Hi Everyone - another year almost over and I am hoping 2012 will be the one in which I finally get beyond the one great grandfather that is causing me headaches!   I have done my best. Here is what I know so far. My dad, D C Spray (still living) born 1930, Islington; his dad, Frederick Henry Spray, born 27 Nov 1890, St Pancras, London; his parents Samuel & Elizabeth Spray. Censuses supply Samuel's details as follows: 1911 - 8 Prospect Place, Islington, 56yrs, born New Basford, Notts, Dairyman; 1901 - 10 Netherland Place, Islington, 46yrs, Basford, Notts, Brewer's Drayman; 1891 - 18 Suffolk Street, St Pancras, 36 yrs, New Basford, Notts, Railway Messenger.  The year and place of birth are consistent all the way through indicating he was born 1855 +/-1.   With one exception, all the details of other household member's from 1891 to 1911 are all confirmed by known family details - as mentioned by father is still alive and has all his wits about him! Dad has fond memories of his (favourite) aunt Edith, less detailed memories of Auntie Flo and knew his father's date of birth. The surprise was Horace Spray, aged 12 in 1891. That led me to this on the 1881 Census: 1881 - 20 Ashburton Grove, Islington, 26 yrs, New Basford, Notts, Railway Porter, wife Sarah, 28yrs, born South Clifton, Notts and son, Horace, 2yrs, born Stamford, Lincolnshire.   I found the death of Sarah Spray aged 30, Islington, Dec Q 1882. I purchased the marriage certificate of Samuel and dad's grandmother Elizabeth WOOD[H]ALL (29yrs) date 23 Feb 1884, Reg.. Office, Marylebone, Middlesex - he was a widower, father's name George, occupation 'Gentleman'. I was unable to find the earlier marriage of a Samuel Spray and Sarah ?, so I purchased Horace's birth cert (b 8 Jan 1879, Stamford, Lincs.) on which his mother's maiden name appears to be LANE. While it is clear and legible I have tried to convince myself it is Zane, Tane, Jane, just about every consonant, and even added an s on the end, but nothing has helped me to locate the marriage - my hope being that the certificate would be more helpful with regard to Gentleman George's details.   I have Elizabeth's death details and also probate (from Ancestry) - she is described as wife of Samuel rather than widow which implies he was still alive in 1932. I have not been able to find a death record.  The family story is that he was something of a cad, treated his wife (Elizabeth) badly (not necessarily physically but gave her little housekeeping, was demanding agressive and drank and/or gambled. Dad's sister (born 1928) 'remembers' him ripping the table cloth from the table causing everything on it to smash on the floor just because his meal was not ready.   I've tried tracing Horace to no avail. I've looked at various George Spray marriages and closely at the 1861 and 1871 censuses. Samuel does not seem to exist prior to 1881. I should point out that another certificate I purchased was for the birth of Samuel, the son of Robert and Sarah Spray, born Beeston 1851 he is NOT my Samuel although a second cousin (on dad's mother's side) has put him on the family tree.   Any help would be wonderful.. All the best for the New Year to all.   Kara Drury, NZ

Hello Well, at least it seems we can confirm the identity of his first wife. This appears to be her baptism: fsurname name father mother date Church abode occupation LANE Sarah Joseph Sarah 16/10/1853 NORTH CLIFTON South Clifton Cattle Dealer However that does not seem to get us very much further as I have not found her marriage. David Hallam [email protected] www.beeston-notts.co.uk > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Kara Oosterman > Sent: 27 December 2011 07:09 > To: Nottsgen > Subject: [NTT] Samuel SPRAY of New Basford born circa 1855 > > > Hi Everyone - another year almost over and I am hoping 2012 will > be the one in which I finally get beyond the one great > grandfather that is causing me headaches! >   > I have done my best. Here is what I know so far. My dad, D C > Spray (still living) born 1930, Islington; his dad, Frederick > Henry Spray, born 27 Nov 1890, St Pancras, London; his parents > Samuel & Elizabeth Spray. Censuses supply Samuel's details as > follows: 1911 - 8 Prospect Place, Islington, 56yrs, born New > Basford, Notts, Dairyman; 1901 - 10 Netherland Place, Islington, > 46yrs, Basford, Notts, Brewer's Drayman; 1891 - 18 Suffolk > Street, St Pancras, 36 yrs, New Basford, Notts, Railway > Messenger.  