Jane was my fourth great grandmother in Anderson County, Tennessee. Her surname is not known, but she was the wife of John Bray.
E.P. Bray who was the administrator of the settlement was Jane's son, Edward Payne Bray. Edward Payne Bray was my third great grandfather in Anderson County, Tennessee.
This settlement appears both to list heirs and also to list people unrelated to the family who were owed money. It appears that the people who were owed money were Milton Tate, Alfred Cross, W. W. Walker, and John Key (clerk for services rendered). The heirs all appear to have received $2.00 in the settlement. Hence, it appears that the heirs were Joshua J. Bray, Sarah Bray (wife of Solomon Disney), Emily Bray (wife of Archelaus Huckaby), Rachel Bray (wife of William J. Bradshaw), Edward Payne Bray (also received $8.00 for serving as the administrator of the settlement), and heirs of Thomas Bray.
Anderson County Will Book 1847-1852, pp.265-266 Settlement with E.P. Bray Admin of Jane Bray State of Tennessee > to the worshipful the County Anderson County > Court November Term 1851 I, E.P. Bray Administrator of the estate of Jane Bray deceased report to your worships an account Current of the profits and disbursements of the said Estate as follows. To wit, I, E.P. Bray adminst of the estate of Jane Bray Ds. as for amount of sale $45.25 By account of M. Tate as per a/e $13.00 " " " A Cross One Note 5.00 " " W.W. Walker proven a/s 8.00 Debt. $49.25 " " Joshua J. Bray receipt 2.00 Cr. $47.25 " " " Solomon Dizney " 2.00 ------ " " Archelaus Huckaby " 2.00 $2.00 " " " William J. Bradshaw " 2.00 E.P. Bray " " " Allowed Admins 8.00 Admrst By amt for John Key Clerk for services rendered as clerk 3.25 By amt retained for Admins 2.00 ---- 47.25 State of Tennessee Anderson County I, John Key, Clerk of the county court for the county of Anderson aforesaid do hereby do hereby (sic) certify that the forgoing settlement was taken and made by me with Edward P. Bray administrator of the estate of Jane Bray deceased |
Milton Tate was a doctor. Neither Joshua J. Bray nor his mother Jane were enumerated in the 1850 census. But Joshua's brother Joseph H. Bray was living very close to Milton Tate in the 1850 census. So it seems possible (and maybe even likely) that Jane was living with her son Joshua at the time of the 1850 census and that Joshua's household was not enumerated. If so, then Joshua Bray's home likely was near the home of his brother Joseph in 1850 and near the home of Milton Tate. Perhaps Milton Tate received $13.00 from the estate of Jane Bray in payment for medical services rendered before she died. A. Cross was Alfred Cross, who was a lawyer and who was the son of Brittain Cross and Mary (Polly) Parks. Alfred served at one point as sheriff of Anderson County. In the 1850 census, he was living very close to several of the other people mentioned in this settlement. His involvement with the Bray family was probably as a lawyer or perhaps as someone with the means to loan them money. Wilbern W. Walker is a mystery with respect to his relationship to Bray family. He was a merchant, and in the 1850 census he was living next door John Key who was the County Court clerk. Solomon Disney married Sarah Bray at some point prior to when Anderson County courthouse records began to be recorded in a bound marriage book in 1837. In the absence of such a marriage record, this settlement is one piece of evidence that Sarah's surname was Bray and that she was the daughter of John Bray and John's wife Jane. Another piece of evidence is a biographic note written in 1912 about Thomas Disney in Sangamon County, Illinois. The biographical note states that Thomas's parents were Solomon Disney and Sarah Bray (Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Sangamon County Volume II - Biographical Chicago: Munsell Publishing Company, Publishers 1912). Archelaus Huckaby married Emily Bray in 1842, and he was living very close to Alfred Cross in the 1850 census. This settlement is the primary piece of evidence that Sarah was the daughter of John Bray and John's wife Jane. William J. Bradshaw married Rachel Bray in 1843. William was living very close to Edward Payne Bray in the 1850 census, and William was also living very close John Cross who was Alfred's brother. This settlement is the primary piece of evidence that Rachel was the daughter of John Bray and John's wife Jane. |
Anderson County Will Book 1847-1852, pp.265-266 and after said settlement being so made there appear to be in the hands of said Amrs The sum of $2.00 for the use of the heirs of Thomas Bray one of the heirs of said estate. Given under my hand at office in Clinton this 1st day of Novem. 1851 John Key Clerk |
This is the only record I know of for a mysterious Thomas Bray who apparently was the brother of my third great grandfather Edward Payne Bray. |
This page last edited on 20 Sep 2010.