James Ray, Sr., of Haddam

Biography

James Ray, Sr. was born in 1650 in "of," Haddam, Hartford County (later Middlesex County) Connecticut. He died on March 1, 1731 in Haddam, and was buried before March 24, 1731 in the Old Ponset Cemetery there.

His widow was Elizabeth (Boissière) Ray (maiden name unconfirmed; no marriage record located as yet.) She was not the Elizabeth Foster who married James Ray of Hingham in 1681.

James Ray had the following children born at Haddam:

1. James Ray, Jr.; born about 1676, died 12 September 1753.
2. Anna (Ray) Dunk; born about 1687. Married Thomas Dunk.
3. Peter Ray; born about 1688.
4. Joseph Ray born about 1696. Married Hannah (unknown) 2nd. Joseph's son Isaac Ray was named in James Ray's 1730/1 will as grandson.
5. Mary (Ray) Bump; born about 1707, died 8 February 1728. Married Samuel Bump. Her son Samuel Bumpus, Jr. was named in James Ray's 1730/1 as grandson.

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Will of James Ray (summary)

• Ray, James, Sen., Haddam.
• Died 1 March 1730-1.
• Invt. 355-02-10 pounds. Taken 24 March 1730-1, by Simon Smith, Thomas Shaylor and Joseph Arnold
• Will dated 14 January 1730-1.
• beloved wife Elizabeth
• Two sons, James Ray and Joseph Ray
• grandson Samuel Bump of Bolton (underage)
• grandson Isaac Ray [son of Joseph, b. Aug 11 1723]
• daughter Anna Dunk
• granddaughter Elizabeth Ray
• son Peter Ray one shilling in money and nothing more
• I make my son James Ray sole executor

Witness: Joseph Arnold, Nathaniel Tyler, Samuel Bates, Jr.

Court Record, Page 47-28 June 1731: Will proven, except the testator has not given the widow her dower. The executor declined the trust.

Source: Hinman's A catalogue of the names of the first Puritan settlers of the colony of Connecticut Page 226.

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References

1. Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jan 8 2025, 14:37:58 UTC
2. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LZDG-C32 cites
3. WikiTree contributors, "James Ray (1650-1731)," WikiTree: The Free Family Tree, (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ray-12427 : accessed 08 January 2025).
   1. "U.S., Find A Grave Index", [online database with images] 1600s-Current (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012), URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/160925048/james_ray
   2. "When he was 31, he married Hannah Unknown, on 17 Jan 1681 in New England, USA. [2]" "U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700".[online database] (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2012), Genealogical Publishing Co.; Baltimore, MD, US. Wrong James Ray: in the U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 < AncestrySharing > Name James Ray Gender Male Marriage Date 17 Jan 1681/2 Marriage Place New England, USA Spouse Elizabeth Ray. This is for James Ray of Hingham who married Elizabeth (Foster) Huett. A. [I don't find a Hannah listed. The references is to a Elizabeth Foster in Hingham.]
4. Connecticut: Early Probate Records, 1635-1730. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2006-2019), (A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records, by Charles W. Manwaring, R. S. Peck & Co. Printers, Hartford, CT, 1904.). < AmericanAncestors > (document attached) Name James, Sr. RAY Probate Record 1730 Location Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut, United States Original Text Original Volume 11 Original Page 127 Volume Name 3 Page 99.
5. Hinman, Royal Ralph. A catalogue of the names of the first Puritan settlers of the colony of Connecticut. Page 226. < Ancestry.com >
6. https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/60521/person/16873...