Daniel
Ray
Jr.
Born in Voluntown, New London, Connecticut Colony
Ancestors 
Son of Daniel Ray Sr.
and Elizabeth (Unknown) Ray
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of
Rachel Unknown
— married
[date unknown] [location unknown]
Husband of
Lydia (Gay) Marshall
— married
about 1800 in Essex, New York, United States
Descendants 
Father of
Abel Ray and Rosetta (Ray) Sterling
Died after
after age 58
in Essex, New York, United States
Profile last modified
| Created 14 Sep 2021
This page has been accessed 203 times.
Contents |
Biography
Origins
Daniel Ray, Jr. was born 14 January 1753 in Voluntown, New London, Connecticut, the son of Daniel Ray, Sr. and Elizabeth (last name unknown).[1]
Extensive research regarding Daniel Ray, Jr. that I have been working on for years can be found in the Research Notes section. -D. E. Larocque
Revolutionary War Service
In October of 1778, Daniel Ray first appears as a Private in the Vermont militia under Lieutenant Solomon Soper. Solomon Soper was living in Dorset, Bennington, VT when the Revolution broke out. Dorset is only 12 miles from Sunderland, VT.[2]
From March 22-29, 1780, Daniel Ray is a Corporal in John Spafford’s Company in Gideon Warren’s Regiment. John Spafford was living in Tinmouth, Rutland, VT when the Revolution broke out, and one of his children was born in Dorset, VT.[3]
From 31 May-6 June 1780 and 19-28 October, 1780, Daniel Ray is a Corporal in John Spafford’s Company in Colonel Ebenezer Allen’s Regiment. Ebenezer Allen was living in Poultney, Rutland, VT when the Revolution broke out and after. Poultney is 8 miles from Wells, VT. Ensign Orange Train joins the Company in late October, 1780 (Orange Train is the nephew of Thomas Train, who served alongside the Warrens in the French and Indian War).[4][5]
In October and November of 1781, Daniel Ray is a Corporal in Captain Orange Train’s Company in Colonel Lee’s Regiment. Orange Train is covered in the previous service notation above.[6]
Post-Revolution in New York
|
| Daniel Ray land sale, 2 June 1795. |
The name of Daniel Ray Jr.'s first wife Rachel is listed on a land record Daniel had involving the sale of land to John Cochran, Jr. on 2 Jun 1795.
The Census of 1800 lists Daniel Ray, Jr. as without a wife, so his first wife, Rachel died before the census was taken but after 1795 when a land record records his wife's name.
|
| Daniel Ray mortgage, 1 July 1800. |
Daniel mortgaged his land to the People of New York State as the mortgager to begin on 1 July 1800 for a total of 5 years. This parcel of land became what is now Ray Brook, Essex County, New York.
The marriage record for Mariah Ray to Oliver Badger on 18 November 1872 in Vermont lists her parents as Daniel Ray and Lydia Gay and her birthplace as North Elba, Essex County, NY. Therefore, Daniel's second wife was Lydia Gay, and all of his children up until his death were from Lydia.[7]
Marriage and Children
He married first Rachel, parents and marriage date unknown, before 1788. They had at least one son:
- Abel Ray, born about 1788 in Vermont or New York, married (1) Sarah (Sally), last name and parents unknown, married (2) Sally (Unknown) Packard 12 May 1833 in LeRoy, Lake, Ohio.
He married second Lydia Gay, parents and marriage date unknown, about 1800. They had children:
- Mary Ray, born between 1801-02 in Essex County, NY.
- William Ray, born about 1803 in Essex County, NY, married Adeline Manning about 1834 in Elizabethtown, Essex, NY, daughter of Thomas Manning and Unknown.
- Unknown Daughter Ray, born between 1806-1808, Essex County, NY.
- Mariah Ray, twin of Heman, born about 1809 in Essex County, NY, married (1) Ozro Finel, (2) Harvey Gilbert, (3) Oliver Badger.
- Heman Ray, twin of Mariah, born about 1809 in Essex County, NY, married Mariah Warren on 26 January 1835 in Thompson, Geauga, OH. daughter of Ithamar Hibbard Warren and Lydia Peck.
