MacMURCHY FAMILY REUNION 1941 Members of the MacMurchy family came from Bradford, Clarksburg, King, Hamilton, Toronto, Weston, Collingwood, Egbert, Nobleton, Regina, Hillsburgh, Erin, Markham, Nashville and Pittsburgh, Pa., to King on Saturday afternoon to attend a re-union held at the home of Mr. Thomas MacMurchy and the Misses Kate and Mary MacMurchy. This event marking the 101st anniversary of the landing of the family in Canada. The re-union was held on the farm originally settled at that time, the land having been Crown deed property. One hundred and three persons registered on Saturday and for some time following the registration wandered about the shaded lawns enjoying meeting many friends and relatives from far and near. The oldest member of the party was Mrs. Margaret Currie (Sister of my Great Grand Mother, Grace McMurchy-Carmichael) of Toronto and the youngest little Miss Ethel MacMurchy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Norman MacMurchy of Collingwood. After the serving of delicious lawn tea, Mr. Thomas MacMurchy, reeve of King Township, welcomed the gathering and expressed the pleasure of his sisters and himself in having so many of the family gather at the first family re-union. To Mrs. Margaret Currie and Mrs. Felix Smelster fell the honor of cutting the anniversary cake, bearing the inscription "MacMurchy's, 1840-1941". A moment's silence was observed in memory of family members who have passed on. Short, happy speeches were made by Dr. Helen MacMurchy of Toronto, Mrs. J.N. Foote of Collingwood, Miss Sarah MacMurchy of Clarksburg, Mrs. Felix Smelser of Bradford, Mrs. Margaret Currie of Toronto, Mr. Norman MacMurchy of Regina, Mr. Norman MacMurchy of Regina, Mr. Norman MacMurchy of King, Mr. Norman Archie MacMurchy of Toronto, Miss Ruth MacMurchy of Collingwood and Mr. Charles Archibald of King, a man of eighty-eight years of age who has been a neighbor of the family for many years. Miss Eunice MacMurchy delighted the gathering with her singing of "The Road to the Isles" and following the warm applause accorded her sang another Hebridean song. Later in the evening the hearts of these good Scottish people were made glad with the music of the pipes. The highlight of the afternoon was a review of the family's history by Miss Bessie MacMurchy of Toronto who made this interesting throughout with many little human and humorous incidences which to go make family life really enjoyable. In 1840 Thomas MacMurchy and his wife, Mary Blue, (My Great-Great-Great Grand Parents) came to Canada with eight of their sons, John, Alexander, Thomas, Angus (My Great-Great Grand Father), Charles, Dugald, Neil and Malcolm. Two sons, Archibald and Donald, had come to Canada a few years previously and Norman came in 1842 with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. John MacMurchy. One daughter, Annabella, died when quite young. The family settled in different parts of the province, six brothers hewing out farms in King Township (Near present day Toronto), two in Collingwood Township, and two at Erin Township (Hillsburgh) and one at Lindsay (Ildon). The generations, which followed, have taken up many lines of work and have been successful in many fields. That they have been good farmers is evidenced in the many fine farms yet being operated. Others have become teachers, lawyers, engineers, doctors and writers. Not only have the men of the family been successful. The women, following in the footsteps of their foreparent, Mary Blue, have left no stones unturned to give of their best to the good of mankind. Perhaps the most outstanding has been Dr. Helen MacMurchy who has occupied a prominent place in the field of Canadian medicine for many years. Miss MacMurchy told many interesting facts regarding the early history of the family, many of these having been secured through official records in Scotland. There were no letters, pictures or diaries available and her story had been built from the records and stories told by older members of the family. The MacMurchy family had sprung from the MacDonald Clan and the name MacMurchy had originated in the marriage of a member of the MacDonald clan and a member of the Murdoch Clan. The family coat of arms was described with its falcon and star and the motto "Dominus Providi" - God will provide. Their Scottish home was in the Highlands of Argylshire, at the parish of Stewartfield, by the ocean at Rhonachen Bay. Thomas MacMurchy (My Great-Great-Great Grandfather) was born in 1758 in the parish of Kilcalmonoll, a son of Alexander MacMurchy (My Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather). His wife, Mary Blue, a daughter of James Blue and Mary McSheenan, (My Great-Great-Great-Great Grandparents) was born at Campbelton. They were married in 1792. Like scores of Scottish people they did not own their farms, but were renters (wards). Stories were told them of the fortunes to be made in Canada and eager to make progress in the world they came to this new country as told earlier in this account. Norman, one of the twin sons, remained behind with his uncle and aunt, John MacMurchy and Grace Blue, the latter being a sister of Mary Blue. In 1840, probably early in the year, (Actual arrival date was August 18, 1840 after 50 days at sea) Thomas MacMurchy and his family and a group of seventy people, left their native Scotland. Sailing away (On the British Barque "TAY") from Greenock, (Birthplace of my Great-Great Grandfather Malcolm Carmichael) for their new home. Many stories are told of their sailing but space does not permit their publication at present. They probably landed at Quebec or Montreal (Actual port of entry was the Port of New York) and the trip to King must have been one that required great endurance, their destination being some 800 miles from the landing point Records show that there were only dirt roads and mail coaches. Ox carts were one mode of transportation and possibly a great part of the trip was made on foot. They settled in the unbroken forest of Vaughan and King Townships (Near present day Toronto) where they hewed homes out of logs and settled to the hardy life, which needs, must go with pioneering. As the sons of this family grew to manhood they acquired homes of their own and with the years scattered to many parts of the province. That they have been good citizens is shown in the active part many of them have taken in the municipal life of their respective localities. In King Township members of the family have given some fifty years to municipal life. Mr. Alexander MacMurchy was reeve of his township for seventeen years and Warden of York County. His son, Mr. Norman MacMurchy, was in public life for eight years, he too occupying the reeve's chair and Mr. Thomas MacMurchy, at whose home the gathering was held, is now serving his third term as reeve, this following several years in other positions on the township council. The Late Mr. Thomas MacMurchy held positions of importance in Collingwood Township for several years. During the Fenian raids of 1866, members of the family rallied to the support of the cause. In 1914-1918 Dr. A. MacMurchy and his son of North Bay played their part in the defense of the British Empire. Marjorie C. (Carmichael) Hall (My Grand Father's sister) and Miss Bessie MacMurchy took their part as well and gave their services to their country. In the present war, Bruce Fraser MacMurchy after being in the Canadian army for one year, is now taking a pilot's course with the Royal Canadian Air Force at St. Hubert, Quebec. In the church life the family has played its part. Rev. John MacMurchy was one of the brothers who came to this country in 1840. Many men of the family have served as elders and in other offices in their respective churches. The women too have given their share and Miss Bessie MacMurchy of Toronto has for many years been most prominent in the work of the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Society. Still another, Miss Bessy MacMurchy of Collingwood, serves as a missionary nurse at Jobat in Central India. Miss MacMurchy paid tribute to the many fine qualities, which must have been characteristics of Thomas MacMurchy and Mary Blue. They were hardy pioneers and gave there all to make comfortable home for those they loved and the generations, which would come. As one looked about the fine farm on which their descendants gathered on Saturday, it was an easy task to see that the family motto "God will provide" has been true throughout the years.
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