Saturday, September 1, 2018

Added or Updated Record Collections at FamilySearch.org - Week of 26 August to 1 September 2018

I am trying to keep up with the new and updated record collections at   FamilySearch   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list) every week.

As of 1 September 2018, there were 2,364 record collections on FamilySearch (an increase of 3 from last week):

The deleted. added or updated collections are (as Marshall provided them):

--- Collections Deleted ---

France, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Civil Registration, 1792-1938     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2968259); 1,988,197 indexed records with 1,988,197 record images, DELETED 24 Aug 2018

--- Collections Added   ---

Arkansas, Sevier County, Birth Records, 1914-1923       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2630408); 1,460 indexed records with 1,460 record images, ADDED 30 Aug 2018

England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2451051); 1,024,884 indexed records with 1,024,884 record images, ADDED 30 Aug 2018

United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2996059); 75,719 indexed records with 75,719 record images, ADDED 30 Aug 2018

Virginia, Lynchburg, Diuguid Funeral Home records, 1820-1971    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1419237); 14,711 indexed records with 14,711 record images, ADDED 30 Aug 2018

--- Collections Updated ---


Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1614804); 4,698,984 indexed records with 1,582,454 record images (was 4,700,502 records with 1,582,454 images), Updated 28 Aug 2018

United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2333694); 34,168,489 indexed records with 46,885,712 record images (was 34,168,489 records with 46,885,712 images), Updated 29 Aug 2018

Ohio Probate Records, 1789-1996 (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1992421); 739 indexed records with 6,997,827 record images (was 0 records with 6,997,828 images), Updated 28 Aug 2018

*  BillionGraves Index     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2026973); 25,823,344 indexed records with 25,823,344 record images (was 25,551,766 records with 25,551,766 images), Updated 27 Aug 2018

Montana, Meagher County Records, 1866-2012      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2228169); 3,259 indexed records with 97,709 record images (was 1,030 records with 97,709 images), Updated 30 Aug 2018

Canada Census, 1871     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1551612); Index only (3,519,941 records), no images (was 3,519,941 records with 0 images), Updated 28 Aug 2018

Canada Passenger Lists, 1881-1922       (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1823240); 3,907,325 indexed records with 146,388 record images (was 3,907,325 records with 146,388 images), Updated 27 Aug 2018

Ontario Deaths, 1869-1937 and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1307826); 2,050,112 indexed records with 942,237 record images (was 2,050,112 records with 942,237 images), Updated 29 Aug 2018

Liberia, Marriage Records, 1912-2015    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2100287); 104,292 indexed records with 24,406 record images (was 54,883 records with 24,406 images), Updated 29 Aug 2018

Texas, Bexar County, San Antonio Cemetery Records, 1893-2007    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1828544); 53,955 indexed records with 38,892 record images (was 0 records with 38,892 images), Updated 30 Aug 2018

Spain, Soldier Personal Service Files, 1835-1940        (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2558684); 14,937 indexed records with 364,919 record images (was 6,777 records with 364,919 images), Updated 29 Aug 2018

Ohio, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1977  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1987615); 1,819,646 indexed records with 1,097,134 record images (was 1,818,867 records with 1,097,134 images), Updated 28 Aug 2018

United States Census, 1940      (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2000219); 134,867,560 indexed records with 3,841,151 record images (was 134,867,560 records with 3,841,151 images), Updated 27 Aug 2018

Sweden, Household Examination Books, 1880-1930  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2790465); 46,977,151 indexed records with 87,177 record images (was 46,977,151 records with 87,177 images), Updated 28 Aug 2018

--- Collections with records removed ---

Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940   (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1708698); Index only (1,173,443 records), no images (was 1,219,044 records with 0 images),  30 Apr 2012

Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917     (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1708660); Index only (1,949,634 records), no images (was 1,991,073 records with 0 images),  15 May 2018

Virginia Deaths and Burials, 1853-1912  (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1708697); Index only (607,710 records), no images (was 611,127 records with 0 images),  28 Feb 2013

Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997    (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1949342); Index only (17,102,158 records), no images (was 17,102,159 records with 0 images),  17 Feb 2012

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In order to select a specific record collection on FamilySearch, go to  https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list and use the "Filter by collection name" feature in the upper left-hand corner and use keywords (e.g. "church england") to find collections with those keywords.

