Alexander Haley's recent book, Roots, which was later made into a television series, traced the history of one African American family from its captivity and enslavement in West Africa through its freedom and growth after the Civil War. This was unique in that it told, not only of the accomplishments and the joys of the family, but also of the sorrows and the difficulties. The depth, complexity and honesty of this story is almost unheard of in family history.
Though what follows is limited mostly to factual information available from public records, I hope that it may inspire others to record their family stories in a depth similar to that of Roots.
The first appearance of an African American McMurtry was in 1814. In that year, Samuel McMutree (assummed to be a misspelling of McMurtrie) served in the War of 1812 from Oct 1814 to 23 Mar 1815 as a private in a detachment of recruits of the 26th Regiment of US Infantry under Capt. William Bezeau. Samuel was born in New Jersey, was 36 years old, 5 foot 10 inches, black complexion, black eyes. His age suggests he was born in 1778 during the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, Samuel appears no where else in the records of his day and we know nothing of his origins or his fate.
Another McMurtry almost comtemporary with Samuel was an Edmond McMurtry, aged 80, born in 1780 in Kentucky, who appears in the 1860 Census for Garrard County, Kentucky . Edmond was living with a Rilla McMurtry, also born in Kentucky, but in 1785. They apparrently had been set free at some date between the 1850 census and the 1860 census. They were living near a J.W. McMurtry, a wealthy white landowner, a descendant of McMurtrys who came from Virginia in 1780. The couple does not appear in the 1870 census and probably died during the preceding decade.
Most of the African American McMurtrys alive today are descended from slaves freed during or after the Civil War in Central Kentucky (especially Garrard County) and central Mississippi (especially Madison and Leake County). Other families lived in Barren Co., Davies Co, Harrison Co., Washington Co, Kentucky; in Missouri, Texas, Georgia; in Adams Co., Mississippi. Though we have information about the Garrard Co and Madison Co families, little or no information on descendants of these other families is currently available.
We do not know exactly when or from where the African ancestors of the McMurtrys came to America, but statistics of the slave trade suggest possibilities.
About 70% of the 400,000 Africans brought to America between 1701 and 1861 came prior to 1790. Hence, most African Americans are descendants of individiuals who arrived during the colonial period.
There were 4 geographical areas they came from: 1) Senegal-Gambia - on the westernmost tip of the "bulge" of Africa, 2) Upper Guinea - the southward facing coast of the "bulge" of Africa containing the present day countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Dahomey and Nigeria, 3) Lower Guinea - the westward facing coast of the southern extension of the continent comprising the countries of Cameroon, the Congo, Angola, and 4) Mozambique in southeast Africa.
Most of the Africans brought to America came from Upper Guinea. However, there are differences in place of origin between 1) those brought to Virginia and thence to Kentucky and 2) those brought to South Carolina and thence to Mississippi. This table shows the % of Africans brought to America from the 4 regions of African:
Country of Origin Virginia South Carolina
Senegambia 15% 19%
Upper Guinea 65% 40%
Angola (Lower Guinea) 16% 41%
Mozambique 4% .7%
Very few were brought from Mozambique into either Virginia or South Carolina. Those brought to Virginia were much more likely to have come from Upper Guinea, especially from the Bight of Biafra in eastern Nigeria than any of the other 3 regions. Those brought to South Carolina were much more likey to have come from Angola in Lower Guinea than those brought to Virginia. To look at it another way, the McMurtrys of Kentucky are most likely from the area of Upper Guinea and the McMurtrys of Mississippi have about an equal likelihood of being either from Angola in Lower Guinea or from Upper Guinea.
During the Civil War, slaves ocassionally fled their plantations to seek freedom with the approaching Union army. Records show 10 McMurtrys who served in the US Colored Regiments:
Edmond McMertree, Co A, 124 US Colored Infantry, b ca 1848 Jessamine Co, KY, enrolled Oct 12, 1864 Camp Nelson, KY, mustered out Oct 24, 1865; reputed owner Lewis McMerty, credited to Jessamine Co.
John McMurtrie, Co E, Powell's Detachment, US Colored Troops; enlisted May 1864.
John McMurtrie, Co A 124 Regt Us Col'rd Infantry, Served 1864, 1865, later known as John Spillman, died 31 Jul 1903
Squire McMurtrie, Co K, 64th US Col'rd Infantry
Thomas McMurtre, Co A, 124 US Col'rd Inf, b Buena Vista, Garrard Co., KY, enlisted 26 Sept 1864
Cayson McMurtry, Co D, 79th US Col'rd Infantry
Lewis McMurtry, Co D, 114 US Col'd Inf, b ca 1820 Scott Co, KY; enlisted Camp Nelson, Jessamine Co., KY 3 June 1864; discharged Brazos TX 2 Apr 1867; died 1890, Paris, Bourbon Co, KY; children Dee and Tisha McMurtry; grandchildren: John, Charles, George McMurtry.
