Richard PRAY

Birth:
Foster, Providence, R.I.
Death:
16 Apr 1822
Richfield, Otsego, N.Y.
Father:
Hugh PRAY
Notes:
                   Source:Letter from Iva E. Andrews 26 FEB 1957
Vital Records, Swansea
Vital Records, Wrentham
Hugh Pray Cemetery in Foster, Rhode Island
Benn's Rhode Island Families, Vol 3, p. 114; Vol 2, pp. 275-276
B-Archives 1760 abt. 1762
Mar-Mary or Elizabeth Wood

Will of Richard Pray of Richfield, N.Y. Probated 23 Apr 1822
Benn's Rhode Island Families, p. 275
Unpublished Pray gen. by John Lansing Pray (1839-1911) pp. 87, 133
1830 Census Richfield, New York
Deed at Cooperstown, Otsego, New York, 21 Feb 1792, signed by richard and
       Mary Pray, Foster, Providence, Rhode Island


PRAY HILL AND FARM SETTLERS
(RICHARD PRAY, SON OF HUGH PRAY AND LILLAS COLE)
                     Mrs. M. M. Hatch (Historian of Richfield, N. Y.)

       At the close of the Revolutionary War, Richard Pray, a down East Yankee, bought a large section of the Banyar land in northern Richfield and the Beardsleys later bought as adjoining plot.  The tract was in the north-western part of Richfield and adjoined Columbia om Herlomer Co. on the north and from this he sold farms to the pioneers from 1785-1790 for $1.25 an acre.  Richard Pray was unquestionably the first actual settler to occupy a portion of this land.  Provided with his trustworthy flintlock and shiny new axe and the accumulation of silver dollars to pay for his newly acquired possessions stowed within a pair of cowhide boots securely tied together over the back of his faithful steed and lastly, securing a suitable switch from the tall popular that stood outside the gate of his old home, he started on his lonely journey to a western wilderness.
       At an inn where he obtained lodging the presence of two damsels made his solitary journey seem more objectionable and he decided to wait over a day for his horse to recuperate.  This humane feeling so grew upon him that the one day was lengthened to two.  The third morning dawned and the traveler must go on his way.  In bidding adieu to his new friends he politely informed one of the rosy cheeked damsels that he wished she were coming with him and Polly, with her strict New England regard for the truth, shyly admitted that she wished so too.  Whereupon the delighted Richard quickly dismounted, procured the services of a magistrate and adding a pillion to the trappings of his steed, with his new wife seated beside him, the lonely bachelor's journey merged into a delightful wedding trip.
       The home which they built to succeed the temporary log cabin and in which they passed the remainer of their lives is still in good repair at the foor of Pray Hill.  The row of poplars which for nearly a century outlined the road either way from the house traced their origin to the before mentioned crop which Richard secured from the aged monarch that o'er shadowed his natal hearthstone.
       When a great bear came down the wooded hill at the back of the house, Richard called Polly to come out and attract the bear's attention.  It is affirmed that she spread out her home-spun shift to its upmost capacity as she sidestepped.  At all events the ruse was successful and Richard killed the bear.
       Richard Pray gave a plot of ground on the Hillside beside the road north of the house for a burying ground and it evidently was the most used one in the locality as it had ceased its usefulness way beyond the recollection of a generation now passed on, with three exceptions, the sacred mound, over sixty which can still be identified in the pasture are marked by field stones or not at all.  The three pieces of a white marble slab imbedded in sod and badly discolored were found to read:  "A Memorial of Richard Pray who died August 16 1822 in the 61st year of his ag e.  Rest worthy sire, thy rest is come, thy pains are gone, they work is done: thy God propitious sits above, to bless thee with a Savior's love."
       Another stone is in memory of Phoebe, who was the wife of Luther Clary.  She died 2 May 1885 at age 48 and the third is in memory of George, son of Richard and Sarah Langdon 4 Apr 1832.  Sarah Langdon was the dau. of Luther and Phoebe Clary.
     Three sons of Richard and Polly were Thomas, George and Archibald.  Thomas married Polly Green and moved to Michigan.  Archibald went to Ohio in early life.  George built the house next to his father's on the south, for some years past the home of Mr. Brady and later went to Canada.
       Steven Thoorton married one of the Pray girls and was the first to occupy th Richardson farm at the foot of the hill.  He was a man of means and owner of a gig, because of its basket work, was called "The Goose Nest."
       William Pray (brother of Richard) cleared and cultivated the farm to the north which in 1816 was sold to William Brown.  William Pray moved to and died at Amboy.
       Here all knowledge of Polly and her grave ends as the farm was next owned by William G. Merchant, son of Joel Merchant an early resident, shortly after his marriage in 1830.  Several years later he sold to Carleton a son of the well-known Dr. Wheeler Palmer.
                                  "Bailey's History of Richfield Springs & Vicinity"

       Just when the terrors of the civil War began to be realized in the spring of 1862, the farm became the property of David Locke.  His father, Samuel Locke, son of timothy of Rhode Island, accompanied by a brother, was another early resident.  Samuel and his wife, Mary Wentworth, had eight sons and three daughters.  Of the sons, perhaps Sylvanus was the most widely known as he was of the Walter A. Wood Company at Hoosic Falls and was the patentor of the first grain binder, holding thirty-one patents.
       But our interest centers in the third son David, who married Aurelia, a daughter of Simon P. Clark, and Elizabeth, one of the eight children of Amos Peck (son of Oliver, a son of Ichabod) and his wife, Mary Wagnan of Saratoga.
       At the site of the Samuel Locke home in Brighton midway between the Bard and Fenton residences, there is no evidence of a human habitation while the site of the S.P. Clarke homestead in Monticello is now the home of the family of the late Albert Robinson.
       David and Aurelia lived in South Columbia in the house on the west corner of the Hill (Mill?) road.  It burned about 15 years ago.  After a few years on the Dugan farm, they became the owners and for sixty years father and sons have tilled the soil cleared by Richard Pray.  They were extensive hop growers and the Locke yards ocupied a prominent place on the map for years.  Then David and Aurelia rested from their labors.  The son, Clarke, had a store in Montecello, ended his pilgrimage in recent years and now Lamotte Locke, the last resident owner, has removed to Richfield Springs and a Mr. and Mrs. John Snyder from St. Johnsville, the new owner, have taken possession of the historic homestead.
       As there are no town records or resident kin of these early people and events, this long drawn out fragment of history is, doubtless, the final reference to an obliterated past and seems due Richard Pray in this centennial year of his death (1922.)

RELICS AT THE FAIR:
       (Richfield Springs Mercury, 10/6/93 by Mrs. M.M. Hatch)

       The central attraction (probably in Floral Hall) was the old mantlepiece from the "Square Room" of Pray's tavern one and one-half miles west of Pray Hill at a point which later became the junction of the Skanesteles and Great Western Turnpike.  It was a noted hostelry.
       The mantlepiece is of fine workmanship - graceful Tuscan design, moulding hand wrought; rescued from its position beside the fence, untouched.
       Furnishings of the tavern - a crane and trammel, a handsome pair of polished brass andirons, two bellows each 100 years old, shovel tongs and poker, hand and hearth toaster, firepan for bringing fire from neighbors.

(I wonder what became of all these things.  Greta G. Hughes - present Richfield Springs Historian - Aug. 1967)

WILL OF RICHARD PRAY:
       Richfield, Otsego, NY, dated 25 Mar 1822, probated 23 Apr 1822
       Mentions wife, Mary,
       Sons Thomas, George, Archibald;
       Daughters Lillis Bassett, Lina (Syrra) Seamons, Esther Palmer, Phebe Thornton, Usana (Urama) Hutchinson, Susanna (Surama) Pray. Wealtha Pray, Lovina Pray,
       Grandsons Dennison Palmer, Richard Landin, Damon Seamons
       Granddaughters Mary Landin, Almira Thornton
       Executors: Son Thomas and Mathewson Eddy
       Witnesses: willard Eddy, William Brown, John Jones
Mary (Polly) WOOD OR WOODWARD
Birth:
Abt 1763
of Pomfret, Windham, Connecticut
Father:
Blocked
Mother:
Blocked
Notes:
                   Will of Richard Pray of Richfield, N.Y. Probated 23 Apr 1822
Benn's Rhode Island Families, p. 275
Unpublished Pray gen. by John Lansing Pray (1839-1911) pp. 87, 133
1830 Census Richfield, New York
Deed at Cooperstown, Otsego, New York, 21 Feb 1792, signed by richard and
       Mary Pray, Foster, Providence, Rhode Island

