Murray Family History

Sir William Murray, the first of this line of the family, is said to have descended from Hugh Moray, Lord of Duffus, but there is no proof. Whatever his descent, he married the sister of Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, and daughter of Sir Thomas Randolph, Great Chamberlain of Scotland, by Isobel, sister of King Robert the Bruce. He had 2 sons, the first of which was Patrick Murray, who had a grant of half of the lands if Stewartown in Cunningham from King Robert Bruce (Robert I).

Sir William's second son was William Murray, who got a charter sometime between 1317 and 1332 from his Uncle Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, of Cumlungan (Comlongon) and Ryvel (Ruthwell) in Valle Anadie (Valley Annandale). That is all that is known of this laird, unless he is also the William de Moray who fought under John, 3^rd Earl of Moray at the Battle of Durham, and was taken prisoner there along with a Jardine, a Kirkpatrick and a Maxwell.

George Murray, William's son, succeeded him, and was in turn succeeded by his son, Sir Adam Murray of Cockpool. Sir Adam was a famous figure during the the reigns of Robert II and Robert III. He was succeeded by Patrick Murray, who left 3 sons - Sir Thomas, David and Patrick. David was granted the lands of Newton in 1420 by Archibald, 4^th Earl of Douglas. By 1434 he was Captain of Douglas Castle. His older brother, Sir Thomas, succeeded their father in the lands of Comlongon, Ruthwell and Cockpool.

Sir Thomas first appears in history in 1405 with a "safe conduct" to England was granted to him and William of Drumlanrik. He was a witness to several charters by Archibald, 4^th Earl of Douglas, who described him as "our beloved cousin, Sir Thomas of Murray, Knight". When he died, prior to 1438, he left 6 sons and 1 lawful daughter - Gavin, Charles, Lancelot, Florence (Florentius), Herbert, John, and Mariota. Gavin succeeded his father, but was also dead prior to 1438 and was succeeded by his brother Charles. The descendants of Florence lived at Drumstinehall for several generations. John, is said to have married "Elizabeth de Ednam domina de Moryquhat" about 1440. In 1466, their son Patrick obtained from his mother a charter of the lands of Murraythwaite. From him came the Murrays of Murraythwaite and a descendant male line that kept the property for over 17 generations.

By 1438, the lands of Cockpool and Ruthwell were in the hands of Sir Charles Murray, noted above. He traveled to Rome in 1450 as one of the 8 knights accompanying William, 8^th Earl of Douglas, but afterwards, his attachment to that family must have cooled. There is no record of his having supported Douglas at Arkinholm, and in 1457 he appears as one of the commissioners of the peace with England. In 1459 he was appointed Warden of the West Marches. When he died, about 1470-1474, he left 3 sons - Cuthbert, Sir Adam Murray of Drumcrieff, and Charles. Sir Adam was a typical border leader who took an active part in the feud between the Maxwells and the Murrays fom 1480 to 1487. He received from Alexander, Duke of Albany, the lands of Drumcreiff and half the lands of Wyseby, the last of which were part of the scene of the Battle of Kirtle Water in 1484, in which his brother Cuthbert led his followers (and in which Sir Simon Carruthers, then current Warden of the West March, and younger brother of the 2^nd Baron Mouswald, was killed).

Cuthbert Murray succeeded his father Sir Charles about 1474. His name Cuthbert, commemorates the patron saint of the parish and St. Cuthbert's connection with the famous Ruthwell Cross. On March 1, 1477, he granted a charter to Archibald Carruthers of Mouswald for the lands of Comlongon Wood. Cuthbert was among the leaders at the affair of Lochmaben and Kirtle Water in 1484 when he, and the Laird of Johnston, captured Douglas and "gave him to the King". He is supposed to have built the present Castle of Comlongan. When he died in 1493, he left the following children - John (who succeeded him), Mungo Murray of Broughton, Charles, Cuthbert, Gavin, George, Elizabeth, Esota, and Marion. From the family of Mungo Murray of Broughton, we see George Murray - a Gentleman of the Bedchamber, at least 4 Members of Parliament for Kirkcudbright, lands in Ireland and a Donegal, Ireland High Sheriff (1858).

