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DRay Stumbles thru the History of the Ray Family of England and Scotland

Privacy Level: Public (Green)
Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: England and Scotlandmap
Surname/tag: Ray, Wray, Rae, Rea, MacRae
Profile manager: Dwight Ray private message [send private message]
This page has been accessed 234 times.

A place for notes and musings as I search for how my family ended up in America. It may be of some use to others researching Ray family history.

It makes sense if you go through the trouble of reading Memory 1 first.  ;-)





Memories: 1
Enter a personal reminiscence or story.
My father, Elmer Ray, had once told me that our family was Irish, French and English, when I asked him what our ancestry was.

DNA testing has added Scotland to that mix.

Testing done at FamilyTreeDNA has identified connections to individuals named Rae still living in Scotland. Scottish ancestry on my father’s side was apparently unknown before this test.

Testing done at Ancestry has determined that 27% of my DNA is Scottish, which was easy on my mother’s side because her maiden name is Scott, and the point of origin in Scotland is known, but Ancestry confirmed the FTDNA information on my father’s side.

Loading an Ancestry DNA file in to MyTrueAncestry shows significant connections to numerous Scottish clans and ancient (prehistoric) testing done on remains found in archaeological sites in Ireland, Scotland, England and much of the European mainland. Excerpts of Y-DNA matching on DNA samples collected in 53 archaeological sites in Western Europe and the North Atlantic are included below.

What I write here will likely evolve as I get further into the detective work of DNA-based genealogical researching. As I go, I will cite portions of documents that I find that help to uncover connections or reinforce connections already known or suspected. Immediately following is an overview of the roots of the Ray name in England, which, perhaps not too strangely, is tied to the grant of an estate near Carlisle, to one Ray or Reay, for dedicated service to William of Scotland. In its earliest recorded history in England, the Ray name is tied to Scotland. However, in England the name most commonly has been spelled Wray. A number of Wrays came from Wrawby, according to historical records.

Which leads to investigations into Ambrose Wray as the most likely father for Joseph, my most distant ancestor for whom there is reasonable documentation, my 4g-grandfather. Documentation exists for the marriage of Ambrose Wray to Susannah Lycans in Wilkes County, North Carolina in 1782. Joseph was born between 1784 and 1787 (my documents show 1787) and may have had a sibling born earlier, probably named Ambrose after his father, and possibly a sister, later. Ambrose goes out of the picture before the Federal census of 1790. Susannah remarries to William Mathis, who names his stepson, Joseph Ray, in his will. A copy of this will is saved in my FamilySearch account shoebox. In my mind, this proves that Ambrose is Joseph’s father. Joseph remains in Wilkes County for the remainder of his life, and is buried in Ray Cemetery in Wilkes County. Several Ambrose Rays or Wrays are known to have lived in the time frame of the marriage to Susannah Lycans. One was the son of John Ray (1710-1784) and Susan Vance (m. 1735), who moved from Prince Edward, Virginia to, ultimately, South Carolina, and possibly on to Georgia. In the 1755 Tax Roll for Granville, North Carolina, a number of Rays are listed, among them are John, Ambrose, s. of John, and William s. of John. In order to be counted as taxable in the tax roll, both sons would have had to be at least 16 years of age. I believe that inclusion, in this list, has led to a number of possibly incorrect birth attributions in Granville County, NC in 1755-1757, for Ambrose. Additionally, a William Ray is listed, indicating that he is (1) single and 16 or older, (2) married with no children, or (3) married with children all of whom are under the age of 16. Ambrose [1], of this family, is known to have ended up in Union Co, South Carolina at Cross Keys. This Ambrose is buried in the church cemetery that I believe he founded (at Padgett’s Creek), and is claimed to have served in the Colonial army during the Revolutionary War. The headstone at his grave shows his birth about 1740 and death in 1798. https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/153801224/person/242033093239/media/de7e81f3-1891-49e0-8e54-06b8a68a2e72?_phsrc=ygr78&_phstart=successSource A second Ambrose [2] is a son of Ambrose [1], the son being born in South Carolina, and is known to have served in the War of 1812. A third Ambrose [3] William (1734-1782) is documented in marriage to Mary Buntin or Buntain (1733-1780), but to date I’ve found no actual documentation to support this. I think it’s just a misstatement repeated in numerous family trees without being validated. One tree lists him as son of Fergus Ray (1700-1763), a contention also given in second hand information from another Ray researcher. https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/70929096/person/402236791107/facts A fourth Ambrose [4] is the one who married Susannah Lycans in 1782. I have a copy of their marriage bond issued in Wilkes County, NC in October, 1782 (attached to Joseph Ray in my family tree on FamilySearch website). After fathering Joseph and one or, possibly, two other children, he disappears from the area. He is generally said to have died, sometime before the 1790 Federal census in the area. The births of his child(ren) with Susannah Lycans were more or less contemporaneous with the births of the children of Ambrose [1], which would seem to indicate that they are in generally the same generation, and possibly share a common ancestor, which is supported by DNA matching with descendants of one of Ambrose [1]’s sons, Hezekiah. A fifth Ambrose Ray [5] lived in Washington Co, GA, and is a documented veteran of Georgia Line militia that supported the Colonial army during the Revolutionary War. https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/73508031/person/32278241745/media/8e617ff3-60a0-46fb-a3c7-f3b563b9e7d8?_phsrc=ygr95&_phstart=successSource I believe that I proved Ambrose [4] is the father of Joseph Ray, based on the William Mathis will mentioned above. I also believe that the single William, from the 1755 Granville, NC Tax list, may have been father of Ambrose [4], and that he may be William John Ray, married to Elizabeth Gordon, in Amherst, VA in 1754, this family being a part of the migration into western North Carolina. This William is known to have moved from Virginia to the Surry County NC area. His wife Elizabeth is buried in a cemetery in Moravian Falls, NC, where William may be as well. In all likelihood, the addition of the W in the last name is due more to the clerk who did the recording, and his experience with the surname Ray.

Another possibility has come to light in correspondence with Derrick Muncy, a cousin on the Ray side, confirmed by Ancestry DNA matching.

Ancestors of James (Jim) Ray, s. of Joseph Wray (from list by D.E. Muncy, Ancestry message) Daniel Rea 1598-1662 10th great-grandfather Joshua Rea 1628-1710 Son of Daniel Rea John Rea 1666-1731 Son of Joshua Rea John Rea (Ray) 1702-1750

Connacht County, Roscommon, Ireland

Son of John Rea James Ray 1730-1780 Son of John Rea (Ray) James Rea was born 1730 in Ireland, and died 1788-89 in Henry County, Virginia. He married Johann (Hanna) Kasoinah. He was the son of John Rhea and Hanna Hastey. Ambrose (Wray) Ray 1757-1790 Son of James Ray * Joseph Ray Wray 1784-1866 Son of Ambrose (Wray) Ray James (went by jim) Ray 1812-1897 Son of Joseph Ray Wray Tom Thomas R Ray 1857-1937 Son of James (went by jim) Ray • This is now discounted as James Ray’s spouse was Native American, which does not appear in my DNA autosomal testing.

Additional DNA testing with FTDNA (Big Y-700) now supports a 99%+ probable connection to John Ray of Wickhambrook, Suffolk, England (1350-1395). The Ray line identified in the match was for Ambrose Ray (died in 1798 in Union, South Carolina), son of John Ray and Susan Vance of Virginia. That line is established back to John Ray of Suffolk, a span of 18 generations, at which probability of a shared ancestor is greater than 99.84%. The task now becomes determining which branch in that span is the one that connects to Ambrose Wray. This is still somewhat speculative, as I have no information regarding the validity of the match’s tree in WIKITREE showing to be descended from the Wickhambrook line. [Milner-Gibson-Cullum. "Pedigree of Ray of Denston", 1857. https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/228183-pedigree-of-ray-of-denston-wickhambrook-and-other-places-in-suffolk-together-with-oakes-rawlinson-heigham-hasted-etc-all-of-the-said-county?offset=

Recently a Big Y-700 test was completed at FamilyTreeDNA, which confirmed our Y-DNA haplogroup as R-FT366860, which significantly reduces the list of connections in the line of John Ray of Wickhambrook. This haplogroup, which branched from parent branch R-BY806 1200 years ago, plus or minus 350 years, represents a man who was born between 1676 and 1880 CE, with a probability of 95%. In this case, I know that I’m not descended from someone born in the match’s line after 1710. These latest items are the basis of a search in the descendants of Ray of Denston for persons known (or supposed, based on lack of line continuation in the book) to have immigrated to the North American Colonies prior to the American Revolution. A search of family trees on Ancestry, FamilySearch, MyHeritage and WikiTree seem to support the following lineage to Ambrose Ray of Wilkes county, North Carolina: From the Ray of Denston genealogy: 1. Richard Ray (1535-1610), of Stradishall, Suffolk, England 2. Thomas Ray ((1570-1631), born in Stradishall (51. Thomas Ray in my Excel list) From family trees on Ancestry, FamilySearch, MyHeritage and WikiTree: 3. Thomas R Ray (1604-1634), born in Stradishall(?), died in York, Va. (?) 4. Alexander Ray (1630-1675), born in England, immigrated to Maryland 1664 5. William (Patton?) Ray I (1655-1737), married in Prince George’s, Maryland 6. William Ray II (1685-1760), also married in Prince George’s, Maryland 7. William (Henry?) Ray III (1705-1782), also married in Maryland 8. William Ray IV (1734-1782), also shown as William I. Ray 9. Ambrose W. Ray (1757-1790)

From messages exchanged with Iona Murrell on Ancestry.com: I just had one the other day that match me to the Rays and my children. I'll send a list soon. There is more the one. We use Ancerty, but I have my DNA on Gedmatch. I can add Emily and David on there also if you upload your DNA on on Gedmatch. They use codes for use to see if we match up. I would net your code and you would need mine. Matthew J Hare DNA // His user name is matthew_j_hare. He is a match just with me and my daughter Emily. He is showing on her Ray side:

5th cousin Robinette * Mother of Matthew J Hare DNA Rush Robinette * 1935-1971 Father of Robinette * Stephen "Steve" Robinette * 1912-1994 Father of Rush Robinette * Vicey Ann Williamson * 1884-1972 Mother of Stephen "Steve" Robinette * Sarah Sally Ray * 1840-1865 Mother of Vicey Ann Williamson * James Ray ** 1815-1897 Father of Sarah Sally Ray * Thomas R Ray ** 1858-1937 Son of James Ray ** Lacy Ray ** 1898-1962 Son of Thomas R Ray ** Gracie Mae Ray ** 1923-2012 Daughter of Lacy Ray ** Shirley Jean Charles ** 1943-2020 Daughter of Gracie Mae Ray ** David B Dixon Sr. 1960-2014 Son of Shirley Jean Charles ** Emily Marie Dixon You are the daughter of David B Dixon Sr.


my match with him: He is showing on my Duncan side:

Matthew J Hare DNA 8th cousin 3x removed Robinette * Mother of Matthew J Hare DNA Rush Robinette * 1935-1971 Father of Robinette * Stephen "Steve" Robinette * 1912-1994 Father of Rush Robinette * Vicey Ann Williamson * 1884-1972 Mother of Stephen "Steve" Robinette * Sarah Sally Ray * 1840-1865 Mother of Vicey Ann Williamson * James Ray ** 1815-1897 Father of Sarah Sally Ray * Joseph Ray ** 1782-1866 Father of James Ray ** Ambrose W Ray ** 1757-1790 Father of Joseph Ray ** William I Wray Rev** 1734-1782 Father of Ambrose W Ray ** William Ray III** 1705-1782 Father of William I Wray Rev** William Ray Jr. ** 1686-1760 Father of William Ray III** William Ray 7th** 1657-1737 Father of William Ray Jr. ** Elizabeth Ray **

Rays in Colonial Maryland (Cont.) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89XH-VQ24?i=385&cc=2385204 Img 384 (p297) shows Darcas born to John and Mary Ray born 9 Jan 1766

Img 243, Img 386 shows payment to Wm Ray, Church Warden, of 470 pounds of tobacco for bread and wine for sacraments for the church, recorded in Rock Creek Chaple vestry notes for 1729

Img 371 (p271) shows children of John and Sarah Ray born in PGP from 1732 to 1741

Img 372 (p272) shows children of John and Sarah Ray born in PGP from 1743 to 1753

Img 372 (p273) shows Nathaniel born to William and Sarah Ray born 24 May 1753

Img 373 (p274) shows Josias born to John and Sarah Ray born 4 January 1757

Img 373 (p275) shows Elizabeth born to Sarah Ray born 22 April 1759

Img 373 (p275) shows Elizabeth born to Luke and Elizabeth Ray born 7 Sept 1759

Img 374 (p277) shows George born to William and Mary Ray born 19 Novem 1759

Img 375 (p279) shows Rachel born to John and Mary Ray born 10 Novem 1760

Img 375 (p279) shows Milley born to Luke and Elizabeth Ray born 1 May 1761

Img 379 (p286) shows Sarah born to Luke and Elizabeth Ray born 25 Febr 1763

Img 381 (p286) shows Rignal (Reginald?) born to Luke and Elizabeth Ray born 9 Jan 1765

Img 382 (p293) shows Elliner born to Benjamin and Elizabeth Ray born 31 May 1765


Will of Moses Ray, Amherst County, Virginia Colony, 1767 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2025340:62347?_phsrc=mtw11&_phstart=successSource&gsfn=Joseph&gsln=Ray&ml_rpos=1&queryId=4c73c56694e1b93feaabf4e21df1814c


Continuation of my notes- Her are the line of Rays that I have from John Ray ** 1450-1503 to the Ray you have in your My father, Elmer Ray, had once told me that our family was Irish, French and English, when I asked him what our ancestry was.

DNA testing has added Scotland to that mix.

Testing done at FamilyTreeDNA has identified connections to individuals named Rae still living in Scotland. Scottish ancestry on my father’s side was apparently unknown before this test.

Testing done at Ancestry has determined that 27% of my DNA is Scottish, which was easy on my mother’s side because her maiden name is Scott, and the point of origin in Scotland is known, but Ancestry confirmed the FTDNA information on my father’s side.

Loading an Ancestry DNA file in to MyTrueAncestry shows significant connections to numerous Scottish clans and ancient (prehistoric) testing done on remains found in archaeological sites in Ireland, Scotland, England and much of the European mainland. Excerpts of Y-DNA matching on DNA samples collected in 53 archaeological sites in Western Europe and the North Atlantic are included below.

What I write here will likely evolve as I get further into the detective work of DNA-based genealogical researching. As I go, I will cite portions of documents that I find that help to uncover connections or reinforce connections already known or suspected. Immediately following is an overview of the roots of the Ray name in England, which, perhaps not too strangely, is tied to the grant of an estate near Carlisle, to one Ray or Reay, for dedicated service to William of Scotland. In its earliest recorded history in England, the Ray name is tied to Scotland. However, in England the name most commonly has been spelled Wray. A number of Wrays came from Wrawby, according to historical records.

Which leads to investigations into Ambrose Wray as the most likely father for Joseph, my most distant ancestor for whom there is reasonable documentation, my 4g-grandfather. Documentation exists for the marriage of Ambrose Wray to Susannah Lycans in Wilkes County, North Carolina in 1782. Joseph was born between 1784 and 1787 (my documents show 1787) and may have had a sibling born earlier, probably named Ambrose after his father, and possibly a sister, later. Ambrose goes out of the picture before the Federal census of 1790. Susannah remarries to William Mathis, who names his stepson, Joseph Ray, in his will. A copy of this will is saved in my FamilySearch account shoebox. In my mind, this proves that Ambrose is Joseph’s father. Joseph remains in Wilkes County for the remainder of his life, and is buried in Ray Cemetery in Wilkes County. Several Ambrose Rays or Wrays are known to have lived in the time frame of the marriage to Susannah Lycans. One was the son of John Ray (1710-1784) and Susan Vance (m. 1735), who moved from Prince Edward, Virginia to, ultimately, South Carolina, and possibly on to Georgia. In the 1755 Tax Roll for Granville, North Carolina, a number of Rays are listed, among them are John, Ambrose, s. of John, and William s. of John. In order to be counted as taxable in the tax roll, both sons would have had to be at least 16 years of age. I believe that inclusion, in this list, has led to a number of possibly incorrect birth attributions in Granville County, NC in 1755-1757, for Ambrose. Additionally, a William Ray is listed, indicating that he is (1) single and 16 or older, (2) married with no children, or (3) married with children all of whom are under the age of 16. Ambrose [1], of this family, is known to have ended up in Union Co, South Carolina at Cross Keys. This Ambrose is buried in the church cemetery that I believe he founded (at Padgett’s Creek), and is claimed to have served in the Colonial army during the Revolutionary War. The headstone at his grave shows his birth about 1740 and death in 1798. https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/153801224/person/242033093239/media/de7e81f3-1891-49e0-8e54-06b8a68a2e72?_phsrc=ygr78&_phstart=successSource A second Ambrose [2] is a son of Ambrose [1], the son being born in South Carolina, and is known to have served in the War of 1812. A third Ambrose [3] William (1734-1782) is documented in marriage to Mary Buntin or Buntain (1733-1780), but to date I’ve found no actual documentation to support this. I think it’s just a misstatement repeated in numerous family trees without being validated. One tree lists him as son of Fergus Ray (1700-1763), a contention also given in second hand information from another Ray researcher. https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/70929096/person/402236791107/facts A fourth Ambrose [4] is the one who married Susannah Lycans in 1782. I have a copy of their marriage bond issued in Wilkes County, NC in October, 1782 (attached to Joseph Ray in my family tree on FamilySearch website). After fathering Joseph and one or, possibly, two other children, he disappears from the area. He is generally said to have died, sometime before the 1790 Federal census in the area. The births of his child(ren) with Susannah Lycans were more or less contemporaneous with the births of the children of Ambrose [1], which would seem to indicate that they are in generally the same generation, and possibly share a common ancestor, which is supported by DNA matching with descendants of one of Ambrose [1]’s sons, Hezekiah. A fifth Ambrose Ray [5] lived in Washington Co, GA, and is a documented veteran of Georgia Line militia that supported the Colonial army during the Revolutionary War. https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/73508031/person/32278241745/media/8e617ff3-60a0-46fb-a3c7-f3b563b9e7d8?_phsrc=ygr95&_phstart=successSource I believe that I proved Ambrose [4] is the father of Joseph Ray, based on the William Mathis will mentioned above. I also believe that the single William, from the 1755 Granville, NC Tax list, may have been father of Ambrose [4], and that he may be William John Ray, married to Elizabeth Gordon, in Amherst, VA in 1754, this family being a part of the migration into western North Carolina. This William is known to have moved from Virginia to the Surry County NC area. His wife Elizabeth is buried in a cemetery in Moravian Falls, NC, where William may be as well. In all likelihood, the addition of the W in the last name is due more to the clerk who did the recording, and his experience with the surname Ray.

Another possibility has come to light in correspondence with Derrick Muncy, a cousin on the Ray side, confirmed by Ancestry DNA matching.

Ancestors of James (Jim) Ray, s. of Joseph Wray (from list by D.E. Muncy, Ancestry message) Daniel Rea 1598-1662 10th great-grandfather Joshua Rea 1628-1710 Son of Daniel Rea John Rea 1666-1731 Son of Joshua Rea John Rea (Ray) 1702-1750

Connacht County, Roscommon, Ireland

Son of John Rea James Ray 1730-1780 Son of John Rea (Ray) James Rea was born 1730 in Ireland, and died 1788-89 in Henry County, Virginia. He married Johann (Hanna) Kasoinah. He was the son of John Rhea and Hanna Hastey. Ambrose (Wray) Ray 1757-1790 Son of James Ray * Joseph Ray Wray 1784-1866 Son of Ambrose (Wray) Ray James (went by jim) Ray 1812-1897 Son of Joseph Ray Wray Tom Thomas R Ray 1857-1937 Son of James (went by jim) Ray • This is now discounted as James Ray’s spouse was Native American, which does not appear in my DNA autosomal testing.

Additional DNA testing with FTDNA (Big Y-700) now supports a 99%+ probable connection to John Ray of Wickhambrook, Suffolk, England (1350-1395). The Ray line identified in the match was for Ambrose Ray (died in 1798 in Union, South Carolina), son of John Ray and Susan Vance of Virginia. That line is established back to John Ray of Suffolk, a span of 18 generations, at which probability of a shared ancestor is greater than 99.84%. The task now becomes determining which branch in that span is the one that connects to Ambrose Wray. This is still somewhat speculative, as I have no information regarding the validity of the match’s tree in WIKITREE showing to be descended from the Wickhambrook line. [Milner-Gibson-Cullum. "Pedigree of Ray of Denston", 1857. https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/228183-pedigree-of-ray-of-denston-wickhambrook-and-other-places-in-suffolk-together-with-oakes-rawlinson-heigham-hasted-etc-all-of-the-said-county?offset=

Recently a Big Y-700 test was completed at FamilyTreeDNA, which confirmed our Y-DNA haplogroup as R-FT366860, which significantly reduces the list of connections in the line of John Ray of Wickhambrook. This haplogroup, which branched from parent branch R-BY806 1200 years ago, plus or minus 350 years, represents a man who was born between 1676 and 1880 CE, with a probability of 95%. In this case, I know that I’m not descended from someone born in the match’s line after 1710. These latest items are the basis of a search in the descendants of Ray of Denston for persons known (or supposed, based on lack of line continuation in the book) to have immigrated to the North American Colonies prior to the American Revolution. A search of family trees on Ancestry, FamilySearch, MyHeritage and WikiTree seem to support the following lineage to Ambrose Ray of Wilkes county, North Carolina: From the Ray of Denston genealogy: 1. Richard Ray (1535-1610), of Stradishall, Suffolk, England 2. Thomas Ray ((1570-1631), born in Stradishall (51. Thomas Ray in my Excel list) From family trees on Ancestry, FamilySearch, MyHeritage and WikiTree: 3. Thomas R Ray (1604-1634), born in Stradishall(?), died in York, Va. (?) 4. Alexander Ray (1630-1675), born in England, immigrated to Maryland 1664 5. William (Patton?) Ray I (1655-1737), married in Prince George’s, Maryland 6. William Ray II (1685-1760), also married in Prince George’s, Maryland 7. William (Henry?) Ray III (1705-1782), also married in Maryland 8. William Ray IV (1734-1782), also shown as William I. Ray 9. Ambrose W. Ray (1757-1790)

From messages exchanged with Iona Murrell on Ancestry.com: I just had one the other day that match me to the Rays and my children. I'll send a list soon. There is more the one. We use Ancerty, but I have my DNA on Gedmatch. I can add Emily and David on there also if you upload your DNA on on Gedmatch. They use codes for use to see if we match up. I would net your code and you would need mine. Matthew J Hare DNA // His user name is matthew_j_hare. He is a match just with me and my daughter Emily. He is showing on her Ray side:

5th cousin Robinette * Mother of Matthew J Hare DNA Rush Robinette * 1935-1971 Father of Robinette * Stephen "Steve" Robinette * 1912-1994 Father of Rush Robinette * Vicey Ann Williamson * 1884-1972 Mother of Stephen "Steve" Robinette * Sarah Sally Ray * 1840-1865 Mother of Vicey Ann Williamson * James Ray ** 1815-1897 Father of Sarah Sally Ray * Thomas R Ray ** 1858-1937 Son of James Ray ** Lacy Ray ** 1898-1962 Son of Thomas R Ray ** Gracie Mae Ray ** 1923-2012 Daughter of Lacy Ray ** Shirley Jean Charles ** 1943-2020 Daughter of Gracie Mae Ray ** David B Dixon Sr. 1960-2014 Son of Shirley Jean Charles ** Emily Marie Dixon You are the daughter of David B Dixon Sr.


my match with him: He is showing on my Duncan side:

Matthew J Hare DNA 8th cousin 3x removed Robinette * Mother of Matthew J Hare DNA Rush Robinette * 1935-1971 Father of Robinette * Stephen "Steve" Robinette * 1912-1994 Father of Rush Robinette * Vicey Ann Williamson * 1884-1972 Mother of Stephen "Steve" Robinette * Sarah Sally Ray * 1840-1865 Mother of Vicey Ann Williamson * James Ray ** 1815-1897 Father of Sarah Sally Ray * Joseph Ray ** 1782-1866 Father of James Ray ** Ambrose W Ray ** 1757-1790 Father of Joseph Ray ** William I Wray Rev** 1734-1782 Father of Ambrose W Ray ** William Ray III** 1705-1782 Father of William I Wray Rev** William Ray Jr. ** 1686-1760 Father of William Ray III** William Ray 7th** 1657-1737 Father of William Ray Jr. ** Elizabeth Ray **

Rays in Colonial Maryland (Cont.) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89XH-VQ24?i=385&cc=2385204 Img 384 (p297) shows Darcas born to John and Mary Ray born 9 Jan 1766

Img 243, Img 386 shows payment to Wm Ray, Church Warden, of 470 pounds of tobacco for bread and wine for sacraments for the church, recorded in Rock Creek Chaple vestry notes for 1729

Img 371 (p271) shows children of John and Sarah Ray born in PGP from 1732 to 1741

Img 372 (p272) shows children of John and Sarah Ray born in PGP from 1743 to 1753

Img 372 (p273) shows Nathaniel born to William and Sarah Ray born 24 May 1753

Img 373 (p274) shows Josias born to John and Sarah Ray born 4 January 1757

Img 373 (p275) shows Elizabeth born to Sarah Ray born 22 April 1759

Img 373 (p275) shows Elizabeth born to Luke and Elizabeth Ray born 7 Sept 1759

Img 374 (p277) shows George born to William and Mary Ray born 19 Novem 1759

Img 375 (p279) shows Rachel born to John and Mary Ray born 10 Novem 1760

Img 375 (p279) shows Milley born to Luke and Elizabeth Ray born 1 May 1761

Img 379 (p286) shows Sarah born to Luke and Elizabeth Ray born 25 Febr 1763

Img 381 (p286) shows Rignal (Reginald?) born to Luke and Elizabeth Ray born 9 Jan 1765

Img 382 (p293) shows Elliner born to Benjamin and Elizabeth Ray born 31 May 1765


Will of Moses Ray, Amherst County, Virginia Colony, 1767 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/2025340:62347?_phsrc=mtw11&_phstart=successSource&gsfn=Joseph&gsln=Ray&ml_rpos=1&queryId=4c73c56694e1b93feaabf4e21df1814c82

John Ray ** 1450-1503 John Dixon Ray ** 1480-1539 Son of John Ray ** Robert Ray ** 1508-1551 Son of John Dixon Ray ** Richard Ray ** 1535-1610 Son of Robert Ray ** Abraham Munnings Ray ** 1580-1675 Son of Richard Ray ** Thomas Ray ** 1612-1673 Son of Abraham Munnings Ray ** Alexander C Ray ** 1629-1675 Son of Thomas Ray ** William Ray 7th** 1657-1737 Son of Alexander C Ray ** William Ray Jr. ** 1686-1760 Son of William Ray 7th** William Ray III** 1705-1782 Son of William Ray Jr. ** William I Wray Rev** 1734-1782 Son of William Ray III**


SUPPORTING INVESTIGATIONS:

Extracted from https://coadb.com/surnames/ray-arms.html “Surname Name Meaning, Origin, and Etymology This last name has at least seven origin theories. Firstly, it could be a nickname derived from “the roe”, i.e. a deer, with a similar etymology as Stagg, Buck, Roebuck, and Rae, that was given to a timid person (shyness being a trait of a female deer), deriving from the North English ra, Anglo-Saxon rah, and/or the Middle English ray. Second, it could be an English surname of Norman ancestry that was a nickname for a person who acted in a regal/royal manner or who earned the title so called in a contest or festival by demonstrating some sort of skill, deriving from the Old French word rey or roy, meaning king. Third, it could be a spelling variant of the surname Rye (an English topographic name for a person who lived on an island or ground surrounded by fens, and other origin theories, or a person who lived in an area where corn was grown). Fourth, it could be a locational surname meaning “of Wray” (from numerous places in England named Wray, Wrea, and Wreay). Fifth, it could be a shortened/reduced form of the Scottish surname McRae (derived from a Gaelic personal name). Sixth, it could have French origins, a topographic name for someone who lived near a stream from the Old French word raier, meaning to gush or pour, or from the Olde British word ea, meaning a person who lived next to a stream. Seventh, it could have derived from a nickname for a person with a swarthy or red complexion, deriving from the Gaelic words Ruadh and Reagh. It should also be noted that in Cornish Breton, the word Rea means wonderful or strange and in Welsh, Rhe or Rhedu means to run, and Rhae means a battle of place of battle or a chain. Another source, Surnames of the United Kingdom by Henry Harrison, published in 1918, mentions its related to a Celtic word meaning a level plain, and also mentions potential Scandinavian origins to the name. Lastly, it should also be mentioned that it can be a variant of the Indian name Rai, a surname derived from a feudal title.

This surname is discussed in the book Patronymica Britannica by Mark Antony Lower. He states an estate of Gill, located in the parish of Bromfield in county Cumberland, England was owned by the Reay or Ray family since the time of King William the Lion of Scotland (reigned 1165-1214 AD). It is said the original member of the family was a strong proponent of the Scottish crown, and the King admired him for his swiftness in chasing deer during the hunt, perhaps why several of the Ray Family Crests depict deer, and granted him the estate of Gill, and in return the member agreed to keep the name William alive in the genealogy of the Ray family, a tradition which was followed for many generations. Lower writes: “The surname itself was probably borrowed from the sobriquet of William the Lion’s fleet-footed vassal, Ra, or raa, being the Anglo-Saxon, and rae the Lowland Scottish for a roe”.

George Fraser Black’s The Surnames of Scotland, published in 1946, states the following in regard to this last name: “Thomas filius (son of) Ray witnessed confirmation by Alexander, son of Walter, of his father’s gift to the church of Paisley, 1239. John Ray held a tenement in Glasgow in 1487, and William Ray, burgess of Edinburgh, had a safe conduct into England in 1465 (Bain, IV, 1361). Sir William Ray is recorded in 1530 as “vmquhyle chaplane to our lady chappell of the brig of Dei” , and William Ray had a charter of six acres of land in the burgh of Kethik from the Abbey of Coupar-Angus, 1558. The surname is also found in Stirling in 1546”.

According to author Edward MacLysaght’s book Guide to Irish Surnames, the last name Ray maybe a corruption of the Irish name Reavey or a variant of Rea or Wray.

Spelling Variations Common spelling variants or names with similar etymologies include Raye, Rye, McRae, Wray, Wrea, Wreay, Rae, Reay, and Wrey. Similar foreign names include Hroi (Norse), Reeh (Danish), Ree (Swedish/Dutch), Rey/Reh (Flemish), and Ray (French). The Domesday Book of 1086 AD, a survey of Wales and England ordered by William the Conqueror, lists a person named Rauai.

Popularity & Geographic Distribution The last name Ray ranks 208th in popularity in terms in the United Status as of the 2000 Census. The name ranks particularly high in the following four states: Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Arkansas. The surname is somewhat less common in England, where it ranks 601st. It ranks highest in the following counties: Huntingdonshire, Cumberland, and Shropshire. The name is common throughout the English speaking world: Scotland (1,497th), Wales (777th), Ireland (1,395th), Canada (1,214th), New Zealand (966th), Australia (682nd), and South Africa (1,988th).

The 1890 book Homes of Family Names by H.B. Guppy, states the following in regard to this surname: “Riay and Rea are the Northumberland forms of a name confined mostly to the north of England and the Scottish borders. Wray is its form in York and its vicinity. In Cumberland we find Reay and Ray; in the Scottish border counties Rae is the characteristic form; and in the distant county of Worcester there are a few of the name of Rea. The Reays or Rays, who have held the Gill estates in the parish of Bromfield, Cumberland, from the 13th to the present century, are believed by Lower to be the ancient stock of all the English Rays, Wrays, and Wreys”.

Early Bearers of the Surname The Hundred Rolls of 1273 AD, a census of Wales and England, known in Latin as Rotuli Hundredorum lists three bearers of this surname: Reginald le Raye in county Oxfordshire, Nicholas le Ray in county Suffolk, and Richard le Ray in county Cambridgeshire. Kirby’s Quest lists three bearers during the reign of King Edward III of England (1327-1377): William le Ray and John le Ray, both in county Somerset. The Close Rolls lists one Etheldreda le Ray was recoreded in the Close Rolls in the 17th year of the reign of the aforementioned king. William atte Rea is listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327 AD.

An early marriage involving this last name was Robert Ray to Elizabeth Adlington at St. George’s Hanover Square in 1790.

History, Genealogy, and Ancestry A one Robert Ray was born in Denston, Suffolk in 1505. He had four children: John, Richard, Thomas, Elizabeth, and Robert. His son Robert (22. Robert Ray) was born in the same town in England in around 1540. He married Margery Bigg and he had a son named Simon. His son Simon was born in Cowlinge, Suffolk in 1575 and he married Sarah Pilgram within who he had a son named Simon. Simon Ray II was born in 1610 in the same town and he married Mary Rowning. Before his death in Braintree, MA in 1641, he had a son named Simon. This Simon was born in 1635 and he married Mary Thomas in Marshfield, Massachusetts in 1645. They had two issue: Dorothy (Clapp) and Simon. His son Captain Simon Ray was born in New Shoreham, Rhode Island in 1672. His second wife was Deborah Greene and he had two issue: Hannah (Ward) and Catharine (Ray).

John Ray was born in Denston, Suffolk, around 1554. He married Alice Plume, and had a son with her named Francis. Francis was born in the same town around 1580. He had children named Daniel Rea, Caleb Rea, and Simon Rea. His son Daniel Rea was born in either Scotland or England around 1597. He married Bethiah Ray (also called Bethia Rea or Jones) and had Joshua Rea and Bethia Goodhue.

A one Archibald Campbell was born around 1610 and he had a son named Walter. Walter was born in Skipnish, Scotland in around 1630 and he married twice: Anne Stuart and Jean Campbell. He had numerous issue, including a son named Matthew Campbell Rhea who was born in 1665 in the same town. He married twice: Janet Barten Baxter and Magdalene Kinloch. Prior to his 1689 death in Fahen, Ulster, Ireland, he had seven children: David, Robert, Matthew, William, Matthew II, Archibald, and Matthew Rhea.

A one Usry Jacob Wray or Ray had a son named Ussary who was born in Brunswick, Virginia, in 1784. He married Nancy Kelly and he had the following issue: Katherine, Elisabeth Jane (Shamblin), Jacob, and Matilda (Catherine). His son Jacob was born in 1810 and he had a son named Christopher. This Christopher Columbus Ray was born in 1850 and he married Martha C. Kizziah. They had a son together named William Columbus born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1872. He married Leona Susan Durrett, and had a daughter with her named Martha Annie Ray, born in 1909 in the same state, who married William George Kyzer and had issue with her.

Early American and New World Settlers Joseph Ray, age 21, came to Virginia from the port of London aboard the George in August 1635. Abram Ray, age 20, came to the Island of Providence (colony on the coast of Nicaragua that was an English colony established by Puritans in 1631, currently part of the nation of Colombia) aboard the Expectacion in April 1635.His son Archibald was born in Ulster in 1692 and he married Ann Humphryes in 1715 in Ireland. He went to the United States. He had four issue: William Rhea, Joseph Campbell Rhea, Robert Rhea, and Archibald Rhea. His son William Rhea was born in Donegal, Ireland in 1714 and he married Catherine Hamilton in North Carolina, having the following issue, who all spelled the name Ray: William, Robert, Mary (Robinson), Joseph, John, Joseph, David, and Joseph. His son John Ray was born in North Carolina in 1740. He married twice Sarah Miller and Sally Clark. He had the following children: Jennet (Robinson), Joseph, Margaret (Robinson), James, Jane, George, Sarah (Robinson), Sally, Susan, Lydia, John, David, James, and George. His son David was born in 1788 and he married twice: Susan Pickle and Catherine Porterfield. He had a daughter named Nancy, born in 1833, who married William C. Blaylock.

Other early settlers in Colonial American bearing the Ray surname include Simon Ray (Massachusetts 1620), Samuel (Salem 1637), Benjamin (Virginia 1638), Sarah (Virginia 1702), Isaac (New England 1720), Daniel (Virginia 1731), Joseph (Virginia 1740), and Michel (Boston 1764).

Several bearers of the Ray last name came to Nova Scotia, Canada in 1750 including Ann, Honor, James, and William. One of the earliest bearers of the last name in Australia was Frederick Ray, a convict from Berkshire, England, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (mostly a penal colony) aboard the Aboukir in December of 1851. One of the first bearers in New Zealand was Mary Ray, who came on 1874 aboard the Ballyochmyle, and settled ion Lyttleton, a port town on the South Island of the country.

Early Americans Bearing the Ray Family Crest Charles Bolton’s American Armory, published in 1927, contains one entry for the surname Ray: [ ] 3 stags trippant Crest: a stag at gaze. Motto: J’espere en Dieu Bookplate Robert Ray, N. Y.

Mottoes We have identified five Ray family mottoes: 1) Et juste et vray (Both just and true) (Likely a play on the name), 2) Fortitudine (With fortitude), 3) Honesty is better than riches (Ray-Clayton of Norwich), and 4) J’espere en Dieu (I hope in God).”


https://selectsurnames.com/ray/ “Ray Surname Meaning, History & Origin Ray Surname Meaning The Ray surname in America seems to span a number of different surname spellings in England, Scotland and Ireland.Ray, Rae and Rea are the most common spellings here. Ray and Rea are English names, perhaps derived from the Old English word ea, pronounced “ay,” and meaning stream. It might in this case be topographical, describing someone who lived by a stream. Alternatively, Ray could come from the Old French rey or roy meaning “king,” and would be a nickname for someone who behaved in a regal fashion. Rae and Reay in Scotland are said to derive from the Old English word ra, meaning a female roe deer. It is a Border name and bears no relationship with the McRae name which came from the Scottish Highlands and had different roots (although McRae could sometimes be shortened to Rae). Ray and Rea are also Irish names, with Rea being pronounced as “ray.” Ray can be a contraction of Reavy, derived from the Gaelic Riabhaigh, meaning “grey-haired;” while Rea could come from MacCrea which also gave rise to MacGreevey. Ray Surname Resources on The Internet • The O’Rea Family in Ireland O’Reas and Reas in Ireland. • The Ray Family Rays in Pennsylvania and Tennessee. • The Ray House of Wilson’s Creek Rays in Tennessee. • Ray DNA Project Ray DNA. Ray, Rae and Rea Surname Ancestry Scotland. The Rae name first appeared in a document as Raa in Fife in 1239 when Robert Raa, described as a mason, witnessed a charter at the Abbey of Culross; while Thomas filius Ray appeared in a Paisley document in the same year.

However, Rae has been more of a Scottish Border name, found initially in the Dumfries area. They were one of the Border reiving families, although not amongst the largest in terms of numbers. Two Raes from the Dumfries area were the Rev. Peter Rae, who published an account of the 1715 Jacobite rebellion, and James Rae, an early Scottish photographer in the 1860’s. The Rae name extended into Galloway and Ayrshire and later into Lanarkshire. Elsewhere the Raes of Esk Grove in Midlothian came in the 1700’s from Fife. Patrick Rae married Margaret Monteith at Muiravonside in Stirlingshire in 1710. England. The Ray name in England would seem to divide into a northern name and a southern name. Northern England. Here the Scottish influence has been strongest. It was said that the estate of Gill in Bromfield parish in Cumberland belonged to a Scottish Reay or Ray family around the year 1200. William Reay of this family was Bishop of Glasgow in the early 16th century. The Scottish Rae spelling outnumbered the Ray spelling in Cumberland in the 1881 census, although the reverse was true for Lancashire with its larger Ray population. Meanwhile the Wray spelling appeared at an early date in Wensleydale in north Yorkshire. Sir Christopher Wray from Bedale became Speaker of the House of Commons in 1571. Southern England. Ray was also a surname in the southeast, in London and nearby counties. Johnt Ray died in Denston in Suffolk around the year 1450. Another Ray family in Suffolk began with Joseph Ray who married Sarah Sparrow in Depden in 1652. John Ray, widely regarded as one of the first English botanists, was born in the village of Black Notley in Essex in 1627. The Rea spelling cropped up in the west country, in particular in Worcestershire. John Rea from Powick was mayor of Worcester in 1676. Ireland. The O’Rea name appeared in Limerick and Cork during the 16th century. It was the principal Irish name recorded in the barony of Owney in Limerick (on the boundary with Tipperary) in 1659. In Ulster the name was probably of Scottish or English origin.

Most of the Reas (pronounced Ray) in Antrim, Down and in county Cavan were probably Scottish in origin. The Reas of Ballynahinch in county Down descended from David Rea, born there in 1672. Matthew Reagh from Argyll became Rhea in Donegal. His son the Rev. Joseph Rhea was a Presbyterian minister there. There was a Yorkshire family of Wray that came to Ulster just before the Scottish plantation era. John Wray was rewarded with confiscated land near Letterkenny in Donegal in 1603 and built Castle Wray there. His family became part of the Protestant gentry in the area. The line was covered in C.V. Trench’s 1945 book The Wrays of Donegal, Londonderry, and Antrim. America. Rays, mainly English, came first to New England. Rays more numerous, mainly Scots and Scots Irish, came to points south.

New England. Some of the early Rays here were: • Daniel Ray, a seaman, was in the Plymouth colony by 1630 and moved to Salem the following year. He lived there until his death in 1662. His descendants, covered in Joseph Ray’s 2005 book Descendants of Daniel Ray, later spread across New England. Some of them adopted the Rea spelling. • while Simon Ray from Suffolk came with his parents to Braintree as a boy in 1640. His father died the following year. In 1661 Simon departed with his mother and step-father to Block Island off Rhode Island where he was one of the original settlers. He lived to be 102, dying there in 1737. Caleb Ray was the Boston jailer from 1687 to 1699 when he was removed from the position for allowing pirate prisoners to escape. Samuel Ray meanwhile was a Quaker who came to Nantucket island around the year 1720. One line from him led to Columbia county in upstate New York where Francis Ray started a Quaker community at Rayville in 1781. Rays Further South. These Rays were mainly, it would appear, Scots Irish and started coming in the 1730’s.

Isaac Ray had arrived in Virginia from Ireland in 1730. His grandson Joseph grew up in South Carolina and in the 1790’s moved with his family to Kentucky. They later migrated to Alabama and Texas before returning to Alabama in their old age in the 1850’s. Various Rays were in North Carolina: • Moses Ray from Scotland died in North Carolina in 1766. His son Thomas later moved to southern Ohio, following the Quaker migration there. • John and Martha Rea family came to Mecklenburg county, North Carolina from Ireland in 1763. They helped organize the local Presbyterian church. • while James Ray, probably Scots Irish in origin, came to North Carolina via the Great Wagon Road in 1747. His descendants migrated to Tennessee around the year 1817. They settled in Bedford county. Later Rays of this family were to be found in Missouri and Arkansas. John Ray had moved from Tennessee to Missouri in 1840 and made his home in what became known as Wilson’s Creek. In 1861 during the Civil War it was the site of a conflict between the two forces on what became known as Bloody Hill. Many of the dying and wounded were brought to the Ray house, including the Union commander. The Ray house survived the war and the Rays continued living there for another ten years. It is now a national museum. Meanwhile the Rev. Joseph Rhea, a Presbyterian minister, had come to eastern Tennessee from Donegal via Maryland in 1778. His son John fought in the Revolutionary War and was a longtime US Congressman from Tennessee. Rhea county in Tennessee was named in his honor. William Ray from Belfast was in Pennsylvania in the 1770’s and fought in the Revolutionary War. After the war he moved to Kentucky and then to Indiana where he died in 1840 at the grand old age of 99. He was alive to see his son James elected Governor of Indiana. Matthew Rea left county Down for Pennsylvania in 1774. His descendants moved west to Wisconsin in 1840.

Rays West. Adam and George Ray came west from upstate New York in 1837 to what was then Wisconsin territory. Adam’s son Patrick headed further west in 1881 to Barrow, Alaska where he established a US meteorological station. The Ray river and Ray mountains in Alaska were named after him. John Rae, a Scotsman, ended up even further West in Hawaii. His path took him from Aberdeen to Ontario and thence, in a circuitous route via New York and Central America, to San Francisco in 1849 at the time of the Gold Rush. He departed there two years later for Hawaii where he worked as a medical officer and published tomes on economics. Canada. Dr. John Rae was the famous Scottish explorer of the Canadian Arctic who settled later in life in London. His brother Thomas Rae did make the move to Canada in the 1840’s. Thomas’s son John was an Indian agent along the North Saskatchewan river in the 1880’s. Another Rae family in Canada also came from Scotland and they, surprisingly, were Jewish in origin. Thomas Rea and his family had come to Canada from Fermanagh in the 1820’s. They settled in the Ops township in Victoria county, Ontario. Thomas had commanded the Irish Fusiliers and fought in the Battle of Waterloo. Australia and New Zealand. Two Raes from the Dumfries area headed south in the 1850’s. William Rae travelled on the Marco Polo to Melbourne in 1857 and married and settled down in Rathscar, Victoria. Simon Rae came to South Island, New Zealand about the same time. His story was told in Annie Irving’s 2005 book A Good Scotch Shepherd. . Ray, Rae and Rea Surname Miscellany Rae, Rea and Ray Today Numbers (000’s) Rae Rea Ray UK 13 6 12 America 2 5 44 Elsewhere 7 4 17 Total 22 15 73 Rae is more common in Scotland, Ray in England, Rea in Ireland.

Raes Not Timid on the Scottish Border. Tradition has it that the original Rae was a faithful adherent of the Scottish monarch, greatly esteemed for his swiftness of foot in pursuing deer. The Rae name is derived from the Old English word ra, meaning a female roe deer. If used as a nickname, Rae would on the face of it be a description for a rather timid person. However, nicknames could be the reverse of what they appeared to describe. This was certainly the case with the Raes from the Dumfries area. They were said to be among the fiercest and most disruptive of the Border reivers. They were described in a 15th century warrant of the Scottish court as being as “troublesome and contumacious as any of the borderers.” Their refusal to cooperate in the lawful business of the region was legendary. The Rev. Peter Rae from Dumfries. Peter Rae was an inventive man for his time. Born near Dumfries in 1671, he was a clockmaker, mechanic, printer, clergyman and scholar. He was secretary of the Hammerman trade guild in Dumfries and had his own private printing press in Kirkbride as early as 1712. The astronomical chime clock at Drumlanrig castle, made and constructed in all parts by his own hand, was testament to his mechanical powers. And Rae wrote and had printed privately by his son Robert the History of the Rebellion, an account of the 1715 Jacobite Uprising. He was also active in the Dumfries Kirk sessions. He proved to be a controversial minister at Kirkbride. But when the Kirkconnel kirk was restarted in 1732 after having being suppressed the previous century, Rae was appointed as its first minister. He held that post until his death in 1748. He was considered in later life a fine scholar and clergyman.

Gill House in Cumbria. Gill House, an old farmhouse in Bromfield parish, is said to be the most haunted house in Cumbria. It has been surmised that the house harbors the spirit of a woman hater. Some think that the ghost may have been that of the 18th century satanist Gerald Reay who was said to have taken this house that had been consecrated by the nearby St. Kentigern’s Church. Or maybe the ghost belonged to his grandson Jackson who had brutally murdered his wife and was tried for the crime in Carlisle. Subsequently John Reay inherited the Gill House estate in 1824. Simon Ray of Block Island. In 1660 Simon Ray met at Braintree with six other men to discuss the settlement of Block Island off Rhode Island. Simon not only pledged to pay a sixteenth of the purchase-money for the island and to bear his proportionate part of the expense of moving the colony of sixteen families there, but he also built a vessel at his own cost for promoting and settling the island. The following year these sixteen families – including Simon, his mother, and his step-father – embarked on this vessel and moved to Block Island. In 1664 Simon married Mary Thomas on the island and they raised three children there, two daughters and one son. Their son Simon was the father of four daughters, but no sons. Simon the father died in 1737 at the grand age of 102 and was buried at the Common Burying Ground in New Shoreham on Block Island. His monument reads: “This monument is erected to the memory Of Simon Ray esquire, one of the original proprietors of this island. He was largely concerned in settling the township and was one of the chief magistrates. And such was his benevolence that besides the care which he took of their civil interests, he frequently instructed them in the most important concerns of our holy religion. He was deprived of his eyesight many years, cheerfully submitting to the will of God, his life being in this trying instance, as in all others, a lovely example of Christian virtue. He died on the 17th of March 1737 in the 102nd year of his age.”

William Ray, Early Indiana Settler. In 1810 William Ray moved his family from Jefferson county in Kentucky to Butler county, Ohio where they were to remain for eight years. Then, growing restless, the Rays moved again. The party comprised William Ray and his wife Ann, his daughter Elizabeth, his sons, John, Samuel, Martin, and also the younger William and his wife Sallie. They rode on horseback to Riley township when it was a wilderness and was inhabited by Indians. They were pioneers in this new land and built the first church and schoolhouse. They settled on Section 19 where they homesteaded on 80 acres of land and built a log house for a home. It was on March 12, 1820 that John Ray and his little son Elias went to a neighbor’s to sharpen an ax. On returning home they were overtaken by a snowstorm and both were frozen to death. The Vigo county history says that these were the first deaths in the township. Reader Feedback – Ray in Illinois Who Knew Abraham Lincoln. My grandfather Jesse Ray was born in Illinois around 1873 and his father owned a hotel there where he would meet with Abe Lincoln. Grandfather Jesse moved to Ortley, South Dakota and land granted a farm around 1900. Gerald Ray [email address removed] Jewish Raes in Canada. Goodman Cohen had fled with his family from the pogroms in Lithuania to Scotland in the 1890’s. There Goodman met Helen Rae, the daughter of a metal plater in the Glasgow shipyards. Their romance and subsequent marriage caused considerable turmoil in both families and they moved to Winnipeg in Manitoba in 1912. Their two sons did well in very different fields. Saul Rae became a diplomat and served as Canadian ambassador to the UN, Mexico and the Netherlands during the 1960’s and 1970’s. His son Bob was the Premier of Ontario in the 1990’s. Meanwhile the younger brother Jackie Rae got his start in vaudeville and was the host of The Jackie Rae Show on CBS Television during the 1950’s.


. Ray Names • Dr. John Rae was a mid-19th century Scottish explorer of the Canadian Arctic. Rae Strait was named after him. • Gabrielle Ray was an English stage actress, dancer and singer, best known for her roles in Edwardian musical comedies. She was in the early 1900’s one of the most photographed women in the world. • Man Ray, born Emmanuel Radnitzky, was an American painter and visual artist active in the Dada and Surrealist movements. • Johnnie Ray was a popular American singer, songwriter, and pianist during the 1950’s. • Chris Rea is a popular English singer-songwriter. He was born in Yorkshire to an Italian father named Rea. Ray Numbers Today • 31,000 in the UK (most numerous in Lancashire) • 51,000 in America (most numerous in Texas) • 28,000 elsewhere (most numerous in Canada)”

East Riding of Yorkshire Archives and Local Studies Service “Catalogue description Gift Reference: DDCC/40/2 Title: Gift Description: Stephen le Ray son of Reginald le Ray to John de Humbleton clerk property moiety of 2 perches (i.e. 1 perch in breadth through the whole field of Flinton), which moiety Alice de Wartre, daughter of Robert de Wartre and late wife of Reginald le Ray, had for dower, and as it was divided between her and the canons of Torneton.

Rendering 2s. yearly and doing forinsec service for one perch where 28 carucates make a knight's fee. Witn. Master Alan de Claxton, Mathew the clerk, Alan de Dantorp, Herbert de Flinton, William his brother, Robert de Flinton, Walter his brother, William son of Simon, Nicholas Fitling, Nicholas the smith ("fabre"), Stephen his brother, Rollo de Sutton, Henry the clerk. Amfridus son of Richard.

Endorsed "Carta Stephani le Ray heredis Willelmi King". Date: Pre-1290 Held by: East Riding of Yorkshire Archives and Local Studies Service, not available at The National Archives”


https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/c336fc9d-6999-47ca-9e49-4303b0e93e08

Reference: WARD 2/53/179/8 Description: Grant by Ralph Hardy of Burnham St Clement [Burnham Overy] to Peter le Veutre and Lettice his wife of a piece of land in the fields of Burnham Sutton [location specified] containing 1½ acres for 6d. annual rent. Witnesses: Sir William de Calthorpe (Caletorp) and Sir Thomas of Snetterton (Sniterton), knights, William Reynald, Roger Otes, Bartholomew ad Molendinum, Richard Charles, John le Ray, John son of the priest, John Chapeleyn, John Sewale. Seal.

Date: [13th century] https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4456186”

Also included here are excerpts from Patronymica Brittanica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, Mark Antony Lower, a compilation of all known surnames in the U.K. as of 1860.

“MAC 212 MAD MACNEILL. ThehouseofMacneillor clan Neill is one of the most ancient of the Western Highlands. Their chiefs, theM.'s of Bara,, ranked amongst the ' Principes In- sularum,' who formed the council of state of the Lord of the Isles. They were divided into the two great branches, Macneill of Gigha, and Macneill of Barra, the former settled in the south of Argyleshire, and the latter in Inverness-shire, places so remote from each other that they became prac- tically two distinct clans. B.L.G. MAC OMISH. Gael. Mac-Thomais, (pron. Ornish.) The son of Thomas. MACONOCHIE. A cadet of Campbell, from Sir Neil Campbell of Lochow (ancestor of the Duke of Argyle) whose descendant in the fourth degree assumed the name of Mac Conochie (Mac Duncan.) This name was limited to the heads of the family, the cadets being always Campbells. MACPHERSON. Kenneth Macpherson, who lived temp. Alex. III., was eldest son of Ewan, second son of Murdoch, Parson of Kingussie in Inverness-shire, and Captain of the clan Chattan. James Macpherson, the translator of Ossian, was born at Kin- gussie. MAC QUARRIE. A clan; formerly owners of the isle of Uloa and part of Mull, [originally of the clan Alpine], but com- pelled to dependence on the Macdonalds, as Lords of the Isles. Their founder was the son of Guaire or Godfrey, brother of Fingo, ancestor of the Mackinnons. Skene, ii. 263. Gaelic etymologists say — Mac-Curraidh (pron. Currai). " The son of the Giant." MAC QUEEN. A branch of the great clan Macdonald (Lords of the Isles.) This connection was recognised so lately as the year 1778, by Alexander, Lord Macdonald. The tribe or sub-clan were known as the clan Kevan. In the early part of the XV. cent., Ehoderic Dhu Eevan Mac Sweene, or Mac Queen, quitted the Isles on receiving the lands of Corrybrough, &c, from which period the family have been annexed to the clan Chattan. B.L.G. MAC RAE. This ancientHighlandname, signifying the ' son of Rae,' or of Hath, i.e. " the fortunate one," has many orthogra- phies, of which Macray, Macraa, Macraw, M'Crie, and M'Cree are the chief. From the prevailing characteristic of the race they were called the Black Macraes. They are said to have come originally (into Scotland) from Ireland about the middle of the XIII. cent. They were allies of the Mackenzies, and a number of them fought under the Mackenzie banner at the battle of Largs. They seem never to have had a chieftain of their own. (Boswell's Tour to the Hebrides, edit. Carruthers, p. 107.) They were in considerable estimation in 1715, when there was a line of a song, "And a' the brave M'Craas are coming ;" but at the time of Dr. Johnson's visit to the Highlands they were but poorly off. "At Auchnasheal," says Boswell, "we sat down on a green turf seat at the end of a house We had a considerable circle about us, men, women, and children, all Macraes, Lord Seaforth's people. Not one of them could speak English. I observed to Dr. Johnson, it was much the same as being with a tribe of Indians." In allusion to this want of civilization, they have sometimes been called the wild mackaws. " Macrae and Macraw," ob- serves Mr. Chambers, " are but variations of the same name. This clan is said to be the most unmixed race in the Highlands, a circumstance which seems to be attended with quite a contrary effect from what might have been expected, the Macraes and Macraws being the handsomest and most athletic men beyond tlie Grampians." Popular Ehymes, &c, of Scotland, 1842. MACRAY. See Macrae. MACRIE. See Macrae. MACREE. See Macrae. MACRAW. See Macrae” https://archive.org/details/cu31924029805995/page/212/mode/2up?q=Rae “ MAC R AE. This ancient Highlandname, signifying the ' son of Eae,' or of Baih, i.e. " the fortunate one," has many orthogra- phies, of which Macray. Ulacraa, Macraw, M'Crie, and M'Cree are the chief. From the prevailing characteristic of the race they were called the Black Macraes. They are said to have come originally (into Scotland) from Ireland about the middle of the XIII. cent. They were allies of the Mackenzies, and a number of them fought under the Mackenzie banner at the battle of Largs. They seem never to have had a chieftain of their own. (Boswell's Tour to the Hebrides, edit. Carruthers, p. 107.) They were in considerable estimation in 1715, when there was a line of a song, '■'■And a the hrave M'Craas are coming ;"' but at the time of Dr. Johnson's visit to the Highlands they were but poorly off. '"At Auchnasheal," says Boswell, "'we


MAD

sat down on a green turf seat at the end of a

house "We had a considerable circle

about us, men, women, and children, all Macraes, Lord Seaforth's people. Xot one of them could speak English. I observed to Dr. .Johnson, it was much the same as being with a tribe of Indians."

In allusion to this want of civilization, they have sometimes been called the WTLD MACRAWS. " Macrae and Macraw." ob- serves Mr. Chambers, " are but variations of the same name. This clan is said to be the most unmixed race in the Highlands, a circumstance which seems to be attended with quite a contrary effect from what might have been expected, the Macraes and Macraws being the handsomest and most athletic men beyond the Grampians^ Popular EhjTQes, ice, of Scotland, 1842.

MACRAY. See Macrae.

SLICRIE. See Macrae.

MACREB. See Macrae.

MACRAW. See Macrae.

RAE. Either the Gaelic Mac Rae, de- prived of its prefix; or rae, the Scottish form of roe, a deer. Ba, probably with the latter meaning, is found in A-Sax. times, as a Christian name.

RE AY.' See under Ray. The Re ays of Scotland, however, more probably sprang


3 RED

from Reay, a parish in the shires of Caith- ness and Sutherland. “ https://archive.org/stream/patronymicabrita00lowerich/patronymicabrita00lowerich_djvu.txt

1066 LIST OF KNIGHTS “List Of Those Accompanying William The Conqueror On His Invasion Of England in 1066 https://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/misc/knights.shtml This list is taken from the plaque in the church at Dives-sur- Mer, Normandy, France, where William the Conqueror and his knights said mass before setting sail to invade England in 1066. It lists all the knights who took part in the invasion. The concept of surnames as we know them was not very well-developed. An individual either took the name of the village where they lived (this would generally be the case for those those starting with a "de"), or else the surname was a sort of nickname, depicting certain characteristics e.g. Alain le Roux (Alain of the red hair), Raoul Vis-de-Loup (Raoul wolf-face) etc. In other cases, it could be the father's name, in the format "fils de...." (son of..... ). This in later years became "Fitz....", as in such names as "Fitzjohn" etc. The spellings were often different then. For example Bunker comes from French Bon-Coeur ("Good-Heart). This would have been written "Cor-bon" in Norman French. Also, the bishop of Bayeux, who is normally known by the name of "Odo", is listed under the French spelling of "Eude". Please note that the original was not in alphabetical order. Some of the men's names are linked - either to pages I have on The Olive Tree Genealogy, or other sites. Albelin Geoffroi Alevi Alis Guillaume Ansgot A

posted 20 Jan 2023 by Dwight Ray   [thank Dwight]
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You may have mentioned this somewhere "up there", but I always heard that the Ray folks were a part of the Campbell clan.
posted by Cherie Harris