Submitted by Patsy. Email Patsy any questions, comments, or corrections.
My name
is Patsy and my gr grandfather was born in TN maybe Wilson County. He was
orphaned at a young age and I cannot find who his parents were.
My gr grandfathers name was Thomas Jefferson Wray
Thomas Jefferson Wray 1834 - 1921
.. +Ellen S. Robinson 1829 -
........ 2 Henrietta (Wray) Dillon 1857 - 1927
........ 2 Emily (Wray) Spicer 1861 -
Thomas Wray 1863
........ 2 Ellen (Wray) Wright 1865 - Moses L. Wright
*2nd Wife of Thomas Jefferson Wray:
.. +Sarah Permelia Carr 1858 - 1935
........ 2 William Bennie Wray m Ethel Smith 6/7/1910 Bowie Co. TX 1885 -
............ +Ethel Smith
................... 3 Rosie Wray
................... 3 Jimmie Wray
................... 3 Agnes Wray
........ 2 James L (Jimmie) Wray 1887 - 1909 (Malaria) Bowie Co TX
........ 2 Maggie Jane Wray 1889 - 1981
............ +[1] Henry Grady Neves 1894 - 1963
................... 3 Arthur Henry Neves
................... 3 Aubrey Neves
................... 3 [2] Myrtie Mae Neves 1920 - 1993
....................... +[3] Ragon Vernon Gilbert 1917 - 1998
........ 2 Mattie M Wray 1892 - 1989
............ +Millard E Copeland 1886 -
................... 3 Edgar F. Copeland 1915 -
................... 3 Ruby D. Copeland 1916 -
................... 3 Ola V Copeland 1918 -
................... 3 Mildred G Copeland 1921 -
................... 3 Iva N Copeland 1930 -
........ 2 Benton Wray 1895 -
............ +Ethel V. Thompson
........ 2 Floy Wray 1900 - 1977
............ +Hugh Copeland
........ 2 John K Wray 14 April 1904 - 26 Jan.1993
............ +Willie May/Mae Hall
........ 2 Benton M. Wray m Ethel V Thompson 7/2/1916, Bowie Co 1895 -
In my mothers notes, she said T J Wray made the bricks for the Livingston, Tn
Courthouse. He was listed as a brickmason on the 1870 census. I know a sign in
front of it says Little Joe Copeland actually built it. I found T J Wray in 1850
in Wilson County from a lead from Sarah Permelia Carr Wray (his second wife)
when she applied for her Confederate pension, which was denied. The spelling on
Wray, could be Ray or Rhea. He then moved to Overton County by 1860 thru 1880
then I do not find him for 1890. In 1900 he is Indian Territory, Chickasaw
Nation and in 1910 in Dekalb, Texas. I do have copies of land deed purchase dtd
1893 sale 1899 for Hall county, Texas. My grandmother was Maggie Jane Wray and
she said she rode side saddle from TN to OK when she was small. If anyone knows
anything about his parents, I would appreciate an email. Thank you.
Regards Patsy
I am sending you an old will I have in my possession from 1874 in Overton
County. any blanks or underlined words are words that I have difficulty making
out. If you would like I will send a scanned copy of the deed and perhaps you
can read it better than I can.
Know all men by those present that I Wm McCrary & Dulcey McCrary, his wife,
Thomas Ogletree & Campbell Ogletree have this day bargained and sold and by
those present do convey to Thomas Ray and his heirs, a certain tract or boundary
of land situated in Overton county & State of Tennessee on the waters of Flat
Creek Boundaries as follows (to wit). Beginning at three chestnut stumps and
sprouts, North of a spring known by the name of the Poplar spring on the road
leading from Livingston to Burks Hill (or rim) and running down the north side
of said spring branch to a gum at the mouth of said hollow. Thence running North
"________near the draw of the hill to a small white oak in Thompsons
bin? the corner of Thompson fields thence down with Thompsons Line
to Worthans Line thence with Worthans Line forming his corner to the top of the
hill to a old stump a dogwood and white oak join . Thence with a marked
line to a chestnut oak at the Burkrill road. Thence with said road to the
beginning Containing by estimation one hundred acres more or less n:
Consideration of one hundred dollars and the rest in homestead and the receipt
is hereby acknowledged. We do convey all our right with equal interest to the
said Thomas Ray and his heirs forever? to the above Boundary of Land in
testimony n: here of we hear to set our names and offer our mark this 28th day
of March 1874.
William McCrary (Seal)
Dulcey McCrary (her Mark) (Seal)
Thomas Ogletree (Seal)
Cambell Ogletree (his Mark) (Seal)
State of Tennessee,
Overton County,
I, J. T. Carr, Registrar of said county do likely certify that the foregoing
deed of conveyance and certificate from Wm. MCCleary and Dulcey McCrary & others
to Thomas J Ray was registered on the 16th day of April 1874 in Book 11 page 444
& 445 and file on the 10th day of April 1874 at o'clock, P M in filation book
page 153.
(Seal) In testimony whereof I set my hand and rather being no public official
seal proclaimed for this office nor at office in Livingston, Tenn on the16th day
of April 1874.
J. T. Carr,
Registrar of Overton County
State of Tennessee,
Overton County
Personally appeared before me W. P Chopin, Clerk of the County Court for said
County. William M. McCrary, Thomas Ogletree, and Campbell Ogletree, the above
named and bargainors with whom I am personally acquainted and who acknowledged
that they executed the foregoing deed for the purposes therein contained, and
Dulcey McCrary, wife of William McCrary having personally appeared before me and
I having read over and fully made know the contents of the foregoing instrument,
privatily and apart from her said husband, acknowledged the due execution of the
same by her freely voluntarily and understanding without any compulsion or
constraint by her husband and for the purposes therein contained.
Given under my hand this the 30th day of March 1874.
W. P. Chopin Clk
Wm. McCrary & Others Deed to:
Thomas J Ray
State Tax .10
Clerk fee .75
Registration, April 10th 1874
J. T. Carr, Registrar
$175.00