizabeth COPASS. Sarah BIRDWELL was born about 1817, in Tennessee. Sometime between their marriage and 1850 they moved to Monroe County, Kentucky. They are shown on the 1850 Monroe County, Kentucky Census dated 26 August, 1850, in Dwelling# 585 and Family# 614.

MURRAY, James 28 year old laborer, born in Tennessee

MURRAY, Sarah 33, wife, born in Tennessee

MURRAY, John Alexander 8 (born 23 December, 1841, in Tennessee

MURRAY, William P. 6 (born about 1843, in Kentucky)

MURRAY, Jarrot 4 (born about 1845, in Kentucky)

MURRAY, Samuel F. 2 (born 1 July, 1848, in Kentucky)

The MURRAY family moved often to and from the Monroe County, Kentucky, area to Tennessee, near Jackson and Clay County.

Lawrence CHERRY, of Herrin, Williamson County, Illinois, had an old piece of paper from an old MURRAY bible which had a statement on it that another son of James and Sarah (BIRDWELL) MURRAY, George W. MURRAY, was born 0n 25 August, 1850, at Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.

Other children were:

MURRAY, Elizabeth E., born 15 May, 1853, in Monroe County, Kentucky

MURRAY, Thomas, born 4 November, 1855, in Monroe County, Kentucky

After much consideration and thought, it is assumed that one child that was listed in one of the other Monroe County, Kentucky Census' was possibly one and the same person. There was, on another census, a daughter listed as Barbara J. MURRAY who was born about 1849 in Monroe County, Kentucky. It is believed that she was actually Barbara Jarrot MURRAY, the "Jarrot" MURRAY listed on the 1850 Monroe County, Kentucky Census above. Census takers many times wrote down incorrect information, and it thought that if she was shown on this census of 1850, that she had to be born before 26 August, 1850. But, it is believed that "Jarrot" MURRAY was actually Barbara Jarrot MURRAY, one and the same person...

Another person who "appeared" to be a child of James and Sarah (BIRDWELL) MURRAY was an Amanda J. MURRAY, born about 1868, in Tennessee. This child is now believed to have been a "granddaughter" of James and Sarah.

Something happened to James MURRAY probably around 1868-1870. for on the 1870 Monroe County, Kentucky, Census Sarah MURRAY is listed as the "head-of-household" and a farmeress, at age 42 years. Children listed with her include: Barbara J. MURRAY; George W. MURRAY; Elizabeth E. MURRAY; Thomas MURRAY; and Amanda J. MURRAY (Of course, this last one we believe to be a grandchild).

1. The first child of James and Sarah (BIRDWELL) MURRAY, John Alexander MURRAY, was called "Elick" MURRAY, by our Grandfather, Clurie Elvin MURRAY. Grandfather Clurie E. MURRAY, of Gamaliel, Kentucky, recalled Civil War accounts of John Alexander MURRAY and how he would sneak back and forth from Clementsville, Tennessee, to the Monroe County, Kentucky area. He told of one time where John A. MURRAY hid out in a hollow tree to escape capture. Sometimes people can distort real fact over a long period of time. I wanted to see if our Grandfather Clurie E. MURRAY was right in the stories that he told. I can tell you that I did check this out and our Grandfather Clurie E. MURRAY was probably right on target! I found that John Alexander MURRAY did in fact serve in the Union Army in Company K, of the 5th Kentucky Cavalry. He was a private and drew a pension while living at Clementsville, Caly County, Tennessee. He served from 1861 to May, 1865.

John Alexander MURRAY was born 23 December, 1841, in Tennessee. He died 8 October, 1909. John married about 1867 to Tennessee "Teany" Angeline COPASS, a first cousin. Teany was born in April, 1847, in Tennessee, to John and Nancy (BIRDWELL) COPASS. Nancy BIRDWELL was a sister to Sarah (BIRDWELL) MURRAY, wife of James MURRAY. John Alexander MURRAY and Teany COPASS had these children:

1a. William Thomas MURRAY, born about 1868.

1b. Nancy Matilda MURRAY, born 24 June, 1869, died 13 March, 1940.

1c. Sarah F. MURRAY, born in July, 1872.

