Mary Fray (née Sebeck)

Widow of John Fray, purchased enslaved people from his estate at some point between 1820 and 1823.

1. John Fray, son of Ellis and Hannah Fray of Middle Hilton, born 04/11/1775 and baptised 22/11/1775 in Bank Street Unitarian Chapel, Bolton. He married Mary Sebeck 01/05/1800 in St James, Jamaica. They had several children born in Jamaica: Henry (born and baptised 1801), Joseph (1803), Mary (1805), Jane (1807), James (1812), Ellis (1814), Elizabeth Fray (born 1815 baptised 1816) and twins Ann and Edward (born 1817 and baptised 1818). James Fray, son of John Fray, deceased, was buried in St James, 28/12/1821. Margaret Fray, daughter of John Fray, deceased, was buried in St James, 05/02/1822. Note that no baptism record has been located for Margaret, but John Fray wrote to his uncle Robert Heywood in 1817 that the birth of his twins 'makes our number nine', so presumably she was born after 1817.

2. Mary Fray, gentlewoman, aged 58 years, of Harbour Street, Montego Bay, was buried in the St James church yard, 22/06/1836.

3. At some point between 1820 and 1823, Mary Fray inherited four enslaved people from Mary Ismay. This may be the Mary Seebeck, widow, who married Joseph Ismay in St James in 1785. Mary Ismay also bequeathed three enslaved people to Henry Fray and one to Sarah Fray, so clearly she was closely connected with the Fray family. The widowed Mary Seebeck may have been the mother of Mary Fray, who would have been around 7 years of age when Mary Seebeck married Joseph Ismay.

1. Familysearch.org, St James, Jamaica, unindexed records, Baptisms, marriages, burials 1770-1809, Vol. 1 and Baptisms, marriages, burials 1810-1841, Vol. 2; John Fray, Montego Bay, to Robert Heywood, 16/10/1817, Bolton Archives and Local Studies Service (BALSS), ZHE/13/46.

2. Familysearch.org, All Parishes, Jamacia, unindexed records, Burials 1836-1862, Vol. 2 p. 208.

3. T71/209 p. 290; Familysearch.org, St James, Jamaica, unindexed records, Baptisms, marriages, burials 1770-1809, Vol. 1.

We are grateful to Penelope Baker Fray for her assistance with compiling this entry.