The Murray clan has spread far and wide around the globe. Here are just a few brnaches of the tree that I have found. If
you find or know of any more, I would love to hear form you.
Welcome to the Somerset County, PA Clan Murray Family Homepage. We hope you will enjoy
your visit here and will stop by again soon. My name is Carol Hepburn and I am the host of this website. If you have
any questions or comments about this site or find any bugs or errors while accessing any of these pages or related web links,
please mail me at cheps@juno.com.
The Murray Family Genealogy
The Murray family originated in Northern Ireland (it is unknown when they left Scotland and migrated to Ireland) and first
arrives in the colonies sometime after 1800. Michael Murray, our progenitor, was born about 1790 in Northern Ireland. Little
is known of the origins of this family at present but many Murray family researchers are hard at work trying to piece together
this very unique family's history.
Michael and his brother, Edward, arrived in the colonies as children. They are both recorded in Addison Township, Somerset
County, in 1810. Michael had one child that we know of and that was James Murray who was born on June 11, 1829 in Addison
Township. James Murray lived most of his life in Addison until he married Lydia Beal of Pocohontas Village, Greenville Township
in 07 September 1851. Lydia was the daughter of Owen Beal and Elizabeth Klingaman. They were members of the Hostetler Dunker Church and are buried as a family in the Hostetler Church cemetery in Pocohontas,
PA.
To read more about the Beal and Klingaman families and the Hostetler (Hochstetler) Family select one of the links below:
"Coll:Hazel. A poetic skill, strong in meditation and mediation, good at divining, the inspiration or capacity to channel
creative energy, especially among others."
This extract from the Ogham Tree Alphabet provided by Colin Murray exactly describes Colin himself; Colin identified with
Coll, Hazel, and used that name as his signature. His early death on 12th August 1986 at his home has shocked and saddened
us, but yet his enormous energy and inspiration live on, not only among family and close friends, but literally all over the
world.
Colin Denys Murray was born 26th August 1942 in Warwickshire. His family were able to trace connections to the ancient
Scottish Murray clan. Trained as an architect, he very soon became fascinated with Celtic design, and he was much influenced
by the work of the Art Nouveau artists and craftspeople. Taking this interest further, he researched its roots, and was led,
via William Blake, to ancient Albion and then, further, into the study of Celtic art, history, language, mythology and religion.
Intellectual study led to added dimensions. He became involved in the aspirations of Celtic peoples, whether Cornish, Breton,
Welsh, Scottish, Irish, or belonging to the smaller enclaves throughout the world. At the same time he moved into awareness
of the spiritual side of the Celtic heritage. Diving deep, he learned the secrets of the Old Wisdom, and, emerging, he became
ready to share his knowledge and inspiration with others.
Thus the Golden Section Order "for the preservation of Celtic lore, monuments and antiquities" was born, with its first
home in the Bardic Chair of Caer Llydain in London. With it came Colin's gatherings at the four Fire Festivals - Imbolc, Beltane,
Lugnasad, and Samhain - and at the four sun festivals - the equinoxes and solstices. At these he initiated rituals based on
the Celtic religion. These seasonal ceremonies brought together people from widely differing backgrounds, and asked from them
no more than honest participation. Welcoming all who came, he made available to them his own increasing understanding of the
links between the seasonal round and that of our own emotional and psychic growth. Starting in about 1976, these gatherings
took on a dimension of spiritual and intellectual adventure. Colin researched appropriate places for each - Imbolc at St.
Ann's Well, Chertsey; Beltane at the Druid Oaks, Glastonbury; Lugnasad at the Stone of Free Speech, Parliament Hill Fields,
London; and Samhain at the Rollright Stones in the Cotswolds. Each place had some significant correspondence with the time
of the festival.
At the events he provided a beautiful hand written and hand illustrated scroll giving the Order of Ceremony, and when new
people came he went out of his way to incorporate a special place and role for them. He did not require participants to identify
as Druid or even Celtic, only as honest seekers. The ritual would usually be opened by him at midday and the ceremony established;
then there would be an informal time, a picnic for example. Perhaps he would have brought his ribbon maze with him - he would
lay it out and we would run or dance through it. At sunset he would close the ritual. These events were both solemn and happy,
full of immense spirituality and yet also carefree, joyous, and open.
