After 1815 the American economy began to expand rapidly. The cotton boom in the South spread settlement swiftly across the Gulf Plains: the Deep South was born. Practically all Indians east of the Mississippi were placed on small reservations or forced to move to the Great Plains beyond the Missouri River. Canals and railroads opened the interior to swift expansion, of both settlement and trade. In the Midwest many new cities, such as Chicago, appeared, as enormous empires of wheat and livestock farms came into being. From 1815 to 1850 a new western state entered the Union, on the average, every 2½ years. By 1820 all of the lands east of the Mississippi River had been carved into separate states or territories. The territory of Mississippi, with its capital at Natchez, was organized in 1798, and in 1817 Mississippi became the 20th state.

        The development of early emigrant trails followed, more or less, well-established trails made by wild animals in search of food or water. These trails were well worn upon the earth before man came along. The American Indian in search of basic necessities followed these same trails, and eventually they were used by the Indians for barter-commerce, social visits, and sometimes for purposes of war or adventure. Eventually, when the white man came, either on foot or horseback, and when the Indians would permit, he used the same trails. Many portions were later followed successfully by wagon trains, and even to the present some are now turnpikes and highways.

        We believe that portions of the four families, the Murray's, the Bushes, the McCartys and the Walkers all left South Carolina at about the same time, November of 1818. As the crow flies, which is certainly not the way they traveled, the distance from Edgefield County to Simpson County, Mississippi is about 475 miles.

        The old Indian trails that they most likely followed would have been The Lower Creek Trading Path from Edgefield County, through Augusta, Georgia, which is just across the Georgia border, then on to Macon, Georgia. There they would have picked up The Macon & Montgomery Trail to Montgomery, Alabama, and there they most likely turned more south-west on the The Alabama and Mobile Trail since they settled first in Wayne County which is on the border of Alabama.

        We do know that they were in Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia, because on November 23, 1818 they were issued passports giving them permission to transport slaves through Georgia.  Reverend Francis Walker had 7 slaves, James Murray had 1 slave and Amos McCarty had 1 slave.

        The Rev. Francis Walker and Charity Elizabeth (Bush) Walker, along with, we believe, 10 of their children, James Murray and his wife Visa Murray, arrived in Wayne County about 1818. Visa died very young in about 1820 in Wayne County, and James married her younger sister Charity. James' zeal for preaching must have come from his stepfather. In 1821 he was a delegate for the Zion Church, Wayne County, in 1823 a delegate for the Salem Church in the same county.

        In 1824, all three families moved to the future Simpson County, approximately 70 miles to the west, settling on a prong of Silver Creek. Simpson County lies in the southern half of Mississippi about midway between the Mississippi River and the Alabama state line. Mendenhall, the current County seat, is thirty-one miles southeast of Jackson and 125 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico. At the time of it's organization, Simpson County was one of the most attractive Counties of the great Southwest and that is why for the first twenty years after, it grew so rapidly in population. Doubtless the early settlers from Scotland, New England, Virginia and the Carolinas sent back to their relatives glowing accounts of this new country.

        The attractions of this new County were many and varied. First of all, of course, was the fact that homesteads could be had for the asking, and the lands on the creeks and rivers were very fertile. Another attraction was the abundance of running water, beautiful, clear running streams, the wonderful springs bubbling up in the hills. Especially notable were the great springs at Rials that form a creek at the very beginning.

        The greatest of attractions, however, were the great pine forests that covered the county from the north to the south and from east to west. For miles and miles one could ride through the untold thousands of trees, standing in their solemnity, magnificent in their grandeur as they had stood for ages. It seemed a sacrilege for them to be destroyed. We shall never see their like again. Simpson County, with Mendenhall eventually as the county seat, was organized and came into being in 1824, seven years after statehood.

        The population at the time was 2,329 whites and 829 slaves. The 1860 census records a population of 6,080.Francis Walker started applying for patent land on April 1, 1825 with 160 acres. In all he obtained 8 separate patents through June of 1841 covering totaling some 686 acres. On one of these pieces was the old farm home was later known as the Wash (George Washington) Walker place but by 1963 is known as the Brooks - Berry place, and is a large cattle ranch.

        James Murray was a candidate for sheriff in Simpson County in December of 1824. He lost to James Briggs, coming in second with 31 votes. James ran again in August of 1825 and lost to the same man by the vote of 93 to 73.