Sir John Murray had the lands in 1494. In 1509, Parliament erected his properties in Dumfriesshire and Kirkcudbright into the Barony of Cockpool. When he died, about 1527, he left the following children - Cuthbert, who succeeded him, Patrick, Blanche, who married John Carruthers of Holmains, Elizabeth and David. David obtained the lands of Drumstinchall in 1527, which remained in the Murray family until sold, about 1750.

Cuthbert did not remain long in possession of the family estate, dying before 16 January 1541. By his wife, Janet Jardine, he left the following children - Charles, who succeeded him, Agnes, who married Simon Carruthers of Mouswald, and Margaret. After Cuthbert's death, Janet Jardine next married John Carruthers of Holmains, whose 1st wife Blanche (sister of Cuthbert) had previously died. Janet and John Carruthers had at least one child, named John Carruthers, who was parson of Little Dalton Kirk.

Sir Charles Murray, born 1528, had title to the Barony of Cockpool by the time he was 19 years old. He added to the family property by purchasing from his ward Marion Carruthers, some of the Mouswald estates. He was a conservator of the peace following the Lennox and Wharton invasion, after which he was imprisoned in Carlisle, as were the Lairds of Maxwell and Johnstone. In 1570, there was a battle at Cockpool between Lord Maxwell and some of Scrope's (the Warden of the English West Marches) followers, when the Scots were defeated, but Maxwell, Holmains (Carruthers), and others escaped "by the strength" of Sir Charles' house. When he died 22 May 1605, he left the following children - Cuthbert (died before 8 May 1577), James, who succeeded his father, Adam, Sir George, Groom of the Bedchamber, Sir David Murray of Clonyaird, one of the Masters of the King's Stable, Charles, Sir Richard, who succeeded his brother Sir James, Robert, John, Earl of Annandale who succeeded his brother Sir Richard, Nicholas, who married Robert Maxwell and was the mother of James, Earl of Dirleton, Marion, Margaret and Archibald.

Sir James Murray had 3 daughters - Margaret, Elizabeth and Marion, and was succeeded by his brother Sir Richard. Sir Richard was a university graduate and at one time held the appointment of Dean of Manchester. After his succession to the family estates in 1620, he attended the Court in London, and was created a baronet by Charles I, 19 July 1625. He obtained charters of the lands of Hoddom, Lockerbie, Terregles, and other in Dumfriesshire, along with the lands and barony of Cockpool in Nova Scotia. At the time of his death in 1636, without children and succeeded by his brother John, he possessed estates in England, Scotland, Ireland and Nova Scotia.

John Murray, who became Earl of Annandale, was served heir to his brother 29 August, 1637. While a young man, he was brought to Court by the Earl of Morton, where he succeeded his brothers as a Gentleman of the Bedchamber and Master of the Horse. During his long attendance upon James VI, he acquired numerour properties, including those of Falkland, in Fifeshire, Tynningham, in Haddingtonshire, the lands of Guildford Park and others in Surrey, and property in County Donegal in Ireland. In Dumfriesshire and Galloway, his principal possessions were the baronies of Lochmaben, Dundrennan, and Errickstane, with the offices of Commendator of Dundrennan Abbey, Provost of Lincluden, and Steward of Annandale, besides many other lands and tithes of the 32 parishes in Annandale. In later life, he succeeded to the acquisitions of his brother Sir Richard, as well as to the family property. His position at Court was one of remarkable influence. After James VI succeeded to the English crown as James I, King of England, John Murray was deeply concerned with the Scottish business that was transacted in London. Upon the death of the Earl of Dunbar in 1611, he succeeded that nobleman in the management of Scots affairs. On 28 June 1622, he was raised to the Peerage with the titles of Viscount Annan and Lord Murray of Lochmaben. In 1624, he was created Earl of Annandale and Lord Murray of Tynningham. When he died in London in September 1640, he was buried at Hoddom. His children were - James, who succeeded him, Sophia and Marie.

James, 2^nd Earl of Annandale, succeeded his father 30 March, 1641. Upon the death of Mungo, 2nd Viscount of Stormont, he succeeded as 3rd Viscount of Stormont in March 1642. After he died childless 28 December 1658, the titles of Earl of Annandale, Viscount Annan, and Lord Murray of Lochmaben became extinct. The titles of Viscount of Stormont, Lord Scone, and Lord St. John of Torphichen in the County of Perth, devolved upon David, 2^nd Lord Balvaird, but stayed in the Murray family.

Descent from Sir William Murray is shown on the following genealogy chart: