Dear Mr/Ms Fowler: The principal reason for not accepting a marriage between John Whitney and Elinor Bray is that I have never been able to find any record of a marriage of a John Whitney to Elinor Anybody.   It doesn't, to the best of my knowledge, appear in the records of St. Margaret's Westminster -- I copied all the Whitney records for that place (from mid-1500's to after 1650) from the originals in the Westminster Abbey library.   I have also searched Boyd's Marriage Index for London and all other parts of England for the period from 1615 through 1625.   I believe the marriage to have taken place about 1618, as the first child, Mary, was born (seemingly) in Isleworth 23 May 1619, as were the next two, John, christened 14 Sep 1621, and Richard, christened 6 Jan 1623/24. At the time I was working at the Abbey I did not try to follow the Bray family -- I wish I had.  I would very much like to hear of the birth record for this Elinor Bray.  There certainly would be a good possibility if such a person were born/christened in the late 1590's.  Is there someplace where the St. Margaret's register can be seen on-line, or do you know of someone in London who could investigate.  The complete parish register transcriptions are certainly in the library of the British Society of Genealogists.  I have spent many, many hours there, and would think that if there was a marriage of a John Whitney to an Elinor Bray, I'd have found it when I searched all the available London marriage records for any John Whitney. At the present time, that's the best answer I can furnish to you.  I would be very much delighted if you or any other researcher can find the answer to this puzzling question. Happy Hunting! Allan E. Green

Thank you Allan, for all the work you have done on this. It is good to have the refresher on Elinor Bray versus Elinor Whitney debate. Most of all, you've reminded us that it is the facts we seek. Evidence is what all researchers need. thanks from Carolyn Whitney Branagan ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 2:20 AM Subject: [WHITNEY-L] Re: Marriage between John Whitney and Elinor Bray? > Dear Mr/Ms Fowler: > > The principal reason for not accepting a marriage between John Whitney and > Elinor Bray is that I have never been able to find any record of a > marriage of a > John Whitney to Elinor Anybody. It doesn't, to the best of my knowledge, > appear in the records of St. Margaret's Westminster -- I copied all the > Whitney > records for that place (from mid-1500's to after 1650) from the originals > in > the Westminster Abbey library. I have also searched Boyd's Marriage Index > for > London and all other parts of England for the > period from 1615 through 1625. I believe the marriage to have taken place > about 1618, as the first child, Mary, was born (seemingly) in Isleworth 23 > May > 1619, as were the next two, John, christened 14 Sep 1621, and Richard, > christened 6 Jan 1623/24. > > At the time I was working at the Abbey I did not try to follow the Bray > family -- I wish I had. I would very much like to hear of the birth record > for > this Elinor Bray. There certainly would be a good possibility if such a > person > were born/christened in the late 1590's. Is there someplace where the St. > Margaret's register can be seen on-line, or do you know of someone in > London who > could investigate. The complete parish register transcriptions are > certainly > in the library of the British Society of Genealogists. I have spent many, > many > hours there, and would think that if there was a marriage of a John > Whitney > to an Elinor Bray, I'd have found it when I searched all the available > London > marriage records for any John Whitney. > > At the present time, that's the best answer I can furnish to you. I would > be > very much delighted if you or any other researcher can find the answer to > this puzzling question. > > Happy Hunting! > > Allan E. Green > >