A. C. Murray

Andrew C. Murray

Daily Gleaner, July 17, 1879

'. . . and Mr. Andrew C. Murray gave some of his inimitable negro character-sketches which convulsed the audience with laughter.'

- one of the sons of Henry Garland and Caroline Murray
- possibly the eldest
Andrew Murray apparently took up his father's torch just less than a year after his father's death:

1878-1884

Daily Gleaner, January 14, 1878
Mr. Andrew C. Murray's lecture at the Gallery of Illustrations on Thursday evening we are happy to learn, was quite a success, The subject was
"Recollections of my early Days."
The audience was a large and highly respectable one. The matter, as well as the manner of delivery, was in no wise inferior to any of the lectures of the late father of the youthful lecturer. The evident appreciation of the effort by an audience so discriminating and capable of exercising a sound judgement is the best possible testimony to the rare ability of the very young gentleman who provided the intellectual entertainment. It may not be out of place to say that young Mr. Murray is, in the judgement of one who knew his father while yet a slip of a lad, the very impress of what the father then was. We wish the young man all the success he so eminently deserves.

Daily Gleaner, February 16, 1878
We are informed - for we were not able to be present - that Mr. Andrew C. Murray's Lecture, or "Reading," as he terms it, which took place at "The Gallery of Illustrations" (old Freemason's Hall) in Harbour Street, on Thursday evening, was a complete success, both in the delivery and in the number and respectability of the audience. The subject bore the singular title of "Puss Twenga" - the name, as we take it of some local celebrity. At the end of the Lecture, Mr. Murray announced his intention of making a lecturing tour through the Provinces. Before doing so, however, he will, on Tuesday evening, by particular request, repeat "Puss Twenga." We bespeak for him a good attendance.

Daily Gleaner, February 25, 1878
We learn from those who are capable of appreciation, that Mr, Andrew C. Murray's entertainment at Wallack's gallery, on Tuesday evening, was quite a success. Mr. Murray gave two readings - "PussTwenga," which was a repetition, and "Duppy da, tone Linnix House," an original piece, which were very successful. Mr. Murray starts on a provincial tour to-day, appearing first in Old Harbour, then in Chapelton, and afterwards in different places in the island, consecutively. We wish him abundant success.

Unfortunately there do not seem to be any reports in the Gleaner of Murray's tour around the island, and the next reference comes in December of 1878, but getting his name wrong!

Accounts and reports in the Gleaner dealing with Andrew C. Murray and his entertainments stopped appearing after 1884. The latest reference I have found so far was on December 15, 1884 -

"There will be a Musical and Literary Entertainment at St. George's School Room, tomorrow evening at 7 o'clock, with dialogues and recitations, and, Mr. Andrew C. Murray will deliver some short lectures."

Strangely there was never any account in the Gleaner of Andrew Murray leaving the island, or of his death, but a recently discovered reference may suggest what was the end to his career.

In an article in the Jamaica Journal in 1978, about Jamaicans in Panama, Olive Senior made reference to Murray performing there, and dying in Colon in 1886. The note suggests that it was H. G. Murray performing in Colon in the 1880s, however H. G. Murray had died in Kingston in 1877. The most likely suggestion must be that the 'Funny Murray' who died in Colon on March 13 1886, and whose death was reported in the Star and Herald, was Andrew C. Murray. It would seem that he probably visited Panama at some time in 1885, following his father's tradition, and then, sadly, had died like his father of a fever encountered on the Isthmus.

[I still hope to be able to confirm this supposition, but so far have not been able to access the archives of the Panama Star and Herald to do a search.]