JOHN RAY
The Story as I know it
John C. Ray was born March 12, 1810 in Kentucky, probably in Washington County (now Marion County). I don't know where I found his birth date. The year matches the 1860 Ky Census noted below. His parents were Joseph Ray II, and Peggy Rutter . The Livingston County Historical Societies, History and Families has the Ray family story under Charles Ray. It states that Joseph moved to Washington County with his parents and wed Peggy Rutter in 1797. They moved to Livingston County KY in 1815 and lived on Sandy Creek near Burna.
From the will of Joseph Ray , the family had standing in the community, a substanial farm and a number of slaves. John was probably third born in a family of nine children, with only one known daughter.
On January 7, 1835, John married Zerelda Culdwell in Caldwell County, KY, the neighboring county to Livingston County. From Kentucky Pinoeers and their Descendants, lla Earle Fowler, page 303 and from the Ky Archieves and Libraries, we have a copy of the marriage licence.
John took his family to Missouri sometime between
1838 and
1843. We find him on the 1850 Macon County Missouri
Census,
District 52. It reads as follows:
John Ray age 45, Farmer value of property
$300, born KY
Zerelda, age 34, born KY
Catharine, age 12, born KY
David, age 7, born MO
Mary Z, age 2, born MO.
John's father, Joseph Ray died in November of 1855. The extensive farm and holdings were divided between his sons. The will assigned John Ray guardianship of the youngest son Edmond R. In case John died then son Alfred Ray would act as guardian. The will notes that "Edmond is frequently in an unsound state of mind". John moved his family back to Livingston County Kentucky to take over the family farm. Livingston County Ky Wills page 157
The 1860 Kentucky Census, Livingston County,
Smithland:
John Ray age 50, born in Kentucky
Zerelda 44, born in Kentucky
David C .17, born in Missouri
Mary Z. 12, born in Missouri
Roberta F. 9, born in Missouri
Frances Russell 9, born in Missouri
E.R. Ray 37, born in Missouri - insane
So from this we know that John and Zerelda had at
least
five children:
1. Catharine Ray born 1838 in
KY. She wed Eliazar.
G. Leeper Oct.
10,1854. from Kentucky
Marriage
Records 1852-1914
2. David C. Ray born 1843 in
Missouri
3. Mary Z. Ray (probably
Zerelda), born
1848 in Missouri
4. Roberta Fredonia
Ray born
1851
in
Missouri, wed Mansfield
Burgess
5. Francis Russell Ray
born 1851 in
Missouri, twin to Roberta.
According to my notes, John Ray died Sept. 22, 1868 in Livingston County. His wife died two years later. They are buried in Lower Leeper Cemetery. Their tombstones read
John C. Ray 12 mar 1810 22 Sept 1868
Zerelda Ray, wife of J.C. 1 Jan 1816 20 Sept 1870
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
If you know the answer please CONTACT US.
1.
Get
deed for the Ray farmland
Maier_Associates: © Copyright 2011
Doc; gsray020
ast Saved on: 7/16/2011