- Rosetta A. Ray, born 14 April 1812 in Jay (now North Elba), Essex County, NY, married Nathaniel K. Sterling on 17 October 1857 in Williamstown, Orange, VT.
Death
His death cannot be determined as there is no death record, no gravestone, and no proof of life in the Census of 1820. The last record that proves he was alive is the birth of his daughter Rosetta, his last recorded child in Essex County, NY, born in April 1812.[8]
Research Notes
Due to a dearth of records in the western Connecticut/northeastern New York/western Vermont region covering the late 1700s and very early 1800s, the identity of Daniel Ray, Jr. has been an extensive research project.
Based upon the census records and birth records for all Daniel Ray males in New England and correlation, the only Daniel Ray that he could possibly be is Daniel Ray of Voluntown, CT, born 14 Jan 1753.
Daniel Ray males in the United States Federal Censuses of 1790 and 1800:
- Daniel Ray, born before 1756, one son under 16, lived in Jay, Essex, NY in 1800.[9]
- Daniel Ray, born 29 May 1733 in Preston, New London, CT, wives Olive Geer and Abigail Kennedy, lived in Preston, CT in 1800.[10]
- Daniel Ray, born 3 Apr 1743 in Haddam, New Haven, CT, lived in Haddam, CT, in 1790.[11]
- Daniel Ray, Jr., born in Haddam, CT, lived in Lyme, New London, CT, no son under 16 in 1790.[12]
- Daniel Ray, born 26 May 1753 in Cumberland, Providence, RI, lived in Cumberland, RI.
- Daniel Ray, born 1752 in Nantucket, MA, lived in Sherburne, MA.
- Daniel Rea, born from 1774 to 1783, lived in Andover, Essex, MA.
There was a Daniel Ray, born about 1760 in Broome, NY, who moved to Ontario, Canada.
In this Census of 1800 record in Essex County, NY, the age of Daniel Ray is determined to be over 45 years old. This means that to be at least 46 Daniel Ray would have had to be born before 1755.
Therefore, Daniel Ray of Essex County, NY was in fact Daniel Ray, Jr., the son of Daniel Ray, Sr. and Elizabeth of Voluntown, CT.
This conclusion is backed up by a collateral line:
Daniel Ray, Jr. is the son of Daniel Ray, Sr. and Elizabeth (last name unknown) of Voluntown, CT. and was born 14 Jan 1753 as recorded in the Voluntown, Connecticut Barbour Records. Matthew Ray had another son, Patrick Ray, who also moved to New York around the same time and had a son, William Ray (b. 1771). William Ray, a famous poet and sailor aboard the USS Philadelphia, resided in Essex County, NY in the same time period Daniel Ray, Jr. did after his service.
There are three Daniel Ray men who served in the Revolution that fit. Daniel Ray, son of John Ray of Livingston Manor, who died before 1802[13], Daniel Ray of Haddam, CT who drew a pension from his service in Connecticut and lived in Lima, Ontario, NY from 1810 to 1826, and Daniel Ray who served in Vermont from 1778-1781.
In his service during 1780 and 1781, he served with an Ephraim Coy, who is the father of Daniel and Eli Coy of Sunderland, Bennington, VT. The Coy family lived alongside a William Ray and Nancy Ray of Sunderland, whom I believe are the parents of George C. Ray of Le Roy, OH and Daniel is somehow related to William and Nancy.
Sources
- ↑ "Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F746-5D6 : 7 January 2020), Daniel Ray, 1753.
- ↑ "United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G949-JSW4?cc=2068326&wc=M61K-K68%3A355088301 : 31 October 2017), 91-Vermont (jacket 67-119) > image 240 of 789; citing NARA microfilm publication M246 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1980).
- ↑ "United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8949-J66?cc=2068326&wc=M61K-K68%3A355088301 : 31 October 2017), 91-Vermont (jacket 67-119) > image 624 of 789; citing NARA microfilm publication M246 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1980).
