John Pears Murray

Notes:

General Notes: John joined the Bechuanaland Mounted Police. Later he joined the
Natal Bank in Johannesburg as a teller, and was selected to take gold valued at
about R400 000 to the railhead in Natal - by buggy! He became a noted athlete,
and won the Wanderers Grand Challenge Cup on several occasions, but hte lure of
the colonies was strong, and he accepted an appointment as Sub-Inspector of
Police in Basutoland, then became Financial Secretary and was finally the last
Deputy resident Commissioner in the territory.
John and Florence entertained many V.I.P.'s during this time - the Governor-General,
the Earl of Athlone and Princess Alice, and their retinues were guests
for a week, during which time Florence celebrated her 50th birthday with a
dinner party at which the Earl toasted her, and presented her with a silver
crested inkwell and a signed photograph. At the same time, other guests included
the Secretary of States for the Colonies, Mr J.H.Thomas and his wife and two
daughters - the General Hertzog also arrived with about twenty-five
Parliamentary delegates from the Commonwealth. John was awarded the C.B.E.
prior to his retirement in 1926, after 33 years' service: he spent his last days in
East London.
(Information received from Peter Murray in 1997 shows John Pears Murray,
C.B.E., became Deputy Resident Commissioner of Basutoland and lived at 40
Princess Alice Drive, Nahoon, East London. He married Florence Harriet
Trollip in 1900, and they had four children.)

John married Florence Harriet Trollip in 1900 in Spring Valley, Rouxville, Free State, South Africa. Florence (daughter of Daniel Roberts Trollip and Jemimah King) was born on 14 Sep 1874 in Fern Rocks Farm, Middelburg, Cape, South Africa; died on 24 Aug 1950. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Noel King Murray
2. Robert Everitt King Murray
3. Hilda Pears Murray
4. John King Murray

Alfred + Anna Christina Pears. Anna (daughter of Rev John Pears and Louisa Ann Ashcraft) was born on 1 May 1831 in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; died on 30 Oct 1915. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

GENERAL: Alfred MURRAY's original surname was THURTELL. In 1820 Alfred's cousin John THURTELL was hanged after a sensational murder trial (the Simpson trial of the Regency period!). The shame associated with the name led to Alfred and four of his siblings changing their surnames to MURRAY.

GENERAL:

Alfred + Mary Everitt. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Minister, Dutch Reformed Church

Notes:

GENERAL: Pearston was named after this NGK minister at Somerset East.

John + Louisa Ann Ashcraft. Louisa died on 1 Feb 1857 in Frankfort, King William's Town District, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in King William's Town, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]