The Murfree Family
The story of the Murfree Family begins with the life and achievements of Colonel Hardy Murfree (1752-1809). He was a lieutenant colonel from North Carolina during the American Revolutionary War and led several successful attacks against the British. In 1780, he married Sally Brickell and they had four children: William Hardy Murfree, Mary Moore Murfree, Matthias Brickell, and Fanny Noailles Murfree. In 1807, Col. Murfree moved onto land granted to him after the war, in Williamson County, Tennessee. He remained there until his death in 1809. Two cities were named in his honor: Murfreesboro, TN and Murfreesboro, NC.
After Col. Hardy’s death, his daughter Fanny Noailles Murfree (1783-1843) inherited his land in Rutherford County, TN. Fanny married David Dickinson (1774-1848) and they had eight children. The Dickinsons built Grantlands plantation in the early 1800s near the town of Murfreesboro.
After the death of David and Fanny Dickinson, their daughter, Fanny Priscilla Dickinson (1816-1902), inherited Grantlands. She married her first cousin, William Law Murfree (1817-1892). They had three children: Fanny Noailles Dickinson Murfree, Mary Noailles Murfree, and William Law Murfree, Jr.
The two daughters, Fanny Noailles Murfree (1846-1941) and Mary Noailles Murfree (1850-1922) never married, and remained in Murfreesboro the rest of their lives. Mary (1850-1922) went on to become a famous writer under the name Charles Edbert Craddock. Fanny and Mary, along with most of their Murfree and Dickinson ancestors, are buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Murfreesboro, TN.