Individual Details

From, "Glimpses Into the English and Continental Ancestry of Certain Braintree and Saugus Ironworkers of about 1650" - source cited:
"He [Brian Awty - a Pray researcher] found the baptism of the Braintree Quentin Pray, at Chiddingstone, Kent, on 23 November 1595, the son of a Robert Pray; and Quentin's marriage to Joan Valliance at Mayfield 17 June 1621 as well as the baptisms of a number of his children at Frant.' [The Chiddingstone baptismal record has not been filmed.]"

It is possible Quinton was baptized along with a twin brother Robert, 23 Nov 1595, but no reference given, presumably in Chiddingstone, but has not subsequently been found. They were sons of a Robert Pray. There is no proof that the infant of this baptism was the same man.


Also states that Quinton was baptized 23 Nov 1595, Chiddingstone.
And gives a marriage to Joan Valiance, 17 Jun 1621 in Mayfield, Sussex, England. Joan born ca 1599, South Berwick, Yorkshire and died 9 Jul 1672, Braintree.
Although this seems to have come from Awty's research, the article, "Glimpses Into the English and Continental Ancestry of Certain Braintree and Saugus Ironworkers of about 1650" states that Awty actually found a total of three men name John Valliance in Sussex in the late 16th century. The parish records are incomplete.

He may have arrived in Lynn, 1643, on the ship "An Cleeve" out of London. All their children are believed to have born in England. John Winthrop, Jr "did at great costs and charges imbarque himself with many workmen, servants, and materials for the setting up of iron works".
19 Jan 1643 Town of Boston granted to John Winthrop and his associates 3000 acres of land on the Manatiquot River to be laid out adjoining their said iron works.
The "An Cleeve" was commissioned by John Winthrop, Jr - a list of passengers does not survive.

In 1646, Quinton Pray worked in Lynn, MA in the Iron Works as a fineryman. He was first at the iron works in Kittery, Maine. By 1651 he had moved to Braintree where he was a supervisor at the Iron Works there.

NEHG Register, Vol. 55, 1901, p.280 "Pray of York & Kittery, Maine" by Henry Ernest Woods.
States that Quinton Pray appears to have been one of the ironworkers who came to Lynn in 1643, under the auspices of the Iron Works Company, at its beginning in New England. He perhaps sailed from England when John Winthrop, Jr, in 1643 brought many workmen, servants & material for the setting up of iron workers, in the good ship the An Cleeve, of London. Later he removed to Braintree, continuing in the Iron Works there. It may be significant that Anderson & Downing, two of the foundrymen at Lynn were from Scotland. Quentin thought to be a not uncommon given name in Scotland.
Two sons are named - Richard who settled in Providence, and John who remained in Braintree.

Historic Homes and Places and Genelogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Middlesex County Massachusetts, Vol IV, by William Richard Cutter, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., New York, 1908
p.1465 Article on "Pray"
The article states that although the surname Pray may be derived from the French, the family seems to extend back in England to the Norman Conquest, 1066.
Quinton Pray deposed on 27 Oct 1653, in a case of John Gifford vs. the Iron Works Company that he was aged fifty-eight.
Administration of his estate was granted his widow Joan, 21 Jul 1667.
He was the only immigrant of this surname among the early settlers of Massachusetts.
Lists children Richard whose wife was Mary & settled in Providence, John, Hannah who married Henry Neale [probably his second wife] Dorothy, b. 1644, who married 24 Dec 1661, at Braintree, Richard Thayer, Jr. A daughter Joan is listed in various databases including this one, but I've found no other evidence of her.

