Here’s an interesting letter from Miss Constance W. Simons (notice the penciled-in “Miss” and “Constance” by Uncle Nelson Frierson) to Elizabeth Nelson Frierson, my great-grandmother, written in about 1904 I think.  Miss Simons says “At last – I have your papers in tolerable shape, excuse the writing and other small mistakes, the dates and names are right, I think.  The lion needs a collar with stars upon him & the demi savage a headress.  Some day if I live I will try and fix them.  I hope that you all are well,  Affectionately, C.W. Simons”.   Reading this little note made me think “What is this about a lion and savage with headress??”

It turns out this short note to Miss Lizzie was wrapped around approximately 50 rolled-up pages of text handwritten by Miss Simons, that  included copies of genealogical tables, extensive writings from Burke’s Peerage (see the entry on Atholl  in Burke’s Peerage for an almost word-for-word copy by Miss Simons), and sketches of coats of arms of the Murray family (again copied from Burke’s – see Miss Simons’ copy here).  Elizabeth Nelson Frierson’s mother was a Murray (Sarah Robinson Murray (b. abt 1818)) and Sarah Murray’s  grandfather was John Murray (b 1/21/1760 in Scotland, d. 11/23/1815 in S.C.). This John Murray, subject of the genealogical tables, was a very interesting character and his story is told in the genealogical table belonging to another of his granddaughters (by his first marriage), Susan Lang.  I’ve typed Miss Lang’s table as it was written in 1891 and copied into 8 pages in 1904 by Miss Simons… I’ll try to spell out the various family connections later to my great-great-great-great grandfather John Murray – in the meantime just enjoy his interesting story!  

The following is a typed copy of an 8 page document about Mr. John Murray of South Carolina, handwritten by Miss Constance W. Simons at Edge Hill in Stateburg, S.C., and dated 16th of February, 1904.  It was done for Elizabeth Nelson Frierson, my great-grandmother, copied by Miss Simons from a genealogy table done in April, 1891, by Susan Lang, a granddaughter of John Murray.  John Murray was the maternal great-grandfather of Mrs. E. N. Frierson and so he is my great-great-great-great grandfather.   Typed by Dargan Frierson, Jr., on November 3, 2013.

” MIss Susan Lang’s Table of the South Carolina Murrays copied by Constance W. Simons who added a note from one of her family tables.  Edgehill, Sumter Co, So Ca, 16th of Feb., 1904

“John Murray of Grove Hill, South Carolina, was one of the Murrays of Atholl, as is shown by his arms – A demi (?) savage supporting the hand dagger and fetter lock, and the Motto “Furth, fortune and fill the fetters.”  The crest was formerly only the armed hand and dagger, with the coronet above, but after an attack on the Isle of Man in which the Atholl of the time being an old man committed the foray to his eldest son, saying to him “Go forth, be fortunate and fill the fetters” and young Tullibardine was so successful that the Isle of Man was for a time an appendage of the Scottish crown, and the Murrays besides the additions of the fetters and the Motto to their arms gained such possessions in the Island and ascendancy over the (…illegible…) that the Duke of Atholl was for a time called King of Man, a distinction afterwards borne by the Earl of Derby. 

“The mother of the above mentioned John Murray was a daughter of Sir ___  Fyffe (the Christian name is forgotten).  He must have died young, for at the time of his daughter’s marriage, her brother, Sir James Fyffe was at the head of the family, the other members being a younger brother Dr. Charles Fyffe and 3 sisters, one married Mr. Graham, the other 2 continued to reside with their brother Sir James Fyffe.  Dr. Charles F. emigrated to one of the British West Indies, where he practiced medicine successfully and accumulated a fortune, then his health failing, he removed to Georgetown, So. Ca., where he resided some years before the Revolutionary War, being married but childless.*  (* from papers in possession of C.W. Simons). From Maj. Haskell’s Table of Beckey La Bruce who married Thos. Butter Sr, had 2 children Margaret Butter and Thomas Butter, the latter died in childhood.  Thos. Butter Sr. married 2nd Margaret Rowe.  Anne Rowe married Dr. Fyffe, no issue.  

