Return to Archives Page . . . . Return to Home Page

Data Description:Biography of Samuel McMurtrey/McMurtry
Submitter: RICHARD McMURTRY
Date Posted: 26 August 2001

Genealogical Biography of Samuel McMurtrey/McMurtry

Migration

Samuel McMurtrey/McMurtry migrated to the Long Cane area about 1766 from
Augusta County, Virginia.

Origins

Samuel was born between 1738 and 1744, the son of Alexander and Sarah Todd
McMurtry,  and grew up along Whistle Creek near its confluence with the
James River in what was then Augusta County, Virginia (near present day
Lexington, Rockbridge County).  He became an orphan at a young age along
with his brother John (born 1736-1748).  In 1751, his mother "Sarah
McMurtry, a widow with children" entered into a marriage contract with
James Young, a planter and mill owner at the mouth of Whistle Creek.  The
contract, which was filed with the county court in 1755, stipulated that
James was to support Sarah's children and guaranteed her a share of the
mill profits after his death.

In August of 1759, Samuel, identified as "orphan of Alexander, over 14
years of age," chose Mathew Lyle as his guardian.  That same week, he and
his brother John received a land grant for property a mile up Whistle Creek
from James Young's mill.  (If he was 21, it is unclear to this author why
he was choosing a guardian.  If he wasn'21, it is unclear to this author
how he could receive a grant, except via a trustee.)

In 1762, Samuel married Jean Martin, daughter of William Martin.

Life in Long Cane

Samuel's first 100 acre land grant was surveyed in 1766.  This land was
identified as being on "waters of Calhoun Creek".  The land was actually
southwest of Abbeville on .  Flagreed Creek, a tributary of Calhoun Creek. 
He secured a second Calhoun Creek 100 acre grant which was surveyed in
1767, on Redd Creek, another Calhoun Creek tributary, about a mile north of
the first parcel.  Next door to this parcel was the land of his
father-in-law, William Martin, on a 200 acre parcel secured in 1763.

In 1774, Samuel purchased from his father-in-law a 64 acre parcel "being
land of which he now dwells" and which was carved out of his
father-in-law's 1763 parcel,

He served as a wagon master transporting supplies for soldiers during the
Revolutionary War for which he received payments in 1777 and 1778.

In 1785, he had a 335 acre plat surveyed and a 69 acre plat surveyed. These
were both adjacent  to the Redd Creek parcel he secured in the 1760s.

Samuel died in 1796 and his wife Jean and his son Joseph were executors. 
No will has been found, but the settlement of his estate lists many of his
family and neighbors.
 
Descendants before 1810

Samuel and Jean's children were:
William, born 1762-1770
Joseph born 1770-1780
John, born 1774-1785
James, born 1785

William married (Sarah McCord?).  In 1794, he had a 212 acre plat surveyed
that his father had occupied without a grant in the 1760s.  By 1810,
William had moved to Jackson County, Tennessee and by 1839 had moved to
Madison County, Missouri.  He was a minister.

Joseph had an 848 acre parcel surveyed in Pendleton County, SC in 1795.  By
1810, he had moved to _________ County, Alabama and in 1813 married Nancy
Holland.

John served in the war against the Creeks and hired a lawyer to get his
back pay from the State of Tennessee for his service.  He also received a
grant of land which he assigned to Reuben Tillman in Alabama.  Some
historians believe this John remained in Alabama; others believe he is the
John who died in Abbeville County in 1823.

James located in Monroe County, Kentucky by 1810.