Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume 1, Page 15:
Thomas Rea, age 19, born: Ireland, enlisted 19 July 1746

Redmond McMahan, age 20, born: Ireland, enlisted 13 July 1746, both under the command of Samuel Perry 4 august 1746, located Chester County, Pennsylvania, between Brandywine Creek and Schuykill River.

A Thomas Ray and a Redmond McMahan both lived in the same area of Virginia and in the same area of Buncombe (Yancey) County, in July 1794.

Our Yancey County Rays
Thomas Ray, Sr., believed to have married Celia or Cillia. Their children were:
    I. Thomas L. Ray, Jr. Born: c1770-1775, VA. Believed to have married Ivey Hensley. 
        Will probated July 1843, Yancey County, NC.
    II. Joseph B. Ray. Born: c1776, VA. Married Saray McMahan. Died: January 1857, 
        Yancey County, NC.
    III. John Ray (no proof). Born: c1778, VA. Moved from Yancey County to Haywood 
        County, NC.
    IV. Elizabeth Ray (no proof). Born c1780, VA.
    V. Hiram Ray. Born: c1782-1784, VA. See separate listing for Hiram.
    VI. James Ray. Born: c1786-1787, VA. Married Hannah Agnes Gilespie. Lived in what is 
        now Madison County, NC.
    VII. Soloman L. Ray (no proof). Born: 20 May 1792, Buncombe Co., NC. Married: 
        Elizabeth Clarke. Died: 11 Jul 1854, Coles County, Illinois.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, VA PERSONAL PROPERLY LIST:
Appeared 1787, 1788, 1790. Missing from list after 1790. Purchased property from Thomas Ray, Sr., Buncombe County (now Yancey), NC, (July session of court, 1794.)

MONTGOMERY CO., VA LAND RECORDS:
Thomas Ray- one entry included an indian town 1781.

Thomas Ray bought at least seven pieces of land on or near New River 1771-1782. He apparently sold all of them before 1782 he owned 400 acres on south side of Great Kanauha (New River). He sold it to John Marshall.

Thomas Ray sold 400 acres to Thomas Morgan on Little Reed Creek, a branch of New River in 1782.

Thomas Ray sold 400 acres to William Christian on New River opposite Dunkard's bottom. Thomas Ray sold 400 acres to George Forbes on Beaver Dam.

(Joseph Cabell and Nicholas Cabell were commissioners of land for Montgomery Co. and Washington Co., VA in 1782.)

MONTGOMERY COUNTY MILITIA:
Thomas Ray of Captain Draper's Company was fined two months pay for non-performance of duty April 1778.

Thomas Ray, soldier infantry, pay received by Colonel Nicholas Cabell, 2 Nov 1784.

Thomas Ray, soldier, three years service. #3659.

Thomas Wray, private, entitled to land for three years service, with George Rogers, Clark's Illinois regiment.

Thomas Ray, private, Virginia, continental line #L03659. I do certify that Thomas Ray is entitled to the portion of land allowed a private of the continental line for three years service. This was signed by P. Henry (Patrick Henry) and Thomas Meriwether.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR BOUNTY WARRANTS:
Thomas Ray, soldier, had a certificate issued by Lt. Col. Samuel J. Cabell (voucher 1784). It is said Thomas Ray was in the 4th Virginia regiment. Another certificate for land was signed by Nicholas Cabell.

WILL
Moses Ray's will in Amhurst County, VA, 22 May 1766, probated 5 sep 1768 lists a Thomas Ray as his son.

FIRST CENSUS:
First census of the US for Fairfax, Virginia in 1782 lists Thomas with seven whites and one black in his household. They were not there for later census.

COLONIAL RECORDS OF BOTETOURT CO., VA:
Thomas Ray delinquent on waters from John Craigs to Peek Creek, Mongomery Co., VA

Note: Thomas Ray, Jr. named his first son James Bean Ray for James Bean, who lived in the lower district of New River 1771-1772.

Thomas Ray and James Bean both lived on New River and Sinking Creek in 1772, tithables. Mr. Herbert's list.

This area falls in Craig County, VA, at the present time. Thomas Ray does not appear on the tithable list after 1773 of Botetort County, VA. (Area became Fincastle in 1772 and Montgomery County in 1777.

James Bean, mentioned above, made guns as a means of earning a living, and one of the members of the ray clan brought an ancient James Bean rifle to one of the recent family reunions.

Thomas Ray, Sr. did not mention Hiram Ray in his will. He does not appear in census records for North Carolina prior to 1840. As will be noted below his first two children could have been born from a first marriage.
 

In the name of God amen. I Hiram Rha of the state and county aforesaid being infirm in body and not knowing the time of my death are but sound of mind and memory do freely make an appoint this my last will and testament in manner following. (viz) Item first. I will and bequeath to my daughter Lovey Bailey and her bodily heirz my two negro girls Fran and Caroline together with one she has already rec'd named Ginny, likewise one fourth of all my perishable property and one third of all my cash and notez if any, due respect first being paid to all just creditorz and debtorz.

Item second. I will and bequeath to my son Thomas my two negroz Sook and Robeson together with one he has already rec'd named Hannah, likewise one fourth of all my perishable property and one third of all my cash and notez. If any, as above.

