John PRAY
Birth:
4 Feb 1749
Foster Prov., R.I.
Death:
10 May 1830
Smithfield, Madison, New York
Marriage:
23 Aug 1775
Father:
Mother:
Notes:
Benn's Rhode Island Families, vol. 3, pp. 114, 275
Ballou Genealogy
Heath Record pp. 79-159
Mt. Morris Cemetery, Groveland, New York
Hammond's History, Madison, New York, p. 702
Foster Bk. 3, p. 143: Will of Deborah Wade
The Rhode Island Branch of the Pray Family,
compiled by Marjorie Bucher Shufelt, Waterville, Ohio
Bible of John and Deborah Pray in possession of Frank Lansing Heath
Genealogical Records of John Lansing Pray, p. 158 (in possession of Frank Heath)
The History of Madison county, New York by Mrs. L.M. Hammond
John Pray lived in Foster, Rhode Island. He served as an Ensign in the 3rd Military Company of Rhode Island Militia and served in the Rev. War in 1780. He became a Baptist minister and was a farmer.
Elder John Pray was a native of Rhode Island. His father, Jonathan was a son of Hugh Pray and Abigail Blake, who had 13 children. At the time of John's boyhood on the farm in North Foster, the state line between Rhode Island and Connectivut ran through at their home. Later the line was moved a distance west. In the history of Livingston County, New York we find that John Pray left Rhode Island 1 Nov 1794 with his family and settled in Litchfield, Herkimer county where he engaged in farming. Becoming soon discouraged with this, he went to Baleston, Saratoga County.
Records of Rhode Island say that John Pray was Ensign of the 3rd Company State Militia in 1780 and in 1781 to 1785 inclusive, was Lieutenant. Perry's History of Gloucester mentions John Pray as an officer during the war of the Revolution. In 1777 John Pray was Justice of the Peace.
Private notes from memory by Judge Emory Potter of Toledo shortly before his death says, "Elder John Pray emigrated from Rhode Island to Richfield, Otsego, New York, bought a farm of about 200 acres on the Unadilla River where he lived. He raised three sons, John, James and Paris. About 1818, John left the homestead and moved to Ohio. James took the farm and Paris was sent to Hartwick Seminary near Cooperstown, where he was educated and studied. and he was married there.
"Elder John Pray was a (? Close) Communion Baptist and preached to a small congregation in a little log school house, baptizing his converts by immersion in the Unadilla River. We adjoined farms and the school house was near. My mother used to take me there, a lad of 7 or 8 years old, to attend the meetings. I remember he used to tell a good many stories in his sermons. His congregation was small as the county was new and sparsely populated.
"The old Elder was a Jeffersonian democrat. Whether he or any of his cousins were soldiers of the Revolution, I am unable to say. The Pray family were well to do, and stood number one in the community. His son John was about my age."
The History of Madison county, New York by Mrs. L.M. Hammond says, "John Pray bought the farm of John Taft, lot 33 in Peterboro, sold afterward to Mr. Phipps. Mr.John Taft's grave is in the Northwest corner of the orchard."
On the same page, 702 we find Elder John Pray was an eccentric "six principle" Baptist Minister, well remembered by the oldest inhabitabnts for his odd speeches and peculiar ways." He was from Rhode Island and lived with his sons John and James on the old Pray farm "to a good old age."
"He died in 1830 leaving numerous descendants." A plain slab stone marks his grave in the old cemetery near Peterboro, Madison, New York.
Deborah WADE
Birth:
17 Nov 1755
Gloucester, Providence, R.I.
Death:
9 Dec 1832
Groveland, Livingston, New York
Father:
Mother:
Notes:
Arnolds Vital Records, p. 5302, pt. 2
Gloucester Birth Records, p. 66
Benn's Rhode Island Families, vol. 3, pp. 114, 275
Ballou Genealogy
Heath Record pp. 79-159
Mt. Morris Cemetery, Groveland, New York
Hammond's History, Madison, New York, p. 702
Foster Bk. 3, p. 143: Will of Deborah Wade
The Rhode Island Branch of the Pray Family,
compiled by Marjorie Bucher Shufelt, Waterville, Ohio
Deborah Wade Pray was buried in Mount Morris Cemetery in Groveland, New York.
Children
Marriage
1
Birth:
18 Oct 1778
Gloucester, Providence, R.I.
Death:
1846
Bronson, Michigan
Notes:
Bible of John and Deborah Pray in possession of Frank Lansing Heath
Benn's Rhode Island Families, vol. 3, pp. 114, 275
Ballou Genealogy
Heath Record pp. 79-159
Mt. Morris Cemetery, Groveland, New York
Hammond's History, Madison, New York, p. 702
Foster Bk. 3, p. 143: Will of Deborah Wade
The Rhode Island Branch of the Pray Family,
compiled by Marjorie Bucher Shufelt, Waterville, Ohio
Lived in Madison County, New York and Madison County, Michigan.
2
Birth:
29 Apr 1782
Foster, Providence, Rhode Island
Death:
16 Nov 1873
Groveland, Livingston, New York
Notes:
Benn's Rhode Island Families, vol. 3, pp. 114, 275
Ballou Genealogy
Heath Record pp. 79-159
Mt. Morris Cemetery, Groveland, New York
Hammond's History, Madison, New York, p. 702
Foster Bk. 3, p. 143: Will of Deborah Wade
The Rhode Island Branch of the Pray Family,
compiled by Marjorie Bucher Shufelt, Waterville, Ohio
Bible record of Rev. John Pray
Pray unpublished Genealogy by John Lansing Pray (1839-1911,) pp. 159, 171
Heath records, pp. 159, 171
Bible of John and Deborah Pray in possession of Frank Lansing Heath
He was a farmer and Manufacturer.
