WILLIAM  &  ELIZABETH   RAY

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The Story as I know it

William Ray Sr. was born about 1675  maybe in England.  What we know comes from the records of Queen Anne Parish, Prince George county Maryland.  the church was built in 1704 and they record the birth of at least 3 children to William and Elizabeth Ray from St. Barnabas, Queen Anne Parish, Prince Georges county ME, listed in Maryland Births and Christenings Index 1662-1911 Elizabeth and William would have been married about 1703/4.  Their children were:
1.  William Ray born Aug. 31, 1705
2.  John Ray born Aug 10, 1707
3.  Luke Ray born Jan 15, 1709
4.  Margaret Ray born Jan 29, 1711 wed either John or Thomas Pritchett
5.  Elizabeth Ray born Dec 25, 1713 wed either John or Thomas Pritchett
6.  Elinor Ray born Dec. 16, 1715 wed Joshua Busey
7.  Mary Ray born Sept 14, 1718
8.  Rebecca Ray born Oct 13, 1720
9.  Thomas Ray born Dec 27, 1722
10.  Ruth Ray born unknown.

The last 7 children were not in the Parish register but were in the will which William wrote in 1760.  It included all 10 children listed. Ruth was not listed in the Parish register Index, but she is listed as "daughter" in William Ray's will.  It is in Frederick County Wills 1744-1777, Vol 1, Image 81.  The will was written April 19 1760 and proved May 15, 1760.  His wife is not mentioned, so she must have predeceased him.  The children listed are sons: William, John and Thomas, daughters: Margaret Prichett, Elizabeth Prichett, Elinor Busey, Rebecca Ray, Ruth Ray and Mary Ray.  Each of the children received one shilling sterling, except Mary.  She was named executor and sole beneficiary of "all the remaining part of my estate real and personal" which included Charles and Thomas where "I myself and my son William Ray now live."   Mary would have been 40 years old at the time and unmarried.  I believe it was designed to insure that she had some security for herself and other unmarried siblings. 

I am puzzled about son William living with his family.  This argues that he is not the William Ray who married Ann, and had at least 4 sons in Anne Arundel County. The William Ray  who married Ann lived in Anne Arundel county and was active in the county from at least 1734 to 1782.  I can't imagine him living with his father in 1760.

There is a family book, The Ray Book by Ann Tyson Sipes, published in 1993 from which the following statement and others mentioned came from.  On line Ms. Sipes says her book is well documented. She states that William Ray had been a carpenter in Lancashire England.  I do not know when he immigrated. There are a number of SAR files that state Elizabeth's birth name was Pritchett, but none gave documentation.  I do not believe William Ray Sr.'s wife was Elizabeth Pritchett.  His daughter Elizabeth married a Pritchett, that is where the name came from

The William Ray of Frederick County died in 1760.  His wife, Elizabeth had died previously.

I wish this were my William Ray, but I have doubts.   


RESEARCH QUESTIONS

If you know the answer please CONTACT US.

                                      1.  Where and when was William Ray born?
                                      2.  Where and when did he marry Elizabeth?
                                      3.  What was Elizabeth's birth name?
                                      4.  When and where was Elizabeth born?
                                      5.  Who were their parents?
                                      6.  Just who was the William wed to Ann living in Anne Arundel County?

                                                    

                                      

 


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Date Created: 8/13/2013
Date edited 12/8/2013