1. Benjamin RAY
1The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, International Genealogical Index (R), Copyright (c) 1980, 1997, data as of February 1997, Family History Library, 35 N. West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150, USA, www.familysearch.org.
2Carl Ray, Ray Family Card File, Obtained and copied 2001, B-5, 1972, Terry Ray library, 6521 Ocaso Dr., Castle Rock, CO 80108.
see Benjamin Ray per old tax records, census records, -CHR -MSR -Will.3Phil &Terry Ray Family Files, Pension Cert. # 4433, 1 Feb 1938, Phil and A.Terry (Petersen) Ray Family Archive, 6521 Ocaso Dr, Castle Rock, CO, 80108.
War Pension Document.4Internet, http://www.rootsweb.com/~varussel/other/ray.html, 2 Feb 1997.
"Benjamin Ray, the progenitor of the Ray family in Russell County, Virinia, was born in 1756, probably in Brunswick Co., Va. Benjamin was the son of Edy Ray, and the grandson of John Wray/Ray who d. in Brunswick Co., Va. abt. 1774.
In the spring of 1775, Benjamin enlisted as a private soldier in Capt. John Baptist Nash's company of the 6th North Carolina Regiment of the Line, which was commanded by Col. Thomas Clarke, for a period of 2 1/2 years. He joined the regiment at Wilmington, N. C. and shortly thereafter reenlisted for the duration of the war. He fought at the battles of Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth, and was later taken prisoner at the siege of Charleston, S. C., and was held as a prisoner of war for 14 months and somedays. He was discharged in 1783 in Stafford County, Va.
After the war, Benjamin married and lived in Surry Co. N. C. It is unknown who his first wife was, but to this union, was born his son, John Ray (1788-abt1865). About 1795, Benjamin moved his family to Russell Co., Va. where he lived for the remainder of his life. On May 5, 1818, he made application for, and was granted a pension for his service in the Revolutionary War. On January 31, 1830, he married his second wife, Nancy Sutherland, also known as Nancy Wilson.
Benjamin Ray died on January 28, 1841 and was buried in the Whitt Cemetery located near Big A Mtn. in Russell Co. His tombstone reads "BENJAMIN RAY, PVT 6 NC REGT, REV WAR, 1756-1841. "There are several of Benjamin's decendants also buried in the Whitt Cem.,including his grandson, James Ray (1820 - 18 Jun 1904), who along with his brothers John, Ira and Henry, also served their country as confederate soldiers in the War Between the States.
This information was submitted by Michael Dye."5The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, International Genealogical Index, Family History Library, 35 N. West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150, USA, www.familysearch.org.
"Benjamin Ray; Male; Birth: About 1756 , , North Carolina; Death: 28 JAN 1841 , Russell, Virginia; No source information is available."
Record submitted after 1991 by a member of the LDS Church.
Search performed using PAF Insight on 08 Jun 2005.6Internet, http://www.rootsweb.com/~varussel/cemeteries/whittcem.html.
James Ray 3rd Sgt, Co. G, 37th VA Inf. CSA 1820 - 1904 (s/o John Ray & Elizabeth Hess, grandson of Benjamin Ray) Benjamin Ray Pvt. 6 NC Regt. Rev. War 1756 - 1841."
"Whitt Cemetary Located on Rt. 647, which runs off Rt. 620, which runs off Rt. 80 between Honaker and Big A Mtn. Rt. 647 also runs off Rt. 646, which runs between Honaker & Finney (Coulwood). The newer section of the cemetery is well cared for, the older section could use some work. There are are some unmarked fieldstones and many missing stones in the older section.
Note: Items in the Notes section have been added by the compiler.
This file submitted by Michael A. Dye <mailto:m.a.d.man@worldnet.att.net> (e-mail invalid 10/2005)
Whitt Cemetary List.
1Carl Ray, Ray Family Card File, Obtained and copied 2001, B-5, 1972, Terry Ray library, 6521 Ocaso Dr., Castle Rock, CO 80108.
see Benjamin Ray per old tax records, census records, CHR, MSR, will.
2. daughter RAY
1Carl Ray, Ray Family Card File, Obtained and copied 2001, B-5, 1972, Terry Ray library, 6521 Ocaso Dr., Castle Rock, CO 80108.
see Benjamin Ray per old tax records, census records, CHR, MSR, will.
3. daughter RAY
1Carl Ray, Ray Family Card File, Obtained and copied 2001, B-5, 1972, Terry Ray library, 6521 Ocaso Dr., Castle Rock, CO 80108.
see Benjamin Ray per old tax records, census records, CHR, MSR, will.
6. Jesse RAY
1Carl Ray, Ray Family Card File, Obtained and copied 2001, B-5, 1972, Terry Ray library, 6521 Ocaso Dr., Castle Rock, CO 80108.
see Benjamin Ray per old tax records, census records, -CHR -MSR -Will.2e-Mail, From Carl Ray, 5 Sep 2005.
"Benjamin Ray moved his family to Russell Co Va 1795
Only KNOWN children of Benjamin Ray(All by his first wife):
unkn dau Ray born abt. 1784
unkn dau Ray born abt. 1786
John Ray born 1788
Sarah Ray born 1798 (They probably lost a few children born beween 1788 & 1798).
Samuel Ray born 1800
Iradell Ray born 1802
Lucinda "Lucy" Ray born 1804. She m. John Hess(It was another Lucy Ray(Benjamin's grand daughter) that had two Ray children before was she married (Or else she married a Ray).
Surrey Co NC should be Surry Co NC
Nancy (Sutherland) Wilson was a forty-nine year old widow with five children when she married Benjamin Ray. ALL Benjamin's children were by his first wife."3Carl Ray, Ray Family Card File, J-20, Jun 1994.
see Jesse Ray per CHR.
