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BRAY James

Male Abt 1610 - 1691  (~ 81 years)


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  • Name BRAY James 
    Birth Abt 1610 
    Gender Male 
    Occupation James City County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Wealthy Ship owner and merchant 
    Occupation 5 Apr 1670  James City County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Council Member 
    • sworn member of council and retained his seat until 1676 until Bacon's Rebellion where he appears to be on the wrong side
    Occupation 6 Dec 1677  James City County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • English board of trade and plantations pronounced him to be a "rash and fiery fellow" and asked that he be removed from the Council
    Reference Number 925 
    Burial Oct 1691  Williamsburg, VA (Bruton Parish Churchyard) Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    • died at Middle Plantation, October 24, 1691. (York County Records and Bruton Parish Register.) His shattered tombstone still rests in Bruton Churchyard, Williamsburg.

      From William & Mary College Quarterly Historical Papers, p. 266:
      BRAY FAMILY.
      JAMES1 BRAY, of James City county, was living in Virginia in 1658, was a member of the Council in 1670, and died at Middle Plantation, October 24, 1691. (York County Records and Bruton Parish Register.) His shattered tombstone still rests in Bruton Churchyard, Williamsburg. He married Angelica , and in 1658 received a certificate from York Court on account of the importation of his wife "twice into Virginia." He had issue: (Hening, Statutes at Large, IV., 370; I., 412) 2 Thomas Bray, 3 James Bray, 4 David Bray, 5 Anne Bray.
    Death 24 Oct 1691  Middle Plantation, York County Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    • died at Middle Plantation, October 24, 1691. (York County Records and Bruton Parish Register.) His shattered tombstone still rests in Bruton Churchyard, Williamsburg.
    Notes 
    • Genealogies of Virginia Families, William and Mary Quarterly, Vol 1, p.447: James Bray of James City County was living in Virginia in 1658, was a member of the Council in 1670, and died at Middle Plantation, Oct 24, 1691(York County Records and Bruton Parrish Register),
      His shattered tombstone still rests in Bruton Parish Churchyard, Williamsburg. He married Angelica, and in 1658 received a certificate from York Court on account of the importation of his wife 'twice into Virginia'

      WMQ Vol XIV:
      JAMES1 BRAY,of James City county, Was living in Virginia in 1658, was a member of the Council in 1610, and died at Middle Plantation, October 24, 1691. (York County Records and Bruton Pariah Register.) His shattered tombstone still rests in Bruton Churchyard, Williamaburg. He married Angelica , and in 1658 received a certificate from York Court on account of the importation of his wife twice into Virginia." He had issue: (Hening, Statutes at Large, IV., 370 ; VI., 412)
      Thomas Bray.
      James Bray.
      David Bray.
      Anne Bray.

      Name: James Bray of James City county, was living in Virginia as early as 1666, and, on April 15, 1670, was sworn a member of the council. He retained his seat until 1676, when during Bacon's rebellion, he seems to have been an active supporter of Gov. Berkeley. He signed the proclamation of Aug. 11, 1676, calling an assembly to meet in the following September. The commissioners sent to suppress the rebellion reported, on Dec. 6, 1677, that Mr. James Bray was a great loser in his estate by that uprising, but they were evidently not favorably disposed towards him, for the English board of trade and Plantations, on Dec. 6, 1677, pronounced him to be a "rash and fiery fellow," and, on Feb. 10, 1678-79, the same body directed that he be put out of the council. He was too friendly to Berkeley to suit the tastes of the royal commissioners. His wife, Mistress Angelica Bray, will always be remembered as one of the "guardian angels of the rebel camp," as the ladies whom Bacon stood in front of his men at Jamestown to protect them while they were throwing up fortifications, were called. Her maiden name is not known. Col. Bray was a wealthy merchant and ship owner in Virginia. He died Oct. 24, 1691. He had three sons who left issue and a grandson, Col. David Bray, who was also councillor for a few months. III--Colonial Councillors of State

