McMurchy/MacMurchy/McMurachy/McMurchie/McMurroshy
My 5x Grandfather Archibald McMurchie (1715-1771) was likely born in Rhunahaorine, after which his father moved to the farm in Brantian as a tenant. Archibald was a tacksman overseeing 3,400 acres of land, which was sublet to other tenants. Two sons where born, Archibald and Iver. Iver married into the Gilchrist family. Archibald McMurchy was my 4x Grandfather. Archibald McMurchy (1738-1822) was likely born on the farm in Brantian, where he lived with his father. Here he met and married Annabella Hamiltoun (Hamilton) about 1757. A few years after his son Thomas was born, he moved the family to Lergnahousan in Kilcamonell Parish, which is on the flat lands near the sea, west of Brantian, where he became a tenant. Here, his second son, John, was born. Around 1790, Archibald moved his family to Lenagboyach as a tenant, where the family resided for a lengthy time. In addition to farming Lenagboyach, where he later became a tacksman, Archibald also was tenant on the farm at Lagloskin, farther south, where along with one Archibald MacEachran, they raised sheep. This Lagloskin tenancy was continued by both Archibalds' sons.In 1820, a sheep-stealing episode occured as related in Angus Martin's McIntyre Country Life, whereby Archibald and his sons are mentioned in the incident. Thomas McMurchy (1758-1849) my 3x Grandfather was born in the parish of Kilcalmonell. A few years later in 1773 Mary Blue (3x Grandmother) was born in Campbeltown. Their paths would one day cross and in 1792 the two where married. Mary Blue was the daughter of my other 4x Great Grandparents James Blue and Mary McSheenan living in Campbeltown, located on the Kintyre peninsula. Kintyre is part of the Scottish County of Argyll and is a long peninsula of land, 40 miles in length by 8 miles in width, reaching South Westerly from mainland Scotland towards Ireland. The nearest large city is Glasgow some 130 miles distance. The Royal Burgh of Campbeltown is the only large town in Kintyre and is situated towards the Southerly tip of the peninsula. Kilcalmonell is located about 20 miles to the north and since there was only one land way out to the world from Campbeltown, I expect the Campbeltown and Kilcalmonell people mixed frequently. There are a number of villages on the peninsula the largest of which is Carradale situated on the East coast 16 miles from Campbeltown. The main industries are farming, fishing and forestry, however around Campbeltown textile manufacture, whisky distilling, and cheese making businesses. Due to the influence of the gulf stream the weather pattern in Kintyre is characterized by mild but wet winters and relatively dry summers with temperatures of around 20 degrees C. Life in Scotland during the late 1700's was not easy for the common family. On 16 April 1746 Prince Charles Edward Stewart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) suffered their first and final defeat at the hands of the troops of the Duke of Cumberland on the disastrous fields of Culloden Moor. More than soldiers were lost, an entire race and culture were about to be "improved" for sheep and money. This was the start of the Scottish "Highland Clearances". Most Scottish families, such as Thomas McMurchy and his wife Mary Blue, were Tacksman. Simply put, they held "tacks", or leases, granted to them by the clan chief on his land. During the Highland clearances, the land owners wanted the Tacksman off their land so it could be used for grazing or sold for a profit. The land owners didn't much care what the Tacksman did or where they were suppose to go. Many stories are told of families being burnt out of their homes. After Thomas's father's death in 1822, Thomas took over the tenancy in Lenagboyach, as well as the one in Lagloskin which was used for sheep raising. Here in Lenagboyach, Thomas lived with his brother, and this is where they both raised their families. Sometime shortly after 1822, Thomas moved his family to the farm at Stewartfield in Kilcalmonell Parish. This may have occurred due to pressures from the authorities for Thomas's part in an illicit whisky still operation in the burn lying just north of the Lenagboyach farm. (note: due to the poor conditions and financial hardships during this period, many Scots brewed their own whiskey which was sailed to Ireland) Thomas was recorded as the ruling elder in the Clachan Church in Kilcalmonell Parish, Kintyre in 1825. In 1839, Thomas and family were evicted form Stewartfield "1839 No. 9, Duncan McIntyre, Stewartfield v. Thos. MacMurchy in Lenagboyach and now or lately in Stewartfield and John MacMurchy tenant in Lenag. Removal". Word was passed throughout the region of the fortunes to be made in Canada. The decision was made and in 1840 Thomas MacMurchy and his family and a group of seventy people, left their native Scotland. Norman, one of the twin sons, remained behind with his uncle and aunt, John MacMurchy and Grace Blue, the latter being a sister of Mary Blue. The boarded the British Barque "Tay" in Greenock and after 50 days at sea, arrived August 18 1840 at the Port of New York.
