Contributed by Cyndie Goins Hoelscher
Contact: Myrtle Bridges
"I am from Texas and descended from Alexander"Sandy" Murchison and the descendants here base their lineage on a handwritten memoir by Isabella Murchison Holt's granddaughter which states that the Alexander Sandy Murchison of Austin Texas in 1841 was the son of Kinnith Murchison, Sr. of Pocket Creek, North Carolina who died in 1834. There is no Alexander Murchison in the 1850 census of Moore County, North Carolina. But the name does appear in Duncan Murchison's will. I believe the above Alexander Murchison is a grandson of Kinnith Murchison, Sr. of Pocket Creek and this can be evidenced by the Will of Duncan Murchison of Moore County, NC which states:"
Will of Duncan Murchison, Moore County, North Carolina Wills, Book C, pages 75-76:
I Duncan Murchison of the County of Moore and State of North Carolina being of Sound Mind and memory
and mindfull of the uncertainty of my earthly existence do make publish and declare this my last will and
testament, hereby revoke all other wills by me and made heretofore that is to say.
Item 1st I wish my Executor hereafter named to defray the expense of funeral to be conducted
according to the wishes of my family and friends out of the proceeds of my estate
Item 2nd I give and devise to my beloved wife Fanny Murchison one thousand acres of land, situate
on either side of Big Pocket Creek including the plantation on which I live being the lands I got from
Andrew Cole, William Goin, and John Cole and Murdock McIntosh including the Old Mill seat at the lower end
of the plantation to have and to hold during her natural life.
Item 3rd I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Fanny and her heirs the following personal property
to wit, ten Negroes and their increase, Fanny, Bill, Morris, Willis, Daniel, Winny, Adam, Nell, Nancy &
Mariah, all my household and Kitchen furniture Stock of all kinds Farming utensils and every household
article of furniture owned by me at my death except such as shall be hereafter directed to be sold by my
executors.
Item 4th I will and direct that my real estate except as above directed, and all Negroes except
those above named shall after my Death be sold at a publick sale on a credit of twelve months by my Executors
and that they collect all debts due to my estate and out of the proceeds of the sale of said land and
Negroes and money collected that they pay my just debts.
Item 5th I will and desire that my Executors after my Debts are paid shall as soon as posible give
to my dear wife two hundred and fifty dollars to her use and benefit and out of the proceeds of the sale
of land and negroes and other money on hand if any into nine parts equal parts and that this said ---- to
my sisters and brothers of whole blood and to the children of such of them as are dead to wit, that they
pay one ninth part to my sister Peggy Sinclair, one ninth part to my brother John Murchison, one ninth
part to my brother William Murchison, one ninth part to my sister Jennet Worthy, one ninth part to my
sister Isabella England, one ninth part to my brother Colin Murchison, one ninth part to my sister
Polly Tyson, one ninth part to my brother Kinnith Murchison.
I nominate and appoint my nephews Alexander Murchison K. H. Worthy and David Rogers my Executors
this my last will and testament, according to its time interests and meaning. In testimony whereof I
Duncan Murchison have set my hand and seal on the 4th Day of July 1853.
Duncan Murchison
In presence and acknowledged
Thomas Cole
C. Chalmers"So you see there was an Alexander Murchison who was old enough to bear the responsibility of being an
executor of his uncle's estate living in Moore County, North Carolina, but if Duncan Murchison, son of
Kinneth Murchison, Sr named Alexander Murchison as a NEPHEW in 1854, then he (Alexander) has to be a
grandson to Kinnith Murchison, Sr., not a son. I believe Kinnith Murchison's son who inherited 250
acres on Pocket Creek and a slave girl by the name of Mahala, left North Carolina in 1836, shortly
after his father's death, with the Tennessee Colony and settled in Texas with his brothers Aaron and
Murdock. The land deals in Texas must have been very attractive because many of the Scottish descended
families moved from North Carolina and the United States to the Independently recognized Texas Republic
during that time. He is buried in the Cedar Creek Cemetery in Bastrop Texas and has a bronze medallion
on his grave indicating that he was a citizen of the Republic of Texas and a pioneer in the history of Texas."
I would appreciate any assistance in this research that you may be able to provide.
Thank you, Cyndie Goins Hoelscher
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