James Bray, II

Source for death date: Bruton Parish Register.

James Bray II was one of the first legislative representatives for the new City of Williamsburg and acted as a Burgess and Justice of the Peace for the County.

James Bray II (son of James Bray I)

James Bray II, the son of James Bray I, married Mourning Glenn [sic] Pettus, widow of the late Thomas Pettus of Littletown (later Kingsmill) plantation in ca. 1697. Through their union, James II inherited Mourning's legal interest in her former husband's property. James Bray II and his sister, Ann Bray Ingles, inherited from their brother, David I, a residual interest in his property (Hening 1809-1823:VI:414-415; Goodwin 1972:56). In 1700 James Bray II purchased from the Walker and Pettus heirs "all those tracts called or known by the name or names of Littletown and Utopia… containing 1280 acres." He also bought a 500 acre tract that straddled the line between New Kent and James City Counties (Stephenson 1963:6).

James Bray II and his wife produced at least three children who lived to adulthood: Thomas II, who married Elizabeth Meriwether; Angelica, who married Henry Baker; and Elizabeth, who married Arthur Allen, the builder of Bacon's Castle. After Arthur Allen's death in 1711, Elizabeth wed Arthur Smith, who died in 1728. Her third and final husband was William Stith of Charles City County, whom she married sometime prior to 1763. James Bray II and his wife, Mourning, lived at what became Kingsmill Plantation, where he unified the Littletown and Utopia tracts and built a substantial home. However, he also had a brick house and lots in Williamsburg. Mourning died in 1711 (Stephenson 1963:5, 12; Fry and Jefferson 1751).

The will James Bray II made on November 17, 1725, was presented for probate on March 14, 1726. He left to his son, Thomas II, "all his real and personal estate now in [his] possession" and stipulated that his "Brick House and lets belonging thereto at Williamsburg" were to remain in the hands of his executor until the same can be sold by son, Thomas." The funds derived from the sale were to go toward the education and maintenance of the testator's grandson, James Bray III, who also stood to inherit his grandfather's land in Wilmington and Bruton Parishes. James Bray II bequeathed to his daughter, Elizabeth Allen, life-rights to the Pettus plantation, Littletown, until James Bray III came of age, and he left to Elizabeth "forever" the plantation called Rockahock on the Chickahominy River. Elizabeth Allen and her sister, Angelica Baker, were authorized to keep "all personal and real estate formerly delivered to them forever" and he bequeathed to Elizabeth "two single lots in Williamsburg forever" (Stephenson 1963:5; Winfree 1971:382; C.O. 5/1389 ff 66-68) .

Although James Bray II's will reveals that he had a brick house and lots in Williamsburg, plus the two single lots that he bequeathed to his daughter, Elizabeth, nothing in that document reveals how he acquired his lots or precisely where they were located. However, when daughter Elizabeth Bray Allen Smith Stith made her will in 1764, she bequeathed to her granddaughters "my House and Lots adjoining the Lott which Dr. Hay purchased of Col. Philip Johnson and Facing the Lott where the Doctor formerly lived." Elizabeth also left to James Allen Bridger "my single Corner Lott lying near the Colledge & facing the Lott where Mr. Cambell formerly lived" (Stephenson 1963:7, 12-13) . This may be one of the two lots she inherited.

LAND OWNERSHIP PATTERNS AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE PLANTATION: REPORT OF ARCHIVAL RESEARCH

Martha W. McCartney, Historian

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG FOUNDATION Department of Archaeological Research

February 2000; Re-issued June 2004

http://research.history.org/DigitalLibrary/view/index.cfm?doc=Resea...

----------------------------

In the Name of God amen I James Bray of the City of Williamsburg Gent: being sick of Body but of sound Mind do make this my Last Will and Testament in manner following

First I recommend my Soul to God that gave it and My Body to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named.

Item I Give all that my Estate real and Personal now in the possession of my Son Thomas Bray to him and his Heirs forever.

Item I Give to my Daughter Elizabeth Allen the use only of my Land and plantation Stock and Negroes that is to say all that are now on and that properly belong to that Plantation called Little Town untill my Grandson James Bray comes to the age of Twenty one years or if he dies then until such time as he would have been twenty one had he lived she paying the Quitrents and dues and clothing the Negroes during the time she has them and the said Lands, stock, and Negroes with all their Increase I give my said Grandson at the age of twenty one years to him and the Heirs male of his Body Lawfully begotten forever and in default of Issue male in my said Grandson then to my Son Thomas and the Heirs of his Body Lawfully begotten forever. and [for] default of such to my next Heir forever.

