Individual Details

Richard Pray's father was Quinton Pray who died in Braintree, MA in 1667. Quinton's wife was Joan, perhaps Joan Valliance.

Richard was married first to Mary, second to Elizabeth (White) Hearndon.

WorldConnect file:
"The Don Parrott Family Tree" Updated 13 Feb 2003
1645: Among the first settlers of RI.
1648: Quinton, Richard, & six others were 'presented' for swearing.
1655, 25 May: He was appointed by the Court of Commissioners to keep a house of entertainment. A convenient sign was to be set out at the most perspicuous place of said house to give notice to strangers.
1667, 1 May: Granted a divorce, denied. [Court cases in Salem reveal much more about the relationship between Richard & Mary; see later.]
1672: Repetitioned for divorce, denied.
1676, 14 Aug: Was one of those 'who staid and went not away' in King Philip's War, as so had a share in the disposition of the Indian captives whose services were sold for a number of years.
1681, 27 Apr: His wife Mary was licensed by Town Council to keep a public house of entertainment (an inn) for the relieving of travelers and strangers, providing both for horse and man, as also by retail to sell unto the inhabitants beer, wine, or strong liquor for one whole year, she not to suffer any unlawful game in the house nor any evil rule there. She was to pay 20s for license, but being willing to give liberty to Town for Town meetings to be kept there, the Concil accepted in lieu of 20s. [a Steere genealogy assumed Richard was dead at this time - apparently a divorce was eventually granted - or Mary died and freed Richard to marry again as he did in 1688.]
1685, 27 Jan: Gives his age as 55 in a deposition.
1686, 1 Feb: will of Benjamin Hearnden made (wife Elizabeth's first husband)
1688, 20 Oct: His wife Elizabeth quitclaimed all her right to one-third of husband's lands and obliged herself to sign a more ample instrument when thereunto legally required.
There is a court case involving Richard's mother-in-law and his wife. He was a "rough and boisterous man."


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.

p.136 Court at Salem, 1:1:1647
Richard Pray fined for swearing, cursing, beating his wife, and contempt of court. To pay or be whipped at the Iron Works.
Jabish Hackett deposed that while at the house of Rich. Prey he often heard Prey call his wife jade and roundhead, and curse her, wishing a plague and pox on her, and after Richard Prey came home from meeting last Lord's day, having beaten her. He had heard Prey say he would beat her twenty times a day before she should be his master. On the Monday following the Lord's day, Prey's wife stripped up the sleeve of her shift and "here are the marks of the blowes" that her husband had given her, two great places black and blue. He had heard it reported that at Mr. Leader's that Prey cursed and swore at his wife, and Mrs. Elener heard him. Prey took up a long stick about the size of the great end of a bedstaff and struck at his wife, but Hackett stepped in and warded off the blow with his arm. Prey gave his wife a kick and kicked her against the wal. At supper one evening, one Thomas Wiggines spoke to Prey about cursing and swearing upon a Lord's day when he and his wife stayed at home from meeting. Pray answered that it was a lie, and when his wife reminded him of his previous actions, Prey took his porridge dish and threw it at her, hitting her upon the hand and wrist, so that she feared her arm was broken. Someone told Prey the court would not allow him to abuse his wife so, and he answered he did not care for the court and if the court hanged him for it, he would do it. Prey said if ever he had trouble about abusing his wife, he would cripple her and make her sit on a stool, and there he would keep her. Sworn, 18:11:1647, before Rob. Bridges. Rich. Hood deposed the same.
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.153 Court at Salem, 15:9:1648
Lawrence Turner and Richard Pray petition to have fine remitted. Turner to pay 10£, Pray, 4£ before the next Salem court and sentence to be revoked. If not paid, the marshall to demand it the day before the court and if it should be refused, then bring them to Salem court to receive corporal punishment.

p.159 Court at Salem, 23:12:1648
Lawrence Turner and Richard Pray not having paid their fines, ordered that the worshipful Capt. Bridgis issue warrant to the marshal to go to the Iron works at Lin and demand payment. If they still refuse, to be whipped at Lin upon a lecture day.

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.181 Court at Salem, 25:10:1649
John Hardman fined and bound to good behavior for profane swearing, for calling Mary, Richard Pray's wife, a vile name and seeking to provoke her husband against her and for excessive drinking.

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.


