Abijah Murray Senior: 1808-1885

Abijah was a Sheriff Officer and Commissionary Macer. I need to do further research to find out more about these occupations, but I gather that the office of Sheriff Officer is one of the oldest in the Scottish legal system since it is believed to have been developed from the pre-feudal officer of the Mair. And in Scotland a Macer is an usher or someone who keeps order in a law court.

He had a brother, Ebenezer Murray, who was born 11 years after him on 29 April 1819 at 319 Cowgate, Lady Yester's Parish, Edinburgh .....more

Key milestones in the life of Abijah Murray Senior include the following.

1808: Born on 14 August at 319 Cowgate in Edinburgh.

1837: His father Alexander Murray died and was buried in St Cuthbert's burying ground, Edinburgh. Abijah was 29 years old.

1840: There are several testimonials written in December 1840.....more which indicate that Abijah was intending to apply for the post of Recorder of St Cuthbert's Burying Ground. It is not clear what occupation he had been following up till then: possibly he was working for his father as a carpenter. However, as his father had died and since he was presumably planning to get married it is possible he was looking for a more secure job. It also seems likely that his application for the St Cuthbert's job - if it went ahead at all - was unsuccessful.

1841: Following a Proclamation of Banns on 6 June 1841 Abijah married his cousin, Elizabeth Murray on 9 June in Edinburgh at St Stephen's Quoad Sacra Chapel. By now he was 33 years old. Elizabeth was 22, 11 years younger than her husband. She had been born in 1819, the daughter of Abijah's uncle, John Murray, a mason, and his wife Catherine Ferguson. At the time of her marriage to Abijah her father was already dead and she was living at 30 Royal Circus, St Stephen's Parish, Edinburgh.

The couple had 8 children, all born in Edinburgh, and several of whom emigrated to Australia in the 1870's:

  • 1842, 23 April: Catherine - died July 1859. Buried in Warriston Cemetery, Edinburgh.
  • 1844, 22 June - Alexander. On 23 November 1871 he married Margaret Brown Darling. A Commercial Manager, he emigrated to Brisbane, Australia in 1873. They had 6 children, including twins Abijah and James. Alexander died on 9 January 1907. .....more
  • 1846, 12 March: Joanna. She emigrated to Melbourne, Australia and died there, unmarried, on 17 April, 1882, aged 36.
  • 1848, 17 May: John. He was a Stationer who emigrated to Melbourne, Australia, where, in June 1881 he married Emma May. They had 8 children. John died in 1904. .....more
  • 1850, 2 April - William. He was a banker who emigrated to Victoria, Australia. He died, unmarried, in Camperdown, Victoria in November 1876.
  • 1852, 22 May - Abijah junior.....more
  • 1855, 12 February: Maria - died 4 January 1909 aged 53
  • 1857, 11 February: Patterson - died in September 1857. He is buried in Warriston Cemetery, Edinburgh.

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    1842: A letter dated 14 May 1842 reads as follows: "Sir, I am directed by the Sheriff to inform you that Mr Boyd Baxter, the Procurator Fiscal at Dundee, has agreed to take some charge in having you instructed in the duties of Sheriff Officer and if his report is favourable the sheriff proposes to appoint you to that situation in this county. You had better, therefore, prepare to Dundee and report your arrival there to Mr Baxter as soon as possible, and I shall expect to hear from Mr Baxter as soon as he considers you fit to act upon your own responsibility. You of course understand that it is at your own expense that you go to Dundee. I am Sir your most obedient servant.." The signature is indecipherable, but it was signed on behalf of the Sheriff Clerk.

    1857: Abijah's mother Margaret died on 30 March aged 77 after a 5 day illness.

    1863: Abijahs' wife Elizabeth died at 11.00pm on 22 July aged 44 at 13 St James Square, Edinburgh. The cause of her death was given as "chronic phthisis" (probably tuberculosis) from which she had apparently been suffering for 6 years.

    1883: On 6 March Abijah signed his will which reads as follows:

    "I, Abijah Murray, Sheriff Officer residing at number fifteen Bernard Terrace Edinburgh, declare this to be my last Will and Testament. First, I leave all the property of every kind situated in Australia belonging to me whether real or personal to my son John Murray, presently residing in Richmond, Victoria, Australia, and I appoint him to be my sole Executor so far as regards the estate hereby left to him. Second, I leave my whole household furniture, plate, books and plenishing of every kind to my son Abijah Murray, presently residing with me. Third, I leave the sum of one hundred pounds free of legacy duty to Elizabeth Davidson, who has been for many years and is presently residing with me as domestic servant: and Fourth, I leave the whole residue of my estate after paying all my just and lawful debts to my daughter Maria Murray presently residing with me for her own separate use and exclusive of the jus mariti and right of administration of any husband to whom she may be married; and I nominate and appoint my said son Abijah Murray to be my sole Executor in the United Kingdom. In witness thereof I have written with my own hand and signed these presents at Edinburgh the sixth day of March eighteen hundred and eighty three years: Three words deleted before signing. (signed) Abijah Murray."

    1885: Abijah outlived his wife by 22 years: he died at home (15 Barnard Terrace, Edinburgh) at 3.00am on 27 September after an illness of two and a half months. He was 77. The cause of death was recorded as congestion of the lungs, two carbuncles and chronic paralysis. His funeral took place on 30 September. Both he and Elizabeth are buried in Edinburgh's Warriston Cemetery.

    Some investigations were done in December 1855 to verify that Abijah was the legitimate son of Alexander Murray and Margaret Glass. There are 2 certificates, dated 14 & 18 December 1855 and signed by the Session Clerk for the City of Edinburgh, David Beatson (or Blaston). Similar certificates, dated 14 December 1855, exist for Elizabeth Murray, Abijah's younger sister; and for Ebenezer Murray, his younger brother.

    .....census information

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