John "Presbyterian John" Murray

Murray, John (1737–11 October 1808), Quaker merchant, was born on Swatara Creek, near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the son of John Murray, who had emigrated from Scotland in 1732. His mother’s name is unknown. Murray worked with his older brother Robert Murray in the operation of a flour mill on Swatara Creek. In 1753 the two brothers moved together to New York City, where they formed a mercantile partnership. Within fifteen years, the Murray brothers had become the largest shipowners in the thirteen colonies, and their enterprise had become the largest import-export business in New York City, bolstered by the contract demands of provisioning soldiers and sailors during the Seven Years’ War in North America. In 1766 Murray married Hannah Lindley.... American National Biography.Org

besides Murray Hilll, it seems a James R. Murray owned land near the future 17th st/Union Square area : see Bowery Hill project,

Owned 4 slaves in 1800

sources

The Murrays of Murray Hill by Charles Monaghan (1998)