Isabella Murray
Born: 11/8/1801
Died: 19/10/1866
Married John Murray 1823 in Scotland.
Isabella is buried at Killawarra.
The History of the Australian Murrays from Roxburghshire by Joan Murray 1981:
Known as “Isabella Scott of Wells” . Wells is a village very close to Jedburgh and only a few miles from Spittal-On-Rule.
John was a farmer of Denholm Townfoot but in 1829 he transferred to Camptown.
The name of Camptown is of significance to the Australian Murrays in that an early Murray homestead on the Manning was called and is still called “Camp House”. It is uncertain if “Camp House” is derived from the name Camptown.
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The History of the Australian Murrays from Roxburghshire by Joan Murray 1981:
Isabella came to Australia in 1851, 3 years [and 1 week] after her son Hugh, his wife Margaret and 4 of Isabella’s other children[Agnes, James, William and Thomas] and Isabella’s grandson, John, who was born en route to Australia.
The Emigrant List describing Isabella’s arrival shows:
Widows on Embarkation:
“Murray: Isabella – Age 49. Farm Servant N/P – Bowden, Roxburghshire. Parents – Hugh Scott and Agnes Veitch, both dead. Church of Scotland. Reads and writes. Relations in Colony: 4 sons and 1 daughter, Hugh, James, Agnes, William and Thomas Murray living at Stroud, in service of Australian Agricultural Co. Good Health. No Complaints. Paid 20 pounds for self and family.
Murray: John – Age 27. Farm Labourer (her son) N/P Denholm, Roxburghshire. Parents: John and Isabella. Father dead. Mother on board. Church of Scotland. Reads and Writes. Good Health. Relations [as above]. No Complaints.
Murray: Robert – Age 15. Farm labourer N/P Jedburgh, Roxburghshire, Scotland. Parents – . Church of Scotland. Reads and writes. Good health.
Murray: George – Age 12. No trade. N/P Jedburgh (ditto for above). Church of Scotland. Reads and writes. Good Health.
Murray: Veitch – Age 10. No trade. N/P Jedburgh(ditto for above). Church of Scotland. Reads and writes. Good Health.
Murray: Walter – Age 8. No trade N/P Jedburgh. Reads only. Good Health.
Finally, the Murray’s purchased a little homestead at Mondrook and all the Murrays settled on the land. Two of the brothers, Hugh and John, developed business tendencies as well. Hugh a store on his property at Kimbricki and John ran a hotel in Tinonee before moving to Sydney.
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The History of the Australian Murrays from Roxburghshire by Joan Murray 1981:
Isabella was “a woman of great force of character full of gentle Christian piety, deeply beloved by the family and the children of the second generation and held in esteem by all who knew her. She died full of years and honour, after seeing all her children settled in life and starting out on the unmarked road in the new country, which eventually led them all, after surmounting the difficulties and hardships associated with pioneers, to that degree of prosperity that their days were ended in material comfort and independence.” [attributed to “One of the Clan” (Hugh James Murray) for the Champion, Saturday June 8th 1918 on the occasion of a visit from Mr and Mrs Veitch Murray of Queensland].
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The Manning River Times reported her death in the following way:
“Death of Mrs Isabella Murray. She expired at her son’s home, Kimbriki, on Friday, 19th October 1866 surrounded by her whole family. During the course of a long and eminently useful life, both in Scotland and New South Wales, she occupied herself in scattering blessings around her, on all who came within the sphere of her influence; offering the pious affection of a wife and Mother to the members of her own family, and the blessed consolation of religion to all. More than 150 horsemen accompanied her remains to their last resting place, where the Rev Allan McIntyre officiated.”
