Hardy Murfree

Hardy Murfree (June 5, 1752 – April 6, 1809) was a Lieutenant Colonel from North Carolina during the American Revolutionary War.

Early life
Murfree was born at Murfree's Landing, North Carolina, later renamed Murfreesboro, where he lived for most of his adult life. His parents were William Murfree and Mary Moore. Hardy Murfree's first name is sometimes spelled "Hardee", and some of his descendants spell their last name "Murphrey" or "Murphy".

Military career
Murfree, a lieutenant in the Hertford County militia when the Revolutionary War began, was commissioned on September 1, 1775, as a captain in the 2nd North Carolina Regiment of the Continental Army. The regiment was commanded by Colonel Robert Howe, who was later a major general. Murfree saw action at the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778, and achieved his greatest renown for leading a successful diversionary attack against British defenses in the Battle of Stony Point on July 15, 1779. He was then a major serving under General Anthony Wayne, and was soon thereafter promoted to lieutenant colonel.

On July 17, 1781, British forces led by Banastre Tarleton and Tarleton's Raiders attacked Maney's Neck on the Meherrin River near Murfree's Landing. Murfree led the militia that repulsed the attack at Skinner's Bridge.

Family
While home on recruiting duty, Major Murfree married Sally Brickell on February 17, 1780. They would have four children: William Hardy Murfree (1781), Fanny Noailles Murfree (1783), Mary Moore Murfree (1786) and Matthias Brickell Murfree (1788). Their great-granddaughter was the noted Tennessee writer Mary Noailles Murfree (1850–1922)

His wife Sally died on March 29, 1802.

As a young man, Murfree became a member of the North Carolina chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati. He was a Freemason for all of his adult life, active in both North Carolina and Tennessee.

Around 1807 he migrated to Williamson County, Tennessee, living on land granted to him after the American Revolution, and remained there until his death in 1809. In 1811 the Tennessee State Legislature renamed the town of Cannonsburgh to Murfreesboro in his honor.