John MURRAY

  General Notes:

Merchant
Source: William Murray's mariage certificate

Sanderson & Murray Ltd was established in 1844, in Roxburgh Street, Galashiels by John Murray (1819-1892) and William Sanderson (d 1880). John Murray was born in Jedburgh and worked in the family carrier's business. In 1839 he was employed at Galashiels as the local agent for Machell & Co, carriers between Edinburgh, Liverpool and Manchester. At the same time he set up in business on his own, buying waste from Borders wool manufacturers and selling it to the cloth makers in Yorkshire. Murray married the sister of William Sanderson of Sanderson & Paterson, builders in Low Buckholmside, and he and his brother-in-law went into partnership. William Sanderson provided the capital, and Murray had the expertise in wool trading. In1856 the company bought land and established premises in Low Buckholmside, and began fellmongering (selling of sheep-skins). That same year John Murray made a buying trip to Hamburg with his nephew, John Sanderson, and, in 1857, when Sanderson was only 20, Murray sent him on a buying trip to Australia and New Zealand; making him a partner a year later. On his return to Australia in 1858 it was decided that he should settle there. In Australia he traded as John Sanderson & Co and eventually went on to become independent of the parent company; expanding and establishing branches in other countries. Source: http://oldestscottishcompanies.wikispaces.com/Sanderson+%26+Murray

Family house, Glenmayne: Glenmayne House is an imposing Scot Baronial mansion house set in an elevated position above the River Tweed. It is an outstanding example of mid-Victorian Scots Baronial architecture. The house stands as an enduring testament to the energy and enterprise of its owner, John Murray of Galashiels. A local man of humble origin, John Murray became one of the greatest wool brokers in the world, and it is said that at one stage he distributed more than half the entire Australian wool crop. Glenmayne was meant to proclaim his wealth and standing within the Borders and no expense was spared in the construction.
In 1866, John Murray commissioned the most fashionable architect of his day, Charles Kinnear of the Pedle and Kinnear Partnership to design the house in the prevailing Scots Baronial style incorporating the finest architectural features of its day. Further improvements were made around 1913 when the family turned to the eminent architect, Sir Robert Lorimer to execute a sizeable extension to the house, incorporating a magnificent Library as well as the design of the imposing front gates on to the A7. It is understood that President Grant of United States visited and stayed at the house during his visit to Scotland as the guest of the Murray family. The house remained in the family until 1947 when it was sold to the College family, again a local mill owner.The current owner bought the property in January 2000 and has extensively refurbished and restored the property including the marble fountain and the lions to its former glory.

John married Isabella SANDERSON, daughter of SANDERSON and Unknown. (Isabella SANDERSON was born on 8 Aug 1819 and died on 27 Jan 1900 in Galashiels, Melrose, Roxburgh, Scotland.)