Suffolk Deeds, Liber XI, Rockwell & Churchill Press, Boston, 1900
12 Sep 1667 Deed from John Paine of Boston, sold to Richard Thayer of Brantery [Braintree] a dwelling hour, coal house, orchards, dam, with the lands adjoining thereto on the North side of the Manaticote River. Part of it formerly in the hands of Quinton Pray, otherwise known as the Iron Works at Braintree. Excepting a pasture of six acres, barn & part of the orchard thereto, three acres sold to Thomas Thayer, and four acres sold to John Pray and a parcel called by the name of Huns Lot. Also a parcel of land of 30 acres joining up to the South end of the dam aforesaid, in Braintree between the lands of Thomas Thayer toward the west and lands of Capt Thomas Savage towards the East, abutting up the sd River Manaticot on the North. Signed by John Paine
Acknowledged by Paine 16.7.67. [September 16th]


Records & Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County Massachusetts, Vol. 1, 1636-1656, Published by the Essex Institute, Salem, MA, 1911

p.123 Court at Salem, 29:12:1647 [old style, month of February]
Nicholas Penyon, Nicholas Russell, John Pedricke, John Hardman, Quinten Pray of Lin, Richard Stiche and Richard Praye were fined for Swearing. Wife of Nichlas Pynnyon presented for swearing. Witnesses were Joseph Gincks [Jenckes - also my ancestor] and John Chacksell.
Nicholas Russell was fined for remaining in Nicholas Penyon's house after he had ordered him to keep away, being jealou of his wife; and for spending part of one Lord's day with Nicholas Penyon at the house of Joseph Armitage; and drinking strong water ....spending the remainder of the day drinking strong water and cursing and swearing. Witnesses to the first offense were Joseph Gincks and John Chacksell; Chaksell & Quintin Praye witnesses to the last offense.

p.134 Court at Salem, 1:1:1647
Nicholas Pynyon presented for killing five children, as his wife says, one of them being a year old. Wit: Quinten Pray & Charles Hook This is surely been transcribed in error - perhaps it was chickens? There is nothing further about this case and he continues to get in trouble with the courts. If he had killed five children, surely he would have been punished. Or perhaps the wife was just stirring up trouble and the witnesses proved she was lying.
p.136 Richard Pray fined for swearing, cursing, beating his wife, and contempt of court. To pay or be whipped at the Iron Works. See his file for deposition concerning this incident.
p.137 Elizabeth, wife of Benjamin Hewenden, presented for stealing clothes from Marey Pray [probably wife of Richard], to make double restitution. Referred to the next sitting at the Iron Works.

p.138 Court at Salem, 2:1:1647
John Chacksall of Lin recognized for Jo. Hardman, Quinton Praye, Rich. Stiche, and Rich. Greene. [nothing further regarding this]
Wife of Nicholas Pynyon presented for fighting three times with her husband in the night since she was bound to keep the peace. He beat her, also, and caused a miscarriage. Wit: John Chacksell and Ralphe Russell. [One case in 1650 says Elizabeth Pinion, was wife of Nicholas. A case in 1652, gives Nicholas' wife as Ester - she was fined for wearing silver lace on that occasion.]

p.156 Court at Salem, 20:12:1648
Quinton [Quintweth] Pray and wife fined 50s for five oaths. Witnesses were Nich. Pynion and Rich. Bayly.

p.173 Court at Salem, 11:7:1649
Nicholas Pinion fined 30s for swearing three oaths, and admonished for striking Charles Hooke.
Quinton Pray, for striking Nicholas Penion with a staff, having an iron two feet long on the end of it, and breaking his head; for striking Thomas Billington, and for swearing, fined. *
*Pinion was fined 10s at the Iron Works. Quinton Prey deposed that he met Nichs. Pinion last Lord's day coming out of his corn, and hear him swear, by God, all his pumpions were turned to squashes and by God's blood he had but one pumpion of all. Sworn 1:7mo:1649 before Robert Bridges Rich. Prey also swore the same. Jno. Chackswell said he heard Nichs. Pinion swear, by God. Rich. Greene deposed and also said Pinion swore, by God's blood. Sworn 3:7mo:1649.
Witnesses against Pray for striking Pinion & Tho. Billington & Jno. Dimond were Jno Vinton, Henry Leonard, Jos. Jyncks, Nichs. Pinion, Tobiah Saunders, Jno Dimond & his man.

p.184 Court at Salem, 26:12:1649
Mary the wife of Richard Pray being convicted before the Court for she said to her mother in law "get you" and "you old hogge get you" and threw stones at her. Also that upon her husbands taking away a letter she had got writen for England, she at supp threw a trencher at him and also a bone. Sentence is an admonition and pay 2s 6d, fees of court.

