Thurtell and Related Families    

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Notes for James Thurtell (MURRAY)

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The family tree done by Harriet Thurtell about 1900 and the History of
the Thurtell Family done by Susan Persia Thurtell about 1968, both in the
possession of Susan Persia Thurtell Miller, show James Thurtell died
December 1, 1867, at age 77.

Information from Peter Murray shows that James and his wife, Sarah Holt
Thurtell, changed their last name to Murray.

Records obtained from the Mormon Library by Charlotte Mackie show that
the Register of Baptisms for Hopton, Suffolk County, England, show that
James, son of John Thurtell and Ann his wife, late Ann Browne Spinster,
was born November 17, 1790, and was baptised privately on November 28,
1790, and was received into the church on June 10, 1792.

The information received from Peter Murray in 1997 shows that James
Thurtell (Murray) was born November 17, l790 (2nd son of John and Anne
Thurtell of Hobland Hall), was baptised November 28, 1790, at Hopton, was
received into that church June 10, 1792, and died December 1, 1867, aged
77. He changed his name to Murray in 1824 owing to the notoriety
surrounding the trial and execution in that year, for murder, of his
first cousin John Thurtell (son of the mayor of Norwich, Thomas
Thurtell). The reason for the choice of the Murray name is unknown.
Family records do not state where James Thurtell Murray lived, but at
least two of his children were born in London England. Letters now in
possession of Bancroft Library, University of California at Berkeley,
written to his two sons who settled in the U.S.A., show that he and his
wife Sarah long lived at 430 Hackney Street, place not stated but
presumably in London. They also show that by their old age money was
very tight for them as well as for many others in the family, and there
were high hopes for the sons in America to do well. In a letter from
California on September 30, 1843, his son Walter Murray tells him "Take
care to address no more letters under the name of Thurtell."

James Thurtell (Murray) married Sarah Holt (a descendent of Sir John
Holt, one time Lord Chief Justice of England), and they had eight
children.

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