|
Ancestors
of Stanhope, Generation Four
John MURRAY,
Sour John of the Spiceries
also known as John MURRAY, of Halmyre
John MURRAY, son of John MURRAY
and Margaret TWEEDIE, went to London as a young man and returned to Edinburgh where he married Jonet
(Janet) HOWIESON in about 1592.
John "went to London, pushed his way in trade,
and became a rich merchant; his dealing probably being
in East India goods, for he was ordinarily known as
'Sour John of the Spiceries.' We can fancy that,
throughout his long ascetic plodding in some obscure
alley in the City, Sour John had a wild lurking dream of
returning to the neighbourhood of Romanno, and ending
his career as the envied great man of the parish.
 If his ambition did not go this length, he certainly entertained
some expectation of being buried in grand style in the
churchyard of Newlands (see below left). Returning to Scotland, he
appears to have occupied himself in constructing a
mausoleum to receive his remains, bearing an inscription
in Latin and Greek, to the following effect: 'This
stoney fabric is erected as a memorial, in gratitude
here, because I am purified by the holy fount.' Sour
John of the Spiceries died 08 August 1625 at Halmyre (shown above right) and was laid to
decay in state, in
 the aisle which he had prepared for
his reception (see remaining smaller gable in the center of the photo at left); but every vestige of posthumous finery is
long since gone, and nothing left to distinguish the
spot from the graves of parishioners respecting whom the
Baronage is silent." (From HISTORY OF PEEBLESSHIRE,
By William CHAMBERS @1864, pg 482.) (Please click on photos for larger view)
Children of John MURRAY and Janet HOWIESON:
i. Sir David
MURRAY, (Lands acquired: Stanhope, Broughton).
ii. Gideon MURRAY, baptized about 30
Jan 1613 in Edinburgh. "Gideon Murray retoured heir
of his immediate younger brother, William, 1 March
1644. This Gideon may be the Gideon Murray who went
to Ireland in 1648, the father of the celebrated
defender of Londonderry." (From: THE MURRAYS OF ROMANNO,
BROUGHTON AND STANHOPE, by J. Balfour Paul)
iii. James MURRAY, baptized 14 May 1614;
died young.
iv. Elizabeth MURRAY, baptized in Sep 1615.
v. Anna MURRAY, baptized 11 Jan 1618 in Edinburgh.
vi. William MURRAY, baptized 27 Oct 1618 in Edinburgh;
died about. 1644.
vii. Bessie MURRAY, baptized 07 Mar 1619 in Edinburgh.
viii. Adam MURRAY, baptized 23 Apr 1620 in Edinburgh
; Progenitor of the MURRAYs of Cardon. died about 1669
ix. Janet MURRAY who married Simon JOHNSTOUN, of Ambrose and Powdean on
23 Feb 1643.
x. Margaret MURRAY, ancestress of
the families of Cringletie and Murrayfield; died about 1671.
[ Home ] [ What's New ] [ Ancestors of Stanhope ] [ 1st Stanhope Baronet ] [ Murray of Cardon ] [ Photos/Images ] [ Keith W. MURRAY ] [ Peeblesshire Maps ] [ Bibliography ] [ Links ]
This site maintained and created by [Jack Murray]
Copyright © 2000-2002 . . JaMur Webs . . All rights reserved.
Please do not duplicate from this site without my consent.
Please feel free to link to this site.
|
