Husband George HENSLEY (details suppressed for this person)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Sarah Mattie WHEELER
Born: 1876 - North Carolina
Christened:
Died: 7 Dec 1957
Buried:
Father: Thomas Larkin WHEELER (1854-1929)
Mother: Mary Caroline BANKS
Husband George Washington HENSLEY Jr
Born: 1809
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Husband Hickman HENSLEY (details suppressed for this person)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Elizabeth RENFRO (details suppressed for this person)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 F Priscilla "Pressie" HENSLEY
Born: Abt 1795
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: William RIDDLE (Abt 1793-Abt 1858) 1
Marr: Abt 1810 - NC
Husband Hicks HENSLEY (details suppressed for this person)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Martha Evelyn 'Mattie' RAY
AKA: HENSLEY
Born: 31 Jul 1873
Christened:
Died: After 1957
Buried:
Father: Joseph Lafayette RAY (1842-1933)
Mother: Edmonia Loretta COLE (1857-1892)
Husband Thomas L. RAY Jr.
Born: Abt 1772 - Virginia Or England
Christened:
Died: After Jul 1843 - Burnsville, Yancey Co NC
Buried: After Jul 1843 2 3
Father: Thomas L. RAY Sr. (1727-1815)
Mother: Cecelia RAY
Marriage: Abt 1790 4
Noted events in his life were:
• Will, 6 Jul 1843 - North Carolina
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF THOMAS RAY SR. DECEASED, STATE OF NORTH
CAROLINA COURT OF PLEAS AND QUARTER SESSIONS YANCEY COUNTY JULY TERM
1843.
Present and presiding the worshipful Levi Chandler, Charles Byrd and
Ishom Woodard Esquires -
William Ray and Henry Ray the executors of the last will and testament of
Thomas Ray Sr. deceased, present the same to the court upon the oaths of
William J. Lewis and Calvin Edney, the subscribing witnesses there to,
and the executors William ray and Henry Ray were duly sworn as such and
the court orders that letters testamentary issue to the said Executors.
The will is in the words and figures following to wit; In the Name of
God Amen --
Thomas Ray Sr. of the county of Yancey and the state of North carolina
being sick and weak of body, but of sound and disposing mind, memory and
understanding, considering the certainty of death and uncertainty of the
time thereof to the end that I may be better prepared to leave this
world, when it shall please my God to call me hence, have now determined
to direct what disposition shall be made of my property after my decease,
and after considering the circumstances and condition of all those among
whom as my heirs at law or the objects of my gratitude or affection in my
judgement, my estate shall be distributed, I do make, publish and declare
this to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making null
and void all former last wills and testaments and writings in the nature
of last wills and testaments by me here-to-fore made.
First after my decease my body shall be decently buried without
ostentation or unnecessary expense and my funeral charges and just debts
shall be paid by my executors after named. As to the residue of my
estate and property with which God has blessed me and which shall not be
required for the payment of debts, funeral charges and the expense in and
about the execution of this my will and the administration of my estate,
I give devise, and dispose thereof as follows, to wit:
ITEM 1....I give and devise to my eldest son James Ray the lands on which
he now lives, likewise one other tract on which Robert Austin now lives,
adjoining the lands on which James Ray now lives, likewise two fifty acre
tracts and on thirty acre tract, the three last including the
improvements where John Wheeler formally lived, likewise including the
sugar camp and extending up to the Low Gap, likewise another fifty acre
tract adjoining his own lands and on the Pig Pen Branch. Likewise one
other tract known as the Gilbert Place on the waters of Crabtree, to have
and to hold to him and his heirs in fee simple forever.
ITEM 2....I give and devise to my second son Joseph Ray the tract of land
where he now lives, likewise one other tract on which Carles McPeters
holds a lease adjoining the first named tract, likewise two other small
tracts adjoining the first named tract and extending up to the lands
bequeathed to Jesse Ray, likewise one other thirty- two acre tract
adjoining the lands devised to him and James Ray and to his heirs in fee
simple forever.
ITEM 3.... I give and devise to my third son Jesse Ray the lands where
William Ray and Henry Ray now lives, likewise one other tract know by the
name of the Bee Gum Flat tract, likewise one other tract known as the
sugar Cove tract all of which to have and to hold to him the said Jesse
Ray and his heirs in fee simple forever.
ITEM 4....I give and devise to my fourth son William Ray a portion of the
Greenlee tract of land where I now live, that is to say that portion west
of Hintons Mill Crick and on both sides of Cainey River. Likewise one
other tract known as the Anglin tract, and joining the last named tract.
