Old Glendermott
Colonel Adam Murray: The Ulster-Scots Horseman Who Became a LegendBuried at Old Glendermott lies Colonel Adam Murray (d. 1706), one of the most celebrated heroes of the Siege of Derry – a man whose name became (and inspired) a rallying cry for generations.
Born near Claudy to a family with roots in Philiphaugh, Scotland, little is known of Murray until 1689, when he raised a troop of volunteer dragoons to oppose the Jacobite forces of James II. His dramatic entrance into Derry on 18 April 1689, just as Governor Robert Lundy prepared to surrender the city, electrified the defenders. Murray confronted Lundy, who fled the next day, and the cry of “No Surrender” was born.
Offered the governorship, Murray refused, choosing to fight on the front lines. He led daring sorties, including the attack at Pennyburn Mill where the French general, Marquis de Maumont, was killed – an act that broke the morale of the besiegers. His courage inspired the starving citizens, even as his horses were slaughtered for food to keep the city alive.
After the siege, Murray’s fortunes declined. Though promised a place in the army establishment, he lived on half-pay and even spent time in prison for debt. He died in February 1706, leaving behind his wife Mary and four children.
Murray’s sword, snuffbox, and watch are preserved in the Derry Cathedral Chapter House – silent relics of a man who helped save the city.
Adam Murray was more than a soldier – he was the embodiment of defiance. His arrival in Derry turned despair into resistance and helped shape the city’s identity for centuries.