Robert Murray

Robert Murray was born about 1814 at Auchinleck, Ayrshire, Scotland, the son of William and Barbara Murray (nee Anderson).  His occupations were variously described as Grocer/Servant and Labourer.  On 18 December, 1841 he married Agnes Lucas, the daughter of William and Janet Lucas (nee Mair) at Maybole, Ayrshire and they left Scotland with their four young children on the "John Davis" arriving in Brisbane on 5 May, 1855 with a fifth child, a baby named James Davis Murray born at sea on 4 April, 1855.

Arriving in Ipswich, Robert Murray was engaged by the late John Pettigrew (an old friend of his) to take charge of his timber yard, a position he held for some years.  After following various pursuits in Ipswich, he took a farm at Purga and was very prosperous in the cultivation of cotton.  Subsequently he had a grazing selection at Rosevale, breeding cattle and sheep for many years before retiring about 1890 to live in Limestone Street, Ipswich near the Presbyterian church.  The Rosevale property was left in the management of his son James Davis Murray who married Margaret Jane McLaughlin on the home property "Franklyn Vale" in 1879.

Robert Murray passed away in Ipswich on 19 December, 1896 and his wife Agnes pre-deceased him also in Ipswich, on 5 March, 1891.