John Dray - Buxted

[Shazzam]

Does anyone have access to the OPR for Buxted?  I'm looking for the parents of John Dray who married Anne Day there on 20 Sep 1720.

Anne was from Buxted, but I'm not sure about John.  Can anyone help?

Thanks.

Shaz

[gougy]

From extracted record on the IGI..

John DRAY bapt. 13th March 1701 at Worth SSX
Parents - Ric. DRAY and Mary

A record submitted by an LDS member (i.e. not verifiable) suggests that Richard DRAY and Mary RIDLY were John's parents - something to check out.

[Shazzam]

Thanks gougy.  I'll see what I can find about them.

Shaz

[sillgen]

Sussex Marriage Index shows that John was a widower when he married Ann Day in 1720.   There is a marriage to Ann Tye in Lewes in 1710 and Sarah Gailop in Peasmarch in 1708 and one earlier in Balcombe to Elizabeth Win, 1704.
Richard Dray of Worth married Mary Ridly widow in Horsham 4 Jun 1698.   The only other Richard Dray to a Mary Benly is much earlier, Herstmonceux 1669
Andrea

[Shazzam]

Hi Andrea,

This is great information. Thanks!

I wonder if Richard Dray & Mary Benly are Richard's (who married Ann Day) parents?  Seems very possible.  Do you know how far Herstmonceux is from Worth and Horsham by any chance?

Shaz

[sillgen]

Quite a long way in those days but anything is possible!
Worth is just outside Crawley (West Sussex) and Horsham half an hour by car from there.  Herstmonceux is in East Sussex on the A 271 east of Hailsham.  I am sure you will be able to find them on an online map.   Horsham to Herstmonceux would be about an hour and a bit by car today.
Andrea