MISS LETTICE McMURRAY, one of the well-known residents of Peters township, is a daughter of Archibald McMurray, whose father, James, was a native and lifelong resident of County Donegal, Ireland. He followed agricultural pursuits, and in early life was married to Margaret McFarland, also a native of Erin. She bore him three children: John, Jane and Archibald. Archibald McMurray, son of James and Margaret, was born in 1766, in County Donegal, Ireland, and passed his boyhood in tilling the soil. When a young man he was married to Nettie, daughter of William Simpson, a resident of the same county. After his marriage Archibald McMurray followed farming and fishing for some time. In 1801 the young couple came to America, first locating in eastern Pennsylvania, and afterward settled in Allegheny county, same State. They resided here many years, and as time sped on children came to brighten their home as follows: James, William Edward, Jane, Margaret, John, Catherine, Lettice and Ann. But that dread disease, consumption, buried its deadly fangs in the frail forms, and one by one the children were laid to rest until, of that once happy family, but one daughter was left to the bereaved parents.
Lettice McMurray was born about 1812, in Allegheny county, Penn., where she resided twenty-five years. She then came with her parents and younger sister Ann to the home in Peters township, Washington Co., Penn. The mother and sister soon passed away, and Lettice cared for her father until his death, which occurred in 1852. The only living representative of her family, she yet resides on the farm, having lived alone until her health became feeble. She is an earnest member of the United Presbyterian Church, and is patiently awaiting the happy hour which will reunite her with the dear ones gone before. The home farm consists of 100 acres of land.
Text taken from page 1454 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]