he following letter was written in 1939 by Roy Samuel Murphree (1895-1952) when he was 44 years old. The letter was transcribed 12 February 1955 by Edna Perry Deckler (1920-1991) from the original letter in possession, at the time, of Miss Nellie Murphree (1882-1982) of Thomaston, Texas. Mrs. Deckler, a Murphree descendant, was founder and president-emeritus of the Texas State Genealogical Society and the editor of its quarterly publication. One can see from this letter how family legends are perpetuated. Anyone who has done any research on this family line will be quick to notice that Roy has made some incorrect assumptions on his descendancy. This letter is presented primarily for the human-interest value and for the genealogical clues that anyone working on this line will appreciate. - Charles Murphree The Peter Fox Sons Co. Butter, Eggs, Poultry, Veal 1122-1124 Fulton Market, XXXXX (Note: Chicago x'ed out) St. Ansgar, Iowa, Oct. 29, 1939 Miss. Nellie Murphree, Thomaston, Texas. Dear "Cousin" Nellie: There is a tradition in our family that anyone spelling their name like we do is a relative of ours so I won't be as formal in my address as you were. Your letter was forwarded to me some months ago to my home in Hohenwald Tennessee but I am on the road traveling quite a lot and have neglected the matter of answering it. I have tried to get more information for you in the meantime but so far haven't succeeded very well. My grandfathers name was Stephen Murphree born 1822 died 1911. I was sixteen years old when he died and he used to talk to me some of the Murphrees of pioneer days but it is all rather hazy in my memory now. I do remember however the story or tradition he related to me about three brothers coming over from Ireland and settling in North Carolina and later crossing into Tennessee. I am under the impression that their names were Stephen, David and Isaih Murphree and that we were descended from David. He told me that so far as they had ever been able to find out that these three were the only ones of the name to come over and hence the tradition that all who spelled their name as we do are descended from one of the three and therefore "cousins." I have one uncle living at Chillicothe Texas. I am sure he can give you some information that would help you in tracing your branch of the family back to North Carolina. His name is W. B. Murphree. I don't know how far apart Thomaston and Chillicothe are but hope you two can meet and exchange data about our ancestors. When you have compiled all the information about the Murphrees that you can collect I would like to have a copy and will pay anything within reason for it. When I get back to my home in Tennessee and have a chance to do so I will take a trip over in Bedford County and see if there is anything I can find on the records there about the Murphrees. I was delighted to hear from you and would be glad to hear again at any time I may be able to help you in your research. Yours very truly, Roy Murphree Permanent address--Hohenwald, Tennessee (Note by cousin Nellie--I wrote to W. B. Murphree some years ago, but did not get an answer from him.) |
Updated 2 November, 2002