Mary or Elizabeth Wood

WILL OF RICHARD PRAY:
       Richfield, Otsego, NY, dated 25 Mar 1822, probated 23 Apr 1822
       Mentions wife, Mary,
       Sons Thomas, George, Archibald;
       Daughters Lillis Bassett, Lina (Syrra) Seamons, Esther Palmer, Phebe Thornton, Usana (Urama) Hutchinson, Susanna (Surama) Pray. Wealtha Pray, Lovina Pray,
       Grandsons Dennison Palmer, Richard Landin, Damon Seamons
       Granddaughters Mary Landin, Almira Thornton
       Executors: Son Thomas and Mathewson Eddy
       Witnesses: willard Eddy, William Brown, John Jones
Children
Marriage
1
Lillis PRAY
Birth:
Abt 1785
Pomfret, Windham, Connecticut
Death:
2 Oct 1851
Waterville, Oneida, New York
David BASSETT 
Marr:
13 Apr 1814
 
Notes:
                   Benn's Rhode Island Families, p. 275
Unpublished Pray gen. by John Lansing Pray (1839-1911) pp. 87, 133
1830 Census Richfield, New York
Deed at Cooperstown, Otsego, New York, 21 Feb 1792, signed by Richard and
       Mary Pray, Foster, Providence, Rhode Island

Unpublished Pray genealogy by John Lansing Pray (1839-1911)  pp. 123-125
Will of Richard Pray of Richfield, Otsego, New York, dated 25 Mar 1822, probated 23 Apr 1822.

WILL OF RICHARD PRAY:
       Richfield, Otsego, NY, dated 25 Mar 1822, probated 23 Apr 1822
       Mentions wife, Mary,
       Sons Thomas, George, Archibald;
       Daughters Lillis Bassett, Lina (Syrra) Seamons, Esther Palmer, Phebe Thornton, Usana (Urama) Hutchinson, Susanna (Surama) Pray. Wealtha Pray, Lovina Pray,
       Grandsons Dennison Palmer, Richard Landin, Damon Seamons
       Granddaughters Mary Landin, Almira Thornton
       Executors: Son Thomas and Mathewson Eddy
       Witnesses: willard Eddy, William Brown, John Jones
2
Thomas PRAY
Birth:
Abt 1787
of Pomfret, Windham, Connecticut
Death:
Notes:
                   Will of Richard Pray of Richfield, N.Y. Probated 23 Apr 1822
Benn's Rhode Island Families, p. 275
Unpublished Pray gen. by John Lansing Pray (1839-1911) pp. 87, 133
1830 Census Richfield, New York
Deed at Cooperstown, Otsego, New York, 21 Feb 1792, signed by Richard and
       Mary Pray, Foster, Providence, Rhode Island

WILL OF RICHARD PRAY:
       Richfield, Otsego, NY, dated 25 Mar 1822, probated 23 Apr 1822
       Mentions wife, Mary,
       Sons Thomas, George, Archibald;
       Daughters Lillis Bassett, Lina (Syrra) Seamons, Esther Palmer, Phebe Thornton, Usana (Urama) Hutchinson, Susanna (Surama) Pray. Wealtha Pray, Lovina Pray,
       Grandsons Dennison Palmer, Richard Landin, Damon Seamons
       Granddaughters Mary Landin, Almira Thornton
       Executors: Son Thomas and Mathewson Eddy
       Witnesses: willard Eddy, William Brown, John Jones
3
Syrra PRAY
Birth:
Abt 1789
Richfield, Otsego, N.Y.
Death:
Notes:
                   Will of Richard Pray of Richfield, N.Y. Probated 23 Apr 1822
Benn's Rhode Island Families, p. 275
Unpublished Pray gen. by John Lansing Pray (1839-1911) pp. 87, 133
1830 Census Richfield, New York
Deed at Cooperstown, Otsego, New York, 21 Feb 1792, signed by richard and
       Mary Pray, Foster, Providence, Rhode Island

