John McMurtry was born about 1745 in Augusta County, Virginia. He was married in 1770 to Mary Todd Hutton. Their known children:

• James was born on 17 November 1771 and married Elizabeth Jewell.
• Alexander was born in 1774 and married Mary Smith.
• Samuel was born in 1776 and married Jemima Rose.
• William was born on 4 March 1779 and married Pricilla Sharp.
• John was born on 16 April 1782.
• Joseph was born on 3 July 1786 and married Lucy Madison.
• Mary was born on 12 November 1788 and married Samuel Hogue.
• Sarah was born on 11 May 1791 and married William Sharp. Keeping in mind John made his Will on 6 September 1790, she would have been conceived about the same time, so she would not have appeared in the Will.

According to the book John McMurtry and the American Indian, Bryant Station, near Lexington, Kentucky, was under threat from the British and Native American troops. In November 1782, Daniel Boone led a group of armed men from Boonesboro determined Bryant Station couldn’t hold out and took assembled forces to the Station. John McMurtry was among those troops. The British had ordered a retreat towards the Blue Licks on the Licking River. Realizing the enemy had left, the Americans pursued them. When they ricked the Licking River, Boone was against crossing it, fearing an ambush. Others were enthusiastic, and soon the men were crossing the river. They rode about a mile before being ambushed by a battle that lasted about fifteen minutes and left a third of the men dead, and seven captured.

It was first believed that John McMurtry was killed, but when they didn’t find his body, they assumed he had been taken, prisoner. No word was heard for months until John finally returned home about August 1783.

In 1790, General Josiah Harmar ordered an expedition against the Wabash tribe in the areas of western Ohio and Indiana. The army had over a thousand militiamen and over 300 federal troops, which assembled at Fort Washington near Cincinnati. John McMurtry was a captain of a company of Kentucky militia and marched to join the forces at the end of September. By October 14, the army was camped on Loramie Creek on the Miami River. On October 20^th, General Harmar sent a detachment of 300 men to investigate reports of a large encampment of Native American troops. Eight miles from their camp, the detachment was ambushed, and twenty men were killed. The following day General Harmar ordered a retreat. However, Colonel Hardin took 400 men and marched all night to locate the Native American troops. First thing in the morning, they came upon the encampment of more than 800 of the enemy.

Colonel Hardin sent communication back to General Harmar requesting more troops for his planned attack. Harmar ignored the request, and Hardin never knew support was not forthcoming. Colonel McMullen, who was with Hardin, took his troops down the river following a group of Native Americans. This left Hardin’s men and those of Major Hall to engage their opponents. Hardin and Hall were no match to the Native American troops, and at least 89 men were killed. Among those dead was Captain John McMurtry, who is believed he was among the men buried on the banks of the Maumee River in modern-day Allen County, Indiana.

He made his Last Will and Testament on 6 September 1790 in Mercer County, Virginia [now Kentucky]. In his will, he named his heirs as his wife Mary and children: James, Alexander, William, John, Joseph [a minor], and Mary. Each of the sons received an enslaved person. The Will was proven in court in 1791.

Sources:

1. McMurtry, Richard Keith, John McMurtry and the American Indian, Issues Publications, 1980, pages 36-38, 61-63.
2. Harding, Margery Heberling, George Rogers Clark, and his Men, Military Records, 1778-1784, Kentucky, Frankfort: Kentucky Historical Society, 1981, page 102, 209.
3. Mercer County, Virginia Will Book 1, page 52: Will of John McMurtry. In the Will, he names his wife Mary and children: James Alexander, William, John, Joseph [youngest son], and Mary. There is no mention of a daughter Sarah. The Will was proven in court in 1791.