Item third. I will and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth my three negros Sal, James and Gabs, likewise my present dwelling house and all lands and tenements adjoining with all farming tools and household and kitchen furniture also one half of all my perishable property and one third of all my cash and notes, if any, for support and raising and schooling my son James, to remain her own as above as long as she remains single and lives in said premises during her natural life due respect being paid that no unnecessary waste be made or tradez be carried on without the counsel of my executor and at the death, marriage or removal of my wife I will and bequeath unto my son James all of the above portion or so much as shall remain together with all the increase of the same thus left to his mother to him and his heirz forever due respect being paid at the time to his age by my executor. Further it is my desire that if any other land or out property belong to me at my death, that the same be sold and divided in three parts, and one third be given to my daughter Lovey, one third to my son Thomas, and one third to my wife as above. Further I do nominate, constitute and appoint my son Thomas as sole executor of this my last will and testament never the less he shall do nothing rashly without first counseling with one of my guardainz chosen by me page second to wit Wesely McElroy and James Ray, and in witness to this my last will and testament I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 10th day of April in the year of our Lord 1839.
Attest:
A. L. Ray signed:                     Hiram Ray- seal
S. H. Deweese
test: J. W. Garland, clerk
The executor above named was duly sworn according to law and letters testamentary. test: J. W. Garland, clerk

Information supplied by Margaret Whittinston King lists the children of Thomas Ray, Sr., as Thomas Ray, Jr.; Hiram Ray: James "Big Jim" Ray; Elizabeth Ray; John Ray; Joseph B. Ray, and Solomon Ray. This list has been handed down in the family of William "Billy" Ray, her ancestor. Due to the date of death of Hiram Ray, further identified below, I conclude that he is the Hiram Ray listed above as the brother of Thomas Ray, Sr. Information from Everett Smith, Box 397, Friendville, Tenn; P. O. Box 1951, Knoxville, TN 37901, gives a pedigree sheet for Thomas Ray, Sr., as being born in Virginia with children listed as Thomas Ray, Jr.; Joseph; James; John, who moved to Haywood County; and Hiram. Hiram is listed as having three children named Lovey, James, and Thomas W.

Information obtained from the family bible, which at the time was in the hands of Erwin Ray, the writer's uncle, indicates that James Marion Ray was born in 1829 which would have made him a juvenile at the time Hiram died in 1839. In conducting my research I located several men named James Marion Ray; however, none of them fit the circumstances of birth and residence, but the James Marion Ray born in 1829, to Hiram Ray and Elizabeth Cox. Therefore after exhaustive research the writer has determined that Hiram's son James Marion Ray, is the writer's great-grandfather.

Hiram named two other children in his will who were adults. At least one of the children was married. Their apparent age and the fact that his wife survived Hiram until at least 1861 indicates the possibility of a previous marriage, from which the two older children could have been born.

The book of wills in Yancey County, North Carolina, indicates that a jury met in 1861 to separate and award the part of Hiram's property which he had designated for her in the attached will. Apparently she had not remarried prior to that date.

James Marion Ray was an adult and married in 1861. There is no record that I could locate which would indicate that he received any of Hiram's estate. The census records of 1850 identify James Marion Ray and Sarah E. Ray as head of household with one son, Milton E. Ray, age 1.

Lovey Ray, daughter of Hiram, married John Bailey, nicknamed "Yellow Jacket John Bailey" due to his extremely volatile temper. Legend has it that John Bailey donated the land upon which the city of Burnsville, NC is now located.

Thomas W. Ray, became a reverend and is believed to have been one of the founders of Mars Hill College. According to Everett Smith, identified above, Thomas W. was married to Hannah Carter and they had the following children:

A. Edward W.
B. Augusta, married to Jeter Pritchard
C. Laura, married to Leroy Buckner.
D. William C., married first to Loretta Anderson, with whom he had children named Carrie and Gere, and second to Lorena Buckner, with whom he had children named Lillie; Daisy; Woodson M.; and Ida.
    1. Lillie married J. F. Buckner
    2. Daisy married Dennis Merrell, with whom she had Ralph Merrell and Thelma  Merrell
        a. Ralph married Dorthea Lee, and had two children named Marjorie and Sharon.
        b. Thelma married Horace Bumgarner, and had two children named Mary Louise  and David.
    3. Woodson M. married Lola Buckner
    4. Ida married C. D. Houston and had a child named Richard.

John, listed above as the son of Thomas Ray, Sr., who moved to Haywood County, had the following children:
    A. Daniel Mack, who eventually moved to Kansas
    B. Margaret
    C. Alice
    D. James Moore, who married Dorcas Anderson, and moved to Tennessee. 
         James and Dorcas had the following children:
                1. Flint
                2. Vera, married Bennett Ward.
                3. Maude, married Charles Mason.
                4. Dorcas, married Estus J. Smith. They had the following children:
                    a. Everette, who married Clara Prater. They had a son named 
                        Michael Smith, who married a lady named Rachel.
                    b. Melanie Smith.

A record of the purchase of property in Old Buncombe County, NC, located in the office of the Register of Deeds, Asheville, NC, reflects that Hiram Ray purchased land in the Crabtree Creek area of Buncombe County between 1806 and 1815 from Jesse Harris and Thomas Ray, Sr., and other individuals.

This is the earliest record I have found to date of a Hiram Ray being in Buncombe County. One should note that as of the above date Buncombe County consisted of what are now Clay, Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Transylvania, and Swain counties. It is most unusual that a census record of Hiram Ray in Buncombe County could not be located.

Hiram Ray, being the son of Thomas Ray, Sr., apparently came from Montgomery Co., VA, near the Little River, to live in Buncombe. Little doubt exists as to the location of Crabtree Creek area due to Hiram's will and lands owned by Thomas Ray, Sr., an extremely wealthy plantation and slave owner.

John Preston Arthur, in A History of Western NC 1730-1913, recorded on page 179 an interview of Nancy Anderson Gardner, who was 98 on 15 Jan 1913. She recalled when interviewed in 1912 about Yancey County that Amos Ray, Thomas Ray, and Hiram Ray were among the earliest settlers of Yancey County. She recalled that Hiram Ray had a daughter who married John Bailey and that Bailey donated the land on which the town of Burnsville is built. She added that Thomas Ray married an Ivey Hensley and lived in Cane River Valley. Hiram Ray was described as a wealthy and influential man.

James was born on 22 Dec 1829 in Yancey Co., North Carolina. He married Sarah "Sally" Emaline Anderson, who was born on 23 Jan 1826. She preceded him in death on 16 Aug 1891, and he followed on 13 Feb 1892. James served in the Union army as a private, Company E, 3d Regiment, NC Mounted Infantry Volunteers, from 1 Mar 1865 to 8 Aug 1865. He guarded prisoners for one month, and was company clerk for the rest of his service.

