Polly Murray, the woman, the myth, the legend

In the Bushnell genealogy, the records for the Bagleys from Nobletown are listed with a a note that Bushell Murray's grand daughter indicated Bushnell had a half brother named James Bagley.₁ Several family trees on Ancestry posited Bushnell was the child of Jermiah Bushnell and Mary or Polly Murray. Searches in Berkshire and Columbia county turned up Polly Murry (1790-1848). 

Polly was colorful. In 1813, she sued John M. Hulburt and his guardian for child support for her son born 18 Aug. 1812.₂ John Mason Hulbert (1793-1851) was the son of Jonah Hulburt (1753 - 1801)and Jerusha Shepherd (1766 - 1822). In 1813, Jerusha had her hands full. Jonah had died intestate in 1801. While administering his will, Jerusha married John Burghardt.₃ John died about the time Polly sued John M. Hulbert.₄ John Burghart's family challenged the will which passed his estate exclusively to Jerusha and her children.₅ Polly won her lawsuit. John and Jersha appealed. I have not found records of the appeal. I expect the court either refused the appeal, or Polly again won.

 In 1836, James E Bagley sold property to pay off the debts he and his brother/lawyer Oliver Bagley had incurred.₆ Among the debts listed is one James had with Polly Murray.  James E. Bagley had a son named James Edward Bagley. James was born in 1825. When he married in 1849 his parents are listed as James and Mary Bagley.₇

 Polly Murry died in Austerlitz in 1848.₈ Her brother, John Murray bequeathed  money to "the heirs of my deceased sister Polly Murray". There are no distribution papers for the estate so we don't know if the heirs included both the family of Bushnell and James. However, if we believe Bushnell's granddaughter. Bushnell Murry and James E. Bagley a probably the sons of Polly Murry.

¹George Eleazer,. Bushnell family genealogy : ancestry and posterity of Francis Bushnell, 1580-1646, of Horsham, England and Guilford, Connecticut, including genealogical notes of other Bushnell families, whose connections with this branch of the family tree have not been determined. (Santa Monica, Calif.: unknown),1949. p 696.

²"Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSRS-JS85-P?view=fullText : Apr 5, 2025), image 64 of 620; 

³"Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHMP-8WT : Fri Mar 08 12:37:05 UTC 2024), Entry for John 2nd Burghardt and Jerusha Hurlbert, 28 March 1802.

⁴"Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSD7-L91M-8?view=fullText : Apr 18, 2025), image 553 of 576; Massachusetts. Probate Court (Berkshire County).

⁵"Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9YR-RXS5?view=fullText : Apr 18, 2025), image 544 of 572; 

⁶"New York, Land Records, 1630-1975," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9W7-MXLL?cc=2078654&wc=M7HR-929%3A358136801%2C358385601 : [REFERENCE-ERROR]), Columbia > Deeds 1835-1837 vol Y1-Y2 > image 133 of 510; multiple county courthouses, New York. 

⁷"Massachusetts, State Vital Records, 1638-1927", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N4W5-58K : Thu May 23 00:41:56 UTC 2024), Entry for James E. Bayley and Jane L. Carter, 7 Mar 1849.

⁸"Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSXS-C9Q7-Q?view=fullText : Apr 19, 2025), image 905 of 1147; Massachusetts. Probate Court (Berkshire County).