11. Dice RAY
1Carl Ray, Ray Family Card File, Obtained and copied 2001, D-13, Jun 1994, Terry Ray library, 6521 Ocaso Dr., Castle Rock, CO 80108.
see Dice Ray per CHR - 1811 Tax Dist, Russell Co, VA.2e-Mail, From Carl Ray, 5 Sep 2005.
"Benjamin Ray moved his family to Russell Co Va 1795
Only KNOWN children of Benjamin Ray(All by his first wife):
unkn dau Ray born abt. 1784
unkn dau Ray born abt. 1786
John Ray born 1788
Sarah Ray born 1798 (They probably lost a few children born beween 1788 & 1798).
Samuel Ray born 1800
Iradell Ray born 1802
Lucinda "Lucy" Ray born 1804. She m. John Hess(It was another Lucy Ray(Benjamin's grand daughter) that had two Ray children before was she married (Or else she married a Ray).
Surrey Co NC should be Surry Co NC
Nancy (Sutherland) Wilson was a forty-nine year old widow with five children when she married Benjamin Ray. ALL Benjamin's children were by his first wife."
12. Daniel RAY
1Carl Ray, Ray Family Card File, Obtained and copied 2001, D-1, Jun 1994, Terry Ray library, 6521 Ocaso Dr., Castle Rock, CO 80108.
see Daniel Ray per 1811, 1812 Russell Co Tax Lists.2e-Mail, From Carl Ray, 5 Sep 2005.
"Benjamin Ray moved his family to Russell Co Va 1795
Only KNOWN children of Benjamin Ray(All by his first wife):
unkn dau Ray born abt. 1784
unkn dau Ray born abt. 1786
John Ray born 1788
Sarah Ray born 1798 (They probably lost a few children born beween 1788 & 1798).
Samuel Ray born 1800
Iradell Ray born 1802
Lucinda "Lucy" Ray born 1804. She m. John Hess(It was another Lucy Ray(Benjamin's grand daughter) that had two Ray children before was she married (Or else she married a Ray).
Surrey Co NC should be Surry Co NC
Nancy (Sutherland) Wilson was a forty-nine year old widow with five children when she married Benjamin Ray. ALL Benjamin's children were by his first wife."
1Carl Ray, Ray Family Card File, Obtained and copied 2001, B-5, 1972, Terry Ray library, 6521 Ocaso Dr., Castle Rock, CO 80108.
see Benjamin Ray per old tax records, census records, CHR, MSR, will.2Phil &Terry Ray Family Files, Pension Doc # 4433, 1 Feb 1938, Phil and A.Terry (Petersen) Ray Family Archive, 6521 Ocaso Dr, Castle Rock, CO, 80108.
Revelutionary War Pension Doc.3Carl Ray, Ray Family Card File, B-5.
see Benjamin Ray.4Internet, http://www.rootsweb.com/~varussel/vitals/marclues.html.
The following marriages or marriage relation clues are drawn primarily from the Law Order Books (LOBS) of Russell Co. VA (RCV) and a few other sources, as indicated. I have used the excellent work of Ms. Mary D. Fugate, IMPLIED MARRIAGES OF RUSSELL COUNTY VIRGINIA to eliminate, insofar as I have observed, duplicates between this work and Ms. Fugate's publication. There are, however, instances in which partially duplicative information has been reiterated in cases where more or differing information exists.
"RAY (Wray?), Benjamin; m. Nancy WILSON in RCV about 1831 (RCV LOB 12:`134, 04 Jul 1848) ('...proven to satisfaction of the court on the oath of Nancy Rasnick that she was present at the time Benjamin Ray, late Rev. War pensioner married Nancy Wilson which she believes was about 17 years ago; Ray died in the month of Jan about 8 years ago previous to last Jan (i.e., about 1840)...Nancy, a widow...")."
SOME EARLY RUSSELL CO VA MARRIAGE CLUES
By Jack Hockett <mailto:tlas101@aol.com>
270 Iven Ave., 2-C.
St. David's PA 19087
The Marriage Register Number One of RCV has long since disappeared from the RCV courthouse. The tale generally put forth is that it was consumed in a fire during the Civil War; however, there are other researchers and historians who purport that it is possible that it may have been carried away and never returned.
The marriages or marriage clues listed below are generally from that period for which no marriage register exists or the few listed which occurred Nov 1853 or thereafter are not of record in RCV Marriage Register #2. The citations include the Law Order Book (LOB), number, page, and the date of the citation, or source other than the LOB> RCV DR/TC refers to the unpublished work of Mr. Thomas Colley, RUSSELL CO VA REGISTER OF DEATHS 1853-1866 (draft). Mr. Colley has kindly given permission for the citations from this soon-to-be-published work. RCV COB refers to Russell County Virginia Chancery Order Book. When neighboring Washington County VA is referenced, the abbreviation "WCV" has been employed. Standard a.=age; b.=born; d.=died; m.=married; s/o=son of; d/o=daughter of, etc. have been used in this work.
The reader is encouraged to investigate these marriage clues presented below on his/her own in order to make a personal judgment, necessary in the many cases where relationships are not entirely clear and expressly stated.
It is of great hope that readers will contribute to the author or to the Historical Society of Russell County Virginia, their own information concerning marriages of Russell County Virginia residents during the period 1786-1853 so that a more thorough Marriage REgister Number One can eventually be reconstructed.5Carl Ray, Ray Family Card File, b5.
(Benjamin Ray) indicates Nancy was 49 when they wed.