p.198 Court at Ipswich, 24:7:1650
Dorothy Prey, age about 16 years, deposed against John Bond. He had come to Jno. Herdman's and had too much wine or beer so he could not sit upon his stool. He confessed he was overcome with drink and fined 10s. Dorothy also said that Bond, at Hardman's house last Lord's day seven-night, had taken her in his arms out of the kitchen into another room on the same. floor. She bade him let her alone, and hung to one of the doorpost, calling for goodwife Loose [Lucy?] but he carried her forcibly into the room and shut the door. There was a ladder that went into the room overhead, she ran up the ladder, and the boards not being laid on the upper floors, she went down into the room from which she was taken.

p.94 Records & Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex, Vol II
Case against John Gifford, agent at the iron works. Quinten Pray, aged about 61 years, testified that he heard Jno. Gifford caution the colliers and others to always bring in full mean and said Gifford just and honest in all transactions with the workmen. Sworn 10 Jun 1656.

Quinton Pray's death is recorded in Braintree. Joan was named administrator of his estate. Quinton and Joan are said to be buried Hancock, Cemetery, Quincy, Norfolk Co, MA

William Kenneth Rutherford, 'Genealogical History of Our Ancestors', revised edition; Privately Printed, 1977
p. 633 [full original citation is lacking]
INVENTORY OF THE ESTATE OF QUENTIN PRAY
An Inventory of the Estate of Quinton Pray, late of Braintry taken by us whose names are under written, this 29th: 5: mo: 1667.
Item: to wearing cloathes woolen & linen, 001:05:00
To one feather bed & bolster, 002:10:00
To 4: pare of sheets with other linen, 003:00:00
To one bed rug & 4 blanketts, 001:00:00
To one flock bed & bolster & blanket & 4 pillowes, 001:00:00
To nine pieces of pewter, 001:00:00
To one brass kettle with other brass, 001:10:00
To one iron pot one skillet one marker, 000:15:00
To yarne linen wollen & cotton, 004:10:00
To one kitchell & spit, trammels gridirons fryer shovel & tongues, 000:15:00
To take Im for plow & cart, 002:11:00
To one saw & one oat steele mill, 000:09:00
To tooles and old iron, 000:10:00
To 3 spinning wheels, 000:12:00
A remnant of Cotton Cloath, 000:09:00
To wooden vessells, 001:04:00
To 9 spoones 13 sh, 3 chops 10 sh, old lumber 57 sh, 001:00:00
To a sledge 5 sh, to Corne in the house, 1 £ 10 sh, 001:15:00
Corne on the Ground Growing, 001:10:00
4 Cattle viz: one Cow & 3 heifers, 007:00:00
2 yong oxen 9 £ 2 Coults 4 £ 10 sh, 013:10:00
11 swine, 010:00:00
a debt due to the Estate, 015:00:00
A Gold ring, 001:02:00
Totall: 074:03:00
Samuel Bass
William Needham
Debts due from the Estate 20£

At a meeting of the Governor Mr. Danforth & Recorded this 11th: of July: 1667.
Joan Pray relict of Quinton Pray deposed that this is a true Inventory of the Estate of her late husband to her best knowledge that when shee knowes more she will deliver it.
Edward Rawson, Recorder

At a meeting of the Governor Mr. Danforth & Recorded this 11th: of July: 1667.
Power of Administration to the Estate of the late Quinton Pray of Braintry deceased is granted to Joane his relict, shee bringing in an Inventory of that Estate, & Giving Security to Administer According to Law.


