Murrell Family Cemetery
Murrell Family Cemetery is located on Highway 93 across from the pallet factory. Turn into driveway and the cemetery is in the area where the driveway forks. Sullivan Gardens, Sullivan County, Tennessee.
Thanks to Donna Briggs for this transcription. Part of the Cemetery Survey Team of Northeast Tennessee.
The modern-day Murrell mansion is located at 6271 Murrell Road
Murrell, Tom Lee – November 24, 1911-October 23, 1978 Military footstone US Army World War II
Murrell, Madelyn Louise Agee – August 19, 1918-August 24, 1971 “Wife of Tom Lee Murrell”
Murrell, Mary A. – 1753-April 6, 1843 “Daughter of Joseph Mabry”
Murrell, Rev. Richard – 173?-182? “The pioneer Baptist minister Fall Branch, Double Springs, Buffalo Ridge and Beechcreek churches organized by Rev. Richard Murrell in whose memory this monument was erected by Sarah Murrell”
Murrell, Sarah – February 28, 1802-January 22, 1885 “Daughter of Johnathan & Ann Bachman”
Murrell, Thomas – October 11, 1800-March 16, 1843
Wells, Mary Ann Murrell – October 26, 1824-April 15, 1901 “Daughter of Thomas & Sarah Murrell”
1870 Census of Sullivan County p. 515 15th district
Murrell, Thos. J. 47
Sarah A 37
Sarah A. 2
Mary E. 10
Adeline M 17 (Black servant girl)
p.511B 15th district
Wells, Wm. B. 59
Mary A. 44
Martha L. 31
Emeline 26
John 20
Safa 22 (Black servant girl)
John 18 (Black servant boy)
George 6 (Black servant boy)
Families and History of Sullivan County, Tennessee Volume 1, 1799-1992
Murrell Mansion, gabled Victorian home of Thomas Lafayette Murrell, is located in Sullivan Gardens.
Storytellers say Thomas Lafayette Murrell built his twelve-room, three-story mansion in 1901 at the center of a large plantation he had inherited from his father, Thomas Jefferson Murrell. The family patriarch, Richard Murrell, had been a pioneer Baptist preacher and had accumulated thousands of acres of land.
Thomas Lafayette died, some say, under most mysterious circumstances, on the night of March 10, 1921. There are those who would say that he was murdered.
Murrell’s last words were apparently spoken over the telephone to his friend and physician, a Dr. McCrary. They were a plea for help, “He shot me.”
After a legal investigation, Thomas Murrell’s son was charged with his father’s murder. Thomas L. Murrell was buried in an unmarked grave in the family cemetery, and the family eventually moved away.
Since then, the house has been sold and resold. All the new owners excitedly bring in architects and builders. Always renovation begins, but always just as suddenly; the owners silently lose interest in the house. The “For Sale” sign goes up once more. New owners come and go, but no brave soul will reside in Tom Murrell’s house. It is said that Thomas Murrell still lives there, and that he doesn’t take kindly to strangers. Taken from Neighbor, 26 Sept. 1984 – “Sullivan Folklore Alive (?) and Well, by Mary Kiss, Staff Writer
Historic Sites of Sullivan County
The three-story frame mansion with 12 rooms, built in 1901, is enhanced architecturally by a handsome gabled, round, two-story turret that rises over the front porch. A skilled carpenter, Bill Hickman, assisted by Charles F. Hilton, Sr. constructed the beautiful interior paneling, mantels, doors, window frames and circular stairways.
Thomas Lafayette Murrell (1871-1920) built the mansion on a large plantation inherited from his father Thomas Jefferson Murrell, born 1820. Thomas Lafayette was the grandson of Richard Murrell Sr., the progenitor of the East Tennessee Murrell family. Richard accumulated hundreds of acres in this area. He was famous as a pioneer Baptist preacher in Sullivan County.
We bought the old house in1985. It was falling apart, but our intention was to restore it to its former beauty. It took us several years doing most of the work ourselves, but it was a work of love. We loved living in there. Some old-time neighbors thought it was haunted, but we got along with the ghost just fine. We lived there about 10 years, until I retired, then we followed our children and moved to middle Tennessee. We became friends with some of the family living close by, and learned much of its actual history, not just the folklore. That place seemed more like home to us than any place we had ever lived.
Hey Donald, its Brandon.
I think my husband (then boyfriend) Justin Light used to put up hay for you and watch the house while you were away. It was beautiful. (Beverly and Homer Light’s son).
My family (Glen & Evelyn Mullins) [Old Blairs Gap Rd] was friends with Mrs. Murrell, daughter Clara, and daughter Maude Hensley & family. We visited them when I was a child, probably in the 1960s. She would let us kids ‘play’ on her piano. Have been going through old papers at my mother’s house and found Christmas cards from them. Evelyn also sat with your daughter(?). Good memories. Of course we always heard the story of Thomas Murrell. Our church, Walkers Fork Baptist Church has a history of Richard Murrell, and Maude’s picture is in one of our church’s accounts of its history.