The 1860 US Census for Madison County, NC, lists one household as follows:
Ray, James M. 31.
    Sallie E. 34
    Milton. 10
    Sarah A. 9
    Elizabeth 7
    Harvey (?) (probably Henry) 5
    James W. D. 8 months.

They were married sometime in 1848 and their first child Milton Wellington Ray was born in 1849. A second child, Sarah, was born in 1853, followed by Hamilton Woodville (according to some papers) or Henry Hamilton, as shown by his death certificate. The death certificate also gives his date of birth as 1853, suggesting the possibility that he was a twin to Sarah; however, the family bible and his children all state that he was born in 1854, which I am inclined to believe because I have an 1854 silver dollar with a hole in it which grandmother says he wore on a thong around his neck. They had another son named J. W. Ray; however, I have not, as of this time, located his date of birth. John Parris recently related a story in one of his columns for the Asheville Citizen-Times, of a Joe Ray who had a shoot-out at Waynesville, NC, in which both were killed. I often wonder if this was not the son of James Marion Ray who is listed in the above census as James W. D. Anyway, he apparently was the father of A. L. Ray who is later identified as having made a claim on the property of James Marion and Sarah Emaline Ray, identifying himself as their grandson, from Knox County, Tennessee. If I live long enough I would like to conduct research in Knox County so I could become acquainted with this long lost relative. His nieces and nephews, my uncles and aunts, did not know of his existence.

Roy Metcalf of Mars Hill, NC, provided the following information on Sarah "Sallie" Emaline Anderson. She was the daughter of Nathan Mallot Anderson, born 1782 in New Jersey, died 1856, Ivey, NC, and Sarah Burch, 1785, Surrey County, NC. Sarah Anderson's paternal grandparents were James Anderson, born 1755, died 1822, and Martha "Patty" Malet, probably Mallot, born 1775. Date of death unknown. See The Anderson Clan.

Milton Wellington Ray was married to a Nancy N. Ingle. Nancy was born 1847 and died in 1928 at Asheville, NC. She was the daughter of John Jackson Ingle and Matilda Metcalf Ingle. I am not sure of the date of death of Hamlton Wellington Ray. I interviewed one of his grandchildren before she died and she believed that he died in about 1911. The date is much to early, due to property settlements in which Wellington purchased the property rights to the farm left without will by James and Sarah, from Sarah, her spouse, Henry and Julia, and A. L. Ray from Knox County, Tennessee, who identified himself as a grandson of James M. and Sarah E. Ray. The latter settlement was made in about 1913. Milton and Nancy's children were:
    I. James Jackson Ray, born 1874, died 25 Oct 1918. Married a cousin, Addie Mae Ray, 
        born 1882, died 1917. Their children were as follows:
            A. Thomas Leroy Ray, died 1958. Nothing further.
            B. Eskie (son), died in 1967 of a heart attack.
            C. Carrie, married an Anderson, died in 1967 of a stroke.
            D. Kelly Ray, lived in Asheville, NC. I interviewed him several times prior to his death. He tried his best to help me find Milton W. Ray's family bible, but 
we were unable to locate it. Kelly was a bad alcoholic.
            E. Ollie Mae Rinehart. How happy I am that I was able to talk with her prior to her death. She was a gracious lady and provided so much as the interviewee mentioned  above. Her children were Estelle, who married a Shelton and lived in Michigan; Robert Rinehart, who lived in Black Mountain at the time of the interview, and Calvin (JC). They were born in 1932, 1929, and 1934 respectively.
            F. Melvin Ray, died in 1973 of a heart attack.
            G. Willie Ralph "Bill", lived in Asheville at time of the interview.
            H. Hubert and Ruford, twins born in 1915. Hubert lived in South Carolina and Ruford lived in Providence, RI.

II. Ollie Ray, born 1873, no further information at this time.

III. Ella Ray, married a Thomas Hensley. Nothing further is known. Their children were Lynn, Jennings, Clyde, and Herbert.

IV. Matilda Ray, married Arthur Ray, and they lived in Asheville. Their children were May, Elizabeth, Helen, Paul, Arthur, jr., and another son who the interviewee could not recall.

V. Lenoria Ray, born 1877, died 1955. Married 11 Aug 1895, Madison County, NC to Robert H. Buckner, born 1864, died 1964, both buried in Ivy Hill Cemetery, Buncombe Co., NC. Had a son Alec who became a minister, and a daughter whose name could not be recalled by the interviewee.

VI. Ida Ray, born 1879, died 1963. Married 1 Sep 1901 to Robert Wesley Wilson, born 1870, son of Nelson and Martha Wilson. Children of Ida and Robert:
        A. --------- (?) Wilson, married Carroll Arrington.
        B. Kermon Wilson. No further information known. Name was probably Kermit.
        C. Mildred Wilson. Nothing further known.
        D. Palma Wilson, 10 years old when she drowned.
        E. Belle Wilson, nothing further known.

Very little is known of great aunt Sarah, often called Sallie. Marriage records of Yancey County, NC, reflect that she married William S. Cagle, who was 29 on 14 Sep 1874. We know that she was born in 1853, and from old letters and family stories they migrated to Whitman County, Washington, where they established, according to an old letterhead from one of his letters, the Old Dominion Fruit Company. We know that she had children, but we do not know their names. My grandfather Henry Hamilton, who is further described below, traveled to Washington with his second family to see his sister, and then after returning east, went back to Washington to see her again in the early 1900s.

The old family Bible which I referred to earlier, in the hands of Ervin Ray, also identified him as Hamilton Woodville Ray. He was born on 19 Dec 1854, and married a Mira H. Cook, of Mitchell County, NC, on 9 Sep 1876, under, at least the spelling of his name, as Hambelton H. Ray. He had one son by this marriage, and named the child James Wesley Ray.

His nickname was "Wex Jim". He was born 1878 and died in about 1929, and is buried in an unmarked grave on Paint Fork, to the northeast of Mars Hill, NC. He married a Hattie Wilson, 26 Nov 1893, the daughter of Nelson Wilson, and Martha Wilson, who were also the parents of Robert Wesley Nelson, who married Ida Ray, mentioned above. Therefore he married his cousin. Hattie later died in an insane asylum. Their children were:

I. Kenneth Wellington Ray, born 6 Jun 1903, died 24 May 1977. He married Glenn (Glenda Calloway) on 13 Apr 1924. Glenn was born on 17 Apr 1909, the daughter of William Gilbert Calloway, born 27 Mar 1884, died 29 Jul 1975, and Etta Maney, born 12 Dec 1882, died 17 Oct 1955. Their children were:
    A. Agnes Etta Ray, born 30 Jul 1926, marriage 1st to Bernice Carter, and second to 
        Homer Deitz.
    B. Lois Jean Ray, born 29 Jan 1928, married Frank Hicks.
    C. Ruth Ray, born 14 Apr 1931, married John G. Gardner.
    D. Billy Eugene Ray, born 8 Jun 1933, married Faye Hoder.
    E. Charles Carroll Ray, born 16 Jan 1938, married 1st, Mary Lunsford, and 2nd, Muriel
    F. Richard Leon Ray, born 13 Aug 1947, married, Wanda McKinney.
    G. Herbert Lee Ray, died when he was about 40 years old on 26 May 1956. Married Bonnie Church. No children were born of the marriage. He had been in the military service. Reportedly died of Huntington's chorea (similar to St. Vitus dance).
    H. Bertha Ray, died when she was about two years old.

He lived all of his life in Madison County, NC, working as a sharecropper on the land, the property of J. W. Anderson. He refused to own property. Glenn Calloway, the source of the information, said that she was with him when he died, and being the first dead person she had ever seen, scared her so bad that she went screaming all the way to a neighbors home for help.

When his father married for the second time, described below, James Wesley Ray was left with his grandparents, James Marion and Sarah Anderson Ray. They reared him to manhood. His grandfather spoke highly of him in letters to Henry Hamilton Ray, stating that he could read almost anywhere in the bible and notebook, and could hoe as much corn as his grandfather. There was also some resentment shown in the letters toward his father who left him behind. Glenn indicated that he could remember his mother vaguely, but did not know if she died, there was a divorce, or if Henry Hamilton simply remarried and left the country rather than face a bigamy charge. She did say that he loved his father and half brothers and sisters, and loved for them to visit him. When his father died in 1926, he went to the wake in Asheville, NC, but she did not think he went to the funeral, due to the bad roads at the time.

Henry Hamilton Ray's second marriage was to Julia Whitt on 13 Feb 1881. She was born on 31 Oct 1858, and died on 6 Jan 1943. I will give more information about Julia in a separate paragraph. Their children were:
    I. Ervin Alexander Ray, born 14 Feb 1882, died 7 Nov 1965, married Emaline Phillips,  from Andrews. Emaline was born 17 Dec 1883. Died 19 Feb 1976. Their children were:
        A. Lewis B. Ray, born 27 Feb 1908, died 9 Dec 1987. He married Lula Arrowood Causby, born 1 Jan 1924, died 17 Jun 1993. They had one child, Glenda.
        B. Garrett Ray, born 5 Nov 1911, married Della Lawing, born 8 Sep 1915, the daughter of William Morrison Lawing and Lois Jane Vaughn. Their only child was Wilma Jean Lawing, born 14 Jan 1948. She was married on 22 Jun 1957 to Daniel Roland Ledbetter, born 21 Nov 1937. Their children were:
                1. Danya Jean Ledbetter, born 19 Aug 1960, married 27 May 1978 to Marty Elliott, born 18 May 1958. They have two children:
                        a. Chasity Dawn Elliott, born 7 Oct 1980.
                        b. Ethan Chad Elliott, born 3 Jul 1985.
    2. Darryl Dean Ledbetter, born 23 May 1965, married Cindy Holland on 27 Jun 1987.  Cindy was born 4 Feb 1966. As of September 1993. They have no children.
    3. Verna Renee Ledbetter, born 19 Apr 1967, married Terry Woody on 21 Mar 87. Terry was born 19 Jul 1965. They have one child, Casey Franklin Woody, born 11 May 1991.

B. Jesse Ray married Eliju Anderson. Jesse had a child named Lloyd Ray. Ervin and Emaline reared him and left him the family farm after their death. He was very good to them and took care of them during their later years. Lola Phillips Brendle Roberts, identified below, told everyone in the family that Lloyd was born due to a relationship or an affair between Jesse and her uncle, my father, Edward Smith Ray.

Emaline Phillips had a daughter named Lola Maude Phillips, prior to her marriage to Ervin Alexander Ray. Lola married one Lawrence Moody Brendle in 1919 and divorced him in 1920. She then married on, 5 Oct 1921, James Donald Roberts, who died on 1 Jan 1979. Lawrence and Lola had one child named Virgil Troy Brendle, born 28 Jul 1921 in Swain County, NC, who was reared by Ervin and Emaline. Virgil married Viola Roberts, born 13 Oct 1921, in Asheville, NC, daughter of Douglas and Ida Stone Roberts. Their children are named as follows:
    1. George Edward Brendle, born 17 May 1940, Asheville, NC. m. 1st to Barbara  Ann Clewis, Marion, NC., and 2nd to Helen Mosteller Ramsey, Nebo, NC.
    2. Joyce Ann Brendle, born 8 Oct 1942, m. William Bobby Duncan, Marion, NC.
    3. Jerry Wayne Brendle, born 19 Feb 1945, married Teresa Ann Hyman, Marion, NC.
    4. Linda Dianne Brendle, born 10 Apr 1950, married to Roy Lee Mathis
    5. Karen Darlene Brendle, born 20 Jun 1956, Nebo, NC, married 1st to Dennis Keith Foster, Charlotte, NC and 2nd to Robert Sparks, Nebo, NC.

Children of George Edward and Barbara Ann Brendle were:
    a. Richard Edward Brendle, born 26 Sep 59.
    b. Laura Christine Brendle, born 22 Oct 60.
    c. Bonita Louellyn Brendle, born 7 Jul 66.
    d. David Grayson Brendle, born 25 Nov 67.

CHILDREN OF ROY LEE AND LINDA DIANNE MATHIS:
    a. Gregory Lee Mathis, born l2 Jul 1967.
    b. Lisa Annette Mathis, born 30 Aug 1970

CHILDREN OF JERRY WAYNE AND TERESA ANN BRENDLE:
    a. Timothy Allen Brendle, born 11 Dec 1970
    b. Robert Jason Brendle, born 29 Nov 1974.
    c. Jeffrey Wayne Brendle, born 31 Jul 1978.
 

II. Louis Hamilton Ray, born 20 Aug 1886, died 14 Aug 1887.

III. Robert Wellington Ray, born 7 Jul 1889, died 13 Jun 1965, married Vesta Banks, born 17 Feb 1889, died 3 Nov 1959. Vesta or Vestie Banks was the daughter of Regan Decatur Banks and Mary Elizabeth Buckner. Their children were as follows:
    A. Vance Hedrick Ray, born 22 Apr 1912, died 29 Apr 1977. Married Georgia Owensby. Vance and Georgia's children were Richard; Carolyn; Gale; Wanda; Bobby; Douglas; and Ron.
    B. Nell Ray, (a twin), born 29 Jun 1920, married John Cogdill. Their children were  Michael and Johnny. Johnny married Cindy Sluder.
    C. Ned Ray, (a twin), born 29 Jun 1920, died 29 Jan 1971, buried at Weaverville, NC, married Ruby Phillips. Their children were Danny, Marsha, and Steve.
    D. Carmen Ray, born 31 Aug 1924, married 1st Wilma McFarland, by whom he had a daughter Darlene, and second to Eula Mae Daniels. He resides in Jacksonville, FL.

IV. James Marion Ray (Uncle Jim) and Aunt Lizzie had five children. One of them nay have been adopted. I do not know much of his family. He was in the service and stationed at Fort Barancas, near Pensacola, Florida. He died there in 1932. Edward, my father and his brother, arrived at his death bed just before he died. He was a bad alcoholic. Their children were Juanita, Dioma, Mangum, Carmen, and Thomas. Thomas was reportedly a chief of police of Fort Walton Beach, Florida at one time. One of the boys was killed while working as a security guard.

V. Lake Erie Ray, born 17 Sep 1895, died 6 Mar 91. She was married first to William Garner Stewart of Blue Ridge, GA. Uncle Will, as we called him, was born 17 Feb 1893. As of this date I do not know his date of death. She was married later to Marcus Martin, a renowned fiddle player in western North Carolina; however she had no children from the second marriage. She and Uncle Will had children as named below:
    A. Lewis Edward Stewart, born 17 May 1914; died 10 Mar 1976, married to Hazel Weaver on 26 Mar 1940 in Asheville, NC. As of last knowledge Hazel was residing in High Point, NC. They had two daughters: Patricia who drowned 29 Aug 1954, and is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Asheville, NC, and Debbie, who married Paul Pitts, and of the last knowledge was residing in Winston-Salem, NC. We knew him by the name of Ed, and he is buried in Skyview Memorial Park, Asheville, NC.
    B. Robert "Bob" Noah Stewart, born 11 Mar 1916. I cannot presently remember the date of his death. He married Eva M. Bryant on 8 Jul 1944. They had four children: Erie Dianne, who married Carlos Bennett of California; Caren, who married a Bennett; Bobbie who married Peggy Brighton, and Billie, who was killed in Vietnam in 1968.
    C. Clara Verna Stewart. We knew her by the name of Verna, but somehow the  pronunciation in the family was always Vernie. She was born 14 Nov 1917, and died 11   Sep 1978. She married a Frank Curriden of New Jersey on 4 Jan 1939. They had no children to my knowledge. I never knew him and I don't know why they separated. She is buried in Skyview Memorial Park, Asheville, NC.
    D. Thad William Stewart, born 23 Mar 1920, and as of August 1993, was residing in Swannanoa, NC. He married Gertie Shook on 9 Sep 45 in Greenville, SC. Thad was born in Forney's Creek, Swain County, NC, and Gertrude "Gertie" was born on Weems Creek, Weaverville, NC, the daughter of Hosie and Annie Aiken Shook.  Gertie is dead and is buried in Swannanoa, NC, but I do not have the date of her death. 
        They had one daughter, Glenda K., born 9 Feb 1947, Asheville, NC, who married James McDonald of Boston, Mass, on 23 Mar 68. Glenda and James have four daughters: Christian K., born 14 Jan 69; Julie Elana, born 5 Feb 71; Meridith Lynn, born 14 Oct 73; and Heather Ann, born 14 Feb 75. Their dates of birth are as provided by their grandfather, Thad William Stewart.
    E. Clifton Dewitt Stewart, who we always called Dewitt, was born on 7 Aug 1922. He married Virginia Barnes on 4 Sep 54, and as of August 1993 was residing in Asheville, NC. Their children are Clifton Elbert, who married a Debbie Ball, and Morris Allen Stewart, no further information.
    F. Samuel Lee Stewart, born 18 Sep 1925, married Faye Waldrup on 4 Sep 1943 in York, SC. Faye was born 23 Jun 1925 in Ravens Ford, Swain County, NC. She was the daughter of Robert Waldrup "Wardrup", born 16 Oct 1899, Madison County, died 25 Sep 64, Swannanoa, NC, and Manila Ansbell Gosnell, born 16 Jun 1901, Madison County, NC. Sam, as we called him, and Faye had the following children: Linda Gail, born 3 Aug 48, Asheville, NC, married Michael Edward Banks of Swannanoa, NC, on 12 Aug 1966. The children, to my knowledge, were Michael Edward Banks, Jr., born  23 Nov 70; Brian Christopher Banks, born 30 Oct 1973; Sammie Lee Stewart, born 28 Oct 54, married to Peggy Lonon of Black Mountain, NC. They had two children, a son
named Colin, who died young, and a daughter named Alyssia; Roger Dail Stewart who died at birth; and Judy Faye Stewart, born 24 Aug 58. As of Aug 1993 Judy is married and has children, but I do not know either her married name or the children.