My friend, Marshall, has come up with a way to determine which collections are ADDED, DELETED or UPDATED.  Thanks to Marshall for helping me out here!

Each one of the collections listed above has a Research Wiki page (use the "Learn more" link).  It would be very useful if the Wiki page for each collection listed the dates for when the collection was added as a new collection and the dates for major updates also.

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Copyright (c) 2018, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - How Many Ancestors In the 1900 Census?

Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

Time for some more Genealogy Fun!!



Here is your assignment if you choose to play along (cue the Mission Impossible music, please!):


1)  How many of your ancestors are in the 1900 United States Census?  List them all, their location, their age, and their occupation.  Were any ancestors missed by the census enumerator? [Note: For folks who have census entries in other countries, substitute your country for the U.S. and the closest available census to 1900.]


2)  Tell us in a blog post of your own, or in a comment on this post, or a Facebook post.  Please leave a comment to this post with a link to your post.

Here's mine:

I decided to work backwards in time using my Ahnentafel List:

*  Grandfather Frederick Walton Seaver, resided in Leominster, Mass. , age 23, a painter of combs.
*  Grandmother Alma Bessie Richmond, resided in Leominster, Mass., age 18, does housework.

*  Grandfather Lyle Lawrence Carringer, resided in San Diego, California, age 8. 
*  Grandmother Emily Kemp Auble, resided in Chicago, Illinois, age 10 months.

*  Great-grandfather Frank Walton Seaver, resided in Leominster, Mass., age 47, a teamster. 
*  Great-grandmother Hattie Louisa (Hildreth) Seaver, resided in Leominster, Mass., age 43, no occupation. 

*  Great-grandfather Thomas Richmond, resided at Leominster, Mass., age 51, an overseer in a woolen mill. 
*  Great-grandmother Julia E. (White) Richmond, resided at Leominster, Mass., age 51, no occupation.

*  Great-grandfather Henry Austin Carringer, resided in San Diego, Calif., age 46, a Carpenter.
*  Great-grandfather Abbie Ardell "Della" (Smith) Carringer, resided in San Diego, Calif., age 38, no occupation.

*  Great-grandfather Charles Auble, resided in Chicago, Illinois, age 35, a house decorator.
*  Great-grandmother Georgianna (Kemp) Auble, resided in Chicago, Illinois, age 31, no occupation.

*  2nd great-grandfather Isaac Seaver, resided in Leominster, Mass., age 76, no occupation.

*  2nd great-grandmother Sophia (Newton) Hildreth, resided in Leominster, Mass., age 64, no occupation.

*  2nd great-grandfather James Richmond, resided in Putnam, Conn., age 79, a farmer.
*  2nd great-grandmother Hannah (Rich) Richmond, resided in Putnam, Conn., age 75, no occupation.

*  2nd great-grandfather David Jackson Carringer, resided in San Diego, Calif., age 71, no occupation.
*  2nd great-grandmother Rebecca (Spangler) Carringer, resided in San Diego, Calif., age 67, no occupation.

*  2nd great-grandmother Abbie A. (Vaux) Smith, resided in San Diego, Calif., age 55, no occupation.

*  2nd great-grandmother Sarah (Knapp) Auble, resided in Terre Hate, Indiana, age 82, no occupation.

*  2nd great-grandfather, James Abraham Kemp, resided in Delhi, Ontario, age 69, a farmer (in 1901 Canada Census)

*  3rd great-grandfather, Alexander Sovereen, resided in Windham, Ontario, age 86, no occupation.

So all four of my grandparents were in the 1900 census, all eight of my great-grandparents were in the 1900 census, 8 of my 2nd great-grandparents were in the 1900 census and 1 was in the 1901 Canada census, and 1 3rd great-grandparent was in the 1901 Canada census.

I have 22 ancestors in the 1900 U.S. and 1901 Canada census records.  No ancestors living in 1900 were missed in these census records.


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The URL for this post is: https://www.geneamusings.com/2018/09/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-how-many.html

Copyright (c) 2018, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com. 



