Murley (no first name is known.... until Apr 2013 when we found out that her name is NANCY) was born in or near Washington Co, Pennsylvania, about 1780. I just received a message from Murley family researchers and they have stated that her name is Nancy Murley.

Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954-Handwritten Image:
In Oct 1799, Nancy Murly married John Brown, in Harrison County, Kentucky.

Robert McDuffe signed the Marriage Bond for her because she was under 21 years of age (see photo of Marriage Bond - notice that there is a space before her name Murley (no first name, but NANCY's name should have been there). Obviously, Robert McDuffe had either adopted her or became her guardian, because he was now her step-father). And the name of Murley was definitely added to this legal marriage document. Why? Possibly because Robert wanted to recognize her biological father, William Murley. Remember, both Nancy and Catherine married in the year 1799 within two months of each other. But Robert did not add the surname of Murley to Catherine's legal marriage agreement, he added the surname McDuffe - because she was Robert's daughter! Look at the documents, they tell us the truth!

McDuffee family researchers have mulled over the question of the name Murlie/Murley for years. A cousin of mine, Jean Colson, and I have been working on a possible answer - and we believe we have found one! We have researched much and have come up with a real and definite possibility for a father for Murley McDuffe - now NANCY Murley*. It is Lt William Edmund "the Soldier" Murley. After he is sworn in as Lieutenant Commander in 1779, he soon disappears! - off the radar screen - "killed by Indians"?

NEWS ALERT: 24 Apr 2013: I just received a message from Murley family researchers that her name is Nancy Murley who married John Brown in Harrison County in 1799. She is the daughter of William E Murley and Rachael Collins.
For now, I have no further information on Nancy or John.