James Murray (loyalist)


James Murray was a British loyalist who lived in North Carolina and Boston prior to the American Revolution, eventually escaping from Boston to settle in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was one of the few loyalists who lived in both the South and the North prior to the Revolution, making the letters he wrote particularly valuable.

Early life

Murray was born on August 9, 1713 in Unthank in Scotland. He was son of John Murray and Anne Murray, who married in April 1712. Among his siblings was John Murray of Norwich and Elizabeth Murray, later Campbell, Smith, and Inman. Both John and Elizabeth were painted by John Singleton Copley. Another sister, Barbara Murray, was married to Thomas Clark, a merchant, and was the mother of Thomas Clark and Ann Clark.
His paternal grandfather was John Murray of Bowhill.

Life in America

In 1735, Murray emigrated from Scotland to the Province of North Carolina. When in North Carolina, he became a member of the North Carolina General Assembly and president of the Governor's Council. He established the Point Repose Plantation at Wilmington, North Carolina. Four of his six children with his first wife died on the plantation.
After being thwarted in his efforts to become governor, Murray moved to Boston in 1765 and established various businesses. Prior to moving, however, Murray sent his oldest daughter Dorothy to Boston to live with his sister Elizabeth.
He turned the operation of the plantation over to his nephew, Thomas Clark, who became a Brigadier general in the Continental Army.
In 1778, Murray, who remained loyal to the British Crown, evacuated Boston and moved north to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Personal life

In 1761, he married Barbara Bennet. Barbara was the daughter of Andrew Bennet and Dorothy Bennet. Her mother was the half-sister Cuthbert Collingwood. Together, they were the parents of:
Murray died in 1781 and was buried in the Old Burying Ground in Halifax.

Descendants

Through his eldest daughter Dorothy, he was the grandfather of diplomat John Murray Forbes.