Joseph Thomas Bray



S. of Diana Dyer & Joseph Bray

Joseph Thomas Bray
Born 28.9.1848 at Polruan, Cornwall, England
Occ. House Carpenter/Carpenter
Marr. Elizabeth Danson 18.1.1874 at 22 Johnson St., Chicago, Illinois, USA
Died 11th January 1937 at Chicago, Illinois, USA
Buried at Chicago, Illinois, USA


Children

Bertie
Bessie
James R.D.
Thomas
Gladys Marion
Nannie Ruth
Harold Phillips


NOTE

Elizabeth (1851-1928), of New York, New York, USA. Bertie, Bessie & Thomas all died in infancy. Joseph & Elizabeth also had twins which also died in infancy.

Apprenticeship: Bet. September 15, 1862 - September 15, 1869, To Mr. H. Cossentine, Polruan, Cornwall, building business Census: July 1870, Residing in Chicago IL with aunt Mary Dyer Bray, her daughter Diana & son Richard Emigration: March 10, 1870, From Liverpool, England Occupation: July 1870, House Carpenter Residence: 1872, Chicago, IL with Aunt Elizabeth Freund.

1880 census of Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Joseph BRAY Self M Male W 31 ENG Carpenter ENG ENG Luise BRAY Wife M Female W 28 NY Keeping House ENG ENG Bessy BRAY Dau S Female W 3 IL ENG NY James BRAY Son S Male W 3M IL ENG NY

THE STORY OF THE OLD GREEN SEA CHEST

By Joseph Thomas Bray

To begin with: The sea chest was made in Ireland by my Uncle Stephens, who was my Aunt Freund's husband, about 1840 - 1844. Uncle Stephens was a Coastguardsman under my Grandfather, Captain Thomas Dyer, who was Chief Officer of the Coastguard at Castletownsend, in Ireland. Uncle Stephens married my Grandfather's daughter, Elizabeth Dyer (my Mother's sister and Uncle Richard's sister) in Ireland.

My family always designated the sea chest as "Uncle Richard's Sea Chest," as he used it on board Men of War for several years, and on the East India, China and Cape of Good Hope stations.

My first recollections of the sea chest must have been about the year 1852, and after that date it stood by my Grandmother Dyer's bedstead. It was used by her to step up on in order to get into the very high four-poster bed. This was the bed upon which she died.

In March of 1870, I brought the sea chest with me to America, going directly to Chicago, where I made my home with an aunt. The chest served as my clothes chest. The chest went through the great Chicago Fire in 1871, and has been in my possession and my family's possession ever since.

In the fall of 1872, I went to live with my Aunt Freund, also in Chicago. When she saw the sea chest, it brought back recollections of her first husband, and as a momento, she took out one of the little secret drawers under the left-hand till (as will be seen that one of them is missing) and kept it. The original hinges and I think the lock are also still on the chest.

Joseph Thomas Bray (1848 - 1937)
Father of Ruth Bray Dickinson
Grandfather of Frederick W. Dickinson

July 10, 1929 by Joseph Thomas Bray
Mother's Ancestry

Thomas Dyer (age not known) Chief Officer Coast Guards. RN (Royal Navy?) England at Castletownsend, Ireland where he was interned, see oil painting of church.

Elizabeth Dyer (Nee Pearn) Born Dec 1792. Died at Polruan, Cornwall 1872.

The above were grandparents of Joseph Thomas Bray

To the above Thomas and Elizabeth Dyer were born as follows:

(1) Thomas about 1810. Died 3 days out from Sierra Leon West Africa, (captain of ship) buried at sea.
(2) Mary (Aunt Mary Northside) born 1812 died at Chicago 1884
(3) William Drowned with boats crew Coast Guards. West coast, Ireland
(4) Eliza (Aunt Freund), (first husband name Stephans) born 1820 Died 1892 at 256 Congress St. (Clue…?)
(5) Diana (My Mother) born 1822 Died 1850 at Polruan Cornwall England
(6) Joseph born 1824 Died 1907 Glasgow Scotland
(7) Richard (Uncle Richard) born Sept. 28, 1826 Died 1918 Newton Abbot Devon Eng.

The above Grandmother Dyer was the daughter of my Great Grandmother Pearn (who) after (Great?) Grandfather Pearns death became the wife of Richard Cossentine and mother of Richard, John, Henry, Mary (Aunt Harvey), Caroline (Aunt Be…et), Johanna (Aunt Curtis) and in this way we became related to the Cossentine branch of the family.

The youngest son of the family, Henry, inherited the building business from his father and (I) Joseph T. Bray was apprenticed to him from Sept 15/1862 to Sept 15/1869 to learn the business!!! See cousin Lizzie's memo on top of next page (also my Indentures). And I on March 10/1870 sailed from Liverpool for U.S. arriving in Chicago Mch 26/1870, and lived with Aunt Mary Bray until the Great Fire 1871.

The above Uncle Henry Cossentine has one son Arthur Henry Cossentine still living (I believe) at Polruan the youngest of ten children. Jim has his address…

Father's Ancestry

(Cousin Lizzie's Notation scribbled in at top of this document: Joseph Thomas Bray Signed Indentures to Mr. H. Cossentine; September 15th, 1862)

James Bray (Grandfather of Joseph Thomas Bray) was born March 1800 (and was the youngest of seven sons) at Launceston Cornwall, England. Died at Polruan, Cornwall, Eng. 1874.

Annie Bray (Nee Pengelley. Eldest daughter of Dr. Thomas (Pengelley) and Annie (Nee Eaton)). Born Decr 30/1798 Died in Aug 1861. Wife of the above James Bray.

(Mary) daughter of above James and Annie Died about 1849 or 1850

(James) son of above. Drowned at sea. Captn of (?) on Nov ~1856

The daughter Mary and Captn Joseph Moss, and James Bray and Diana Dyer (parents of Joseph Thomas Bray) were married at the same time (I believe) in "Old Town Church," Plymouth, England.

After (Diana) my Mother's death in 1850, my Father about 1854 or 1855 Married Sarah Jane Martin of Bristol England and to them (James Alfred Bray) my Step (half?) brother was born May 4, 1857 after my Father was drowned at sea in Bristol Channel.

In 1864 My Grandfather James Bray married the second time.

My Step (half?) brother has two sons Lionel (Post Office at Craydon Eng.) and Reginald, Sea Captain.

My Step (half?) bro James A. Bray was born in Bristol Eng. For some years he lived in the Transvaal S. Africa. He was there Zulu War twice when the Zulus killed Prince Imperial of France, Son of Napoleon the Third. Returned to England about 1878 or 9. Married and has two boys- see above.



This line & all information is largly due to the generosity of David Berry & Bill Dickinson

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