1d. Luraney "Lear" A. MURRAY, born 19 November, 1874.

1e. John G. MURRAY, born 18 April, 1877, died in 1953.

It should be noted here that it has been very, very difficult to trace down our James MURRAY any further than being born about 1821 in Tennessee. We know that he was in Washington County, Tennessee, in 1840, because he was married there in August of that year. It has been said ( but not proven) that our James MURRAY was a son of a John MURRAY and Elizabeth MULKEY. John MURRAY was born about 1787 and married in 1808 to Elizabeth MULKEY, the daughter of the Baptist minister, the Rev. Jonathan MULKEY, and Nancy HOWARD. It is stated that our James and Sarah (BIRDWELL) MURRAY actually came up with the name of their first born son by naming it after the father of James and the father of Sarah. This seems like it is possible if our James MURRAY'S father was John MURRAY. Sarah BIRDWELL was the daughter of Alexander BIRDWELL and Elizabeth COPASS. It does make sense that they "could" have named their first son "John Alexander MURRAY"...This is purely speculation and I have seen no proof of this in a document, etc.

2. William P. MURRAY, born about 1843, in Kentucky.

3. Samuel F. MURRAY, born 1 July, 1848, and died 20 January, 1923. Samuel F. MURRAY married to Elizabeth VINSON. She was born 10 June, 1859, and died 23 September, 1929. Their child was:

3a. Rutha A. MURRAY, born 26 March, 1882, and died in 1939. Rutha married to Abraham LIKENS. He was born about 1889 and died in 1971.

4. Barbara Jarrot MURRAY, born about 1849, in Kentucky.

5. George W. MURRAY, our Great-Great-Grandfather, born 25 August, 1850, in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee, and died 28 October, 1928, in what was a little town near Herrin, named WEAVER, ILLINOIS. This was in Williamson County. He died at the home of his son, Nathan Milton "Milton" MURRAY. George W. MURRAY married to Sarah A. COPASS in Jackson County, Tennessee, on 29 March, 1873. Sarah was the daughter of Thomas H. COPASS and Nancy GULLEY. Sarah A. COPASS was born at Red Boiling Springs, Macon County, Tennessee, and died at Herrin, Williamson County, Illinois, on 28 March, 1931. Both George W. MURRAY and Sarah A. (COPASS) MURRAY are buried in the City Cemetery in Herrin, Willamson County, Illinois. The last record of the George W. MURRAY family in Clay County, Tennessee, was on the 1910 Clay County, Tennessee, Census...

I went to visit Lawrence CHERRY in Herrin, Williamson County, Illinois, on 11 March, 1990. Lawrence CHERRY is the grandson of George W. MURRAY and Sarah A. COPASS, the son of Nancy Rendie "Rendie" MURRAY. He actually had the old MURRAY bible which belonged to Sarah A. (COPASS) MURRAY. I saw it and handled it. The covers were missing but inside I saw the record of these MURRAY children:

5a. Hova Turner MURRAY, born 4 April, 1874, in Clay County, Tennessee. Hova married first to Gid COLTER. They had two children, Charles and Nellie MURRAY. Hova lost all three of them to a flu epedemic around the turn of the century. They are buried at Milestown, Tennessee. Hova then married to Ora Isabell COFFELT. Their children were: Hattie Cleo MURRAY; Vella Mae MURRAY; Sidney Ether MURRAY; Raymon Wilson MURRAY; Guy Richard MURRAY; Ruby Estelle MURRAY; and Dimple Odell MURRAY.

5b. Nathan Milton "Milton" MURRAY, born 16 February, 1876, in Clay County, Tennessee, and died 14 November, 1935, in Weaver, Williamson County, Illinois. He married to Hassie Belle EAKLE in Clay County, Tennessee, on 8 October, 1905. Their children were: Ted MURRAY; Molean MURRAY; Marie MURRAY died about October/November, 1987; Lillian MURRAY; Edna MURRAY died 11 January, 1990; Ruth MURRAY; Ralph MURRAY died in March, 1989; Nola MURRAY (who married a Bud PROFFITT); Eugene MURRAY; and Howard MURRAY.

