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Richard Murphy and Keziah Terry of Halifax and Pittsylvania Co., VA and Surry Co., NC and Lincoln and Adair Co., KY |
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martygrant.com: Home > Genealogy > Murphy > Richard Murphy
The author (Marty Grant) is a 5th Great Grandson of Richard Murphy and Keziah Terry. Richard Murphy was born ca 1730. That date is a very rough guess, he could be younger than that. His birth place is unknown, though he was likely born somewhere in Virginia. His parents are unknown, but researchers generally believe that he is a brother to Rev. Joseph Murphy and William Murphy who lived near him in Virginia and Surry Co., NC. I've seen no definitive proof that the three men are brothers, but it seems very likely they are closely related. Richard Murphy married the widow Keziah Terry Scott sometime between 20 May 1762 and 16 Aug 1764 in Halifax Co., VA. Keziah Terry was born ca 1730 (rough guess), probably in Caroline Co., VA. Her parents are Benjamin Terry and Elizabeth Dickerson. Keziah Terry was first married to James Scott who died ca 1757 (perhaps due to the French and Indian War, as is sometimes claimed, but not proven). On 20 May 1762 William Byrd of Charles City Co., VA deeded 90 acres to Keziah Scott of Halifax Co., VA for £3. The land was on the south side of the Dan River. (Halifax Co., VA Deed Book 3, page 345). On 16 Aug 1764 Richard Murphey and wife Kezia of Halifax Co., VA sold the above 90 acres to Thomas Robertson for £30. They both signed the deed. There were no witnesses. (Halifax Co., VA Deed Book 4, page 176). * Note: there are many other records in Halifax Co., VA that might be of interest. I do not have them ready to include here, but perhaps someday I will add them. In 1767 Pittsylvania County was formed from the section of Halifax where the family lived. Richard Murphy and Bob Scott were listed together on the 1767 tax list in Pittsylvania in Theophilus Lacy's district. I don't know who Bob Scott was, though I'd bet the original record reads "Ben" Scott instead. That is the name of Keziah's oldest son. He would have been of taxable age by 1767, but probably still at home. Keziah's father Benjamin Terry made his Will in Pittsylvania Co., VA on 27 Sep 1770 naming his heirs. He left slaves to his daughter Keziah Murphy. This will come up again many years later. * Note: there are many other records in Pittsylvania Co., VA that might be of interest. I do not have them ready to include here, but perhaps someday I will add them. By 1771 the family had moved to nearby Surry Co., NC. Richard Murphey is listed there on the tax list that year with 4 polls (that means 4 taxable males, they would be himself, and his stepsons Benjamin Scott and John Scott. I don't know who the fourth one would be, for his own sons weren't of age. The extra person was probably a slave. Richard Murfee was listed on the 1772 tax list in Surry Co., NC. This time he had 5 polls. A list dated 28 Jun 1774 showed that Richard Murphy was a Captain in the Militia in Surry Co., NC. According to other researchers and various records, Capt. Richard Murphy was a loyalist during the Revolutionary War. His loyalty remained with Great Britain. Most men in his position were hanged by the victorious "rebels" but he survived the war and the noose that so many other loyalists had to face. It is said that this is because his wife Keziah was very helpful to the Patriot cause and her actions added the rebels, and it was for her sake that her husband was spared. I don't know if that story can be verified, but it has been passed down. Keziah Murphy was listed on the 1782 tax list in Surry Co., NC. Note that the taxes were in her name, not her husbands. The property of many loyalists was confiscated after the war, but apparently not in their case. On 11 Dec 1785 Richard Murphey (and Obediah Winfrey and Henry Southard) witnessed a deed from James Fielder and wife Sarah to Peter Murphey for 200 acres on the South Fork of Mitchell's River. Peter was Richard's son. (Surry Co., NC Deed Book D, page 423). Richard Murphy was listed on the 1786 North Carolina