The year and place of birth are consistent all the > way through indicating he was born 1855 +/-1. >   > With one exception, all the details of other household member's  > from 1891 to 1911 are all confirmed by known family details - as > mentioned by father is still alive and has all his wits about > him! Dad has fond memories of his (favourite) aunt Edith, less > detailed memories of Auntie Flo and knew his father's date of > birth. The surprise was Horace Spray, aged 12 in 1891. That led > me to this on the 1881 Census: 1881 - 20 Ashburton Grove,  > Islington, 26 yrs, New Basford, Notts, Railway Porter, wife > Sarah, 28yrs, born South Clifton, Notts and son, Horace, 2yrs, > born Stamford, Lincolnshire. >   > I found the death of Sarah Spray aged 30, Islington, Dec Q 1882. > I purchased the marriage certificate of Samuel and dad's > grandmother Elizabeth WOOD[H]ALL (29yrs) date 23 Feb 1884, Reg.. > Office, Marylebone, Middlesex - he was a widower, father's name > George, occupation 'Gentleman'. I was unable to find the earlier > marriage of a Samuel Spray and Sarah ?, so I purchased Horace's > birth cert (b 8 Jan 1879, Stamford, Lincs.) on which his mother's > maiden name appears to be LANE. While it is clear and legible I > have tried to convince myself it is Zane, Tane, Jane, just about > every consonant, and even added an s on the end, but nothing has  > helped me to locate the marriage - my hope being that the > certificate would be more helpful with regard to Gentleman > George's details. >   > I have Elizabeth's death details and also probate (from Ancestry) > - she is described as wife of Samuel rather than widow which > implies he was still alive in 1932. I have not been able to find > a death record.  The family story is that he was something of a > cad, treated his wife (Elizabeth) badly (not necessarily > physically but gave her little housekeeping, was demanding > agressive and drank and/or gambled. Dad's sister (born 1928) > 'remembers' him ripping the table cloth from the table causing  > everything on it to smash on the floor just because his meal was > not ready. >   > I've tried tracing Horace to no avail. I've looked at various > George Spray marriages and closely at the 1861 and 1871 censuses. > Samuel does not seem to exist prior to 1881. I should point out > that another certificate I purchased was for the birth of Samuel, > the son of Robert and Sarah Spray, born Beeston 1851 he is NOT my > Samuel although a second cousin (on dad's mother's side) has put > him on the family tree. >   > Any help would be wonderful.. All the best for the New Year to all. >   > Kara > Drury, NZ > > > Notts Surname List > > http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~hughw/notts.html > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Many thanks David. With probable parents' names I've been looking on Ancestry for the Lane family 1861/1871 and so far without success - I can't believe this branch of my tree - every time I think there is a lead . . . Rest assured though, I don't give up that easily - it has just gone midnight but I'm sure I can manage another hour or two!    Kara From: beeston-notts <[email protected]> To: Kara Oosterman <[email protected]>; Nottsgen <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, 27 December 2011 10:08 PM Subject: RE: [NTT] Samuel SPRAY of New Basford born circa 1855 Hello Well, at least it seems we can confirm the identity of his first wife. This appears to be her baptism: fsurname    name    father    mother    date    Church    abode    occupation LANE        Sarah    Joseph    Sarah    16/10/1853    NORTH CLIFTON    South Clifton    Cattle Dealer However that does not seem to get us very much further as I have not found her marriage. David Hallam [email protected] www.beeston-notts.co.uk > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Kara Oosterman > Sent: 27 December 2011 07:09 > To: Nottsgen > Subject: [NTT] Samuel SPRAY of New Basford born circa 1855 >