The Ecclesiastical History of New England; Religious but Also Moral by Joseph B. Felt, Congregational Board of Publication, Boston, 1862
p.549, the chapter on Rhode Island
1673, Nov 6 The Assembly nullify the procedure of Capt John Green, one of the Assistants, who had authorized a bill of divorcement between Richard Pray and Mary Pray, and declare their abhorrence of all such transactions. They command their declaration against liberty of this kind to be sent to all the towns, "that they may know we endeavor good law, all men's peace and safety, but no man's vice."

The Early Records of the Town of Providence
Vol. III:206-7 7 Mar 1671 Deed of sale. Stephen Paine of Rehoboth sold to Samuel Whipple three house lots, with a dwelling house, and all of the out housing standing upon the lots, which Stephen Paine purchased from Mary Mowry, executor of the estate of her deceased husband Roger Mowry. One lot originally belonged to Daniel Comstock, one to John Smith, and one to Richard Prey, all of Providence. Also one right of commoning, one 25 acre right of commoning both reaching westward as the seven mile line. [Rec. 21 Sep 1671]


Early Records of the Town of Providence, Vol XX; 1st Part of Second Book for Recording of Deeds; Wm E. Clarke, Record Commissioner, Providence, 1909
p.445
11 Mar 1693 Richard Pray for love and affection to his son Ephraim Pray assigned forever one whole five & twenty acre right within the Town of Providence, excepting what had already been sold, with all the upland & meadow taken up by virtue of the five & twenty acre right. Signed with his "R" mark. Witnessed by Joseph Jenckes Junr and Ichabod Bozworth.
Recorded 20 Sep 1711, Thos. Olney Clerk

Early Records of the Town of Providence, Vol XX; 1st Part of Second Book for Recording of Deeds; Wm E. Clarke, Record Commissioner, Providence, 1909
p.191 22 Feb 1706/7 Nathaniel Mawrey of Providence sold to Edward Manton one full right of land on the West side of the Seven Mile line which right did originally belong to Richard Pray, now deceased. The said quarter part of the said Right the said Richard Pray sold to me. Laid out unto me 37 1/2 acres according to the Order of the town concerning a deviaion of 150 acres laid out unto each person that had one full right in those lands on the West side of the Seven Mile line.
Signed: Nathaniel Mawrey.
Witness James Browne, Obadiah Browne
Rec. 27 Jun 1707, Tho. Olnery, Towne Clerk.


p.200-202 25 Jul 1707 William Keese sells to Edward Manton. Said right of Thatchbeds belongs to Keese in a full right of common that did originally belong to George Palmer of Providence, now deceased. It was sold by Palmer to John Scott and by John Scott, to Leanord Smith & after his decease sold by his brother Joseph Smith to my father John Keese, inhabitant of town of Portsmouth and by his last will & testament given to me the sd William Keese. All my right & title in all lands & common that belonged to Edward Manton my grandfather to my said Uncle Edward Manton. [Another] half right of lands did originally belong to John Clawson, former inhabitant of Providence and sold to Richard Pray and by said Pray given unto his son Ephraim and by Ephraim sold to my father John Kesse and given to me by his last will & testament. Signed: William Keese
Wit: Joseph Bordon, Mercy Morden
Rec. 15 Oct 1707, Thos. Olney, Towne Clerk
Anne Keese, Widdow, mother of William Keese did fully consent to the sale to Edward Manton his Uncle. 24 Oct 1707. Signed: Anne Keese
Wit: William Anthony, Thomas Wait.

Birth	1626	England
Marriage	By 1647	Mary [Pray]
Marriage	Abt 1688	Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island - ELIZABETH White
Death	1693	Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island

Spouse

ELIZABETH White ( - )

Spouse	Mary [Pray] ( - )
Child	JOHN PRAY (1658 - 1733)
Child	Ephraim Pray ( - )

Father	QUINTON PRAY (1595 - 1667)
Mother	Joan Valiance (1599 - 1672)
Sibling	Elizabeth Pray ( - )
Sibling	Quinton Pray (1624 - )
Sibling	Hugh Pray ( - )
Sibling	Sarah Pray ( - )
Sibling	Dorothy PRAY (1634 - 1705)
Sibling	John PRAY ( - 1676)
Sibling	Hannah/Anna PRAY (1638 - 1718)
Sibling	William Pray ( - )
Sibling	Thomas Pray ( - )