John Murray

Born: 15 July 1779 — Castleton, Roxburghshire, Scotland
Baptised: 27 July 1779 — Castleton, Roxburghshire
Died: 1 April 1849 — Langshawburn, Eskdalemuir, Dumfriesshire, Scotland (aged 69)
Buried: Eskdalemuir Churchyard, Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Occupation: Shepherd and Agricultural Labourer

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Family

Relation	Name
Father	Adam Murray (1728–1816)

Mother | Elizabeth Beattie (1741–1819) |
Spouse (1st) | Janet Little (1775–1806, m. ~1804) |
Spouse (2nd) | Esther Cowan (1783–1856) (m. 21 May 1806, Ewes, Dumfriesshire) |
Daughter | Jean Murray (1810–1839) — m. Francis Telfer, emigrated SA 1838 |

Life Summary

John Murray was born on 15 July 1779 in Castleton, Roxburghshire, Scotland, the son of Adam Murray and Elizabeth Beattie. He worked as a shepherd and agricultural labourer, living at Langshawburn in Eskdalemuir parish — the same area his father had farmed at Castleton.

He was married twice. His first wife, Janet Little, died at Sorby (Castleton) on 23 February 1806 at age 31. They had at least two children — Adam and Michael — who both died young. Later in 1806, John married Esther Cowan at Ewes, Dumfriesshire. Together they had a large family of at least ten children.

The 1841 census records John Murray (age 61) as an agricultural labourer living at Langshawburn, Eskdalemuir, with his wife Esther and several children still at home.

John died at Langshawburn on 1 April 1849 at age 69. He was buried at Eskdalemuir Churchyard, where the family headstone also commemorates his wife, several children who predeceased him, and his mother Elizabeth Beattie.

His daughter Jean married Francis Telfer (1809–1895) in Scotland and emigrated to South Australia in 1838 aboard the Prince George. She died just 27 days after arrival, but through her the Murray line connects to the Australian Telfer family.

Several of John and Esther's other children also emigrated to Australia, including Pultney Malcolm Murray (1819–1879) who became a prominent early colonist in South Australia.

Timeline

Date	Event
15 Jul 1779	Born — Castleton, Roxburghshire, Scotland

27 Jul 1779 | Baptised — Castleton, Roxburghshire |
~1804 | Married (1st) Janet Little |
23 Feb 1806 | First wife Janet Little died aged 31, Sorby, Castleton |
21 May 1806 | Married (2nd) Esther Cowan — Ewes, Dumfriesshire |
1810 | Daughter Jean born — Eskdalemuir, Dumfriesshire |
1841 | Recorded in census as Shepherd/Ag Lab at Langshawburn, Eskdalemuir |
1 Apr 1849 | Died — Langshawburn, Eskdalemuir, Dumfriesshire (aged 69) |
1849 | Buried — Eskdalemuir Churchyard, Dumfries and Galloway |

Sources

• Source: WikiTree profile Murray-30104 — John Murray (1779–1849). Accessed 26 July 2026.
• Source: FindAGrave memorial 31324826 — John Murray (1779–1849), citing Eskdalemuir Churchyard. Accessed 26 July 2026.
• Source: WikiTree profile Cowan-7830 — Esther Cowan (1783–1858), confirms marriage and children. Accessed 26 July 2026.
• Source: Scotland's People (OPR 784/1, Page 59) — John Murray baptism 27 Jul 1779, via FindMyPast transcription cited on WikiTree. Accessed via secondary source.