• General Notes

  Came to America in 1772 Known as " Pocket Kenneth" fathered no less than 21 children. Eight children by Catherine McIver and thirteen by his second wife Catherine Campbel.
  Children with Catherine Campbell: Murdock MURCHISON b: Abt 1801 in Moore County,North Carolina,USA
  Catherine MURCHISON b: 1803 in Moore County,North Carolina,USA
  Alexander MURCHISON b: Abt 1803 in Moore County,North Carolina,USA
  Flora MURCHISON b: Abt 1805 in Moore County,North Carolina,USA
  Daniel MURCHISON b: Abt 1815 in Moore County,North Carolina,USA
  Lydia MURCHISON b: Abt 1817 in Moore County,North Carolina,USA
  Rebecca MURCHISON b: Abt 1817 in Moore County,North Carolina,USA
  Jinnet Lei [Jennet] MURCHISON b: Abt 1818 in Moore County,North Carolina,USA
  Aaron MURCHISON b: Abt 1821 in Moore County,North Carolina,USA
  Christian MURCHISON b: 5 MAR 1825 in Moore County,North Carolina,USA
  
  
  Obituary: Source: SON Raleigh Regiuster July/29/1834 pg.3 colum 6.  Died on the 7th inst. In his 81st year of age, in July of 1834. Mr. Kinnith Murchison, a native of the Highlands of Scotland, and for many years a member of the Presbyterian Church. Tired of the usurped power of the British Yoke, the deceased immigrated to this, his adopted country, at an early age and settled in Moore County, in this state, where he died as he had lived, the noblest work of God an honest man.
  Revolutionary War Military Service 27 FEB 1776 Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge
  Event: 24 Apr 1782 Military Service 1782 Royal North Carolina Regiment at Ft. Arbuthnot
  
  
  was written, 2 May, 1953
  in the Sanford Herald.  There are about three of you who are descendants of Pocket Kenneth, but
  the article may be of interest to many of you.    Cornelia
  
                                Plantation's Owner Had 22 Children
                                               By Mary Medley
  
  It still stands beside a creek on the shores of Pocket Creek.  And it is in amazingly wonderful
  shape considering its long and colorful history.  The old Kenneth Murchison homestead now is in
  the center of a good tobacco land, broken up into many farms.
  
  These farms were once a large plantation owned by Murchison, and centered by the house, built
  between 1790 and 1800.
  
  Murchison is said to have owned hundreds of acres and many slaves.  He fathered 22 children by
  two wives.
  
  Interestingly enough, the present inhabitants of the house-Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Holt-have 11
  children and 22 grandchildren.  Two of their six sons are in the armed forces.
  
  Kenneth Murchison married Catherine McIver and to them were born 12 children.  This first
  wife died about 1800.  Kenneth later married Susan Catherine Campbell, who bore him 10
  children.
  
  A large wisteria vine covers the front porch of this house.  It has had to be cut back and trimmed
  down because of its thickness.  The vine has been growing for many years Mrs. Holt says.
  
                                          Sheriff Of Moore
  
  The Murchison family, original owners, were prominent in the history of Moore county.  Records
  indicate, Kenneth Murchison's son, Duncan, was sheriff of Moore county 1810-24.  He was also
  a member of the General Assembly.  Many Lee county residents are descendents of this family.
  
  Some of Kenneth's sons emigrated to other southern states.
  
  While records show Duncn was a member of the Assembly in 1840, another records shows John
  Murchison, a relative, in the law-making body as early as 1812 and again in 1825.
  
  Duncan Murchison made a business trip to Nova Scotia about 1833, which was quite a trip for
  this period.  He presumably went by boat from Wilmington or Norfolk.
  
                                                    Large Grain Mill
  
  A large grain mill stood for years across the creek near the house.  This was removed only a few
  years ago.
  
  The history of the home during the bulk of the nineteenth century is rather vague.  A Moore
  couty business directory compiled by a man named Branson in 1898 has this home and plantation
  listed as owned by James D. (Dixon) Henley.
  
  According  to the late Jim Henley, his son, James D. Henley bought the house from Sheriff
  Kenneth Worthy of Moore county, grandson of Kenneth Murchison.
  
  In speaking of his home place, the late Jim Henley would recall points of interest from his
  boyhood and the turpentine industry, which flourished in those days.
  
