Her parents, George Edward Sykes and Emilie Dawson, were in the theatre. Her father used the stage name J.K. Murray.
I have not yet found his birth record but he was the natural son of Edward Sykes, a barrister in Lambeth and Sophia Eliza Jones.
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Obituary, The Era, 21 Jan 1905, p. 13.
Mr J.K. Murray (George Edward Sykes) who died on the 12 inst at Mount Pleasant, Chilcompton, Bath, at the age of sixty four, was the son of Mr E. G. Sykes, barrister of Binfield Road, Stockwell. Mr J.K. Murray was educated at Kennington and Oxford, where he fell in love with Miss Ada Amelia Ponder, and secretly married her in February 1861. At this time he was also a lieutenant in the 1st Surrey Rifles and a member of the Surrey Amateur Dramatic Society. His father on discovering he was married, packed him off to America with his newly wedded wife. On arriving there they assumed the names of J.K. Murray and Miss Ada Murray. They toured the North and South America during the time of the Civil War, meeting with some strange adventures. After visiting Canada they returned to England some thirty five years ago, and toured in the old circuit and stock days as heavy leads. They afterwards opened at the Star Theatre, Swansea under the management of the late George Andrew Melville.
Mr Murray was next appointed manager, and toured the late Mr Melville's companies, afterwards becoming his own manager, and touring for seventeen years 'Millions of Money', 'Driven from Home', 'The Strike' etc. He was also the author of several well known plays his most recent works including 'A Woman's Error', 'Luck of Life', and 'A Son of the Empire'. He was acknowledged to be one of the finest broadsword combat fighters on the British stage, and was also a most cultured actor of his time. Amongst other leading parts he played Mathias in 'The Bells'; Duboscq in 'The Lyon's Mail'; Macbeth, Othello, Iago and Richard III. The deceased leaves a widow and three children -the eldest, Miss Kate Murray (now at Alhabrama); George Murray, who lately toured 'A Hidden Crime'; and Percy Murray, the sketch proprietor. The late Seymour Murray, of the 1st Royal Dragoon Guards, was also a son of the deceased.
Information about Emilie Dawson's family researched by John Holmes
