Edward Bray

http://home.comcast.net/~c24m48/trees/bray2/b4588.html

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55998977/edward-bray-

Name: Edward BRAY

Surname: BRAY

Given Name: Edward

Sex: M

Birth: 5 Jan 1720 in of Monocacy Hundred, Prince George's, Maryland, now USA

Death: 1793/1796 in , Surry, North Carolina, USA

Notes:

   As with his brother Henry, much incorrect information has been written over the years concerning Edward BRAY. It is incorrect that he was born in 1702 or 1710 in Virginia.

   Incorrect: Bray Family records compiled by Perry A. Bray and published in "Bray Nostalgia" by Cheryl Clark, claiming that Edward Bray's father Edward came to America from England, landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1699, and was a member of the Church of England "as was his son Edward Bray II, who married Sarah Maynor". (note: this is incorrect, as there is no evidence that the father of Edward BRAY who married Sarah MAYNOR/MAYNARD was an earlier Edward BRAY, or that this earlier Edward BRAY landed in Philadelphia in 1699, or that he was a member of the Church of England).

   Incorrect: "Bray-Shelton-Jameson" family history compiled in 1967-1972 for the Bray-Shelton Reunion Organization by Rachel Bray Schwier, Reunion Historian, Mooresville, IN, and published in "Bray Nostalgia", Vol. 2, #2, p. 7, by Cheryl CLARK (this information is apparently almost identical to that mentioned above which was compiled by Perry A. BRAY, published in "Bray Nostalgia", Vol. 1, #3, p. 7, erroneously stating that Edward BRAY who married Sarah MAYNOR/MAYNARD was the son of an earlier Edward BRAY who landed in Philadelphia in 1699 and was a member of the Church of England). The information apparently originated with Susan[nah] BRAY BURRIS (1836-1914), who was the daughter of Edward BRAY and Elizabeth SHELTON, granddaughter of Henry BRAY and Keziah Huff JONES, and great-granddaughter of Edward BRAY and Sarah MAYNOR/MAYNARD. Susan wrote her memoirs in 1887. This branch of the BRAY family held their first reunion in September 1899 in Indiana, and apparently wrote down the above lineage at that time, and this "Lineage Book" was used by all their subsequent reunions.

   Rachel BRAY SCHWIER, Bray family reunion historian for the Indiana BRAYs in 1967-1972, wrote that "There are several versions of historical stories concerning our immigrant ancestor from England. Some state that Henry BRAY, born in 1685, came from England to Baltimore, Maryland in 1699 at age fourteen, that he lived with an uncle Rev. Thomas BRAY, described as the "first head of the Baptist Church of America," and in other sources as an "Episcopal (Church of England) Priest." The wife listed for this Henry Bray was Sally YORKLEY or YOKLEY. Suzanne BRAY SERVICES (D5-230-8g) read in a biography of Rev. Thomas BRAY that he [Thomas] was an only child and therefore [Henry] would not have been a nephew [of Rev. Thomas BRAY]. Proof that Henry BRAY who maried Sallie YOKLEY could not have come directly from England is contained in the DAR record establishing him as a "Patriot of the American Revolution." Both were born and died in North Carolina. I will pursue study of this Henry BRAY to determine if he was a son of a brother of our ancestor, Edward BRAY."

   [note: the above is full of inaccuracies. Although it's true that Henry BRAY was a brother of Edward BRAY, there is no proof that Henry BRAY was born in 1685 nor that he came from England to Baltimore, MD in 1699, nor that he was a nephew of Dr. Thomas BRAY. Apparently this idea came from faulty research in the 1800's which also says that Henry BRAY lived to be 113 years old. Rev. Thomas BRAY was not Baptist, but was an Episcopal (Church of England) Priest who came to Maryland in Mar 1700 and stayed only 6 months, then returned to England. Probably no connection to Henry and Edward BRAY, but some early researcher(s) apparently decided there must be a connection merely because Henry BRAY was known to have lived in Maryland before coming to North Carolina. Dr. Thomas BRAY wasn't an only child....christening records show that he had at least one brother, Richard, of whom nothing is known (this Richard may have died in childhood, however). And Henry BRAY (ca. 1705-1790), brother of Edward BRAY who married Sarah MAYNOR/MAYNARD, isn't the same Henry who married Sarah YOKLEY....that Henry (ca. 1742-1812) was the son of the earlier Henry. And it isn't certain which Henry was the "Patriot" who served in the Chatham Co. militia in 1772 and provided corn and supplies to the militia in 1787....probably the one born in 1742.]

