Colonel David Bray

Photo: Deegraver at Find A Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7962312

David Bray II was the only child of Thomas Bray I's younger brother, David Bray I, and his wife Judith. Between 1717 and 1720, David Bray II inherited several hundred additional acres of property following the deaths of his parents. Among the properties were: Angelica Bray's 60-acre dower share of James Bray I's original 290-acre patent, later inherited by David Bray I; 190 acres in James City County originally purchased by David II's grandmother, Angelica Bray in 1698, and also inherited by David Bray I; 300 acres at Tuttey's Neck in James City County originally purchased by Judith Bray; 100 acres in York County, known as Hicks, purchased by David Bray I in 1711; 50 acres in James City County purchased from Thomas Ballard by David Bray I in 1704; 14 acres purchased by David Bray I from Bryan in James City County; and four city lots in Williamsburg (Stephenson 1963:9). As heir to both his father David Bray I's estate and his uncle Thomas Bray I's estate, David Bray II had reunited the majority of his grandfather James Bray I's original 290-acre patent at Middle Plantation (now Williamsburg), with the exception of the land annexed for the founding of the town.

Prior to 1728, David Bray II married Elizabeth Page, the daughter of John Page II of Gloucester. In 1728, following the death of her brother, John Page III, Elizabeth Page Bray was the heir to her family's substantial estate on the north side of Williamsburg (Metz et al. 1997:96). The location of David Bray II and Elizabeth Page Bray's residence is unknown, although it is possible that the couple may have lived in the house formerly occupied by his grandfather, James Bray I, which he had inherited as early as 1700. By 1731, the couple may have been living at "Hicks" in York County, as David Bray II is reported to have died there (Stephenson 1963:9). Elizabeth Page Bray died a few years later in 1734. The couple did not have any children of their own, and thus upon their deaths, the majority of David Bray II's Williamsburg area properties descended to his cousin, Thomas Bray II. Meanwhile, the Page family estate reverted to the heirs of Elizabeth's great-uncle, Mathew Page (Metz et al. 1997:96).

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

From Geaneological Dictionary of Virginia:

Name: David Bray of James City county, a son of Col. David Bray of the same place, and (great) grandson of Councillor (James) Bray, was born in 1699. He was a man of large estate and, in 1631 (typo; actually 1731), on the recommendation of Gov. Gooch, appointed a member of the council. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Page, of Williamsburg, but died Oct. 5, 1731, without issue.

From A Guide to the Memorials of Bruton Parish Church, Bruton Parish Church, Williamsburg, Virginia, 2006 Edition:

Grave #38 (West Face) original in latin, translation reads "Here lies buried David Bray, Esquire. A man handsome, able, and affable and charming in manner. A Justice Appointed to the Council in Virginia by the most serene King George the second, He was snached away by death before entering office, in the prime of his life. He had joined him in matrimony Elizabeth, eldest daughter of John Page, Esquire, Most closley joined to him by mutual affection, and he left her childless and grieving October 5th, 1731, aged 32 years. She set up this monument as a final tribute to their conjugal love." and

(East Face) original in Latin, Translation reads "Here are laid the mortal remains of Elizabeth Bray together with her most beloved husband, consumed by a wasting disease, she gave up the ghost on the 22nd day of April, 1734, in her 32nd year, serenely, courageously, piously."

http://booth.genecharris.com/getperson.php?personID=I86&tree=Booth

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(29) David3 Bray (David2, James1), b. 1699, was appointed to the council in 1731, and d. Oct. 5, 1731 (tombstone in Bruton Churchyard, VA. Hist. Coll., XI, 80).He md. Elizabeth (b. 1702, d. Apr. 22, 1734), eldest daughter of John Page, nephew of Col. John Page. …”

"William & Mary College Quarterly," Vol. 13, "BRAY FAMILY," pg. 266-269

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Register of St. Peter's Parish, pages 41-60, New Kent Co. VA

Sarah a negro of Coll: David Brays Dyed Decembr ye 5th, 1727.

Natt a negro belonging to Coll: David Bray Dyed 7br ye 18th, 1728.

Peter a negro belonging to Coll. David Bray Dyed Augt 30, 1729.

Dick a negro belonging to Coll David Bray Dyed March 29th, 1730-1.

http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/newkent/misc/stpete03.txt

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Register of St. Peter's Parish, pages 61-80, New Kent Co. VA

Frank a negro belong to Coll: David Bray born March 12th, 1724-5.

Jules a negro boy belonging to CoIl. David Bray born Febry. 1st, 1727-8.

Beck & Chinnah negros belonging to CoIl. David Bray born May 2, 1728.

Enee a negro belonging to CoIl. David Bray born Augt 20, 1729.

http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/newkent/misc/stpete04.txt

Register of St. Peter's Parish, pages 81-100, New Kent Co. VA

Major a negro belonging to Colo. David Bray born Febry 20, 1729/30.

http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/newkent/misc/stpete05.txt

Register of St. Peter's Parish, pages 101-120 - New Kent Co. VA

Joe a negro belonging to Collo. David Bray born March ye 3d, 1730/1.

http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/newkent/misc/stpete06.txt