        By the 1830 census they also were in Simpson County and on 12/20/1830 James had a land patent on 73 acres. On 28 July 1834, James, Alexander, and Andrew Murray were living on S (most likely Silver) Creek. From the 1835 Tax Rolls Andrew Murray and Alexander Murray each had 37½ acres. In 1838 James Murray had 160 acres, valued at $400 on ‘S’ Creek. On 22 August, 1839, James still had his 160 acres of land valued at $400, paid poll tax and tax on 7 slaves totaling $5.75. In 1841, James Murray is listed on the tax roll as Reverend James Murray. He now owned 400 acres valued at $500, owed $7.37 for taxes. Also listed were 7 slaves over 5 and under 60 years of age, 21 bales of cotton, 1 clock @ $10, 1 watch @ $25 -- but no carriage! James last land patent was on 03/01/1859 for 162 acres lying on the border of Simpson and Copiah Counties. By 1840 Andrew had moved a little further west to Copiah County and was obtaining land there, with Alexander also there by 1859.

        On August 29, 1835, James was ordained a Baptist Minister at the Hebron Church, Lawrence County, Mississippi, which is only about 15 miles from their home on the Pearl River. He was also a delegate from Mt. Zion Church to the Pearl River Association in 1839. Nine years later, the Reverend's James Murray and Alexander Murray were at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, located on land donated by C.H. Doss, was organized on August 24, 1846. Due to the proximity of its locations, the Pleasant Hill church served both residents of Lawrence and Simpson Counties.

        James Murray's first marriage, in 1812, was to Visa (Vicey) Walker, daughter of the Rev. Francis WALKER and Charity Elizabeth (Bush) Walker. After only five years of marriage and 2 children, Visa died in 1820, and James then married her younger sister, Charity WALKER in that same year, 1820. Charity and James had 7 children before she died in 1837 and then James married a widow with 2 children, Margaret (nee: Graham) Chandler and had 7 more children.

        Excerpts from the early records of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church are worth revealing: On August 25, the day after organization six white males and one “person of color” (whose name is unknown) were baptized. The males were: John Moore, Robert Little, Ory Dye, Charlie Banks, Ruple Murry (sic), and Arthur Weathersby. The presbytery or minister who organized the church is not known, nor are the names of the charter members. Unfortunately, records for the next 27 years are not available. The Ministers serving from 1846 to 1873 were: William Toler, Alexander Murray, James Muray(sic), Thomas Price….

        The first church, built of logs, was destroyed by a tornado in 1873. The present day congregation is worshipping in its fourth building, constructed in 1913. In 1846, Pleasant Hill joined the Pearl River Baptist Association with eleven members, then in 1853 the Strong River Baptist Association, and in 1891 the Simpson County Association.

        James Murray was a Missionary Baptist Preacher and preached at several churches at least once a month. His report to the Pearl River Association in September 1845 shows that he preached 23 sermons in 24 days, traveled 323 miles, the total persons attending the services were 940. In addition he gave 3 lectures, mourned 50 (funerals), received $2.10 in money and $36.00 in board.

        In 1846 Francis Walker died, at the age of 88 years. He is buried in the Berry Cemetery, Westville, Simpson County. Tom L. Mendenhall wrote in an article published in Simpson County in 1899: “Rev. Francis Walker, grandfather of most of that name in this vicinity -- his descendants are numerous, nearly all of whom are pious, upright members of the church.”

        About 1850 James moved his family from his place on Silver Creek, which he sold to W. R. Shivers. He moved temporarily to Westville and then to Pearl River. He bought the place that had been owned by William Gates near the Palestine Church. In 1853 he was appointed to draft articles of Faith and Rules of Decorum for the Strong River Baptist Association, Simpson County. James preached at least once a month at both the Bethlehem and Palestine Churches from 1856-1858, and he was still a member of the Palestine Church at the time of his death in 1861.

        A record of the 1861 minutes of the Strong River Association in Session with Mt. Zion Church confirms James Murray’s association with the church. This was obviously done shortly after his death.

1861 Minutes

Appendix C:

WHEREAS, it has seemed good in the sight of the Almighty God, in the dispensation of His Providence, to remove from among us to His house, former moderator of our body, we deem it proper to publicly notice the event:

BE IT RESOLVED: That we cherish with affectionate regard, the memory of our beloved moderator as a man, a devoted Christian, and an exemplary and efficient minister of the Gospel and remember with gratitude his labors and love among us. We are constrained to acknowledge the wisdom and justice of that mysterious providence which has removed from our midst, so pious, devoted and self-sacrificing minister of the Gospel, and whereas we can but deplore his loss, we feel it incumbent upon us to pray with renewed earnestness, that the Lord of the harvest might send forth more fruits and devoted laborers into the vineyard.

Brother Murray was born in Edgefield District, SC on September 24, 1792. He became a member of the Baptist Church in the early part of his life. He was baptized into fellowship of Flat Rock Church, Edgefield District, SC in the 22nd year of his age. Soon after uniting with the church, he removed to Wayne County, Miss., where he resided a few years and enjoyed membership in Salem Church. His second move was to Silver Creek, Simpson County, where he united with the Hebron Church, Lawrence County and on the 29th of August 1835 was ordained a minister of the Gospel by a Presbytery consisting of H. Robertson Sr. and H. Robertson, Jr. and James Powell.

