Killman, Murray
Biography
The author, a seventh generation Canadian was born in Hamilton, Ontario in 1929. Murray Killman became a professional artist in 1952. He resigned as the Creative Director of the Canadian subsidiary of the multi-national International Harvester Company in 1973. From there he went on to be a journalist and fine art painter specializing in wildlife and historical subjects. His paintings, art prints, collector plates, and an earlier non-fiction book that chronicled his Loyalist ancestor’s story have enjoyed worldwide distribution.
Murray Killman, U.E. has used his United Empire Loyalist title with pride on all of his paintings. “Unity of the Empire,” may be an out of date title, but it does identify his proud paternal roots. He is the descendant of a notorious “Butler’s Ranger,” a member of an irregular guerrilla army that struck pure terror across the northeastern colonial frontier. It is said that they gave Gen. Washington more trouble than a whole regiment of British regulars. The fact that his ancestor was a King’s man was no secret, for the family had no reason to conceal this fact. They had been near neighbours of Sir William Johnson and were quick to join the Loyalist ranks when the rebellion began.
The same cannot be said for some of the author’s maternal lines, for within their carefully concealed pedigree can be found some of his Tory grandfather’s old enemies. One family in particular fits the exact description of the title of the first chapter in the author’s book, The Bostonians. Yes, after 200 years Murray discovered the truth and the record of another ancestor, a soldier in General George Washington’s Continental army has been revealed. A New England root beginning in 1623. This grandparent enlisted in the Connecticut line of 1777-1781 and served with Captain Scovil’s Company of the 4th Brigade of Connecticut State troops. This is probably not a unique situation, but it does put the author in the position of representing both sides in the American Revolution. That along with Native American and French blood does indeed remove the risk of a charge of bias.
Other Information
Related Websites or Blogs
Published Work
2003. Stoney Creek, the Skeletons in Its Closet : steeped in secrecy, the truth about its early days and some of the founders has remained well hidden for over two centuries. Caledonia, Ont. : Killman Art Gallery (Nonfiction)
2000. Polly. United Empire Loyalists of Canada. (Non-fiction)
1990. Curse of the Fleur De Lis : the biography of Jacob Killman, U.E. "Broken Ear" (Ta-Honh-Ta-Riako). Caledonia, Ont. : Killman Art Gallery Pub. (Fiction)
