Descendants of John Ray
Generation No. 1
1. JOHN1 RAY
Children of JOHN RAY are:
2. i. WILLIAM2 RAY, b. Lancashire, England; d. January 7, 1736/37, Prince Georges County, MD.
ii. ALEXANDER RAY.
iii. JOHN RAY, d. 1718.
Generation No. 2
2. WILLIAM2 RAY (JOHN1) was born in Lancashire, England, and died January 7, 1736/37 in Prince Georges County, MD. He married ANNE.
Children of WILLIAM RAY and ANNE are:
3. i. WILLIAM3 RAY, b. 1685, Lancashire, England; d. 1760, Frederick County, MD.
ii. JOHN RAY, d. 1718; m. MARY.
iii. JOSEPH RAY.
iv. ELIZABETH RAY, m. UNKNOWN BOYD.
v. JANE RAY, m. UNKNOWN WARD.
vi. FRANCES RAY, m. UNKNOWN WHITNER.
vii. MARY RAY, m. UNKNOWN SWEARINGTON.
viii. MAGDALENE RAY, m. UNKNOWN LOCKER.
ix. ANN RAY, m. UNKNOWN NORRIS.
Generation No. 3
3. WILLIAM3 RAY (WILLIAM2, JOHN1) was born 1685 in Lancashire, England, and died 1760 in Frederick County, MD. He married (1) MARY. He married (2) ELIZABETH PRITCHETT 1704.
More About WILLIAM RAY and ELIZABETH PRITCHETT:
Marriage: 1704
Children of WILLIAM RAY and ELIZABETH PRITCHETT are:
4. i. JOHN4 RAY, b. 1707, Prince George County, Maryland; d. 1780, Prince George County, Maryland.
ii. WILLIAM RAY.
iii. THOMAS RAY.
iv. MARGARET RAY, m. WILLIAM PRITCHETT.
v. ELIZABETH RAY, m. JOHN PRITCHETT.
vi. ELEANOR RAY, m. JOSHUA BUSSEY.
vii. REBECCA RAYANNE RAY.
viii. RUTH RAY.
ix. MARY RAY.
Generation No. 4
4. JOHN4 RAY (WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) was born 1707 in Prince George County, Maryland, and died 1780 in Prince George County, Maryland. He married SARAH WILSON 1731, daughter of LAUNCELOT WILSON. She was born 1714, and died 1800.
Notes for JOHN RAY:
John Ray's will was probated in Prince George County during the Revolutionary war, he having been married as will appear, about 1730.
Will Book T. No. I, page III, Prince George Co., Md. (Marlborough():
"In the name of God, Amen, I, John Ray, of Prince George County in the Province of Maryland, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, viz.
"Imprimis- I give and bequeath unto my wife Sarah Ray, one-third part of my Estate, Real and Personal. Also I give and bequeath unto my son, John Ray, one shilling sterling, to be paid by my Executor hereafter named. Unto my daughter, Elizabeth Harbin, I give and bequeath one shilling sterling, to be paid as aforesaid. Unto my daughter, Sarah Callan, I give and bequeath one shilling sterling, to be paid as aforesaid. Unto my son, Benjamin Ray, I give and bequeath five pounds sterling in consideration of his trouble and expense in the selling of the Lands in Virginia. Unto my son, William Ray, I give and bequeath one shilling sterling, to be paid as aforesaid. Unto my daughter, Lucinda Riddle, I give and bequeath one shilling sterling to be paid as aforesaid. Unto my son, Samuel Ray, I give and bequeath the sum of Ten pounds sterling, to be paid unto him when the Land is sold, Also I give unto my said son Samuel one Cow and Calf. Also I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Ann Ray, the sum of Ten pounds currency, togther with one Cow and Calf. The remainder of my Estate, both Real and Personal, I give and bequeath unto my Sons, Samuel and Josiah Ray, and I will that all my Lands be sold to pay my just Debts and Legacies. I will that my son, James Ray be my Executor of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and disannulling all Wills, bequests and Legacies by me made or given before the date hereof, affirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and Seal this ninth day of August in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundrd and seventy three.
(Signed)
John Ray, (Seal)
Wit-
Jasr Mandarel,
Hugh Daly,
Zachariah White.
"Proved by the oaths of above witnesses at a Court hed for Prince George County, April 19, 1799.
S. Tyler
Register of Wills,
P.G.Co., Md."
John Ray's parentage is revealed in the following deed of gift, his father having been William Ray.
Deed Book T, page 449, Prince George Co., Md. (Marlborough):
"To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come, Greeting. Know ye that for and consideration of the love and affection I bear unto my son, John Ray, of Prince George County, planter, I give and grant unto him all that tract or parcel of land called "Turkey Thickett", the said tract laid out for 100 acres, and now called "John and Mary". To Have and to Hold, etc.. In witness I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 23rd day of March, 1736/7.
(Signed)
William Ray
Marriage Notes for JOHN RAY and SARAH WILSON:
The births of the children of John Ray and Sarah Wilson are recorded in Prince George Parish, Rock Creek Congregation, which until 1748 laid in Prince George County, and from 1748 to 1776 in Montgomery County, with a part taking in what is now Rock Creek Park.
