Winfield Scott Murray in Census

Winfield Scott Murray

Chronology and Household Composition

1850 Union County, Georgia: W. S. Murray and Caroline are in Union County, Georgia.

Elsewhere: Elijah Petty and his second wife, Sarah (Parker), with daughter, "Nancey," age 8 (who is to become W.S. Murray's second wife), are still in McDowell County, North Carolina in 1850. Elijah and Sarah had only recently married. Nancy is the child of Elijah and first wife, Letty Lewis.

1854: Fannin County, Georgia is formed. The new county is formed from sections of Gilmer and Union Counties.

Caroline is now gone from the household, probably deceased. William, Raphala, James, and the male infant of the 1850 household are not enumerated here, unless they are listed under different given names. Robert is now aged 16. A new female child, Martha, appears here. Various young Murrays do appear in other Fannin County households in 1860, with families named "Brown," and "Murray." It is unknown if they are any relation to W.S. Murray.

Elijah Petty and wife, "Sallie," with Nancy, aged 18, are now in Fannin County (Stockhill Dist., p.1069, dwelling no. 713).

1877: W.S. Murray died. He is buried at Sugar Hill/Salem #1 in Fannin County, Georgia. Near him are two children's graves with matching markers: Dovie Murray and Georgia Murray. [A letter in possession of the Murray family, written by Bruce Neal of Neal Monument Company in Blue Ridge, Georgia, to E.A. Murray of Fletcher, Oklahoma, confirms that in 1939, E.A. Murray ordered stones for W.S. Murray and two others.] Also near W.S. Murray's grave is another grave with a hand-carved natural stone showing "R.F. Murra."

Note: on the above roster, parents of all individuals are designated as being born in NC.

Various siblings of Nancy Petty live nearby, including Daniel Petty next door. Elijah Petty (Nancy's father) and his family are on page 6, dwelling no. 51. David Pritchett, whose son, Stephen T. will later marry W.S. and Nancy's daughter, Alice, is on page 17, dwelling no. 146. (There is an error on David's middle initial, though, which should be "W" instead of "T."

1881: Elijah Petty dies. His will, probated in Fannin County, Georgia, mentions Nancy C. Murray as a legatee.

9 November 1885: Nancy Murray buys land in Murray County, Georgia. [Deed Book T, page 419: S.E. corner of land lot no. 168, sold by John R. Harris; transaction witnessed by W.D. Petty.] An old land map of Murray County shows "Mrs. Murray" on land lot 168.

On the above roster, parents of all individuals are designated as being born in NC. Nearby is David W. Pritchett and family; included in his household is his grown son, Stephen with wife, Alice (Murray) Pritchett and their three children.

Before 1910: Nancy moves to Oklahoma. In the 1910 census, Nancy is gone from Murray County, Georgia. We know from various family sources that she moved to Oklahoma to join other family members who had moved out there.

In addition to the children mentioned in the various census, W.S. Murray and his first wife, Caroline, had a son named "Gains." Gains Murray had a son named "Jim Murray." Several of the children from the first two census listings are possibly enumerated under various names, making it look as if there were more children than there probably were.

Marriages of Nancy Petty Murray's Children

Sarah Lou Murray married Andrew Greenville Pullen. They resided in Murray Co., Georgia.

William E. Murray married Ninnie Snider. They resided in Fannin Co., Georgia and Oklahoma.

Alice Safronia Murray married Stephen Thomas Pritchett. They resided in the Hall's Chapel area (near Crandall) of Murray County, Georgia.

Mary Jane Murray never married. She resided in Fannin Co., Georgia and Oklahoma.

Elias Andrew Murray married Vera Smith of Texas. They resided in Comanche Co., Oklahoma.

Some research is now available in Family Search on the children of Winfield and Caroline Murray.