Samuel Westray
According
to the 1850 census of Nash County, North Carolina, Samuel Westray was born in
Virginia. Although he has not been specifically found in Virginia records thus
far, Lena W. Morgan, in her research, said that he may have come from a Quaker
background in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, because many Westrays are in the
county records there. His father could have been Edmond Westray who died there
in 1795 and had sons Samuel, Jeremiah, Joseph, Levi, and a daughter Sophia.
Another possibility is Nottaway Parish in Nansemond County, Virginia.
There was an older Samuel Westray in Nash County, who could also possibly be
the father of this Samuel. He was listed as Justice of the Peace in Nash County
in the years 1796, 1798, 1799, 1810, 1815, 1816, 1817, and 1820.
Samuel Westray's tombstone and family bible indicate that he died in 1856, but
Nash County, North Carolina, Court records, indicate that he died in 1855.
During the May Term, 1855, a petition was filed in the Nash County Court by
Rebecca Westray for a year's provisions. She was the widow of Samuel Westray,
who died intestate in 1855 with said widow as administratrix. An estate sale
was held on June 6, 1855, and Isaac Strickland was the principal buyer.