      BRAY. James City county.
      Arms: Azure a chevron between three eagles legs erased a la
      Cuisse sable, armed gules.
      Crest: An ounce ppr.
      James Bray, J. P., of James City county 1666; member of the
      Council, 4 March, 1674-5; married Angelica i They had
      issue, (1) Thomas; (2) James, J. P., of James City county, in 1710, vestryman of Bruton parish; sheriff in 1717; married about 1698, Mourning, widow of Col. Thomas Pettus. (3) Col. David Bray, J. P., of James City county, 1710; vestryman of Bruton parish; had issue David, born 1699, member of the Council; died 1731; married Elizabeth, dau. of John Page of Gloucester. (4) Angelica, married Mingo Inglis of Williamsburg. The Bray arms are on the tombs of the first and second David Bray in Bruton churchyard. They correspond with the arms of Bray in the Visitation of Nottingham in 1614.

      From William & Mary College Quarterly Historical Papers, p. 266:
      BRAY FAMILY.
      JAMES1 BRAY, of James City county, was living in Virginia in 1658, was a member of the Council in 1670, andHe married Angelica , and in 1658 received a certificate from York Court on account of the importation of his wife "twice into Virginia." He had issue: (Hening, Statutes at Large, IV., 370; I., 412) 2 Thomas Bray, 3 James Bray, 4 David Bray, 5 Anne Bray.
      Of James City county, was living in Virginia as early as 1666, and, on April 15, 1670, was sworn a member of the council. He retained his seat until 1676, when during Bacon's rebellion, he seems to have been an active supporter of Gov. Berkeley. He signed the proclamation of Aug. 11, 1676, calling an assembly to meet in the following September. The commissioners sent to suppress the rebellion reported, on Dec. 6, 1677, that Mr. James Bray was a great loser in his estate by that uprising, but they were evidently not favorably disposed towards him, for the English board of trade and Plantations, on Dec. 6, 1677, pronounced him to be a "rash and fiery fellow," and, on Feb. 10, 1678-79, the same body directed that he be put out of the council. He was too friendly to Berkeley to suit the tastes of the royal commissioners. His wife, Mistress Angelica Bray, will always be remembered as one of the "guardian angels of the rebel camp," as the ladies whom Bacon stood in front of his men at Jamestown to protect them while they were throwing up fortifications, were called. Her maiden name is not known. Col. Bray was a wealthy merchant and ship owner in Virginia. He died Oct. 24, 1691. He had three sons who left issue and a grandson, Col. David Bray, who was also councillor for a few months.
      Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume I
      III--Colonial Councillors of State
    Person ID I12  Booth Family
    Last Modified 22 Aug 2013 

    Father BRAY John Giles,   b. 1585, Barrington Magna, Gloucestershire, , England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1667, Moreton Corbet, Shropshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 82 years) 
    Mother CHETWODE Anne,   b. 1581, Staffordshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1667, Moreton Corbet, Shropshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 86 years) 
    Marriage 1597  Moreton Corbet, Shropshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F3965  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family GIBSON Angelica,   b. 1634, James City County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1663, Williamsburg, VA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 29 years) 
    Marriage 1658 
    Children 
     1. Col. BRAY Thomas   d. Bef 1732, New Kent, New Kent County, VA Find all individuals with events at this location
     2. BRAY James   d. 25 Nov 1725
     3. Col. BRAY David,   b. 1666, Wilmington Parrish, James City County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 21 Oct 1731 (Age 65 years)
     4. BRAY Ann,   b. Abt 1650, Greensville County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Abt 1711, Greensville County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 61 years)
    Family ID F10  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 6 Jul 2012 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Wealthy Ship owner and merchant - - James City County, Virginia Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Council Member - 5 Apr 1670 - James City County, Virginia Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - 6 Dec 1677 - James City County, Virginia Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 24 Oct 1691 - Middle Plantation, York County Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Sources 
    1. [S164] William & Mary Quarterly...on file.