52 Ancestors - Week 462: #733 Sarah (Brown) Pray (1662-a1733) of Providence and Smithfield, Rhode Island

 Sarah Brown (a1662-a1733)  is #733 on my Ahnentafel List, my 7th great-grandmother, who married #732 John Pray (a1653-1733) in 1678 in Providence, Rhode Island.

I am descended through:

*  their son, #366 Richard Pray (1683-1755), who married Rachel --?-- (a1685-b1755) in 1723.

*  their daughter, #183 Sarah Pray (1734-1820), who married #182 Nathaniel Horton (1730-1819) in 1753.

*  their daughter,  #91 Phebe Horton (1772-a1820), who married #90 Simon Wade (1767-1857) in about 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) who 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:                          Sarah Brown[1–3]

*  Alternate Name:          Sarah Pray[4]

*  Sex:                             Female

*  Father:                        John Brown 1629-1706

*  Mother:                      Mary Holmes 1632-1690

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

*  Birth:                          about 1662, Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States[2]

*  Distribution:               5 February 1733/4 (about age 71), Smithfield, Providence, Rhode Island, United States[4]

*  Death:                         after 5 February 1733/4 (after about age 71), husband's will proved, Sarah named as widow; Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States[4]

3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Spouse 1:                   John Pray a1653-1733

*  Marriage 1:                14 November 1678 (about age 25), Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States[1-3]

*  Child 1:                     John Pray 1679-1751

*  Child 2:                     Sarah Pray 1679-1728

*  Child 3:                     Richard Pray 1683-1755

*  Child 4:                     Mary Pray 1685-1725

*  Child 5:                     Hugh Pray 1687-1761

*  Child 6:                     Penelope Pray 1688-1752

*  Child 7:                     Katherine Pray 1689-1728

*  Child 8:                     Martha Pray 1693-1784

4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):    

Sarah Brown was born in about 1662 in Providence, Rhode Island, the daughter of John and Mary (Holmes) Brown of Providence[1-2].

She married John Pray (a1653-1733) on 14 November 1678 in Providence, Rhode Island[1-3], the son of Richard and Mary (--?--) Pray of Providence. They had eight children, but none of them were recorded in Providence records:

*  John Pray (1679-1751), married 1713 Sarah Downing (1685-????)

*  Sarah Pray (1681-1728), married 1703 Joseph Brown (1678-1764).

*  Richard Pray (1683-1755), married 1723 Rachel --?-- (a1685-b1755).

*  Mary Pray (1685-1725), married 1705 Richard Brown (1676-1774).

*  Hugh Pray (1687-1761), married 1716 Abgail Blake (1698-1775).

*  Penelope Pray (1688-1752), married 1710 John Aldrich (1688-1750).

*  Katherine Pray (1689-1728), married 1706 Hazadiah Comstock (1682-1764).

*  Martha Pray (1693-1784), married 1713 Joseph Wilkinson (1683-1740). 

John Pray wrote a will on 19 April 1726, and died 9 October 1733, testate in Smithfield, Rhode Island at age 80. The will was proved 5 February 1733/4 in Smithfield Town Council records.  In his will he provided for his wife Sarah:

"Imprimus - I give and bequeath to sarah My Dearly Beloved wife the one half of my home stad Farm all my Cattle Dwelling house and House hold goods During her Lifetime to be ???? and Clearly Enjoynedly her During the term of her ???? provided she Remain my widow but In Case she marries again than my son Richard his heirs or assigns shall ??? furtherworth Enter unto the possession of said half of my home sted all my Cattle household Goods and ???

Sarah was named as John Pray's relict and widow: 

 "At a town Council in Smithfield February the 1 1733/4 John Prays will being laid before the Council and this Council having advised with Sarah Pray widow and Relick to John Pray and she desiring to have said will proved, Wherefore it is voted that the said John Prays will be accepted to be a perfect will and Testament and ordered to be Received."

It is not known when Sarah Pray died after 5 February 1733/4.  There is no known extant death or burial record for her.

5.  SOURCES

1. Harold Leonard Pray, The Pray Family of Braintree, Quincy and Weymouth, Massachusetts, Including Later Generations Through the United States, 1643-2006 (Santa Maria, Calif.: Harold Pray, 2006), page 11, John and Sarah (Brown) Pray family sketch.

2. William Bradford Browne, "Chad Browne of Providence, R.I. and Four Generations of His Descendants," in Genealogies of Rhode Island families, Volume I, Alden-Mowry (Baltimore, Md. : Genealogical Publishing Company, 1989), pages 64-94, page 67, John Brown family sketch, birth of Sarah Brown.