3
Birth:
6 Oct 1783
Gloucester, Providence, R.I.
Death:
18 Oct 1872
Waterville, Lucas, Ohio
Notes:
Benn's Rhode Island Families, vol. 3, pp. 114, 275
Ballou Genealogy
Heath Record pp. 79-159, 178
Mt. Morris Cemetery, Groveland, New York
Hammond's History, Madison, New York, p. 702
Foster Bk. 3, p. 143: Will of Deborah Wade
History of Toledo and Lucas Co. by Waggoner,mp. 919
More special mention than has been given seems due to memory of Waterville's chief pioneer. John Pray was born in Rhode Island 6 Oct 1783. At 12 years of age he went to Saratoga, NY. In May 1817, with his brother James and 5 others he set out for the West in search of a site for a colony, traveling by stage to Buffalo, and by a small sloop to Detroit, thence by pack horses they proceeded to the Maumee Valley.
Following the river up to Fort Defiance to Dayton, Ohio and thence to Cleveland. At this point, not having found a satisfactory place for the proposed settlement, all of the party save John Pray returned to New York, while he, not disposed to abandon his pursuit of a western home, came back to Maumee Valley, and soon determined to settle at Waterville.
Returning to New York, he remained there until 1818 when he set out on his return with his wife, four children and a nephew. they traveled in a wagon to Buffalo, ane there took a 15 ton schoomer, the "Captain Charter" for Maumee. So scant was the supply of sails, that the passengers were required to use their clothes for such.
A passage of 9 days took them to Waterville where they found temporary quarters in an unfinished log cabin of Mr. Adams who was among the few settlers who had arrived since Mr. Pray's visit the previous year, all of whom gave cordial welcome to the recruits.
In 1821 John Pray built the first gristmill on the Lower Maumee. In 1821 he laid out the village of Waterville. In 1837 he built the Columbian House, then the best hotel in the section. He purchased large quantities of land in Lucas, Wood and Fulton Counties.
In 1820 he was one of the first board of commissioners of Wood County. For
nine years he was Justice of the Peace. He was the first postmaster of Waterville. He was well educated and thus specially fitted to promote both moral and material interests of the community. (Genealogy given.)
Until 47 years old he adhered to the religious belief of the Universalists, but in 1840 he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1888 the following were still living. Paris H Pray at Whitehouse, Orzo D. Pray at Grizzly Flats, Colo. and thomas Pray at Waterville.
John and Lucy Pray may have had more children who died as infants. He was buried at Wakeman Cemetery, Waterville, Ohio.
4
Birth:
1 Jan 1788
Gloucester, Providence, R.I.
Death:
7 Jan 1850
Waterville, Lucas, Ohio
Notes:
Bible of John and Deborah Pray in possession of Frank Lansing Heath
Benn's Rhode Island Families, vol. 3, pp. 114, 275
Ballou Genealogy
Heath Record pp. 79-159
Mt. Morris Cemetery, Groveland, New York
Hammond's History, Madison, New York, p. 702
Foster Bk. 3, p. 143: Will of Deborah Wade
The Rhode Island Branch of the Pray Family,
compiled by Marjorie Bucher Shufelt, Waterville, Ohio
He was a physician, graduating from a medical college and lived in Waterville, Ohio. He and his apparently had no children.
5
Birth:
18 Jan 1791
Foster Prov., R.I.
Death:
14 Jul 1840
Rochester, Monroe, New York
Notes:
Bible of John and Deborah Pray in possession of Frank Lansing Heath
Benn's Rhode Island Families, vol. 3, pp. 114, 275
Ballou Genealogy
Heath Record pp. 79-159
Mt. Morris Cemetery, Groveland, New York
Hammond's History, Madison, New York, p. 702
Foster Bk. 3, p. 143: Will of Deborah Wade
Unpublished Pray Genealogy by John Lansing Pray (1839-1911)
Records of Schuler M. Pray of Delta, Ohio, son of Miles S. Pray
Gen. records of Iva Andrews Weedon of East Killingly, Conn.
The Rhode Island Branch of the Pray Family,
compiled by Marjorie Bucher Shufelt, Waterville, Ohio
6
Birth:
23 Mar 1793
Foster, Providence, Rhode Island
Death:
17 Jul 1851
Portageville, Wood, Ohio
Notes:
Benn's Rhode Island Families, vol. 3, pp. 114, 275
Ballou Genealogy
Heath Record pp. 79-159
Mt. Morris Cemetery, Groveland, New York
Hammond's History, Madison, New York, p. 702
Foster Bk. 3, p. 143: Will of Deborah Wade
The Rhode Island Branch of the Pray Family,
compiled by Marjorie Bucher Shufelt, Waterville, Ohio
Pray unpublished Gen. p. 171 -- insert p. 159 (by John Lansing Pray 1839-1911)
Benn's Rhode Island Families vol. 2, p. 275
FamilyCentral Network
John Pray - Deborah Wade
John Pray
was born at Foster Prov., R.I. 4 Feb 1749.
His parents were Jonathan Pray and Phebe Aldrich.
He married Deborah Wade 23 Aug 1775 . Deborah Wade was born at Gloucester, Providence, R.I. 17 Nov 1755 daughter of Nathan Wade and Deborah Hawkins .
They were the parents of 6
children:
Phebe Pray
born 18 Oct 1778.
James Pray
born 29 Apr 1782.
John Pray
born 6 Oct 1783.
Paris Pray
born 1 Jan 1788.
George Wesley Pray
born 18 Jan 1791.
Duke Orman Pray
born 23 Mar 1793.
John Pray died 10 May 1830 at Smithfield, Madison, New York .
Deborah Wade died 9 Dec 1832 at Groveland, Livingston, New York .