From Commondyke to Zion
by Roberta McGee
A Brief History of the Murdochs of Commondyke
James Crawford Murdoch's grandfather Robert Murdoch was born on 14th March 1713 at Murdochstown, Auchinleck and died on 12th November 1792 at Commondyke, Auchinleck. He married Margaret Wyllie on 2nd June 1737 at Auchinleck. Margaret was born in Kilmarnock. Their children were Janet born 1738, Ann born 1746, John born 1748, Robert born 1750, James born 1752 and Euphemia born 1757, all at Commondyke.
It is interesting to note that Robert, who was born in 1750, married Grizzel Broadfoot on 8th February 1781. Their daughter Marion, who was born on 2nd May 1797 at Clockclounie, Old Cumnock married David Reid who was born 24th May 1793 at Auchengibbert, Old Cumnock. David Reid was tragically shot dead in the Poachers' Riot in Old Cumnock on 10th January 1833.
Marion Murdoch on Cumnock Connections - Family Tree
James Crawford Murdoch and Mary Murray
James Crawford Murdoch was born on 3rd July 1786 at Commondyke, Auchinleck. His father James was also born at Commondyke in 1752 and died there in 1846. His mother was Janet Osborne, who was born on 21st April 1756 at Fogston, Ochiltree and died before 1802 which is when widower James married Veronica Kirkland who was born at Commondyke in 1752.
James Crawford Murdoch married Mary Murray on 10th January 1811 at Auchinleck. Mary was born on 13th October 1782 at Glencairn, Dumfriesshire. Her father was John Murray and her mother was Margaret McCall.
James and Mary lived in Gaswater, a small hamlet on the Muirkirk Road, which was initially built to house workers from the lime works and for the miners from the small local mines. Gaswater Limeworks, a large lime quarry and limekilns, was established in the early 19th century to convert limestone into lime. A number of bell pits were sunk to supply coal for the works. It was here that James Murdoch lost his life.
pre-1855 Accidents - Scottish Mining Website
The Scotsman 2/11/1831
Two Men Suffocated
On Fri. last, the 21st ult., at Grass-water Limeworks, in the Parish of Auchinleck, two young men of the name of Baird, sons of a farmer in the neighbourhood, came to a coalpit five fathoms deep that was sinking. One prevailed to the other to let him down the pit to see it, but, when near the bottom, he fell down from the effects of the choke-damp. The brother gave the alarm, when a man of the name of Murdoch, came to his assistance, and went down the pit, but he shared the same fate. David McLeod, another man, now went down, and he also shared the same fate. James Davidson, a third person, next went down, but, before reaching the bottom, he called out to be taken up. He got a rope fixed round his body and attempted it again, but did not succeed. A fire was got and let down into the pit and one of them was heard to moan. The smoke was quite close in the pit and nothing could be seen. However, when the windlass was turned it was found some of the three persons below were attached to the rope, and when the windlass was hoisted to a certain height, there appears but one of the men, David McLeod, hanging by one hand to the rope. He was immediately rescued by the people at the pit mouth. The other two men were dead before they could be got out. We understand Murdoch has left a wife and young family to lament his loss. McLeod recovered so far as to be able to walk home to Auchinleck in the evening.
So, at 49 years old, Mary was left a widow with a family of six. The children were Janet born 8/12/1811 Boghead, James born 29/7/1814 Gaswater, Veronica born 16/6/1816 Gaswater, Mary born 23/11/1819 Gaswater, John Murray born 20/2/1820 Gassater and William born 3/7/1825 Gaswater. James and Mary had had two further children who had died in infancy - Mary born 16/6/1813 Boghead and Margaret 30/12/1822 Gaswater. She also had the responsibility of raising her orphaned niece Margaret Murray who was 4 years old.
Mary Murray Murdoch was only 4 feet and 7 inches in height and weighed about 90lbs. She came to be known as "Wee Granny". Mary was a hard worker and a few years after the death of her husband she built, with the help of her children and some neighbours, a small stone cottage with a thatched roof.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
About 1850 Mormon elders began arriving in the UK to preach the restored gospel. Their aim was to convert as many people as possible to Mormonism and convince then to move from the UK to Utah (Zion). James Steel, the brother of Mary's daughter-in-law Ann Steele, was one of the first to be converted to the faith. James had been in England for some time and had been converted by his future wife Elizabeth Wyllie. James then visited his brother-in-law John and his wife Ann Steele, his sister, in Kirkconnel and persuaded them to embrace Mormonism. After he returned to England he sent missionaries to John's home where they held many Church meetings. John and Ann were baptised into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 29th November 1850.
James Steele
"Yes my native land, I love thee
All the scenes I love them well,
Friends, connections, happy country,
Can I bid you all farewell
Can I leave thee
Far in distant lands to dwell"
LDS Hymn Book
On 10th January 1852 John Murray Murdoch, his pregnant wife Ann Steele and their two children Elizabeth, who was three and a half years old, and James who was one and a half years old, boarded the ship "Kennebec" at Liverpool to start the first stage of their perilous journey to America. The journey would take nine weeks and their first stop would be New Orleans. Nearing the end of the voyage they ran out of food and water and both children took ill from lack of nutrition. No-one had any food to share and they were nearing starvation. When they reached New Orleans they were transferred to a steamboat on the Mississippi River. The steamboat was crowded and there was still no food. The children were crying with hunger and they grew weaker by the day. Sadly young John died on the steamboat on 20th March 1852 and they buried him in a woodyard on the banks of the Mississippi. They landed in Saint Louis where, tragically, daughter Elizabeth died on 4th April 1852.
