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- Data Description:Biography of Samuel McMurtrey/McMurtry
Submitter: RICHARD McMURTRY
Date Posted: 26 August 2001
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Genealogical Biography of Samuel McMurtrey/McMurtry
Migration
Samuel McMurtrey/McMurtry migrated to the Long Cane area about 1766from
Augusta County, Virginia.
Origins
Samuel was born between 1738 and 1744, the son of Alexander and SarahTodd
McMurtry, and grew up along Whistle Creek near its confluence withthe
James River in what was then Augusta County, Virginia (near presentday
Lexington, Rockbridge County). He became an orphan at a young agealong
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, stipulatedthat
James was to support Sarah's children and guaranteed her a share ofthe
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, heand
his brother John received a land grant for property a mile up WhistleCreek
from James Young's mill. (If he was 21, it is unclear to this authorwhy
he was choosing a guardian. If he wasn'21, it is unclear to thisauthor
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 landwas
identified as being on "waters of Calhoun Creek". The land wasactually
southwest of Abbeville on . Flagreed Creek, a tributary of CalhounCreek.
He secured a second Calhoun Creek 100 acre grant which was surveyed in
1767, on Redd Creek, another Calhoun Creek tributary, about a milenorth 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 duringthe
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 wereexecutors.
No will has been found, but the settlement of his estate lists many ofhis
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 platsurveyed
that his father had occupied without a grant in the 1760s. By 1810,
William had moved to Jackson County, Tennessee and by 1839 had movedto
Madison County, Missouri. He was a minister.
Joseph had an 848 acre parcel surveyed in Pendleton County, SC in1795. By
1810, he had moved to _________ County, Alabama and in 1813 marriedNancy
Holland.
John served in the war against the Creeks and hired a lawyer to gethis
back pay from the State of Tennessee for his service. He alsoreceived a
grant of land which he assigned to Reuben Tillman in Alabama. Some
historians believe this John remained in Alabama; others believe he isthe
John who died in Abbeville County in 1823.
James located in Monroe County, Kentucky by 1810.
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RNT Family History
1744 - 1796 (52 years)