William Murrell (politician, died 1892)

Rev. William Murrell, Sr. (1814–February 7, 1892)[1] was an American minister and politician. He served as a pastor in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a state legislator in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana.

William Murrell, Sr.
Louisiana House of Representatives for Lafourche Parish
Personal details
Born1814
Georgetown, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedFebruary 7, 1892
Carrollton, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
SpouseComfort Caroline Cohee (m. 1851–?)
RelationsWilliam Murrell Jr. (son)
OccupationMinister, politician

Biography

William Murrell was born enslaved in Georgetown, South Carolina,[2] and was the son of Rebecca (last name unknown) and his mother's owner Peter Murrell.[1] His ownership was transferred and he was sold on several occasions which moved him to various Southern states, including Alabama. His son was William Murrell Jr., was born enslaved in Georgia and represented Madison Parish in the Louisiana House of Representatives from for two terms during Reconstruction era.[3]

Prior to 1865, Murrell Sr.’s ministerial work was performed for the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South denominations.[1] On December 25, 1865, Mississippi Mission Conference was held, hosted by the Methodist Episcopal Church.[1] At the conference they invited twelve ministers including Murrell and placed them on missions in one of three states including Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.[1] Murrell was placed on his mission in Thibodaux, Louisiana.[1] Murrell Sr. helped establish several churches, including in Houma, Woodlawn, Napoleonville, and Pineville.[1]

Murrell Sr. served several terms during the Reconstruction era representing Lafourche in the Louisiana House of Representatives.[4]

References
  1. "Murrell, William". Louisiana Conference, United Methodist Church.
  2. Minutes of the Annual Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Methodist Episcopal Church Conferences. 1892. p. 113.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. Hogue, James K. (November 15, 2011). Uncivil War: Five New Orleans Street Battles and the Rise and Fall of Radical Reconstruction. LSU Press. ISBN 9780807143926 – via Google Books.
  4. Poynter, David R. (December 6, 2022). Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives (PDF). Louisiana House of Representatives. pp. 143, 158, 159.


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