First Generation

1.  William RAY was born about 1695 in Cork County, Ireland, and died in Orange County, North Carolina.  William married Catherine (---) before 1730.  Children from this marriage were:

      2 F     i. (Daughter) RAY.
      3 F    ii. (Daughter) RAY.
      4 M   iii. Robert RAY died in Feb 1793.
      5 F    iv. (Daughter) RAY.
      6 M   v. David RAY died in May 1808.
      7 M   vi. John RAY died in Feb 1809.
      8 M   vii. Joseph RAY.
      9 F   viii. Mary RAY was born about 1729.
+ 10 M    ix. William RAY, 1730-1794.

Second Generation
(Children)

10.  William RAY was born in 1730 in Ireland and died in 1794 in Orange County, North Carolina, at age 64.  William married Martha (---) in 1750.  Children from this marriage were:

   11 M     i. Robert RAY.
   12 M    ii. John RAY.
   13 F     iii. Elizabeth RAY.
   14 M    iv. James RAY.
   15 F     v. Isabel RAY.
   16 M    vi. Christian RAY.
+ 17 M   vii. William Bartlett RAY, 1773-1824.

Third Generation
(Grandchildren)

17.  William Bartlett RAY was born in 1773 in Orange County, North Carolina, and died on 27 Aug 1824 in Shelby County, Alabama, at age 51.  William married Elender ROACH, daughter of James ROACH and Ann THOMPSON, on 10 Apr 1799 in Orange County, North Carolina.  Elender was born in 1775 in North Carolina, died on 9 Aug 1875, at age 100, and was buried in Dotty Springs Cemetery, Attala, Mississippi.  Children from this marriage were:

18	F	i.	Nancy RAY was born in 1800.
19	M	ii.	Patterson McNeal RAY was born about 1800 in Orange County, North Carolina, and died on 1 Feb 1870 in Attala, Mississippi, about age 70.
20	M	iii.	Jasper Marion RAY was born about 1803.
21	M	iv.	John RAY was born on 5 Jan 1804 in North Carolina, and died in 1848 in Shelby County, Alabama, at age 44.  John married Cynthia ROBERTSON on 4 Aug 1822.
22	M	v.	Johonor RAY was born on 5 Jan 1804.
23	M	vi.	James RAY was born in 1815.
24	M	vii.	Alexander RAY was born in 1819.  Alexander married Frances FARQUAHAR about 1839.
25	F	viii.	Eveline RAY was born in 1819.
26	F	ix.	Elizabeth RAY was born in 1820.
+27	M	x.	Elijah RAY, 1824-(?).

Fourth Generation
(Great-Grandchildren)

27.  Elijah RAY was born in 1824 in Alabama, and was buried in Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Cemetery, Fayette County, Alabama (unmarked).  Elijah married Lucy Ann WRIGHT, daughter of Jesse WRIGHT and Elizabeth [---], about 1844.  Lucy was born in Georgia.  Children from this marriage were:

28	M	i.	Thomas RAY was born about 1843, died on 4 Aug 1935, about age 92, and was buried in Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Cemetery, Fayette County, Alabama.  Thomas married Minnie (---).
+29	F	ii.	Delista Jane RAY, 1851-1921.
30	F	iii.	Rep RAY was born in 1843, died in 1928 at age 85, and was buried in Shepherd Baptist Church Cemetery, Fayette County, Alabama.  Rep married (---) COX.
+31	M	iv.	John Willard RAY, 1853-1942.
+32	M	v.	James Jasper RAY, 1857-(?).
33	F	vi.	Melvina RAY was born in 1861, died in 1946 at age 85, and was buried in Shepherd Baptist Church Cemetery, Fayette County, Alabama.  Melvina married (---) CARAWAY.

