Middletown's Irish Rebel Patriot

For those of you that either grew up in Middletown or live in Middletown, I'm sure you have been to Poricy Park. I remember attempting to find the lost bones of a T-Rex in their fossil beds as a kid. I also remember visiting their nature center and their farmhouse known as the Murray farmhouse. I remember the nature center director telling us stories about the farmer who built Murray farm and how they used human hair in the plastering between the bricks which I though was creepy at the time. What I did not know was the amazing story of the Irish American Rebel Joseph Murray.

Joseph Murray was born in the city of Derry in the North of Ireland in about 1740 and came to New Jersey as a young boy. By the time Joseph was 20 years old he was working as a mason and farmer. At the age of 27 he purchased the poricy brook farm where he was to build his home and he was married to a Rebecca Morris. The man who married Joseph and Rebecca was Rev. Abel Morgan of the baptist church in Middletown near where Village Elementary school is today. The Rev. Abel Morgan was good friends with Joseph and when looking at Abel's background you can tell why. Not only did they share viewpoints in faith and politics but they also both came from a Non english Celtic background. Rev. Abel Morgan was born in Wales and was very steeped in the Celtic tradition of Wales as he came to America. He was able to read and write in the Welsh language and was known for penning letters to friends in the Welsh language to communicate to other Patriots in code as the english would not be able to read the Welsh language.

As many of you know the english have a long history of maltreatment to their Celtic neighbors which is ironic considering today it is estimated that 60 to 70% of english people's DNA comes from Celtic DNA. Nevertheless these long held aggressions against the english were sure to fuel the fire when the American Revolution came to fruition. The list of American Patriots from Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and Ireland is a very long list.

Joseph joined the New Jersey Militia and served as a private. In one family story, much shortened, Joseph was accused of stealing a horse from an english General named Taylor. General Taylor sent out soldiers to encourage slaves to leave farms and encouraged individuals to seek out their english camp to tell him the treasonous words they have heard from their masters and neighbors alike in return for protection and favoring. The crime that Joseph was accused of was a serious offense but was said to have taken place in broad daylight which sounds unlikely. Joseph was arrested, served time in prison and had property seized. Joseph escaped prison and showed up at his court date where the judge not seeing anyone else in the court but Joseph had no choice but to dismiss the case.

Seen as a notoriously violent rebel and persecutor of loyalist subjects he was a marked man after this incident. The Militia sent Joseph to recon the Sandy Hook base and report information back to his command. He asked his commander if he could leave to tend to his field. Supposedly a neighbor of Joseph's told him there was a price on his head.

Joseph was followed back to his field by three assailants hired by the Tories or english. While Joseph was tilling his field he was shot in the back, he wrestled a musket out of the second assailant with his large farm hands but the third drove his bayonet in the back of Joseph mortally wounding him.

The Rev. Abel Morgan wrote of his constant fears in his pastoral duties due to his rebel views. He officiated at the funeral of his dear friend Joseph Murray who left a wife and 4 young children behind. His tombstone reads "died in the service of his country". 

Joseph did not die in vain as his efforts and those of many brave, courageous souls who risked not only their lives but the lives of their families won out as the Rebels became the first citizens of the United States of America. Joseph was born in an english occupied Ireland but died an American citizen almost free of english rule.

Claddagh NaGael is Irish American organization based in Middletown, NJ that offers Irish dancing, music and language lessons to children including an Irish Summer Camp. There are also monthly meetings and socials that encourage all those interested in Irish and Celtic culture to step forward, be heard and enjoy life

http://irishshore.org/