| Daniel Rea migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See Great Migration Begins, by R. C. Anderson, Vol. 3, p. 1560) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm |
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Daniel Ray, seaman
Daniel Ray was profiled by Robert Charles Anderson in Great Migration Begins,[1] Anderson specifically says that both Pope and Savage misread the unfinished will, and thought the grandchildren mentioned were Daniel's children. Daniel Ray had only two children: Joshua and Bethia.[1] He also mentioned his grandchildren in his will: Rebecca and Sarah.[1]
Came to Plymouth Colony in 1630.[1] On 9 June 1630, Daniel purchased a house with a garden at Plymouth from Anthony Annable.[1]
Married: Between 1627 and 1637 to Bethiah _____. (possibly Bethia Jones).[1]
"Bethiah Raye" was admitted to the Salem church on 1 October 1637[2][1]
Bethiah may have been Bethia Jones (mentioned in profile of Isabel Brett) who removed from Boston to Salem in 1631 or later.[3] If she was the wife of Daniel Ray, the birth dates of his children need examination. Either Daniel was married twice, and his unknown first wife was the mother of one or both children, or the children were born a few years later.[3]
CHILDREN:[Source: Anderson's Great Migration Begins][1]
A common mistake is the assignment of the two grandchildren to Daniel Ray as his children. Anderson cautioned that both Pope and Savage misread the will, and made this mistake.[1] It has, of course, been repeated else/ everywhere. To confuse matters further, in 1637 at Salem, meadow land was granted based on the number of people living in a household, and Daniel Ray was credited with seven members of his household.[1][4] Anderson admits he has no idea about the identity of the additional three persons; we only know the identity of the four.[1]
Daniel arrived at Plymouth in 1630, but was found in Salem in 1631, and he remained there until his death.[1] Governor Bradford of Plymouth wrote a letter to John Winthrop of Massachusetts Bay in 1631, in which he mentioned several who had gone from Plymouth to Massachusetts. Daniel Ray was mentioned.[5] In a deed resulting from his estate in 1688, well after his death, he was identified as "Daniel Ray, seaman, late of Salem."[1]
Daniel served many times on the Grand Jury and on the Petit Jury at Salem. He also served as a selectman in 1636-37, as a rater in February 1639/40, a Tythingman 7 June 1644, and Constable in 1639.[1]
Daniel died in Salem before 24 June 1662 the date on which his unfinished will was presented in court. The heirs of Daniel, agreed to carry out the wishes of Daniel’s unfinished will and then to allow the court to dispose of the remainder of his estate as they saw fit for the good of the family. The court agreed to this.
The unfinished will made the following provisions.
First: That Joshua, son of Daniel(1) deceased shall have the “farme”. When Joshua’s son Daniel(2) reaches age 21 he shall have one half of that farm. Joshua & Joshua’s wife to have the other half until their decease, when the whole goes to Daniel(2) the grandson.
"Secondly, that ye said Joshua Rea shall have the use & improvement of the seventeene Acres of land, lying on Salem North River, untill his two daughters, Rebecca & Sarah, exprest in ye will, shall attaine to ye age of sixteene yeares, & then they to have ye land with ye improvement of ye same equally divided betwixt them."
Third: Joshua is also given some land to dispose of as he sees fit.
Fourth son Thomas Lothrop & his wife shall have Captaine Damports Farme.
Fifthly: “that our Mother shall have ye thirds, of all of this Estate, dureing her life.”
The heirs leave the remainder of the estate to the court to divide.
[6]
Daniel died by 24 June 1662 at Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts.[1] The will he left was incomplete, but an agreement providing for all parties was proved as a will on 24 June 1662, and inventory was made 26 June 1662, appraised at £239.19.4.[1][7]
While we do not know the death date of Daniel's widow, Bethiah Ray, she was certainly living at the time the will was proved. Daniel had made provision for his widow. In 1662, the courts specified the agreement between all heirs, and asserted that the son-in-law, Thomas Lothrop (daughter Bethia's 1st), was to "keep and maintain" his mother (Daniel's widow).[1] She must have died before Thomas Lothrop, as she was not included in his estate, dealt with in the December Term 1675.[8]
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Categories: Puritan Great Migration
b. 1508 Denston, Suffolk, England - 9 JANUARY 1551 Denston, Suffolk, England