 1699 - 1731 (32 years)
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| Name |
BRAY David [1] |
| Birth |
1699 [2] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Land |
1705 |
- Page 1 of a grant of 6500 acres of land in Essex and King and Queen counties to David Bray, Richard Wharton, Henry Lightfoot and Robert Ambrose data 2 May 1705. The land was held in escheat, having been deserted by the original owners. It is interesting to note that the Escheator for York county at this time was John Lightfoot.
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| Land |
1730 |
Fredericksburg, VA  |
| Occupation |
1731 |
York County, VA [3] |
| Appointed to Council |
| Reference Number |
1028 |
| Death |
5 Oct 1731 [4, 5] |
| Burial |
Williamsburg, VA (Bruton Parish Churchyard) |
- We have also the monuments of the ancient and excellent family of Brays:-
"Here lyeth the body of Col. David Bray, of this parish, who died 21st of Octo., 1717, in the 52d year of his age, and left his wife Judith and son David Bray, by "whom this monument was erected, in memory of him."
On the same is the following:-
.. Under this tomb, with her husband, lyeth )Mrs. Judith Bray, who departed this life the 26th day of October, 1720, in the 45th year of her age."
There is also a large marble monument, on one side of which is the following:
"Hie depositum quicquid habuit mortale Elizabeth Bray, una cum
marito desideratissimo ,qure langueti morbo consumpta animan resignavit
22 die Aprilis, aono 173? , ?etatis 32.. .Equanimiter, Fortiter, Pie."
On the other side as follows:
"David Bray, armiger, vir forma, ingenio, morum suavitate.....
serenissimo reji Georgia Secundo, Concilii in Virginia constitutus, tamen
ante munus susceptum, florente faetate lmorteabreptus, Elizabetham Johannis
Page armigeri filiam nutu primam, et sine prole maerentem reliquit, Octo. 17, aetate 32."
Translated from Latin inscription: "Here lies buried David Bray, Esquire, a man, handsome, able, and affable and charming in manner. A Justice appointed to the Council in Virginia by the most serene King George the Second, he was snatched away by death before entering office, in the prime of his life. He had joined to him in matrimony Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of John Page, Esquire, most closely joined to him by mutual affection, and he left her childless and grieving October 5th, 1731, aged 32." She put up this monument as a final tribute to their love.
From Geaneological Dictionary of Virginia:
Name: David Bray of James City county, a son of Col. David Bray of the same place, and (great) grandson of Councillor (James) Bray, was born in 1699. He was a man of large estate and, in 1631 (typo; actually 1731), on the recommendation of Gov. Gooch, appointed a member of the council. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Page, of Williamsburg, but died Oct. 5, 1731, without issue.
From A Guide to the Memorials of Bruton Parish Church, Bruton Parish Church, Williamsburg, Virginia, 2006 Edition:
Grave #38 (West Face) original in latin, translation reads "Here lies buried David Bray, Esquire. A man handsome, able, and affable and charming in manner. A Justice Appointed to the Council in Virginia by the most serene King George the second, He was snached away by death before entering office, in the prime of his life. He had joined him in matrimony Elizabeth, eldest daughter of John Page, Esquire, Most closley joined to him by mutual affection, and he left her childless and grieving October 5th, 1731, aged 32 years. She set up this monument as a final tribute to their conjugal love." and
(East Face) original in Latin, Translation reads "Here are laid the mortal remains of Elizabeth Bray together with her most beloved husband, consumed by a wasting disease, she gave up the ghost on the 22nd day of April, 1734, in her 32nd year, serenely, courageously, piously."
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| Notes |
- Genealogies of Virginia Families, Wm & Mary Quarterly: Was a member of the Council in 1699.
Was appointed to the council in 1731 and died 1731.
WMQ:
DAVID BRAY(David l, James1), born 1699, Was appointed to the Council in 1731, and died October 5, 1731 (tombstone in Bruton Churchyard, Va. Historical Coll. XI, pg. 80). He married Elizabeth (born 1702, died. April 22, 1734), eldest daughter of John Page, nephew of Col. John Page.
According to the biography found in the Encycloepdia of Virginia Biography, Vol 1&2, Colonial Councillors of State, page 131, David Bray, Col, is the Grandson of James Bray 1611 to 1691. James, born 1611, and his wife Angelica, born 1611, would have marrried for the first time at about 18 to 20, or 1629 to 1631. Angelica baby-birthing would have been finished about 40, or 1651. The biography states they had three sons. Off-spring of James and Angelica should have birthdays between 1630 and 1650. This reinforces the statement that David is a grandson of James. Now the question remains, who were the 3 male offspring of James (1611) If James (junior,, born about 1640) is one, two are unknown.//FRRoss 12 Aug 2008//
Name: David Bray of James City county, a son of Col. David Bray of the same place, and (great) grandson of Councillor Bray, was born in 1699. He was a man of large estate and, in 1631 (typo; actually 1731), on the recommendation of Gov. Gooch, appointed a member of the council. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Page, of Williamsburg, but died Oct. 5, 1731, without issue.
