Hugh William Murray : Short Biography

Hugh was born in Newtownards, County Down, Ireland
In Ireland, Hugh was a Presbyterian and married Eliza Bridget McAlister, a Catholic. They lived in Cherryvalley in County Down. After they immigrated to America, Hugh converted to Catholicism. They initially settled briefly in Cincinnati, Ohio and shortly thereafter moved to Fayetteville, Ohio, to the east in Perry Township, Brown County.

After the immigration, Hugh was a farmer and the family lived in a house on what is now known as "Murray Corner Road" in Fayetteville, Ohio. In March, 1975 the house was certified in the National Registry of Historic places as an authentic example of nineteenth century architecture worthy of saving. It is on the northwest corner of the intersection of Ohio State Route 251and U.S. Route 50. The corner is designated by a street sign as "Murray Corner Road." In the 1980's it was known as "Thumann House", after the family owning it then.

See the ship's manifest of the "Olive & Eliza" which embarked from Liverpool, England and arrived in New York City, USA on May 31, 1845. Hugh William and his family had left from Belfast, Ireland on April 18th, 1845. Hugh William traveled with his wife, Bridget, and infant son, Hugh, as well as with older brother, Henry, and Henry's wife Jane and children. 

I [Robert Michael Murray] found the actual ship's manifest in the National Archives in Washington, DC in August, 1985. Both Hugh William and Bridget were listed as "farmers". There were 154 passengers on the ship "Olive & Eliza", captained by Isaac D. Parsons. Ship's Tonnage - 386+ [Source: "Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving New York, NY;1820-1897" : January 2, 1845-May31, 1846. National Archives Films: "M-237, Roll 57"]

About 1986, I donated money to the Statute of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation to cause Hugh's name in full to appear on the"American Immigrant Wall of Honors" at Ellis Island, New York. His name appears on Panel Number 307. While he immigrated in 1845, prior to Elis Island being used as an immigration facility, his name now appears there on the wall. Before the Castle Garden center (predecessor to Ellis Island) opened in 1855 the passengers simply got off the ship onto whatever wharf they had landed upon in Manhattan. There was no central processing center. They were recorded on passenger arrival lists beginning in 1820.

[NOTE-The 1900 Ohio Census for Erie County, shows Hugh W. Murray living with his daughter Martha "Mattie" Murray Bookmyer and her husband Thomas & Family in Portland Twp.,Sandusky,(Ward 3) Erie County Ohio.]
In an article in the Sandusky (Ohio) Star Journal., dated Sept 25, 1907, about the recent death of "William Murray", father of Mrs. T. W. Bookmyer (his daughter, Martha "Mattie"), It stated that he died in Fayetteville, Brown County, Ohio. The Bookmyer family had moved on to Cincinnati. 
"Former Resident Dead - Word has been received here of the death in Fayetteville, Brown County, O, of William Murray, a former Sandusky resident. Mr. Murray was the father of Mrs. T. W. Bookmyer and made his home with the Bookmyer family until their recent removal to Cincinnati. Mr. Murray was about 84 years of age." (Source-Sandusky (Ohio) Star Journal., dated Sept 25, 1907)

Hugh and his wife are buried in "New" St. Patrick's Cemetery on Anderson Road in Fayetteville, Brown County, Ohio.His tombstone carries his date of death as "September 21, 1907."

NOTE that several of his children and relatives of his wife are buried down the road at Saint Angela Merici, Roman Catholic Parish Cemetery- also known as: Saint Patricks Cemetery (Saint Angela Merici)
on St. Route, US 50 (Behind St. Patrick's Church)
Fayetteville
Brown County
Ohio USA
(Bio © Mike Murray)