Washington McMurtry, Co A, 100 US Col'd Infantry, b ca 1821, belonged to William McMurtry at Robertson, Harrison Co, KY, married in Cynthiana to Mary Jackson, Christmas week, 1845 by Willis Gossett, a colored preacher at Bill Kinsler's house; enrolled at Covington KY 2 June 1864 and discharged 26 Dec 1865. After the war, he adopted name of Kinney - name of his father was Isaac Kinney.
John McMurtray, Co K 52 Regt, US Col'rd Infantry; b 1822, married 1 Jan 1865 Camden, Madison Co., Miss; John died 4 July 1892; widow Crecy McMurtray.
Ranson McMurtray, US Col'rd Infantry; enlisted fall of 1864; died Feb 1870; mother Lucretia McMurtray of Ofahoma, Leake Co., Mississippi.
Two pension applications for Civil War service give some insight into this era of history: that of John McMurtrie of Madison Co., Mississippi and that of John McMurtrie of Garrard County Kentucky.
John McMurtrie lived on the plantation of James A. McMurtray who had come to Madison County, Mississippi as a young man around 1837 from Abbeville, South Carolina.
According to John's pension application, "The father of John (McMurtrie) was named Jack Harris and John sometimes called his name John Harris. Jack Harris belonged to James McMurtray. John and his father were brought from North Carolina by Mr McMurtray and had the name of Harris when they came to the State. Said John had brothers who also belonged to said McMurtray all of whom still call their's Harris."
John's wife Martha "belonged to Dr. Y. B Olive, who lived about 1-1/2 miles from James McMurtray. About 12 or 15 months before John went off, he and Martha were married in the manner of slaves. They lived and cohabited as man and wife from their marriage until John went off."
"In the year 1864, John ran off to the Federal Army at Vicksburg and has never been back."
"At the time of Sherman's raid through Madison County (about 1 May 1864), a fellow servant (of Martha's), David Olive ran off with Sherman's Army. Soon after said raid, Martha's husband John McMurtray together with Charles, George and Lamb Olive ran off. Her husband and Charles never returned."
"In July, Lamb (Olive) returned to his old home. He arrived on the day the Negroes were celebrating the 4th of July. He reported that Charles and George Olive and John McMurtray had all enlisted in the federal army. He stated he had run away, that Charles Olive had died, and that John McMurtray was in the Hospital"
"George Olive returned after the war and said John was dead."
John and Martha's daughter Virginia also applied as a beneficiary to the pension. Y. B. Olive, Martha's former owner testified that "Jennie or Virginia was born April 1864" and indicated that he had an entry of the date of birth in his plantation book.
Martha married Isaiah Hall 24 Nov 1866. "At the time of their marriage she was living as a servant to P. R. Sutherland and had taken the name Sutherland."
The pension application of John McMurtre, later John Spilllman, of Kentucky shows a similar fluidity in the picking of last names.
The progenitor of this family was Tom McMurtry (who presumably lived on the McMurtry plantation) and his wife Jennie (who lived on the nearby Spillman plantation). This couple had 5 sons: John, Thomas, Lewis, Alexander, and Reuben. But only Thomas continued to use the McMurtry name after the war; the others used Spillman. Both Thomas and John served in the Union Army, Co A, 124th Regiment of US Colored Infantry.
According to Alexander Spillman, aged 57 in 1906, "Our father was Tom McMurtre and our mother was Jennie McMurtre. She belonged to Mr. Spillman (Charley Spillman)." According to Mary Spillman, aged 75, "John Spillman had 3 brothers Tom, Lewis, Alexander and Reuben. After the War, they went by the name of Spillman, except Tom. I do not know what became of Reuben and Lewis.
George Wallace in 1906 claimed there were two McMurtres in his regiment (Co A 124 US Colored Infantry) in 1864 and 1865 - one was a brown skinned man, rather light and the other was black. The brown skinned one was rather heavy set and not quite as tall as the black one. The black skinned one was about my height (5'9").
Following is a brief description of the two African American families about which the most is known: the family of Thomas McMurtry of Garrard County, Kentucky, and the family of Hattie McMurtry of Madison Co., Mississippi.
The progenitors of this family are Thomas McMurtry born 1807 in Kentucky and Jane or Jennie McMurtry also born 1807 in Kentucky. They lived in Garrard Co near Buena Vista.
As previously mentioned, this couple had at least 5 children - John, Thomas, Lewis, Alexander and Reuben. Thomas continued to use McMurtry after the War, but the other brothers used Spillman.
Son Thomas was born on Sept 25, 1835 in Buena Vista, Garrard Co. On Christmas Day, Dec 25, 1856, at the age of 21 he married Eursley Ann Johnson. Together they had 13 children over a 22 year period - 5 born in slavery and 8 born free. Their children born in slavery were:
Mary - b 17 Nov 1857; Sallie - b 18 Jun 1859; Kittie - b 8 Apr 1861; Belle - b 15 Jan 1863; Thomas - b 25 Nov 1864.
