John (Captain Jack) Murphrey

  General Notes:

Craven County, NC - Murphrey Letters, 1770

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Berne NC
10 December 1770

Dear Billy: [William Murphrey]
We arrived here all safe and sound of body. The weather has been
pleasant and warm. The gods must surely smile on our festivities. We
are not at Mr. Blackledge's [Richard] as was planned because of fever
amongst his people but are instead with Mr. Coor. I have rooms at the
top of the house with Sally [Sarah Murphrey] and can see from river to
river [Neuse to Trent] and well up the neck from his high point.
This is such a bustling, busy place after the solitude of our
forest clearing. We have done much shopping and visiting abouts. There
are so many old friends and aquantenses here and a great number of
Dobbs folks are down. Saw many of them at Church a Sunday. We shared
a pew with old Hannah Hill [widow of Robert Hill Sr, d. 1767] and
Spyrs [sic] Singleton and family.
On Celebration day the town was so decked out as to appear a
fair. Everyone in their finery & entertainments at every corner. We
went with Mr. Green [John] and brother Caswell [Martin Caswell,
1731-1789, m. Nancy Murphrey] to the setting of the Govournment [sic]
in their new Chambers but could naught but stand below windows such
was the press.
Papa [John Murphrey Sr, 1700-1776, m. Elizabeth Harrison] was made
door keeper for the Assemblage in that the regular keeper was a bed
with the ague. The Government closed business for the day when the point
guns saluted and everyone repaired to prepare for the ball.
The Govournment House [Tryon Palace] is indeed grand. Mama [Elizabeth
Harrison, c1706-1788, wife of John Murphrey Sr] says that it is even
grander than the Governor's House in Virginia. I heard it said by a
gentleman, who is much traveled, that it is an English House in the finest
London taste. Oh, I wish you could have seen the ball. It dazled the eyes
& mind of the beholder. Such finery & jewels. Mother never looked younger
or in more health. She wore the Blue Spittlefields gown Papa bought for
her and Grandmother B's [Elizabeth 'Betty' Burwell Harrison, 1677-1734,
wife of Benjamin Harrison, 1673-1710] diamonds set her off to perfection.
And you should have seen our little Polly [Mary 'Polly' Aldridge, wife of
John Murphrey Jr, c1747-1817] all in green & yellow satin with plumes and
turban. She has become quite the city lady.
When presented to the Governour & Lady [Gov. Wm Tryon, 1729-1788
and Margaret Wake, 1733-1819] he spoke at some length with Mother his
having met her cousins while in Virginia. We danced and danced the long
part of the evening and ate a great number of delicasys [sic] which we
have only for weddings & funerals.
The lawn before the House was set to form a large feast for the
general public who were not at the Ball and the whole night ended with
a great fire show. Parson Reed [James, d. 7 May 1777] danced with me
[Gale Murphrey, c1745-1776] three times & the dear old gentleman would
make to have great liberties of speech with Mother who laughed like a
girl at such flirtations. Papa played the part of the jealous husband to
the merriment of all.
On the day after the Ball we walked over to Reed's [James] & sat
on the porch for awhile until he took Papa & Jethro [brother] to view
the school and talk of tuition with Tomlinson [Thomas]. We drank tea
with Mrs. Reed and later came Mrs. Frank, Mrs. Roads [sic], and young
Mrs. King, a relation of Mrs. Roads from down the country. We supped at
Cornell's to a large company and afterwards I played the harpsichord for
all and Mother lost 4£ to Mrs. Cornell at quardrille which caused Papa's
blood to rise.
The town is still in a festive mood. We have seen two horse races
and a concert by the young men of the town. We are to be home in less
than a weeks time to prepare for the Holidays. We have all or most of
the items you wished, Papa at present, still heggling with Old Hard Money
over credit & goods. Tell [missing - paper crumbled] [our interpretation]
'Lucy' 'we have the' bolts of cloth she wanted and the set of chinia.
Tell her the ladies are wearing the most charming knots and over shifts
and ribbons this season. Mama has found the most charming little Irish
seamstress and you must really bring [crumbled] 'Lucy to' town that she
may make up dresses for her also. I really must close now [more crumbled]
'they are' having a dance tonight & I have to begin [more crumbled] 'to
dress for it'. Love to all,
Your sister,
Gale
[Gale Murphrey]



Mr. William Murphrey - Esquire
The Newfields
Dobbs County NC

From The Martha Sugg Dixon Papers 1827-1904 in possession of Wm L.
Murphy, Raleigh, NC

Re: Spitalfield Gown:

"Queen Elizabeth, in 1584, chartered a group of Dutch to establish an
industry in Norwich, soon famous for its damask and flowered silks. Forty
five years later James I, of England assisted Hugenots from France to
establish silk industry; and fifty six years later in 1685, 50,000 left
France to settle in Spitalfields near London, which became a leading
center for silk damask and brocades."
Page 1109 - American Weavers - Their Problems and Their Growth - by
Margaret Holmes
Aaron Guild, Norwich, Massachusetts
The Daughters of The American Revolution Magazine - Dec. 1979

Ima Eula Mewborn
Farmville, NC

Note: Information in [...] by I.E.M.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Muskettoe Quarter
9 September 1770

Dear Son: [John Murphrey Jr]
You will receive this of Dick [Richard] Caswell [1729-1789, later
Governor of NC] who is accompanying 6 hhds of Tobacco to Newberne. All
are properly marked. You are to see Mr. Oliver as to the disposal of
the same. Have him hold the note for I will settle debts & orders, when
I arrive, which will be about the 2nd. Your Mother [Elizabeth Harrison
Murphrey] will be accompanying me, as will your sister Gale & Little
Jethro [brother]. Mr. Blackledge [Richard, will of 26 Feb 1776, Craven
Co, NC] has offered us the hospitality of his home, so you need not to
worry to engage us rooms. Send the enclosed list to Mr. Caswell to be
filled & the goods loaded on 'The Betsy', after Mr. Olliver has removed
the hhds. Cousin Murphrey [Murphrey Dixon, c1730-1812, m. Mourning Garner,
a nephew] will have other instructions for you also. We will take the
'perangue' down after the conopy and rigging is refitted & return at the
end of the Festivities. You will perhaps keep the 'perangue' for your
return trip at Christmas tide. Remember me to all at that place.
Your loving father
[John Murphrey]

N.B. You may take the price of your picture out of the Tobacco notes. If
your picture be good, I may have my picture drawn for your mother's
Christmas.

