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Thurtell and Related Families
Notes for Alfred Thurtell (MURRAY)
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, list Alfred Thurtell and his
children and grandchildren.
Information received from Peter Murray in 1997 shows that Alfred Thurtell
(Murray), born September 3, 1798 (baptised February 23, 1798 at Hopton
Suffolk - spelled "Thirtell" - dates in parish register confusing,
apparently Old System), birth date otherwise given as September 2, 1799
(on photo) and September 13, 1792[9?] (on photo), died April 25, 1875, at
age 76. He added the name Murray at the time of his marriage in 1829
(following the lead of his brother James). His wife's family is said to
have objected to the name Thurtell because of the notorious murder trial
of John Thurtell (Alfred's cousin) five years before. Alfred grew up at
Hobland Hall, and saved his brother Benjamin from a bull in the stable
according to the latter's family. Alfred was an accountant in London
before emigrating to Grahamstown, Cape Colony, South Africa, in 1835/6.
He and his family settled on the farm "Layton" in Salem district, Cape of
Good Hope, South Africa. Their home was burned by raiding tribesmen
twice, and they moved in 1842 to Somerset East, and finally, before 1856,
to the town of Graaff Reinet. There he was a Justice of the Peace, a
town planner, and probably Churchwarden. He is buried on his son
Walter's farm Hoeksfontein in the Karoo. There is an excellent drawing
of him by Harriet Rabone (possessed by his descendent George Murray in
South Africa) and a photo (in the possession of George Thurtell of Guelph
Ontario but which erroneously gives his birth date as Sept.12, 1797).
He married, in Caister-on-sea, Norfolk, on December 29, 1829, Mary
Everitt, who was born May 20, 1799, in Caister, and died in 1863 at age
64 in Graaff Reinet. She was the seventh child of George and Jane
(Clowes) Everitt of Caister Castle, and she and Alfred had four children
who lived to adulthood.
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Susan T. Miller
1411 West Childs Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187-4601
U.S.A.
630-682-0108
E-mail GGM81@aol.com
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