After remaining in Saint Louis for about a month, they again boarded a ship and sailed up the Missouri River to Kansas City where they picked up their equipment for crossing the plains. However, cholera broke out and they had to wait until it had passed. On 20th May 1852, in the midst of a thunderstorm and in a tent, Ann gave birth to their daughter Mary Murray Murdoch, named after her grandmother. Then started the long trek across the plains to Zion with Ann walking while carrying her new baby almost all the way. Finally, on 3rd September 1852, the travellers reached Salt Lake City, safe but very, very weary. It was a bitter-sweet end to their long journey from Scotland. Sadness because they had lost two children on the way. Joy because they had reached Zion.
Mary Murray Murdoch's Journey
Mary Murray Murdoch, who was known affectionately as "Wee Granny", was baptised a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 22nd December 1851 by her son John. When John left for America he promised his mother that he would save enough money to pay for her journey to join him in Utah (Zion). True to his word he did, so, on 25th May 1856 Mary boarded the "Horizon" and sailed out of Liverpool heading for Boston on the first part of her journey to join him. She was a 72yr old widow and was determined to be with her son in Zion. She was accompanied by James Steele, who was her daughter-in-law Ann Steele's brother, James's wife Elizabeth and their two children James aged 3yrs and George aged 1yr. Also accompanying them was James's mother-in-law Mary Ann George Wyllie. The ship was chartered by the Church.
When they arrived in Boston on 28th June they then travelled by rail to Iowa City, arriving there on 8th July 1856. It would not have been a comfortable journey as they would have had to travel in converted freight cars and sit on wooden benches. At Iowa City they made their way to the Mormon encampment site where they received their handcarts. Mary was assigned to the Martin Handcart Company which was one of five handcart companies participating in the migration of members of the LDS Church to Utah using handcarts to transport their belongings. Handcarts were used as a low cost and more efficient way of transportation where pioneers pulled the wooden carts themselves instead of using wagons which were pulled by oxen. Martin's handcarts turned out to be poorly made and unfit for the job they were supposed to do, and, because the handcarts and tents were not ready, they were forced to wait until late July to continue on their journey, with disastrous results.
The Martin Company was the last to leave Iowa City in 1856. The Company consisted of 576 people, 146 carts, 7 wagons, 30 oxen and 50 cows and beef cattle. The first leg of the handcart journey across Iowa to Florence, Nebraska, was 277 miles long and would take them about four weeks. They started out in the stifling heat feeling quite upbeat. However, the problem with the badly constructed handcarts soon raised its ugly head. They were breaking down frequently. The heat was unbearable, they encountered numerous sand hills making it difficult to push their carts and they began to run out of food and water. It was a relief to them when they crossed the Missouri River and arrived in Florence, Nebraska, the last settlement for hundreds of miles.
They had a short stop in Florence where they stocked up on food and equipment and repaired the broken handcarts. There had been some concerns voiced by the Willie Handcart Company that they would encounter freezing cold and snow in the Rockies and it had been suggested that they should winter along the Platte River in Nebraska, but it had been over-ruled and the Willie Company had decided to carry on with the journey. The Martin Handcart Company decided to do the same.
The Martin Handcart Company left Florence on 25th August 1856. Mary had another 900 miles to walk before she reached the Great Salt Lake and Zion and the journey was expected to be difficult. Some way into the journey the presence of the herds of buffalo on the prairie caused their cattle to stampede which resulted in the loss of milk cows and ended their rations of beef. By the time 73 years old Mary had walked 500 miles she was beginning to struggle and her body was giving up. She was exhausted and weak.
Mary Murray Murdoch finally succumbed and she died on 2nd October 1856 about 10 miles northeast of Chimney Rock, Nebraska. She had been suffering from diarrhoea or dysentry. Mary was one of eighteen members of the Martin and Willie companies who died during the mid-September to early October period before the severe winter weather hit. James Steele, his wife Elizabeth and his mother-in-law were with Mary when she passed. Her last words were "Tell John that I died with my face toward Zion". Wee Granny was buried near Chimney Rock, Nebraska, in a shallow grave by the side of the wagon trail.
Tell John I died with my face toward Zion
The Family of James Murdoch and Mary Murray Murdoch
Janet Murdoch was born on 8th December 1811 at Boghead and married Alexander Smith, a coalminer, on 20th December 1833 at Auchinleck. According to the 1861 Census the family were living at Birnieknowe, Auchinleck. Janet died on 28th June 1866 at Auchinleck.
Mary Murdoch was born on 16th June 1813 at Boghead and died that same year in Boghead.
