WILLIAM
& ELIZABETH RAY
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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Doc; gsray050.html
Date Created: 8/13/2013
Date edited 12/8/2013