Map Maker Captain William McMurray

In 1916, P. Lee Phillips, Chief of the Division of Maps and Charts at the Library of Congress, wrote to the editor of the Carlisle Evening Herald newspaper seeking information. The editor printed the letter under the following headlines.

“SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT A MAN BURIED HERE IN CARLISLE.
Government Asks about Captain William McMurray.
Was In Continental Army and Made Map of the United States in 1784.”

William McMurray’s map of the United States was long considered to be the first map of the United States made after the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Mr. Phillips was seeking information about Captain McMurray because he wanted to reproduce the “rare” map and include something about his life. He believed that Captain McMurray died about 1789 and was buried in Carlisle, and that his father was Samuel McMurray who died about 1786 and was in the jewelry and engraving business.¹

Mr. Phillips’ information about Captain William McMurray was partially correct. Captain McMurray did die in Carlisle, but in 1787 not in 1789. There was a Samuel McMurray who lived in Carlisle. He was a clock and watchmaker, but he died unmarried in 1784.

Captain William McMurray was the son of Carlisle tavernkeeper Thomas McMurray who died in Carlisle in 1789. Captain William’s 1787 will mentions the children of “my father’s sister Annis Kearns.” His father’s 1789 will mentions his sisters, one of whom was Ann Kerns. Thomas also mentions his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth McMurray, who was by then Captain William’s widow. ²

Captain McMurray’s Life

The Muster Roll for the month of February 1779 for Col. Richard Humpton’s 10^th Pennsylvania Regiment lists Lieutenant William McMurray and notes that he was commissioned on June 7, 1778, and was in the geography department.³ On May 26, 1780, Captain McMurray wrote to George Washington from Morristown, [New Jersey] on behalf of the Officers in the Corps of Sappers & Miners. He said that when they solicited and accepted Commissions in the Corps, that they would find their duty of service, "well worthy the ambition and zeal of those who wish to acquire Military knowledge...but we find ourselves at a loss to know why a Corps represented to us of so important a nature, should be so long neglected when several other Corps have been formed, we conceive long since this was set on foot....the unexpected delays we have repeatedly experienced, renders our present situation very disagreeable and uneasy, liable to the reproach (repugnant to the principles upon which we entered the Corps) of being supported by the publick, without rendering it any manner of service. We therefore humbly implore your Excellency to take an active part in our favour (as in our present state of suspense we know not where to apply) hoping through your means we may be able, yet, to serve our Country with honour & satisfaction. We have the honour to be your Excellencies most obedient and most humble servants. Wm McMurray Capt., Js Beebee, Capt., David Bushnell, Capt., Lt, J. Welch. ^[4]

At the end of the war McMurray worked on his map, likely in Philadelphia. On February 10, 1785, he married Elizabeth Wilcox [of Chester County] at Second Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.⁵ They moved to Carlisle shortly after they wed, and their only child, Samuel, was born.

Captain William was “weak in body” when he wrote his will in Carlisle on March 6, 1787. He bequeathed his wife Elizabeth his two State Certificates valued at £677, 9 shillings. He willed 600 acres in the state of New York to his son Samuel. He left a small sum to the children of his father’s sister, Annis Kearns [Kairns]. He specified that the money from the sale of his lands in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania was to be used to support and educate his son Samuel. The executors of his estate were his wife and John Buchanan of Cumberland County, William Maclay, William Gray and William Wilson both of Northumberland County, and Thomas Wilcox of Chester County.⁶

His death was recorded in the March 14, 1787, edition of Kline’s Carlisle Gazette. “Died Friday last [March 9], after a lingering illness, Captain William M’Murray, a warm friend to the liberties of this country; he shewed much mathematical ingenuity, appointed captain of miners and sapers, and occasional Geographer at camp; soon after he succeeded as aid to Mr. Hutchins, Geographer General, in which he laid down one of the best maps of the U. S. now extant.” The notice of his death in Philadelphia's Independent Gazetteer issue of  March 31, 1787, added that he entered the Army "in early life," and that his "mathematical ingenuity soon recommended him to the Commander in Chief, who appointed him a Captain of Miners and Sappers..." 

