John Ray (abt. 1730 - 1820)

Descendants

Died 14 Oct 1820 at about age 90 in St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Biography

Died St. Louis, Missouri during first State Legislature

Birth: Death: 14 OCT 1820 in St. Louis, MO during first State Legislature

United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783^[1]

Name: Ray

Event Type: Military Service

Event Date: 09 Aug 1776

Event Place: United States

United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783^[2]

Name: John Rae

Event Type: Military Service

Event Date: 08 Jan 1777

Event Place: United States

United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783^[3]

Name: John Reay

Event Type: Military Service

Event Date: Apr 1778 / 01 May 1778

Event Place: United States

Military Rank: Privat

United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783^[4]

Name: Jno Ray

Event Type: Military Service

Event Date: Jan 1779

Event Place: United States

Military Rank: Privt

United States Census, 1790^[5]

Name: John Ray

Event Place: Prince Georges, Maryland, United States

Emigration: MD>KY>MO 1817•_ELEC: 1819 Representitive to Missouri Constitution Convention, First General Assembly of Missouri/Howard Co.

Will: 13 OCT 1820 John Ray's witnessed by J.B.C. Lucas

Burial: 14 OCT 1820 John Ray at home of J.B.C. Lucas family plot(not found)

Military Service: Pvt. 1st Va Reg. - DAR

Event: Articles/Publications Missouri Historical Review

Occupation: Farmer>Politician

Event: Political Office Senate 1813-16,Warren Co.,KY; 1820-1st Missouri State Legislature,Howard Co.

Note:

Believed but not totally proven, DAR believes that John Ray was a surveyor for George Rogers Clark in the Virginia area to become Kentucky during the Revolutionary War years. This has not been proven at this time and John Ray's name is mentioned in early land deed papers as the surveyor of the land. Not sure if it is the same John Ray that settled in Warren Co., KY in 1800. John Ray is found in the 1797 tax list of Warren Co., Kentucky.

John Ray was a member of the First Constitutional Convention of Missouri. Lived in Washington County and Howard Co. Missouri. Ray County, Missouri is named in his honor. Was close friend of Daniel Boone before they both moved to Missouri. Served in the Kentucky legislature from Warren Co. Kentucky in 1803, as Daniel Boone before, he moved his family to Missouri. Then served together on Constitutional Convention together. Both died within a short time of each other, Daniel Boone died September 26th at age of 86 and John Ray died October 14th of 1820.

Daniel Boone was captured from Kentucky by the Indians during the years of war, he was released by the Indians, thanks to one of the leaders,"Blue Jacket", War chief of the Shawnee in Kentucky and Ohio.

"Blue Jacket" was a white man captured as a young boy who stayed with the Indians and became a great leader. He was Marmaduke Van Swearingen, the first cousin of Ray's wife Verlinda Swearingen. He was the son of John Swearingen and Catherine Stull. This is being disputed by many researchers at this time. A yearly play is held in Zanesville, OH about this man "Blue Jacket" and they say he was Swearingen.

John Ray died in St. Louis, Missouri at the home of J. B. C. Lucas on October 14,1820 and was buried on the Lucas family estate in St. Louis. The grave has never been found at this time. Believed to have been moved to Howard Co., MO and then lost in the floods.

1810 U.S. Census, Warren County, KY pg. 263 John Ray - free white males- 1-under 10, 1-10-16, 1-16-26, 1-26-45;free white females-2-under 10,2-10-16,1-26-45;slaves -2 This is only definite census record for John Ray on tax lists for Warren Co.,KY from 1997-1816.

"Warren Co. Court Records 1812-1814 Book D" - states John Ray was a Judge and James S. Ray was a Constable.

Barren Co., KY Surveys - 1815 (Skaggs Creek area) Hiram Crabtree, James Johnston, Burnside, Bowles lines. Joel Felpot, housekeeper and Marker. James Johnston housekeeper. James Marshall & John Ray, chain carriers. Is this our "John Ray" of Warren Co.,KY.

1) Missouri Taxpayers 1819-1826, pg. 40, Howard Co., "Intelligencer": James S. Ray estate, John, Varlender. pg. 50 - Howard Co. Land & Property 1822 - 23 - 24, : Bejamin B. Ray, James Ray

pg. 81 - Ray Co. " Intelligencer", Howard Co. : Lewis Ray, Margaret Ray

pg. 82 - Ray Co., " Intellegencer", Howard Co. : Julian Ray, Patrick Ray

pg. 87 - St.Charles Co. from "Republican" & "Inquirer" & St. Charles "Missourian" : James Ray, Yilinda Ray

pg. 111 - Washington Co. Delinquents 1819-1825 : Elijah Ray

pg. 116 - Howard Co : John Ray

2) Index to the 1850 Census of the Missouri Counties of St. Charles, St. Clair & St. Francois:

Ray - William 22 155

Ray - John 26 451

:Sally 24 451 :John 21 451 :Harvey 8/12 451

Ray - B. C. 40 1709

Elizabeth 30 1709

John H. 12 1709

:Ruth M 10 1709 :Laura A. 6 1709 :Pamela 2 1709 :William 5/12 1709

3) Marriage & Will Records of Howard Co., Missouri:

pg. 34 Joseph Ray - Mary Johnson 03 Apr 1842 by #34

:Thomas Ray - Phebe Itily Johnson 02 Nov 1837 by #180 :Samuel Ray, Jr. - Nancy Caton 30 Aug 1832 by #30 :Stephen Ray - Jane Richardson 11 Jul 1819 by #218

pg. 2 Will:

Will of John Ray dated 12 Oct 1820, Rec. 28 Dec 1820 -

To my wife, Verlinda; to Burket D. Bomer; to my two sons, James Ray and Benjamin.

Witness: Daniel Monroe, Jr., Benjamin Cooper, and William Lucas

Missouri Taxpayer: 1819, Howard Co., John Ray, pg. 116

After leaving Maryland John Ray and wife Verlinda settled in Warren County, Kentucky entering purchase 200 acres of land in the Bays Fork area, on March 16th,1800. Full payment was made in 1809. While in Warren County, he and his wife Verlinda witnessed the will of Thomas Coleman on February 23, 1816.

In "Warren Co.,KY Deed Book C1801-1807" pg.326, John Ray appoint Wm. Ray my attorney to sell land, collect rents & c in my absence. 10-30-1805.

"Warren Co.,KY Deed Book E" pg. 396, Ray, John appoint Isham Talbot of Franklin Co.,Ky. my attorney to obtain Writ of Error to operate as a supercedeas from Court of Appeals of Ky. to reverse Judgement in suit in Warren Circuit Ct. Jacob Skiles vs. myself. Dated 7/5/1811

Many books have been written over the years about this family. "The Rays Look Back" pg. 59 is totally wrong on John Ray and who his wife is. John Ray was married to Verlinda Swearingen, not Verlinda Griffin, Jane Randolph. Verlinda Griffin was a daughter. Jane Randolph married another John Ray in Virginia. "The Ray Book" by Ann Tyson Sipes, 1993, covers many of the different John Ray's in Kentucky, Maryland and Virginia. But does not contain information on this John Ray in Warren Co., Kentucky.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL6Y-LY8R : 15 March 2018), Ray, 09 Aug 1776; citing 09 Aug 1776, United States, citing NARA microfilm publication M246. Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Services, 1980. FHL microfilm 830,415.
2. ↑ "United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL65-5TPM : 15 March 2018), John Rae, 08 Jan 1777; citing 08 Jan 1777, United States, citing NARA microfilm publication M246. Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Services, 1980. FHL microfilm 830,411.
3. ↑ "United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL6Y-VHMJ : 15 March 2018), John Reay, 01 May 1778; citing 01 May 1778, United States, citing NARA microfilm publication M246. Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Services, 1980. FHL microfilm 830,405.
4. ↑ "United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL6Y-2SRK : 15 March 2018), Jno Ray, Jan 1779; citing Jan 1779, United States, citing NARA microfilm publication M246. Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Services, 1980. FHL microfilm 830,405.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKT-PL5 : accessed 22 September 2019), John Ray, Prince Georges, Maryland, United States; citing p. 312, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 3; FHL microfilm 568,143.