More About JOHN RAY and SARAH WILSON:
Marriage: 1731
Children of JOHN RAY and SARAH WILSON are:
i. JOHN5 RAY, b. June 24, 1732; d. September 12, 1811; m. MARTHA WOOD, 1757.
More About JOHN RAY and MARTHA WOOD:
Marriage: 1757
ii. ELIZABETH RAY, b. January 20, 1733/34; m. UNKNOWN HARBIN.
iii. SARAH RAY, b. October 7, 1735; m. UNKNOWN CALLAN.
iv. MARY RAY, b. November 20, 1737.
v. BENJAMIN RAY, b. November 7, 1739.
vi. WILLIAM RAY, b. September 19, 1741.
Notes for WILLIAM RAY:
William Ray never married and as such had no heirs. He had inherited from his father John a large tract of land known as "Conjunction". He made a gift of this to his brother Josiah.
The following deed of gift was recorded October 9, 1798:
Deed Book H, pages 288-289, Rockville, MD:
"For the love and affection I bear unto my brother, Josiah Ray, of Prince George County, planter, I, William Ray of Montgomery County, planter, give and grant unto my said brother, Josiah Ray, all that tract of land situate in Montgomery County called "Conjunction." In witness I have herunder set my hand and seal day and year abobve written.
(Signed)
William Ray,
son of John"
On the same date as above the following indenture was recorded in Montgomery County, in which William Ray conveys to his brother Josiah all his household goods, slaves, etc.
Deed Book H, page 293, Rockville, MD:
"In consideration of the love and affection I bear for my brother Josiah Ray, I, William Ray, son of John, planter of Montgomery County, convey unto my said brother Josiah Ray, planter, of Prince George County, negro slaves Hannible, John, Joe, Dinah, Sophia, Jane and Suck, with all my household furniture and plantation utensils, farm stock, etc. To Have and to Hold, unto him, the said Josiah Ray, forever, this 9th day of October, 1798.
(Signed)
William Ray,
son of John"
vii. PHILLIS RAY, b. August 8, 1743.
viii. JAMES RAY, b. June 12, 1745.
Notes for JAMES RAY:
James never married and had no heirs. He had inherited from his father a tract of land known as "John and Mary". This tract of land was intended for his nieces Mary and Sarah and nephew Josiah, children of his brother Josiah and wife Sarah Tyler.
ix. LUCINDA RAY, b. June 28, 1747; m. UNKNOWN RIDDLE.
x. ANN RAY, b. May 5, 1749.
xi. SAMUEL RAY, b. May 5, 1753.
5. xii. JOSIAH RAY, b. January 5, 1757, Maryland.
Generation No. 5
5. JOSIAH5 RAY (JOHN4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) was born January 5, 1757 in Maryland. He married SARAH TYLER.
Notes for JOSIAH RAY:
Josiah Ray seems to have awaited rather late in life to marry. In the Prince George Parish Register of Montgomery Co., is found the birth dates of his three children by his wife Sarah. He does not appear as head of family in the U.S. Maryland Census for 1790, as only married males were included in that enumeration. He did, however, upon coming of age, took the Oath of Fidelity in Prince George County, 1778, he having arrived apparently at age 21.
Josiah is not found in the list of Maryland Revolutionary soldiers, though he was at the age of enlistment.
Children of JOSIAH RAY and SARAH TYLER are:
i. JOSIAH6 RAY, b. April 20, 1806; m. ELINOR.
6. ii. MARY RAY, b. May 26, 1808; d. January 29, 1881, Alexandria, VA.
iii. SARAH RAY, b. June 22, 1812; m. GUSTAVUS A. MCCLELLAN.
Generation No. 6
6. MARY6 RAY (JOSIAH5, JOHN4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) was born May 26, 1808, and died January 29, 1881 in Alexandria, VA. She married HORATIO NELSON STEELE May 5, 1827 in Alexandria, VA, son of THOMAS STEEL and MARY BATES. He was born January 14, 1806, and died December 3, 1862 in Alexandria, VA.
Notes for MARY RAY:
Mary Ray Steele at one time owned a tract of land now included in Rock Creek Park, Washington D.C. This land was sold to Caleb Perkins with the deed recorded February 5, 1831 for $2,000. It is in following the deeding of this land that we have definitive proof that Josiah Ray was the father of Mary Ray, wife of Horatio N. Steele.
Notes for HORATIO NELSON STEELE:
Was Past Master Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22. Served as Worshipful Master from Dec. 27, 1844 to Dec. 27, 1847. He then served as District Deputy Grand Master in 1848
More About HORATIO NELSON STEELE:
Burial: Trinity United Methodist Church Cemetery
More About HORATIO STEELE and MARY RAY:
Marriage: May 5, 1827, Alexandria, VA
Children of MARY RAY and HORATIO STEELE are:
i. SARAH CATHERINE7 STEELE, b. April 10, 1828, Alexandria, VA; d. September 22, 1890, Alexandria, VA; m. GEORGE DUFFEY, July 1, 1845, Alexandria, VA; b. April 6, 1820, Alexandria, VA; d. July 10, 1896, Alexandria, VA.