“William Murray, father of John, after the death of his 1st wife Martha Fyffe, went into business in Edinburg and married there.  One of his sons, Mungo Murray was in his early childhood so finely formed and beautiful, that he was frequently borrowed by his mother’s friends to take part in Tableaux, then a fashionable entertainment.  But one cold night, having posed as Cupid, lightly dressed, he took a cold and was so ill, that his mother closed his career in that line.  Three times he ran away from School to go to sea, but the 3rd time, being old enough, his father bought for him a place as midshipman in the East India Cos. service, and let him seek his fortune in his own way.  The 2nd son William was my grandfather’s (Mr. John Murray) chosen brother, he was his lifelong correspondent and was the father of George Mercer Murray for whom your Uncle George of Cherokee is named.  There were also two other brothers, who went into the Army and must have done well, as Mr. G. M. Murray told your grandfather, Samuel J. Murray, that there were both half pay Lieutenant Colonels. 

“John Murray, son of William Murray and Martha Fyffe was born in Scotland 21st January, 1760.  After the death of his mother, he was placed with a nurse near Perth and when old enough was taken by his mother’s two single sisters to their brother’s (Sir James Fyffe) residence where he was carefully and affectionately attended and as soon as old enough was sent every Monday morning on a pillion behind the coachman to the manse of an elderly clergyman, who prepared 12 young gentlemen at a time for the public schools.  He remained at the manse until Saturday morning when he was taken home to spend Sunday with his aunts and so continued until he was old enough to go to a large school.  When his father reclaimed and placed him in the Edinburg high school as a day scholar, from this time he was a member of his father’s family and became much attached to his half brother next in age to himself.  At 17 a commission was applied for and he was gazetted (?) Cornet of Dragoons in the British Army.  But before he had actually joined, his father received letters from his 1st wife’s brother Dr. Charles Fyffe, saying that he was sick and childless and wished to adopt his sister’s son, if Mr. Murray would send his nephew to him, he would at once receive and give him all the advantages his own son would have had, and at his death an ample fortune.  Dr. Fyffe at the time said that he had been so long away that he had no wish to return home, and intended to remain permanently in So. Car.  

“Mr. Murray, after due consideration, concluded that Dr. Fyffe’s offer was most advantageous for his son and accepted and sent him to So. Car, before he was 18. where he was received by Dr. and Mrs. Fyffe with the (… illegible…) kindness.  He had a Negro and pair of horses for his own and a monthly allowance of money he found life very pleasant, it was now the early part of the Revolutionary War, and Dr. F. though hoping and expecting that the Rebellion would be crushed in a short time, concluded as his nephew had been intended for the service, in this contingency, Mr. Murray entered the British Army and served in the Southern campaign as Cornet of Dragoons, was in several battles, once slightly wounded and twice taken prisoner by the end of the war and the certainty of American Independence, he made up his mind that even in such circumstances he would remain in So. Ca., especially as he wished to marry a lady, whose friends though were willing for the marriage, utterly refused consent if he returned to Britain.  On the other hand, Dr. Fyffe, having passed more than half his life in the Colonies and intending to remain in one of them the remainder of it, was still entirely loyal to Britain. when certain of the result of the war, he prepared to return to Scotland, thinking of course that his nephew would accompany him, a painful explanation took place, but as neither would give up and Dr. Fyffe with his wife returned to Scotland.  Mr. Murray remained in So. Car. thereby losing Dr. Fyffe’s fortune, he always regretted severance from a relative from whom he had received so much kindness.  Dr. Fyffe held no further communication with him.  His wife (Ann Rowe of S. C.) wrote to him [John Murray] occasionally all of her life, and in her will left him a small legacy.  Pecuniarily Mr. Murray did well enough, he had received his mother’s fortune when he came of age.  Miss Hughes whom he married in 1782 was wealthy, he soon became a wealthy rice planter.  His wife died in early life, leaving two daughters, Elizabeth Hughes Murray, who married Mr. James W. Lang of Camden (he was my father [Susan Lang’s father] and Margaret who married Mr. John Bradley of Sumter (she was the mother of your cousins of that name : Mrs. Sumter, Mrs. Spann, Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. McLeod and their Brothers).

 “Mr. Murray [John Murray] remained in the low country for some time, his health became impaired and he removed to middle Carolina and purchased Grove Hill Plantation, near Stateburg where he died 23rd November, 1815.  Of his 2nd marriage with Miss Lizzie Nelson and his descendants through her son, your Grandfather Mr. Samuel Murray, you already know.   Susan Lang, April, 1891, per C.W. S.”