John Wray (1782 - 1869)

Born 28 Aug 1782 in Hull, Yorkshire, England

Husband of Ann (Cox) Wray — married 23 Apr 1810 in Peterborough, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 16 Feb 1869 at age 86 in Eltham, Kent, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Alumnus of Cambridge University.

1851 census aged 67, Receiver of the Metropitan Police, living at 6 Suffolk Place, Charing Cross, London, with wife, five children and seven servants. 1861 census aged 78, widower, barrister and late Receiver of Police, living at 6 Suffolk Place, Westminster, London, with three daughters and five servants.

Appears in the wills index for 1869, naming his son John Copley Wray. Effects under £400.

From the Metropolitan Police web site - The History of the Metropolitan Police - The Metropolitan Police Act came into force on 19th June 1829 after Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel had eventually persuaded Parliament of the importance of a new police force for London so that rampant crime and disorder could be controlled. The City of London was excluded, partly because they already had an early form of organised uniform patrol.

The Receiver John Wray was appointed as Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District on 7 th July. It was his job to collect all the money from local parishes to fund the new force. He was a barrister, and also ran the University Life Assurance Society. His salary was £700 pa and he eventually served until 1860, when he retired, aged 78 years. He had provided a personal bond of £9000 when he started the job, but the Home Office could not find it when he came to retire!

Sources

• Baptised at St Mary's Hull 25 September 1782.

Death registered Strand 1Q 1869, aged 86.