More About SARAH CATHERINE STEELE:
Burial: Methodist Protestant Cemetery
Cause of Death: consumption
Notes for GEORGE DUFFEY:
The second George Duffey advertised as a watchmaker in Alexandria and was appointed Commissioner of Revenue for the city.
In 1850 George Duffey was the captain of the Mechanical Artillery, a volunteer militia unit. The Mechanical Artillery along with the Alexandria Rifleman and the Mount Vernon Guards were loosely organized as the 175th Regiment. In 1857 Captain Duffey was elected as major. Major Duffey gathered members of his unit, now known as the Alexandria Artillery, and was in attendance guarding the jail with two of their guns when John Brown was hanged after his uprising at Harper's Ferry.
As war broke out across the land he entered the Confederate army and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
During the war he succeeded in keeping the town records of Alexandria intact, including the surveyor's map of the town made by George Washington when he laid it out in 1748 by burying them on the grounds of Wise's Tavern.
Undoubtedly what George Duffey is most noted for is the pair of spurs he made from silver for General Robert E. Lee. The day after the 2nd Battle of Manassas, Lee's prized horse, Traveller was startled by a volley and threw him. Lee broke some of the bones in his right hand disabling him to such an extent that he was compelled to ride in an ambulance for the bulk of the Maryland campaign. When the army returned to Virginia Lee sent for Major George Duffey and asked for a loan of a pair of spurs as he had lost his own. Major Duffey Lent him some and told him he would have a pair made for him. George gathered the material he could find in garrison and fashioned a pair of spurs from silver for General Lee. When the spurs were presented to the general several English gentlemen, visitors to the Army of Northern Virginia were in attendance and seemed very deeply interested in the unique beauty of the gift. When asked if they had been imported General Lee responded, "Ah! gentlemen, you think we are poor rebels and barbarians. You make a mistake. They were not only made in the Confederacy, but here on this field, with the rough tools we use in repairing artillery and small arms."
The spurs have been described as made of pure silver, broad, flat, and sloping to the center. The heels formed to represent the head and neck of a swan, evidenced artistic workmanship and skill in design. They were arranged for the use of either of four sets of rowels, the teeth of which ranged respectively, five, eight, sixteen, and thirty-two--each set being of different colored metal: gold, straw, pale blue, and dark blue. By means of a small screw the general was enabled to use either set at pleasure, without inconvenience of any sort. The straps were of the finest buff leather procurable, with mountings and buckles of solid silver. A neat mahogany box, tastefully lined with fine blue velvet, containing a small screw-driver, manufactured for it, completed this outfit.
The spurs belong to and can be seen at Lee Chapel at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. They were worn by General Robert E. Lee at the surrender at Appamatox.
After the war years, George Duffey was again elected Commissioner of Revenue for the city of Alexandria.
More About GEORGE DUFFEY:
Baptism: July 27, 1828, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Alexandria
Burial: Methodist Protestant Cemetery
Cause of Death: Senile Debility
Military service: Capt., Alexandria Artillery, John Brown's Raid Oct. 1859, Major, Lt. Col., Art'y, Ordnance Dept., 1861, C.S.A.; surrendered at Appomattox.
Occupation: Silversmith/Watchmaker
More About GEORGE DUFFEY and SARAH STEELE:
Marriage: July 1, 1845, Alexandria, VA
ii. JULIA ANN AMELINE STEELE, b. November 20, 1829.
iii. MARY ELIZABETH STEELE, b. November 9, 1834.
iv. JOSIAH THOMAS STEELE, b. May 9, 1837.
v. JOHN MOFFETT STEELE, b. January 12, 1839.
Notes for JOHN MOFFETT STEELE:
Lived at 904 Eigth Street, S.E. in Washington, D.C. when he was 80 years old according to a newspaper picture titled "Who is the Oldest Work for Uncle Sam - No. 16". The article was dated Wednesday, February 12, 1919.
More About JOHN MOFFETT STEELE:
Occupation: Washington Navy Yard
vi. HORATIO NELSON STEELE, b. 1840.
vii. ANN ELIZABETH STEELE, b. February 9, 1843; m. DENNIS DEAKINS, 1864.
More About DENNIS DEAKINS and ANN STEELE:
Marriage: 1864
viii. MARY CLINTON STEELE, b. January 3, 1845; m. JOSEPH WILLIAM PALMER, December 10, 1867; b. December 15, 1838; d. June 16, 1923, Seat Pleasant, MD.
More About JOSEPH WILLIAM PALMER:
Burial: Congressional Cemetery in Washington D.C.
Occupation: Printer/GPO
More About JOSEPH PALMER and MARY STEELE:
Marriage: December 10, 1867
ix. GEORGE CLINTON STEELE, b. April 1847.
x. FRANKLIN PIERCE STEELE, b. November 7, 1853.
