John (born 1866) was a son of Murdo Murray and Henrietta Mackenzie. It is not certain where the family were living at the time of his birth; his paternal grandparents were at 7 North Tolsta and his maternal grandparents were at 39 North Tolsta.

By 1873, both of John's maternal grandparents had died and 39 North Tolsta had passed to his father Murdo.

In 1875 John's mother Henrietta died and the family emigrated to the Eastern townships of Quebec.

Once in Quebec John's father married Christina Maclean, Murdo and Christina had seven children.

John married Margaret Macaulay, of Quebec. Margaret had links to Crowlista but it is not certain if she lived there herself.