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Murray family search

TipperaryThurles (Tipperary)

Hi I am researching an ancestor Reverend Dr.Alexander Murray b.1727 in North Britain

d.1793 Philadelphia.Pa USA -he was a missionary/minister emmigrated to Reading,Pa .He ministered at St Gabriels's Episcopal Church there.He then sailed back to England during outbreak of the American Revolution.Then came back to America after the war.Is buried at Christ Church Yard in Philadelphia.His wife was Ann who died 1811.He had attended King's College in Aberdeen,Scotland(don't know the dates).I know he left that college an endowment in his will.He had a son John Murray(probably born here in Pennsylvania) John was married to Mary Ewing.I am trying to find out if there are any Irish descendants from Alexander .I have tried twice to email Kings College/Aberdeen w/ no response.Any ideas or info may be helpful.thanx

IrelandXO member

8 replies

Charise:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

Unfortunately, church records are not available in that area of Tipperary back to the 1750s which I assume is when any descendants might have been born.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

The term ?North Britain? is an obsolete term that meant Scotland. So if Rev Murray came from Scotland, it?s not immediately clear from your post what the connection with Ireland might have been.

I suggest you persist with Aberdeen University as they have replied in the past to queries I have made about former graduates.

The Episcopalian church in Scotland is in effect the Church of England, in Scotland. You say Rev Murray was a missionary or Minister with that church. The Church of England has details of all their Ministers careers listed in Crockfords Clerical Directory, which is on-line. Or you can enquire via Lambeth Palace in London. I know that Crockfords covers England and Ireland, but am not certain about Scotland. And I doubt it covers missionaries, but I may be wrong. You could try e-mailing the Scottish Episcopal church and ask them who to contact for details of former Ministers careers.

http://www.scotland.anglican.org

Ahoghill AntrimIrelandXO Volunteer

thanx  he was libing in London (I believe) b4 he came to America.I assumed as much that he was born in Scotland.I just know from reading that so many Murrays are in Ireland.That's why I want to see of we have any there.May I asked what email addy u used to contact Aberdeen?Is there an email addy for Lambeth Pakace?thanx for all the great suggestions.

IrelandXO member

Murray is a common surname in Ireland but most of those of a protestant denomination would be descendants of people who originated in Scotland or England and who settled here in the 1600s or later. Contact details for Aberdeen University: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/alumni/ Contact for Lambeth Palace: http://www.lambethpalacelibrary.org

Ahoghill AntrimIrelandXO Volunteer

On another note-in Co Tipperary back in late 1700's thru abt 1850-was it common for Aunts/Uncles/older brothers/sisters to be wiinesses to their sibling/nephew/nieces christenings?And in that same era-were first marriages fairly common when people were 30-33 yrs old?And also (in that era) -was it fairly common for a woman to bear a child when she was 50-52 trs old?Sorry for all the questions but I really need some help.Thanx if u can Charise

IrelandXO member

Yes family members did act as witnesses to marriages (as they still do today)..

Average age for marriage was early 20s. Marriage in your 30s often indicated the person was a widowe(er).

It would have been very rare (but not impossible) for a woman in the 50s to have a child at that time. Most women seem to have stopped in the mid to late 40s. However the child could be a grandchild (often illegitimate) which was adopted into the family by the grandparents, or it could be that the source for the mother?s age is unreliable eg a death certificate (where ages were usually just guessed).

Ahoghill AntrimIrelandXO Volunteer

good to know  thanx   would still like the answer on the christenings question-on if spectifcally aunts/uncles/older bothers/sisters were commonly used as witnesses to their nieces/nephews/ and younger bros/sisters in Co Tipperary lates 1700's-early 1800's???

IrelandXO member

I think it could be anyone at all except for the parents themselves. However you might want to write to the RCB Library and ask them for a more authoritative answer particualrly regarding the time and location you have in mind.

 

http://ireland.anglican.org/about/42

Ahoghill AntrimIrelandXO Volunteer

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