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Calling all Murrays!

I am Alexandrina Murray- Volunteer Administrator for the Murray Clan DNA Research Project at Family Tree DNA-  Did you know that MURRAy is the Number 1. Surname in Glasgow today?

Our Murray DNA Research Project is seeking Scottish participants particularly from Glasgow & surrounds, with a Scottish or Irish background who are interested in the use of DNA contributions for genealogical purposes.  At present there is an excellent special on DNA Kits (for 48 hours only though)

Currently our project has many Glaswegian Murrays and  approx 201 participants- 186 active representing thousands of Murray families over time. Combined with the Morrow project we have over 320 unique Murray/ Morrow lineages. The majority of these have found yDNA (male line) and also mTDNA (maternal line) matches within the surname project.

This is very exciting for those families concerned whereby they have finally found solid leads after years or even decades of frustrating brick walls.

The majority of our Murrays are of Scottish lineage with some emanating from Ulster & also Eire (Republic of Ireland).

Our participants reside in the British Isles, Canada, Europe, USA, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa & elsewhere and represent thousands of families of Murrays, McMurrays, Murrows, Morrows and other surname variations.

It has been a very interesting discovery to have found participants matching within Murray-McMurray & Morrow-Murrah-Murrow lines which has determined that each of these families were at one time descended from the same common ancestor. The participants have discovered their common ancestors back in Scotland-Ulster-Ireland & England much to their surprise.

Also, other particpants have matched 67/67 exact match: a Murray male age 94 born in Glasgow Scotland & a Morrow male  born USA-age 45 whose common ancestor was back to 1770 circa- yet the DNA result was identical, even after the intervening 240 years!

It is an extremely easy process to have the DNA Kit delivered, with enclosed invoice so that you can pay by the most convenient method once the Kit is returned to the Lab. The test itself is merely a little toothbrush type instrument rubbed inside the cheek; there is a spare in case you drop it on the carpet etc.

Merely return that to the Lab, and you are set! Join the Murray clan project first, and you will even receive a discount, plus I will research your family tree as well in order to discover any pertinent information regarding your branch of the gigantic Murray Family Tree.

You will receive your own personal web-pages at Family Tree DNA ( The largest data-base in the world for our research purposes) plus you will be personally notified every time there is a match to you within the data base.

The most practical test is the y37 test for males; or the y67 if you can afford it as this test indicates closeness of the relationship to any matches, much more precisely.

Many members share the cost of the Kit among their relatives, and then share with them the results as all males in the one family will share almost an identical profile going back in time. Grandfathers, cousins; great uncles etc etc.

If you might be interested in joining our project please visit the following website and click on the links on the top of the page to see the results to date.

RESULTS ARE HERE:
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/murray/default.aspx?section=yresults


http://www.familytreedna.com/public/murray/

Please email me if you have any queries at all regarding testing. (*)

JOIN HERE: http://www.familytreedna.com/project-join-request.aspx?group=Murray

ORDER DNA KIT HERE:
http://www.familytreedna.com/order-now.aspx?Group=Murray

RESULTS ARE HERE:
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/murray/default.aspx?section=yresults

Alexandrina Murray
Administrator- Volunteer
Murray Clan DNA Research Project
(*)


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to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.

Update,

Found John Murray & Helen Moffat in the 1851 Census quite some time ago, so am updating that info here in case anyone else is researching this family.

At Thorneylee (a Farm by Innerleithen on the road to Melrose & Gala) was:

William Moffat - Widower age 72 Shepherd (Lab) born Cavers Rox -Father William
Isabella Moffat   Unm             34 Daughter                   Selkirk Yarrow
Helen Moffat (Mrs Murray) age 32 Daughter                 Melrose -Williamlees- Williamlaw Farm Buckholm
Helen Rathie                            7   Helen's daughter ist marriage..born Innerleithen
James Murray                           2 months  Helen's son to husband John Murray. born Selkirk

Baby James was cited on the census as Infant Rathie......which is entirely incorrect.
James Murray above born 1851 married Christian Stewart in Selkirk , they had many children there.

One of their children-  married Helen Edwards in Selkirk. Helen was the daughter of a famous photographer in Selkirkshire.

Helen Moffat was stopping with her father William Moffat and sister Isabella after the birth of baby James Murray.

John Murray, Helen's husband was in Selkirk lodging and working there at the time the census was taken.

Helen Moffat's mother was Helen Rintoul ( Helen Rentoul ? ) who was deceased by 1841.
William Moffat and Helen Rentoul had many children ...some baptised at Traquair...some in Yarrow Selkirkhire... others @ Innerleithen and more at Melrose.

William Moffat married Helen Rentoul at Innerleithen in October 1799  also banns Temple Midlothian and also banns @ Lasswade. As he was a Shepherd he was in various areas during those periods.

Also seemingly related and living with the Moffat family at Thorneylees in 1841 and 1851 is William Murray born same era as William Moffat, also a Shepherd with him. William Murray was born in Channelkirk in 1776. He married Elizabeth Mitchell and also had many children in Peebles SHire Stow and Selkirk. Some were stone wall dykers.

None are listed in the IGI as they were dissenters from the Lawson Associate Kirk however I have traced many of them if anyone is interested.

We are trying to find out if there is a relationship between both of these Murray families.

John Murray who married Helen Moffat ,was born 1822/3 to James Murray Inkleweaver and Elizabeth Hall both of Selkirk.

If anyone is researching this family, please contact me.

Alexandrina Murray (Sydney Australia)

Hello Peeblespeople,

I see that there are not many Peeblesfolk on this site as yet, however if anyone knows anything about the following family could you please let me know.

JOHN or JOHEN MURRAY married  HELEN MOFFAT  1851 at
INNERLEITHEN

WILLIAM MOFFAT married HELEN RINTOUL also known as HELEN RENTOUL at INNERLEITHEN  in 1799

also Lasswade in Midlothian. Related to Falconer & Baird .

I cannot find John & Helen in the 1851 Census, they may have been in Innerleithen at that time. If anyone has a copy of the census, or burial records I would love to hear from you.

Cheers from Sydney Australia
Sandie

Hi Kate,

If you have the 1851 census for Selkirk, could you please lookup a family by the name of MURRAY?

John MURRAY age about 30; born 1821-1823 in Selkirk.
married Helen MOFFAT in Selkirk -Banns Innerleithen in 1851

Helen's daughter Helen should be about 6-7 years old (from previous marriage.) Helen MOFFAT was aged about 35  in 1851.

I am trying to locate their address and also John's father James MURRAY.  John's mother Elizabeth HALL died in 1821-23 circa so James Murray probably married again.

If John & Helen are not in the 1851 census then the marriage (also 1851) probably took place later in the year, so I am wondering who John was living with prior to his marriage to Helen Moffat, and also if there were any brothers & sisters.

A son of the above couple named William Murray born 1855 in Selkirk married Elizabeth Lees born 1859. They were my GG Grandparents.

Thank you

Sandie