The Matthew Murphy Family

According to the Federal Census Records, Matthew MURPHY or MURPHEY was born around 1796 in South Carolina. His wife was named Frances. She was born around 1801 in Georgia. Matthew was in the Talbot County, Georgia, Census Records from 1830 through 1870. Their children were:

James M. MURPHEY was b. ca. 1822 in Georgia. His parents were Mathew & Frances MURPHEY from Talbot County, Georgia. James married Sarah A. TOMME or TOMMY on July 26, 1844 in Talbot County. Sarah was born ca. 1828. Their children were:

James Franklin MURPHEY was born August 27, 1849 to James M. MURPHEY and Sarah A. TOMMY in Talbot County, Georgia. James fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War. He married Mary JACKSON on January 19, 1873. Mary's parents were Edmond JACKSON and Catherine BRANEN (or BRANNEN). Mary was born January 18, 1851. Their children were:

Willie Taylor, b. Jan. 6, 1874, md. Neva TRUSSELL (see below)
Jim Franklin, b. June 22, 1876, d. Jan. 11, 1956, md. Minnie HOLT
Walter, b. Feb. 1877, d. Aug. 3, 1922, md. Lovie HENDERSON
Charles, b. ca. 1878 Jessie Lee, b. Dec. 25, 1880, d. Jan. 10, 1955, md. Sallie JONES
John Henry, b. Apr. 15, 1883, d. Apr. 14, 1864, he was single
Mattie V., b. Sept. 16, 1885, d. June 29, 1965, md. Charlie DENNIS

James and Mary raised their family in Harris County, Georgia, close to the Bartlett's Ferry area. Mary died on May 31, 1889.

James' second marriage was to Ednie MONCRIEF. Ednie's parents were Jackson & Nancy MONCRIEF. James and his family moved to Lee County, Alabama around 1899. (James Murphey photo, it may take a long time to load on your screen.) James died March 11, 1910. Ednie died ca. 1927.

Willie Taylor MURPHEY was born January 6, 1874, probably in Harris County, Georgia. He was known as "Will." He married Amercie Alzud "Mac" HENDERSON ca. 1893. Amercie's parents were John E. and Mary HENDERSON. At the beginning of their marriage, they lived in Harris County, Georgia, but moved to Mechanicsville, Lee County, Alabama around 1899. According to the Census Records, Will and Amercie were living in Lee County in 1900. The MURPHEY's, HENDERSON's, and TILLERY's were early settlers to the Mechanicsville area. Amercie died May 5, 1907. They had 4 or 5 children, but they did not survive their birth.

In the early 1900's, Will and many of his relatives changed the spelling of their last names from "MURPHEY" to "MURPHY."

Will's second marriage was to Neva Bell TRUSSELL on December 27, 1908. Neva was born November 2, 1892. Neva's parents were Daniel King TRUSSELL and Lula Hill CRESWELL. Will and Neva raised their children in Lee County, Alabama. (Will Murphy Family photo, it may take a long time to load on your screen.) Will was a blacksmith by trade and he also farmed. Will and his sons also towed construction materials to the new Goat Rock hydro-electric dam which was under construction in the 1920's. The dam was completed in 1925.

Will and Neva were devoted to their church, family and community. Their friends and family considered them honorable and very respectable. Will MURPHY died on March 21, 1837 and is buried in Lee County. According to Will's obituary, he was a well-known farmer in the area. Neva died on July 25, 1971 and is buried next to Will.