                                               7 Miles from Sanford
  
  Pocket Township was listed in the 1898 directory as being seven miles northeast of Carthage.
  The Murchison-Henley house was located seven miles from present day Sanford.  The population
  of the township that year was listed as 25. (25 is not clear)  Newton Poe was the postmaster.
  There was a Presbyterian Church.  William Arnold was the physician.  Tom I. Hall ran a sawmill.
  O.B. Murchison a turpentine distillery and J.D. Scott a general store.
  
  Branson described it as a section  capable of definite improvement.
  
  The late Jim Henley lived at the old Murchison place for over 50 years.  He would recall how
  farmers used to run turpentine and sell it to the Murchison distillery.
  
  First, he said a strong Negro man went through the woods cutting boxes out of the large,
  productive looking long leaf pines.  The short leaf was never a good producer of turpentine, it
  was never touched.  The number of boxes cut depended on the size of the tree.
  
  The next step was to cut streaks above the box with a hack.  This had to be done once a week for
  about three weeks.
  
                                               Off to  Distillery
  
  When the turpentine run had filled the box, hands went around with dippers and buckets were
  poured into barrels which were tighly closed and taken to the distillery.
  
  This early Moore county farm, now in Lee, shipped turpentine all over the South, Mr. Henley
  would recall.  It was described as hard work, but was then engaged in by most farmers of the
  South as a money maker.
  
  Turpentine no longer is a money industry in this section.  Something new has taken its place-
  tobacco.  The golden leaf is now the money crop of the Holts, like most other farmers in this and
  other southern areas of Lee county.
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Under the title, Turpentine Days Recalled By House 153 Years Old, are two pictures.  One of the
  house, and the other of a young man standing hand hewn beams.  The captions read, HERE US
  THE STURDY OLD HENLEY-MURCHISON HOUSE, standing, occupied and good for,
  maybe another century.  It was built in the 1790's, is located near Tramway.
  FLOYD HOLT,  son of the present owner, points to the heavy hand hewn beans of the
  Henley-Murchison house to show how every joint was morticed and fitted together ?tenen.  It
  was built for permanence.  Most of the floor joists were planed only on top.
  
  mpbells Company. He alsoFrom "Mesquite Historical & Genealogical Society Quarterly," Volume 4 No 4, December 1971.
  
  Letter from Duncan Murchison to his nephew, Finlay Murchison. Moore County, North Carolina, February 6, 1833. (Contributed by Mary Murchison McCullough, 936 S. Bryan, Mesquite, Texas.)
  
  "Dear Friend, I again embrace the opportunity of writing to you, and informing you and my other relations in that country of my present good health and also of that of my family which blessings we have enjoyed in a tolerable degree ever since I wrote to you last. I wrote you a letter about two years ago to which I have received no return. I will now let you know the situation of my family. My three youngest daughters and my youngest son are living with myself. My second son, RODERICK, is now living about 100 miles from me in Stock [sic] County in this State. He practices law and teaches school. Last May he was married to a Dutch girl by the name of BLUM. I have not seen him for near two years though I hear from him frequently. He and his family are well. JOHN's widow and children are living in Hazetvill [Fayetteville] now. They stay with me two or three months every summer. They are now in good health. My daughter MARGARET lives three miles from me. She has 4 boys and two girls. They are well and doing well. My daughter NANCY is living 25 miles from me. She has six children, 3 boys and 3 girls. They are in good health and doing well. [paragraph] I received a letter last fall from KENNETH MURCHISON, my brother-in-law, in Tennessee State. He and sister FLORA and MARGARET and their families are well and doing well. I have not seen FINLAY MACLENNAN in near two years. He has gone to South Carolina where he keeps a tannery, and I have had but one letter from him since he went to that part of the country. I understand he was married some time ago to a girl by the name of DOUGLAS. NIEL MACLENNAN is living about 150 miles from me. I saw one of his neighbors last Saturday. He and his family were well. He is doing very well. He has a negro man working in the iron works. He has two plantations though he work at his trade. OLD KENNETH MURCHISON, Pocket Creek, is well as to health. He is getting very weak of old age. His family are well and doing well. His sons that have left him are well and doing well. KENNETH MURCHISON and family are well. The last time I saw him he was talking of sending home assistance to his brother's son to bring him to America. DANIEL MURCHISON is well. All your other friends are well in this country as far as I know... I have had from that country where my sister Annabella lives at all. Give my respects to all inquiring friends in your country. Nothing more at present, only I remain, Your affectionate uncle, until death, DUNCAN MURCHISON. You will direct your letters to me, Pocket Post Office, Moore County, North Carolina, America."
  
  fought at the battle of Cane Creek.
  

Details of Kinnith's family with Catherine McIver

Details of Kinnith's family with Catherine Campbell