MURRAY, JACOB

The Murray Family of Southwestern Pennsylvania

Jacob Murray moved to Salt Lick Township, Fayette County, PA, circa 1816. He and his wife Catherine/Katrina appear on the 1800 and 1810 Census for Quemahoning Township, Somerset County, PA. Tax lists show they became tenants on the Lyons/Elder property in Fayette County in February 1819. The section of Salt Lick Township where they settled later became Springfield Township.

In his book, "The History of the Brethren Church in Western, PA" Jerome Blough writes....."The ancestor of the Murray Family in America was born in Dublin, Ireland and was a man with a good education. By profession he was a schoolteacher. The date of his immigration was not obtained. The names of two of his sons are known: John and Jacob."

Jacob did have an older brother John, who is listed on the Salt Lick Township tax list as early as 1799. Although the original Murray immigrant may have come from Dublin, Ireland, unlike most immigrants with that surname, these Murrays were of German descent. This is con- firmed in a number of ways, including John Murray's signature, Johannes Murray, on early land documents.

Most of the Murray offspring married into other German families. They were involved with the German Reformed Church, baptized babies in German churches and followed traditional German naming patterns, in particular giving their sons a middle initial that was the first letter of their mother's maiden name.

Pictured are Phoebe Ann Murray holding her first grandchild, Mary Elizabeth "Molly" Nichelson with her husband, John Hall Nichelson, standing behind her. Photo was taken in 1881 in Normalville where this couple is buried as are her father, Josiah Murray, and his parents, Mary Ann (Hall) and David Nichelson.

I was born in the Fay-West area of Pennsylvania (along the border of Fayette and Westmoreland Counties) where I spent my childhood. Here is my line of descent from Jacob Murray:

1) Jacob Murray m. Catherine (unknown) 2) Samuel Murray m. Eva Snyder 3) Josiah Murray m. Elizabeth Prinkey 4) Phoebe Ann Murray m. John H. Nichelson 5) (Wesley) Braden Nichelson m. Ella Mae Shirey 6) Erma Grace Nichelson m. Raymond Michael Suchocki 7) LaVonne Rae Suchocki (me) m.Donald Emerson Hanlon

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