An inventory of William’s property was taken by John Pollock and Hugh Boden on March 13, 1787. It is included here in the order it was taken. Money is given in pounds, shillings, and pence as £10”2”5

1 surveyor compass & chain £10
1 Feather bed and furniture £10”2”6
1 Feather bed and furniture £6”10”0
12 books of different sorts £2
1 silver watch £5
12 silver stock buckles £6
1 pair shoe buckles £1”7”0
7 pair of knee buckles @4/6 £2”12”6
1 Corner Cupboard £1”2”6
1 stand 12”6
6 New painted rush bottomed chairs @ 4/0 £1”4”0
1 looking glass 7”0
7 Doz. & 9 watch keys @3d/Doz. £1”2”6
4 watch chains 4”0
Old silver £2”10”0
Weighs and money scales 5”0
2 chests and one rocking chair 17”0
1 Duch oven 10”0
1 Lott of ground held by occupancy £10
Total £62”7”0
2 State Certificates £667
1 promisory note from John Officer £10
Brought forward £62”7”0
1 sword & belt £1”15”0
1 cow £4
Sworn and subscribed March 13, A.D. 1787 Before John Jordan⁷

Although there were no stones for the McMurray’s in Carlisle’s Old Graveyard or at Meeting House Springs when the markers were copied in the late 1800s, they must have been buried in the Old Graveyard. The account of the executors of Thomas McMurray’s estate recorded the amount of money paid for his coffin, for shaving his corpse, for digging his grave, and “pailing graves of deceased.”⁸

The relationship between Captain William, Samuel the clock and watchmaker and William’s father Thomas is confusing. Thomas’ 1789 will mentions his brother Samuel “if living.” Samuel the clock maker died unmarried in Carlisle in 1784, so Thomas would not have stated “if living” when he wrote his will in 1789 if Samuel the clock maker was his son or brother. Thomas was clearly related because his inventory included £8”15”2 as the balance due from the estate of Samuel McMurray, as well as many items of silver. William McMurray was the administrator of Samuel’s estate in 1784. William named his only son Samuel, but William’s will clearly states that Thomas was his father, and Thomas’ will mentions his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth McMurray.

Captain William’s widow Elizabeth returned to Philadelphia. In 1791 she married Henry Bicker, a Philadelphia hatter. He died in 1797, and in June 1799, she married Capt. Thomas Hoggard. He died two years later. Widowed three times, Elizabeth died in Philadelphia in September 1802. There is no mention of a son Samuel McMurray in her will.

Captain McMurray’s MAP

“The United States According to the Definitive Treaty of Peace Signed at Paris, Sept. 3d, 1783.”

Proposals for publishing William McMurray’s Map of the United States by subscription was published in several Philadelphia newspapers in the summer of 1783. The map was “composed from the latest and most accurate surveys, observations, particular maps and plans, a great majority of which never were nor could be inserted in any general map previous to thither made or published separately, part since, and part shortly before the war by the Geographers of the United States, and other able surveyors and mapographers, blended carefully together by William McMurray, late Assistant Geographer to the United States.”⁹

“The price of each map was to be three French crowns; one dollar and one third to be advanced at subscribing, the remaining two dollars to be paid upon the receipt of the map.” The map would be engraved and printed when one thousand subscriptions were procured. The manuscript could be seen at the Coffee House in Philadelphia for several days from 11:00 in the morning until 1:30, and from “six in the afternoon until dark each day” Subscriptions would be taken by Colonel Oswald at the Coffee House; by Mr. Robert Vanhorne at the Bunch of Grapes, by Mr. Bailey, printer, and Mr. D. C. Claypoole, printer.

The proposal pointed out that there are “many imported maps published since the peace, which upon even a slight inspection, prove to be catch-pennies. [money makers for petty services]” In other words, publishing new maps “retaining the antiquated names and palpable errors.”

The amendments in this proposed Map of the United States were made only in the hands of Geographers to the United States, who not only made, ‘but also collected all the surveys, plans and observations in their power; and who have been generous to give the author of this proposed map all their assistance…”¹⁰

McMurray’s map was printed in December 1784. By February 1785, McMurray’s map was being issued to subscribers and those who wanted to purchase it at the house of Robert Scot, Engraver and Copper-plate Printer in Front Street near Race Street in Philadelphia. The map was also available from Michael Hilligas, Esq. and Mr. White at the Intelligence office, and the printers of Claypoole’s American Daily Advertiser.¹¹

It was discovered later that Abel Buell’s map titled “New and Correct Map of the United States of North America Layd Down from the Latest Observations and Best Authorities Agreeable to the Peace of 1783,” had been printed almost nine months before McMurray’s map. But whereas Buell’s and McMurray’s maps showed the thirteen original states, McMurray’s map delineated the boundaries for ten additional unnamed states northwest of the Ohio River.¹²

It is not known how many of McMurray maps were published, or who purchased them. But at least one owner in Carlisle is known. Miss Polly Craig lived in Carlisle for several years with her relative Sarah Allen on West High Street. When Sarah died in 1794, an inventory of her estate was taken. One of the items listed in “Miss Polly Craig’s Room” was William McMurray’s Map of the United States valued at 7 shillings, 6 pence.¹³