   "Another story was that two brothers came from England at the same time. One married a red-headed girl, the other bride had black hair, and we descend from the latter."

   The above story apparently has no proof or evidence to support it. The story was probably started in the 1800's when some descendants of Edward BRAY (and of his brother Henry), many of whom have black hair, encountered descendants of Peter BRAY & Martha SCOTT, many of whom have red hair, and wrongly decided that their immigrant ancestors must have been "brothers" who married wives with different colored hair. But recent DNA results show that Peter BRAY was no relation to Henry and Edward BRAY.

   Quaker records show that Edward BRAY was born 5 Jan 1719/1720 (old style calendar), although some researchers say 5 Jan 1718/1719 (apparently mixing up the years). Some say 15 Jan 1720 (apparently converted to "new style" date by adding 10 days). Some say he was born 5 Jan 1731 (incorrect).

   Edward BRAY's wife and children were Quakers. Parents of this Edward BRAY (who married Sarah MAYNARD) aren't proven, but he had a brother Henry, and apparently a sister Elizabeth. Some have claimed that Edward's father was named Edward, while others say it was Henry. More evidence points to Edward's father being named Henry.

   Some genealogists say that Henry BRAY (1741-1812), who married Sarah YOKLEY, was the one who had a brother Edward who married Sarah MAYNARD; however, since Edward was born in 1719/1720 it doesn't seem likely that they would have been 20 years apart in age if they were brothers. It is evident from deed records and wills that Henry BRAY (1741-1812) and his father Henry (ca. 1705-1791) both had brothers named Edward. The older Henry (ca. 1705-1791)'s brother was probably the Edward born in 1720, who married Sarah MAYNARD. Sarah was a Quaker, and on Jan. 5, 1760, "Sarah Bray" transferred her membership from Fairfax Monthly Meeting (which also covered Monocacy, MD) to Cane Creek Monthly Meeting (Orange Co., NC). Some say that this indicates her husband had died by 1760, but it doesn't seem to me any indication at all that he had died, or even an indication that 1760 was the date they moved to NC. Probably she simply didn't get around to transferring her membership until 1760. Deed records for Edward BRAY were recorded in NC from the 1750's until at least the late 1760's, and the birth of Edward & Sarah Maynard Bray's oldest son, Henry, was recorded 29 Aug 1755 in Cane Creek monthly meeting, Orange County, North Carolina.

   Children of Edward and Sarah MAYNARD BRAY were born between 1755-1777, so it's doubtful that the Edward who married Sarah MAYNARD was born in 1702, or that he and Sarah's marriage occurred in 1742, as some family trees claim. And, of course, he couldn't have died in 1760 before most of his children were born (Edward BRAY son of Edward and Sarah MAYNARD BRAY was born 18 Jan 1769 as recorded at Cane Creek Monthly Meeting, Orange Co., NC) --- therefore the Edward BRAY who married Sarah MAYNARD was probably the one born in 1720, and the Edward BRAY born in 1769 (son of Edward BRAY and Sarah MAYNARD) was apparently the one who married Ann DOWDY and moved to Kentucky shortly after 1810.

   A tract of land which Henry BRAY, Planter, purchased in 1762 in Orange Co., NC was surveyed 26 Nov 1761 by Edward BRAY and Edward BRAY Jr. Since Edward BRAY (1720-1796?)'s son Edward (who married Ann DOWDY) wasn't born until 1769, who was this Edward BRAY, Jr. in 1761? He would have to have been born 1740 or earlier (age 21 or older by 1761).

   Possibilities: perhaps Edward Bray (1720-1796?) had an oldest son Edward, born about 1740, who died after the 1761 land survey, but before 1769. In those days it was not uncommon to give another son the same name as a deceased son.

   It is also possible that Edward (1720-1796?)'s father was named Edward (b. before 1700), and that the theorized Edward b. before 1700 was the one who was brother of Henry (1705-1791). If this is the case then the Edward Bray (1720-1796?) who married Sarah Maynard would be Henry Bray (1705-1791)'s nephew rather than brother.

   But most likely, the Edward BRAY "Jr." in the 1762 deed was Henry BRAY's son (born about 1730), and the other Edward BRAY in the deed was Henry's brother (born 1720). In those days, it was quite common for suffixes such as "Jr." and "Sr." to be added to a man's name, in order to distinguish two men with the same name from one another. These suffixes weren't formally a part of the name, they merely indicated that one was older and other was younger. It didn't indicate a father & son relationship. Also, the designations would change over the years (i.e. someone called Henry Bray "Jr." would later be called Henry Bray "Sr." after the older man by that name had died).

