Descendants of Daniel Murphree
Notes
One William Murphery died in Isle of Wight Co., VA in 1718 leaving a widow, Mary, who later married Barnaby McKinnie. An orphan's estate account is found in Isle of Wight records in the name of William Murphery. It is signed by Barnaby and Mary McKinnie. Mention is made of "four orphans" but no first names are given.
Shortly after his marriage to the widow Mary Murphery, Barnaby McKinnie sold out his large land holdings in Isle of Wight Co., VA and moved 80 miles south to Bertie Co., NC. Both locations were near the coast with good access to the shipping channels of the time. He soon became very prominent in local politics and served in high positions in the early NC Conventions and Pre-Revolutionary War Congresses.
A definite connection to Barnaby McKinney, who married a Murphery widow, has not been proven; however, the very first record we find of Daniel Murphree is in the same Bertie Co., NC.
Some say that Daniel Murphree and William Murfree, who lived in adjoining Hertford Co., NC are two of the "four orphans" of Isle of Wight Co., VA records. Murfreesboro, NC was laid out on William Murfree's land and, at his request, named after his son, Col. Hardy Murfree, of Rev. War fame. Murfreesboro, TN was also named after Col. Hardy Murfree and was designated as the state capital of TN in 1811. Murfreesboro, Pike Co., AR was founded in 1830 by descendents of Col. Hardy Murfree.
On 16 Sep 1747, in Bertie Co., NC, Daniel Murphree sells "inherited land" to Richard Harrell. Daniel should have been over the age of 21 for this transaction to be legal. Therefore, he was probably born before 1726. Since he was selling "inherited land" he was probably not the first generation of Murphrees in America.
In 1752 Daniel Murphree appears on the tax lists in Orange Co., NC. He has moved 150 miles further inland from Bertie Co. where he was located 5 years earlier. He could have moved in 1747, after he sold his "inherited land" in Bertie Co. In 1770 (one year before Daniel's death), Chatham Co. was formed from parts of Orange Co., Daniel's home probably fell within the bounds of the new county.
LAST WILL & TESTAMENT:
In the Name of God amen the tenth Day of November in the year of our Lord 1769 I Daniel Murphree of the County of Orang Planter Being sick and Weak in Body But of perfect Mind and memory thanks be given unto God Therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die Do make ordain this my Last Will and testament that is to say Principally and first of all I give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it. and for my Body I Recommend it to Earth to be buried in a Christianlike mander Decent manner at the Discretion of my Executors nothing Doubting but at the general Resurrection I Shall Receive the Same again by the mighty power of God and and as touching such Worldly Estate Wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this Life I give Devise and Dispose of the Same in the following manner and form -------
First and foremost I Lend to my Well Beloved Wife Sarah Murphree the plantation Whereon I now Live and all my household goods & chattles after all my Just Debts is paid and and some Legesses here after mensehened
Item I give to my Well beloved James Murphree the plantation where on he Now Lives -------
Item I give to My Well Beloved Son - Daniel Murphree the land where on he Now Lives ------
Item I give to my Well Beloved Son John Murphree the plantation that I Bought of Demsey Rawls With half the Land the other half I give to my Well beloved Son Levi Murphree to be Equally devied
Item I give to my Well Beloved Son Solomon Murphree a plantation that that I made on The Lord Earl granvils Land With half the Land that Shall be Saved When the office is open and the other half of the Said Land I give to my Well Beloved Son Moses Murphree also I ordain that there Shall be as much Leavid out of my personnal Estate as Will Make a Right to the Said Land When my Lord Granvils office is open ---------
Item I give to my Well Beloved Son David Murphree thirty pounds to Be Raised or Leavid out of my Estate ---------
Item I give to my Well Beloved Daughter Elizabeth Barns five shillings -------
Item I give to my Well Beloved Daughter Sarah Blyth five shillings -------
Item I give to my Well Beloved Daughter Milley Murphree ten pounds -------
Item I give to my Well Beloved Daughter Edey Murphree ten pounds -------
Item I give to my Well Beloved Daughter Mary Murphree ten pounds to be leavid out of my Estate--------
Item I give to my Well Beloved Son William Murphree the Plantation Where on I Now Live also I ordain James Murphree and William Murphree Executors of this my Last Will and Testament also I ordain that if Either of my Children Should Die Without issue their Land or part Shall fall to my younger Son David Murphree and if more than one Should Die Without issue their part to be Devided amongst the Rest and I Do hereby utterly Disallow and Revolke Disannul all and Every other former testement Wills Legacies Bequests and Executors By me in any Way Before this time Named Willed and Bequeathed ------- Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be My Last Will and Testement in Witness Where of I have here unto Set my hand and Seal this Day and year above Written --------
Signed Seald and deliverd in
the presents of us
Daniel Murphree (Seal)
John X Hatley (Jurt)
his mark
X
Thomas Ward (Jurt)
his mark
John Owen
Jean Martin Flynn in "A History of Secona Baptist Church and The Pickens Area" said that Sarah's maiden name was Haynes.Sarah and her son, William, sold the home place in Chatham Co., NC in 1780
