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Hi everybody I have hit a big brick wall. I am looking for any info on the surname Ray. My GGG grandmother’s maiden name was Ray and we believe that she is from Clarksville VA or possible Orange County NC. Our first census record on her is 1860 (age 16) and it show her living with a Allen and Elizabeth Collins. It lists her parents as unknown. If it helps any her picture is my avatar. Any help would definately make my year (not day). Also on her marriage certficate it lists parents as unknown. Please help…..
“Ray” Land Grants in Orange co, NC
Grants from 1755 to 1849 issued to Hugh, James, John, Mathew, William and Robert Ray. James was earliest arrival with 1755 Grant.
We believe that she was from Clarksville because of oral history. She would walk to Clarksville VA from Orange County. She even had serveral of her youngest children in Clarksville VA. We know she lived in Orange County because she is listed in the 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1900 census living in Orange County. I still have relatives living there today in both areas. We are having problem finding her parents information. My cousin found her marriage certificate but it says parents unknown.
I don’t know if it’s your Ray family, but there was a Thomas Ray who died before 1759, and seems to have had a creek named for him, living in what I think was an enclave including several Saponi descended families on the upper Tar River, in the SW corner of present Franklin Co. NC. Here’s a map link that shows where they were:
https://saponitown.com/forums/wp-content/uploads/vb/images/pappy-dick-map.jpg
I had mentioned this enclave, and posted the same map link, in post #13 on the following thread:
http://www.saponitown.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1093
Thomas Ray and Ray’s Creek are mentioned in a later post (#15 on that same thread), under the date 19 Feb. 1766.
I realize this isn’t Orange Co. NC or Clarksville VA, but it’s a Ray in the right community a hundred years earlier than your ggg-grandmother. FWIW, as they say.
Further to PappyDick’s comments: Collins is a common name in Franklin County NC, and my Collinses (non-indian but with lots of intermarriages) come from there. Years later in the Ozarks my Collinses are intermarried with Rays, though that probably isn’t relevant here.
Where were they in the 1860 census? Orange County? It’s not clear from your original post.
Michael Dunn
I don’t know if it’s your Ray family, but there was a Thomas Ray who died before 1759, and seems to have had a creek named for him, living in what I think was an enclave including several Saponi descended families on the upper Tar River, in the SW corner of present Franklin Co. NC. Here’s a map link that shows where they were:
Why do you think there was a Saponi enclave there?
Very interesting to see the Hudson name there. One branch in our family that I know were Indian were the Hudsons. I pick them up around Fredericksburg, MD, not too far from the Blackfoot Town we’ve written about, and the uprising the Tutelo were a part of. Distant cousins also report the Indian stories in the family, and I can see epicanthic folds in family photos.
Is Osborn Jeffreys an ancestor of yours? What do you know about him?
DHarden, that’s quite interesting that your family would have been travelling between those two places. The Occaneechi Band of the Saponi, who received state recognition a few years back, claim origins in Clarksville dating back to the time of their massacre there in 1676 in Bacon’s Rebellion. There’s mention by Lawson, I believe it was, of them being in the Hillsborough/Orange County area around 1711 I believe, if memory serves. They may find your story of interest. One member of the OBSN interprets the history record to say that the Occaneechi were in the habit of living between those two places.
Where do you live now? I’d be interested to know who lives in Clarksville now with that descent. I live there.
Hi Linda, I live in Hampton Virginia. I came here (Hampton) after serving my country in The Air Force. Please send me a private message or an e-mail so that I can explain whats the deal about sharing the story of my GGG Grandmother Sallie’s travels. It’s interesting but sad and I am not sure if I can share it on the message board seeing that it may hurt a few peoples feelings that aren’t a part of this message board. I would love to share it with you though. I will call my cousin tonight see who still lives in the Clarksville region. We have had family reunions that alternate between Virginia and North Carolina every year since 1938. Linda don’t forget to write me.
Oh sorry yes she is on the 1860 census of Orange County NC living with Allen and I believe Elizabeth Collins. Also living there were an older couple last named Whitakers living with them also. She can be found on several census even after she was married to grandpa Frank Harris. Her race changes as the years progress from Mulatto to Black. On one census they mispell Frank and they spell it Trak.
I came across these links searching the Ray surname…don’t know if they will be any help??
Shirley
http://sharpwriters.com/genealogy/ray.html
http://www.obcgs.com/ray-clan.htm
http://www.cousinconnect.com/p/a/0/s/RAY
http://www.rayfamily.info/wc_idx/idx001.htm#Ray
http://www.rayfamilyreunion.net/family-history.html
Thanks for everybody’s help… I am still stuck. It kinds sucks that on her marriage certificate it says parents unknown
Linda wrote: Why do you think there was a Saponi enclave there?
Very interesting to see the Hudson name there. One branch in our family that I know were Indian were the Hudsons. I pick them up around Fredericksburg, MD, not too far from the Blackfoot Town we’ve written about, and the uprising the Tutelo were a part of. Distant cousins also report the Indian stories in the family, and I can see epicanthic folds in family photos.
Is Osborn Jeffreys an ancestor of yours? What do you know about him?
DHarden, that’s quite interesting that your family would have been travelling between those two places. The Occaneechi Band of the Saponi, who received state recognition a few years back, claim origins in Clarksville dating back to the time of their massacre there in 1676 in Bacon’s Rebellion. There’s mention by Lawson, I believe it was, of them being in the Hillsborough/Orange County area around 1711 I believe, if memory serves. They may find your story of interest. One member of the OBSN interprets the history record to say that the Occaneechi were in the habit of living between those two places.
Where do you live now? I’d be interested to know who lives in Clarksville now with that descent. I live there.
I am not really sure they are that interested. To put it nicely I had a relative reach out to them and she wasn’t treated exactly with opened arms.. Sad but true..
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