James Murray (loyalist)

James Murray by John Singleton Copley[1]

James Murray (9 August 1713 – 1781) was a British loyalist who lived in North Carolina and Boston prior to the American Revolution, eventually escaping from Boston to settle in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was one of the few loyalists who lived in both the South and the North prior to the Revolution, making the letters he wrote particularly valuable.[2]

Life in America

He moved from Unthank, Scotland to North Carolina in 1735. He was a member of the North Carolina General Assembly and became president of the Governor's Council. He established the Point Repose Plantation at Wilmington, North Carolina. Four of his six children with his first wife died on the plantation. Thwarted in his efforts to become governor, Murray moved to Boston (1765) and established various businesses. He turned the operation of the plantation over to his nephew, Thomas Clark, who became a Patriot Brigadier general. Murray remained loyal and evacuated Boston for Halifax in 1778. Murray was buried in the Old Burying Ground (Halifax, Nova Scotia).[3]

Family

His siblings were Elizabeth Murray and John Murray of Boston, both of whom were painted by John Singleton Copley.[4] Prior to moving to Boston himself, Murray sent his oldest daughter Dorothy to Boston to live with his sister Elizabeth. His oldest daughter Dorothy Murray was also painted by Copley.[5][6] His daughter Elizabeth married Massachusetts Governor Edward Robbins.[7][8][9]

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ "The Elizabeth Murray Project". Web.csulb.edu. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ "James Murray (1713 - 1781) - Find A Grave Memorial". Find A Grave. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  4. ↑ "The Elizabeth Murray Project". Web.csulb.edu. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  5. ↑ John Singleton Copley. "From the Harvard Art Museums' collections Dorothy Murray (1743-1811)". Harvardartmuseums.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  6. ↑ "The Elizabeth Murray Project". Web.csulb.edu. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  7. ↑ James Murray (1713-1781) Letters of James Murray, Loyalist. There is also a Jacob Murray buried 1781.
  8. ↑ "James Murray (1713 - 1781) - Find A Grave Memorial". Find A Grave. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
  9. ↑ Lennon, Donald R. (2013-08-23). "Murray, James". NCpedia.org. Retrieved 2016-12-15.
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