MacNaught History Centre

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Murray Family - MHCA0011

Title
Murray Family fonds

Dates
[Between 1716-1723], 1887-1910, 1955

Physical desc.
.75 m of textual records. - 193 postcards. - 1 photograph

Bio/Admin History
John Alexander Murray (1852-1934) was a blacksmith who had a forge in St. Eleanors, Prince Edward Island, for many years. His parents Richard Murray (1819–1898) and Elizabeth A. Jeffery (1824–1908) had a farm near Linkletter Road and were founding members in 1858 of the Summerside Church of Christ. In 1877 John married Amelia F. Ling (1852–1934) of New Glasgow, PEI, and they had eight children. Two sons moved to the United States, William as an accountant and Verner as a minister in the Church of Christ. The third son John Melvin Murray (1882-1965) went into business with his father in approximately 1907 and around 1914 married Belle Elizabeth Mellish (1883-1981) of Montague. One of Melvin’s five sisters was Margaret Ling Murray (1886-1972) who married Frank Austin Linkletter (1883–1979).

Custodial History
The material was in the possession of Olive Mellish, daughter of Melvin Murray. The postcard collection belonged to her father’s sister Margaret who had no children. The bible bequeathed to Verner Murray was left behind when he moved to the U.S.

Scope/Content
The fonds consists of four items. Ledger "C" has records of customer accounts of blacksmith John A. from 1887-1910. There is a reference on p.608 to ledger "D". Place names include St. Eleanors, Linkletter, Miscouche, Muddy Creek, Port Hill, Belmont, and Tyne Valley. A sampling of customers would be R.T. Holman, Brace McKay & Co., Benjamin Tanton, Thomas Compton, Edgar Craswell, Charles Green, Henry Scales, and Fulton Ramsay. Loose papers from the ledger include statements prepared for some customers. The second item is a bible given to Verner in 1914 by Jane Turpel (1853–1931), his mother’s sister who lived in Halifax. Two inscriptions show unknown connections to Richard and Marie Jackson 1716 and Andrew and Rebecca Montgomery 1723. The third item is a large album of 193 postcards collected by Margaret between 1906–1910, some of them depicting P.E.I. buildings and scenery. A small snapshot shows Margaret and Frank Linkletter in 1955 with neighbours.

Title source
Title based on provenance of fonds

Physical cond.
The bible is in poor condition

Acq. source
Donated by Olive Mellish in February 2001

Language
The material is in English

Restrictions
No restrictions on access

Restrictions
No restrictions on use or reproduction

Finding aids
A listing of P.E.I. scenic postcards is available.