Ray Family - Writtle

[rsel]

Hi All,
   Does anybody have access to the Writtle Parish records for around 1780'ish ? I am trying to find the Parents of a Robert Ray born around 1779 which i strongly suspect occurred in Writtle, i also have a sister Deborah born around 1781 (based from a census showing Roberts Daughter living with a Deborah Palmer, and marriage entry for a Thomas Palmer to a Deborah Ray).
   I think the parents may well be the Robert Ray and Deborah Whitehead shown in the IGI for 1772 in Writtle and would love to confirm this (and if possible that the IGI entry is correct as it is member submitted)

Thanks

Richard

[Clincher]

I had a look at this today. Essex RO Writtle D/P 50/1/2 C, M, B 1707-1787 F6. The baptisms for the period you mention is on fiche 3 of 6.
The microfiche images are very faint for most of the entries around the years you specify. So much so that I was only able to spend about 10 mins looking for the surname Ray (no luck) or for for the forenames Robert or Deborah before my eyes gave in.
I saw a couple of Roberts (surname Death or Crane) but no Deborah.
Depending on the degrees of certainty that they were born in Writlle in the years you mention I think the original register needs to be consulted. I had no time for this, I'm afraid

[rsel]

Thanks for looking Clincher,
    One of these days i will have to find the time to get to ERO, but so far work just keeps me to busy.

Richard

[willis]

Hi Richard

                  I see the name Livermore on your family list. If this is from Writtle then an R.Livermore was a witness at many marriages in the mid 1800's.
Also you might like to try the Writtle Parish Archive which has copies of all the Parish Records. You need to contact Wendy Hibbett via the Writtle Village website.

[rsel]

Thanks Willis,
    I'm afraid that my Livermores did not come from that part of Essex, so there if there is a connection their it will be remote. Thanks for the hint about Wendy, i had been in touch with her before and she did not mention having the parish records in any of the collections that she had.

Richard

[Clincher]

I discovered that a transcript of the Writtle records has been made covering the years you specify( and much more besides). It is available at Essex RO under reference T/R 274/9 (baptisms) and T/R 274/10 (marriages).
I took these extracts:
Ray baptisms
1774 30 10 William base son of Elizabeth Ray
1800   3   5 Mary         )
1803   9   1 Robert      )
1805 10   3 Elizabeth  )children of Robert and Mary Ray
1807 22  11 James      )
1810   2    8 Mary        )

Ray marriages
1772 17 1 Robert Ray bachelor of Romford married Deborah Bridge of Writtle
                  Witnesses J Saunders and J Crook
1799 16 4 Robert Ray bachelor of Writtle married Mary Mead spinster of Writtle
                   Witnesses I Mead and D Ray
1825  19 12 Robert Ray bachelor of Writtle married Hannah Everard spinster of Writtle Witnesses S Jackson and R Livermore

You would be wise to compare these with the originals

[rsel]

Thanks Clincher,
   That marriage for Robert & Deborah looks like a possiblity based on the dates. The marriage for Robert & Mary is the marriage for my Robert whom i am trying to trace, but it i good to get the witnesses as that links up a D.Ray which i suspect could be his sister Deborah :-) The baptism's are also very helpful as all but Mary match up to the known family of Robert & Mary (Mead) that i got from the census.


Richard

[willis]

Good to see R.Livermore was witness once more. He must have been a professional wedding witness.

[Clincher]

...waiting...... and hoping for a drink