Henry Bray (abt. 1742 - 1812)

Born about 1742 in Prince George's, Maryland

Husband of Sarah (Yokley) Bray — married about 1761 in North Carolina

Descendants

Died 7 Jan 1812 at about age 70 in Chatham, North Carolina, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Alice Ann Fesmire [send private message], Pam Kreutzer [send private message], SJ Baty [send private message], and Debbie Thomas [send private message]

This profile is Genealogically Defined.

Biography

Henry Bray was part of a Southern Pioneer Family.

This profile is part of the Bray Name Study.

Henry Bray was born about 1742, Monocacy Hundred, Prince George, Maryland, Note: Grandson Eli Bray about 1876-1880, wrote that his grandfather Henry Bray was 70 years old when he died. ^[1] He was the son of Henry Bray and Mary "Wilson". The family was still living in Maryland in 1750 when Henry's father sold his land in Frederick County, Maryland.^[1][2]

Military Service

The War of the Regulation

Henry Bray is a Military Veteran.
Served in the North Carolina Regulators 1768-1771
Henry fought in the Battle of Alamance as a North Carolina Regulator.

Henry Bray was a Regulator and served in the War of the Regulation as is revealed by entries in The Colonial Records of North Carolina, in the counties of Mecklenburg, Granville, and Orange. He signed a regular advertisement to join the Regulators in 1768.^[3] The Regulators were organized shortly before the American Revolution to protest against unjust taxation and official extortion. He took part in the Battle of Alamance in May 1771, a rebellion by 1,000 Regulators against the Colonial Government of North Carolina. The State Militia defeated the Regulators and seven of the leaders were executed: one shot and six hanged.^[4][5]

Revolutionary War

Henry Bray served with North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.

Henry served in Chatham County Militia 1772 in Capt. Jeduthan Harper's company with Thomas Brooks, James McDaniel, WIlliam Harris, Isaac Jones and others.

Henry received war-time pay on two vouchers, on voucher number 669 in 1788, ^[6]and on voucher 3069.

Revolutionary War pay voucher for Henry Bray

He is also recognized by the Daughters of the Revolution for service as a juror, tax collector, and that he signed an oath of allegiance to make a land entry.^[7][8]

Marriage

Henry was married to Sarah Yokley, about 1761, date based on eldest son year of birth.^[8][9]

Children

Henry Bray and Sarah were the parents of eleven children, Henry's will dated 4 January 1812, lists all eleven of their children.^[10][9]

i. Mathias Bray (1763-1825)^[11][9]

ii. James Bray (1763-1857)^[12]

iii. John Bray (1765-1821)^[9]

iv. William E. Bray (1766-1846)^[13][9]

v. Henry Bray, Jr. (1768-1854)^[9][14]

vi. Mary "Polly" Bray (1770-1857)^[9]

vii. Sarah "Sally" Bray (1772-1848)^[15][9]

viii. Jesse Bray (1775-1845)^[16][9]

ix. Eli Bray (1778-1855)^[17][9]

x. Solomon Bray (1780-1824)^[9]

xi. Edward Bray (1782-1815), Single ^[9][18][19]

Civic accomplishments

In 1773 Henry was one of the commissioners appointed to lay out a public road that was to run from a point on the Dan River to Campbelton near Fayetteville. It was to pass through Guilford, Chatham and Cumberland counties. Henry lived in western Chatham County, through which the road passed.^[20]

Henry was also part of the construction of a road in Chatham from the Piney Mountain to the iron works on Deep River in 1775. On October 9, 1769 Herman Husband made over to Henry Bray 480 acres on Love's Creek, being part of the Granville Grant of August 5, 1758. This tract is near the southern part of Siler City. Grant No. 30 from Orange County, issued June 30, 1762, went to Henry Bray for land on the south side of Rock River (later in Chatham County).^{[21][22][23][24]}