Other meetings of the Golden Section Order brought together speakers and participants in many aspects of Celtic study and
lore. I remember particularly a potent dream-telling session with Colin offering divinatory advice. At such meetings he might
bring out his pack of Ogham divination tree alphabet cards and make readings for those who wanted them.
He often said his interest in trees started a long time back, when after a motor-cycle accident he was lying on his back,
staring at intertwined tree branches above him. They seemed to be giving him both physical and spiritual help. He researched
the Ogham tree calendar deeply, differing from the Robert Graves calendar in that he started the year with Beth, Birch, on
November 1st, the beginning of the Celtic year, and not on January 1st as did Graves. Colin made available a wealth of Celtic
material, especially Ogham cards and charts. At his death he was engaged on a book describing his research and his understanding
of the Ogham Tree Alphabet and the divinatory methods connected with it. The publishers -and indeed all his friends - are
hoping that his wife Jane Elizabeth will complete this task.
Alongside the GSO activities Colin initiated and produced, together with Elizabeth, the magazine, The New Celtic Review.
This was an extraordinary publication, both in its actual beauty and the width and variety of its contributions on all aspects
of Celtic lore. It was completely hand written and hand illustrated - the cover in colour - each copy an individual work of
art. He gathered a network of writers and explored Celtic links in many parts of the world. He was able to publish work from
Southern Africa describing the witch-doctor language and divination system of Ogham which had a great deal in common with
Ogham. Other discoveries included a North African inscription in Ogham and a Semitic translation, and much new information
on mazes, statues, runes and like material throughout the world. New information was constantly coming to him from readers,
while, at the same time, a huge effort was needed to service the numerous enquirers on Celtic matters.
The GSO and the New Celtic Review reached the USA, where interest grew -and is growing - consistently. Much information
came from Brittany and other Celtic homelands, as well as from various departments of Celtic studies in universities.
Colin's religion, he would tell us, was pantheistic. He welcomed female aspects of deity, and, with them, the matriarchal
women of whom I am one. He gave us space in the ceremonies on our own terms and thanked us for representing the Matronae.
It is impossible for me to show the extent of his warmth and care and support, both for the Celtic cause and religion and
for those within it. For me he was a Transformer, he changed my life with the ceremonies and the understanding that gradually
grew within me.
He held a strong belief in reincarnation. We know that his death was caused by his eating leaves from a yew tree. In his
Tree Alphabet he gives the following definition for Yew:" The ability to be reborn, continuously and everlastingly, the reference
point for what has been and what is to come."
Let him be in the care of the Shining Ones as well as the Dark Mother. May he rest, and if it be so, be reborn in peace.
May the love and care he gave us in this life stand surety for him; in his need may they stand by his side, as will our prayers
and thanksgivings for his life.
His wife Jane Elizabeth, his former wife Sarah, his sons Tristram and Gabriel all have a special place with us, and to
them our deepest feelings of support.
looking for "A letter from Romsdal" - take a look at our genealogy pages
to get in touch with Glenn professionally - follow the link to Plogen
looking for the youth chapter of the Norwegian Ornithological Society - join us on our next hike
Family News For friends and family we
have a quiet corner with news about ourselves. Family news 12345 . Last autumn we went to see Keiko of Free Willy fame at Skålvikfjorden. Autumn is also the season for cooking får-i-kål. Join us and take a look at how we
prepare the national dish of Norway . Read our distant cousin Bernie Shellum's paper on the Norwegian hytte .
