[1786-10/12/1869]
married
Elspat MACKAY
[6/2/1795-7/2/1891]
James was born in 1786, son of William Murray, cattleman, and Isabella Mackay.
Elspat was born on 6th February 1795, daughter of William Mackay, crofter, and Marion Sutherland.
James and Elspat (Elspeth) married on 9 May 1819 at Dornoch. The Parish Register states that Elspat was a Mackay or Mackenzie but as her own death certificate shows her as the daughter of William Mackay this may be an error or possibly her parents were not married. At the time of their marriage they both lived at Kinnauld, Rogart.
The Dornoch Militia list of 1824 shows James as a tenant at Rhemusaig, Rogart – next to Kinnauld. The Militia List tells that James was excused from service being poor with children. The 1841 census shows the family at Rhemusaig, Rogart. Like so many people in Rogart James and Elspat were not at home on census night. However, while their parents spent the night 'in the heather' their children Donald, James, Catherine and Robert were at home.
It was said that many folks objected to giving personal information to the 1841 census enumerators. This was the first census as we know them today.
On the evening of the 1851 census James and Elspat were at home. James is shown as a farmer of two acres. When the census enumerator came round in 1861 James was 76 years old and Elspet was 67 years. Their children had left home but they did have their granddaughter, ANN MURRAY aged 10 years, born in Glasgow and recorded as a scholar, living with them.
James passed away on 10 December 1869. The school records of Rogart show that on 13 December attendance at school was not so good because of James Murray of Rhemusaig’s death. As James appeared to have died on the 10th perhaps this was the day of his funeral.
The 1871 census shows Elspet as head of the family. This census tells that their home had two rooms and Elspet was tenant of four acres. Living with her in 1871 was her granddaughter, Georgina Cumming, daughter of Catherine and her husband Alexander Cumming. Catherine had died in 1870 leaving the young Georgina motherless at 9 years old. Sadly, her father then died in 1873. Georgina continued to live with her grandmother and the next census in 1881 shows her still there. Elspat was now recorded as 86 years old and the tenant. As well as Georgina the house was also now home to Elspet's son James and his daughter Catherine Murray aged nine years. James's wife had recently died. Young Catherine attended school and the census shows that she was born in Dornoch. Shortly before the 1891 census was taken Elspat passed away. The census of that year shows young James as head of the family and a crofter. The house had been extended to six rooms and James had taken a new wife Jane Macdonald. His daughter Catherine was at home on census night.
James and Elspat had the following children:
WILLIAM MURRAY, born 12 March 1820 Rhemusaig, Rogart - married Elizabeth Ross in Rogart on 28th May 1842 - left Rogart for Canada the same year - in 1906 Betsy died - in 1912 William died aged 92 years and is buried with his beloved wife Betsy Ross in Knox Presbyterian Church, Harrington, Ontario - “There died at his home on Argyle Street, Embro, on March 18 one of the few remaining genuine pioneers of Zorra district, in the person of Mr W. Murray. Like many pioneers of the Zorras the late Mr Murray was a native of Sutherlandshire, Scotland, from which country he emigrated to Canada, seventy years ago, accompanied by his late wife. ..... The late Mr Murray was a man of many fine and admirable qualities, upright, honest and honourable. In all his dealings with his fellow man a good neighbour, kind, genial and generous, a true friend, and a good God fearing man. Like most of the Scotch emigrants, who have made good in Western Ontario, his only asset to begin life with was a splendid physique, a clear head, and a brave heart. One of his distinguishing characteristics was a strong and indomitable will which stood him in good stead during the pioneer days. Being determined to make a success of everything he undertook and later in life he had the satisfaction of having built up and maintained a fine home, ever noted for his hospitality, from which the poor, the needy, or the weary, were never allowed to go unrefreshed. In the spring of 1845 Mr Murray settled on lot 33 con. 6 West Zorra, where he remained for more than forty-five years and where all but two of his large family of twelve children [six daughters and six sons] were born. Nine of his family still survive him, five sons and four daughters also, fifty-two grandchildren and about twenty-five great grandchildren. .... in the removal of this good old patriarch the community loses an ideal citizen, his family a kind, wise and loving father and the poor a never failing friend. The evening of life was spent in retirement and comfort in the village of Embro where he lived for the past twenty-one years. His end was peaceful and may his ashes rest in peace.“ William and Betsy had a large family all born in Embo, Ontario.
GEORGE MURRAY, born 14 June 1821 Rhemusaig, Rogart
DONALD MURRAY, born 22 September 1823 Rhemusaig, Rogart – at Rhemusaig in 1841 census
ISABELLA MURRAY, born 24 November 1825 Rhemusaig, Rogart
JAMES MURRAY, born 20 August 1828 Rhemusaig, Rogart - James was at Rhemusaig in 1841 & 51 census –in 1858 he married Janet Bruce who was born at Badchrasky, Rogart, daughter of John Bruce, farm labourer, and Ann Murray - in 1861 James and Janet were living at Rhemusaig where James was an agricultural labourer. From 1865 onwards James was recorded as a shoemaker. In 1871 the family were at Rhemusaig in a two roomed house. In 1879 Janet, wife of James Murray, shoemaker journeyman, died at Rhemusaig aged 45 years from heart disease (DC). James signed her death certificate. He and Janet had four children - in 1889 on 22 November James married for the second time to widow, Jane Macdonald, daughter of John Macdonald, crofter, and Janet Macintosh (MC). Jane had previously been married to William Mackay. In 1891 James, second wife Jane and his daughter Catherine were living at Rhemusaig. His mother had died since the previous census. He was recorded as a crofter and the home had increased in size to six rooms.
In 1893 Jane, wife of James Murray, crofter, died at
Rhemusaig aged 52 years leaving James a widower for the second time (DC). James
signed her death certificate.
In 1901 & 1911 James was still at Rhemusaig. In 1918 James, a crofter and widower died at Rhemusaig aged
90 years (DC). James is buried in Rogart with his first wife, Janet, and
their daughter Catherine (RO-B47).
CATHERINE MURRAY, born 4 May 1831 Rhemusaig, Rogart – Catherine was at Rhemusaig in 1841 & 51 census - in 1854 she married Alexander Cumming, a farm servant at Rovie, Rogart. Alexander was born 1829 in Boyndie, Banff - Alexander and Catherine lived at Culmaily, Golspie where he was employed as a farm grieve. in 1870 Catherine died there aged 37 years.Two years later Alexander died from chronic kidney disease. They left behind 8 orphan children. ROBERT MURRAY, born 12 July 1833 Rhemusaig, Rogart - married Catherine Fraser - was at Rhemusaig in 1841 and 51 census - we know, from an old family letter found in Canada, that Robert Murray was in Glasgow on the 13th April 1871. He wrote on that day to his niece Isabel Murray in Embro, Ontario.
updated 23/3/2016
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