VI. Edward Smith Ray, born 13 Nov 1893, died 16 May 1962, married Annie Elizabeth Woody on 26 Feb 1917. Annie was born 25 Apr 1897, Swain County, NC, and died 12 Dec 1965 in Smithfield, NC. Both are buried at McDowell Memorial Park, Marion, NC. Annie, a daughter, identified below, is buried beside them. Their children along with their offspring are listed below:
    A. James Tilghman Ray, born 30 Nov 1917, Swain County, NC, died 25 Jul 1980, Veterans Hospital, Oteen, NC, and is buried at Bethel Church, Mud Cut, NC, near arion, NC. He married Lillian Geneva Hogan, on 28 Jul 1939 in Union, SC. Lillian was the daughter of Caleb Pinkney Hogan, born 19 Oct 1890, died 24 Dec 1965, and Ella Lee Ward, born 23 Feb 1890, died 2 Nov 1955. Both are buried at Macedonia Baptist Church. Her grandparents were Jethro Ward and Julia Radford Ward, both buried at Bethel Baptist Church. Her other grand- parents were Marion Hogan, buried at Bethel Church and Jane Arrowood buried at Macedonia Church. James and Lillian's children were:
            1. Patsy Jo Ray, born 18 Mar 1940, married Richard Charles Martin on 5 Sep 1959. 
            Their children were:
                a. Richard Charles Martin, Jr., born 20 Mar 1961, married Charman Kennedy in 1989.
                b. Robert James Martin, born 20 May 1963, Cheryl Baker. They have a sonnamed  Robbie and a daughter named Sarah.
                c. Dana Jo Martin, born 19 Jun 75.
        2. Jimmy Edward Ray, born 18 Oct 1941, married Joanne Hollifield on 15 Apr 1960. Joanne was born 20 Apr 1944. Their children were:
                a. Teresa Ann Ray, born 16 Aug 62, married Fred Allen Washburn, on 
                     2 Jun 1984. Fred was born 6 Dec 1960. They have a daughter, AshleyDanielle, born 5 Jun 86, and a son Travis Colby, born 16 Feb 1989.
                b. James Stewart Ray, born 11 Apr 65, married Cynthia Dianne Pittman on 5 May 1990. Cynthia was born 3 Oct 1968. James had a son before his marriage  named Jeffrey Wayne Lewis Ray, born 24 Dec 1984. He has a 
 son by Cynthia named James Tyler, born 25 Apr 1991.
                c. Mark Anthony Ray, married 22 Aug 1986 to Tammy Mitchell, they have a  son named Devan, who was born 19 Aug 1992.
                d. Gregory Edward Ray, born 18 Nov 1967, not married as of September  1993.
        3. Julia Ann Ray, born 11 May 1943, married 20 May 1961 in Baltimore, MD, to  Ernest Walter Keerans. Ernest was born 12 Oct 1942, the son of Ernest 
 Clifford Keerans, born 29 May 1920, died 2 Jan 1971, and Catherine Regina 
Kaczmarek, born 19 Jan 1921, Baltimore, Maryland. His grandparents were 
Frank Vandon Keerans, born June 1895, died 1 Apr 1974, and Willa O'Dell 
Demastus, born 10 Oct  1898, died 11 Jul 1975. His paternal great- grandmother was Williette Hutchens, born 1 Apr 1875, died 2 Jan 1960, Augusta County, Virginia. His paternal great grandfather was Edward Clifford Demastus, born 12 Sep 1874, died 15 Mar 1934, and the other paternal great grandmother was Nellie Wilson Humphrey,  not further  identified. Julia "Judy" and Ernest's children are:
                a. Valerie Lynn Keerans, born 6 Nov 1961, Baltimore, MD, married Stephen Joseph Harris on 15 Jun 1983 in Baltimore, Maryland. They have two 
children, Stephen Joseph Harris, Jr., born 14 Aug 1984, Baltimore, MD, 
 and Ashton Nicole, born 14 Jun 1989, Baltimore, Maryland.
                b. Sandra Lee Keerans, born 5 Mar 1963, married Joseph Lochte. They had a son  Joseph Victor Lochte, Jr. born 13 Sep 1981. She divorced Joseph and married James Thomas Diventi on 13 Oct 1991. They have a  son named Vincent Ernest  Diventi, born 21 Oct 1986 in Baltimore, Maryland. Apparently Sandra was suffering from cancer, as of Sep 1993.
        4. Bobby L. Ray, born 15 Sep 1946, married first to Patricia A. Tula, in 1971, by whom he has a daughter Tricia A. Ray, born 6 Mar 1975. Tricia has a child  named Rebecca  Lynn Hammerbacher, born 23 Feb 1992. His second marriage  was to Debra Duncan on Nov 4, 1977, by whom he has a son named Robert L. Ray, born 23 Jan 1979.
        5. Charles Terry Ray, born 5 Jul 1950, married Kathleen Opal Badders on 5 Sep 1970. Kathleen's parents were Joseph Keith Badders, born 19 Sep 1913, died  3 Apr 1976, and Martha Alice Myers, born 14 Dec 1921, died 28 Dec 1971. 
 Joseph and Martha were married 29 Jun 1938. Charles and Kathleen's children were:
                a. Tracy Lynn, born 2 Mar 71, married on 8 May 1993 to John Thomas Price,  who was born 7 Oct 1970.
                b. Keith Michael Ray, born 3 Oct 78.
        6. Jerry Thomas Ray, born 22 May 1952, married on 4 Aug 1975 to Patricia Ann Brennan, who was born 9 Oct 1952. Patricia's parents were Francis and 
            Pauline  Brennan. Jerry and Patricia's children are:
                a. Jason Thomas Ray, born 13 Jun 1974.
                b. Allison Nicole (Nacole) Ray, born 20 Jul 1978.
        7. Mary Katherine Ray, born 2 Nov 1954, married on 16 Mar 1974 to James H.  Valentine, who was born 2 Oct 1952. James' parents were George Henry and Shirley Jeanne Valentine. Mary and James' children are:
                a. Beth Rey, born 8 Dec 1974.
                b. Jamie Rena (Reva), born 9 May 1977.
        8. Michael Anthony Ray, born 14 Jun 1957, married Donna Malinda McFalls, on 17 Apr 1979. They were divorced on 9 Nov 1992 in Marion, NC. Their children were:
                a. Celia Jane, born 24 Dec 1979.
                b. Heather Nicole, born 5 May 1986.