Walks and Scrambles in Romsdal, Norway We
are an all weather, all terrain family. We go fishing, bird watching, hunting, shooting, we enjoy long hikes and cross-country
skiing, and we believe there is always one more mountain to climb. Eva's domain has maps and pictures from our favourite hikes
in Romsdal on the north western coast of Norway. See why coastal Norway is on National Geographic's 50 places of a lifetime
list. Take a look at fjord-land! Eva's domain
Family Databases, 1801 Census Data, Church Records and Historical Maps Searching
for roots in Romsdal? Our pages include information from Grytten, Kors, Voll, Hen, Eid, Rødven, and other places in the municipality
of Rauma, county Møre og Romsdal, Norway. Glenn's annotated census of 1801 is also available. References to local history
books have been added for more than two thirds of the persons on record. Our genealogy pages
Local and Family History, Food and Recipes Glenn's
domain includes all local history stuff that was published on his old web site as well as more recent work. Many of these
documents are in Norwegian language only. Some of Glenn's recipes are found here as well. Glenn's domain
Two Norwegian Kids Our two kids, Yvonne
and Robin, have friends and relatives scattered across the world. The Internet is a such a nice way to stay in touch. Take
a look and see how two young Norwegians live and what they do! Yvonne's domain - Robin's domain
These three Murray brothers migrated from Georgia to Benton (Calhoun) County, Alabama sometime before 1845; settling in a small community called Rabbit
Town, Alabama.
Henry Murray, was born about 1802 in South Carolina and died 1881 in Calhoun County, Alabama; John Murray was born about 1806 in South Carolina; and Andrew Murray was born about 1810 in South Carolina and died sometime after 1880 in Calhoun County, Alabama. These Murray brothers
were of the first settlers in Benton (Calhoun) County, Alabama.
Ruel Ewer (1863?) Ellen Wamsley Ewer Higgins (1860s ?)
Reuel Ewer's origins and association with the Murray family...
recent (late 1999) discoveries...
Reuel Ewer is known to have been born about 1830 in Pennsylvania,
from his Civil War records and from the 1860 census of Grant County, Wisconsin. Stories of a Murray family,
"Grandpap" Murray and Ambrose Murray, were passed down through Reuel's son, Abraham Lincoln Ewer, and Abe Ewer's daughter,
Bette Ewer Hinz. (see the Stover Pipeline newsletter series) Reuel Ewer died in the Civil War in 1863. Abe Ewer was only two
at the time, probably never knew his father, and was "taken in" by a Murray family.
1850
David Ludwig, a Clayton cousin, researched the Murray
family in Grant County, Wisconsin, and found on the 1850 census: [page
84 of District 24]
Name Age
Sex Birthplace
William Murray 50 M Scotland Sally
Murray 38 F NY Ruel Murray 19
M Pa Pricilla Murray 13 F Pa William Murray 10
M Wis Issac Murray 8 M Wis Ambrose Murray
3 M Wis Charles A Murray 6/12 M Wis
Is this "our" Ruel ?? Ludwig also found in
the LDS search files:
1835
William Murray married Sarah Carr, about 1835 in Pennsylvania.
Sally is Sarah Carr ?? Married to Murray after Ruel was
born. Ruel's surname was not necessarily Murray. Given the ages for Pricilla and William, it appears that the family moved
from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin between 1837 and 1840.
1853
Dave Ludwig also researched the LDS Library ancestral files and
found the children of William and Sarah Murray, 1853 or later: [IGI Record; Batch
number: 5006286; Source Call No.: 1553294; Sheet: 17.]
Name Birth Place
Effie 1836 Penn Priscilla
1837 Penn Horace 1838 Penn Ruel 1839
Penn William G 1840 Wisc Isaac 1842 Wisc Ambrose
1846 Wisc Charles A 1850 Wisc James A 1850 Wisc Harriet
1853 Wisc
The 1840 birthdate for Ruel may be a misprint. Or someone
may have corrected what they thought was a misprint ?? This Ruel is definitely associated with the Murray family.
1851
Reuel and Ellen are married...
Be it remembered that on the 31st day of August AD 1851 in the
town of Cassville Mr. Ruel Ewer and Miss Ellin Wamsley both of the town of Cassville were with their mutual consent legally
joined together in holy matrimony which was solemnized by me in presence of Thomas F. Dudley and John Longmeyer both of said
town attending witnesses having been first satisfied by the oath of Mr. Ruel Ewer duly administered by that there was no legal
impediment to such marriage. Given under my hand at Beetown this 15th day of September 1851 William Holford Justice
of the Peace Registered October 6 1851 Attest J C Squire Clerk
1860
The details of the 1860 census regarding Reuel Ewer reveal
much more information than originally obtained through a third party [originally
researched in the late 1960s by Rod Stover, page author]; further research
of the 1860 Grant County, Wisconsin, courtesy David Ludwig, shows that Reuel and Ellen and family were living in the same
household with Mary Carrow (more later, Ellen's younger sister):
Household Name
Age Occupation Worth Birthplace
297 Mary Carrow 25 F Washerwoman
50 England Peter " 8 M Wisconsin Louis "
5 M " Charles
" 3 M " Angelica "
5/12 F " Ellen
Ewer 30 F Domestic England Ruel
" 30 M Miner 50 Penn. Nicolas
" 12 M
Wis. Mary E. " 7 F
" Angeline"
5 F
" Clara " 3 F
" Rosalie
" 1 F " 298 Charles
Wamsley 23? M Laborer 70 England Mary Wamsley 25
F Ireland .
