The McMurtrie/trys were involved in the American Revolution in a number of ways- service in the military, provisioners, protestors, critics, even action that led to accusations of treason.
David and William McMurtrie, as merchants in Philadelphia, were signatories to the merchant-led protests against the Stamp Act of 1765, declaring their intent to not import materials from Britain until the tax was repealed. Their motives were as much economic as patriotic since the bulk of the economic burden of the Stamp Act fell on the business class.
But when the call to arms was given, many McMurtries responded.
John McMurtrie of Sussex County, New Jersey
In 1775, John McMurtrie was an organizer of the Oxford Township (Sussex Co., New Jersey) Committee of Safety, and was a township delegate to the County Committee of Safety which met once a month at Newton Court House. The Committees of Safety were the grassroots organization of those actively opposed to British policies and of those who opted for independence and revolution when the time came. At the August 1775 meeting of the Sussex County Committee of Safety, John McMurtrie "being desirous of going to Boston where the Americans were rallying under the standard of Washington, then just appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental forces, requested the Committee to certify as to his place of abode, character and reputation, which was at once complied with." John's service is documented in New Hampshire State records as a private and rifleman under Lieutenant James Parr, listed under Colonel Joshua Wingate's Return of the Troops Stationed for Defence of Piscataqua Harbor, November 1775. John McMurtrie also served as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly in 1778. John lived his whole life in Sussex County, dying there in 1792.
George McMurtrie of Sussex County, New Jersey
John's cousin George McMurtrie also came before the Committee of Safety, but not with so positive an outcome. In October 1775, the Sussex Co Committee of Safety, which in August 1775 had been so supportive of John McMurtrie, had not so kind words about George. "George McMurtrie, of Hardwick (Tounship), being brought before this committee and charged with having spoke very contemptuously and disrespectfully of the Continental and Provincial Congresses; which being full proved, it is resolved that the said George McMurtrie be advertised in the publick prints as an enemy to this Country, and that no person or persons have any dealing or connection with his until he shall cause an acknowledgement of his fault to be published in one of the New York or Philadelphia newspapaers, on pain of being deemed inimical to the liberties of America." George remained in the county for a number of years - marrying Rachel Reeder in 1778 and reportedly moving west to Pennsylvania though no male descendants are known.
Just as John McMurtrie of Sussex County went to New Hampshire to serve in the military, John McMurtry of Somerset County, New Jersey went to Pennsylvania to serve. According to John's pension application in 1828, "Your petitioner, John McMurtry, begs leave humbly to represent that, to the best of his recollection, in June or July 1775, he enlisted in Capt James Chambers Company of the lst Pennsylvania Regiment, commanded by Col. Thompson, in which Regiment he marched to Boston. After the siege was raised he marched to New York and Long Island."
On December 1, 1775, John accidentally killed John Penn "by his rifle going off when he said he did not know it was loaded." This must have occured after the British evacuated Boston, but before Washigton moved his army to New York. Despite the accident, John McMurtry marched with the Army to New York and re-enlisted on July 1, 1776.
"He fought the enemy on the White Plains and York Island." The British under Howe defeated the Americans on Long Island at the Battle of Brooklyn Heights on August 27, 1776. Washington, worried that his army might be cut in two, carried a retreat across the East River. John "retreated through the Jerseys and across the Delaware; he was at Princeton and Trenton where he, in common with the balance of ther American Army, suffered severely, by forced marches and hard fighting, in the middle of the winter." The Battle of Trenton was fought on December 26, 1776; the Battle of Princeton was fought on January 3, 1777. That winter was spent at camp at Morristown, New Jersey about 10 miles from his grandfather's home. John McMurtry undoubtedly visited his family during that winter. "John was at Shads ford on the Brandywine and at Peaoley with General Wayne, where the Americans were bayonetted in the night and he was in the battle at Germantown. About that time of the last battle, he was appointed Serjant Major, and was employed in the recruiting service in Pennsylvania." The battles at Brandywine and Germantown, fought in 1777, represented unsuccessful attempts to prevent General Howe from taking Philadelphia. Washington camped for the winter at Valley Forge. John did not mention Vally Forge in his petition, so he must not have been there.
"On the 1st or 3rd of Sept 1779, John was advanced and appointed Ensign in the same Penna. Regiment, at that time commanded by Col. James Chambers; he continued with said Regiment until the 29th day of June 1780; when he left the army and came to Philadephia and went to sea on board the 'Fair American', a Brig carrying 16 6 pounders, commanded by Capt. Decator."
John subsequently returned to Somerset County and married in 1781. He later moved to North Carolina by 1786 and then to Tennessee by 1794. He died in Sumner County, TN in 1841.
Thomas McMurtry of Somerset County, New Jersey
Thomas McMurtry, assumed to be the brother of John of Somerset County, appears to have served both in the local militia and the Continental Army. Service is recorded in the lst Batallion of the 2nd Establishment of the New Jersey contingent of the Continental Army which was formed on Sept 16, 1776. In 1778, he served in Capt John Parker's unit, lst Batallion of the Somerset County Militia. He also served in Capt Jacob Ten Eyck's Company of the same batallion. He may also have served in the Eastern Batallion of Morris County Militia in 1780 and in the lst and 3rd Regiments of the New Jersey line. These last units were formed by September 27, 1780.
This is likely the same Thomas referred to by the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1781: "that the Sum of Three pounds Seventeen Shillings be paid unto Peter Schank, Esq., Sheriff of the County, for expenses Going to Clarks Town in the State of New York to Bring Back Thomas McMutery, a Prisoner, for Debt, who was absconded." Nothing further is known about Thomas.