WILL OF RICHARD PRAY:
       Richfield, Otsego, NY, dated 25 Mar 1822, probated 23 Apr 1822
       Mentions wife, Mary,
       Sons Thomas, George, Archibald;
       Daughters Lillis Bassett, Lina (Syrra) Seamons, Esther Palmer, Phebe Thornton, Usana (Urama) Hutchinson, Susanna (Surama) Pray. Wealtha Pray, Lovina Pray,
       Grandsons Dennison Palmer, Richard Landin, Damon Seamons
       Granddaughters Mary Landin, Almira Thornton
       Executors: Son Thomas and Mathewson Eddy
       Witnesses: willard Eddy, William Brown, John Jones
4
Weltha PRAY
Birth:
Abt 1791
Richfield, Otsego, N.Y.
Death:
Notes:
                   Will of Richard Pray of Richfield, N.Y. Probated 23 Apr 1822
Benn's Rhode Island Families, p. 275
Unpublished Pray gen. by John Lansing Pray (1839-1911) pp. 87, 133
1830 Census Richfield, New York
Deed at Cooperstown, Otsego, New York, 21 Feb 1792, signed by Richard and
       Mary Pray, Foster, Providence, Rhode Island

WILL OF RICHARD PRAY:
       Richfield, Otsego, NY, dated 25 Mar 1822, probated 23 Apr 1822
       Mentions wife, Mary,
       Sons Thomas, George, Archibald;
       Daughters Lillis Bassett, Lina (Syrra) Seamons, Esther Palmer, Phebe Thornton, Usana (Urama) Hutchinson, Susanna (Surama) Pray. Wealtha Pray, Lovina Pray,
       Grandsons Dennison Palmer, Richard Landin, Damon Seamons
       Granddaughters Mary Landin, Almira Thornton
       Executors: Son Thomas and Mathewson Eddy
       Witnesses: willard Eddy, William Brown, John Jones
5
George PRAY
Birth:
Abt 1793
Richfield, Otsego, N.Y.
Death:
Notes:
                   Will of Richard Pray of Richfield, N.Y. Probated 23 Apr 1822
Benn's Rhode Island Families, p. 275
Unpublished Pray gen. by John Lansing Pray (1839-1911) pp. 87, 133
1830 Census Richfield, New York
Deed at Cooperstown, Otsego, New York, 21 Feb 1792, signed by richard and
       Mary Pray, Foster, Providence, Rhode Island

George Pray went to Canada.

WILL OF RICHARD PRAY:
       Richfield, Otsego, NY, dated 25 Mar 1822, probated 23 Apr 1822
       Mentions wife, Mary,
       Sons Thomas, George, Archibald;
       Daughters Lillis Bassett, Lina (Syrra) Seamons, Esther Palmer, Phebe Thornton, Usana (Urama) Hutchinson, Susanna (Surama) Pray. Wealtha Pray, Lovina Pray,
       Grandsons Dennison Palmer, Richard Landin, Damon Seamons
       Granddaughters Mary Landin, Almira Thornton
       Executors: Son Thomas and Mathewson Eddy
       Witnesses: willard Eddy, William Brown, John Jones
6
Phoebe PRAY
Birth:
Abt 1795
Richfield, Otsego, N.Y.
Death:
2 May 1835
Notes:
                   Will of Richard Pray of Richfield, N.Y. Probated 23 Apr 1822
Benn's Rhode Island Families, p. 275
Unpublished Pray gen. by John Lansing Pray (1839-1911) pp. 87, 133
1830 Census Richfield, New York
Deed at Cooperstown, Otsego, New York, 21 Feb 1792, signed by richard and
       Mary Pray, Foster, Providence, Rhode Island