Fifth Generation
(Great-Great-Grandchildren)

29.  Delista Jane RAY was born in 1851, died in 1921, at age 70, and was buried in Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Cemetery, Fayette County, Alabama.  Delista married William Jefferson NELSON on 21 Oct 1869 in Fayette County, Alabama.  William was born in 1848, died in 1912, at age 64, and was buried in Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Cemetery.  The child from this marriage was:

34 F     i. Erma NELSON.  Erma married Louis Curtis JOHNSON (a/k/a Curt JOHNSON).

[NOTE: Hill Wright reports that Talitha Jane Ray and Jefferson Nelson were the parents of at least eight children: Willard Manley Nelson (1872-1946), Dora I. Nelson White (1872-1960), Arra Alliedenia Nelson Rainey (1875-?), Horace Greely Nelson (1878-1937), Erma E. Nelson Johnson (1881-1910), William Eligha Nelson (1883-1911), Lillian Zelma Nelson Welch (1889-?), Hill H. Nelson (1892-1964), and James Elton Nelson (1897-1900).] 

* * *

31.  John Willard RAY  was born on 11 Jan 1853, died on 3 May 1942 in Fayette County, Alabama, at age 89, and was buried in Shepherd Baptist Church Cemetery, Fayette County, Alabama.  John married Clara Jane VICE, daughter of Morgan VICE and Louisa PRICE, on 25 Nov 1874 in the home of Morgan VICE.  Clara was born on 17 Jun 1856, died on 2 Sep 1941 in Fayette County, Alabama, at age 85, and was buried in Shepherd Baptist Church Cemetery.  Children from this marriage were:

35	M	i.	Sidney RAY was born in 1875, died on 4 Oct 1954, at age 79, and was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama.  Sidney married Velma SUDDUTH.
36	M	ii.	Walter Scott RAY died on 16 Aug 1972 and was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama.  Walter married (1) Martha GILLARD.  Walter next married (2) Hazel WELLS.
37	M	iii.	James Arthur RAY was born in 1879, died on 6 Mar 1964, at age 85, and was buried in Shepherd Baptist Church Cemetery, Fayette County, Alabama.  James married Stella SUDDUTH.  Stella was born on 8 Jun 1882, died on 11 Sep 1932, and was buried in Shepherd Baptist Church Cemetery.
38	M	iv.	Oscar RAY was born on 20 Jul 1882 in Fayette, Alabama, died on 17 May 1965 in Fayette Hospital, Fayette, Fayette County, Alabama, at age 82, and was buried on 19 May 1965 in Shepherd Baptist Church Cemetery, Fayette County, Alabama.  Oscar married Doshie Evelyn CLANTON, daughter of Howell Chisum CLANTON and Mary Edith BRANYON, on 24 Jun 1909 in Fayette, Alabama.  Doshie was born on 2 Dec 1890 in Fayette County, Alabama, died on 1 Jun 1975 in Fayette Nursing Home, Fayette, Alabama, at age 84, and was buried on 3 Jun 1975 in Shepherd Baptist Church Cemetery.
39	M	v.	Burl RAY was born on 11 Jan 1888, probably in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, died on 4 Jul 1972 in Northport, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, at age 84, and was buried in Shepherd Baptist Church Cemetery, Fayette County, Alabama.  Burl married Maggie Hunnicutt SNOW.  Maggie was born on 1 Aug 1895 in Lamar County, Alabama, and died on 12 Sep 1988 in Northport, Alabama, at age 93.
40	M	vi.	Earl RAY was born on 29 Jun 1890, died on 23 Oct 1978, at age 88, and was buried in Shepherd Baptist Church Cemetery, Fayette County, Alabama.  Earl married Georgia Belle BAKER on 10 Jun 1919.  Georgia was born on 9 Jan 1899, died on 17 Dec 1969, at age 70, and was buried in Shepherd Baptist Church Cemetery.

* * *

32.  James Jasper RAY (a/k/a Babe RAY) was born on 31 Jul 1857 in Fayette County, Alabama, and was buried in Jasper, Alabama.  James married (1) Ida I. JONES, daughter of Dr. W.W. JONES, on 14 Oct 1884 in Newtonville, Fayette County, Alabama.  Ida was born on 10 Oct 1866, died on 31 Aug 1887, at age 20, and was buried in Shepherd Baptist Church Cemetery, Fayette County, Alabama.  The child from this marriage was:

41 M     i. Alexander Bismark RAY.

  James Jasper RAY next married (2) Ella E. EDNEY on 1 May 1890 in Fayette, Fayette County, Alabama.  The child from this marriage was:

42 F      i. Ida Louise RAY.

Please send additions/corrections to
Scott Aldridge