The War in the West was a very different war. Settlement in Kentucky which had only begun in 1775 was still sparse in 1782 when bands of Indians led by British agents attacked settlers' cabins. John McMurtry along with his cousins William and Joseph McMurtry had come from Virginia to Kentucky and settled 20 miles southwest of Lexington in 1780. On August 16, 1782, a force of 30 Canadian Rangers and 270 Indians lad by Simon Girty and the Biritsh Captain Caldwell staged a surprise atack on Bryant's Station, 5 miles from Lexington. Two of the defenders managed to escape and go for help. One of them, Tom Bell, wound layers of leather around his head, mounted a fast horse and dashed out of the station towards Lexington. The siege continued all day, sporadically through the night and on into the next day.
When Bell reached Lexington, he alerted leaders who summoned help from Lexington, Boonesboro and surrounding settlements. John Todd led the assembled forces toward the little station, certain that men from other stations would soon be coming behind. John McMurtry rode with the small army of 176 men. By this time, the British realized they had taken too long in their effort to crush Bryants' Station and ordered a retreat. Their route wound eastward toward the Blue Licks on the Licking River. Within 24 hours, they reached the ford of the Licking Rivert at Blue Licks. Boone ad vised agoinst going across, knowing the terrain was ideal for ambush, but a hothead named Hugh McGary spurred the men onward. Wihtin a mile, the Indians and British sprang from behind every tree and rock. In a fierce battle that lasted only 15 minutes, more than a third of the Kentuckians were killed and seven were captured.
Of the seven prisoners, four were killed by th Indians, and the other three - Jesse Yocum, Lewis Rose and Capt John McMurtry - were packed to the extent of their strength with the spoils of the day. With their captors, they were hurried next day across the Ohio River and thence to Detroit.
On the route, they were several times compelled to run the gauntlet, in Indian towns through which they passed. At one of them, Captain McMurtry was knocked down and fell senseless: the Indians jumped upon him and stamped him, breaking several of his ribs. Jesse Yocum, by his skill in running close to the line of Indians, so avoided their clubs as to come out almost unhurt: and running up to a young Indian by adroitness and great strength, picked him up and hurled him to the ground: then going up to another all in a moment of time, he thrust his head between the Indian's legs and threw him over his head, and jumping up, knocked his feet rapidly together in a manner novel to the Indians, crowed like a cock, and rallied them for being a pack of cowards. This singular exhibition of dexterity and spirit delighted the Indians, and an old chief promptly claimed Yocum as his man. But the gauntlet failed to satisfy (them) and the prisoners were condemned to be burned. Just as they were tied to the stake and the torch was already applied to the fagots piled around, a storm of remarkable violence burst over their heads. The flashes of lightning increased in vividness, and louder and deeper rolled the thunder. When the storm cloud broke and the torrent from above extinguished the fires, the savages were struck with awe and reverence and dared not relight them. The Great Spirit had interfered to save them and would not permit them thus to die.
The above story is probably a blend of fact and fiction, but details, such as the description of the gauntlet are real enough as they correspond with other accounts of similar captivities.
On September 18, 1782, the prisoners were forwarded to Montreal and were imprisoned there until July 1783 when they were exchanged and sent to Ticonderoga New York. They reached home on August 28, 1783.
One of the more mysterious references in the public records is the charge of treason levelled against William McMurtry. On 21 May 1778, the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania issued a proclamation: "Whereas the following named person, ... William McMurtry, merchant; .. now or late of the township of Oxford, county of Philadelphia .. have severally adhered to and knowingly and willingly aided and assisted the enemies of this State and of the United States of America, by having joined their armies at Philadelphia, .. we the Supreme Executive Council, by virtue of... an act.. entitled "An act for the gauge attainder of divers traitors, if they render not themselves by a certain day and for vesting their estates in this Commonwealth and for more effectually discovering same; and for ascertaining and satisfying the lawful .. claims" .. do require the said... William McMurty ... to render themselves respectively to some or one of the Justices of the Supreme Court or of the justices of the peace, on or before Monday 6 July next and also ... ; the said William McMurty ... not rendering himself as aforesaid and abiding the trial aforesaid, shall from and after the said 6 July next, stand and be attainted of high trason to all intents and purposes and shall suffer such pains and penalties and undergo all such forfeitures as persons attainted of high treason ought to do." William McMurtrie was subsequently listed as one of those attainted of High Treason who surrendered and was discharged. Apparently he was discharged by proclamation 28 Jun 1779. These references appear to be to William McMurtrie, the Philadelphia merchant, who was about 40 years old at this time. This may or may not be the same William McMurtrie who took the Associator's Oath on June 26, 1778 at Lancaster.
Other references to a William McMurtrie, probably are to William, son of David McMurtrie. David was the uncle of William the merchant. These references include: service in Capt Joseph Prowell's Company., colonel John Patton's Regiment, Continental Troops, enlisted 30 Jan 1777, deserted 19 April 1777. It is possible that this is the William who took the Associator's Oath.
There were other ways of serving in the Revolution other than carrying a gun. In 1785, the South Carolina General Assembly awarded Samuel McMurtray the sum of 120 pounds 11 shillings 3 pence for militia duty in 1779, 1780 1781 and 1782 consisting of 34 days as a private horseman, 37 days serves of a horse and of a waggon. Then in 1791, they awarded him 40 pounds 13 shillings "being a balance due to him for Blacksmith's Work." He was entitled to interest from 1 April 1783 which suggests this was also for service during the Revolution.
Hugh McMutry is listed on a 1781 listing of a 1776 Pennsylvania muster roll. This may be Hugh McMurtrie of Hunterdon County, NJ. No other Hugh is known at this date.
As shown in the discussion above, McMurtries/McMurtrys found numerous ways to relate to the conflict that raged around them during this turbulent period in our country's history.
Ref: Revoluti.htm Sept 1993