Mr. John Murphrey [Jr]
At Wm Cox's
Near Newberne
Care of Mr. [Richard] Caswell

Note: From same collection - mentioned above. [I.E.M.]

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NCLENOIR-L Archives

From: Clair Hadley < [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
Subject: [NCLENOIR] Caswell,McIlwean,Murphrey,Harrison,Wooten. Jackson,Jones,Hines, Reading,Cannon,Gardner

Jewelle-Thanks for responding. Here is the information I have on William
Caswell-his family, the property deeds, and where he is in the 1810 Pitt
census. I'm actually pleased that he is not on the 1815 Pitt tax list,
as I think he took his earnings from the sale of his property and moved
to Craven sometime between 1810 and 1820.

William Caswell of Dobbs, Pitt, Craven & Lenoir Co, NC was the youngest
son of Martin Caswell, younger bro. of Gov. Richard Caswell. His mother
was Nancy Murphrey, daughter of Capt. John Murphrey and Elizabeth
Harrison Murphrey.There is some evidence that Elizabeth Harrison was
connected to the Ben Harrisons of VA, "the James River Harrisons" and
thus to presidents Ben Harrison and William Harrison. (not proven). Wm.
appears in the 1790 census of Dobbs with his mother Nancy.Wm would be
the youngest son of
Martin and born abt 1780. He was under 16 in 1790 Dobbs census and
between
26-45 in 1810 Pitt census. He then went to Pitt Co. where several Pitt
deeds-Deed books Q &V (1805,6 &8)-show that he sold his land there for
$1100 except for 2 acres of dower lands to mother Nancy. Most of his
siblings moved to GA. He is not married in 1809 (re:deeds) but is
married in 1810 Pitt with one infant son . I think but have not found
hard proof that Wm married Harriett McIlwean Emery ,daughter of Thos.
James Emery and Hannah
McIlwean, in 1809. Her family was from New Bern and I think Wm. moved to
N.Bern as he was
there in 1820 census of Craven and the ages of his family match the Wm.
Caswell in Pitt Census 1810.When wife Harriett died (in 1827 a
Mrs-----Caswell was buried at Christ church N.B.) Wm. moved back to
Lenoir and remained
there as late as 1844. He is 40-50 in Lenoir 1830 census and 50-60 in
1840 Lenoir census.He appears to be on property left him by his mother
at Sandy Bottom . He left his 2 daughters Harriett and Rosaline in New
Bern; they are there
alone in the 1830 census(Harriett is head of house, with Roz and 1
slave) and are the only Caswells in
Craven.
1. SOURCE: Genealogy library, NC ARCHIVES-compiled by ELLIS
Deed book Q (1804-1807) Pitt has the following transactions
concerning William Caswell, son of Martin Caswell and nephew of
Gov.
Richard Caswell. Page 111 10-14-1805
Grantor-Reading Jackson Grantee-William Caswell 200a. 700 pounds.
Adj. Joseph Jackson, William Wooten. Wit; William Wooten,John
Jackson

Page 339 1-6-1806 Grantor-William Caswell Grantee-Nancy Caswell
the Elder (LENO) 2 A for life; dower lands. Wit;
Ambrose Jones, Former Owner: Martin Caswell,
dec., father of William Caswell,grantor, and
former husband of Nancy Caswell the Elder,
grantee.

DEED BOOK V p. 26 12-25-1808 Grantor-William Caswell
Grantee-William
Wooten 200 A; $1150. Men,:Nancy
Caswell, mother of William Caswell. wit;Wm.
Broome, Sherwood Hines.

  Research Notes:

http://members.aol.com/emurphrey/data.html#2090
John (Captain Jack) Murphrey
Born: 1715 in Isle of Wight, Virginia
Died: 1776 in Greene County, North Carolina
Buried:
Father: Michael Murphrey
Mother: Elizabeth Hampton
Spouse: Elizabeth Harrison
Children: Michael Murphrey, Elizabeth Murphrey, William Murphrey, Nancy Murphrey, Gale Murphrey, John Murphrey, Martha (Patsy) Murphrey, Jethro Murphrey, Sally Murphrey, Eleanor Murphrey
Other: According to Dixon family history, Captain John Murphrey arrived in Dobbs County, N. C. from Virginia with his nephew Murphrey Dixon in 1747. He was the founder of the Beare Garden plantation in Greene County, North Carolina. Listed as a Captain in the list of officers for the Dobbs County Militia on March 11, 1761. Died in 1776 when he was thrown from his riding chair and fractured his skull.
Sources: Information about Captain John Murphrey and his family can be found in "The Quarterly Review of the Eastern N. C. Genealogical Society, Vol. IV, No. 1 and No. 2, 1977."

John married Elizabeth Harrison, daughter of Benjamin Harrison III and Elizabeth Burwell, on an unknown date. (Elizabeth Harrison was born about 1705 in Berkeley, Charles City, Virginia and died about 1788 in Dobbs Co..)