Item I Give my said daughter Elizabeth all my Land and Plantation called Rockahock on Chickahominy River~ to her and which of her Children she pleases at the time of her death and their Heirs forever and as for the remaining part of my Estate in the late Wilmington and Bruton Parishes as well real as Personal not hereafter disposed of in this Will I Give and bequeath the same to my Grandson James Bray and the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten forever and in Default of such Issue to my son Thomas Bray and the Heirs of his Body Lawfully begotten forever. and for want of such Issue to my next Heir forever to be delivered up to my Grandson James Bray as soon as he comes to the age of Twenty one years. And until such time to be and remain in the Hands and possession of my son Thomas Bray to be by him Managed towards his own best profit Maintainance and support but he is not to make good any that may die.

Item my Will and desire is that my Brick House and the Lotts thereto belonging at Williamsburgh be and remain in the Hands of my Executor until the same can be sold by my Son Thomas and the Money arising from such Sale I Give to him and his Heirs forever towards the better Maintainance and Education of my Grandson. Item I Give to Robert Wade all my wearing Cloths now in my Trunk at Little Town~

Item I Give and Bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth Allen and her Husband all that Estate Either Real or Personal/formerly delivered by me to them/to them and their Heirs forever.

And I likewise do the same to my Daughter Angelica Baker and her Husband.

Item I Give and bequeath to my said Daughter Elizabeth my two single Lotts in the City of Williamsburg to her and her Heirs forever.

Item It is my Will and desire that after all my Debts and Funeral expences are fully paid out of my outstanding Debts and what money I have in England that the Remainder of such Debts and Money in England be equally divided between my son Thomas and Daughter Elizabeth to them and their Heirs forever and then that my son take possession of my Chickahominy Estate and all other my Estate Real and personal whatsoever and that my Daughter take possession of Little Town until my said Grandson come of age

p2

as aforesaid and each to make what they can for themselves out of their parts do hereby Constitute Authorize and appoint my Son Thomas Bray and my Daughter Elizabeth Allen (so far only as she is concerned as a Legate) Point Exors . of this my Last Will and Testament declaring all former Wills to be void and this to be my Last and only Will and that they each give in an Inventory but no appraisement of my Estate In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the; Eighteenth day of Novr . Anno Dom: 1725.

Signed Sealed and delivered

In the presence of us … }

Ja Bray

Jno. Netherland

P. Greenhill

Elizabeth Ballard

At a Court held for James City County March 14th 1725/6.

The above Last Will and Testament of James Bray Gent: deceased was presented in Court by Thomas Bray Gent one of the Exors therein named who made oath [thereto] and Liberty is given Mrs. Elizabeth Allen the other Exr . To Join therein and the same being also proved by the oaths of Paschall Greenhill Eliza . Ballard and John Netherland all the Witnesses thereto subscribed is admitted to record and Certificate for obtaining a Probat thereof is granted the said Frances Bray in due form.

Teste

Michl . Archer Clk:Cou.

a Copy Teste

[Dunley D.C.C.]

An Inventory of the Estate of James Bray Gent deceased taken 3d. Jany.

Negroes and stock at Little Town

Men. Sam, Jack, Caesar, Tom, Jubiter, Jacko, May, Orson, Mark, Brinee [Landy]

Boys. Spring, Martin, Daniel, Girls. Lucy. Women Moll, [Dye], Jenny Betty

Flora Doll, Nanny, Hope Debb, [Augon], Juno, Judy, Pegg

Stock at Little Town

To 25 head of Cows To 6 3 & 4 year old steers, To 8 Cow yearlings & 2 Bulls

To 1 young horse and 1 Ditto mare

Stock at Debbs Quarter

To 10 Cows young and old To 10 steers about 7 years old To 12 head of Hoggs sows and Barrows To 16 young Piggs -

Stock at Jacko's Quarter

To 18 steers anpit 14 years old To 2 old Bulls To 13 Cows and 2 year olds

To 45 sheep young and old To 24 shoats about a year old To 5 Breeding sows and 2 Boars.

To 5 Barrows about 2 years old To 30 odd Piggs

Household Furniture &c:

To 5 Feather beds To 3 quills 2 Rugs and 5 Blanketts To 3 pair of hhld. Sheets 3 pr. [illegible]

To 4 Doz. Chairs Leather To ½ Doz. Ditto silk Camlett To 1 Doz: pewter plates 1 Doz: Deep

ditto To 6 small & Large Dishes To 1 Clock & several Pictures. To 1 small and 1 large

Bars To 4 Blk Walnut Tables To 3 pr. of Andirons To 3 Gross & odd [Quart] Bottles To several larger & smaller ditto

p3

To 12 Gallon Stone Juggs To large and 2 small Iron potts To 12 Cider Casks

60 Gallons each. To 1 Brass Copper or Kettle To 1 Large still W[illegible] &c: __

To 1 saddle Bridle large To 1 P of silver Sharrs To 1 P ditto shoe Buckles

To 1 silver headed small Cane To ditto with Amber head. To 2 Quart silver

Tankards, To 2 silver Candle Cups & [Covey], To 2 Doz: silver spoons, To 2 silver

Salvers, To 1 Large and small Bell metal skillets To 1 silver Hilted swords

And Belt To 2 large Table Cloths and 2 small ditto To 1 Doz: Drapes napkins

To 1 Doz: Coarse ditto To 2 large looking Glasses To 3 smaller ditto, To 1 Doz.