State Census in Surry County. He had 1 male over 21 (born before 1765), one male under 21 (born between 1765 and 1786) and 2 females. He also had 2 slaves. On 15 May 1789 Peter Murphey sold 125 acres on South Fork of Mitchell's River to John Franklin. Richard Murphey, Daniel Wolf and Mary Wolf were witnesses. (Surry Co., NC Deed Book D, page 429). Richard Murphy is listed on the 1790 census in Surry Co., NC. He is listed with one male over 16 (born before 1774), two females and 4 slaves. Richard Murphey is mentioned in a deed dated 4 Jan 1796 as an adjoining landowner. The deed was a State Land Grant to Peter Terry for 30,000 acres on Mitchell's River and Fisher's River. Peter is Keziah's brother. The land was described as adjoining Braham, Fishers Peak in the Virginia line, Mountains in the Wilkes County line, John Williams line, Marshall's Nob and Richard Murphey. (Surry Co., NC Deed Book F, page 109). * Note: there are many other records in Surry Co., NC that might be of interest. I do not have them ready to include here, but perhaps someday I will add them. Most of the Murphys and Scotts and some of their in-laws moved from Surry County, North Carolina to Lincoln County, Kentucky in the late 1790's. The 1800 census is lost for Kentucky, but an 1800 tax lists for Lincoln County shows entries for Catherine Murphey, John Murphey, Joseph Murphey, Peter Murphey, Richard Murphey, Stephen Murphey, Thomas Murphey, Zadock Riggs, Aaron Rite, Benjamin Scott, James Scott, Jesse Scott, John Scott, Thomas Scott, and William Scott. Not all of those are identified, but Benjamin and John Scott are Keziah's sons. Joseph and Peter Murphy are her sons. Zadock Riggs and Aaron Rite (Wright) are her sons-in-laws. Keziah Terry Scott Murphy died in 1809 in Lincoln Co., KY. A court suit was filed almost immediately over the slaves she had inherited from her father Benjamin Terry. Richard Murphy had them and didn't want to give them up. He had sold some of them to John Scott already, but the other heirs were entitled as well, or at least they thought so. This case is extensive, dragging on for 10 years. The heirs are named repeatedly throughout, so that is a good thing to come of it. The court case clearly shows who all of Keziah's children were, and many of her grandchildren. (Equity Case File accession # A1998-135 Case 725 Date 1814 Plaintiff Riggs & Others Defendent Murphy & Others). I do not have copies of the case. Cousin Joy Benemann kindly shared some data from the case with me. The case (191 pages) can be ordered from the Kentucky Archives. Richard Murphy was not listed on the 1810 census, though he was still alive at that point. There is a Richard Murphy in Lincoln in 1810, but it a younger man, his nephew. He is probably the "extra" male in the household of his son Peter Murphy in neighboring Adair Co., KY that year. Peter's house contained one male age 26-44 (born ca 1765/84) which is Peter himself, and a male over 45 (born before 1765), which must be Richard. I didn't find Richard on the 1820 census either, though he was still alive as late as 1821 (per the court records). He didn't seem to be with his son Peter at that point. Richard Murphy died sometime after 1821 somewhere in Kentucky. Children of Richard Murphy and Keziah Terry and James Scott. The Court Case mentioned above (1810-1821) names the children of Keziah several times, they are: Benjamin Scott, Sarah Scott who married Zadock Riggs, John Scott, Lucy Scott who married Arthur Crutchfield (or Scritchfield), Elizabeth Scott who married Daniel (or David) Austin; Joseph Murphy, Peter Murphy and Mary Murphy who married Aaron Wright. First Generation 1. Keziah Terry was born about 1728 in Caroline Co, VA. She died in 1809 in Lincoln Co, KY. Keziah married James Scott before 1755 in Caroline Co, VA. James died about 1757 in Halifax Co, VA. They had the following children. 2 M i. Benjamin Scott Ensign was born in 1726/1755 in Caroline Co, VA.
+ 3 F ii. Sarah Scott was born on 24 Aug 1755. She died on 25 Aug 1846. + 4 M iii. John Scott was born in 1750/1754. He died on 23 Jan 1811. 5 F iv. Lucy Scott was born before 1755 in Caroline Co, VA. She died in IL.