The last time I heard only Nola (MURRAY) PROFFITT was still living. Milton MURRAY is buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Valier, Illinois.

5c. James Franklin "Franklin" MURRAY, born 15 October, 1879, in Clay County, Tennessee, and died in the 1930's in Orient, Illinois. He is buried in Herrin, Williamson County, Illinois. He married to Virginia "Verdie" ALLEN. Their known children were: Fred MURRAY born 6 February, 1919; Rue MURRAY born 10 June, 1905; Lester MURRAY; and Metza MURRAY born 7 October, 1908.

Metza MURRAY married first to Edgar Athol McCLAIN. They had three children: Lorene McCLAIN who married a man with the last name of LAYOU; Jacqueline McCLAIN; and Frank McCLAIN. Edgar died and Metza remarried to ___ MULLEN. They had: Sandra MULLEN. Metza MURRAY was born 7 October, 1908, lived in Hazel Park, Michigan.

5d. Thomas Benton E. "Benton" MURRAY, born 18 February, 1882, in Clay County, Tennessee, and died 25 May, 1958. Benton married to Lola NEWMAN on 18 December, 1910. Lola was born 13 March, 1889, to George and Mitt NEWMAN, and died 30 January, 1929. Both are buried in Union Hill, Clay County, Tennessee Cemetery. Their children were: Lansford MURRAY born 16 February, 1913; Hazel MURRAY born 7 April, 1919; and Rassie MURRAY. Lansford married to Mary Lena LAWSON. Rassie married to Betty BILLINGSLEY. Hazel married to Dumas ANDERSON.

5e. Nancy Rendie MURRAY, born 28 August, 1884, in Clay County, Tennessee, and died 3 May, 1967, in Herrin Williamson County, Illinois. Rendie married to Jay CHERRY, a son of Newt CHERRY. Their son was: Lawrence CHERRY, born 22 August, 1904, in Tennessee. He is now deceased.

5f. Our Great-Grandfather, Shadrach William "Shade" MURRAY, born 19 August, 1875, in Moss, Clay County, Tennessee, and died 26 March, 1956. He married to Dora Belle CHERRY in Clay County, Tennessee, on 7 Fenruary, 1898. Dora Belle CHERRY was the daughter of Harrison Wayne CHERRY and Julia America Crayton "America" CHERRY. America's maiden name was also CHERRY. Harrison and America were cousins, but not first cousins...Dora Belle CHERRY was born in Red boiling Springs, Macon County, Tennessee, on 10 October, 1882, and died 27 February, 1966. Shade and Dora are buried in the Union Hill Cemetery in Clay County, Tennessee. They had seven children:

5fa. Clurie Elvin MURRAY, born 10 April, 1899, in Moss, Clay County, Tennessee, and died 16 May, 1988, in Tompkinsville, Monroe County, Kentucky. He married to Vella C. PROFFITT, a daughter of Perry Thomas PROFFITT and Martha Etta THOMAS, on 5 August, 1922, at Union Hill, Clay County, Tennessee. Vella C. PROFFITT was born 5 May, 1904, in Monroe County, Kentucky, and died 6 March, 1988, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. They had 12 children:

5faa. Loraine Vivian MURRAY, born 3 May, 1923, in Moss, Clay County, Tennessee. She married to Frank GOAD on 14 November, 1942, at Tompkinsville, Monroe County, Kentucky, and had: Linda Joyce GOAD; Mary Lou GOAD; Cleva Inell GOAD; Frankie Sherryl GOAD; and Jimmy Neal GOAD.

5fab. Alma Elease MURRAY, born 7 September, 1924, in Oak Grove, Clay County, Tennessee. She married to William E. McQUEEN in Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana, on 22 December, 1943. They had Billy Gene McQUEEN and Brenda Darlene McQUEEN.

5fac. Emry Ellis MURRAY, born 20 February, 1926, in Clay County, Tennessee, and died 11 August, 1999,in Tompkinsville, Monroe County, Kentucky. He is buried in Gamaliel, Kentucky.

