| As a
Lance Corporal
Murray's Regimental Pay per Diem would have been 1s. 2 1/2d. plus
Working Pay per Diem of 1s. to 4s.
It should be noted: He was
listed as Sapper in June 1861 Pay List. Rank of Lance Corporal
does not exist in 1861.
As a Sapper Murray's
Regimental Pay per Diem
would have been 1s. 2 1/2d. plus Working Pay per Diem of 1s. to 4s. |
Major Matthews (City Archivist)
said, "Well, when the RE went away, didn't they take all their
accoutrements away with them?"
|
Murray: |
"Those who went back to the
regiment did. But, there was a whole lot of uniforms,
accoutrements, short Enfield rifles, stores, which were left behind;
that remained at the Camp. All the equipment they left behind
remained at the Camp for years. We lived next door; that was
why Father was looking after those stores." |
|
Matthews: |
"Well, I thought he left the
RE when they went back."
|
|
Murray: |
"So he did, but the uniforms
and equipment was in the old Store next to our place; in the old
abandoned RE store building.
"Just previous to Governor
Seymour arriving, there was a company formed called the Seymour
Artillery, and the belts, pouches and sword (bayonet) and rifles
formerly belonging to the RE, which had been left behind, were
served out to the Seymour Artillery. I know, because Father
was one of the principles in the Seymour Artillery, and I saw it
done." |
--Memorandum
of conversation with John Murray,
son of Sapper John Murray RE.
Saturday, 20 August 1938 |
According to Woodward:
John Murray,
Regimental Number 509
1857 - Trade,
shoemaker
1858 - Travelled on Thames City with wife
1859 - Son,
Hugh, born on Thames City
|
We only averaged about five miles an hour, but don't
think the six-month voyage from England around the Horn was monotonous." Mr. Murray (Son of Lance Corporal Murray) told the Daily Province. " One
of the chief factors in whiling away the hours was the publishing of the
"Emigrant Soldier's Gazette and Cape Horn Chronicle". Published weekly by
Corporal Charles Sinnett and Lt. H.S. Palmer, the novel paper recorded all
the events and 'gossip' aboard, including four births (one in the midst of
a Cape Horn tornado), and two deaths. My brother John was born about two
months before we arrived at Esquimalt."
--12th
April, 1939
The Daily Province |
A few weeks after the arrival
of the HQ and the troops off the Thames City, Murray was part of a 6 man
crew shifting cargo on the wharf at new Westminster one dark and stormy
night.
|
New Westminster, BC
22nd May, 1859
Proceedings of an Inquest held at New
Westminster upon the body of a Soldier (Sapper Jones RE) which was
found floating in the Fraser River by Thomas Pamphlet of the "Brig
Cadborough" who reported the matter to the Stipendiary Magistrate.
A Jury having been summoned consisting of the following
persons - W. J. Armstrong, John T. Scott. T. W. English, Ernest Picht,
Thomas Moloney, R. Dickenson, Edgar Dewdney, W. G. Peacock, John Ramage,
L. Hoys, E. Brown, J. Kennedy.
The Jury having been duly sworn the following evidence was
taken -
1st Witness Thomas Pamphlet being duly sworn states, that
being on board the Brig Cadborough this morning about 9 o' clock, he
saw what he supposed to be a human body floating down the River, an
immediately took a boat to examine it and found it to be the body of
a Soldier in his working dress, he got assistance and took it on
board the boat.
2nd Witness Acting Quarter Master Sergeant Osment RE having
been duly sworn, states, he has examined the body, and by the
general appearance of it and the initials on the stockings he
believes it to be that of Sapper T. Jones, RE.
3rd Witness Sapper John Murray, RE, having been duly sworn
states that on Saturday the 27 April, I came down to New Westminster
from the North Camp in a boat under the orders of Quarter master
Sergeant Osment RE the crew consisting of six sappers including
Jones. We went alongside the Steamer Beaver and put the baggage of
Colonel Moody and Captain Parsons on board. We then went to the
Wharf and afterwards when crossing from the Steamer Governor Douglas
to the Beaver, I being I advance, heard a slash in the water and the
cry of a man overboard. This was about 9 o'clock pm. and on the men
being mustered we found that Sapper Jones was missing. From the
general appearance of the Corpse I saw today, I believe it to be
that of Sapper Jones.
Dr. Seddall, Staff Assistant Surgeon in medical advice states,
I have seen the body of the deceased and am of the opinion that he
came by his death by drowning. The contused state of the face and
head would lead to the belief, that he struck against the side of
the Steamer in his descent to the water. I am further of opinion
that eight or 10 days must have elapsed since the deceased met his
death.
After mature deliberation we the above have come to the
unanimous conclusion and return the following verdict - that the
deceased met with his death by drowning accidentally.
Signed,
Spaulding, JP and Coroner |
|
30 June 1861 - |
listed as Sapper on Consolidated Pay List |
|
1861 - |
Secretary of Fire Company, New Westminster |
|
1862 - |
on St. Andrew's Committee, New Westminster |
|
1866 - |
Serjeant, Seymour Artillery Company |
|
30 Nov. 1870 - |
received militray land grant, Lot 201, Group 1, New
Westminster District, 150 acres. |
|
1863 - |
Discharged, New Westminster |
|
1863 - 1882 - |
Shoemaker, New Westminster |
|
1882 - |
moved onto military grant which he subdivided, forming Port Moody,
British Columbia
|
|
13 April 1905 - |
Died, Port Moody, at the age of 72 |
| |
|
|
Survived by 3 sons and 3
daughters |
| 1913 - |
Son John and alderman,
Port Moody, at Incorporation |
|
1914 - 1918 |
councillor, Burnaby
|
|
1924 - 1925 |
councillor, Burnaby
|
|
