James Bray Jr.
James Bray Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Member of the House of Burgesses for James City County, Colony of Virginia | |
| In office 1700-1702 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Duke |
| Succeeded by | Benjamin Harrison |
| Personal details | |
| Born | circa 1670 Middle Plantation Colony of Virginia |
| Died | November 25, 1725 Middle Plantation Colony of Virginia |
| Resting place | Bruton Parish, Williamsburg |
| Spouse | Mourning Glenn Pettus |
| Children | Thomas, James, Elizabeth |
| Parent(s) | James Bray, Angelica |
| Occupation | merchant, planter, politician |
James Bray Jr. (ca.1670-November 25, 1725) was a merchant, planter, and politician in the Colony of Virginia, who once represented James City County in the House of Burgesses.[1][2]
Early and family life[edit]
Born to Angelica, the wife of brash attorney and politician James Bray (who died in 1691), he received an education appropriate to his class.
Circa 1697, Bray married Mourning, the widow of Thomas Pettus, who bore sons Thomas and James, and daughter Elizabeth Bray.[1]
Career[edit]
In 1700 Bray purchased the legal interests of Pettus' other heirs in 1,280 acres known as the Littletown and Utopia plantations on the east side of College Creek in Williamsburg, which he developed into his family seat. He also owned a brick house and lots in Williamsburg.[2] Bray was a justice of the peace in James City County, and in 1705 so berated fellow justice (and sometime burgess) Thomas Cowles that he resigned.[2]
On July 23, 1700, Bray licensed a slave ship at Jamestown.[2]
James City voters elected Bray one of the men representing them in the House of Burgesses during the 1700-1702 session.[3]
Governor Francis Nicholson disliked Bray.[2]
Death and legacy[edit]
Bray made his last will and testament about a week before his death, and it was presented for probate in York County on March 14, 1726.[2][1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Tyler, Lyon Gardiner, ed. (1915). Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography. Vol. I. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company. p. 193.
- ^ a b c d e f McCartney, Martha W. (2012). Jamestown people to 1800 : landowners, public officials, minorities, and native leaders. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Pub. Co. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-8063-1872-1. OCLC 812189309.
- ^ Cynthia Miller Leonard, The Virginia General Assembly 1619-1978 (Richmond: Virginia State Library 1978) p. 62