3. "New England Marriages to 1700," online database with digital images, AmericanAncestors.org (New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008, page 600, John Pray and Sarah Brown marriage entry, 14 November 1678.

4. "Probate Records, 1733-1917 (Lincoln, Rhode Island)," on 14 FHL US/CAN microfilm reels, FamilySearch Catalog, "Volume 1 (1733-1754)," pages 1-5, John Pray estate records, on FHL Microfilm US/CAN 0.959,528.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTE:  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 in 2014.  I have extended this theme in 2022 to 468 Ancestors in 468 Weeks.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2023/01/52-ancestors-week-462-733-sarah-brown.html

Copyright (c) 2023, 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, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com. 

Treasure Chest Thursday -- 1667 Death Record for Quinton Pray (1595-1667) in Braintree, Massachusetts Bay

 It's time to look in my digital image files to see what treasures I can find for my family history and genealogy musings for Treasure Chest Thursday.

The treasure today is the 1667 death record of  Quinton Pray in Braintree, Massachusetts Bay:

The death record is about 60% down the page:

The transcription of this death record is:

"Quinton Pray, dyed the 4th m'o. 17, 1667."

The source citation for this record is:

Samuel A. Bates (editor), Records of the Town of Braintree [Massachusetts], 1640 to 1793 (Randolph, Mass.: Daniel H. Huxford, Printer, 1886), page 639, Quinton Pray death entry, 17 June 1667.

This record is a Derivative Source, with Primary Information and Direct Evidence of the death of Quinton Pray.  The original record is probably in a Braintree town record book that is not extant.

Quinton Pray (1595-1667) married Joan Valliance (1599-1672) on 17 June 1621 in Mayfield, Sussex, England.  They had 10 children.

Quinton and Joan (Valliance) Pray are my 9th great-grandparents.  I am descended through their son Richard Pray (1629-1693) who married in about 1646 to Mary --?-- (a1629-1686).

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

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2023/01/treasure-chest-thursday-1667-death.html

Copyright (c) 2023, 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, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

52 Ancestors - Week 461: #732 John Pray (a1653-1733) of Providence and Smithfield, Rhode Island

John Pray (a1653-1733) is #732 on my Ahnentafel List, my 7th great-grandfather, who married #733  Sarah Brown (1662-a1733) in 1678 in Providence, Rhode Island.

I am descended through:

*  their son, #366 Richard Pray (1683-1755), who married Rachel --?-- (a1685-b1755) in 1723.

*  their daughter, #183 Sarah Pray (1734-1820), who married #182 Nathaniel Horton (1730-1819) in 1753.

*  their daughter,  #91 Phebe Horton (1772-a1820), who married #90 Simon Wade (1767-1857) in about 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) who 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:                      John Pray[1–5]

*  Sex:                          Male

*  Father:                     Richard Pray 1629-1693

*  Mother:                   Mary --?-- 1629-1686

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

*  Birth:                        about 1653, Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States[1,3]

*  Death:                       9 October 1733 (about age 80), Smithfield, Providence, Rhode Island, United States[1,3-5]

*  Probate:                    5 February 1733/4 (about age 80), will proved; Smithfield, Providence, Rhode Island, United States[1,3,5]

3)  SHARED EVENTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):

*  Spouse 1:                   Sarah Brown 1662-1733

*  Marriage 1:                14 November 1678 (about age 25), Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States[1–3]

*  Child 1:                     John Pray 1679-1751

*  Child 2:                     Sarah Pray 1679-1728

*  Child 3:                     Richard Pray 1683-1755

*  Child 4:                     Mary Pray 1685-1725

*  Child 5:                     Hugh Pray 1687-1761

*  Child 6:                     Penelope Pray 1688-1752

*  Child 7:                     Katherine Pray 1689-1728

*  Child 8:                     Martha Pray 1693-1784

4)  NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):    

John Pray was born in about 1653 in Providence, Rhode Island, the eldest child of Richard and Mary (--?--) Pray[1,3].

John Pray resided in Providence and Smithfield. He was one of those "who staid and went not away" during King Phillip's War[1]. 

He married Sarah Brown (1662-b1733) on 14 November 1678 in Providence, Rhode Island[1,3], the daughter of John and Mary (Holmes) Brown. They had eight children, but none of them were recorded in Providence town records:

*  John Pray (1679-1751), married 1713 Sarah Downing (1685-????)

*  Sarah Pray (1681-1728), married 1703 Joseph Brown (1678-1764).

*  Richard Pray (1683-1755), married 1723 Rachel --?-- (a1685-b1755).

