William Wray (abt. 1825 - 1902)

Born about 1825 in Raphoe, County Donegal, Ireland

Husband of Katherine (McCurdy) Wray — married 24 May 1859 in Co. Donegal, Ireland

Descendants

Died 2 May 1902 at about age 77 in Orritor, Kildress, County Tyrone, Ireland

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Biography

William passed away in 1902.^[1]

The chief mourners at his funeral were:

• Charles A. Wray, G. Leeper, Wray (sons).
• George McCurdy (brother-in-law),
• W.J. McCurdy, and B Stevens (nephews). ^[2]

He was buried on the 46th anniversary of his ordination.^[3]

Child: William Hamilton WRAY

Child: Charles Alexander McCurdy WRAY

Child: George Leeper WRAY

Child: Emily Holmes WRAY

Child: Benjamin John WRAY

Child: Martha Stuart WRAY

His Will leaves bequests to his wife Katherine McCurdy Wray, daughters Emily Holmes Wray, Martha Stuart Wray, and mentions his sons William Hamilton Wray, Charles Alexander McCurdy Wray, George Leeper Wray, though that page is difficult to read.

Obituary (part of)

It is with feelings of deep regret we report the death of Rev. William Wray, who was for 46 years the faithful and esteemed minister of the Orritor congregation, in the Presbytery of Tyrone. On Sabbath two weeks he conducted the Communion Services in the church with the vigour and earnestness which characterised his ministry, but during the following week he was seized with a serious illness, and was attended by the family physician, Dr.Ross and Dr. Richards, Cookstown, but despite that skilful medical attendance and careful nursing he gradually sank, and passed peacefully away on Friday evening, inst. The deceased minister was born in Raphoe, County Donegal, in the year 1825, and brought up under the ministry of the late Rev Mr. Dickie, of Carnone. He received his early education at the Royal School, Raphoe, afterwards proceeded to Glasgow University, where he graduated M.A. in 1848 Among his classmates there were Lord Kelvin and the late Professor Richard Smyth. After a distinguished theological course in the same University, he was licensed to preach by the Raphoe Presbytery in 1852 , and after labouring successfully as a city missionary in Londonderry in connection with Great James Street Church, he accepted a call to the Orritor congregation, where he was ordained by the Tyrone Presbytery on the first Tuesday of May, 1856, as assistant and successor to the Rev. J. G. Magowan. From the first the young minister threw himself energetically into the work of the congregation. A debt of over £250, which had pressed heavily the congregation, was through his exertions, speedily wiped out, and in 1860 a neat and comfortable manse erected on a beautiful site cost of £450, of adjoining the church at a and a few years later the church underwent extensive repairs, which involved a further outlay of £160, the bulk of the amounts necessary for all these outlays being raised by the personal efforts of Mr. Wray; and the good order in which he has left the church property is in itself tribute to himself and creditable to the congregation. The cause of education found in him warm supporter and practical friend, and through his efforts school houses in the locality were built and enlarged, and we find from the report of the visitation Presbytery at Orritor June, 1887, the following tribute: - The minister deserves special commendation for his work in connection with education, and the distriet is now, mainly through his efforts, well supplied with schools. Temperance work, which in the of his early ministry was not so prominent feature of church work as now, had his hearty Co-operation and aid. He took a deep interest in the welfare of his people, rejoicing with them in their joys and sorrowing with them in their sorrows, and both as preacher and pastor, and in every department of church work, was faithful in the discharge of his duty, and commended himself a "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed." In his lifework he found a true helpmate in his wife (who was a daughter of the late Mr. George McCurdy, Dungorman, Castlefin, and niece of the late Rev. Mr. Holmes, of Coagh) and with Mrs. Wray and her sons and daughters the sincere sympathy of the entire community is felt in their berearement. On Tuesday the funeral took place to Kildress graveyard, and was largely attended. Prior to the removal of the remains from the Manse, a short service was conducted by Rev. George Bell Shaw Claggan. The coffin borne to the church turn by the following: C. A. Wray and G (sons), George M Curdy (brother-in-law and William Leeper J.P., Robert M'Gahey, T.J. Allen, Hamilton Tomb, and J. T. Henry (representing the congregation) ,. and Graham, G. B. Shaw, Sharpe, and E. Ekin (co Presbyters). In the church, which was suitably draped for the occasion, a , short service was held, commenced by Rev. D. Graham, Moderator of Presbytery, who read the 90th Psalm, after which Rev. J. W. Sharpe offered up, prayer. Rev. Mr. Graham having read appropriate por tions of Scripture, Rev. Mr. Shaw delivered an address, in the course of which he said_ In the year 1856, on the first Tuesday Tyrone the Church for the purpose of ordaining to the work of the ministry and appointing to the pastoral over right of the congregation the Rev. William Wray. Today, on this the 46th anniversary of his ordination, we are met to pay the last tribute of esteem and respect to one whose life was full of arduous work and faiithful service rendered to the cause of God and our church in this neighbourhood. While our bearts are filled with sadness, while we mourn the loss of a faithful friend, a wise counsellor, a devoted pastor, the loving husband, and the affectionate father, yet we praise God for the life of His servant, and thank Him for the hallowed memory of him whose like we shall not look on soon again. ^[4]

Research

He is father to an unknown child in 9 th Jan 1865 born at the Presbyterian Manse Tamlaght

Sources

• Death Registration of William Wray, 77 years, Presbyterian Minister, Oritor, heart disease.
• Will of William Wray, minister of the Presbyterian Church, Orritor

• "Ireland Calendar of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZ56-ZVM : 13 March 2018), William Wray, 02 May 1902; citing 00529, 005014912, Principal Probate Registry, Dublin; 100,998.
• Marriage Registration of William Wray, Presbyterian Minister, Orritor, Co Tyrone, father Alex Wray, Sadler? to Katherine McCurdy, Rose Cottage, father George McCurdy, 24th May 1869, County Donegal

1. ↑ Information from Eric Wray, Nov 2015
2. ↑ Mid Ulster Mail May 15 1902 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003466/19020515/079/0008
3. ↑ Mid Ulster Mail May 17th 1902
4. ↑ The Dungannon News 15 May 1902