Fort McHenry and the Star Spangled BannerJohn Bray Genealogy
Pedigree Descendants Family Groups Biographies Maps Records Resources

WELCOME

To the Land of The Free and the Home of the Brays where the Brays are begotten but not forgotten. This site is dedicated to the ancestors and desendants of John Bray, Sr. In this family tree John Bray, Sr. is the trunk, his ancestors are the roots and his decendants are the branches. The decendants are down to John Bray, Sr.'s great-grandchildren. This will protect the privacy of living individuals and still allow family members who know who their parents or grandparents are to make the connection to the family tree (if there is one).

Throughout the website (a work in progress) The various generations are color-coded to help the viewer the indentify the individuals. The color-coding is in the following format:

  • All ancestors of John Bray, Sr. Navy Blue.
  • First Generation (John Bray, Sr.) Blue.
  • Second Generation (Children of John Bray Sr.) Purple.
  • Third Generation (Grandchildren of John Bray Sr.) Maroon.
  • Fourth Generation (Great-grandchildren of John Bray Sr.) Green.

Hear ye, Hear ye!
The Latest News from
the Land of the Free
and Home of the Brays

Town Crier
My parents have passed away. Mom, Bee on August 10, 2005 and Dad, Larry on February 9, 2006. Larry was born as Walter Laurence Bray May 6, 1924 in Olympia, Washington the son of Walter Oscar Bray and Pearlee Ida Gretrude Smith. I have created a blog "My Family Photo Album"http://myfamilyphotoalbum.blogspot.com
Also there is now two search engines. The first is a search engine for this web site. The second is for OVER ONE BILLION NAMES at Kindred Konnections. This should be a greater help in researching collateral lines and other Bray lines not covered here. Please e-mail me, Leslie Fairchild lfairchild@myway.com with any suggestions you may have to improve this web site so it can provide better serve to you.

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The site layout of "The Land of the Free and Home of the Brays." Near the top of each page is a blue navigation bar. Simply click on that section you wish to visit. The order of the listing is the same except that "Home" replaces whatever page that you are visiting. For example: if you are visiting "Records" the "Home" link will be on the navigation bar where the "Records" link would normally be. Below is a description of the various pages in this site. When you see something of interest just click on site page on the left or the correspoding link on the navigation bar.

Pedigrees
This page contains three 4 generation pedigree charts.
Chart # 1 starts from my grandfather and traces his lineage to John Bray, Sr.
Chart # 2 starts with John Bray Sr. and gives what little lineage we know.
Chart # 3 begins with Susannah Rebecca Kelley and gives her lineage.
Desendants
This is a desendancy chart which begins with John Bray Sr. and gives the names (only) of all his known children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and their spouses. This page also serves as an index and is a good page to browse through to see if you have a connection here. You then can go to the family group sheets for more informtion on your branch of the family tree.
Family Groups
This page follows the standard format for giving the names of a family's husband and wife and their children. This format also includes the date and place of birth, marriage, death, and burial (if known).
Biographies
This page serves to give life to the names, dates, and places of our forefathers. This converts genealogy into family history. I have precious little in this area (what I have is precious and it's little). Any additional biographical or autobiographical materials are welcomed. Remember that obituaries also are a very condensed form of a life story. The obituaries are in the records section.
Maps
This page contains several links to other websites that have maps of locales where and at about the time that the Brays lived in that area. By clicking on the link you will go directly to the map in question.
Records
This is the repository for the Bray Family Hall of Records. This contains transcriptions from original source documents. The records are for birth, family bibles, census, land, marriage, military, photographs, death and other. The transcription process take time. The good news is that I am continually adding to this area. The bad news is that not all the sections of this page are operational, yet (they are marked).
Resources
This page a number of internet links of interest to Bray genealogical researchers, tips on genealogical research, and a genealogical search engine.

Fort McHenry and the Star Spangled Banner The story behind "The Land of the Free and Home of the Brays." When I was in grade school my older brothers told me that the Bray family was so famous that they included us in the National Anthem. I asked for proof, of course. To which they replied, "We sing it all the time. Haven't ever paid attention to the words?" Then they began their duet, "Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the Brays?"

It wasn't until I was in the Boy Scouts that I read the actual text of, "The Star Spangled Banner." I read it eagerly with the anticipation of reading my own family's name. You can imagine my shock and surprise when I read the words, "The land of the free and the home of the brave." My initial reaction was quite understandable--It must be a misprint. But, alas, no. I wondered how could this be, when I realized I had been "had" by my older siblings. I have only recently discovered that my ancestor, John Bray, Sr. was a member of the Delaware Militia during the War of 1812 (which war produced our National Anthem). So now the, The Land of the Free and Home of the Brays" has come full circle with a new (and improved) meaning.

Please contact the webmaster, Leslie Fairchild lfairchild@myway.com with any information, corrections or questions

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This site was last updated: October 6, 2006

� 1998 lfairchild@myway.com

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Pedigree Descendants Family Groups Biographies Maps Records Resources
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