Memorial of Thomas Hamilton Murray.
“On June 5, 1908, Thomas Hamilton Murray, editor, genealogist and historian, died at his home in Sea View in the town of Marshfield, Massachusetts, in the fifty-first year of his age.
“He was one of the founders of the American Irish Historical Society and its Secretary-General from the date of its organization until his death. During his administration the Society grew in numbers and influence, pursuing its good work and historical researches into most of the states of the Union, until he saw it occupying the foremost place in this country of any organization engaged in similar work. He was proud of the Society and gave it his best efforts. To him every individual member was personally known, and he took pride in stimulating each with a sense of the responsibility undertaken in making better known the Irish chapter in American history.
“Mr. Murray obtained his early education in the public schools of Newton, Cambridge and Boston, Mass., and, when he reached his majority, chose journalism as his profession. He was a close observer, a ready writer and possessed a style direct and attractive. The seven volumes of the Journal edited by him bear eloquent testimony to his literary ability. For a while he contributed educational, literary and historical articles to the Boston Pilot and enjoyed the coöperation and friendship of its then editor, John Boyle O’Reilly; later he became a member of the staff of the Boston Globe, where he remained several years. Ben Palmer was editor of the Globe at that time, and the Globe office was one of the best schools of journalism in the country. With a well-regulated mind and a strong constitution, Mr. Murray worked hard and the training there obtained well fitted him for the life work he had undertaken and the filling of important positions to which he was later called.
“After leaving the Globe, Mr. Murray became court reporter for the Boston Daily Star, then editor of the Roxbury Advocate, and afterwards editor of the Daily Advertiser, a morning paper at Shelton, Conn. He next became night editor of the Morning News, of Bridgeport, Conn., but soon returned to day work and became editor of the Daily Record at Meriden, Conn., where he remained until called to the editorial chair of the Evening and Sunday Telegram at Providence, R. I. After five years in this position, he became editor of the Lawrence Daily Sun, and four years later took charge of the Evening Call at Woonsocket.
“He had long taken a deep interest in historical studies, particularly in relation to the events and epochs of persons of Irish extraction, and his lectures and writings showed not only his devotion to his subjects, but a wide range of learning and research as well as a high order of literary ability. In addition to his invaluable work for this Society he was the author of many historical works, some of which are as follows:
“The Libraries of Boston: Public, Semi-Public and Probate. (Boston, 1882.)
“The Old Schoolmasters of Boston. (Boston, 1884.)
“The Mason Name in New England History. (Boston, 1884.)
“The Thayer Name in America. (Boston, 1884.)
“The Irish Element in Connecticut. (Bridgeport, Ct., 1888.)
“From Dawn to Revolution. (Boston, 1889.)
“Thirty Historic American Families of Irish Extraction. (Boston, 1889.)
“Reminiscences of Life Along Narragansett’s Shores. (Providence, R. I., 1890.)
“Rambles in Rhode Island’s South County. (Providence, 1891.)
“Some Early Irish Members of the Society of Friends in Rhode Island. (Providence, 1894.)
“The Dorrance Purchase—An Irish Leaf from Rhode Island History. (Boston, 1895.)
“The Dunlevy Family in Irish History; Sketch of the Clan’s Patrimony in Ancient Ulidia. (Lawrence, Mass., 1895.)
“David O’Killia (O’Kelly), the Irishman; A Pioneer Settler at Yarmouth, Mass., as early as 1675. (Boston, 1895.)
“Concerning the McGuinness, McGinnis Name. (Providence, R. I., 1895.)
“The Irish Chapter in the History of Brown University. (Providence, 1896.)
“The Dempsey Name, Old and Puissant. (Denver, Col., 1898.)
“The Irish Soldiers in King Philip’s War—“Great Swamp” Fight. (New York City, 1896.)
“The First Regiment, Pennsylvania Line, In the Revolution. (Boston, 1896.)
“The Irish Morrisons; A Glance at the Origin of the Clan Name, Together with Reference to the Family’s Patrimony in the Ancient Kingdom of Connacht. (Lawrence, Mass., 1896.)
“Some Patricks of the Revolution. (New York City, 1896–’97.)
“Five Colonial Irish Rhode Islanders. (Providence, 1897.)
“Some Facts Concerning the Irish Washingtons. (Boston, 1898.)
“Early Irish Schoolmasters in Rhode Island. (Washington, D. C., 1898.)
“The French Chapter in American History. (Boston, 1899.)
“Matthew Watson, an Irish Settler of Barrington, R. I., 1723. (Boston, 1900.)
“The Irish Moss Gatherers of Scituate, Mass. (New York City, 1900.)
“The Irish at the Battle of Bunker Hill, 1775. (Boston, 1900.)
“A Point Made Clear—The Brecks of Dorchester, Mass. (Boston, 1901.)
“Irish Settlers, Previous to 1742, in Portsmouth, N. H. (Boston, 1901.)
“The Story of Miss Fitzgerald. (Boston, 1901.)