5fad. Dorothy Pauline MURRAY, born 24 April, 1927, in Oak Grove, Clay County, Tennessee. She married to Ben LAWSON, on 3 December, 1945, in Sneedville, Hancock County, Tennessee. Ben was the son of Rufus LAWSON and Maggie Margaret LAWSON. They had sons: Sam D. LAWSON; Ricky Ben LAWSON; and Randy James LAWSON.

5fae. Delmas Porter MURRAY, born 12 May, 1930, in Clay County, Tennessee, and died 6 November, 1986, at Tompkinsville, Monroe County, Kentucky. He is buried in Gamaliel, Kentucky. Delmas married to Beatrice Vernelle CROWE at Tompkinsville, Monroe County, Kentucky. They had: Rebecca Sue MURRAY; Nathaniel D. MURRAY; Patricia Gayle MURRAY; Olen Shannon MURRAY; and Karen Renea MURRAY.

5faf. Ruth Marie MURRAY, born 2 October, 1932, in Clifford, Bartholomew County, Indiana. She married Roy HYDEN, Sr. at Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana, on 27 December, 1951. Roy HYDEN, Sr. died in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on 1 February, 1984. They had: Roy HYDEN, Jr.; Michael Brent HYDEN; Penny Sue HYDEN; Judy Marie HYDEN; Linda Lou HYDEN; and Peggy Ann HYDEN.

5fag. Ella Mae MURRAY, born 28 September, 1935, in Moss, Clay County, Tennessee. She married to Anthony ZAMARRIPA. They had: Debra Kay ZAMARRIPA; Susan Gaye ZAMARRIPA; and Joe Anthony ZAMARRIPA. Ella Mae MURRAY's second husband was Robert YOUNG. They had: Jeff Lynn YOUNG.

5fah. Willis Ira MURRAY, born 5 March, 1937, in Moss, Clay County, Tennessee. He married to Patricia Emily DRYBURG in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, on 13 December, 1957. They had: Lee Ann MURRAY; and Dwayne Clurie MURRAY.

5fai. Reba Maudeen MURRAY, born 25 April, 1938, in Moss, Clay County, Tennessee. She married to Sandy MESHLAM. They had: David Sol MESHLAM; Sarina Rae MESHLAM; Kay MESHLAM; Sherie Lynn MESHLAM; and Cecil Joe MESHLAM. Sandy MESHLAM died in Dayton, Ohio, in July, 1979. Reba married to Ron RANDALL and had one child. Reba lives in Orlando, Florida.

5faj. Vanus C. MURRAY, born 2 October, 1940, in Tompkinsville, Monroe County, Kentucky. He married to Ozina BOWLES. They had: Mark Stephen MURRAY.

5fak. Norma Jean MURRAY, born 9 March, 1943, in Tompkinsville, Monroe County, Kentucky. She married to John Wallace DAVIS at Gamaliel, Kentucky, on 25 March, 1969. John is deceased. They had: Kristen Jean DAVIS.

5fal. Selby Doyle MURRAY, born 6 December, 1944, at Tompkinsville, Monroe County, Kentucky. He married to Sue Ellis YORK at Tompkinsville, Monroe County, Kentucky, on 24 September, 1966. They had: Jeff Lynn MURRAY.

5fb. A second child of Shade W. MURRAY and Dora Belle (CHERRY) MURRAY was Ganell L. MURRAY, born 14 May, 1902, in Clay County, Tennessee, and died in Tompkinsville, Monroe County, Kentucky, on 5 April, 1991. She married to Ernest BARTLETT, on 4 September, 1921, in Clay County, Tennessee. Ernest was born 29 January, 1902, in Clay County, Tennessee. They had: Vernice BARTLETT; and Velma Marie BARTLETT who died 27 July, 1957, and is buried in the BOWMAN Cemetery near Poplar Log, Monroe County, Kentucky.

5fc. Van MURRAY, born 2 July, 1904, in Moss, Clay County, Tennessee, and died 17 January, 1982, at Tompkinsville, Monroe County, Kentucky. He married to Stella Ann SHORT, on 1 January, 1928, at Mt. Vernon, Kentucky. Stella Ann SHORT was born 4 August, 1908, and died 11 September, 1978, at Tompkinsville, Monroe County, Kentucky. They had: Thelma MURRAY; Alma MURRAY; Claude MURRAY; Jean MURRAY; Rachel MURRAY; Roy MURRAY; Harold MURRAY; and Danny MURRAY. Harold MURRAY died in a 1974 car accident.