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   LOCATIONS:Prior to 1755 - Edward Bray lived in the area of Fairfax Monthly Meeting (at that time Fairfax (VA) MM also included Monocacy, MD)1755-1770 - Edward & family appear in Orange County, North Carolina (Cane Creek MM) records1770-1803 - Edward's family appears in Chatham County, North Carolina (Cane Creek MM) records1780-1810 - Edward's family appears in Surry County, North Carolina (Deep Creek MM) recordsEdward Bray was not a Quaker, but his wife Sarah Maynard was. His children became devout Quakers.Colonial and Revolutionary Lineages of America. Vol. 17. pp. 30-35:

   "Edward Bray, son of Henry Bray, resided in that part of Orange County, North Carolina, which later became Chatham County, and was probably deceased before 1-5-1760**, when his wife was received into the Cane Creek Monthly Meeting by a certificate from the Fairfax Monthly Meeting in Virginia. Orange County was originally formed from Bladen and Granville Counties in 1753. In 1770, Chatham County was formed from Orange County, and the locality of the Cane Creek Monthly Meeting in Orange County was later included in the formation of Alamance County in 1849. The fact that Sarah Bray brought a certificate from the Fairfax Monthly Meeting in 1760 is evidence that the family were living in Virginia*** before that year."

   A few problems with the above:

   **Edward Bray who married Sarah Maynard couldn't have been deceased in 1760, because the birth of Edward Bray, son of Edward Bray and Sarah Maynard, was recorded 18 Jan 1769 at Cane Creek Monthly Meeting, Orange Co., NC

   ***Fairfax Monthly Meeting included Monocacy, MD as well (see http://www.geocities.com/mckyrbnsn/meetings/fairfax.html)

   DOCUMENTATION: William Wade Hinshaw - Vol. 6, p. 474.

   Edward Bray's wife Sarah Bray came to Cane Creek M.M. on a certificate from Fairfax MM, Fairfax, Va.(Cane Creek was in the part of Orange County that later became Chatham County).1760,1,5 Sarah Bray rocf Fairfax MM Cane Creek MM

   (rocf = received on certificate from)

   The following deeds also indicate a connection between Edward Bray and William Leakey (who married an Elizabeth Bray b. ca. 1729):

