Family Tales About The Murrays
As soon as we have sufficient stories, they will be placed on a separate
page.
How John Lightning Came By His Nickname
John "Lightning" Murray was the eldest son and second eldest child of the progenitor – John Murray of South Africa. He was born in Cape Town on 25 January, 1818 and died near Three Sisters in the Karroo in 1882.
His elder sister, Margaret, who was born in Cape Town on 1 March, 1816, died in Stellenbosch on 28 June, 1833.
John was a schoolmaster by profession and taught at various locations in the old Cape Colony (today known as the provinces of Northern Cape, Western Cape and Eastern Cape). He taught at Franschhoek, Bredasdorp, Napier and Worcester (in the Western Cape) and Victoria West in the Northern Cape.
The Victoria West Messenger of 13 November, 1882 reports:
KILLED BY LIGHTNING -- A very sad death, caused by lightning, took place on Friday, the 3rd inst., on the road from Grootfontein to Pampoenfontein. It appears that on that day Mr John Murray left the latter place for his residence at Uilspoort. He was traveling quite alone in an open cart and two horses. He reached Grootfontein in the afternoon, and left again about half past three. On Monday morning Mr de Bruyn found him dead behind a bush along the road, and from all appearances it seems that the deceased must have got off his cart during the storm which raged shortly after he left Grootfontein, and took shelter behind the bush, where he was killed by lightning; part of his beard being burned off, a hole was found in his hat, and the bush was singed. Deceased was for many years a teacher in this district, and was well known and deservedly respected. He leaves a wife and several children.
He left the following children: Barbara Christina, Martha Isabella Gysberta, Anna Geertruyda, Izak Johannes, John Herman, Hermanus Izak Johannes and Helena Josina Margaretha.
About 100 years after the death of John Lightning, a few of his descendants started researching the John Murray family of South Africa. They were the Reverent Samuel Murray (Snr) of Jeffrey’s Bay; his son Peter of Riebeeckstad; and a third cousin, Percival Murray from Durbanville. Since there were so many antecedents named John Murray, the researchers started confusing the various Johns with each other and sometimes had a hard time placing the correct John in the correct place. It was then that Percy decided to name the schoolmaster who had been killed by a bolt of lightning "John Lightning".
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