James Murdoch was born on 29th July 1814 at Gaswater and died on 12th september 1884 at Lambhill Street, Glasgow. He married Margaret McCall on 24th November 1841 at Leadhills, Lanarkshire. James never embraced Mormonism but regularly kept in touch with his sisters and brothers in Utah. James was an aerated water manufacturer. He must have lived in Old Cumnock at one time because one of his sons, John, was born there in 1846
Veronica Murdoch was born on 16th June 1816 at Gaswater. She married George Caldow, a drainer, on 15th February 1839 at Auchinleck. In 1841 and 1851 George and Veronica and their children were living in Muirkirk. George died about 1858 (cannot find his death certificate) and 1861 finds Veronica living at Long Causay (North Side), Old Cumnock. She is a handsewer and with her on the census is her grandson Alexander Gold (daughter Mary's son). Although Veronica had been baptised into the Mormon Church, neither her husband nor her children had been converted. George and Veronica were supposed to have had eleven children but this is not certain. Only Mary, George, James and John can be verified.
Some sources also have in addition Alexander, William, Thomas, Joseph, David, Brigham and Nephi. When Veronica (or Vachey as she was known) was sixty two years old she decided to join her siblings in Utah. None of her children joined her so she travelled with her brother William and family on 24th May 1878 on the "Nevada". It took nineteen days to travel by sea and rail to Heber where the party rented a small house belonging to Thomas Giles, a widower. Veronica married Thomas Giles on 3rd July 1879. She never saw her children again and she died in Heber City on 4th October 1908.
Mary Murdoch was born on 23rd November 1819 at Gaswater. She married Allan Mair on 4th June 1841 at Cronberry. Allan and Mary had nine children, John, James, Allan, Mary, Andrew and Alexander. Three children, Matthew, William and Janet died in infancy. When the Mormon missionaries arrived in Auchinleck Mary embraced their religion and was baptised into their church on 4th June 1851. Her husband Allan could not be persuaded to join so Mary devised a plan to leave him, taking their three youngest children with her, and joining her fellow Mormons in Utah. With the assistance of her daughter Mary and a member of the Mormon church, she began to transport their belongings in small parcels to the station where the member forwarded them on. The church also supplied her with money for her fare. She told her husband that she and the children were going to Utah for a short trip. They sailed from Liverpool on 6th June 1866 on the ship "Saint Mark". She never intended coming back. After she left her husband found out the truth. Her two oldest sons, John and James, had previously emigrated to Maryland, USA, in search of a better life so Allan sent them a cablegram asking them to try and intercept them in New York before they left for Utah. They were too late and Allan never saw his wife and three youngest children again. On first December 1866 in Salt Lake City, Mary became the plural wife of Thomas Todd but the marriage did not work out and they separated. She then married Daniel McMillan, a blacksmith and widower, on 26th June 1871 in Salt Lake City. Her two eldest sons, who lived in Maryland and Kansas, did manage eventually to pay her a short visit in Utah. Mary died on 5th December 1900 in Heber City. Her husband Allan Mair had died on 2nd May 1897 in Auchinleck.
John Murray Murdoch was born on 29th December 1820 at Gaswater. He was the first of Wee Granny's children to emigrate to Utah. As previously described, he had a difficult and tragic journey from Scotland to Utah. He had married Ann Steele on 24th February 1848 at Kirkconnel, Dumfriesshire. After many ups and downs they made a good life for themselves in the USA. Ann had given birth to thirteen children there two having died on the journey from Scotland. On 9th August 1882, in obedience to the LDS teachings at that time, John took a plural wife, Isabella Crawford, a Scottish girl whose family had disowned her because she had become a Mormon. Isabella gave birth to seven children and they all lived in harmony for many years. Of the twenty two children born only fifteen survived, seven having died young. Ann died on 15th December 1909 in Heber City and a heartbroken John died six months later on 6th May 1910. They were buried beside each other. Isabella died six years later.
John Murray Murdoch with his two wives Ann and Isabella
Margaret Murray Murdoch was born on 30th December 1822 in Gaswater and died in infancy.
William Murdoch was born on 3rd July 1825 at Gaswater and baptised into the Church of Scotland. He married Janet Lennox on 23rd June 1846 in Old Cumnock. Janet, or Jessie as she was known, was born in Muir, Old Cumnock and died in Kilmarnock on 20th December 1877. She is buried in Muirkirk Graveyard. William and Jessie had six children. William converted to Mormonism and on 24th May 1878 emigrated on the steamship "Nevada" his final destination being Salt Lake City. Marriage No. 2 on 29th June 1882 in Heber was to a Scottish girl, Christina Graham. Unfortunately the marriage did not work and they got divorced. Marriage No. 3, on 26th November 1887 at Heber, was to Mary Reid Lindsay who was born in Glasgow. William and Mary had three children and he was 69 years old when the third child was born. William became an American citizen on 18th March 1884. When he was 75 years old he sold his farm and bought a house in Heber. He died on 12th March 1913 in Heber City.
Sources:
The Long Road to Zion
The Final Journey of Mary Murray Murdoch - Author Kenneth W. Merrell, May 2001
The James and Mary Murdoch Family History by The James and Mary Murdock Family Organisation
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