I am always interested in the murrells. my grandfather was james whitfield murrell. I am more interested in Thomas bransford murrell, living in gaines co tx. he was killed abt
1890, along with his wife and son morgan, by frank crew thanks.
james w lord, po box 584, Joshua tx 76058
am also looking for William l murell. I found him in the itwamba miss census 1880, but it has disappeared, so I can’t
find it again. thanks james w lord. jwlord33@sbcglobal.net
am interested in the murrell family, stating with Winnie jewel, bertha lee. grady whitfield, Minnie alta. cecilwoodson, annie Lorene, leon William, Minnie jim,Bernice marie; father james whitfield,mother Blackburn. maybe this may help someone
Bernie was my grandfather’s sister. What did you want to know?
I have always wondered if John Murrell, the bandit and slave stealer, was related to the Sullivan County family.
I am the great-great-great-granddaughter of Richard Murrell who was born in 1731. My great-grandfather Thomas Lafayette Murrell (known as TL) built the Murrell Mansion which sits on Murrell Road, named after my family as they once owned all the property on each side of the road. My grandfather shot and killed TL in that house. I have been in the house many times and know it well. There was once 23 rooms in the home, but it was renovated at some point and the rooms were made bigger so now there are only 12 rooms. My grandfather was convicted of murdering TL, but was exonerated after a servant came forward and corroborated my grandfather’s defense of self-defense. TL was addicted to morphine and opium and extremely violent. My grandfather went out to the home to confront TL about an affair he was having with a woman in town, telling TL it was an embarrassment to the family. TL ran to his room and got a gun from his nightstand and fired at my grandfather. He missed and the bullets are still lodged in the door to his room to this day as far as I know, my grandfather shot back at TL, but couldn’t see into the pitch black room and didn’t even know he had killed his father until the next day when they went to my great-grandmother’s “city home” and found my grandfather hiding under a bed, afraid that TL was going to kill him. He was arrested for murder and subsequently found guilty and sentenced to 20 years. The verdict was overturned on appeal. I have a thousand stories about my family and that house if anyone is interested.
Is this the one that sits on the corner of Murrell and 93? Or where is this at?
The cemetery listed about is on Highway 93, just off the road near the pallet factory. You have to look for it, and it’s near a couple of houses, as I recall.
I’m sorry, Paula…I misunderstood your question. Oops.
Oma was the one who always said that. I have a Christmas card from her where she wrote, with all my heart, your great-grandmother, born in blah blah, 99 years old. I’ve got pictures of her at the house. And I know the exact location of TL’s body!
Kelly Murrell-Goins
I’m the blood great grandson of Thomas murrell..my mother Lynda was the one who helped the Clark’s gain property.I’ve stayed in house as a child and my great aunt Clara who lived next door in a trailer was always happy to say..”I was born in eighteen and ninety nine”!..am curious to know if anyone knows vicinity of family cemetery please respond
Oma was the one who always said that. I have a Christmas card from her where she wrote, with all my heart, your great-grandmother, born in blah blah, 99 years old. I’ve got pictures of her at the house. And I know the exact location of TL’s body!
Kelly Murrell-Goins
There is also a very old cemetery in the woods off Murrell Road way behind thr residence at 790 Murrell. Private property so you have to ask permission to get to it. My husbands family live at 790 Murrell. I’ve been to it many times. Its about 30 feet into the woods at the very very back of the pasture walking straight from the barn. You have to cross a barb wire fence. I would love to know the stories of who is buried in there. Some Murrell some Crawford. Little babies too. It is extremely overgrown and nobody seems to maintain it. It is not owned by my in-laws at 790 Murrell. Just kind of forgotten in the woods. Very sad.
The cemetery that you are talking about is also listed here on this site, as the Murrell Cemetery. Our Cemetery Survey Team photographed this one several years ago. It was very overgrown then, too.
My mother is Nancy Murrell. Her father(My grandfather) is Tom Lee Murrell who is buried there. Also my grandmother Madeline Agee is buried there. My dad built the log house on that property where the cemetery is located. Which was long ago sold.Family still owns rights to cemetery.I lived there when I was little in the late 70s early 80s. I remember seeing it and going to look at the markers. Haven’t been there in many years. It’s a shame that’s it’s all grown up now. My dad would always find arrow heads in the garden. Lots of history .
I’m a descendant of the Merrells in North Alabama. I have always wondered if the families are related and spelled their names differently. Benjamin Merrell lived near the present day Guntersville Dam on Merrell Mountain.
I’m also going to buy this house. I think TL’s scaring people off because he wants a proper heir living in the house his daddy built. TL don’t scare me none. Besides, my grandpa shot him in self defense.