Likewise the lands I purchased of Joseph Shepherd and joining the said
Greenlee tract, all of which to have and to hold to him the said William
Ray and his heirs in fee simple forever.
ITEM 5....I five and devise to my fifth son Henry Ray that portion of the
Greenlee tract whereon I now live lying south of Cainey River and on the
east side of Mintons Mill Crick and including the improvements where I
now live. Likewise two tracts adjoining the same and known as the
Barnett tract or Mill Place, to have and to hold to him the said Henry
Ray and his heirs in fee simple forever.
ITEM 6....I give and devise to my youngest son Hiram Ray all my lands on
the Cattail Fork and Rock Fork Branches of Cainey River. Likewise on
fifty acre tract a portion of which Samuel McPeters is cultivating.
Likewise two other fifty acre tracts adjoining each other and joining the
first named fifty acres a portion of the two named tracts, all in
cultivation by Leander Ray, to have and to hold to him and said Hiram Ray
and his heirs Hiram Ray and his heirs forever.
ITEM 7....I give and devise to my only daughter Rhoda Wheeler the wife of
John Wheeler, the tract of land on which the said Wheeler now lives,
containing three hundred twenty or twenty five acres. Likewise one large
tract adjoining the above named tract and on the waters of the Elk Fork
of the cainey River, adjoining the large tract all of which lands I give
and bequeath to my said beloved daughter Rhoda the wife of John Wheeler
and to her bodily heirs, that is to say Lucinda the wife of Nathan O.
Allen, Thomas Ray Wheeler, Elizbeth Elvira Wheeler, Dorcey Caroline
Wheeler, Susan Wheeler, Clarissa Wheeler, John Henry Wheeler, Sara
Paulina Wheeler and Minerva Jane Wheeler, to have and to hold to them
in fee simple forever.
ITEM: I give and devise to Nathan Boon alias Nathan Ray a bound boy
to me Thomas Ray Senior until he arrives at the age of twenty one years
who is now at the age of sixteen years, one fifty acre tract of land on
the waters of Cainey River adjoining the Newman place and the lands of
Hiram Ray, to have and to hold to him said Nathan and to his heirs
forever.
ITEM: Whereas the above named Nathan Boone alias Nathan Ray will
not be of full age until the 20th day of August in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and forty eight, now therefore my will and
desire is that my son William Ray is hereby constituted and appointed
guardian of the before named bound boy Nathan Boone alias Nathan ray to
have and to hold the custody and guardianship of his person and estate
until the said Nathan shall arrive at the full age of twenty one years.
ITEM: I give and bequeath to my sons James Ray, Joseph Ray, Jesse
Ray, William Ray, and Henry Ray all my negroes to be equally divided
among them share and share alike, and if they cannot agree as to the
portion themselves my will is that they jointly select some two or more
persons to divide them equally between the same to be theirs and at their
disposal forever.
ITEM: I give and devise to my sons James Ray, Joseph, and Jesse Ray
all of the residue of the lands belonging to me that is not heretofore
disposed of, to be equally divided among them to have and to hold to them
the said James, Joseph, and Jesse and to their heirs in fee simple
forever.
ITEM: My will and desire further is that all the residue of my
estate after taking out the various portions heretofore set apart for the
Legates and persons therein named consisting of horses, cattle, hogs, and
sheep with all the notes, bonds and accounts belonging to me shall be
equally divided share and share alike between my sons to wit, James Ray,
Joseph Ray, Jesse Ray, William Ray and Henry Ray to have and to hold to
them and their heirs forever. And I do hereby constitute and appoint my
two sons William Ray and Henry Ray my lawful Executors to all intents and
purposes to execute this my last will and testament according to the true
intent and meaning of the same and every part and clause thereof by
revoking and disclaiming as utterly void all other wills and testaments
heretofore by me made. In witness where of I the said Thomas Ray Sr. do
hereunto set my hand and seal this sixth day of July A.D. 1843.
Signed sealed and published and declared by the said Thomas Ray Sr. to
be his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request
and in his presence do subscribe our names as witnesses there to --
S/ William J. Lewis
Calvin Edney
Thomas Ray
His Mark seal
• Probate 5, Jun 1843 - North Carolina
Henry Ray and William Ray the executors of the last will and testament of
Thomas Ray, sr. deceased presented the will to the court for probate.
