Discussion Board

MURRAY, JOHN married RACHEL BIXBY, daughter of Benjamin Bixby and Anne Bradstreet of Topsfield, MA and Salem, NH. John and Rachel resided in Hartland, VT in the 1790's where their children: Benjamin B., Eunice, Rachel, Amos, Samuel, and John, Jr. were born.  They moved to Maine and resided in the towns of Fayette, Greene, Leeds, and Turner.  Their son, Benj. Bixby Murray, became a Universalist minister and preached at Norway, Gray, and other southern Maine towns; he also preached at Sandy River (Gloucester, MA) in the early 1830's where his wife, Eliza, died.  His son, Benj. B. Murray, Jr. was a Civil War general; a member of the Maine legislature; a marshall and a lawyer.  Family lore has John Murray serving under General Burgoyne and going AWOL by crossing Lake Champlain during the winter and arriving in Vermont.  The Bixby family history has Rachel marrying Wm. Huse Stevens at Salem, NH prior to her marriage to John Murray.  Any info would be welcome:  Ruth:  thurlow1895@comcast.net.