Surname Saturday -- PERKINS (England to colonial New England)

It's Surname Saturday, and I'm "counting down" my Ancestral Name List each week.

I am working in the 9th great-grandmothers by Ahnentafel number, and I am up to Ancestor #2149 who is Lydia PERKINS (1632-1672). [Note: the earlier great-grandmothers and 9th great-grandfathers have been covered in earlier posts.]

My ancestral line back through two generations in this PERKINS family line is:

1. Randall J. Seaver

2. Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983)
3. Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002)

4. Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942)
5. Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962)

8. Frank Walton Seaver (1852-1922)
9. Hattie Louise Hildreth (1857-1920)

16. Isaac Seaver (1823-1901)
17. Lucretia Townsend Smith (1827-1884)

32. Benjamin Seaver (1791-1825)
33. Abigail Gates (1797-1869)

66.  Nathan Gates (1767-1830)
67.  Abigail Knowlton (1774-1855)

134.  Jeremiah Knowlton (1745-1785)
135.  Abigail Peirce (1750-1775)

268.  Jeremiah Knowlton (1713-1752)
269.  Sarah Allen (1717-1796)

536.  Nathaniel Knowlton (1683-1760)
537.  Mary Bennett (1685-1717)


1074.  Henry Bennett (1664-1739)
1075.  Frances Burr (1669-1708)

2148.  Henry Bennett, born about 1629 in England; died after October 1707 in probably Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, United States.  He married about 1651 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, United States.
2149.  Lydia Perkins, born before 03 June 1632 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States; died about 1672 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, United States.

Children of Henry Bennett and Lydia Perkins are:
*  Jacob Bennett (1651-1686), married about 1675 Sarah LNU.
*  John Bennett (1655-1675).
*  William Bennett (1657-????).
Henry Bennett (1664-1739), married Frances Burr (1669-1708).
*  Thomas Bennett (1667-1701), married 1692 Elizabeth LNU (1671-1731).

4298.  John Perkins, born before 23 September 1583 in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England; died 23 September 1654 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, United States.  He was the son of 8596. Henry Perkins and 8597. Elizabeth Sawbridge.  He married 09 October 1608 in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England.
4299.  Judith Gater, born before 19 March 1588 in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England; died 1684 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, United States.  She was the daughter of 8598. Michael Gater and 8599. Isabel Bayley.

Children of John Perkins and Judith Gater are:
*  John Perkins (1609-1686), married 1636 Elizabeth Eveleth (1616-1684).
*  Elizabeth Perkins (1611-1670), married 1636 William Sargent (1602-1674).
*  Mary Perkins (1611-1700), married 1636 Thomas Bradbury (1610-1695).
*  Anne Perkins (1617-1617).
*  Thomas Perkins (1622-1686), married 1643 Phebe Gould (1620-????).
*  Jacob Perkins (1624-1700), married (1) 1649 Elizabeth Whipple (1629-1686); (2) 1684 Damaris Dorman (1636-1716).
Lydia Perkins (1632-1672), married 1651 Henry Bennett (1629-1707).

Information about this Perkins family was obtained from:

*  
Walter Goodwin Davis, The Ancestry of Dudley Wildes 1759-1820 of Topsfield MA (Portland, Me. : Androensen Press, 1959), pages 165-182. 

*  Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, Vol. III (Boston, Mass. : NEHGS, 1995), pgs. 1431-1433.  

*  George A. Perkins, The Family of John Perkins of Ipswich, Massachusetts (Salem, Mass. :  1882).

I have done no original research for this person.



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Copyright (c) 2018, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Friday, August 31, 2018

Genealogy News Bytes - 31 August 2018


Some of the genealogy news items across my desktop the last three days include:

1)  News Articles:


Genealogy World Saddened by Passing of Laura G. Prescott


*  
NYSFHC registration deadline!