6 F v. Elizabeth Scott was born before 1755 in Caroline Co, VA. She died in IL.
Keziah also married Richard Murphy Captain, son of Murphy, in 1762/1764 in Halifax Co, VA. Richard was born about 1730 in VA. He died after 1810 in Adair Co, KY. They had the following children. 7 M vi. Joseph Murphy was born in VA. 8 M vii. Peter Murphy was born in 1766/1784 in VA. + 9 F viii. Mary Murphy was born in 1770/1771. She died after 1850. Second Generation 3. Sarah Scott (Keziah) was born on 24 Aug 1755 in Halifax Co, VA. She died on 25 Aug 1846 in Boone Co, KY.
10 M i. Scott Riggs was born on 26 Mar 1779 in Surry Co, NC. He died on 24 Feb 1872 in Scott Co, IL.
11 F ii. Hannah Riggs was born in Surry Co, NC.
12 F iii. Mary Riggs was born on 20 Nov 1781 in Surry Co, NC. She died on 8 Aug 1871 in Boone Co, MO.
13 M iv. Samuel Riggs was born on 23 Apr 1785 in Surry Co, NC. He died on 17 Apr 1850 in Boone Co, MO.
14 M v. Zadock Riggs was born on 25 Sep 1790 in Surry Co, NC. He died on 23 Jul 1875 in Boone Co, MO.
15 M vi. James Riggs was born on 14 Nov 1793 in Surry Co, NC. He died on 18 Feb 1876 in Boone Co, MO.
16 M vii. Silas Riggs was born on 6 Jul 1797 in Surry Co, NC. He died on 8 Oct 1844 in Boone Co, MO.
4. John Scott (Keziah) was born in 1750/1754 in Halifax Co, VA. He died on 23 Jan 1811 in Washington Co, KY.
They had the following children. 17 M i. James Scott was born on 9 Nov 1779 in Surry Co, NC. He died on 18 Jul 1860 in Woodford Co, IL.
18 F ii. Mourning Scott was born on 18 Sep 1783 in Surry Co, NC. She died in 1837 in Marion Co, KY.
19 F iii. Sarah Scott was born on 8 Oct 1786 in Surry Co, NC. She died before 1850 in Marion Co, KY.
20 F iv. Elizabeth Scott was born on 15 Apr 1789 in Surry Co, NC.
21 F v. Keziah Scott was born on 15 Apr 1789 in Surry Co, NC. She died on 17 Jul 1861 in Marion Co, KY.
22 M vi. Benjamin Scott was born on 3 May 1792 in Surry Co, NC. He died in Casey Co, KY.
23 M vii. Peter Scott was born on 16 Jan 1795 in Surry Co, NC. He died in 1849 in Yamhill Co, OR. 24 F viii. Mary Scott was born on 30 Aug 1797 in Surry Co, NC. She died on 10 Nov 1850 in Shullsburg, WI.
9. Mary Murphy (Keziah) was born in 1770/1771 in Surry Co, NC. She died after 1850 in Union Co, GA.
They had the following children. 25 M i. Daniel S Wright was born in 1793/1794 in Surry Co, NC. He died in 1880/1886 in Wilkes Co, NC.
26 F ii. Sarah Wright was born in 1795/1796 in Surry Co, NC. She died in 1870 in Surry Co, NC.
27 F iii. Nancy Wright was born in 1797/1798 in Surry Co, NC. She died about 1866 in Surry Co, NC.
28 M iv. Richard Wright was born in 1800/1801 in Lincoln Co, KY. He died after 1850 in Union Co, GA.
29 F v. Minnie Wright was born in 1801/1802 in Lincoln Co, KY. She died after 1850 in Union Co, GA. 30 M vi. Zadock R Wright was born in 1804/1805 in Surry Co, NC. He died after 1880 in Hall Co, GA.
31 F vii. Rebecca Wright was born in 1804/1810 in Surry Co, NC. She died in 1842/1850 in Surry Co, NC.
32 M viii. Aaron Burr Wright was born in 1810/1811 in Surry Co, NC. He died on 29 Apr 1862 in Civil War. 33 M ix. James S Wright was born on 23 Nov 1813 in Surry Co, NC. He died on 9 May 1902 in Rhodo, Cherokee Co, NC. He was buried in Red Marble Cem, Cherokee Co, NC.
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