Pleasants Murphy was born in Bedford County, Va., 14 June 1786. He married Ann Robertson Shelton of Pittsylvania County, Va. After his marriage, he moved to Tazewell County, Va. where he died in 1863. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki:
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Pleasants Murphy Diary, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Diary, 1814 September 9-1815 April 23, kept during military service in Captain [?] Otey's Company in War of 1812. The content concerns the line of march from Liberty (now Bedford), Virginia to Richmond and discusses prices of items in Richmond and drills, and rations at the camp at Fairfield. Murphy spent October 9 to November 26, 1814 away from his unit, recovering from a broken arm.
The diary concerns a trip back to Bedford County and a trip to Pittsylvania County. The volume includes a description of Williamsburg and the celebration of Christmas there as well as descriptions of Yorktown and Tappahannock. Other subjects include a lawsuit for the troops to be discharged with William Wirt arguing against the commonwealth, Methodist meetings in Bedford County and an account of Murphy's expenses.