Williamson D. Wray
Williamson D. Wray was my three times great-grandfather. I do not know what the "D" is for. His daughter, Mary Jane Wray James Robinson, was my two times great-grandmother. His tombstone indicates he was born 10 November 1825 and died 19 October 1890. The tombstone of his twin brother, Thompson, indicates he was born in 1822; however, census records indicate 1825 was more likely for both. It should also be noted that the Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Central Arkansas Counties from Goodspeed biographical sketch (found below) indicates a year of birth of 1824. Grandpa Wray is buried in Old Union Cemetery, Saline County, Arkansas.
The will of Williamson's father, Joseph Wray, states:
I give and
bequeath to my two twin sons, Thompson and Williamson Wray the piece or
parcel of land on which I now reside to be equally divided between them
when they become of age and that the above farm be rented out and the rents
applied to their raising and education from the time of my decease until
they become of age and should either of them die before they arrive at the
age of 21 years then my will is that the survivor be entitled to the whole
and it is my will further that each of the above named children shall have
one bed and bedding each and it is further my will that all the balance
of my property including farming interests, horses, cattle, hogs, sheep,
together with every other species of property which I now possess be sold
after my decease and the money arising from sales of the same to be loaned
on interest for the special benefit of two other of my sons (viz) Irwin
Wray and Rice Wray and that the interest arising from the same be applied
to their raising and education and that when they arrive at the age of 21
years it is then my will that the principal of the above shall be equally
divided between them.
From Pulaski County Historical Review, Volume XXXVI Winter 1988 #4 Article: "A List of Confederate Citizen Prisoners Held at US Military Prison at Little Rock, Arkansas," by Charles G. Williams page 91: Wray, William D. citizen: March 13, 1864 at Saline County wishes to take the oath but had a gun. Released on oath. Provost Marshall General.
William D. Wray, an extensive farmer of Union Township, Saline County, was born in Jefferson County, Indiana, in 1824, the son of Joseph and Mary J. (Collins) Wray. Joseph Wray came to Indiana about the year 1819, entering and improving eighty acres of land, where he remained until his death, in 1841. He was the father of eleven children, nine living till maturity: Coran (deceased, wife of a Mr. Harrison), Alexander (deceased), Amanda (deceased), David, John, Parmelia [no comma but should be one between Parmelia and Thomas] Thomas [Thompson] and Mary J. (deceased), leaving only one the youngest, William D., our subject, in the land of the living. Mrs. Wray died in 1832, as a member of the Presbyterian Church. W. D. Wray, at the age of twenty-two years, began farming on rented land in Indiana, where he remained until 1851. Then coming to this State, he settled on the place where he now lives [Union Township, Saline County]. In 1857 he bought forty acres of land, remained upon it until 1863, and then purchased his present farm of 160 acres. He has since added to his property 320 acres, unimproved and 200 acres of improved land, making a total of 720 acres, with about 230 acres under cultivation. He joined neither army during the war, and was not molested in the least by marauders. Mr. Wray has been three times married: first to Sarah Lyon, on April 30, 1846. By this marriage there were six children, four now living: Mary J. (wife of Dave Robertson), Agnes (wife of James Barron), Joseph (who lives in this county), Alfred (also of this county). Mrs. Wray was a member of the Baptist Church and died in 1862. The following year Mr. Wray was married to Elizabeth Harderson [Henderson], who bore him six children, three of whom survive: Sarah (wife of John Thompson), Elizabeth M. (deceased wife of James Cain), William (at home) and James (at home). The second Mrs. Wray was also a member of the Baptist Church, and died in the month of May, 1877. In October, 1877, Mr. Wray married Mary L. Hutchison [Huchingson], who became the mother of seven children, four now living: Zorah, Lewis, Coran and Martha E. The present Mrs. Wray is a member of the Baptist Church, while her husband belongs to Ionic Lodge No 377, AF&AM. Politically, Mr. Wray is Democratic. He is one of the most earnest of public-spirited men, faithfully supporting all worthy public enterprises, donating liberally to the churches and schools of his county, and standing constantly ready to assist in anything that will alleviate the sufferings of humanity. (from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Central Arkansas Counties - Saline County, published by Goodspeed Publishers, 1889, in Chicago.)
Images of the sketch above:
Page 316
Page 317
Will: October 10, 1890, proved 4 December 1890; Saline County, Arkansas, Will Book A, p 99-102
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