   1782 deed (This is a part of the 405 acres of land Granted to William Leakey 5 February 1755 and sold to Edward Bray in 1758):This Indenture made this twenty third day of the first month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty two Between Edward Bray and Sarah his wife of Chatham County in the Province of North Carolina farmer of the one part and Daniel Vestal of the said County and Province of the other part Witnesseth that the said Edward Bray & Sarah his wife for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds in hand paid by the said Daniel Vestal the Receipt where of the said Edward Bray & Sarah his wife both given, grant and bargain sold released aliened and confirmed and by these presents doth give grant bargain sell alien release and confirm unto the said Daniel Vestal his heirs and assigns forever all the tract and parcell of land situated and lying in the said County of Chatham in the middle fork of Rocky it being part of a tract of land granted unto William Leakey from the Earl Granville by a deed bearing date the second month called February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty five Record ther unto being had will more at large appear for 405 acres of land and from the said William Leakey conveyed 202 1/2 (acres) of land to the said Edward Bray by a deed bearing date the fifteenth day of the fifth month called May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight Begining for the present part at a white oak at the East and of the whole tract running thence North forty five chains to a Black Jack thence West ten chains to a Post thence South about twenty seven degrees west fifty two chains to a post thence East thirty five chains to the first station Containing one hundred one acre and a quarter of land more or less and also all Woods under Woods waters and Water Courses Orchards pastures Commones of pastures profits Commodites Hereitaments advantages and appurtanances whatsover to the said one hundred one acre and a quarter of land belonging in any wise appertaining all the Estate Right title Intrest Claim and Demand whatever of them the said Edward Bray & Sarah his wife of and to the said one hundred one acre and a quarter of Land and premises and every part and parcel thereof To have and to hold the said one hundred one acre and a quarter of land and all and Singular the premises unto the said Daniel Vestel his Heirs and asigns to the only proper use and behoof of him the Said Daniel Vistal his heirs and asigns forever and the said Edward Bray And Sarah his Wife for themselves and their heirs the said one hundred one acre and a quarter of land and premises and everey part and parcel thereof against them and their Heirs and againt all and everey other previous or persons claiming by from or under them or either of them to the said Daniel Vestal his heirs and asaigns shall and will warrant and forever Defend by these presents In witnes to wherof they have here unto set their hands and affixed their seal the Day and Year first above written.Signed Sealed and Delivered hisin the presince of us Edward W BrayDavid Vestal MarkWilliam Hobron herJohn Piggot Sarah S BrayMarkChatham County Court Term 1784Chet F.Barney Clk, Co.The above Due was duly proved by the Affirmation of David Vestal And ordered to be registeredThis Indenture made the twenty fifth day of the Seventh month in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred & Ninty Two Between David Vestal of Chatham County & State of North Carolina of the one part and William Hobson Joseph Branson & Nathan Vestal of the County & State aforesaid Trustees for Friends of the Society called Quakers belonging to Rocky River Meeting of the other part Witnetseth that the said David Vestal for and in consideration of the Love and Esteem that the said David Vestal hath for that people and for the sum of three shillings in hand paid by the said William Hobson Joseph Branson & Nathan Vestal the receipt wherof is hereby acknowledged by the said David Vestal and the said William Hobson Joseph Branson & Nathan Vestal are there from discharged have bargained given granted sold conveyed & Confirmedunto the S. William Hobson Joseph Branson and Nathan Vestal a certain piece or parcel of land lying and being in the County of Chatham on the Waters of Rocky River Begining at a marked post Oak on Thomas Doans line near the upper corner of the Meeting House Meadow fence running thence it Marked between the Grave yard and S.Meadow fence nearly of South East Course twenty eight poles to a post Oak Saplong then East twelve poles to a White Oak Bush then North twenty Six poles to a Hickory then West twenty four poles to the begining Containing three acres & six poles more or less of land being part of 205 acres of Land granted to Wm. Leakey from the Earl Granville A.D.1755 and 202 poles Conveyed to Edward Bray from the S. Leakey and 101 1/2 acres conveyed from S. Bray to Said David Vestal of which the present three acres of sid poles ia a part recourse being had to the several conveyances and their records will fully and clearly appear withall & Singular the Buildings Fences Meeting House Graves Woods Ways Waters Profits and advantages and all the right Title Claim and demands whatsoever of them the S. David Vestal his heirs and assigns to the herby Grant premises and every part & Parcel there of to the S. Wm Hobson Joseph Branson Nathan Vestal and their heirs for the use of a Meeting House Grave Yard they as Trustees for that part of the Society the Resedanters of Rocky River Meeting but if the said William Hobson Joseph Branson & Nathan Vestal they either or any of them or their Heirs shall revolt from the Society called Quakers they so Revolting or leaving Society Shall forfeit all their rights of the said three acres & Six Poles of Land & their right Shall be invested in him or them of the three Trustees that remains Members of S. Society and it shall be lawfull and Adviseable for Friends of Rockey River upon the revolting removeing or dceasing of some of said Trustees to request him or them in whom the rights is to make their right of said three acres & six poles to such others as they shall nominate in their place In witness wherof the said David Vestal hath hereunto set his hand & seal the day & Year above written.Joseph Hobson Henry Jones David VestalJohn CarterChatham County August session 1794This deed was duly acknowledged in open court & ordered to be registered Test John Ramsey C.C.1792,8,7 Sarah Bray gct Cane Creek MM SC returned certificate 1792,10,6 Cane Creek MM1798,2,3 Sarah Bray gct Deep Creek MM NC Cane Creek MM 1803,3,15 Sara Bray d. 3/15/1803 Deep Creek MMSee Joseph Bray's Will 16th Sept. 1847According to Chatham County Court Records, May 1776, "John McKever, Samuel Carter, Edward Bray, Isaac Carter*, being cited before this court as suspected persons under the Act of Assembly came into Court and refused to comply with said Act, therefore ordered that they depart within 60 days out of the state"

   *Isaac Carter was the husband of Mary Bray, daughter of Edward Bray and Sarah Maynard.

   (being Quakers or Quaker sympathizers, they refused to take the oath of loyalty).

   Apparently Edward Bray and Isaac Carter (and perhaps the others too) had this judgment rescinded, because they stayed in North Carolina and died there. Edward was not listed in the 1790 census in NC, but this is most likely because he was living in one of his children's households.

   Edward Bray Sr. did, however, leave Chatham County. He apparently sold his land to his brother Henry before leaving, and Henry passed it on to his son Henry (1741-1812). When Henry wrote his will 4 Jan 1812, he gave to his son James Bray "one tract of land where EDWARD BRAY Sr. used to live, containing two hundred and seventy five acres".