WILL OF RICHARD PRAY:
       Richfield, Otsego, NY, dated 25 Mar 1822, probated 23 Apr 1822
       Mentions wife, Mary,
       Sons Thomas, George, Archibald;
       Daughters Lillis Bassett, Lina (Syrra) Seamons, Esther Palmer, Phebe Thornton, Usana (Urama) Hutchinson, Susanna (Surama) Pray. Wealtha Pray, Lovina Pray,
       Grandsons Dennison Palmer, Richard Landin, Damon Seamons
       Granddaughters Mary Landin, Almira Thornton
       Executors: Son Thomas and Mathewson Eddy
       Witnesses: willard Eddy, William Brown, John Jones
7
Esther PRAY
Birth:
Abt 1797
Richfield, Otsego, N.Y.
Death:
BUCKLIN 
Marr:
 
Notes:
                   Will of Richard Pray of Richfield, N.Y. Probated 23 Apr 1822
Benn's Rhode Island Families, p. 275
Unpublished Pray gen. by John Lansing Pray (1839-1911) pp. 87, 133
1830 Census Richfield, New York
Deed at Cooperstown, Otsego, New York, 21 Feb 1792, signed by richard and
       Mary Pray, Foster, Providence, Rhode Island

WILL OF RICHARD PRAY:
       Richfield, Otsego, NY, dated 25 Mar 1822, probated 23 Apr 1822
       Mentions wife, Mary,
       Sons Thomas, George, Archibald;
       Daughters Lillis Bassett, Lina (Syrra) Seamons, Esther Palmer, Phebe Thornton, Usana (Urama) Hutchinson, Susanna (Surama) Pray. Wealtha Pray, Lovina Pray,
       Grandsons Dennison Palmer, Richard Landin, Damon Seamons
       Granddaughters Mary Landin, Almira Thornton
       Executors: Son Thomas and Mathewson Eddy
       Witnesses: willard Eddy, William Brown, John Jones
8
Urama PRAY
Birth:
24 Apr 1800
Richfield, Otsego, N.Y.
Death:
13 Oct 1870
Notes:
                   Will of Richard Pray of Richfield, N.Y. Probated 23 Apr 1822
Benn's Rhode Island Families, p. 275
Unpublished Pray gen. by John Lansing Pray (1839-1911) pp. 87, 133
1830 Census Richfield, New York
Deed at Cooperstown, Otsego, New York, 21 Feb 1792, signed by richard and
       Mary Pray, Foster, Providence, Rhode Island
9
Surama PRAY
Birth:
24 Apr 1800
Richfield, Otsego, N.Y.
Death:
1882
Notes:
                   Will of Richard Pray of Richfield, N.Y. Probated 23 Apr 1822
Benn's Rhode Island Families, p. 275
Unpublished Pray gen. by John Lansing Pray (1839-1911) pp. 87, 133
1830 Census Richfield, New York
Deed at Cooperstown, Otsego, New York, 21 Feb 1792, signed by Richard and
       Mary Pray, Foster, Providence, Rhode Island

