John Bray [c. 1755-1826], Galbertstown, Thurles, County Tipperary

John Bray was the son of Luke Bray of Galbertstown, Holy Cross, County Tipperary and his wife Mary Phillips. He was the eldest of seven children. His father, Luke, died before John reached his twenty-first birthday,

Luke Bray, bequeathed his interest in Galbertstown Co Tipperary to his Executrix his wife Mary  Phillips in trust for his son John Bray - and to herself £40 p. a. - until her son (John) is 21 yrs of age - and thence to Samuel Edmond Luke and Robert., to each of whom he leaves £200. [Will of Luke Bray].

Whereas testator’s niece Mary Bray otherwise Phillips, and wife of Luke Bray, gent, hath a provision made for her life from the death of said Luke Bray, if she survive him to issue out of the lands of Galbertstown, which the said Luke Bray holds for the term of his own life and the life of the said James Max. £20 per annum to Mary Bray out of the lands of Doggstown and Farrenlyny if she remains a widow after the death of Luke Bray and James Max.

[Will of John Max. gentleman, of Killough, Co.Tipperary Date: probably 1769]

John Bray and his wife Mary Fogarty are both buried at Holy Cross Abbey, Thurles , County Tipperary.

The gravestone reads:

Erected by John Bray, Esq. of Thurles, for his wife, Mary Bray nee:Fogarty, died July 12, 1799, aged 43 years

John Bray died in  1826 aged 72.

After John’s death who inherited Galbertstown?

Luke Bray [1780-1837] Ballycarrane, Thurles, County Tipperary

Luke Bray was born in 1780, the son of John Bray and Mary Fogarty of Thurles, County Tipperary.  He married Ellen Ronayne, the daughter of William Ronayne, in Ballindad, County Waterford, on the 23^rd May 1810.

26. Ennis Chronicle Wed. 30 May 1810, Married on Wednesday at Ballindad Co. Waterford Luke Bray Esq. of Thurles to Ellen, daughter of Wm. Ronayne.

They had eight children.

1821 Census. Ballycunane.

Mr. Luke Bray, 39, farmer.

Mrs Ellen Bray, wife, 31.

May, dau, 9

Fanny, dau, 7

Catherine, dau, 6

Ellen, dau, 4

Johanna, dau, 2

John, son, 2

54 acres held by Luke Bray in this townland.

Anna Bray is not listed in 1821 census in Thurles because she was staying with her grandmother Ann (Anstace) Ronayne (nee Power) in Waterford at the time. She is listed there. She was the eldest child and would have been about ten years old.

Luke died in Thurles in 1837 aged 57. Ellen survived her husband by 27 years.

Mrs Ellen Bray : North Riding : Thurles : Ballycarrane . (Commons/Glengariff/Thurles Town Parks Main Street.) (Griffith Valuation 1855).

Townland : Ballycarrane, 238 acres, North Riding, Tipperary. Barony : Eliogarty. Civil parish : Thurles.PLU : Thurles,  Munster.

She died in 1864.

October 22, at Thurles, Ellen, relict of Luke Bray, Esq.-May she rest in peace. Cork Examiner 4 October 1864

Luke and Ellen are buried at Holy Cross Abbey, with four of their daughters.

   Luke d. 1837 aged 57.

   Luke's widow Ellen Ronayne 1864 aged 76

   and their daughters Anna Bray d.1866, Mary Ann d. 1876, Ellen Mary Clare d. 1900 aged 84, Catherine    1902  aged 87

Frances Agnes Bray married Francis O’Brien of Thurles. She died on 12th January 1874.  Francis died Ist November 1870 aged 64. Both are buried in St. Mary's Graveyard, Thurles along with other members of the Bray O'Brien family.

Johanna Maria Bray married Daniel Corley Jennings of Newry.

Johanna Maria Bray [1818-1908], Ballycarrane, Thurles, County Tipperary

Born in Thurles, County Tipperary, Johanna Maria Bray was a twin sister of John Bray.

Lately, the lady of Luke Bray Esq., of Ballycarrane, county of Tipperary, of twins - a son and a daughter. It is remarkable that about a year back this lady had the same good fortune. [Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. 4, 1819. P. 509]

She was one of eight children of Luke Bray of Ballycarrane, Thurles, County Tipperary, and Ellen Ronayne, of Tramore, County Waterford. Both of her parents are buried at Holy Cross Abbey, Thurles, County Tipperary.

She married Daniel Corley Jennings of Newry, County Down c. 1847, and they had nine children. Daniel Jennings was a County Inspector in the R.I.C. For some time they lived at 6 Castle Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin, where two of their children died, Ellen Sophie Mary Jennings in 1878, aged 26, and John Bray Jennings in 1881, also aged 26.

Death Certificate states that John Bray Jennings, Bachelor, aged 26 years, Physician and Surgeon, died of phthisis (6 months certified), D.C. Jennings present at death, 6 Castle Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin, registered May 25th 1881. (GRO 1881 no. 155)

They later moved to 18 Morehampton Rd., Dublin where Daniel died on the 15^th of November, 1896.

After Daniel’s death 1896 Johanna lived at 23 Waterloo Place, Dublin with her unmarried daughters Mary and Kate Jennings until her death in 1908. She is buried with Daniel and other members of the Jennings family in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.

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