My wife's ancestors - Murray - Contents

William Murray

Marriage of William Murray and Sarah Wilson, 31 July 1798, Alford, Aberdeenshire.
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William Murray,
bapt 2 May 1774.
Listed as of Alford parish, Aberdeenshire, at marriage.

He mar 31 July 1798, Alford, to Sarah Wilson [bapt 10 Nov 1776].
She was already pregnant at marriage.

At son's bapt 1798 they are living at Kinstair, S of Alford (see map).
At son's bapt 1806 they are at Wellhouse, SW of Alford.
William may have died before 1841.
Sarah is listed in 1841 census in Alford parish. Location looks like West Gallowhill, W of Alford (see map).
William is not listed with family in 1841 census. He may have died. Their son Peter is on opposite page.
William definitely died pre-1851.
He is listed at son Farquharson's death 1893 as a "farmer".
Sarah is listed in 1851 census in Mid Mill, just W of Gallowhill, W of Alford (see map). She is a widow, and a "worsted knitter".
Sarah was one of the models for the John Phillip painting of 1855.
She died 9 Jan 1856, Mid Mill, age 79 yrs.
William and Sarah had issue:

1. Peter Murray,
   conceived before parents' marriage,
   bapt 22 Nov 1798, Alford. See bapt entry.

   
   

2. Helen Murray,
   bapt 26 May 1800, Alford,
   at home in 1841 census,
   at home with mother at Mid Mill in 1851 census, unmarried.

   
   

3. Barbara Murray,
   bapt 20 July 1802, Alford,
   mar Joseph Middleton [born 1792],
   he is listed on grave as "farmer" of Upper Auchintoul, W of Alford (see map),
   he died 25 Feb 1858, age 66 yrs,
   bur Alford,
   she died 6 Feb 1875, age 72 yrs,
   bur Alford,
   had issue:
   1. Barbara Middleton, bapt 4 Apr 1833, Alford,
      died 31 Oct 1895, age 62 yrs,
      grave says she died Montgarrie, N of Alford (see map),
      bur Alford.

   
   

4. Dorothy Murray,
   bapt 20 July 1804, Alford,
   at home in 1841 census,
   died 3 July 1845, Alford, age 40 yrs.

   
   

5. Farquharson Murray [son],
   bapt 2 Sept 1806, Alford, see bapt entry,
   NOT 25 Sept.
   Farquharson after grandmother.
   NOT Farguharson.

   
   

6. William Murray,
   bapt 10 Apr 1809, Alford,
   "William Murray" witnessed the bapt of William Murray Feb 1828, might be him or his father,
   "William Murray" witnessed the bapt of Sarah Murray June 1828, might be him or his father,
   at home in 1841 census,
   at home with mother at Mid Mill in 1851 census, unmarried.

   
   

7. Ann Murray,
   bapt 17 Dec 1813, Alford,
   at home in 1841 census,
   mar 27 Sept 1846, Alford, to George Eddie.

   An unexplained child, Catherine Eddie, born 1836, appears with the Murray family in 1841 census.

   
   

8. John Murray,
   bapt 8 June 1816, Alford.
   He wit the bapt of his nephew William Murray 1836.
   He wit the bapt of his nephew John Murray 1839.
   Worked with his brother Peter at Mid Mill.
   He is John Murray, "assistant miller", listed in 7 June 1841 census with Peter's family at Mid Mill.
   He wit the bapt of his nephew James Murray 30 June 1841. Then living Mid Mill.
   He is John Murray, "miller", listed in 30 Mar 1851 census with Peter's family at Mid Mill.
   He mar 25 May 1851, Alford, to Isabella Imlay [born 1826, Aberdeen].
   Census lists him as miller and carter.
   [1881 census] has them both living at 2 Woodend, Alford, her age 55.
   They had issue:
   1. William Murray, bapt 7 Aug 1852, Alford,
      living with parents in 1881 census, listed as "carter".

   2. Isobella Murray, bapt 31 Dec 1853, Alford,
      living with parents in 1881 census, listed as "domestic servant".

   3. John Murray, bapt 11 June 1856, Alford.
   4. Alexander Murray, bapt 6 Feb 1860, Alford.

   
   

9. Elizabeth Murray,
   bapt 8 June 1819, Alford,
   mar 21 Nov 1841, Alford, to Harry Lumsden.

   ---

   One of the brothers had issue:
   1. Mary Murray,
      born 1836, Alford,
      niece of Peter Murray,
      listed with Peter's family at Mid Mill in 1851 census, age 15, "house servant".

Baptism of Peter Murray, 22 Nov 1798, Alford.
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Sarah Wilson and family in 1841 census.
Location looks like West Gallowhill, near Alford.
See full size.

Sarah Wilson at Mid Mill in 1851 census.
See full size.

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John Phillip painting of 1855

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • Murray papers, Alford Academy library. According to [Needham-Hurst, 1990] there is a photo of the 1855 painting on which William D. Murray identifies the models in the painting.

[Needham-Hurst, 1990] says the model for the old woman in the centre of the painting is:

• Sarah Wilson (born 1776, died 1856), wife of William Murray.
  William Murray had died at this point.
  Sarah died the next year.

And the model for the woman on the LHS of the painting is:

• Agnes Jeffrey (born 1798-1801, died 1868), wife of Peter Murray.
  (William and Sarah's daughter-in-law.)
  She is in widow's clothes but this is artistic licence. She was never a widow.

Both of these women are direct ancestors of my wife.

"Collecting the Offering in a Scottish Kirk" (and various other names) by John Phillip (1855).
Also called the "Spanish" Phillip painting.
He used locals in Alford as models.
Hangs in York Art Gallery.
A copy hangs at the Kirk in Alford.
From BBC. Also on Wikimedia Commons.