Barnabas  Ray

Biographical Sketch of Barnabas (Barnabus) RAY (1804 - 1869)
from Some Ancestors Named Wray/Ray by David Walter Ross

          Barnabus Ray was born 5 Dec 1804 in Franklin or Wake Co, NC.  He grew to maturity in NC, fathered a large family in IN, and moved to IA in middle age.
          Barnabus was the son of  Hudson and Margaret (Byerly) Ray.  The family moved to Uharie in Randolph Co, NC when Barnabus was about 7 and later to Rowan Co NC where Barnabus was counted as part of his father's household in the census of 1820.
          Barnabus married Lydia Truitt of Rowan Co on 10 Sep 1822.  They were the parents of Irene Reed (1823 - 1897), Daniel Ray (1824 -1908), Rebecca Eldridge (1826 - 1921), Nancy Hoover (1829-1881), Elizabeth Kinney (1831 - 1873), Margaret Goodwin (1832-1899) and Annie Ogburn (1835 - 1883).
          Barnabus' father, Hudson, traveled to IN in 1821-22, and the family followed his migration. Barnabus was widowed when his youngest child was less than a year old. Lydia died in 1836, and within a few months he married Lucy Mary Hill.  Barnabus was 31, and Lucy was 24. Their children were Levi Ray (1838 - 1863), Isaac Ray (1839-1906), Joseph Ray (1841-1863), Abel Ray (born 184?), Susan Collins (1845-1866), Caroline Ray (1846-1906), Edmund and twin daughter (1849- ), Jacob (1850-1872), Emeline Ray (1852?).
          Barnabus' family moved to IA where he purchased land in Madison Co on 2 Mar 1856. Son Joseph died fighting for the Union in MS on 13 Mar 1863. Another son, Isaac, survived his service in that conflict.
          Barnabus died at age 64 in Madison Co, IA on 11 Feb 1869.  His widow, Lucy, died 13 Nov 1872 at the age of 60.  Both are buried in the Sayre Cemetery, Madison Co, IA.
Posted by Pat Lorentzen

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