- ↑ "United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G94M-LKL?cc=2068326&wc=M61K-KNL%3A355088201 : 31 October 2017), 90-Vermont (jacket 1-66) > image 143 of 892; citing NARA microfilm publication M246 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1980).
- ↑ "United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-894M-LL8?cc=2068326&wc=M61K-KNL%3A355088201 : 31 October 2017), 90-Vermont (jacket 1-66) > image 146 of 892; citing NARA microfilm publication M246 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1980).
- ↑ "United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L94M-L9Z6?cc=2068326&wc=M61K-KNL%3A355088201 : 31 October 2017), 90-Vermont (jacket 1-66) > image 813 of 892; citing NARA microfilm publication M246 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1980).
- ↑ "Vermont, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1732-2005," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G999-YH4N?cc=1987653&wc=Q8ZY-ZZP%3A324710401%2C324710402%2C324710403 : 29 November 2018), Caledonia > Barnet > Births with index, marriages with index, deaths with index, land records 1856-1943 > image 481 of 583; citing various town clerks and records divisions, Vermont.
- ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-68KS-QLQ?cc=1325221&wc=9B7H-V89%3A1030550001%2C1030915701%2C1031003501 : 5 August 2014), New Hampshire > Grafton > ED 68 Lyman town, Monroe town > image 3 of 20; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
- ↑ "United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRZ-WVQ : accessed 27 October 2021), Daniel Ray, Jay, Essex, New York, United States; citing p. 1048, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 22; FHL microfilm 193,710.
- ↑ "United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHR8-Q1B : accessed 27 October 2021), Daniel Ray, Preston, New London, Connecticut, United States; citing p. 704, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 3; FHL microfilm 205,620.
- ↑ "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYYY-GY7?cc=1803959&wc=3XTM-15Z%3A1584071302%2C1584070702%2C1584071333 : 14 May 2015), Connecticut > Middlesex > Haddam > image 2 of 3; citing NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
- ↑ "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YYY-P8L?cc=1803959&wc=3XTM-1R6%3A1584071302%2C1584071301%2C1584070607 : 14 May 2015), Connecticut > New London > Not Stated > image 58 of 101; citing NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
- ↑ Will of John Ray from February of 1802 in which he stated the “Wish "to be buried near my son Daniel."”Abstracts Of Wills Of Rensselaer County, New York, Volume I of Manuscript 1790-1806.
- Connecticut, U.S., Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection), Voluntown, CT
- Essex County Land Records. 2 Jun 1795 Land sale record involving Daniel Ray and John Cochran, Jr. in which his wife Rachel Ray also signs using her mark.
- Familysearch, 1800 United States Federal Census
- Familysearch, 1810 United States Federal Census
- Familysearch, 1820 United States Federal Census
- New Hampshire, U.S., Death Records, 1650-1969, Death Record for Mariah (Ray) Gilbert 21 Aug 1881, Grafton, NH
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Daniel is 20 degrees from Emeril Lagasse, 20 degrees from Nigella Lawson, 23 degrees from Maggie Beer, 45 degrees from Mary Hunnings, 28 degrees from Joop Braakhekke, 27 degrees from Michael Chow, 22 degrees from Ree Drummond, 23 degrees from Paul Hollywood, 22 degrees from Matty Matheson, 22 degrees from Martha Stewart, 31 degrees from Danny Trejo and 26 degrees from Molly Yeh on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
The problem with this Ray line is that vital records for the most part simply didn't exist during the first part of his life in western Vermont and the wilderness of the Adirondacks covering Essex County, NY. My intent is to present a timeline of facts and proven relationships which explains as best as possible his origins. The records I do have include the biography of William Ray the poet who served onboard the USS Philadelphia; the church record of Voluntown, CT; the birth record of Daniel Ray, Jr. in Voluntown, CT in Barbour; the Revolutionary War rolls; a petition to the State of New York in 1795; Clinton and Essex County and records from 1795 and 1799; the US Federal Census of 1790, 1800 and 1810 and the records from his children by his second wife, Lydia, which specify that their father was Daniel and they were born in Essex County, NY.
He is a work in progress, but I am going to do my absolute best.