“The Romance of Sarah Alexander. (New York City, 1901.)
“Early Irish in the Plymouth Colony. (Boston, 1901.)
“Charles MacCarthy, a Rhode Island Pioneer, 1677. (Somerset, O., 1901.)
“Thomas Casey of Ireland and Rhode Island, 1636–1719. (Boston, 1901.)
“The Voyage of The Seaflower—from Ireland to Boston, 1741. (Boston, 1902.)
“Early Irish Educators of American Youth. (San Francisco, Cal., 1902.)
“A Glance at the Vanguard—Irish Pioneers in Colonial Massachusetts. (Boston, 1902.)
“Richard Dexter, a Forgotten Irish Pioneer of Boston, Mass., 1641. (New York City, 1902.)
“Hugh Gaine, Irishman, New York Publisher, 1752–1809. (Boston, 1902.)
“Gen. John Sullivan and the Battle of Rhode Island. (Providence, 1902.)
“The American Not an ‘Anglo-Saxon’ People. (Boston, 1902.)
“To the American Irish Historical Society he was ever loyal and faithful. No call for service came to him in its behalf to which he did not respond. The highest office in the Society he might have had and political preferment could have been his from the appreciative citizens of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, but he turned from them lest his time and efforts might be diverted from that branch of history he loved so well. As long as his strength held out, he was in the harness serving the Society and, at our last annual meeting in New York, unable to walk, he was carried from the Grand Central Depot to the Manhattan Hotel, and there he conducted to the end the magnificent dinner and entertainment that followed the meeting. The effort was almost fatal, and during the night loving and tender friends watched over him but, by determined will, he rallied and reached his pretty villa at Sea View from which he never departed again in life. In all his work for the Society, he was ably assisted by his noble wife, Mary H. Sullivan Murray, a lady of great intelligence and refinement, who took up the work of the Secretary-General and faithfully maintained it until a member could be selected to relieve her. In paying our deep tribute to her husband, it would be amiss not to mention the faithful wife and assistant who now mourns with us his loss.
“We wish to record here the great benefits which we have received from the work and services of our first Secretary-General and pay tribute to his learning and ability; we further record the deep sorrow with which we look upon his vacant place, and, lastly, we record our loving tribute of affection for Thomas Hamilton Murray as a man, fearless, honest and faithful, an upright citizen and an earnest member of the Society.
“‘The soil out of which such men as he are made is good to be born on, good to live on, good to die for and be buried in.’”
Resolved, That the American Irish Historical Society, in appreciation of the services and efforts in its behalf by Thomas Hamilton Murray, late Secretary-General, unanimously adopts the minute prepared by Mr. Lee, orders that it be spread in full upon the records of the Society, and that a copy of the same under the seal of the Society be presented to the widow, Mrs. Mary H. Sullivan Murray.
The following are a few of the many letters received by Mrs. Murray immediately before and after the death of our late Secretary-General:
New York, May 9, 1908.
Dear Mrs. Murray: I am pained to learn of Mr. Murray’s low condition. You have my heartfelt sympathy. Mr. Magrath has just called, and spoke of his visit. I am still hoping that Mr. Murray will rally.
I am writing Mr. Lee of Providence to call, as I understand Mr. Murray wishes to see some member of the Society.
We have missed Mr. Murray greatly the last few months and will miss him always, for he may be considered as the founder of that honorable association of men, the American Irish Historical Society.
With the assurance of my esteem and regard together with my sincere sympathy, I am, dear madam.
Very truly yours,
John D. Crimmins.
Mrs. Thomas Hamilton Murray,
Humarock Beach, Sea View, Mass.
(Telegram.)
New York, June 5, 1908.
Mrs. T. H. Murray,
Sea View, Mass.
We tender you our deepest sympathy in this hour of your great bereavement. Will attend funeral.
Francis J. Quinlan.
(Telegram.)
New York, June 5, 1908.
Mrs. M. H. S. Murray,
Sea View, Mass.
Sincere and profound sympathy on the death of your husband.
John D. Crimmins.
New York, June 6, 1908.
Michael J. Jordan, Esq.,
3 DeWolfe Street, Dorchester, Mass.
Dear Mr. Jordan: I have received the news of Mr. Thomas Hamilton Murray’s death with profound regret, and am very sorry that an important engagement for Monday will prevent my going to Boston for the funeral.
I beg you will convey to Mr. Murray’s family my sincere sympathy and condolence in their sad bereavement.
RIGHT REVEREND PHILIP J. GARRIGAN, D. D.
Bishop of Sioux City, Ia.
Vice-President of the Society for Iowa.
We have all suffered a great loss in his death; and the noble work he carried forward so devotedly in developing the Irish chapter in American history will not readily find again as zealous or able an advocate. He had been the steady reliance of the Society. The patriotic work he did will long be a pride and glory to the race he loved and the cause so faithfully served.
With profound regret and sincerely sympathizing with all his friends and fellow members, I am,
Faithfully yours,
Jno. J. Lenehan.