WILL OF RICHARD PRAY:
       Richfield, Otsego, NY, dated 25 Mar 1822, probated 23 Apr 1822
       Mentions wife, Mary,
       Sons Thomas, George, Archibald;
       Daughters Lillis Bassett, Lina (Syrra) Seamons, Esther Palmer, Phebe Thornton, Usana (Urama) Hutchinson, Susanna (Surama) Pray. Wealtha Pray, Lovina Pray,
       Grandsons Dennison Palmer, Richard Landin, Damon Seamons
       Granddaughters Mary Landin, Almira Thornton
       Executors: Son Thomas and Mathewson Eddy
       Witnesses: willard Eddy, William Brown, John Jones
10
Archibald PRAY
Birth:
9 Sep 1802
Richfield, Otsego, N.Y.
Death:
9 Oct 1852
Whitehouse, Lucas, Ohio
Notes:
                   Will of Richard Pray of Richfield, N.Y. Probated 23 Apr 1822
Benn's Rhode Island Families, p. 275
Unpublished Pray gen. by John Lansing Pray (1839-1911) pp. 87, 133
1830 Census Richfield, New York
Deed at Cooperstown, Otsego, New York, 21 Feb 1792, signed by richard and
       Mary Pray, Foster, Providence, Rhode Island
1850 Census Waterville, Ohio (Lists Harriet Meyers born in N. Y.)
Waterville Ohio Cemetery
Unpublished Pray Gen. by John Lansing Pray (1839-1911)  p. 143
Iva Andrews 13 Oct. 1963 #20
Memoirs of Toledo and Lucas Co., Harvey Scribner, Vol. II, 1910


       Archibald Pray has been established in Lucas County, Ohio since 1831 when he and his wife, Harriet came from Otsego County, New York and settled in Waterville.  He kept a tavern in Whitehouse, Ohio.  Four of their children died as infants; four infant cemetery stones had no names inscribed.
       The family was reared amid the scenes of pioneer life, and at first their nearest neighbor was at Waterville, 4 miles distant.

WILL OF RICHARD PRAY:
       Richfield, Otsego, NY, dated 25 Mar 1822, probated 23 Apr 1822
       Mentions wife, Mary,
       Sons Thomas, George, Archibald;
       Daughters Lillis Bassett, Lina (Syrra) Seamons, Esther Palmer, Phebe Thornton, Usana (Urama) Hutchinson, Susanna (Surama) Pray. Wealtha Pray, Lovina Pray,
       Grandsons Dennison Palmer, Richard Landin, Damon Seamons
       Granddaughters Mary Landin, Almira Thornton
       Executors: Son Thomas and Mathewson Eddy
       Witnesses: willard Eddy, William Brown, John Jones
11
Lovina PRAY
Birth:
Abt 1804
Richfield, Otsego, N.Y.
Death:
Notes:
                   Will of Richard Pray of Richfield, N.Y. Probated 23 Apr 1822
Benn's Rhode Island Families, p. 275
Unpublished Pray gen. by John Lansing Pray (1839-1911) pp. 87, 133
1830 Census Richfield, New York
Deed at Cooperstown, Otsego, New York, 21 Feb 1792, signed by Richard and
       Mary Pray, Foster, Providence, Rhode Island

WILL OF RICHARD PRAY:
       Richfield, Otsego, NY, dated 25 Mar 1822, probated 23 Apr 1822
       Mentions wife, Mary,
       Sons Thomas, George, Archibald;
       Daughters Lillis Bassett, Lina (Syrra) Seamons, Esther Palmer, Phebe Thornton, Usana (Urama) Hutchinson, Susanna (Surama) Pray. Wealtha Pray, Lovina Pray,
       Grandsons Dennison Palmer, Richard Landin, Damon Seamons
       Granddaughters Mary Landin, Almira Thornton
       Executors: Son Thomas and Mathewson Eddy
       Witnesses: willard Eddy, William Brown, John Jones
FCID:14288:1565
FamilyCentral Network
Richard Pray - Mary (Polly) Wood or Woodward

Richard Pray His parents were Hugh Pray and Lillis Cole.

He married Mary (Polly) Wood or Woodward . Mary (Polly) Wood or Woodward was born at of Pomfret, Windham, Connecticut Abt 1763 .

They were the parents of 11 children:
Lillis Pray born Abt 1785.
Thomas Pray born Abt 1787.
Syrra Pray born Abt 1789.
Weltha Pray born Abt 1791.
George Pray born Abt 1793.
Phoebe Pray born Abt 1795.
Esther Pray born Abt 1797.
Urama Pray born 24 Apr 1800.
Surama Pray born 24 Apr 1800.
Archibald Pray born 9 Sep 1802.
Lovina Pray born Abt 1804.

Richard Pray died 16 Apr 1822 at Richfield, Otsego, N.Y. .