House of Ray - 1745-1945

After the Second Stuart Rebellion of 1745 and defeat of the Highland Clans
at Culloden Moor in 1746, five Ray brothers, Archibald, Duncan, Donald,
Gilbert, and John were exiled to North Carolina.  Their families were left
behind and most of them came over later on.

These brothers were the sons of John and Mary Ray and grandsons of Archibald
Ray, CA 1640-1710 of the Isle of Skye, he being of the 25th generation of
descent from Gille Brude, A.D. 925, a Pilot pirate who attacked Viking ships
which had ravaged the Irish Coast and Scottish Isles.  His headquarters was
between the Isle of Islay and Jura.

Gille Brude penetrated the Western Isles from Angus in Central Scotland, and
in part his people formed the Island McDonald.  "Sons of the Brown
Stranger", with his descendents deriving the family name "Gilliereagh" from
Gille Brude's (Gilbert's) activities.  A sept of the Gilliereaghs in Argyle
was distinguished by the name "Darrach".  Rays are both "Gilliereagh" and
"Darrachs" the family under two names.  Gilbert, Donald (Daniel in North
Carolina), Angus, Duncan, Archibald, and Neill are traditional given names
in the family going back one thousand years.

The Rays and Darrachs were incorporated in the McDonald Clan through the
centuries and tended to be "agin the gov'ment" and were ready material for
the Stuart or any other uprising.  They were closely allied to the McNeill
and MacAllister break-aways from the MacDonalds about the time Columbus
discovered America.

Gille Brude's idea of a good beverage 900 or 1000 years ago was of making
mead from honey.  It starts off with honey, water and a floting slice of
bread, spread with yeast, a lightly bunged keg in a warm place, foaming
around the bung-hole for several weeks, then a process of drawing it off
into tightly stoppered jugs put in a cold place for three years and finally
a foaming beverage that one drinks best lying on his back.  It is said to be
power stuff.

Archibald Ray (1700-1770), the oldest of the five brothers was, we think,
one of the first three elders of Long Street Presbyterian Church.  We do not
know who he married or anything about his descendents.

Duncan Ray (1704-1774) the second oldest of the five brothers, after
arriving in this country occupied land at the Bluff near John Smith and help
organize Old Bluff Presbyterian Church.  We do not know who he married but
sons John and then Christian Cameron.  Very little is known of his
descendents.  Malcolm and Neill, date of births and deaths unknown, lived on
Black River near Aversboro, N.C.  There is no record of whom they married
but each had a son who cannot be identified.  Angus (1736-1815) settled in
Robeson County, N.C., but there is no record of whom he married.  The census
of 1790 showed he had two sons and two daughters.  Hugh (1734-1816) lived on
Upper Little River at Clark's Bridge and he married Jane Baker.  Most of his
descendents live around Lillington N.C. and some at Graham, N.C.  Duncan
(1738-1822), settled in the Long Street section and married Margaret Smith.
Smith, daughter of John Smith.  Children were Malcolm, named for his uncle,
one of the first elders of Long Street Presbyterian Church, Isabella, Sarah,
Catherine, Mary and Ann of whom did not marry.  Angus, who married Priscilla
Ray of Randolph County, N.C. who had one daughter, Flora, who married a Buie
and had two daughters, Margaret, who married Daniel Blue and had one son,
Neill, who married Flora Blue.  Children were Duncan, who married Margaret
Hall and their children and grandchildren are living in the Galatia Church
Community and Seventy-First section.  Margaret, Ann and Daniel Blue never
married.  James Franklin, John Smith, Archibald and David were all either
killed or died of wounds during the Civil War.  Sarah, who married John C.
McGougan had two children but it is not known where they are living.  Mary
Elizabeth married Dr. Alexander Monroe, had four children and some of her
descendents are living in Peoria, Illinois.  Neill L. married Martha Black
in 1868, these two along with three children lie in the cemetery at Big
Rockfish Presbyterian Church.  Mary Sinclair, Ray Hall, Naomi Blue Ray Hall
and Neill Black Ray.  Most of the children of these three live in Lumberton,
N.C. and Fayetteville, N.C. area.  One member of this family, John Smith
Ray, is living nearby and his family attend Big Rockfish Presbyterian Church.

Donald Ray (1705-1776), third Ray brother.  We have no record of who he
married.  We know that he married.  We know that he had children because in
1776, a Donald Ray's will was probated at Fayetteville, N.C., then Cross
Creek, showing as children, Hugh and John Ray and a sister, Catherine, who
married William Black.

Gilbert Ray (1706-1778) the fourth Ray brother, is buried in Long Street
Presbyterian Church cemetery.  We do not know who he married.  His sons were
Gilbert (1744-1815), who did not come to North Carolina.  This Gilbert had a
son, John, who came to North Carolina in 1818, and with his family left in
1830 for Canada and settled in Ontario in the section around Toronto and
since then the family has scattered to all parts of Canada.  One son, James,
stayed in North Carolina, and lived near Galatia Presbyterian Church.
John's great grandson, Louis Duncan Ray of Detroit, Michigan spent many
years compiling this history.  He died in Norfolk, Virginia.

John Ray (1708-1780), the youngest of the Ray brothers, was a planter on
Boiling Spring Branch on the Big Rockfish Creek, but we do not know who he
married.  Children were Angus (1733-1806), wife unknown, great grandfather
of the Rev. Daniel David Fairley who preached for many years at Galatia
Presbyterian Church, father of John who married Ann Monroe and moved to
Marion, S.C. around 1840, great grandfather of Dr. W.G. and Archibald
Alexander Ray whose descendents are still living in the Galatia Church
community.  Two granddaughters of Angus married Carmichaels and moved to
Marion County, S.C.  Two granddaughters married Colquohons and moved to Texas.  

John, a second son of Gilbert the Exile, died in 1804, had one son John the
Tailor of the Galatia Church section who was the grandfather of Flora Ann
Ray Brady of Elizabethtown, N.C. the only surviving member of her family. 

Archibald, the third son, was the father of John who married Sarah McLean of
Islay.  They arrived in 1794 and bought their son Archibald who was born in
1792.  This Archibald was the father of Gilbert Carmichael Ray of Galatia
and Hope Mills, N.C.  Gilbert Carmichael Ray married Nancy Powell of Hope
Mills, N.C. and both are buried here and most of John G's children live in
Rocky Mount, N.C. or Washington D.C.  Archibald Gilbert lived in this
community all of his life is buried here and some of his family are members
here now.  Elizabeth Ray Calhoun (Mrs. George) is buried in the Hope Mills
cemetery and some of her children live in the Seventy-First section.  Sarah
Ann (Sally) did not marry and is buried at Galatia.  Isabella Ray Melton is
buried at Rocky Mount, N.C. and most of her children live there.  Mary Kate
Ray Culbreth is buried at Red Springs, N.C. and left two daughters who are
members here.  Neill G. Ray is living nearby and some of his family are
members here.  Malcolm Buie Ray, the youngest son is living in Ocala, Florida.

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