Once in the the bustling city of New York, plans where made to travel to Toronto, their destination being some 800 miles of dirt roads from the landing point. The trip before them was one of great endurance. Ox carts were one mode of transportation and possibly a great part of the trip was made on foot. After weeks of hardship the family arrived in the unbroken forest of Vaughan and King Townships (Near present day Toronto) where they hewed homes out of logs and settled to the hardy life, which needs, must go with pioneering. As the sons of this family grew to manhood they acquired homes of their own and with the years scattered to many parts of the province. The fact that MacMurchy's have been good citizens is shown in the active part many of them have taken in the municipal life of their respective localities. In King Township members of the family have given some fifty years to municipal life. Mr. Alexander MacMurchy was reeve of his township for seventeen years and Warden of York County. His son, Mr. Norman MacMurchy, was in public life for eight years, he too occupying the reeve's chair and Mr. Thomas MacMurchy, at whose home the gathering was held, is now serving his third term as reeve, this following several years in other positions on the township council. The Late Mr. Thomas MacMurchy held positions of importance in Collingwood Township for several years. During the Fenian raids of 1866, members of the family rallied to the support of the cause. In 1914-1918 Dr. A. MacMurchy and his son of North Bay played their part in the defense of the British Empire. Marjorie C. (Carmichael) Hall (My Grand Father's sister) and Miss Bessie MacMurchy took their part as well and gave their services to their country. During world war II, Bruce Fraser MacMurchy after being in the Canadian army for one year, became a pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force at St. Hubert, Quebec. In the church life the family has played its part. Rev. John MacMurchy was one of the brothers who came to this country in 1840. Many men of the family have served as elders and in other offices in their respective churches. The women too have given their share and Miss Bessie MacMurchy of Toronto has for many years been most prominent in the work of the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Society. Still another, Miss Bessy MacMurchy of Collingwood, served as a missionary nurse at Jobat in Central India. Today the MacMurchy/McMurchy family has spread throughout North America.
Researching the history of the MacMurchy family has been one of my most enjoyable ventures. The following stories have been gather from many sources. I first starting learning our family heritage from my grandfather John Carmichael, son of Grace McMurchy and my father John J. Carmichael. Needless to say, both men spoke highly of the MacMurchy family and the intergerity which they stood for. My grandfather often recalled his memories with his grandfather Angus McMurchy and his grandmother Elizabeth. My father remembered the kindness of his grandmother Grace McMurchy. As a young boy, my father often spent each summer in Hillsburgh and recalled many enjoyable stories with his grandparents. When I was a young boy, my father took me a couple times to Hillsburgh and visited some of his cousins. I would enjoy seeing the houses that family members had lived in and the stories that would accompany them. We always visited the Huxley Cemetery and I do recall stopping by to see the MacMurchy homestead. My fascination had only started!
While in Scotland John and his lovely wife Lily met with the leading Kintyre historian Ian MacDonald and spent time researching the MacMurchy family. They visited Thomas McMurchy and Mary Blue's farm house in Stewartfield where Thomas and family lived prior to the emigration in 1840, the family farm lands, ruins of the farm house Brantian where Thomas's grandfather Archibald (1715-1771) lived, and the parish church, Clachan where Thomas was an Elder in 1825. John has shared his findings and reams of information with us. His kindness and generousity is unmatched. All of the MacMurchy family should take note of John's contribution. It will be our pleasure in the next few months to update our MacMurchy featured page with photo's, stories and documentation provided by John. Again, we can't thank-you enough John.