5fd. Porter D. MURRAY, born 21 February, 1907, and died 12 December, 1907.

5fe. Walter Bransford "Brans" MURRAY, born 20 August, 1909, in Clay County, Tennessee, and died 7 January, 1997, in Beech Grove, Marion County, Indiana. He is buried at Garland Brook Cemetery, in Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana. He married to Craton E. SMITH, the daughter of Luther SMITH and Eliza CHERRY. Craton was born 30 September, 1913, in Moss, Clay County, Tennessee, and died 11 February, 1993, in Deltona, Florida. They had: Captolia MURRAY; Betty MURRAY; Sammy Wallace "Sonny" MURRAY who died in 1983; and Jo Helen MURRAY.

5ff. America MURRAY, born 25 August, 1911, in Oak Grove, Clay County, Tennessee, and died 26 December, 1996, in Tennessee. She married to Bethel Boyd DODSON on 26 August, 1928, in Oak Grove, Clay County, Tennessee. Bethel was born 2 January, 1906, and died 20 July, 1935. They had: Donald DODSON and Rosa Iree DODSON. She remarried to Herbert SMITH. Herbert SMITH was born 18 August, 1907, and died 25 September, 1946. They had a son: Randall SMITH on 20 September, 1945 at Union Hill, Clay County, Tennessee, and died 31 December, 1997. He was a teacher at Red Boiling Springs, Macon County, Tennessee. I believe they are all buried at Union Hill Cemetery, Clay County, Tennessee.

5fg. Carlos Wayne MURRAY, born 14 September, 1913, in Clay County, Tennessee, and died 16 April, 1969, in Clay County, Tennessee. He married to Vassie J. FRANKLIN on 18 November, 1933, in Tompkinsville, Monroe County, Kentucky. Vassie J. FRANKLIN was born 20 October, 1915, in Clay County, Tennessee, and died 18 May, 1999, in Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana. She was the daughter of Clarence FRANKLIN and Lillie NEUMAN. They had: Altha Colene MURRAY born 11 February, 1937 and died 4 March, 1937; Dennis Dale MURRAY born 19 July, 1934, and died 1 March, 1977, in Clay County, Tennessee; Blanche Elizabeth MURRAY; Bobby Joe MURRAY; and Lanny Neil MURRAY.

Carlos and Vassie divorced about 1961 or so. He remarried to second wife, Inez BURTON in Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana, on 23 December, 1961. They were later divorced with no issue.

6. Elizabeth E. MURRAY, born 15 born 15 May, 1853, in Monroe County, Kentucky.

7. Thomas MURRAY, born 4 November, 1855, in Monroe County, Kentucky, and died 17 July, 1937. He married to Mary Meadie WILSON on 20 June, 1880, in Jackson County, Tennessee. She was the daughter of S.T. WILSON and born on 17 October, 1863, and died 8 November, 1951. They had:

7a. George Washington MURRAY, born 15 June, 1885, and died 18 February, 1960. He was never married.

7b. General Stokes MURRAY, born 20 December, 1886, and died 10 June, 1974. He married to Ada HANCOCK. She was born 14 October, 1896, and died 8 July, 1975. They had: Vera MURRAY and Dorothy MURRAY. Vera married to Mascus DENTON. Dorothy married to Harley WILEY.

7c. Benjamin Harrison MURRAY, born 1 June, 1889, and died 15 April, 1963. He married to Hortence GIVENS and they lived in Jackson County, Tennessee, on what was the Roy STAFFORD farm. I made a visit to this farm in the 1990's and found a family cemetery located up on a slight hill just from the house. There I found gravestones for:

Vellie Bee SLOAN Fred WILSON

4 February, 1910- 30 April, 1928 20 September, 1888- 23 December, 1905

7d. Ella Mai MURRAY, born 22 February, 1893, and died 22 June, 1962. She was not married.