 FREE National Archives Virtual Genealogy Fair – October 24, 2018

2)  New or Updated Record Databases:

*  
New Records Available To Search This Findmypast Friday. 31 August 2018

*  Findmypast Announces Release of Over 53 Million Indexed Electoral Registers

 New & Updated Databases Posted at FamilySearch August 1 – 30, 2018

*  NY State Historic Newspapers Adds 14 Titles - August, 2018

*  860 Free Mid West States Online Historical Newspaper Titles Added

*  TheGenealogist Releases Parish Records for Warwickshire with Images

3)  Genealogy Education:


 GeneaWebinars Calendar


*  Upcoming Family Tree Webinar - Wednesday, 5 September, 11 a.m.:  What's Been Done: Using Someone Else's Genealogy Research, by Thomas MacEntee

*  Archived Family Tree Webinar:  The YDNA Test Should Be Your Favorite, by Diahan Southard

*  Archived Family Tree Webinar:  Where did you come from, Missouri Settlers?, by Beth Foulk

*  Family Tree Magazine Podcast:  Best Genealogy Websites of 2018 (Live from FGS): Episode 123

*  The Not Old Better Show Podcast: Episode 250 RootsTech 2019 Thomas MacEntee

*  Ancestry YouTube:  Q&A with The Barefoot Genealogist: August 2018 | Ancestry

*  DearMYRTLE YouTube:  The Archive Lady - Answers questions re: family archives procedures

*  DearMYRTLE YouTube:  Mondays with Myrt 27 Aug 2018

*  DearMYRTLE YouTube:  AmericaGen Study Group - Chapter 9 Computers & Technology

*  DearMYRTLE YouTube:  Was my Ancestor at Little Big Horn with Custer?

*  23andMe YouTube:  DNA 101

*  23andMe YouTube:  This Week in DNA, Episode 6

*  FamilySearch YouTube:  Road to RootsTech, Episode 1: What's New at RootsTech 2019

*  FamilySearch YouTube:  Road to RootsTech, Episode 2: The RootsTech Schedule

*  Family History Fanatics YouTube:  How to Evaluate a Death Record - Research Over My Shoulder Episode 8

4)  Bargains:

*  Genealogy Bargains for Friday, August 31,  2018


5)  DNA Success Stories:

*   Mom was a Neanderthal. Dad was something else entirely. Meet the strangest hybrid in human history.

*  Separated sisters reunite after decades

*  FOX40 Staffer Shares Her Journey of Discovering Her Family

Did you miss the last Genealogy News Bytes - 28 August 2018?

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Copyright (c) 2018, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

New Records Available To Search This Findmypast Friday. 31 August 2018

I received this information from Findmypast today:


================================================

New Records Available To Search This Findmypast Friday


There are over 167,000 new records and newspaper articles available to search this Findmypast Friday, including:


Discover your ancestor's memorial inscriptions from Montgomeryshire, Wales. Learn where your ancestor was buried as well as your ancestor's birth and death years. Your ancestor's memorial inscription may include such details as spouse's name and date of death. The collection contains over 26,000 records and spans the years from 1577 to 2016.

The memorial inscriptions currently contained within this collection cover places A-H in Montgomeryshire (except for Alberbury, which is in Shropshire), comprising one-quarter of the entire memorial inscription collection for the county, published by the Montgomeryshire Family History Society. The full list of burial places is as follows: Aberhafesp, Alberbury, Berriew, Bettws Cedewain, Breiddon, Buttington, Bwlch-Y-Cibau, Carno, Castle Caereinion, Cemmaes, Churchstoke, Criggion, Darowen, Dolanog, Dolfor, Forden, Garthbeibio, Guilsfield, Hirnant, and Hyssington.


Discover whether your ancestor died in Dorset by searching more than 110,000 inscriptions taken from gravestones, tombs, monuments and even stained glass windows found in more than 250 parishes across the county.

Each record contains a transcription of the original inscription. The information contained varies considerably and depends on a number of factors including weathering and the type of memorial. Most will reveal a combination of your ancestor's age at death, birth year, death year, burial year, burial place, religious denomination, dedication, inscription, memorial type and relative's names.


This collection was created from transcripts made in the 1980s of the memorial inscriptions in the Cheriton Road Cemetery in Folkestone, Kent. In some instances, the individual may only be commemorated on a memorial and not, in fact, buried there. During the transcription process, some graves were recorded twice with slight differences.

The collection contains over 112,000 records. Each result includes a transcript that will reveal a combination of your ancestor's name, death date, burial year, religious denomination, parish and memorial reference.