Elizabeth, N. J., June 7, 1908.
Dear Mrs. Murray: Accept my sincere condolences on the death of your dear husband, which I read in the New York Herald this morning with profound sorrow.
We have lost a noble and a true friend to the American Irish Historical Society. In looking back over the past it is consoling to think his life has been a most exemplary one. How much better would our communities be, if we had more such men as your husband. His good and simple life was a model for all. He was a man whose character was the soul of buoyancy and kindness.
With deep grief,
I remain respectfully,
James L. O’Neill.
220 Franklin Street.
Hartford, Conn., June 8, 1908.
Mr. Michael J. Jordan,
3 DeWolfe Street, Dorchester, Mass.
Dear Sir: Your telegram received, and I regret exceedingly that I was unable to reach Boston in time for Secretary Murray’s funeral.
I was very, very sorry to hear of his death, and while it is a great loss to his family, our Society has lost a very valuable member. Please convey my sympathy to the family.
I do not know what the circumstances of the family are, but certainly the Society if necessary should do something to assist them at this time. I know that in his home loving hands did all they could for him and it is for the Society to assist financially if necessary.
Very truly yours,
Patrick Garvan.
New York, June 9, 1908.
Michael J. Jordan, Esq.,
3 DeWolfe Street, Dorchester, Mass.
My dear Mr. Jordan: Your telegram notifying me of the time of Mr. Murray’s funeral reached me yesterday morning on my return to the city. I regret exceedingly the untimely death of our friend. He was a devoted and whole-souled worker in the cause of historic truth. I have never met anyone who surpassed him in zeal and unselfishness. He leaves vacant a place in the ranks of the lovers of the Irish race and the adherents of the Catholic Church which it will be hard to fill.
I have not the address of his family. May I ask you kindly to extend to them my heartfelt sympathy?
Yours very truly,
Edward J. McGuire.
Providence, R. I., June 22, 1908.
Mrs. Thomas Hamilton Murray,
Carlton Road, Sea View, Mass.
Dear Mrs. Murray: I am very sorry to learn of the death of Mr. Murray. I did not hear of it till it was too late for me to attend the funeral to show the respect and esteem I have felt for him from the first time I met him, several years before the American Irish Historical Society was organized. From that time to this our relations were most cordial and my most sincere sympathy is extended to yourself and your family for the great loss you have sustained. It is a great loss. You and your family have not alone felt this loss, but everyone who had or has any interest in American Irish history must also recognize it. It will be hard to get a man to fill his place in this latter capacity. Again let me express my sincere sympathy with you in your bereavement.
Let me thank you for the return of the pictures that I received last Saturday. I was thinking, before their receipt, where I would send a letter addressed to you expressive of my sympathy at your loss but could not make up my mind where to send it. I saw the Sea View postmark on the envelope over the pictures and I send this to that address.
Yours very respectfully, and in sincere sympathy,
James Moran.
26 South Water Street.
Liverpool, England, July 9, 1908.
Dear Mrs. Murray: I have only now heard of dear Tom Murray’s death and I am so grieved over it that I can hardly contain myself to write you this letter.
While his demise was not entirely unexpected it is nevertheless a great shock, and I hasten to extend my deep and heartfelt sympathy in this your time of sorrow. You have lost a good and worthy husband and I a true friend, of whom I was very fond, and I’m sorry that I was far away from home when he was taken by loving and tender hands to his last resting place.
A clipping from a newspaper sent by my mother told the sad story. She sent it several days ago, but as I have been going about from place to place the news missed me till now.
May God bless and protect you is my humblest wish for you this night.
Yours with much sorrow,
Thomas Z. Lee.
New York, July 11, 1908.
Mrs. Thomas Hamilton Murray,
48 Carlton Road, Sea View, Mass.
Dear Madam: I am just in receipt of a journal of the American Irish Historical Society with printed request that I acknowledge it to the Secretary-General. Would that I could, and that he were still with us! I learned some weeks ago of his death and I beg to offer you my sincere sympathy and pray Our Lady, the Consoler of the Afflicted, to comfort you and the Lord to grant him His reward, the reward of the faithful and just.
Respectfully yours,
D. P. Murphy, Jr.
New York, July 13, 1908.
Mrs. T. H. Murray,
Humarock Beach, Sea View, Mass.
Dear Madam: I received the Journal of the American Irish Historical Society, Volume VII, 1907, and beg leave to thank you for the same. It is admirably gotten up in Mr. Murray’s usual good style and nicely illustrated, and well bound.
It is like all the previous numbers, a monument to the great ability and devoted industry of your husband. His loss to the Society is indeed very great. His devotion to the work of this Society endeared him to all who knew of his earnest efforts, and his work in its behalf has made for him a most enduring monument.
Very truly yours,
Jno. J. Lenehan.
The following memorial to the late Major John Crane, prepared by Hon. Eugene A. Philbin, was also unanimously adopted, and it was voted to send a copy thereof to the family of Major Crane: