Mary Ann (Wilson) Bray (abt. 1716 - aft. 1790)

Born about 1716 in Maryland

Wife of Henry Bray — married about 1730 in Maryland

Descendants

Died after 1790 after about age 74 in Chatham County, North Carolina

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Biography

Mary (Wilson) Bray was part of a Southern Pioneer Family.

Mary, the wife of Henry Bray, has WILSON as her maiden surname, it was passed down by some BRAY descendants, but no actual proof of her maiden name has been documented. The main source appears to have been Mahala Bray BROWN, who wrote in a letter dated 20 August 1891 that her great-grandmother's maiden name was WILSON. It is difficult to say whether or not she was correct in this assertion. Some branches of BRAY descendants claim that the maiden name of Henry BRAY's wife was JONES, including Eli BRAY who wrote this in Missouri about 1876-1880. But his accuracy is also questionable.^[1]

Certainly the first name of Henry BRAY's wife was Mary, because a Chatham County, NC court record in 1775 decrees that "ANN WHITE a base born child about two years and a half old be bound to HENRY BRAY SENIOR and MARY his wife during their life (that is to say) until she shall arrive to Lawfull age, to learn the business of housewifery." Henry's wife is also listed as "Mary BRAY" in his 1790 will in Chatham Co., NC. Little else is known of Henry BRAY's wife or her family origins.^[2][3]

It seems likely that she was of German heritage, because five daughters of "Henry PREY" (Henry BRAY) were christened in a German church in Monocacy Hundred, Prince George's county, Maryland from 1736-1740 (recorded by Rev. John Casper Stoever). The sponsors at these baptisms were German, and if the usual custom was followed, would have been relatives of Henry BRAY or his wife. Surnames of the sponsors were BRONNER, LEHNICH, FAUTH, SCHWEINHARD, and SCHOLL.^{[4] [5]}

Early Lutheran Baptisms, for Henry Bray (Prey) (Monocacy) five daughters:^[6]

1. Anna Maria born April 15, 1733, baptized May 16, 1736. Sponsors: Anna Maria Bronnerin and Maria Barbara Bronner.^[6][3]
2. Susanna born March 10, 1735/6; baptized May 16, 1736. Sponsors: Dietrich Lehnich and Susanna Tauth.^[6] Not mentioned in father's will.
3. Sarah, born March 31, 1732; baptized June 5, 1737.^[6][3]
4. Catarina born April 26, 1737, baptized June 5, 1737.^[6][3]
5. Elizabetha born November 3, 1739, baptized September 21, 1740. Sponsors: George Schweinhardt and wife Maria Elizabetha.^[6][3]

Children mentioned in Henry's Will: Edward Bray, Henry Bray, Sarah Bray Ramsour, Mary Bray Johnson, Catharine Bray Jones, Elizabeth Bray Poe^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Mahala Bray Brown, letter dtd 20 Aug 1891
2. ↑ Chatham County, NC Court Record, 1775
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5} Will of Henry Bray, dated 17 June, 1790 - no probate date. Chatham Co., NC, Record of Estates, pg. 4b, 5 NC State Archives film # C.002.500
4. ↑ [1] Rootsweb
5. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/69136264
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5} Stoever, Rev, John Casper, Early Lutheran Baptisms and Marriages in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1896, p.11