*  Mary Pray (1685-1725), married 1705 Richard Brown (1676-1774).

*  Hugh Pray (1687-1761), married 1716 Abigail Blake (1698-1775).

*  Penelope Pray (1688-1752), married 1710 John Aldrich (1688-1750).

*  Katherine Pray (1689-1728), married 1706 Hazadiah Comstock (1682-1764).

*  Martha Pray (1693-1784), married 1713 Joseph Wilkinson (1683-1740). 

On 23 July 1717 he deeded his farm and homestead, which was probably in what is now Smithfield (formed in 1731 from Providence), half of it at signing and half at the decease of himself and wife, to his son Richard Pray[1].

John Pray died 9 October 1733, in Smithfield, Rhode Island, testate at age 80[1,3-5]. There is no apparent burial place or record.  He wrote his will on 29 April 1726, which was proved 5 February 1733/4 in Smithfield Town Council[5]. The will reads (a clerk's copy):

"In the name of God amen, the twenty ninth day of april annoque Domini one thousand Seven Hundred and twenty six I John Pray husbandman of the town of providence in the Colony of Rhod Island and providence platation In New England being an aged man and Growing weakly, but of a perfect mind and Memory thanks be Given unto God, therfore Calling unto mind the Mortality of my Body and Knowing it is appointed for all men once to Dye do make and ordain this my Last will and Testament, that is to say principally, and first of all I Recommand my soul unto the hands of god, that it and my Body I Recommand to the Earth to be ???? In Decent Christian Buriel att the Decreshion of my Executors and as touching such worldly Estate where it Hath pleased God to Bless me with in this Life I give Demise and Dispose of the same in the following Mannar and form.

"Imprimus - I give and bequeath to sarah My Dearly Beloved wife the one half of my home stad Farm all my Cattle Dwelling house and House hold goods During her Lifetime to be ???? and Clearly Enjoynedly her During the term of her ???? provided she Remain my widow but In Case she marries again than my son Richard his heirs or assigns shall ??? furtherworth Enter unto the possession of said half of my home sted all my Cattle household Goods and ???

"Item  I give and Bequeath to my beloved son John his heirs Executors admrs or assigns the sum of five Shillings Currant Money, of New England to be Raised and Reived of my Estate.

"Item  I give and Bequeath to my Beloved son Hugh his heirs Executors admrs assigns the sum of five shillings Currant Money of New England to be Raised and Reived out of my Estate.

"Item I give 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 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.

"Item to my well belovd Daughter Mary Brown I give and bequeath the sum of five shillings Curant Money of New England to be Raised and Reived out of My Estate.

"Item I give and bequeath to my belovd Daugr Cathrin Comstock the sum of five shilling Currant Money of New England to be Raised and Raired out of my Estate

"Item I give and bequeath to my belovd Daughter Sarah Brown five shillings Currant Money New England to be Raised and Raired out of my Estate.

"Item I give and bequeath to my belovd Daught Penalopy Alderich the sum of five shilling Currant Money of New England to be Raised and Raired out of my Estate.

"Item I give and bequeath to my belovd Daughter Martha Willkinson the sum of five shillings Currant Money New England to be Rased and Leved out of my Estate.

"Item I Constitute appoint and ordain my sd son Richd sole Executor of this my Last will and Testament and I do, utterly Dissalow Revoke and Disannul all and Every other formar testaments wills Legaces and bequeaths and Executors by me in any wise before named wills ???? bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my Last will and Testament In wittness and Confirmation whereof I the sd John pray have hereunto sett my hand and seal the day and Year above written.

"Signed Sealed published                                the mark of John X Pray

Pronounced and Declared by

the said John Pray as his Last

will and Testament In the prence

of the subscribers

William Hopkins Carpr

Jeremiah Hopkins

Robert Douglass"

"At a town Council in Smithfield february the 1 1733/4 John Prays will being laid before the Council and this Council having advised with Sarah Pray widow and Relick to John Pray and she desiring to have said will proved, Wherefore it is voted that the said John Prays will be accepted to be a perfect will and Testament and ordered to be Received.

"Recorded March the 22 A.D. 1733/4 by me Daniel Jenkes Town Clerk."

"A true Inventory of all and Singular the Goods and Chattels & ???? of John Pray of Smithfield yeoman pres. att Smithfield the 29 Day of octo^r Anno Domini 1733 who Departed this Life octob^r the 9th Anno Domini 1733.

The inventory was taken by Edward Smith, Job Whipple and Daniel Jenkes on 29 October 1733 in Smithfield.  It totaled 61 pounds in personal estate.