   BRAYS in the Quaker Records:

   Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogyby William Wade Hinshaw, Vol ICane Creek MM (Orange County, now Alamance Co., NC)(MM=Monthly Meeting)1760, 1, 5 Sarah rocf FairFax MM(rocf=recieved on certificate from)1776, 5, 4 Rachel & Sarah recrq(recrq=recieved by request)1778, 1, 3 Henry gct New Garden MM, to m.(gct=granted certificate to; m=marry)1778, 4, 4 Keziah rocf New Garden MM(rocf=recieved on certificate from)1781, 3, 3 Henry, & ch rocKeziah, & dt Jemima, rocf Deep River MM, dated 1781, 1, 1.(roc recieved on Certificate; ch= child, children; dt=daughter)1783, 9, 6 Sarah Jr. dis(dis=disowned, disowned for)1785, 11, 5 Rachel McDaniel dis mou(mou=marriage out of unity1787, 2, 3 Henry & Family gct Bush River MM(Newberry Co., SC)Keziah with h & ch gct Bush River MMNew Garden MM (Guilford Co., NC)1778, 2, 2 Henry, s Edward, Chatham Co., m Kezia Jones(s=son, son of)Bush River MM (Newberry Co., SC)1787, 6, - Henry & s John, Henry & Edward rocf Cane Creek MM, NCdated 1787, 2, 3.Deep River MM (Guilford Co., NC)1779, 5, 3 Henry & w & ch Jemima rocf Cane Creek MM, dated 1779, 4, 3.1781, 1, 1 Henry & ch gct Cane Creek MMKeziah gct Cane Creek MMSpringfield MMHenery(sic) BrayKeziah BrayCh: Jemina b. 11-30-1778John b 5- 8-1780Henery b 2-18-1782Sarah b 1-26 1784Edward b 1-18 1786Mary b 5-15-1788Richard b 4-22-1790Joseph b 6-15-1792Abijah b 3-12-1793 d. 7-18-1797Abijah b 11-18-1797Kezia b 12-15-1800Massey b 6-16-1806

Father: Henry BRAY b: ABT 1680/1681 Mother: Miss ROGERS b: ABT 1685

Marriage 1 Sarah MAYNER b: ABT 1733 in of , Monocacy Hundred, Prince George's, Maryland, USA

   Married: ABT 1754

Children

1. Henry BRAY b: 29 Aug 1755 in Cane Creek MM, Orange, North Carolina, USA
2. Mary BRAY b: ABT 1757 in , Orange, North Carolina, USA
3. Susannah BRAY b: ABT 1759 in , Orange, North Carolina, USA
4. John BRAY b: ABT 1761 in , Orange, North Carolina, USA
5. Sarah BRAY b: ABT 1763 in , Orange, North Carolina, USA
6. Joseph BRAY b: ABT 1767 in , Orange, North Carolina, USA
7. Edward BRAY b: 18 Jan 1769 in Cane Creek MM, Orange, North Carolina, USA
8. James BRAY b: ABT 1770 in , Orange, North Carolina, USA
9. Elizabeth BRAY b: ABT 1771 in , Orange, North Carolina, USA
10. Rachel BRAY b: ABT 1773 in , Orange, North Carolina, USA
11. Richard BRAY b: 28 Aug 1777 in , Chatham, North Carolina, USA

Source: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=kbkeeley&...

North Carolina Census, 1790-1890 about Edward Bray

Name: Edward Bray

State: NC

County: Orange County

Township: No Township Listed

Year: 1755

Database: NC Early Census Index

Edward was a brother of Henry B. Bray, Sr. who married Sarah Yokely. He was the 11th child listed in Henry's Will.

His date of birth was shown as Feb 9, 1760 by another researcher but according to the birth dates of his children it cannot be correct. Therefore it will show blank.

Henry Bray's Will dated 4 Jan. 1812: "I give and bequeath to my son EDWARD BRAY two thousand dollars out of my whole estate, to be paid when collected and called for and if the said EDWARD BRAY should die without a lawful heir, I desire this money should be equally divided among my heirs. My desire is that the remainder part of my estate to be so divided as to make their sums equal except EDWARDs, also it is my desire that the property that I left to my wife at her decease shall be equally divided among my heirs.

Edward Bray and his wife Sarah Maynard Bray sold this land on Reedy Fork, Chatham County, NC to his daughter Maria Jane Bray and her husband Henry Marley in 1785. Henry and Maria Marley later moved to Indiana.

Edward and his wife Sarah Maynard died in Chatham County, NC and are buried in the Bray family cemetery. It seems their grave stones have not been found or if found they were too old to read.

UPDATE: A FAG member pointed out errors in this memorial. Edward Bray was a son of Henry Bray & Mary Wilson, not Henry Bray and Sarah Yokley. If there are memorial numbers for his parents please submit them to correct. Thanks

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 14 2018, 15:06:15 UTC