In 1864, while Eursley was pregnant with his fifth child, Thomas fled the plantation to freedom and on Sept 26 1864 enrolled in Company A, 124th Regiment of the US Colored Infantry. His remaining children born after the war were:
Flora - b 2 Feb 1866; Fannie - b 21 Jan 1867; Abram - b 25 Nov 1869; William - b 15 Aug 1872; Silas - b 15 Apr 1874; Hester - b 1875; Abner - b 27 Jan 1877; Mattie - b 15 Sept 1879.
Six of the children died as young adults (aged 19 to 34) and one as a child of 6, but the others lived longer lives. Those who died young were:
Kittie - d 10 May 1895 (aged 34); Belle - d 18 May 1884 (aged 21); Flora - d 2 Oct 1885 (aged 19); Fanny - d 1902 (aged 34); William - d 8 Apr 1894 (aged 21); Hester - d 1881 (aged 6); Mattie - d 1900 (aged 21).
Mary the eldest daughter married a Mr. Carr and had a daughter Ida. Kittie married a Mr. Miller.
Thomas, born 1864, married Amanda _________ around 1890. Thomas died in 1948 or 49 and Amanda died around 1946. They had 9 children together between 1890 and 1909.
1) Arthur, born 1890
2) Ernest, born in 1892 and died in 1948. He was married twice but had no children. He lived in Cincinatti, Ohio.
3) Cora, born in 1895, married a Mr. Armstrong and had a son Walter Armstrong.
4) Howard, born in 1896 and died unmarried in 1965 or 1966.
5) Ada, born in 1989
6) Mattie, born 1899,m married Ed Taylor, had a son J. T. Taylor. Mattie lived in Nicholasville, KY in 1971.
7) Irvan Thomas, born 1902, died 1967, married Frankie Wilns. They had a son, Irvan Thomas, born 1932 who married Loretta Jones. Irvan and Loretta had 2 children: Irvetta b 1964 and Irvan Thomas b 1968. Irvan lived in Cincinatti, Ohio in 1971.
8) Willa, born 1906 and married twice: 1) Mr. Williams, 2) Mr. Watson. Children by the first marriage were Norma Louise Williams, born 1929 and married Thomas Mitchell and Donald William, born 1935 and married Alma Walker. Children: Teresa, b 1956, Lenda b ca 1968, Deborah b ca 1970.
9) Lucille, born 1909, married S. W. Hamilton. Children: Joyce who married Mr. Berry and William. Lucille and Joyce lived in Lexington, KY in 1971.
Returning to the children of Thomas and Ursley McMurtry, Abraham was born in 1869 and had a daughter Frances Pearl who married Mr. Wright and lived in Canton, Ohio.
The next child, Silas McMurtry, born 1874, died in 1955, stayed at the old home place in Buena Vista.
The next child, Abner was born in 1877 and died in 1955 or 1958. He married twice with his second wife being Ella ______ who moved to Washington D.C. Abner had 3 chldren. Minnie who married Horace Ball and lived in Cincinatti, Hollie and Walter.
With respect to the brothers of Thomas McMurtry, born 1835, we know from pension records that John Spillman was born about 1844 and died in 1903. He had 6 children: Florence Jane Spillman b 1883, Lizzie Alma, b 1885, James Madison b 1887, Leslie Ernest b 1889, Carrie Dora b 1894, and John Early b 1895. John was married three times: 1) Lucy Downing who died in 1869, 2) Mattie Nettles died 1878?, 3) Caroline Jennings married 1882. Caroline was the mother of all the above children.
Relative to Alexander Spillman, we know he was born in 1849, based on his being 57 years old in 1906 when he testified relative to John Spillman's widow's pension application.
By 1900, there were 56 African American McMurtrys in Mississippi - 35 in Madison County, 16 in Leake Co., and 5 others in Sunflower, Attala and Adams Counties. These appear to be several different families. The following Madison County family is listed here because it has been traced down to the present generation.
The progenitor was Hattie McMurtry, whom the census lists in one year as born in South Carolina in 1815 and another year as born Tennessee in 1825. She had at least two children: Sampson, born 1849/1850 and Julia, born 1852.
Sampson married Chaney ______ and they had 4 children: Ben, born 1870, Robert born 1872/1876, Tom born 1877/1874 and John born 1880.
Sampson's son, Tom, married Sallie _______ born 1877 and had 9 children: James b 1902, Walter b 1904, Claretta b 1905 who married Jake Powell, Fannie b 1907, John Thomas b 1909, Annie Marie b 1911, Vaddo b 1913, Hiram b 1915 and Alcola who married Mr. Wade.
James the oldest son lived in Arkansas; Walter and John Thomas lived in Detroit; Claretta lived in Canton, Miss; Alcola lived in Hope, Arkansas.
Hiram had 3 children: Vel Marie who married a Mr. Jenkers, Danette who married a Mr. Cobb, and Hiram.
Returning to Hattie's second child, Julia McMurtry, she had 3 children: Ebenezer McMurtry b 1872, Magaline, b 1879 and Alice b 1883.
This is only the barest outline of this family. It is hoped that family members will flesh this out with information about the lives of these individuals and later generations.
Ref: aframhst.htm Sept 1993