She was a daughter of Colonel Byrd C. Willis (August 29, 1781 - 1846) and his wife Mary Lewis. Mary Lewis was the granddaughter of Fielding Lewis, George Washington"s brother-in-law. Catherine married Atchison Gray, son of John Gray of Traveller"s Rest (Kearneysville, West Virginia).
Murat was the great-grandniece of George Washington. Her parents made their first home in Orange near the Court House. Later they came to Hill.
Colonel paid little attention to the management of the plantation and instead spent his time fox hunting, racing, and attending parties.
Income was derived from the race profits and the sale of fire wood. family in Florida He was a son of Joachim Murat, former King of Naples and Caroline Bonaparte. Catherine ( Gray) Murat, was entertained when abroad.
In 1830, Catherine was present at the coronation of William IV of the United Kingdom and was given a seat in Westminster Abbey. In 1854 she bought Bellevue, in Leon County, which became her primary residence.
In 1858, Murat was appointed the first Vice Regent for Florida for the Mount Vernon Ladies" Association, the title given the central person in each state organizing the association’s work.
Working closely with Ellen Call Long, she led the efforts as the state raised $3,791 toward the restoration of Mount Vernon, the largest per capita amount raised by any of the 30 contributing states. Catherine became involved in the nation’s first successful preservation effort, the work to preserve George Washington’s home. Despite her staunch Unionism, she was named master of ceremonies during the celebrations of the Florida Secession Convention in 1861.
Later, during the American Civil War, Murat participated in the local "Soldiers Aid Societies," who met as sewing circles to clothe the southern troops.
Catherine Murat died August 6, 1867 at Bellevue. Catherine"s marker in the old Tallahassee Episcopal Cemetery reads: "SACRED to the Memory of PRINCESS C. A. MURAT, Widow of COL. CHARLES LOUIS NAPOLEON ACHILLES MURAT, and Daughter of the late COL. BIRD C. WILLIS, of Virginia.
Who departed this life on 6 August 1867, in the 64th year of her age. None knew her but to love her.
None named her but to praise.