    B. Clyde Hamilton Ray, born 7 Nov 1920, Swain County, NC, died 31 Mar 1968, married on 30 Nov 1942 to Dorothy Masters. They had one child, Sherry. Sherry married but her husband was killed in an accident while driving a truck on Interstate 40 at the Catawba River Bridge, near Old FLort, NC. To my knowledge she has not remarried. Clyde was a bad alcoholic. He is buried at Beaverdam Baptist Church, Asheville, NC.
    C. Joseph Lloyd Ray, born 26 Sep 1922, Swain County, NC, died 27 Jan 1923, and is  buried in Luada Cemetery, Bryson City, NC.
    D. Jack Garland Ray, born 10 Jan 1925, Asheville, NC, married on 9 Sep 46, to Lotta  Simpson, born 1 Apr 1917. Lotta is a Registered Nurse. Jack was in the US Navy from 5 Jan 1945 to 7 Dec 1945, and in the US Army from 13 Mar 1948 until he  retired on 30 Sep 1965. Following almost two years as chief of police for Smithfield, NC, he returned to work for the US government as a special agent, military intelligence, and with the defense investigative service, until his final retirement on 2 Jun 1986. He is the author of this document. Lotta and Jack have  two children.
            1. Jack Garland Ray, Jr., born 25 May 1947, is a computer technician and lives in Newark, Delaware. Jack, better known to his parents as "Gary", has never married.
            2. Larry Edward Ray, born 6 Sep 1948, married Denise Via on 15 Sep 1984. They have one child, Nathan Elliot, born 18 Oct 87. As of September 1993 they were  separated.
    E. Edna Estelle Ray, born 27 Apr 1927, Asheville, NC, married on 17 Sep 1945 in 
        Gafney, SC to Paul Avery Lawing, born 23 May 1925. Paul's parents were John  William Lawing, born 27 Mar 1898, and Effie May Lewis, born 20 Apr 1906 and died 23 Dec 1989. John and Effie were married 13 Jul 1924. Paul's paternal grandparents were James Jasper Lawing, born 9 Jun 1872, died 30 Apr 1934,  and Ella Jane Arrowood, born 5 Oct 1876, and died 27 Oct 1941. Edna and Paul's hildren were:
            1. Ronald Dale, born 14 Oct 46, married Glenda Lee Turner on 15 Dec 1972, and divorced her on 6 Jan 1977. They had a son named John Edward, 
born 4 Nov 1975. Ronald, better known to his family as "Ronnie", then 
married Lawana Kay Myers, born 16 Dec 1978. Ronnie and Kay lived in  Nebo, NC. As of September  1993. Ronnie served in the military from 4 Aug 1965 to 23 Aug 1969, and from 4 Oct 70 to 2 Nov 1973.
            2. Beverly Dyann, born 22 Jul 1951, married Joseph Dominic Nassarie on 10 Aug 1974. Beverly had a daughter before her marriage named Patrice Ann,born 25 Apr 1969. Patrice Ann married David Allen Beard on 19 Jun 1993. 
David has a son by a previous marriage by the name of Sean Luke. Beverly and Joseph have a son named Joseph Dominic, Jr., born 17 Oct 1980.
            3. Debra Lynn, born 13 Apr 1955, married Howie Baker on 14 Jul 1973, who she divorced on 15 Nov 1979. Her children by Howie were Dawn Marie, born  31 Jan 1976, and Michael Paul 2 Jan 77. Debra then married Allen Cutright on 6 Dec 1980 and divorced him on 20 Apr 1987. Her current marriage is to Edward Patrick Clarke, Jr., born 27 Dec 1955. They were married on 16 Apr 1988, and have a son, Edward Patrick, III, born 22 Oct 1991.
            4. Paul Edward, born 24 Jul 1957, married in March 1980 to Mellissa Denise Larsen, born 30 Jul 1962, whom he divorced in Jan 86. They had a daughter, Jennifer Lynn, born 6 Dec 1980. Married in February 86 to Joyce Heck Conway, born 31 Oct 1948. They have a daughter named Amanda Danielle,  born 13 Nov 1986. Paul served in the military from 16 Sep 1974 to 
16 Mar 1976.
            5. Paul and Edna adopted a boy named David Robert who took their last name as his own. He had two children by a common law wife named Crystal Ann Police, born 11 Nov 65. The children are Amber Nicole, born 27 May 1983,  and  David Christopher, born 6 Jan 88. As of September 1993, they were living with Edna and Paul who were trying to get custody. Their mother was killed in an automobile accident on 19 Jan 1993
    F. Annie Elizabeth Ray, born 20 Oct 1930, died Nov 1978, Cary, NC. She had a child named Janet before she married a Stanley Crews of Baltimore, MD. She also had another child, Elizabeth Ann, who we knew as "Pete" before her marriage to Stanley. By Stanley she had three children: Eddie, Robert, and Paula. "Pete" is  married to Charles Sackell, and they have three children.
     G. Carter Lee Ray, born 12 Dec 1938, married first to Nancy Riffle, on 
28 Feb 1958. They had one child named Joyce Ann Ray, born 12 Dec 1959. They were  divorced on 4 Apr 1963. Carter then married Annie Virginia Williams, born 27 Dec 1926, the daughter of George May Jones, born 4 Jun 1895, in West  Virginia, died 4 May 1962, and Minnie Lee Shipp, born 31 Oct 1905 in Louisa County, Virginia, died 14 june 1981. Annie Virginia Jones Williams was previously married to James K. Williams, born 22 Oct 1922, died 16 Sep 1955. Annie and James had the following children:
                1. Sheila Ann Williams, born 22 Sep 1948, Louisa County, Virginia, married Ronald E. Head, on 21 Nov 1970, in Dundalk, MD. Ronald was born 15 Oct 1947. They have two children: Kimberly Ann Head, born 27 Mar 1977, Baltimore, MD and Brian Eric Head, born 22 Nov 1982, Baltimore, MD.
                2. Esther Mae Williams, born 13 Feb 1951, Gardenville, Virginia, married Donald E. Head on 21 Nov 1970, Dundalk, MD. Donald was born 15 Oct 1947. They have two children: Lyra Lynn Head, born 30 Jan 1975, Baltimore,  MD, and Shawnna Marie Head, born 3 Nov 1980, Baltimore, MD.
                3. Helen Elaine Williams, born 22 Feb 1952, Leonardstown, MD, 
married Arthur Steve Anderson on 5 Jun 1971. Arthur was born 24 Nov 1949. 
 They  have two children, Steven Dwayne Anderson, born 9 May 1973,  Baltimore, MD, and Jayson Daniel Anderson, born 16 Nov 1974.
                4. James Edward Williams, born 25 Feb 1955, Leonardtown, MD, married Elveeta Bonolis Melzer on 2 May 1982. Elveeta was born 10 Nov 1952.
                    She had a daughter prior to her marriage to James Edward Williams, Charlene Micole Melzer, born 26 Oct 1980.