Over 5,000 new records covering baptisms performed between 1744 and 1917 at the Northowram Independent chapel in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, have been added to our collection of Yorkshire Baptisms.

The information contained within each record may vary but most transcripts typically list the child's name, year of baptism, place of baptism, and the names of their parents. Images of the original documents may reveal additional information.


Over 9,000 new records covering baptisms performed between 1797 and 1992 at the Northowram Independent chapel in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, have been added to our collection of Yorkshire Burials.

Each record contains a transcript and many include an image of the original record. Transcripts will reveal a combination of your ancestor's age at death, birth year and burial date.


This week we have added 118,752 new pages to The Archive. We have added more pages to our run of the Liverpool Echo, as well as more twenty-first century pages to the Evening Herald (Dublin), with available titles now spanning the years 1892 to 2008.

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Disclosure:  I have a complimentary subscription to Findmypast, and have accepted meals and services from Findmypast, as a Findmypast Ambassador.  This has not affected my objectivity relative to Findmypast and its products.

Copyright (c) 2018, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Findmypast Announces Release of Over 53 Million Indexed Electoral Registers

I received this announcement from Findmypast today:

=====================================================

FINDMYPAST ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF OVER 53 MILLION INDEXED ELECTORAL REGISTERS


  • 1920s and 30s Electoral Registers now available to search with greater accuracy than ever before
  • New and improved collection bridges the vital gap left by the destruction of the 1931 census of England and Wales
  • Important documents will enable family historians to trace ancestors between the 1911 Census and 1939 register

Friday August 31st 2018: Leading British and Irish family history website, Findmypast, has today announced the release over 53 million indexed England and Wales Electoral Registers covering the 1920s and early 1930s.

Improved access to these important documents will enable many family historians bridge the vital gap left by the destruction of the 1931 census of England & Wales. Combined with the 1911 census and 1939 register, today’s release means that Findmypast is now able provide customers with unrivalled record coverage for early 20th century Britain, allowing them to trace their ancestors across a period of history that has traditionally been problematic for many researchers.

The new collection, England & Wales Electoral Registers 1920-1932, has been created by reprocessing the original documents in order to improve image quality. Findmypast’s has also developed a new process for picking out individual names, allowing this vast bank of records to be searched with greater accuracy than ever before.

For the very first time, the Registers can now be searched accurately by individual names in a similar way to other indexed collections currently available on the Findmypast. Searches will now also cover all of England and Wales and matching records from the registers will feed into hints for all customers with a Findmypast Family tree.

Electoral Registers are listings of all those registered to vote in a particular area. The lists were created annually to record the names of eligible voters and their reason for eligibility, such as their residence or ownership of a property. Registration for voters in England has been required since 1832 and registers were typically published annually, making electoral registers and excellent resource for tracking ancestors between the census years or for uncovering the history of your home or local area.

These newly indexed records were taken from Findmypast's wider collection of British Library, over 220 million of which are also available to search in PDF format.  

Estelle Calfe, Product Manager at Findmypast, said: "The Electoral Registers 1920 - 1932 are such an important collection for family historians, as they really help you fill in those gaps and trace your ancestors' journey between the 1911 census and the 1939 Register. Our team have built some incredible technology that has enabled us to make this collection searchable by first and last name for the first time."

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Disclosure:  I have a complimentary subscription to Findmypast, and have accepted meals and services from Findmypast, as a Findmypast Ambassador.  This has not affected my objectivity relative to Findmypast and its products.

Copyright (c) 2018, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

52 Ancestors - Week 241: #366 Richard Pray (1683-1755) of Providence County, Rhode Island

Richard Pray (1683-1755is #366 on my Ahnentafel List, my 6th great-grandfather, who married #366 Rachel --?-- (about 1685 - after 1755)  in about 1723 in Providence County, Rhode Island.

