Notes:

Also lived: lived Bernards Township, Somerset Co., NJ
Also lived 2: 1720, New Jersey, Belvedere 1250 acres
Burial: Old Roxitcus Churchyard, Ralston, Morris Co., NJ (no marker)
Immigrated: Abt. 1720, From Northern Ireland
Occupation: surveyor of Somerset Co. 1764
Will Filed: April 21, 1788, will probated Somerset Co., NJ
Will written: 1785

1778 tax list shows Thomas McMurtry with 84 acres of improved lands valued at $400.00, 8 cattle, 27 hogs, 6 horses, no slaves.

From Somerset County Historical Quarterly Vol V p 280

McMurtry - Thomas McMurtry and wife Mary, with his brothers Robert and Joseph, were Scotch-Irish from North Ireland, who came to America about 1720 and located in Morris Co. Thomas, from whom those of the name in Somerset are believed to descend, had sons James, Thomas and Robert.

Will:

In the name of God, Amen. I, Thomas McMurtrie of the County of Somerset and Twp. of Bernard, being weak in Body but o sound mind and Memory (blessed be God), do this Thirtyeth day of March One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eightyfive make and publish this my Last Will and Testament in the Manner following: (That is to say) Prinicipally and first of all, I resign my soul into the hands of God that gave it; hoping in the Merits, Mediation and Intersession of our Lord and Savior Jeses Christ.

Secondly, it is my Will and I do hereby Order that all my Debts and funeral Charges be first paid and discharged.

I give and Bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary a Maintenance out of my Estate during her Natural Life and all her Clothing and Household furniture is to be at her disposal and my Son Roert is to furnish her with a Horse and Saddle to use at her Request, during her natural life.

Item - I give and Bequeath unto my son Thomas, Seven Shillings and Six Pence
Item - I give and Bequeath unto Zephaniah Martin, Seven Shillings and Six Pence
Item - I give and Bequeath unto the Children of my Eldest Son James McMurtrie Seven Shillings
and six Pence
Item - I give and Bequesth unto my son Robert All my Estate Real and Personal, Excepting that part thereof that is herein before bequeathed.

And I make and Ordain my Beloved Wife Mary Executor and my Friend Samuel McCord Executor of this my last Will and Testament, giving them Full Power and Authority to Act and do as it herein Contained, and disannulling all former Wills by me made, Ratifying, Allowing and Confirming this and no Other to be my last Will and Testament,

Signed, Sealed and Delivered in presence of

James McVicker
Robert Andrew
William McVicker
Thomas' will is located in the New Jersey Archives, Vol. 6, page 262.

Thomas married Mary on Yes, date unknown. Mary died after 1788; was buried in Old Roxitcus Churchyard, Ralston, Morris Co., NJ. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
No Marker

Notes:

The name McMurtrie means "son of a sea navigator" and it is also recorded as meaning "sea warrior". In the original Gaelic, it was spelled MacMuirceartach. The McMurtry's are not a clan but a sept of the clan Stewart of Bute. A sept was a group of people who allied together for political reasons and were allowed to wear the tartan of the clan to which they were attached.
In Scotland about the year 1062 during the reign of Malcolm Ceanmor, surnames were adopted by royal edict. The Historical Research Society of Scotland says that McMurtry was also a variant of MacKirdie. "Mac" means 'son of.' In Scotland, McMurtries are most numerous in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire on the west coast. The Historical Research Society also says that as a surname, McMurtry dates back to the early 16th century; we find Gilbert Mackmurtye as a witness in Edinburgh in 1508 and William M'Mowtrie as a soldier in Edinburgh in 1684.
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