Mourning (Burgh) Bray (abt. 1663 - 1711)

Born about 1663 in Chuckatuck, Upper Norfolk, Colony of Virginia

Wife of James Bray Jr. — married about 1690 in Virginia

Descendants

Died 6 Jan 1711 at about age 48 in James City, Colony of Virginia

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Biography

Mourning Burgh was born about 1663 in Chuckatuck, Virginia to parents William Burgh and Elizabeth Corbreath. She married first Thomas Pettus about 1680 in Virginia. Children: Elizabeth. She married second James Bray Jr. about 1690 in Virginia. Children: Thomas, Elizabeth, Angelica. She died on 6 Jan 1711 in Bray Mansion, Littletown Plantation, James City, Virginia.

"Mourning was the daughter of William BURGH of Chuckatuck, Upper Norfolk County, Virginia, and Elizabeth BILLINGSLEY, a widow. Mourning's supposed last name is only one of numerous fabrications I have found over the past 38 years."

A later Mourning GLENN (born about 1702) married (Maj.) Robert HARRIS. But the Mourning who married Thomas PETTUS and later James BRAY was actually not a GLENN at all. Some researchers had listed her as Mourning GLENN (born 1654/1661), daughter of John GLENN and a Miss MOURNING, other listed her as the daughter of Christopher GLENN and Anna TYREE.

from notes at laanderson.com/ch15-pet.htm: (Link was Disabled/Changed according to the Wayback Machine: http://web.archive.org/details/http://laanderson.com/ch15-pet.htm) "Mourning Glenn [Pettus] appears not to be a perfect lady. She had an overseer give an indentured servant 31 lashes on his bare back - more than the law allowed (probably a more reasonable sum, like 30?). Her language to the marshall that came with a summons was definitely not lady-like and was unprintable."

A deed in Prince George's County, Maryland, enrolled 22 Apr 1725 (folio 627): "From: Thomas JORDAN, planter of Chuccatuck, Nansemond County, Virginia, and Elizabeth his wife and Mourning PETTUS of James City County, widow: To: James HOLLYDAY "George BILLINGSLY, late of Chuccatuck, deceased, by his will dated 21 Dec 1681 bequeathed Margaret BURGH, his sister, a parcel of land on the Patuxent River called "Billingsly's Point" of 500 acres; part of "Pottern" of 700 acres granted to Maj. John BILLINGSLY deceased; at her death the land went to her sisters, Elizabeth and Mourning; for a certain amount of money sold to Thomas HOLLYDAY of Calvert County, merchant. (signed) Tho. JORDAN (seal), Elizabeth JORDAN (seal), Mourning PETTUS (seal) Witnesses: Thomas CLASON (mark), James CARR (mark) Signatures sworn to before Nathaniel BACON 12 Aug 1687"

Folio 628, Indenture, 29 Apr 1725; enrolled 4 May 1725: From: John JORDAN of the Isle of White [sic] county in the Colony of Virginia; heir of Margarett JORDAN's sister and devisee of George BILLINGSLY late of Nansemond County in Virginia To: James HOLLYDAY, Gent. of Talbot County "Margaret JORDAN agreed to sell the 500 acres to Thomas HOLLYDAY; John JORDAN also Martha WHITFIELD and Elizabeth JORDAN, daughter[s] of Margaret are in agreement that all the other descendants of George BILLINGSLY who would be entitled to the land have released their claim; for his expenses and L120 a tract of 500 acres of "Billingsly's Point". (signed) John JORDAN, Witnesses: J. BRAY, Saml. WELDON, Benj. ALLEIN, Signature sworn to before Leonard HOLLYDAY and Thomas SPRIGG; confirmed by Levin COVINGTON" -from THE LAND RECORDS OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MARYLAND

Widow of Richard Durant; then married Pettus.

Name

Elizabeth Mourning or Mouring

Birth

ABT 1615

Marriage

1645

aka: Durant Widow of Richard Durant; then married Pettus

Research Notes

It appears we have conflation in this profile per:

• Henry Duke, councilor, his descendants and connections : comprising partial records of many allied families; Quote: Thomas Pettus⁷ ... He married first Elizabeth Dabney, daughter of George and Elizabeth Dabney. He married secondly Mourning Glenn who in 1699 married secondly James Bray, Jr., a member of the Council, and they had a daughter, Elizabeth Bray, who married Col. Philip Johnson.... Image
• Hopkins of Virginia and related families; Quote: It is said that Captain Thomas Pettus m. (1st) Elizabeth Dabney of Virginia, and (2nd) Mourning Glenn, who upon his death m. James Bray, of James City County, Virginia. This last marriage is mentioned in the William & Mary Quarterly, Vol. 6, p. 138. Image
• Maryland Archives, 1658-1783; Quote: Eighty One Devised the Same unto Margaret his Sister formerly Margaret Burgh by the name of his Sister Margaret in these Words, Item I Do give and bequeath And it is my Will and Desire to gie unto my Sister Margaret a Parcell of Land Lying and Scituate in Patuxent River in Maryland And Commonly Called by the name of Billingsley Point Five Hundred Acres Parcell of a Patent of Seven hundred Acres And the same for to hold and Enjoy in Manner and wise As ... Whereas Also the said Margaret Conceiving her self to have a ffee Simple in the Said Lands haveing had Issue and liveing in Virginia very remote from the Land aforesaid About thirty odd years ... And whereas Also Thomas Jordan and Elizabeth his wife and Mourning Pettus Image
• The Billingsley family (Billingsly-Billingslea) in America; Quote: iv Elizabeth Burgh: b 166- 2d marriage, no Billingsley blood. m (1) 10 June 1679 Thomas Jordain. He died and she m (2) 23 Dec. 1721 Cornelius Ratcliff. ... v Mourning Burgh: b 166-, m after 1681 Pettus (?). vi Margaret Burgh: b 166-, m 9 Dec. 1688 John Jordan. She was devised land in Maryland by her brother George Billingsley. An Act was passed 1724 by Prov. Assembly, Maryland to cut off the entail of a tract of land called "Billingsley's Point" and enable John Jordain to make sale of same.... Image

• There are multiple children 'born before mother was born' Mourning (Burgh) Pettus Bray was born abt 1663

1. John Pettus (1635-1690)
2. Elizabeth Pettus (1636-1701)
3. Mary Pettus (1639-1703)

Sources

See also:

• Ancestry Profile
• The Land Records of Prince George's County, Maryland
• William Walker Pettus IV, Chapter 6, p 211.
• A Record of the Bray Family 1685 ca. 1800, Mary A. Stephenson, September 1963, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library Research Report Series 0151 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library, Williamsburg, Virginia, 1990
• FTM WFT Vol. 100 Tree # 1062 dated 15 Apr 2002.
• Family Tree compiled by Louise Cook Simpson
• One World Tree Title: Henry Childers URL: ancestry.com
• U.S., Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol I–VI, 1607-1943; Ancestry Record 3753 #322979; Name: Moarning Burgh; Residence Date on Image: 06 Eighth 1679; Translated Residence Date: 6 Oct 1679; Residence Place: Virginia; Monthly Meeting: Chuckatuck Monthly Meeting; Volume: Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy Vol. VI. Quote: BURGH: 1679, 10, 6. Elizabeth, dt William, dec; m Thomas JORDAN; 1688/89,12,9. Margaret, Nansemond Co.; m John JORDAN;1679, 10, 6. Moarning signed m cert of Elizabeth Burgh as her sister Image