Scots at Oyster River

James Murray (d. 1659)

James Murray was accidentally killed when a large tree limb fell on his head, just a year after his indenture ended. The jury of inquest seems to have examined the head wound of the deceased Murray in making their ruling, which was apparently how such inquests were conducted at the time. This jury included fellow Scots William Gowen (here listed as William Smith) and Niven Agnew, as well as our (English) John Hill of Dover.

James Murray, aka James Morrey, James Morray

#51 on “The Dunbar Prisoners” list as “James Murray”

10 Feb 1658-9 - admitted as an inhabitant of Dover [GDMNH 502]

11 Nov 1659 - “Acedently killd By falling of A tree”

Sources:

GDMNH Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire, Noyes, Libby, and Davis, Portland, Maine: The Southworth-Anthoensen Press, 1928-1939, p. 502.

HTDNH History of the Town of Durham, New Hampshire, vol. 1, Everett S. Stackpole and Lucien Thompson, 1913, p. 83.

New Hampshire Court Records 1640-1692, ed. Otis G. Hammond, The State of New Hampshire, 1943, p. 465 [Court Papers, vol. I, p. 41]

B. Craig Stinson

August 7, 2016