"Where as John Pray of Smithfield in the County of Providence and Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in New England yeoman who departed this Life October the 9th A.D. 1733 who did in and by his last will and Testament Constitute and appoint his son Richard Pray his sole Executor to his said will and also ordered his said son Richard Pray to pay Sundrey Legacies and the said will being Laid before the Town Council of Smithfield which will was by said Town Council approved to be a perfect will and the said Richard Pray was by said council ordered Executor to said will according to the Contents thereof.

"These are therefore to order and full Impower you the said Richard Pray to take into your possession Care and Custody all and Singular the movable Estate Goods and Chattel that belonged to your father the as named John Pray at the time of his death and the debts due to said Estate and on the same full to administer in order to discharge his debts and for the maintenance of your mother and paying Legacies an to ??? and Doe all things Relating the Demises as the Law Impowereth an Executor to doe and Render an account of your Proceedings herein unto the said Town Council or to their Sucessors in said office when Legally Called thereunto.  Given att a Town Council held at Smithfield above said the first day of february A.D. 1733/4 and in the seventh year of his majesties Reign George the Second by the Grace of God King of Grate Brittain.

{seal}  Signed and sealed by order of the Council and on their behalf per me Danl Jenkes Clerk of the Council. Recorded per me Daniel Jenkes Clerk of the Council."

John Pray bequeathed all of his farm and homestead to his second son, Richard Pray.  It is likely that the other children of John Pray received their portion of the estate before he died, perhaps in land or money.. 

5.  SOURCES

1. Harold Leonard Pray, The Pray Family of Braintree, Quincy and Weymouth, Massachusetts, Including Later Generations Through the United States, 1643-2006 (Santa Maria, Calif.: Harold Pray, 2006), page 11, John and Sarah (Brown) Pray family sketch.

2. "New England Marriages to 1700," online database with digital images, AmericanAncestors.org (New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008), page 600, John Pray and Sarah Brown marriage entry, 14 November 1678.

3. William Bradford Browne, "Chad Browne of Providence, R.I. and Four Generations of His Descendants," in Genealogies of Rhode Island families, Volume I, Alden-Mowry (Baltimore, Md. : Genealogical Publishing Company, 1989), pages 64-94, page 65, marriage of Sarah Brown and John Pray.

4. James N. Arnold, Vital Record of Rhode Island, 1636-1850, First Series, Births, Marriages and Deaths : a Family Register for the People (Providence, R.I.: Narragansett Historical Publishing Co., 1891-1912), Volume 03: Providence County, Births, Marriages, Deaths, Smithfield Births and Deaths, page 111, John Pray death entry, 9 October 1733.

5. "Probate Records, 1733-1917 (Lincoln, Rhode Island)," on 14 FHL US/CAN microfilm reels, Volume 1 (1733-1754), pages 1-5, John Pray estate records, on FHL Microfilm US/CAN 0.959,528.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTE:  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 in 2014.  I have extended this theme in 2022 to 468 Ancestors in 468 Weeks.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2022/12/52-ancestors-week-461-732-john-pray.html

Copyright (c) 2022, 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, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com. 

Treasure Chest Thursday -- 1678 Marriage of John Pray and Sarah Brown in Providence, Rhode Island

 It's time to look in my digital image files to see what treasures I can find for my family history and genealogy musings for Treasure Chest Thursday.

The treasure today is the 1678 marriage record of  John Pray and Sarah Brown in Providence, Rhode Island:

The marriage record is the 4th record of the Pray listing:

The transcription of this marriage record is:

"PRAY, John (-1730, 1733) & Sarah Brown (-1733+); 14 Nov 1678; Providence/Smithfield"

The source citation for this record is:

 "New England Marriages Prior to 1700," online database with digital images, AmericanAncestors.org (New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008, page 600, John Pray and Sarah Brown marriage entry, 14 November 1678.

This record is a Derivative Source, with Primary Information and Direct Evidence of the marriage of John Pray and Sarah Brown.  The original record is probably in a Providence town record book that is not extant.

John Pray (1653-1733) was the son of Richard and Mary (--?--) Pray of Providence, Rhode Island.  He married Sarah Brown (1662-b1733), daughter of John and Mary (Holmes) Brown of Providence, on 14 November 1678 in Providence, Rhode Island. 

John and Sarah (Brown) Pray are my 7th great-grandparents.  I am descended through their son Richard Pray (1683-1755) who married in about 1723 to Rachel --?-- (a1685-b1755).

