The Three Murphy Sisters of Marysville...

Sarah, Harriet and Meriam

Members of three local organizations have joined together in a collaborative Living History Programme, depicting the lives of these three important pioneer women.  Our goal is to teach and share history through the lives of the sisters - what it was like to be a pioneer family, and how their lives affected the shaping of our County.

We invite you to share with us any information, letters, diaries, photographs, etc. so that we can fully depict the true lives of this important family.  You are also invited to contact us to schedule local presentations, or to find out more about our programmes offered.

Sarah Ann Charlotte - the oldest of the children born to Jeremiah Burns and Levinah Jackson Murphy in 1826, Union County, South Carolina.  She married William McFadden Foster in 1842.  Her children were Jeremiah George (died at Donner Camp), Alice, Georgiana, William, Minnesota, Harriet and Frances.  Her travels upon arriving in California took her to San Francisco, near Camptonville where her husband founded Foster's Bar, on to Carver County, Minnesota, then back to California, where after her husband's death, she finally settled in Mendocino County.  She died in 1906 and is buried at Fort Bragg.  (Portrayed by Kathy Sedler, Founder and President of YubaRoots)

Harriet Frances - the second child born to Jeremiah and Levinah in 1828, Union County, South Carolina.  She first married William Pike in a double wedding with sister Sarah in 1842.  William was killed in an accidental shooting on the journey West.  Her children were Naomi, Catherine (died at Donner Camp).  Harriet married again in 1847 to Michael C. Nye and they had a son Harry.  They traveled back East with Sarah and William for a visit in 1849, taking the Isthmus route for the journey.  Harriet and Michael moved to Oregon in the 1860's, where they both spent the remainder of their lives.  She died in 1870 and is buried in Marysville.  (Portrayed by Sue Cejner-Moyers, President of Friends for Preservation of Yuba County History)

Meriam Marjory - the fourth child and last daughter born to Jeremiah and Levinah in 1831, Union County, South Carolina.  Known commonly as "Mary", she first married William Johnson (divorced a few months later), then married Charles Julian Covillaud in 1848.  Her children were Mary, Charles, William, Francis, and Naomi.  The town of Marysville, Yuba County, California was named after her.  She was known for her work with children and assisting the poor.  Charles and Mary lived out the rest of their lives in the community named after her. She died in 1867 and is buried in Marysville. (Portrayed by Karen Compton, Owner of KrynMC Promotions)

For more information or to schedule us for a Living History Programme, please contact Sue.

Special thanks to Kristin Johnson for sharing her wonderful documentation of the Donner Party.