William Murdock
William Murdock | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1710 |
| Died | 17 October 1769 |
| Occupation(s) | merchant, planter, gentleman |
| Known for | Maryland delegate to the Stamp Act Congress |
| Children | 8 |
William Murdock (c. 1710 — October 17, 1769) was a American statesman in colonial Maryland. During the tensions leading up to the American Revolution, he was an important spokesman for the rights of the colonists. He was a delegate representing Maryland in the Stamp Act Congress of 1765.
Background
[edit]Murdock was born around 1710 as the son of Capt. John Murdock, a merchant and his wife Katherine Barton. Murdock was likely a first, or second generation Marylander, his father was enormously wealthy.[1] Around 1729, Murdock married Anne Addison.[1] When his father died in 1733, Murdock acquired all of his landholdings.
In 1737 he first served in public office as sheriff of Prince George's County.[2] At the time of his first election he was recorded to have owned 3,291 acres of land in Prince George's County.[3] Murdock served as sheriff until 1740.[4]
In 1748 Murdock enlisted in Capt. George Beall's Troop of Horse, representing Prince George's County.[4] He would go on to serve in Maryland's lower house, representing Prince George's County from 1749 to1751.[4] From 1749 to 1769 he served as burgess for Prince George's County.[5]
In 1755, Murdock's first wife Anne died.[6] On January 1, 1757, Murdock married Anne's first cousin, Margaret Dulany, the widow of Alexander Hamilton and daughter of Daniel Dulany the Elder, one of Maryland's most prominent families.[1]
Stamp Act Congress
[edit]In 1765 when protests over the Stamp Act resulted in calling a Congress of the several colonies in New York City, the Maryland Assembly sent Murdock as one of its delegates.[7][8] Delegates from the Stamp Act Congress later produced the Declaration of Rights and Grievances.
Murdock died on October 17, 1769, at his home, Padsworth Farm, in Prince George's County, Maryland.[9] At the time of his death, he was known to have at least 11 slaves and 2 indentured servants. His property holdings included at least 5,263 acres in Prince George's and Frederick counties, as well as lots in Annapolis.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Archives of Maryland, Volume 0426, Page 0606 - A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789 by Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ "Past Sheriffs". Prince George's County Sheriff's Office. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Archives of Maryland, Volume 0426, Page 0607 - A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789 by Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ a b c "Archives of Maryland, Volume 0426, Page 0607 - A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789 by Edward C. Papenfuse, et. al". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ Klepeis, Alicia (4 September 2019). Stamp Act Congress. Mitchell Lane. ISBN 978-1-5457-4612-7.
- ^ "NINTH GENERATION". msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ "The Tobacco County". www.pghistory.org. Prince George's County Tricentennial. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ Assembly, Maryland General (1945). Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly of Maryland. Maryland Historical Society.
- ^ Barnes, Robert William (1980). Maryland Genealogies: A Consolidation of Articles from the Maryland Historical Magazine. Genealogical Publishing Company. p. 246. ISBN 978-0-8063-0886-9.
External links
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