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From: "KENNETH CAMPBELL" <>
Subject: [AUS-NT] Fw: Bray research
Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 11:40:14 +1000


Hi Listers,


Thanks for your reply. I tried this method of contacting researechers in desperation. I also have hit a "brick wall" and I am hoping somebody may have picked up some info that may help me.

My query is about the date/place of birth of JOSEPH BRAY in England c 1834, father also JOSEPH, mother unknown.

Briefly, he was a member of the Royal Engineers posted to Spike Island, Co. Cork, Ireland, married MARGARET CHAPMAN ther, had three children, WILLIAM JOSEPH BRAY, 1858, ( my grandfather known in Australia as CHAPMAN ) HENRY JAMES 1860,who went to VERMONT ISA c1880 and MARY JANE who may have died at time of birth. Mother MARGARET also died a few days later in 1862. In 1861 JOSEPH was posted to MONTREAL, CANADA and deserted from the RE in August 1863 and ended up in BURLINGTON, VERMONT VT. where he raised another family with MARY QUELCH (maybe a variation of her name.)JOSEPH died there in 1899.

HENRY JAMES married LILLIAN (LILLY) A MAYO in Burlington VT in 1883 and moved later to New Yorh . He died in Loockport, Niagara, New York in 1929. We have already made contact with BILL BRAY in NY who descends from HENRY JAMES and if you are a rel of his then you also are a cousin of ours

There was also a MARY JANE BRAY who migrated to New York or Vermont in the 1880s I think. This may or may not be the MARY JANE BRAY born in Co. CORK 1862.

As my JOSEPH joined the "Sappers and Miners", ( later the Royal Emgineers ), in Devonport 1856, I checked the 1851 and 1861 UK Census and found that there were only two od the 51 JOSEPHs not on the 61 roll which meant they had left England died. They were JOSEPH born Bradswaorthy, Denon 25-12-1834, christened January 1835 and JOSEWPH born in Illogan, Cornwall 1833.

Have you come across any info about these two in your research?

Cheers,

Lex Campbell



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