His last move was to Pearl River, 6 miles above Georgetown, where he united with Palestine Church, in which he lived, labored and died. He was a good citizen, a kind and benevolent man, an affectionate husband, a loving father, a tenderhearted master, a devoted Christian, and a useful minister of the Gospel, one that did much for the establishment of the Redeemer’s Kingdom. He was elected moderator of our Association at its third anniversary and presided over that body for six years, with honor to himself until his death, and died at his residence on Pearl River, Simpson County, Miss., on January 27, 1861, aged 68 years, 4 months, and three days. His beloved partner in life soon followed him, where we trust they are now enjoying together the smiles of our Blessed Savior and with a sad heart, we bid them farewell.

"Servant of God, well done.

Rest from thy loved employ;

The battle fought, the victory won,

Enter thy Master's joy.

Solder of Christ, well done;

Praise be thy new employ;

And, while eternal ages run,

Rest in thy Saviour's joy."

RESOLVED, also, that we tender our most heartfelt sympathies and prayers to our sister churches, Palestine and Bethlehem, and most especially to the children and relatives of the deceased brother and sister.

RESOLVED further, that the foregoing notice be published in our minutes.

Respectfully submitted,

James N___an, Chairman

        The year 1863 was the first time to find Madison, T.J. (Jeff) and Willis Murray, James Murrays’ sons on the tax rolls in Simpson County. Andrew Jackson MURRAY, James and Charity’s 6th child was not listed as he was in the Confederate Army from 1862 until the end of the Civil War.

        Andrew was married in 1853 to Salina McFARLAND who was born in Simpson County. Her father was D. M. McFARLAND, Jr., data which we obtained from the 1840 census of Simpson County. From his son, Monroe Wilson, we learned that her mother was a Baskin. Of the rest of the McFarland family we have little information. We do know that she had at least 4 siblings, who are mentioned later.

        Four children were born to Andrew and Salina by 1862, the year he entered the Civil War. Andrew Jackson Murray’s adventures during the Civil War were compiled by Mamie Yeary in her Reminiscences of the Boys in Gray, 1861-1865, pg. 555-556:

        Several notes here might help the reader. 1) Jackson is the capital of Mississippi, and has been since 1821. The city was named for Andrew Jackson, and so to perhaps was A. J. Murray. 2) The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain was fought near Marietta, Georgia on the 24th of June 1864, with the Battle of Atlanta a month later, on the 22nd of July. 3) Port Hudson is about 21 miles north of Baton Rouge, bordering the Mississippi River. Also the battle for Port Hudson was the longest of the Civil War - the siege lasted 48 days, and also the first instance in which Negro troops were used. At the Battle of Port Hudson, Louisiana on July 9, 1863 the 39^th Mississippi fell into the hands of the enemy.

        It is noteworthy that his fifth child, Drucilla Elizabeth Murray, was born in 1864 while he was enlisted. Evidently he was able to come home prior to being sent to Georgia. In addition the next child, Angelina (Annie Lo) was born in 1866, and her birthplace has not been established, but we assume Mississippi.

        A look at the 1850 census of Simpson County, Mississippi shows the three families to have been neighbors in that county. The census taker took each of them the same day, 28 Oct 1850, the number indicating the order in which they were enumerated:

# 466 Willis Walker -- a 52 year old farmer, born in SC; wife Irena, 30 years old, born in MS. Their children were German and Pleasant Walker who were ancestors of the Walker and Conway families now living in Gatesville, Texas.

# 467 Berry Walker

# 468 Richmond Walker

# 469 Thomas Bush -- 29-year-old farmer, wife Eliza was 25 years old. (She was the daughter of Rev. James Murray.)

# 470 (Rev.) James Murray -- 55 year old farmer

# 471 Russel Murray -- 36 year old farmer

# 514 Jefferson Murray -- 23 year old farmer, wife Margaret. (He must not have lived in the immediate area but still not too far away for the others of his family, his father Rev. James Murray, his half-brother Russel, and his brother-in-law Thomas Bush.)

 

        James Murray's original patent taken out in December of 1840 for 160 acres in Simpson County.  The document is signed by Martin Van Buren, Jr. His father was the 8th president of the United States from 1837-1841, so President Van Buren must have hired his son to work in the government land office. He also must have been close to his son, because after the presidency, Martin Sr. went on a two year trip to Europe with his son, Martin Jr., where Martin Jr. died, unmarried, in Paris, France in 1855.

James Murray Descendants