He is storied to have sold corn and grain for the militia during the American Revolution.^[8]

Will

Henry Bray wrote his will 4 January 1812, he left his wife Sarah, slaves, animals and whatever household goods and furniture she wanted. He named John, Mathias, James, William, Henry, Mary, Sarah, Jesse, Eli, Solomon and Edward in his will. Henry appointed three of his sons as executors of his will: Henry, Jesse and Eli. His son Edward had to call for his share of the money from Henry's will.^[9]

Death and burial

Henry Bray wrote his will on the 4th of January,^[9] he died on 7 January 1812 in Chatham County, North Carolina and was buried at Bray Cemetery, Bear Creek, Chatham County, North Carolina.^{[25] [26][10]}

DNA

Group A
Haplogroup I-M253

234971 Henry Bray, b. 1742
18523 Henry Bray, Chatham Co., NC, d. c. 1812 ^[27][1][28]

Research Notes

Research Notes about Henry Bray Sr and Henry Bray Jr.: http://jerrybryan.com/trees/bray2/b4593.html#P14097

This profile used Henry Sr and Jr. Wills, the originals provided by Researcher Jacquie K. Hoggard ^[2][9]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Shulers & Others, Source: 1. Title:6 , also DNA results between Bray of England and Bray of NC. link to site was discontinued this is a secondary source, still searching for the primary record.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} A copy of originial will dtd 17 June 1790 of Henry Bray , in possession of P. Kreutzer, xeroxed from the North Carolina State Archives 1 May 1986 by Jacquie Hoggard, stamped on the back by NC State Archives to prove it was xeroxed from original, no tampering. A copy of the will can be seen on: [1]
3. ↑ Colonial and State Records of North Carolina. Regulators' Advertisement No. 9 - Petition from the Regulator concerning public fees: Regulators of North Carolina, May 1768. Volume 07, Pages 733-737. Accessed 17 February 2019 SJ Baty at North Carolina State Records.
4. ↑ Orange County, North Carolina Militia Regulars. Transcribed from the Colonial Records of the North Carolina Archives by Louise Overton on USGenWeb. Last accessed 16 February 2019 [SJ Baty] at USGenWeb.
5. ↑ Muster Rolls of Capt. Jeduthan Harper's Company, Chatham Co. Regiment, Sept., 1772. List No. 6. Military Officers of Chatham County in The Revolutionary War and other County Officials. Extracted from the original documents in the N.C. State Archives by Sue Ashby. Last accessed 16 February 2019 [SJ Baty].
6. ↑ "North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers, 1779-1782," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2WT-R9XL : accessed 6 July 2019), Henry Bray, 06 Oct 1788; citing North Carolina, United States, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh.
7. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 17 February 2019), "Record of John Bray", Ancestor # A013888.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} DAR Peddy Info on Henry Bray/Sarah Yokley http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~peddy/genealogy/dar.html
9. ↑ ^{9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14} Henry Bray's will, https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:The_will_of_Henry_Bray_1742_-_1812
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Researcher Jacquie K. Hoggard, provided names of children, and information on their marriages and children. Hoggard also provided a copy of original will xeroxed on 1 May 1986, North Carolina State Archives. Copy in possession of P. Kreutzer
11. ↑ Wills, 1663-1978; Estate Papers, 1781-1928 (Randolph County); Author: North Carolina. Division of Archives and History; Probate Place: Randolph, North Carolina, Mathias Bray Probate Date: 1825 Probate Place: Randolph, North Carolina, USA Inferred Death Year: Abt 1825 Inferred Death Place: North Carolina, USA Item Description: Original Wills, Barker, Robert - Hinshaw, Rebecca
