Hardy Murfree
Encyclopedia
Hardy Murfree was a Lieutenant Colonel from North Carolina
during the American Revolutionary War
.
Murfree was born at Murfree's Landing, North Carolina, later renamed Murfreesboro
, where he lived for most of his adult life. His parents were William Murfree and Mary Moore. Hardy Murfree's first name is sometimes spelled "Hardee", and some of his descendants spell their last name "Murphrey" or "Murphy".
of the Continental Army
. The regiment was commanded by Colonel Robert Howe
, who was later a major general. Murfree saw action at the Battle of Monmouth
on 28 June 1778, and achieved his greatest renown for leading a successful diversionary attack against British defenses in the Battle of Stony Point
on July 15, 1779. He was then a major serving under General Anthony Wayne
, and was soon thereafter promoted to lieutenant colonel.
On July 17, 1781, British forces led by Banastre Tarleton
and Tarleton's Raiders
attacked Maney's Neck on the Meherrin River
near Murfree's Landing. Murfree led the militia that repulsed the attack at Skinner's Bridge.
(1850–1922)
His wife Sally died on March 29, 1802.
As a young man, Murfree became a member of the North Carolina chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati
. He was a Freemason for all of his adult life, active in both North Carolina and Tennessee
.
Around 1807 he migrated to Williamson County, Tennessee
, living on land granted to him after the American Revolution, and remained there until his death in 1809. In 1811 the Tennessee State Legislature renamed the town of Cannonsburgh to Murfreesboro
in his honor.
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Murfree was born at Murfree's Landing, North Carolina, later renamed Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro, North Carolina
Murfreesboro is a town in Hertford County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,045 at the 2000 census. Murfreesboro is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region.-Geography:Murfreesboro is located at ....
, where he lived for most of his adult life. His parents were William Murfree and Mary Moore. Hardy Murfree's first name is sometimes spelled "Hardee", and some of his descendants spell their last name "Murphrey" or "Murphy".
Military career
Murfree, a lieutenant in the Hertford County militia when the Revolutionary War began, was commissioned on September 1, 1775, as a captain in the 2nd North Carolina Regiment2nd North Carolina Regiment
The 2nd North Carolina Regiment was raised on September 1, 1775 at New Bern, North Carolina for service with the Continental Army. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth and the Siege of Charleston. The regiment would be captured by the...
of the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
. The regiment was commanded by Colonel Robert Howe
Robert Howe
Robert Howe may refer to:* Robert Howe , Scottish international football player* Robert Howe , Major-General in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War...
, who was later a major general. Murfree saw action at the Battle of Monmouth
Battle of Monmouth
The Battle of Monmouth was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The Continental Army under General George Washington attacked the rear of the British Army column commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton as they left Monmouth Court...
on 28 June 1778, and achieved his greatest renown for leading a successful diversionary attack against British defenses in the Battle of Stony Point
Battle of Stony Point
The Battle of Stony Point was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on the night of July 15–16, 1779. A select force of Continental Army infantry made a coordinated surprise night attack and stormed a fortified position of the British Army on the Hudson River south of West Point, New...
on July 15, 1779. He was then a major serving under General Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
, and was soon thereafter promoted to lieutenant colonel.
On July 17, 1781, British forces led by Banastre Tarleton
Banastre Tarleton
General Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet, GCB was a British soldier and politician.He is today probably best remembered for his military service during the American War of Independence. He became the focal point of a propaganda campaign claiming that he had fired upon surrendering Continental...
and Tarleton's Raiders
Tarleton's Raiders
The British Legion was the name given to a British provincial regiment established during the American Revolution and composed of Loyalist American infantry and cavalry...
attacked Maney's Neck on the Meherrin River
Meherrin River
The Meherrin River is a long river in the U.S. states of Virginia and North Carolina. It begins in central Virginia, about northwest of Emporia, and flows roughly east-southeast into North Carolina, where it joins the larger Chowan River....
near Murfree's Landing. Murfree led the militia that repulsed the attack at Skinner's Bridge.
Family
While home on recruiting duty, Major Murfree married Sally Brickell on February 17, 1780. They would have four children: William Hardy Murfree (1781), Fanny Noailles Murfree (1783), Mary Moore Murfree (1786) and Matthias Brickell Murfree (1788). Their great-granddaughter was the noted Tennessee writer Mary Noailles MurfreeMary Noailles Murfree
Mary Noailles Murfree was an American fiction writer of novels and short stories who wrote under the pen name Charles Egbert Craddock...
(1850–1922)
His wife Sally died on March 29, 1802.
As a young man, Murfree became a member of the North Carolina chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati
Society of the Cincinnati
The Society of the Cincinnati is a historical organization with branches in the United States and France founded in 1783 to preserve the ideals and fellowship of the American Revolutionary War officers and to pressure the government to honor pledges it had made to officers who fought for American...
. He was a Freemason for all of his adult life, active in both North Carolina and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
Around 1807 he migrated to Williamson County, Tennessee
Williamson County, Tennessee
Williamson County is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010 US Census, the population was 183,182. The County's seat is Franklin, and it is part of the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county is named after Hugh Williamson, a...
, living on land granted to him after the American Revolution, and remained there until his death in 1809. In 1811 the Tennessee State Legislature renamed the town of Cannonsburgh to Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro is a city in and the county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 108,755 according to the United States Census Bureau's 2010 U.S. Census, up from 68,816 residents certified during the 2000 census. The center of population of Tennessee is located in...
in his honor.