I am descended through:

*  their daughter, #183 Sarah Pray (1734-1820) who married #182 Nathaniel Horton (1730-1819)  in about 1755.
*   their daughter #91 Phebe Horton (1772 - after 1820) who married #90 Simon Wade (1767-1857)  in 1790.
*  their daughter #45 Miranda Wade (1804-1850) , who married #44 Jonathan White (1803-1850) in 1824.
*  their son #22 Henry Arnold White (1824-1885) who married #23 Amy Oatley (1826-1864) in 1844.
*  their daughter #11 Julia E. White (1848-1913) who married #10 Thomas Richmond (1848-1917) in 1868.
*  their daughter #5 Alma Bessie Richmond (1882-1962) who married #4 Frederick Walton Seaver (1876-1942) in 1900.
*  their son #2 Frederick Walton Seaver (1911-1983) married #3 Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002) in 1942.
*  their son #1 Randall Jeffrey Seaver (1943-living)

=====================================================

1)  PERSON (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Name:                        Richard Pray[1–3]    

*  Sex:                           Male    

*  Father:                      John Pray (1653-1733)    
*  Mother:                    Sarah Brown (1662-1733)  

2)  INDIVIDUAL EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

* Birth:                      about 1683, Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States[1–2]

*   Distribution:           5 February 1733/4 (about age 51), father's will proved; Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States[3]

*   Will:                       15 March 1755 (about age 72), will written; Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island, United States[4]

*   Death:                    10 July 1755 (about age 72), Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island, United States[4]

*   Probate:                 10 November 1755 (about age 72), will proved; Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island, United States[4]
3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):
*  Spouse 1:                Rachel  (1685-1755)    
*  Marriage 1:             about 1723 (before about age 42), probably Rhode Island, United States[1-2]    

*  Child 1:                  Rachel Pray (1725-    )    
*  Child 2:                  Mary Pray (1728-1800)    
*  Child 3:                  Sarah Pray (1734-1820)  

4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):   
General: Richard Pray was born in about 1683 in Providence, Rhode Island, the third child and second son of John and Sarah (Brown) Pray[1-2]

He married Rachel --?-- in about 1723, probably in Providence[1-2].  They had three known children, but no birth records are known for them[1-2]:

*  Rachel Pray, born about 1725 in Providence, married William Hines (1715-????) in about 1750.
*  Mary Pray, born about 1728 in Providence, died about 1800 in Providence, married 21 September 1748 in Providence to Ezekiel Hopkins (1727-1762).
*  Sarah Pray, born about 1734 in Providence, died after 20 September 1820 in foster, R.I., married about 1755 in Scituate, R.I. to Nathaniel Horton (1730-1819).

Richard's father, John Pray, husbandman of Providence, being aged, died testate; he wrote his will dated 29 April 1726, which was proved 5 February 1733/4.  In the will, he bequeathed to his son Richard[3]:

"Item I give and bequeath to my beloved son Richard his heirs Execrs and assigns for Ever In the following Mannar, viz. all my homested farm with all the Lands any ways belonging to me Joyning to said home stead and all my Cattle, Dwelling house, and orchards that is to say the half of my home stead farm att my Descease whereon I now Live situate Lying and being In the Town of providence aforsd In the Notherin part of said township and the other half of homstead with all my Cattle Dwelling house and orchards att the Desease of my wife and In Case she Marries then he is to Enter In Possesion of the said home stead and particulars above bequeathed to my sd wife as his and their proper Estate of Inheritance In fee simple."

The John Pray homestead, which was bequeathed to Richard, was located in present-day Smithfield, Rhode Island (known as North Providence before 1731)[3].

The Richard Pray family moved from Smithfield to Scituate, Rhode Island in 1741 after obtaining a certificate  from Smithfield[1].

Richard Pray died on 10 July 1755 in Scituate, Rhode Island, according to the Inventory of his estate[4].  

Richard Pray, yeoman, died testate[4].  He wrote a will, dated 15 March 1755, which was proved 10 November 1755 in the Scituate, Rhode Island Town Council records.  The Court orders, will, and inventory read as follows:

"The Last Will and Testament of Richard Pray Late of Scituate aforesaid Yeoman was presented to the Council and was Read in the Following Words (Viz.) ---