Carter Lee Ray and Annie Virginia Jones Williams Ray, who we always called Jeannie, had the following children:
    1. Troy Lee Ray, born 20 Jan 1962, married Mary Lou Wassel, on 16 Jul 1983. They are currently divorced.
    2. David Heath Ray, born 23 Jul 1967, Baltimore, MD.

    H. John Everette Ray, born 13 Jul 1941, married to Brenda Williams. Brenda's parents were Jack William, born 3 Apr 1916, and Dora Elizabeth Biddix, born 26 Jun 1919, died 22 Feb 1992, their children are:
        1. Dewayne Ray, born 4 Mar 1964. He has not been married but has two children. 
            The first was by Becky Collins, named Diana Brook Ray, born 17 Sep 1986, and the second was by Geneva Rhom, named Jeremiah Dillon Ray, born 22 Feb 1993.
        2. Mellissa Ann Ray, born 27 Jun 1966, married to Jeff Petrillo, by whom she has a daughter named Katie Brook Petrillo, born 12 Jul 1991. Melissa was previously married to Donald Carr from 19 Apr 1986 to 24 Mar 1989.
        3. Angela Marie Ray, born 8 Dec 1967, married Jack Donald Talley on 24 Jul 1993. Jack was born 7 Dec 1967. Angela was previously married to Jerry Lee Roland, Jr., from 3 Aug 1986 to 3 Feb 1990.

VII. Julia A. Stella Ray, born 28 Mar 1899, died 14 Feb 1948. She was better known to us as "Liesia" and often listed she name as Liester. She married a William Melvin Clark, born 17 Apr 1890, died 26 Apr 1965, in Baltimore, MD. Melvin's parents were William Patrick Clark, born 12 Dec 1856, died 7 Mar 1927, and Louise Patton Clark, who died in 1895. Melvin and Julia are buried at St. John's Lutheran Church, Sweet Air Road, Sweet Air, MD. Their children were:
    A. Billy Clark, born Sep 1927, died 14 Feb 1928.
    B. Helen Lavain Clark, born 29 Mar 1930, Buncombe County, NC, married Raymond Joseph Klima, born 10 Dec 1922. Their children were:
            1. William Joseph Klima, born 6 Aug 1962, Baltimore, MD. William has a son, Christopher Joseph Klima, born 17 Nov 1985, Baltimore, MD.
            2. Ann Klima, born 5 Jun 1966, Baltimore, MD.
    C. Faye Evelyn Clark, born 18 Feb 1932, Buncombe County, NC, married Charlie Edward Hagwood, born 30 Nov 1928, Louisburg, NC. Their children were:
            1. Beth Ann Hagwood, born 24 Jul 1963, Baltimore, MD, married Thomas Bond, born 11 Oct 1961, Baltimore, MD. They have a child, Taylor Charles Bond, born 10 Jul 1991.
            2. Penny Susan Hagwood, born 9 May 1967, Baltimore, MD
    D. Frances Evia Clark, born 18 Feb 1932, Buncombe County, NC, married
      Stephen Alvin Finnerty, born 29 Dec 1929, Baltimore, MD. Their children are:
            1. Laurie Ann Finnerty, born 23 Dec 1963.
            2. Amy Lynn Finnerty, born 3 Jun 1966, Baltimore, MD.
    E. Gwylda Evangeline Clark, born 25 Jan 1936, McDowell County, NC, married John  "Jack" Alfred Karmasek, born 13 Feb 1931, Baltimore, MD, died 20 Aug 1971, Ocean City, Maryland. They have a daughter, Denise Diane Karmasek, who is currently married with the married name "Hards" and is living in California.

Deaths
Jesse James Ray, 30 March 1855
Henry Ray, 28 September 1864
Hiram A. Ray, 15 January 1884
Elizabeth Ray, 19 October 1896
William A. Ray, 8 March 1897
Margaret J. Whittington, 5 August 1897
Lousinda Wilson, 21 May 1901