John Ray of Macon County, North Carolina

The parents of Emaline Ray Hunter, wife of William A. Hunter are John Ray and Nancy Sumner: John Ray [84],4 son of Unknown Ray [87] and Margaret "Peggy" Fouts [88], was born in 1813 in , Ashe Co, NC, died in 1903 in , Macon Co, NC at age 90, and was buried in Burningtown Baptist Church, Macon Co., NC. General Notes: The territory of Macon County and portions of Jackson and Swain Counties were acquired by treaty from the Cherokee Indians in 1817-1819 and was incorporated into Haywood County which had been formed from Buncombe County in 1808. In the spring of 1820 the State of North Carolina sent several companies of surveyors into the area and surveyed the survey of lands went rapidly. When the work was completed and auction of the lands were held in Waynesville in September 1820, and later sales were held in Franklin. Settlement of the town of Franklin and the Tennessee River Valley began at once. But it wasn't until the 1828-1829 session of the General Assembly in Raleigh, N.C. that an act was passed to create at new county and the name of Macon was given it in honor of Nathaniel Macon, Speaker of the House and a N.C. senator. John F. Ray and his wife, Nancy Sumner Ray, with two young children, Henry, age three, and Naomi, and one year old, one year old, came to this new county in 1835 and settled in the Oakdale-Burningtown section. This section was very hilly and heavily forested and had to be cleared of trees to have land for farming. They grew their crops on these hillsides for there was very little flat land. The plentiful timber supplied the needs of logs for building, heating and cooking. By 1850, John had 30 acres of improved land, which was much acreage for it had been cleared from the forest lands, and 75 acres remained unimproved. At the time of the 1850 Census was taken John had 3 horses, 3 cows, and 20 swine. Through the years John acquired more acreage until by 1880 he had 230 cares with 50 improved with 2 acres of apple orchard. He improved his property and acquired more livestock to include 4 work oxen, a mule, sheep, and cattle. Horses were seldom used for farm work, only for riding and pulling wagons and buggies. He grew Indian corn, wheat, oats, rye, peas, sweet and Irish potatoes. They had bees to supply honey, which provided much of the sweetener for cooking, and beeswax for candles. John was a wagon maker and the sons helped with this as well as the farm work. Church records show that John Ray was baptized January 8, 1860. John Ray sold his land holdings to his son, J. Frank Ray, on April 4, 1885 for $400.00 In the transaction was 25 acres near the gap of the mountain at the head of Iotla Creek, 45 acres, part of the Guyer tract, and 76 acres on Burningtown Creek, District 17, Tract 52. John probably continued to live in the home after the sale for J. Frank Ray and his wife did not sell this land until January 17, 1894. They sold the land to John Baldwin lands adjoining Ephriam Tallent and Thomas Ledford in District 17, except some of the tract (25 acres) that had been conveyed to Riley Jones and Zachariah Downs, February 27, 1886. This is recorded in Book CC - page 425, Macon County Register of Deeds. Allie Ray Baldwin, wife of John Baldwin, was the granddaughter of John Ray, and he spent time with the family in later years. At the time of his death he was living in the home of his son, J. Frank Ray, in Franklin. His funeral service and burial were at the Burningtown Baptist Church. There are no markers for the graves of John and Nancy Sumner Ray. - Thelma Welch Swanson in her John Ray descendants book. Noted events in his life were: • He was involved in a court case in Dec 1847. Appointed as Overseer on Road project • He was involved in a court case in Dec 1848. John Ray filed the report on the road which was accepted by the court. • He was involved in a court case in Jun 1862. Appointed Election Judge for Burningtown • He was involved in a court case on 18 Jun 1864. Appointed Election Judge for Burningtown • He was employed in 1850. Wagon Maker • Juror: Dec 1843, , Macon Co, NC. • Juror: Jun 1854, , Macon Co, NC. • Juror: Jun 1857, , Macon Co, NC. • Juror: 13 Mar 1860, , Macon Co, NC. John married Nancy Sumner [85]4 [MRIN: 44] on 22 Jul 1831 in , Buncombe Co, NC. Children from this marriage were: i. Henry Ray [4886]4 was born in 1832, died on 3 Nov 1889 at age 57, and was buried in Private Propety - Ray Cove, Macon, NC. ii. Naomi Ray [4891]4 was born on 20 May 1834, died on 14 Apr 1918 at age 83, and was buried in Briartown Bapt Church Cem, Macon Co., NC. iii. Rebecca Ray [4895]4 was born in May 1835 and died on 7 May 1908 at age 73. iv. William Ray [4899]4 was born in May 1840, died on 12 Aug 1928 in , Macon Co, NC at age 88, and was buried in Cope Cemetary, Macon Co, NC. v. Jesse Ray [4906] was born in 18444 and died on 5 Jul 1862 at age 18. vi. Wilburn Ray [4907] was born in 1844 in , Macon Co, NC and died in 1876 in , , NC at age 32. 33 vii. Emaline Ray [43]4 viii. Levi Jefferson Ray [4915]4 was born in 1847 in , Macon Co, NC, died on 25 May 1899 in , Macon Co, NC at age 52, and was buried in Burningtown Baptist Church, Macon Co., NC. The cause of his death was Tuberculosis. ix. Charity Jane Ray [4922]12 was born on 3 May 1850 in , Macon Co, NC, died on 6 Apr 1927 in , Macon Co, NC at age 76, and was buried in Briartown Bapt Church Cem, Macon Co., NC. x. John Frank Ray [4927] was born on 14 Jul 1852,4 died on 25 Nov 19244 at age 72, and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Franklin, Macon Co., NC. xi. James Robert Ray [4929] was born on 2 Feb 1858 in , Macon Co, NC,4 died on 20 Apr 1950 at age 92, and was buried in Cowee Baptist Church, Macon Co, NC. 67. Nancy Sumner [85],4 daughter of Samuel Sumner [86] and Sarah Newton [34787], was born in 1817 in , Buncombe Co, NC, died before 1885 in , Macon Co, NC, and was buried in Burningtown Baptist Church, Macon Co., NC. Noted events in her life were: • Baptist - Baptized by elder Merritt Rickman, 27 Sep 1867. Nancy married John Ray [84]4 [MRIN: 44] on 22 Jul 1831 in , Buncombe Co, NC.