Maple handle knives, To 1 Doz: Do: Forks, To 1 pair of money seals, To 1 Pr.

of steal yards, and [pea] To 4 oxen & ox Cart, To 3 Cart horses and Cart, To

2 saddle Horses, To 2 silver Candle Sticks To 1 Pr. ditto snuffers, To 2 Brass

Candle sticks To 1 Pr . ditto snuffers, To 1 Chocolate & Coffee pott, To 1 old [faded]

And [Oars] To 1 Do . F[illegible] 12 hhds, To 1 Do. [illegible] 6 Hhds To 2 small [faded]

Boats To 1 large Bellmettle skillet To 1 small ditto To 1 Cart [with 2 harness]

To 1 Broad Ax Hamer saw and Chissell To 1 steel Whipsaw rest & Title

Negroes and stock in Chickahominy

at Roger's Quarter Men Frank, George, Ben, Women Sarah Judy Dye [Chelarese & Jenny Simon]

To 5 large Steer To 15 Cows and heifers To 5 2 year olds and 7 Calves To 2 Mares and 2 yearling Colts

To 5 Barrows and 2 sows To 10 Piggs & 4 shoats To 1 Frying pan and 1 Iron pott large To 1 old Gun and 1 warming pan

at Bridges Quarter

Men &c: To Luke Parthenia Hannah Dinah Thunder Patience Betty Phillis Maria Peter Jenny Parthenia Lucy Children.

To 5 large steers & 9 Cows and heifer To 3 small steers & Bull to 10 Barrows and 7 sows To 7 shoats & 15 piggs To 1 Iron Pott.

At Dubbler runs Quarter

Men &c Dubblerun Dick, Sharper, Women Sarah, Queen, Margaret a Child To 3 young steers & 9 cows & heifers To 6 Calves & 5 2 year old, To 1 Bull Stagg & 1 Mare and Colt To 5 Barrows & 2 sows from shoats 5 Piggs & 1 Bull

At Nero's Quarter

Men &c: Jupiter Venus, Cain, Nanny Bess [Easther] Abigall Tom, Fanny Patty Rachael

To 4 large steers & 6 Cows To 5 2 years old, & 4 yearlings To 6 Barrows 2 sows & 4 shoats

To 6 Piggs 4 Mare To 2 Iron Potts

At Rockahock Quarter

Men &c: Ned, Abell, Juno, Eliza . Sugar, To 25 head of Cattle young & old To 30 Hoggs young & old ~ Tho. Bray Exr

At a Court held for James City County Decr. 12th 1726.

The Inventory of the Estate of James Bray Gent: deceased being returned unto Court by Thomas Bray Gent: his Execr is admitted to record

Teste

Mich: Archer Clk Cour

a Copy Teste

[Dunley DCC]

p4

James Bray's

Will. dated 1725

http://research.history.org/digitallibrary/view/index.cfm?doc=Manus...

At Kingsmill, black overseers also appear to have been used. In 1725 when an inventory was made of James Bray II’s estate, reference was made to the quarters of Jacko and Debb, slaves to whom Bray appears to have entrusted those subsidiary properties. At Debb’s quarter were cattle and swine; at Jacko’s were cattle, swine and sheep. No household goods whatsoever were attributed to any of Bray’s quarters (Kelso 1984:21-212).

http://docshare.tips/african-americans-at-jamestown_585b5396b6d87ff...

James Bray II inherited the "Littletown" (later Kingsmill) plantation from his father James Bray I, and came into possession of the 1,200 acre "Utopia" plantation when he married Mourning (Burgh) Pettus, widow of Thomas Pettus. There were around 75 enslaved people living there at the time of his death, mostly African-born; many were Igbo people.

Archeologists have been studying what was left behind in the "subfloor pits" of where they lived:

Subfloor Pits and the Archaeology of Slavery in Colonial Virginia

Patricia M. Samford, The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa, 2007

https://www.mobt3ath.com/uplode/book/book-44761.pdf

Image: Signature of James Bray II as Justice of the Peace, James City County, Virginia, 1717 (Jones Family Papers, Library of Congress).

Kingsmill Plantations, 1619—1800: Archaeology of Country Life in Colonial ..., by William M. Kelso, 2014, page 37.