Individual Details

Chesley had a wife prior to Nancy Jane Harmon. The 1830 census indicates that he possibly had two sons between 5-10 and two daughters between 10-15 - too old to have from the marriage to Nancy Jane. He is referred to as Chesley Ray SR in a Marion Co History so presumably he had a son named Chesley.

Presumably this is the burial record of Chesley Jr:
Hermon Christian Church Cemetery, Knox Co IL
Chesley Ray, b. 1817, d. 8 Mar 1888.

Marion Co IN, DB A, p.379
11 Feb 1825 Chesley W. Ray and Nancy his wife of Marion to John L. Harmon of the same. $18 paid by John L Harmon. North end of the West half of the SW quarter of S14 T17 Range 2 East. Middle stake between section 14 & 15 on the Bank of Eagle Creek. High bank on the north side of Wrays Branch, along said branch. Six acres. Signed: Chesley Wray, Nancy Wray. Presence of John C. Hume. Chesley & Nancy ack & relinq. Rec. 22 Feb 1827

Marion Co IN, Deed Book C, p.110
Chesley Wray to School Commissioner. For use of Twp 14. West half of SW Quarter of S14, T17, range 2 $35
3 Feb 1831 Signed: Chesley Wray
Rec. 5 Feb 1831


1860 Census. Knox Co IL, Chestnut Twp, Hh 1604
Chelsey Ray, age 62, b. NC
Jane, age 62, b. VA

1870 Census. Knox Co IL, Chestnut Twp, Harmon P.O., Hh 57
Mark Ray, age 41, farmer, b. IN. Rachel, 36, b. IN
Marcus F., 19. Eliza J. 18. A. Lincoln, 12. William H., 9. Ezra M. 6
Jane, age 71, b. VA

Is this Chesley Jr?
1870 Census
C W Ray Indianapolis Ward 8, Marion, IN abt 1818 Indiana White Male
Marry Ray Indianapolis Ward 8, Marion, IN abt 1822 Indiana White Female


Another possible son of Chesley's first marriage is this John found the page before Chesley & Jane in 1850 in Hamilton Co IN
1850 Census. Hamilton Co, IN. Clay Twp, p.34
John Ray, age 28, b. IN [1822] Jane, age 22, b. VA
Chesley 4 and Allen 3, both born in IN.
Indiana Marriages:
RAY, JOHN ---- JENNINGS, JANE Marion County 8-29-1844

Boone Co IN, 1860
John Ray Eagle, Boone, IN 38 1821 Indiana Male
Jane Ray Eagle, Boone, IN 32 1827 Virginia Female
Chesley Ray Eagle, Boone, IN 14 1845 Indiana Male
Allen Ray Eagle, Boone, IN 13 1846 Indiana Male
Elenaner Ray Eagle, Boone, IN 10 1849 Indiana Female

John's son Chesley appears to have served in the Civil War:
Name: Chelsey Ray ,
Residence: Tippecanoe, Indiana
Enlistment Date: 08 February 1865
Distinguished Service: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
Side Served: Union
State Served: Indiana
Unit Numbers: 555 555
Service Record: Enlisted as a Private on 08 February 1865
Enlisted in Company B, 150th Infantry Regiment Indiana on 08 February 1865.
Mustered out Company B, 150th Infantry Regiment Indiana on 05 August 1865 in Jordan's Springs, VA

Chesley Ray applied for an Invalid Pension, 12 Nov 1887, Application #628767, Certificate #421379. And his widow Louisa applied for a Widow's Pension, 15 Dec 1915, Application #1057270, Certificate #804229. He is listed as serving in Companys B & A of the 150th Infantry Regt, Indiana.

Indiana Marriage Index
Louisa Shanklin Chesley Ray 22 Oct 1868 Hendricks Co, IN

1880, Marion Co IN, Town of Traders Point
"Chester Ray", age 34, born IN as were both his parents. Wife Louisa Ray, age 29, born IN, parents born in KY. Son Charley C., age 10

1900 Census - Indiana
Charles C Ray Jackson, Hamilton, Indiana abt 1870 Indiana White Head
Lucy A Ray Jackson, Hamilton, Indiana abt 1873 Indiana White Wife
Chesley P Ray Jackson, Hamilton, Indiana abt 1895 Indiana White Son
Eugene Ray Jackson, Hamilton, Indiana abt 1898 Indiana White Son


A researcher working on Chesley Ray for a suspected descendant gave me the following as his first wife and children. I somewhat doubt the accuracy.
Spouse Nancy Hoover (1793-1826)
Children:
Nita Netty Ray (1818-1858)
Nancy Wray (1820-1869)
John Ray (1822-1902)
John Elmer Ray (1823-1889)
William Ray (1824-1896)

Birth	1798	North Carolina
Marriage	14 Jun 1827	Marion County, Indiana - Nancy Jane Harmon
Death	1869	Knox County, Illinois

Spouse	Nancy Jane Harmon (1799 - 1872)
Child	Mark E. Wray (1828 - )
Child	Tabitha Wray (1831 - )