Robert MURRAY and Catherine FRASER

Robert MURRAY
[12/7/1833-21/2/1881]
married
Catherine FRASER

Robert was born at Rhemusaig, Rogart, son of James Murray and Elspat Mackay. He married Catherine Jessie McCallum Fraser. Robert was at home with his parents in 1851. He then moved to Glasgow. Robert died in Glasgow where he was a Merchantile Clerk living in Dennistoun.
He and Catherine had at least one child:

ANN MURRAY, born circa 1851 Glasgow – in 1861 Ann was living with her grandmother Elspat Mackay at Rhemusaig, Rogart

William MURRAY & Elizabeth ROSS

William MURRAY

[12/3/1820-18/3/1912]

married

Elizabeth ROSS

[3/1816-13/2/1906]

William is the son of James Murray and Elspat Mackay of Rhemusaig. William and Elizabeth (Betsy) married on 28 May 1842 and soon after left Rogart for Canada. William died on 18 March 1912 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 Godbearing 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 hosptality, 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 Elizabeth had the following children:
WILLIAM MURRAY born 1843 Canada [died 1843]
ELSIE MURRAY born 1844 Canada [died 1931]
JAMES MURRAY born 1845 Canada [died 1930]
MERRON MURRAY born 1846 Canada [died 1917]
ISABEL MURRAY born 1848 Canada [died 1934]
JOHN WILLIAM MURRAY born 1849 Canada [died 1914]
GEORGIANA MURRAY born 1851 Canada [died 1852]
ROBERT GEORGE MURRAY born 1853 Canada [died 1939]
DONALD MURRAY born 1855 Canada [died 1916]
HUGH ALEXANDER MURRAY born 1856 Canada [died 1934] [married Harriet Jane Meadows (1862-1900) in Ontario – they had a son James who married Christina Alice Macintosh – their only child, daughter Isabel married Mr Mills and their son John continues to research this family tree today
CHRISTINE MURRAY born 1860 Canada [died 1932].

A descendant of this family, Dorothy, lives in the USA and keeps in touch with me. Now, thanks to being able to view this information here a great, great, great grandson of William and Elizabeth had made contact.

William MURRAY & Margaret Ann MACKENZIE

William MURRAY
[1/1/1876-1923]
married
Margaret Ann MACKENZIE
[7/10/1883-8/7/1970]

William was born at Torbreck, Rogart, the eldest child of Alexander Murray and Jane Mackenzie of Rhemusaig. He was named after his paternal grandfather, William Murray of Rhemusaig. As a young boy William lived with his widowed maternal grandmother Elizabeth Mackay [Mrs William Mackenzie] at Torbreck where she farmed seven acres. Young William was there with his grandmother and Aunt Christina in 1881. The 1891 census shows him still there with his younger sister Bessie, aged 11 years. Granny Mackenzie was now 78 years old. Life was hard on the crofts - crofters struggled to support the large families and many children were boarded out to grandparents.

William was with his parents at Rhemusaig in the 1901 census. He left Sutherland within the next few years heading south to Edinburgh where many of his sisters were already settled. He found work as a jobbing gardener in the Morningside area of Edinburgh. On 10 June 1910 he married Margaret, daughter of John Mackenzie, a farm servant and his wife Mary Mackenzie. Margaret was born in Inverness. The marriage took place at the United Free Church, Polwarth Terrace, Edinburgh. After the wedding they moved into Morningside Road, an address which would be the family home for at least sixty years. William continued to do gardening and odd jobs while Margaret [Meg] cleaned at the big houses in the area.

The 1914/18 war required all men under forty to be enlisted - William was called up. He served with the Black Watch attaining the rank of Sergeant. In the trenches of Northern France he suffered very severely from gas poisoning. He lived until 1923 when his death certificate showed he died from illness associated with gassing. His young widow continued her life as before bringing up her children.

They had the following children:
ELIZABETH MURRAY [Bessy], born 27 February 1911 Morningside, Edinburgh [died 30 September 1976 Edinburgh] [married John Mackay in Edinburgh 1931] – had family, some of whom still live in Scotland
WILLIAM MURRAY, born 18 October 1912 Morningside, Edinburgh [died 29 April 1969 England] [married Robina Gordon Wilson in Edinburgh 1940] – had family of three, two of whom now live in England - these are my parents
ROBERT MURRAY, born 21 September 1914 Morningside, Edinburgh [died 8 April 1968 Edinburgh] [married Isabella Christina Chisholm in Edinburgh 1943] – had family some of whom still live in Scotland
MARGARET MURRAY [Peggy] born 5 May 1921 Morningside, Edinburgh [died 14 May 1977 Stirlingshire] [married James Thomson in 1944] – had family one of whom lives in Dundee
JOHN MACKENZIE MURRAY, born 3 February 1923 Morningside, Edinburgh [died 11 July 1975 Edinburgh] [married in Edinburgh where his widow still lives]
William Murray and Margaret Ann Mackenzie are my grandparents. Their son William, my father. Photograph above shows 'Gran Murray', Margaret Ann Mackenzie with three of her children, Bessie, William and baby Robert taken in 1914.