"In the Name of God Amen:  The Fifteenth day of March 1755:  I Richard Pray of Scituate in the County of Providence Yeoman being Very Sick and Weak in Body of Perfect Mind and Memory.  Thanks be given unto God.  Therefore Calling unto Mind the Mortality of My Body and Knowing that it is appointed for Men once to die do Make and ordain this My Last Will and Testament that is to say I give and Present (?) My Soul into the Hands of God that gave it and My Body to the Earth to be Buried in Decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of My Executors hereafter Named and Touching Such Worldly Estate where with it hath pleased God to bless me in this present Life I Give Demise and Dispose of the same in the Following Maner and Form --

"Imprimis  I give and bequeath to my Daughter Sarah Pray all my House Hold goods and all my Moveable Estate of whole sorts ????? the same may be --

"Item  I give and bequeath to My Daughter Rachel Hinds the sum of Five Shillings in Money Equal to old Tenor to be paid by My Executor --

"Item  I do hereby order and Impower My son in law Ezekiel Hopkins Junr to Sell and Dispose of all My Land as Conveniently May be after my Decease.  and the Deed or Deeds by him given shall be Good and Effectuall to the hereafter and hereby thereof whom I do Likewise Constitute Make and ordain My Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament ---

"Item  My will Further is that after all My Just Debts and Funerall Charges are all paid out of the Effects of the Sale of My Land and the Remainder to Be Deposited as Followeth ---

"Item the one Half of said Remainder I give and bequeath to My sd Daughter Sarah Pray to be paid to her by my said Executor ---

"Item I give and bequeath to my Daughter Mary Hopkins the wife of My said Executor part of the Remainder of the Effects of the Sale of My Land ---

"Item I give and bequeath to My Daughter Rachels Children the one quarter Part of the Remainder of the Effects of the Sales of My Land to be Equally Devided amongst them and to be paid by My said Executor as They Shall Severally attain to the age of Twenty one years or at the days of Marriage with the Intrest Thereon arising ---

"And I do heby Utterly Disallow Revoke and Disannull all and Every other ????? Testaments wills Legacies and bequests and Executors by me in any ways before Named Willed and Bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no others to be my Last will and Testament:  In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set My hand and Seal the day and year above Written ---

"Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and Declared
By the said Richard Pray as his Last Will and Richard Pray  (seal)
Testament In the Presence of us the Subscribers -
Charles Harris George Westcot Wm Wilkinson.

"Charles Harris George Westcot and William Wilkinson all Personally appearing in Council Declared upon their Severall Engagements That they Saw the above Subscriber Richard Pray Sign Seal and Declare The above Written Instrument to be his Last Will and Testament and That he was then of a Sound and Perfect Mind and Memory and That They and Each of Them Did at the same Time Subscribe their Names thereunto as Witneses in the Presence of the said Testator and of Each Other --

"Whereupon it is Voted that the above Will be Accepted and allowed To be a Good and Lawfull Will and be Recorded -----
                                                           Test. Gideon Harris Council Clerk.

"And Ezekiel Hopkins Junr Personally appearing in Councl Accepted said Will and prayd That he might have Letters of Administration on the Personall Estate of the said Richard Pray agreeable to said Will Which is Granted in the Following Words ---

"These are in his majestyes Name George the Second King over Great Britain &c to Authorize order and Impower you the said Ezekiel Hopkins Junr to Take into your Possession Care and Custody all and Singular the Goods Chattles Rights and Creadits of the said Richard Pray Decesd and the same To Administer acording To Law and the Will of your Testator and in all Things To Act and Do as the Law Directeth and Impowerth as Executor Relating the Premises and True and Perfect acounts to Render to this Council or their Successors When you are Thereunto Lawfully Called how you have administered said Estate And For your so doing Shall be good Sufficient Authority --

"Given att a Town Council held in Scituate in the County of Providence &c on the Tenth Day of November in the 29th Year of his Majesties Reign George The Second King over Great Britain &c Annoqu Dom. 1755 ---

"Signed By order of said Town Council and Sealed With their Seal
Test. Gideon Harris Their Clerk."

