John Murray

Brief Life History of John

When John Murray was born on 20 June 1812, in Roxburghshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, his father, Joseph Lightbody, was 29 and his mother, Elizabeth Elliot Murray, was 21. He married Sarah Elizabeth Bates on 28 October 1833, in Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States. They were the parents of at least 8 sons and 2 daughters. He immigrated to Niagara Falls, Niagara, New York, United States in 1832 and lived in Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States in 1850 and Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States in 1852. He registered for military service in 1827. He died on 15 November 1880, in Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, United States, at the age of 68, and was buried in Spanish Fork City Cemetery, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, United States.

Photos and Memories (69)

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Family Time Line

John Murray
1812–1880
Sarah Elizabeth Bates
1807–1881
Marriage: 28 October 1833
Christene Murray
1834–1835
Edwin Murray
1850–1850
Joseph Murray
1853–
John Bates Murray
1836–1894
Edward Murray
1837–1837
Richard Murray
1838–1903
Elizabeth Murray
1840–1905
Robert Murray
1842–1849
Jeremiah Hatch Murray
1844–1909
Joseph Albert Murray
1846–1846

Sources (59)

  • John Murray, "United States Census, 1860"
  • John Murray Lightbody, "Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950"
  • Utah, Death and Military Death Certificates, 1904-1961

Parents and Siblings

World Events (8)

1817

Monroe was platted in 1817.

1819 · Panic! of 1819

With the Aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars the global market for trade was down. During this time, America had its first financial crisis and it lasted for only two years. 

1830 · The Second Great Awakening

Being a second spiritual and religious awakening, like the First Great Awakening, many Churches began to spring up from other denominations. Many people began to rapidly join the Baptist and Methodist congregations. Many converts to these religions believed that the Awakening was the precursor of a new millennial age.

Name Meaning

Scottish: habitational name from Moray in northeastern Scotland, which derives from Celtic mori- ‘sea’ + treb- ‘settlement’. The founder of the Scottish house of Murray was a Fleming named Freskin who was granted Strathbrock in West Lothian and Duffus in Moray by David I. The family took its name from the region in the late 12th century.

Irish and Scottish: shortened form of McMurray .

Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Muireadhaigh ‘descendant of Muireadhach’ a personal name meaning ‘mariner’. Occasionally it may be a shortened form of McMurray .

Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

Possible Related Names

Story Highlight

John Murray / Sarah Bates

John Murray (son of Andrew and Christenia Murray of Eidenburg, Scotland) came to Utah 1852 with ox team. Married Sarah Bates in Michigan (daughter of John Bates & Sophia Anderson of Ireland). Their ch …

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