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

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2022/12/treasure-chest-thursday-1678-marriage.html

Copyright (c) 2022, 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, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

52 Ancestors - Week 242: #367 Rachel (--?--) Pray (1685-1755) of Providence County, Rhode Island

Rachel (--?--) Pray (about 1685 - before 1755) is #367 on my Ahnentafel List, my 6th great-grandmother, who married #366  Richard Pray (1683-1755) 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:                  Rachel --?-- [1]

*  Alternate Name:  Rachel Pray [2]    

*  Sex:                     Female  

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

*  Birth:                  about 1685, Rhode Island, United States    

*  Misc.:                18 April 1741 (about age 56), admitted to town of Scituate from Smithfield;                                          Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island, United States[2]    

*  Death:               before March 1755 (before about age 70), not mentioned in husband's will;                                           Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island, United States[3]  

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[1,4]    

*  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):   

The birth date, birth place, and parentage of Rachel (--?--) Pray are not known.  She was probably

born about 1685 in Rhode Island.

Rachel married Richard Pray of Providence in about 1723, probably in Providence[1,4].  They had

three known children, but no birth records are available for them (dates are estimated based on

children marriage dates and spouse's birth dates):

*  Rachel Pray, born in about 1725 in Providence, married William Hines (1715-????) in about 1750.

*  Mary Pray, born in about 1728 in Providence, died about 1800 in Providence, married 21

September 1748 in Providence to Ezekiel Hopkins (1727-1762).

*  Sarah Pray, born in about 1734 in Providence, died after 20 September 1820 in Foster, R.I.,

married about 1753 in Scituate, R.I. to Nathaniel Horton (1730-1819).

The children of Richard and Rachel (--?--) Pray are listed in the book Genealogical Dictionary of

Rhode Island by John Osborne Austin and George Andrews Moriarty[1].

The Richard Pray family resided in what is now Smithfield, Rhode Island.

Rachel Pray and her children were admitted to the town of Scituate, Rhode Island on 18 April 1741. 

The town council record reads[2]:

"Att a Town Council held in Scituate in the County of Providence holden the 18th day of April Anno

Domi 1741 Present

Jedidiah Harris / Samuel Cooper

Jeremiah Angell / Henry Whitmore

Thomas Realph / Benjamin Comeau (?)

"Where as Rachel Pray and her Children are Lately Removed unto this Town and have procured a

Certificate from the Town Council of Smithfield from whence they Removed in the following words

---

"Att a Town Council held in in Smithfield September the 19th 1740 - Where as Rachel Pray, the

wife of Richard Pray of Smithfield, Informed the Council that She hath a mind to Remove her Self

and Children into the town of Situate Wherefore it is voted by this Present Council that of the sd

Rachel Pray Should Remove her self and Children into the Town of Situate and Should become

Chargable to sd Town of Situate: that this Town will Receive them again as Inhabitants of this

town again.

"A true Copy as appears of    ]               Daniel Jenckes Council clerk

Record Examined                 ]

"Whereupon it is Voted that the sd Rachel Pray and her Children be admited to dwell in this Town

untill further orders from this Council."

It is not known if Richard Pray accompanied his wife and children from Smithfield to Scituate at the

time of the admission to Scituate.  Perhaps they separated for a period of time. However, he was

"of Scituate" when he wrote his will on 15 March 1755[3].  

The date and place of Rachel (--?--) Pray's death and burial are not known.  Evidently, it is after she

moved with her children to Scituate in 1741 and before Richard Pray wrote his will, since she is not

mentioned in his will[3].

 

5)  SOURCES

1. John Osborne Austin; George Andrews Moriarty, The Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island; comprising three generations of settlers who came before 1690, with many families carried to the fourth generation (Baltimore, Md. : Genealogical Pub. Co., 1969), unmarked page, Richard Pray sketch.

2. "Probate and Civil Records, 1731-1886 (Scituate, Rhode Island)," on 6 FHL US/CAN microfilm reels, citing manuscript records at town hall, Scituate, Rhode Island, Volumes 1-3 (1731-1799), Volume 1, Page 71, Rachel Pray admission to town, accessed on FHL Microfilm US/CAN 0,941,155.

3. "Probate and Civil Records, 1731-1886 (Scituate, Rhode Island)", Volumes 1-3 (1731-1799), Volume 1, Pages 250-252, Richard Pray estate papers, on FHL Microfilm US/CAN 0,941,155.

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2018/09/52-ancestors-week-242-367-rachel-pray.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.

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

Richard Pray (1683-1755) is #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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2018/08/52-ancestors-week-241-366-richard-pray.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.