For everyone who has e-mailed me about the Bray family of John's mother Mary Bray here is what I have: >From "Families Directly Descended from all the Royal Families in Europe" by Mrs. Oscar Herbert Elizabeth Leach Rixford The surname Bray originated from the parish of Bray, probably the one in the Department Eure, Normadu. the name of Sieur de Bray occurs on the Roll of Battle Abbey, among the associates in arms of William the Conqueror, 1066 and its right to be there isconfirmed by the fact that William de Bray is one of the subscribing witnesses to the charger of 1088, conferred by the Conqueror on the abbey he had founded in commermoration of his triumph at Hastings. The family supplied sheriffs to Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire Bucks, etc., between 1202 and 1273. Ralph de Bray was sheriff of these counties between 1202 and 1234. (colonial families, 1928 pp 179-180 1.William de Bray in 1260 was possessed of two knights' fees in Willaston, Northhamptshire. 2. Sir Robert de Bray, son and successor of William de Bray was summoned to attend Edward I in his wars in Scotland, and again by Edward II. 3. Sir James de Bray son of Sir Robert lvied in the reign of Richard I and of John. 4. Anselm de Bray son of Sir James de Bray. 5. William de Bray son of Anselm de Bray 6.Thomas de Bray son of William m. --Braxby. 7. William Bray, son of Thomas 8. Edmund Bray, son of William. 9.Sir Richard Bray son of Edmund was probably of the Prviy Council of Henry VI and was bur. in Worcester Cathedral. He m. 1. Margaret Dandes, dau. of John Sandes, 2. Joan, surname unknown, Sir Reginald Bray, son of Sir Richard and Joan Bray was made a knight banneret at Bosworth in support of Henry VII, who have him large grants of land, and conferred upon him the Order of the Bath and finally that of the Garter, but most iof his estate he devised to his nephew. 10. Sir John Bray, son of Sir Richard and Joan and younger brother of Sir Reginald, was bur. in the church at Chelsea. He had three sons and a dau. among whomwas Sir Edmund. 11. Sir Edmind Bray, second sono fJohn Bray was one of the knights appointed to accompany Henry VIII to Calais to meet the King of Fance. He m. 1. Elziabeth Levell, and 2. Beatrice Shirley, of Wiston, Sussex in 1539, and member of Parliament for Surrey under Queen Mary. He d. in 1588. The male line of his elder brother, heir of Sir Reginald, failed in the male line in the third generation. His younger brother, Reginald, founded the Gloucestershire Brays, of Barrington etc. 1. John Bray of Westminster, taylor, was probably of a line from a younger son of the Brays of Surrey. He m. but the name of his wife is unkown, he d. in 1915. As there was no law for parish registration until 1538, his parentage is probably not on records. 2. Mary bray daughter of John, was bapt. at St. Margaret's Church, the official church of the British House of Commons, adjacent to Westeminster Abvbey, and was bur. at St. Margaret's Sept. 25, 1629. She m. May 12 (license May 10) 1538, Thomas Whitney, of Lambeth Marsh, father of John Whitney of Watertown, Massachusetts. And there you have it my friends - that's what it written on the Brays. Adrian B. Burke, Assistant to: Daniel B. Graves, Managing Director Elizabeth A. Chang, Vice President GIB - Media Group 130 Liberty Street, 28th Floor New York, N.Y. 10006 Phone: (212) 250-4195 Fax: (212) 669-6022 -- This e-mail may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient (or have received this e-mail in error) please notify the sender immediately and destroy this e-mail. Any unauthorised copying, disclosure or distribution of the material in this e-mail is strictly forbidden.