“The district to which these settlers came… :” English Settlement, Early Life & Family
When Walter Murray was composing his family history in the late 1920s, “tradition” rather than documentary evidence formed the basis for much of the story; and thus much of what he compiled is shrouded in uncertain memory. What is certain is that the Murray family came from the shires of Roxborough, Scotland – an area near the English border. Two brothers, Charles (b. 1792) and David (b. 1798), are believed to have arrived in New Brunswick in April 1817, followed by two more brothers, John (b. 1791) and Thomas (b. 1794), by 1818 or early 1819. Charles and David travelled to Studville, where they were able to rent a large farm from Major Gilfred Studholme. Their father, Charles Murray (b. 1759), then 60, brought the remaining family including daughters-in-law and grandchildren, in 1819.
This image, of 25 or 26 people in a group portrait, is fairly rare: most tintype photographs were portraits of one or two people. We can assume these are members of the Murray clan, but unfortunately, have no further information about them.
In 1828 one of the brothers, Thomas, bought land at English Settlement, where he started a mill; and in 1833 one of his youngest brothers, Walter (b. 1806), also bought land at English Settlement and moved there with his wife Elizabeth and their first three children, sons, Thomas, David, and Charles.
Their third son, Charles (b. 1832) trained as a doctor at Columbia but was persuaded to return to English Settlement by his mother, and in 1865 married Elizabeth MacKenzie. Their first son, Walter Charles Murray, was born 12 May 1866. This image was originally believed to be Walter Charles Murray and his mother, Elizabeth (based on the clothing, the format, and the fact that the image was retained by the WC Murray family), but may be relatives Elizabeth Pearson Murray and child, ca. 1845.
Part of the Murray clan, at the English Settlement home where Walter grew up. Both Charles and Elizabeth Murray loved horses. Notes in Jean Murray’s papers indicate this image was taken “from just below the shrubbery,” in June 1895, and includes some of Walter’s siblings, as well as his uncle.
![From left: Laura holding horse; Ruth looking over back of horse. Aunt [Alexandrina] with [?]; Grannie – Mrs. Wylie behind Grannie; Uncle Dave; Lucy – standing; Emily Murray (2nd daughter of Dave). On second horse: George Murray. On third horse, Hedley. In front at foot of hill: Flora and Mabel.”](../jpegs_full/MG61-A-II-4-1-firthomefamily.jpg)
From left: Laura holding horse; Ruth looking over back of horse. Aunt [Alexandrina] with [?]; Grannie – Mrs. Wylie behind Grannie; Uncle Dave; Lucy – standing; Emily Murray (2nd daughter of Dave). On second horse: George Murray. On third horse, Hedley. In front at foot of hill: Flora and Mabel.”
![“taken from hill in June 1895 from left: Grannie in white blouse; Mrs. J. Wylie in spotted blouse; Aunt [Alexandrina] (Uncle Dave’s wife) white [?]. Standing behind Aunt Laura (kneeling) Emily Murray (Dave’s second daughter); Uncle Dave; Aunt Lucy. On white horse George Murray (Dave’s oldest son). On other horse, H.S. [Hedley Stirling]; horse led by LR Murray [Lewis Rutherford]. Two little girls at back: Flora Murray (youngest daughter of Dave); Mabel. Uncle Dave worked farm for a year after Dr. Charles Murray died - & families lived together.”](../thumbs/MG61-A-II-4-1-firsthome.jpg)
“taken from hill in June 1895 from left: Grannie in white blouse; Mrs. J. Wylie in spotted blouse; Aunt [Alexandrina] (Uncle Dave’s wife) white [?]. Standing behind Aunt Laura (kneeling) Emily Murray (Dave’s second daughter); Uncle Dave; Aunt Lucy. On white horse George Murray (Dave’s oldest son). On other horse, H.S. [Hedley Stirling]; horse led by LR Murray [Lewis Rutherford]. Two little girls at back: Flora Murray (youngest daughter of Dave); Mabel. Uncle Dave worked farm for a year after Dr. Charles Murray died - & families lived together.”
The family was Presbyterian, active in the church.
Woodlawn Church,
English Settlement.
The earliest confirmed portrait of Walter Murray.