"And the said Ezekiel Hopkins Junr Exhibited an Inventory of the Personall Estate of the said Richard Pray in the Following Words (Viz.) ---

"A True Inventory of all and Singular the Goods and Chattels and Credits of Richard Pray of Scituate In the County of Providence Who Departed this Life on the Tenth Day of July Annoque dom: 1755.--

"Apraised November the 8th AD 1755 By us Barnard Haile Reuben Hopkins

Imprimis His wareing apperil ...................................................  24:10:00
Item To one Bed and Furniture .................................................  18:00:00
Item To one warming ................................................................  06:00:00
Item to one Tramel Ax and fire Tongs 30/
and Fire Shovel 15/ all ............................................................... 04:05:00
Item to Two Iron Kettles one at 30/ the other @ 10/ all ............ 02:00:00
Item to one old Frying Pan 15/ two axes 45/ all ........................ 03:00:00
Item to one Pair of Bottle Rings and one Pair of Pinchons ....... 00:17:00
Item to Two Iron Pips ................................................................ 00:16:00
Item to old hoa?? a Gimblett and other old Iron  ...................... 00:12:00
Item to one Table 5Lb and one old Chest at 50/ In all .............. 07:10:00
Item to Two Old Chairs 12/ and Three Knot Dishes @ 15/ all  01:07:00
Item to Two Trays 30/ and one Wooden Bowl at 20/ all .......... 02:10:00
Item to one Looking Glass 20/ and one old Sive at 6/ all ......... 01:06:00
Item to one Puter Quart Pott ..................................................... 01:00:00
Item to one Quart Basen 16/ Two old Plats at 21/ all ................ 01:17:00
Item to one Large Puter Platter .................................................. 02:15:00
Item to old Puter ........................................................................ 01:02:00
Item to one old Bellmettle Skillit 24/ and Two Spoons 6/ all ... 01:10:00
Item to one Pitchfork 8/ Three old Barels and one half Barel .. 02:05:00
Item to one Pair of Spotilles ...................................................... 00:05:00
Item to money Due by Book ....................................................  02:15:00
Item to one Pick measure .......................................................... 00:10:00
................................................................................................---------------
.....................................................................................Total Lb  91:09:18
Barnard Haile
Reuben Hopkins

"Ezekiel Hopkins Junr Personally appearing in Council Declared upon Engagement That he had Put all the Personall Estate of the said Richard Pray Deceased into the within Inventory That has come to his Knowledge and That if any thing more thereof Doth hereafter appear or come to his hands he add the same to said Inventory ---

"And Personally appearing in Council Declared upon their Several Engagements That the within Inventory is a Just and True apprisal of all That Was Set Forth to them to be of the Personall Estate of the said Richard Pray Decesd---

"Whereupon it is Voted That the Within Inventory be Excepted and allowed to be A Good and Lawfull Inventory and Be Recorded --
                                                                      Test  Gid. Harris Council Clerk"

The burial place of Richard and Rachel Pray is not known, but was probably on or near their homestead in Scituate.
 
5)  SOURCES


1. John Osborne Austin, One Hundred and Sixty Allied Families of Rhode Island (Salem, Mass. : Rhode Island historical Society, 1893), Richard Pray sketch.

2. Abby Isabel (Brown) Bulkley and Henry Truman Beckwith, The Chad Browne memorial, consisting of genealogical memoirs of a portion of the descendants of Chad and Elizabeth Browne; with an appendix, containing sketches of other early Rhode Island settlers, 1638-1888 (Brooklyn, N.Y. : Brooklyn Eagle Book Printing Department, 1888), page 10, John Brown sketch.

3. "Probate Records, 1733-1917 (Lincoln, Rhode Island)," Family History Library (Salt Lake City, Utah), on 14 FHL US/CAN microfilm reels, Volumes 1-3 (1731-1799), Volume 1 (1733-1754), pages 1-5, John Pray estate records, on FHL Microfilm US/CAN 0.959,528.

4. "Probate and Civil Records, 1731-1886 (Scituate, Rhode Island)", Family History Library (Salt Lake City, Utah), on 14 FHL US/CAN microfilm reels, Volumes 1-3 (1731-1799), Volume 1, Pages 250-252, Richard Pray estate records, on FHL Microfilm US/CAN 0,941,155.

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NOTE:  In 2014, Amy Johnson Crow suggested a weekly blog theme of "52 Ancestors" in her blog post  52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks on the No Story Too Small blog.  I have extended this theme in 2018 to 260 Ancestors in 260 Weeks.

Copyright (c) 2018, Randall J. Seaver

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