12. ↑ Wills and estate papers (Chatham County), 1663-1978; Author: North Carolina. Division of Archives and History; Probate Place: Chatham, North Carolina, James Bray Probate Date: 1857 Probate Place: Chatham, North Carolina, USA Inferred Death Year: Abt 1857 Inferred Death Place: North Carolina, USA Item Description: Original wills, Adcock, John - Crutchfield, Mariah
13. ↑ Wills and estate papers (Chatham County), 1663-1978; Author: North Carolina. Division of Archives and History; Probate Place: Chatham, North Carolina William Bray Probate Date: 1846 Probate Place: Chatham, North Carolina, USA Inferred Death Year: Abt 1846 Inferred Death Place: North Carolina, USA Item Description: Original wills, Adcock, John - Crutchfield, Mariah
14. ↑ North Carolina Digital Collection: Henry Bray Family Bible Records https://digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15012coll1/id/5276/rec/2, son, Henrys' bible: (spelled as it is on the bible page)"Henry Bray senor was borned April the 7 day, 1768 died december the 7 day 1854 my father.
15. ↑ General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. T288, 546 rolls.Sarah Welch Gender: Female Place Filed: Iowa, USA Relation to Head: Widow Spouse: Michael Welch
16. ↑ "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ8L-11SZ : 16 March 2018), Jesse Bray, 1845; citing Randolph County, North Carolina, United States, State Archives, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 2,069,797.
17. ↑ Wills, 1663-1978; Estate Papers, 1781-1928 (Randolph County); Author: North Carolina. Division of Archives and History; Probate Place: Randolph, North Carolina, Eli Bray Probate Date: 1855 Probate Place: Randolph, North Carolina, USA Inferred Death Year: Abt 1855 Inferred Death Place: North Carolina, USA Item Description: Original Wills, Barker, Robert - Hinshaw, Rebecca
18. ↑ Sullivan County, Tennessee Deed dated 27 August 1815
19. ↑ Chatham County, North Carolina, Probate Records, Petition for Administration of Estate of Edward Bray dated November 1838, lists Eli, William, Henry, Sarah Welch and Jesse Bray
20. ↑ Colonial Records, Volume VII, p.734
21. ↑ Herman Husband and Henry Bray, Reference to this transaction is in Deed Book E, p. 33 at Pittsboro
22. ↑ Early History of Siler City http://www.silercity.org/?SEC=2B1E967A-4C76-465C-8101-B378D54EF8A7 secondary source
23. ↑ reference to land Herman Husband sold to Henry Bray in possession of descendent N B. Bray; History of Chatham County, NC , end of Chapter 1, https://www.carolana.com/NC/Counties/chatham_county_nc.html
24. ↑ Herman Husband Marker Relocation Request PDF p.29, Siler City, Exhibit 16 https://www.chathamhistory.org/resources/Documents/PDFs/ResearchArticles/HermanHusbandMarkerMovesWest.pdf
25. ↑ Chatham County Historical Association. "http://cemeterycensus.com/nc/chat/cem191.htm." Chatham County North Carolina Cemeteries: Bray Cemetery." Accessed 18 February 2019 SJ Baty.
26. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11361904 : accessed 16 February 2019), memorial page for Henry B. Bray (1742–7 Jan 1812), Find A Grave Memorial no. 11361904, citing Bray Cemetery, Bear Creek, Chatham County, North Carolina, USA ; Maintained by Find A Grave (contributor 8) .
27. ↑ Bray Surname DNA Project
28. ↑ Family Tree DNA BRAY interpretation of DNA results, https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/bray/about/results

Southern Pioneer Trail Profile

This profile has been project reviewed and approved by Douglass-990 20:12, 16 July 2019 (UTC) for meeting the Southern Pioneer's Project standards for quality and accuracy.

1. The parent-child relationships have been determined to be reliably established by the sources cited;
2. The biography is well-written, concise and meets the project's standards for quality and style and,
3. The facts presented are believed to be accurate, consistent and free of conflicting information

This profile has been officially designated as a "Pioneer Trail Profile" and has been awarded the "Pioneer Trail" project sticker. (07/16/2019)