Several entries in the St Peters Parish Vestry book confirm Thomas Bray Jr, born About 1701, as a member of the parish. The parish records establish That Thomas Bray (born about 1654) was a wealthy and influential person elected to the vestry of the old original wooden church near New Kent, Virginia, and that he was called Colonel Thomas Bray. The records also report that he died sometime prior to the 13 January 1701 vestry meeting. We find 3 additional records in the book concerning Col Thomas Bray, dated April 30 1734, May 26 1734, and May 2 1738, dealing with births and deaths of slave children. These entries may only relate to Thomas Bray , junior, born about 1701, who also made the rank of Colonel in the Virginia Militia. Also noteworthy are the entries for Colonel Thomas Bray Senior, which ended with his death, continuing entries for Madam Sarah (Fenn) Bray, who assumed his estate duties ending with her death is 1716, then entries concerning Colonel David Bray, dated from 1724 through 1734. One must assume that Colonel David Bray assumed custody of the plantation after his mother's death, although this does leave an eight year lack of entries under the Bray Name. The last entry for David Bray is 3 April 1734, while the first entry for Thomas Bray is April 30, 1734. Are we to assume that David Bray either died or sold his younger brother the Plantation?//FRRoss 26 Sep 2008//
We have already confirmed by parish records that Captain Thomas Bray Sr (born about 1654) was a wealthy and influential person elected to the vestry of the old original wooden Saint Peters Parish Church near New Kent, Virginia. The records also report that he died sometime prior to the 13 January 1701 vestry meeting.
Several entries in the Vestry book of Saint Peter's Parish, New Kent County, Virginia confirm the existance of Thomas Bray Junior, born about 1701. We find three records in the book concerning a Colonel Thomas Bray, dated April 30 1734, May 26 1734, and May 2 1738, dealing with births and deaths of slave children. These entries may only relate to Thomas Bray, junior, born about 1701, who made the rank of Colonel in the Virginia Militia.
The order of the dated entries seem to confirm that Colonel Thomas Bray is the son of Captain Thomas and Sarah Bray. Noteworthy are the entries for Captain Thomas Bray Senior, which ended with his death, continuing entries for Madam Sarah (Fenn) Bray, who assumed his estate duties ending with her death is 1716, then entries concerning Colonel David Bray, dated from 1724 through 1734. One must assume that Colonel David Bray assumed custody of the plantation after Sarah's death, although this does leave an eight year lack of entries under the Bray Name. The last entry for David Bray is 3 April 1734, while the first entry for Thomas Bray is April 30, 1734. What transpired here?
My first impression is to assume David Bray is the older brother of Thomas Bray and that he may have died leaving the plantation to the younger brother, but this would not generally have been the case. If David was the oldest son, then he probably would have inherited the plantation. Surley, Colonel David Bray would have been married; in which case his wife and children would inherited when he died.
After much thought, considering the similarities between these events and another David Bray already researched, I considered the other documented Colonel David Bray, acting as estate manager untill Thomas is old enought, experienced enough, and/or free from other commitments to manage on his own. Thomas was only 15 when his mother died, and never really knew his father Thomas Senior. That Colonel David Bray, James Bray of 1611's grandson, whose grave lies in the Bruton Parish Church graveyard in Williamsburgh, Virginia, however died in 1716 also. His son David Bray Junior.died suddenly in 1731, so it could be neither of these David Bray'. I am left to assume Thomas Bray Senior had another son, David Bray, who was also a Colonel. //FRRoss 28 Sep 2008// [6]
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| Person ID |
I86 |
Booth Family |
| Last Modified |
22 Aug 2013 |
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| Sources |
- [S287] Virginia Historical Collection, Virginia Historical Collection, XI., 80 (Reliability: 2).
- [S164] William & Mary Quarterly...on file, pg. 268 (Reliability: 3).
- [S164] William & Mary Quarterly...on file, Pg. 268 (Reliability: 2).
- [S164] William & Mary Quarterly...on file, Pg. 268 (Reliability: 2).
Date on tombstone
- [S164] William & Mary Quarterly...on file, Pg. 268 (Reliability: 3).
- [S164] William & Mary Quarterly...on file (Reliability: 2).
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