Both Sandra and her husband Andy are historians researching the MacMurchy family. They are very knowledgeable on the Canadian aspects of the family and have traveled to Clachan Scotland where they met with Ian MacDonald and viewed the family farm lands. A wealth of information has been added to our knowledge of the MacMurchy family in the form of old documentation which includes: the 1807 birth record of Betty McPhail and birth records of some of the children of Angus McMurchy and Elizabeth MacPhail. Photo of Lady Marjory (MacMurchy) Willison, and another photo Bessie MacMurchy. Also photos at Stewartfield "the hill of disdain". Again, the MacMurchy family should take note of Andy and Sandra's kindness and willingness to share with all of us. We all owe them a big thanks! Many others have also assisted in the creation of this site. Some in the form of stories and others in moral support. We would like to thank Ken Dworschak (Fellow Erin researcher), Tommy Wilkinson (Grandson of Margaret Gorden MacMurchy), Harold A. Ralston (his family also came over on the Tay), Dan Steeves (All around nice guy), Raymond James MacMurchy (Mary's nephew), Carol MacMurchy and Marlene MacMurchy. If you visit our site and find it enjoyable or useful, please take a moment to sign the guestbook or email us with your comments.
This site is only in it infancy. As more family members become aware of the site and get "connected", more stories will appear. A few upcoming additions will include a detailed MacMurchy database. Currently our main database contains all known MacMurchy family members. Another interesting fact is that the former president of the United States, Ronald Reagan is a descendant of the Blue family from the Campbeltown / Kilcalmonell area. While researching our MacMurchy family we met up with another MacMurchy family from Campbeltown. Sharon Agabra is heading up the effort to research this other MacMurchy family. Her MacMurchy's arrived in Philadelphia in 1820 and went to Clermont County in Ohio. We haven't made a connection yet, but this could be our Alexander's uncle.
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Our
story begins during the 1600's with the my 6x Great Grandfather Archibald McMurrichie (abt
1670-aft 1715) who lived on the farm Rhunahaorine, Killean Parish. This was verified by
the 1694 hearth taxes. Over the years various spellings are found on historical
records and headstones throughout the area. 
Special recognition should be given to Mary MacMurchy, who today lives on
and operates the family homestead in Hillsburgh, Ontario Canada. Mary's kindness is an
inspiration to all. With her help and support, we have been able to provide everyone the
rich heritage of the MacMurchy family. Mary supplied numerous accounts of family stories,
pictures and the information needed to produce the family genealogical database. The
MacMurchy's family motto is "God will Provide", Mary has been our angel.
Another special person is Barb Johnston,
descended from Angus and Elizabeth's oldest son, Donald. Barb has supplied us with an
unbelievable amount of information on the MacMurchy family. Her modesty and kindness has
been a refreshing experience. The wealth of information on the MacMurchy Family that will
come to light in the upcoming year can be attributed to Barb. Not only have we
unearthed new stories from the family's beginning in Scotland and the early days in
Ontario, Barb's documentation uncovered new information on my own research of the
Carmichael Family. Not only did the two families shared blood lines in Hillsburg, We find
both families farming in King Township in the 1840's. They where living, working, and
worshiping together twenty years earlier than previously known.
John Crawley, a fellow MacMurchy historian is pictured here in the old
parish church cemetery, Killean Parish, Kintyre Scotland. John is of descendant of the
Collingwood MacMurchy family.
This is a photo of Sandra (Cameron) Monk holding her
grandson, one of the newest additions to the MacMurchy family tree, Sandra is the daughter
of Mureta (MacMurchy) Cameron, grand daughter of Alexander and great grand daughter of
Angus MacMurchy jr.