Some believe there is a relationship between the surnames Pinion/Pynion and Pray. The Sussex Assize rolls for 1558 to 1625 that list the "denizens" of Sussex. About 200 names from the rolls can be identified as ironworkers, and not all residents were considered denizens. A denizen was an alien inhabitant, a permanent resident, entitled to certain rights, but not those of a citizen - he could not hold any military or political office. The research Awty believe the surnames to be the same family - the name Pray is not on the Westminster Denization rolls, but Pinyon is.
Everod Pynyon was born in Auneuil and was employed in Masters Lunsford's ironworks, Jul 1544.
Everode Pynyon, born in Auneuil in Beauvaises, aged 50, in England 34 years, was married to a Frenchwoman by whom he had 9 children. 1 Jul 1544
John Pynyon, Frenchman, denizen for ironworks by William Levitt, clerk. 1 Jul 1544

Awty found the following references in the documents of Parrick manor, View of Frankpledge, hundred of HartfiedL
Robert Pynion was a defaulter, 22 Oct 1578
apparently listed as Robert Pray, defaulter, 11 May 1759.
Awty stated "the earliest Praye alias Pynyon entry I found is for the baptism of Agnes, daughter of Thomas Praye, alias Pynyon at Mayfield, Sussex, 30 Jan 1574/5.
Awty is credited with finding the baptims of Quentin Pray at Chiddingston, Kent, 23 Nov 1595, as the son of Robert Pray, and Quention's marriage to Joan Valliance at Mayfield, 17 Jun 1721, and the baptisms of several of his children at Frant.
However - I have seen no explanation of exactly why Awty believed the names to be the same other than the two entries as a defaulter.

A post on an online Message Board, 5 Dec 2013, by Brandon Pray, states interesting views on this subject of the two surnames:
"I've been looking into Everode Pynyon/Pinion/Pinon or the numerous spellings I have found. There is another alternate concept.
After researching several individuals -Everode Pynyon, John Pynon, Edward Pynon Pray (Which may be the actual missing link between Richard and Everode), and Richard (Also referred to as Robert) Pynon Pray I found one thing that may be interesting.
All of these Individuals were referred to as Alyen or Foreign man in Tax records. Even Richard who was supposedly born in England.
There is a Town in Picardie France called Pinon with spelling variations of Pynyon, Pinion etc.
So this is where I come to one idea-
If Everode or John Pynyon are related to Quentin- they would have to be the Grand Father of Richard. Two- Given the time frame- and Pray/Pre/DePre/DuPrau were relatively centralized names - it is Very possible his name could have been Everode Du Pray dit Pinon. Everode Pray of Pinon. In this case it would make sense that the following English born would adopt the name "Pray" and not Pynyon.
The second concept is that Richard Pynon Pray - is a hybrid name, which was not uncommon for French people. The name could very well be the derivative of a marriage between Pynon and Pray - as there are records and tombstones of "Prays" from that region that predate Everode or John Pynyon.
Finally- The idea that they possibly changed their name due to the French English hostility may not be accurate. The name Pray, Praye, Pre can be found in two other locations - Wales and France. In 1244 their was a French Castle Built by a gentleman named Geoffrey du Pray - Modern day it is known as château du Pray. Not horribly far from this French Castle is a town named Pray - Also spelled as Pre. Roughly 40 KM apart.
Now I have also been told that the potential origins of Pray relate to DuPre - or DuPreua - which would make sense - Du - Son Of or Of - Pray.
Lastly- Another issue that I see arise is this- When Quinton came to the Americas and was Superintendent of the Saugus Ironworks - and other business ventures- the Pinion Family also appears. They are Cousins to the Prays- which seems to more likely Validate that the Pray Pinon combination arose through Marriage and not name change."

Birth	Abt 1595	prob Chiddingstone, Yorkshire, England
Marriage	17 Jun 1621	Mayfield, Sussex, England - Joan Valiance
Death	17 Jun 1667	Braintree, Norfolk County, Massachusetts

Spouse	Joan Valiance (1599 - 1672)
Child	Elizabeth Pray ( - )
Child	Quinton Pray (1624 - )
Child	RICHARD PRAY (1626 - 1693)
Child	Hugh Pray ( - )
Child	Sarah Pray ( - )
Child	Dorothy PRAY (1634 - 1705)
Child	John PRAY ( - 1676)
Child	Hannah/Anna PRAY (1638 - 1718)
Child	William Pray ( - )
Child	Thomas Pray ( - )