Looking for Will Ray (or Wray) of Oklahoma

+7 votes
135 views
I am looking for information about the father of Lydia Edith (Ray) Smith (Ray-4622). According to Lydia's death certificate, she was born in Tishmingo, Oklahoma, on Dec. 11, 1882 (although in the census she always gave her birthplace as Texas). The death certificate also lists her parents as Will Ray and Delia Head. At the time, Tishmingo was capital of the Chickasaw nation. Lydia's mother, Delia Head, has a well-established genealogy (I haven't finished entering it here). Delia married Alexander McBeth in 1890, so Will Ray must have died or been divorced by then.

I suspect Will Ray may have been a member of the Chickasaw nation, since a number of Ray/Wrays were listed on the Dawes Rolls. If he was Native American, then he wouldn't be listed in the census. I can't find official documentation of Lydia's birth or Will and Delia's marriage. Does anybody have research on this family, or happen to have available references for Chickasaw marriage records?
WikiTree profile: Lydia Smith
in Genealogy Help by Rebecca Dean G2G2 (2.7k points)

1 Answer

+2 votes
In fold3.com, I found a packet about a white man named William B. Wray enrolling as a member of the Chickasaw nation by virtue of his marriage to a Miss Daisy Ryan.  The marriage occurred on August 15, 1897 and William was about 28 at the time of that marriage.

The folder has a number of documents in it, but none refer to a previous marriage or to this William's parents.  So this may or may not be the William you are seeking.

Here's the link: https://www.fold3.com/image/63843514
by Cathryn Hondros G2G6 Mach 5 (52.1k points)
Thank you!

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