406. William Murdock
(93)(54)
(20) was born about 1700 in Prince
George's County, Maryland. He died on Oct 17 1769 in Queen Anne's, Prince George's
County. William Murdock was a major landowner in Prince George's and Frederick
counties, According to a "debt-book" for Prince George's County in
1753 he owned 2662 acres in that county alone. At the end of his life he held
5,263 acres in Prince George's and Frederick Counties. As a man of considerable
wealth, he left his wife, along with a life interest in two plantations, "my
new chaise and two chaise horses, cart, draught horses, English blooded mares
to value of 100 pounds." He also left his children well provided for.
He was High Sheriff of Prince George's County in 1740 and served as a Burgess
for that County from 1749 until 1769, the year of his death. In 1756 he was appointed
Commissioner to disburse the state fund for protection against hostile Indians
as well as the state fund for the expedition against Fort Duquesne.
He served as a member of the House of Delegates in 1765-66. He represented Maryland
in the Stamp Act Congress that met in New York in 1765. He was on the commission
to draw up and report a vote of thanks to those members of the British Parliament
who defended the rights of the colonists. In 1768 he was appointed to a commission
to draft a petition to the King, remonstrating against the imposition of taxes
on imported articles. He was married to Anne Addison about 1728.
407. Anne Addison was born on Feb 18
1711. She died on Oct 25 1755. The November 1st, 1775, issue of the Maryland
Gazette carried the news that "On Thursday last, Oct. 25, died in Prince
George's County, Mrs. Ann Murdock, virtuous consort of Mr. William Murdock and
daughter of the late Col. Thomas Addison. She was a gentlewoman possessed of
many virtues and diligent in the performance of every duty incumbent upon a wife,
mother and neighbor. She labored for some years before her death under an almost
uninterrupted bodily indisposition which she bore with that patience, resolution
and resignation which became a Christian and her death is an irretrievable loss
to her family and justly lamented by her acquaintance." Children were:
i.
John Murdock(94) was born on Feb 10
1729. He died young.
ii.
Addison Murdock(95) was born on Jul
31 1731. He died about 1792.
203 iii.
Katharine Murdock.
iv.
Colonel John Murdock(96) was born
on May 10 1733. He died on Aug 3 1791.
v.
Ann Murdock(97).
vi.
Eleanor Murdock(98).
vii.
Mary Murdock(99) died in 1792.
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