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Thomas Murray family papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-2000-017
 

Thomas Murray family papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-2000-017

These papers document the life of Irish immigrant Thomas Murry and his work in Boston as a Catholic undertaker and bookseller. Materials include correspondence, accounting papers, legal documents, and tax bills.

Correspondence contains letters to and from members of the Murray family. Many are from relatives in Ireland, and several concern the Murrays' guardianship of John Quarry. Early correspondence was sent to the Murrays care of John Cheverus, Bishop of Boston.

Thomas Murray's undertaking documents include account books, fee listings, receipts, and burial and exhumation requests, while his bookselling materials mainly comprise letters accompanying shipments of books with instructions for resale. Murray also noted the birth dates of all of his children in one of his undertaking account books (Box 2, Folder 2).

Lastly, a few business and travel documents for Murray's son, Thomas Selvarus are included.

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research, except for Thomas Murray's undertaking ledger, which is available digitially.

Dates
Creation: 1814 - 1857
Extent
2.25 Linear Feet (2 containers )
Related Names
Murray, Thomas
Murray, Thomas S. (Thomas Selvarus)
Heffernan, Paul P.
Language of Materials
English

Family correspondence, 1817 - 1852

 File — Box: 1, Folder: 1-2
Dates
Creation: 1817 - 1852

Thomas Murray citizenship, 1814 May 18

 File — Box: 1, Folder: 3
Dates
Creation: 1814 May 18
Dates
Creation: 1822 - 1824

Thomas Murray bookselling, 1825 - 1829

 File — Box: 1, Folder: 4-6
Dates
Creation: 1825 - 1829

Thomas Murray undertaking ledger, 1832 - 1840

 File — Box: 2, Folder: 3
Identifier: MS2000_017_81378
Restrictions on Access

Box 2 Folder 3 is closed due to conservation concerns.

Dates
Creation: 1832 - 1840
Dates
Creation: 1836 April 26