The Charles Wamsley in the adjoining household is undoubtedly
Ellen Wamsley's younger brother, the "Uncle Charlie" mentioned by Bette Ewer Hinz and Gram May Stover in the PipeLine series.
Sid Ewer, descended from Abraham Lincoln Ewer, offered
the following regarding Mary Carrow/Carroll:
Mary McCormick... is Ellen's sister. On the 1860 census, Ellen
and Reuel and family were living with her. At that time she was Mary Carrow. But her husband died sometime
after 1860, and she remarried to a McCormick. The information on Mary McCormick came from correspondence with Mary
Durley. Most of Mary McCormick's children were with Carrow, and she also outlived McCormick and then married a
Wells and moved to Ozark, Missouri.... But she outlived that husband as well and moved to Kansas where she died living in
a home of one of her children.
1862
Reuel Ewer was "Mustered into the Service" September 14,
1862. David Ludwig found more information in the Wisconsin roster of Civil War Soldiers:
- Isaac C. Murray; corporal; company C; 25th Infantry regiment; residence
Glen Haven; enrolled Aug. 8, 1862; wounded July 22, 1864, Decatur, Ga.; Mustered out June 7, 1865. - William G. Murray;
Private; Company B; 5th Infantry regiment; residence Beetown; enrolled Dec. 7, 1861; Drowned May 20, 1862 in the Missouri
River.
Company "C." Reuel Ewer's Company. Sure enough,
Issac Murray is listed on Reuel's discharge certificate. And it's been there all these years....
1863
Reuel Ewer dies 19 August, 1863 in Helena, Arkansas of
"swamp fever."
1864
Ellen Ewer, now widowed, files for pension, researched
by Sid Ewer:
As a part of Ellen's claim for a Widow's Pension that she
made December 26, 1864, Ambrose Murray signed as a witness also avowing that he knew Ellen and Reuel during Reuel's lifetime
and knew Reuel and Ellen to be legally married and cohabiting as husband and wife and that he knew of Angelina and Clara and
Rosalie and Abraham having been born to them.
1865
Ellen Wamsley Ewer marries Samuel Higgins.
1868
Further research by Sid Ewer from Reuel's Civil War records:
On January 25, 1868, John H. Sneclode, as already guardian
of the Ewer children, made some other application regarding the Ewer children pension. I cannot tell exactly what, but
maybe it was to extend his guardianship. I am not sure what the guardianship was for either, but maybe it was routine
in the matter of pensions on behalf of children of dead servicemen of the CW. On that application Mrs.
Sally Jane Murray, age 56, swears an oath that she resides in Glen Haven and lived close neighbor (..?) to Reuel Ewer and
Ellen Ewer from 1856 to 1860 and that there were born into the said Reuel and Ellen, his wife, during this time, Clara V.,
and Rosalie. Further, that she is a professional midwife and was called on to attend Ellen professionally during the
births of Clara and Rosalie. Another document at the time is one which a Mary [Carrow - rrs] McCormick makes the same declaration
regarding the births of Angelina (born prior to Clara and Rosalie) and Abe (born after). Mary McCormick also avowed
that the children were now living with their mother Ellen Higgins, so John Sneclode as guardian apparently does not have the
children living with him.
So, Sarah (Sally) Jane Carr Murray, presumably Reuel Ewer's
mother, helped deliver at least two of Reuel and Ellen's children. According to Gram May's "Early Days on the Cedar Creek," Ellen Higgins was a mid-wife in the Cedar community in the 1880s and 90s; did
she learn those skills from her mother-in-law?