Hi Kara Could this be Samuel and his parents in the 1871 census? (From Ancestry) Census ref: RG10/3486/62/5-6. Duke Street, Basford, Notts George STRAYHead61Lace MakerBulwell, Notts Mary Margaret STRAYWife55Provision DealerChilwell, Notts Samuel STRAYSon16Lace MakerBasford, Notts Edgar STRAYSon11ScholarBasford, Notts Likewise, I think this may be your great Grandfather in 1861: Ref: RG9/2439/76/21 Mount Street, Basford, Notts George STRAYHead51Lace MakerBulwell, Notts Mary STRAYWife45Chilwell, Notts George STRAYSon19Lace MakerBasford, Notts Tom STRAYSon17Lace MakerHucknall Torkard, Notts John STRAYSon14WarperChilwell, Notts Frederick STRAYSon12Threader (?)Basford, Notts Samuel STRAYSon4Basford, Notts Edgar STRAYSon1Basford, Notts Hope this helps a bit! Lizzie Cambridge, UK >________________________________ > From: Kara Oosterman <[email protected]> >To: Nottsgen <[email protected]> >Sent: Tuesday, 27 December 2011, 7:08 >Subject: [NTT] Samuel SPRAY of New Basford born circa 1855 > >Hi Everyone - another year almost over and I am hoping 2012 will be the one in which I finally get beyond the one great grandfather that is causing me headaches! >  >I have done my best. Here is what I know so far. My dad, D C Spray (still living) born 1930, Islington; his dad, Frederick Henry Spray, born 27 Nov 1890, St Pancras, London; his parents Samuel & Elizabeth Spray. Censuses supply Samuel's details as follows: 1911 - 8 Prospect Place, Islington, 56yrs, born New Basford, Notts, Dairyman; 1901 - 10 Netherland Place, Islington, 46yrs, Basford, Notts, Brewer's Drayman; 1891 - 18 Suffolk Street, St Pancras, 36 yrs, New Basford, Notts, Railway Messenger.  The year and place of birth are consistent all the way through indicating he was born 1855 +/-1. >  >With one exception, all the details of other household member's from 1891 to 1911 are all confirmed by known family details - as mentioned by father is still alive and has all his wits about him! Dad has fond memories of his (favourite) aunt Edith, less detailed memories of Auntie Flo and knew his father's date of birth. The surprise was Horace Spray, aged 12 in 1891. That led me to this on the 1881 Census: 1881 - 20 Ashburton Grove, Islington, 26 yrs, New Basford, Notts, Railway Porter, wife Sarah, 28yrs, born South Clifton, Notts and son, Horace, 2yrs, born Stamford, Lincolnshire. >  >I found the death of Sarah Spray aged 30, Islington, Dec Q 1882. I purchased the marriage certificate of Samuel and dad's grandmother Elizabeth WOOD[H]ALL (29yrs) date 23 Feb 1884, Reg.. Office, Marylebone, Middlesex - he was a widower, father's name George, occupation 'Gentleman'. I was unable to find the earlier marriage of a Samuel Spray and Sarah ?, so I purchased Horace's birth cert (b 8 Jan 1879, Stamford, Lincs.) on which his mother's maiden name appears to be LANE. While it is clear and legible I have tried to convince myself it is Zane, Tane, Jane, just about every consonant, and even added an s on the end, but nothing has helped me to locate the marriage - my hope being that the certificate would be more helpful with regard to Gentleman George's details. >  >I have Elizabeth's death details and also probate (from Ancestry) - she is described as wife of Samuel rather than widow which implies he was still alive in 1932. I have not been able to find a death record.  The family story is that he was something of a cad, treated his wife (Elizabeth) badly (not necessarily physically but gave her little housekeeping, was demanding agressive and drank and/or gambled. Dad's sister (born 1928) 'remembers' him ripping the table cloth from the table causing everything on it to smash on the floor just because his meal was not ready. >  >I've tried tracing Horace to no avail. I've looked at various George Spray marriages and closely at the 1861 and 1871 censuses. Samuel does not seem to exist prior to 1881. I should point out that another certificate I purchased was for the birth of Samuel, the son of Robert and Sarah Spray, born Beeston 1851 he is NOT my Samuel although a second cousin (on dad's mother's side) has put him on the family tree. >  >Any help would be wonderful.. All the best for the New Year to all. >  >Kara >Drury, NZ > > >Notts Surname List > >http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~hughw/notts.html > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > >