Abner Ray (1792 - 1864)

Born 1792 in Tennessee, United States [uncertain]

Husband of Mary (Sparkman) Ray — married 8 Jan 1811 in Grainger Co., TN

Husband of Rutha (Sparkman) Ray — married 25 Aug 1815 in Grainger, Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died 10 Nov 1864 at about age 72 in Phelps, Missouri, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Patricia Thomas [send private message] and Sherrie Wentzel [send private message]

Biography

Abner served in the War of 1812 and fought at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. Enlisting in Grainger County, TN and mustered in at Knoxville. Moved to Missouri in 1840, settling in Dallas County. He made application for Bounty Land in Crawford County, now Phelps County, on 15 Feb 1851 (Phelps County was established in 1857 from Crawford, Pulaski & Maries ... SB). On 26 Apr 1855 Abner's land was 2 miles northwest of Rolla on Vichy Road.

Abner was with the 4th Regiment (Bayles) East Tennessee Militia, War of 1812, card # 38571056 or 38511056 and 1137. Capt Joseph B Bacon's Company of East Tennessee Militia in regiment commanded by Col. Samuel Bayles. He appears on Company payroll card for 13 Nov 1814 to 18 May 1815. Expiration of service 26 May 1815. Roll dated Knoxville, 18 May 1815. Abner went to New Orleans with Andrew Jackson. Source: Eileen Ray (This information was received from Bill Ray, Reno, NV on 24 Oct 1998) Father: David Ray b: ABT 1754 in North Carolina, USA Mother: Tabitha Unknown b: BEF 1759

Last Will & Testament

WILL OF ABNER RAY Will Book A & B pages 57-58 "In the Name of God Amen" I, Abner Ray of the county of Phelps and state of Missouri being of sound mind and memory, considering the uncertainty of this frail and Transitory life do there make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament that is to say first of all my just debts is paid and discharged the residue of my estate real & personal I, give bequest to and dispose of as follows:

My son David Ray, my son G.W. Ray and my son Abner Ray to have my real estate to be divided equally between them. that is to say my land lying in the county of Phelps in the state of Missouri known as the Abner Ray lands the remainder of Estate of property and money I desire shall be equally divided between my children, that is to say, David Ray, my son George W. Ray, my son Abner Ray my daughter Tabbitha Sisco, my daughter Mary Hill my daughter Rebecca Gaddy, my daughter Martha Rodgers and my daughter Rutha Ray.

Likewise I make, constitute and appoint my son David Ray and George W. Ray executors of this my Last Will and testament and hereby revoke all former wills by me made witness whereof have hereunto set subscribed my name and affixed my seal this the 20th day of November in the year of Our Lord 1864.

Abner Ray (attest) James H. Dyer) Wiley Lacock)

State of Missouri) County of Phelps) Be it remembered that on this day personally appeared before me the undersigned clerk of the county court with in and for said county James H. Dyer and Wiley Lacock to me personally appeared to be the identical persons whose names are signed to the above foregoing will as subscribing witnesses thereto and being by me duly sworn according to law, on oath depose and say they and the subscribing witnesses to said will that they signed the same as such witnesses at the request of the said testator that they each so subscribed their names in manner aforesaid in the presence of said testator Abner Ray and in the presence of each other that at the date of said will and at the time of the beginning the some the said Abner Ray was of sound and disposing mind and memory & further say not that they are not related to the said Testator

J.H. Dyer. Wiley Lacock.

Sworn to and subscribed before me. In testimony whereof I have here unto signed my name officially and affixed the seal of said court at my office in Rolla MO this 26th day of November 1864

C.P. Walker clerk (filed for record Nov. 26, 1864 (recorded Nov. 30, 1864.

C.P. Walker clerk) by C.H. Frost DC.)

The final settlement of G.W & D. Ray executors of the estate of Abner Ray Dec .... Amount for distribution $1093.72 The executors report above amount of one thousand and ninety three dollars and seventy two cents to be divided between nine heirs-being one hundred and twenty one dollars and fifty two & 4/9 cents. Each of the names of the heirs are as follows: Cisco Hill Rebecca Gaddy David Ray, Abner Ray, Rhoda Smith (dead), Rutha Ray

And that Rhoda Smith one of the heirs died leaving five children (to wit) John Helton [I can't read this surname for sure, but it looks like Rhoda was married before she married Sterling] Jackson [same-can't read Helton?] & Anderson Ray, Samuel Ray and Hardin Ray as her heirs. The two last named are minors. The shares being divided to wit. $121.52 between five heirs [I guess Ruth, her child on a census, has died also Sterling must have died since she married a Smith] makes the sum of Twenty four dollars and thirty cents due each. They further report that they have fully settled with each heir and paid them their full legacy by purchase of their interest in said estate except the 2 minor heirs Samuel Ray and Hardin Ray-and Jackson Helton which is still due them to wit twenty four dollars and thirty cents each. They further report as shown by this will to the court have shown that the Real Estate in said will mentioned was willed to David Ray G.W. Ray and Abner Ray -which they ask to be turned over to said heirs all of which is Respectfully submitted June 17th 1868. The above Will information was provided to Velma Sue Sisco from William Ray

Grainger County, Tennessee Deeds

1815 - Abner Ray on tax list for 50a and 1 white poll (Grainger County Tax list WPA records 1939)

1815 - Abner Ray sold 50a to Robert Massengill, North side of Holston River on Buffalo Creek, D--- Ray's line. Grainger County; deed V.F., roll 38 (must have been recorded much later, because in V. which included 1829-1834)

1817 - Abner Ray bought from Abner Low 150a north side Holston River, below Buffalo Creek, stake on James Richerson's line. Grainger County, Tennessee deeds V.D. p. 437 roll 37

1820 - Abner, Samuel Ray, Ann (Ray) Sparkman (she married Levi Sparkman on 4/13/1811 in Grainger Co., NC) sold land to Joseph Arnett, $100.00 in hand, 240a on Buffalo Creek, lines David Ray Sr. and Stephen Tunnel Recorded 20 Sep 1837. Grainger County deeds bk. G. p. 399 roll 38.

Thomas Ray, Joseph Ray, David Ray, Benjamin Ray, Lewis Sparkman, John Ray, Abner Ray and Samuel Ray sold land for $50.00 to each hand for 266a on the north side of the Holston River on head of Buffalo creek, lines between David Ray and Stephen Tunnel. (Grainger County, Tennessee deeds v. e. p. 71)

Children

• 1. Tabitha RAY b: 1815 in Tennessee, USA
• 2. David Ray b: 08 JAN 1817 in Grainger, Tennessee, USA
• 3. George Washington Ray b: 28 MAY 1828 in Tennessee, USA
• 4. Abner Ray Jr b: 13 AUG 1819 in Grainger, Tennessee, USA
• 5. Mary Polly Ray b: 1813 in Tennessee, USA
• 6. Rebecca Ray b: 1814 in Tennessee, USA
• 7. Martha C Ray b: 1832 in Tennessee, USA
• 8. Ruth Ray b: 1825 in Tennessee, USA
• 9. Rhoda Ray b: 1822 in Tennessee, USA
• 10. O E Wilson b: 1846 in Missouri, USA

Burial

Abner Ray is buried in the Ray Cemetery, Rolla, Phelps Co., Missouri.

Alan was born about 1790. He passed away about 1870.

Sources

• Grainger County Tennessee Marriage Bonds
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 04 December 2020), memorial page for Abner Ray Sr. (1792–10 Nov 1864), Find a Grave Memorial no. 78557006, citing Ray Cemetery, Phelps County, Missouri, USA ; Maintained by Linda (contributor 46626647) .
• another relative on Geni
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 04 December 2020), memorial page for Abner Ray Sr. (1792–10 Nov 1864), Find a Grave Memorial no. 78557006, citing Ray Cemetery, Phelps County, Missouri, USA ; Maintained by Linda (contributor 46626647) .

Abner married his first wife, Mary Polly Sparkman, daughter of George Thomas Sparkman and Martha Patsy Bryant, on 8 Jan 1811 in Grainger County, Tennessee: https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2099&h=5238&tid=&pid=&queryId=ce43ea2e8cd3491e605a42b43547457e&usePUB=true&_phsrc=ZDk41&_phstart=successSource

Abner married his second wife, her full sister Rutha Sparkman (same parents) bond dated 25 August 1815, Granger County, TN. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1169/images/VRMUSATN1780_041261-00597?usePUB=true&_phsrc=ZDk42&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=2169987

This would make his first three children listed here, Mary Polly, b. 1813, Rebecca, b. 1814, and Tabitha, b. 1815, the children of Mary Polly Sparkman, and the rest the children of Rutha Sparkman, correct?

Edit: I have previously seen only the two marriages of Abner Ray separately, one January 8, 1811 to Polley Sparkman and the second a marriage bond dated August 25, 1815 to what looks like Rutha Sparkman, dated 1811 but appears to be filed in August of 1815. Are Polley and Rutha the same person? They are not. However, the indexing of the records is off and if you look closely at the actual marriage certificate it says Abner Ray and Rutha Sparkman. [there are other Ray and Sparkman marriages but the dates are wrong or it is different people.}