Wife Ivey HENSLEY
AKA: RAY
Born: Abt 1773 6
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Hickman HENSLEY (1759-1806)
Mother: Agnes FISHER
Children
1 M James Bean RAY
Born: 7 Jun 1794 - North Carolina
Christened:
Died: 5 Oct 1864 - North Carolina
Buried:
Spouse: Martha Elvira BAILEY (living)
2 M Josephus H. RAY
Born: Abt 1796 - North Carolina
Christened:
Died: 28 Jul 1844 - North Carolina
Buried:
Spouse: Mary BAILEY (living)
3 M Jesse RAY
Born: 1800 - North Carolina
Christened:
Died: 1855 - North Carolina
Buried:
4 M Amos RAY
Born: 1802
Christened:
Died: 1818
Buried:
5 F Rhoda RAY
AKA: WHEELER
Born: 1805
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: John WHEELER (Abt 1793-1871)
Marr: Abt 1820
6 M William "Billy" RAY
Born: 1808 - Old Buncombe County, NC (Now Yancey)
Christened:
Died: 1888
Buried:
7 M Henry RAY
Born: 2 Aug 1810 - Old Buncombe County, NC (Now Yancey)
Christened:
Died: 28 Sep 1864 - North Carolina 7
Buried:
Spouse: Elizabeth Rebecca WILSON (1812-1896) 8
Marr: Abt 1830 8
8 M Hiram RAY
Born: 1813
Christened:
Died: Jul 1859 - Yancey Co NC
Buried:
Spouse: Melissa Elizabeth BENNETT (living)
Burial Notes (Husband)
Thomas Ray Jr. lived in a large log house in the small valley just east
of the present Cane River Baptist church, and is buried on a small knoll
just east of the valley, near the location of the old mill, beneath a
wild cherry tree (now dead), his grave having recently been marked by his
descendants.
Notes (Marriage)
John Preston Arthur, in A History of Western NC 1730-1913, recorded on
page 179 an interview of Nancy Anderson Gardner, who was 98 on 15 Jan
1913. She recalled when interviewed in 1912 about Yancey County that Amos
Ray, Thomas Ray, and Hiram Ray were among the earliest settlers of Yancey
County. She recalled that Hiram Ray had a daughter who married John
Bailey and that Bailey donated the land on which the town of Burnsville
is built. She added that Thomas Ray married an Ivey Hensley and lived in
Cane River Valley. Hiram Ray was described as a wealthy and influential
man.
Husband James HENSLEY 9
Born: 1605 - England 9
Christened:
Died: 1665 - VA 9
Buried:
Father: William HENSLEY (1583-1654) 9
Mother:
Marriage: 1632 - England 9
Wife Sarah LITTLE 9
AKA: HENSLEY 9
Born: 1606 - England 9
Christened:
Died: 1665 - VA 9
Buried:
Children
1 M James HENSLEY 9
Born: 1642 - VA 9
Christened:
Died: 1705 - VA 9
Buried:
Spouse: Susana NEWCOMB (1682-1730) 9
Marr: 1682 - VA 9
Husband James HENSLEY 9
Born: 1642 - VA 9
Christened:
Died: 1705 - VA 9
Buried:
Father: James HENSLEY (1605-1665) 9
Mother: Sarah LITTLE (1606-1665) 9
Marriage: 1682 - VA 9
Wife Susana NEWCOMB 9
AKA: HENSLEY 9
Born: 1682 - VA 9
Christened:
Died: 1730 - VA 9
Buried:
Children
1 M Benjamin HENSLEY
Born: 1694 - VA
Christened:
Died: 1788 - VA
Buried:
Spouse: Martha Ann ELLIS (1704-1752) 9
Marr: 1732 - VA 9
Husband John HENSLEY (details suppressed for this person)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Mattie TURNER
Born: Abt 1790
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Abraham Rogers TURNER (Abt 1764-Between 1798) 10
Mother: Sarah BLACK (1768- )
General Notes (Wife)
Sale of Joseph Turner, deceased land on Raccoon creek, Haywood county,
John and Mattie Hensley mentioned by name. Sale to Bannister Turner. 11
Husband John W. HENSLEY
Born: 1830
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage: Abt 1850
Wife Mary RIDDLE
Born: Abt 1834
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: William RIDDLE (Abt 1793-Abt 1858) 1
Mother: Priscilla "Pressie" HENSLEY (Abt 1795- )
Husband
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Kelly HENSLEY (details suppressed for this person)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Calvin Allen HENSLEY
Mother: Luwanna CLEMMONS