Notes for Alfred Thurtell (MURRAY)

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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. This is according to information received from Peter Murray in 1997.

There is an IGI record on Film number 457430 showing Alfred Thurtell married Mary Everitt on December 29, 1829. It indicates one of them was "of Karoo, South Africa."

Alfred Murray is buried on his son Walter's farm Hoeksfontein in the Karoo according to information received from Maude Moorshead.

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