David and Marsha Grady Family
Our BILBRAY (BILBERRY) FamilyNote: My family has always spelled my 3rd great-grandmother's maiden name as "BILBRAY". However, her family's name has appeared in various sources as BILBRA, BILBERRY, BILBURY, and others. For simplicity, I have used the BILBRAY spelling except for current generations where a different spelling is in general or legal use.
Marsha's third great-grandmother was Sarah A. BILBRAY. Sarah was born 2 August 1844, probably in Butler County, Alabama. She married James Richard COLEMAN on 5 November 1866 in Butler County. Their family moved from Butler County to Monroe County sometime between 1870-1890, and settled in what is now known as the Wildfork community. Sarah died 22 August 1909 at her home in Wildfork, and is buried at Coleman Cemetery, which is located on the old Coleman homestead.
Sarah was the daughter of John BILBRAY and his second wife, Easter Elizabeth (maiden name unknown). John BILBRAY was born about 1795 in North Carolina (according to census records). Marsha has no information on John's parents or siblings - however, in the 1840 Federal Census for Dallas County, Alabama, a Henry BILBEERY and Ishan BILBRA are listed in households near John's. This same Isham appears in the 1850 Federal Census for Butler County, Alabama. Based on his age, he could possibly be John BILBRAY's father or uncle.
John BILBRAY was in Jones County, Georgia as early as 20 December 1821, when he married his first wife, Mary BARRON, daughter of John BARRON and Frances GARRARD. John BILBRAY moved from Georgia to Wilcox County, Alabama, along with his brother-in-law, Jacob BARRON. John appears in the 1830 Federal Census as John BILBRY, age between 30-40, with a female age 20-30 (assumed to be wife, Mary), 2 sons aged 5-10 and 2 daughters under age 5.
It is believed that Mary BARRON BILBRAY died before 1840, as the 1840 Federal Census listing for John BILBRRY in Dallas County, Alabama, does not include a female of the right age. There is a female age 15-20 in that household who could possibly be his second wife, Easter Elizabeth - Marsha believes that he remarried by about 1840, since the 1850 Federal Census shows a daughter, Harriet, age 10 who would have been born about 1840.
By 1850, John BILBRAY had settled in Butler County, Alabama. The BILBRAY family inter-married quite a bit with the BARRON and BURKETT families of Butler County.
Sarah appears in the 1860 census as S.A. BILBURY, age 15, although she was not included in the 1850 entry for John's family - there is some possibility that she is a niece rather than daughter?
John BILBRAY died 28 July 1870 and is probably buried in Butler County, Alabama. His widow, Easter Elizabeth, is believed to have moved to Monroe County to live with one of her married daughters, as she is buried near her daughters, Sarah BILBRAY COLEMAN, Harriet Jane BILBRAY BURKETT and Mary Frances BILBRAY BLACKMON, in Coleman Cemetery.
Reports:
Photographs:
Related Families:
Marsha's COLEMAN page
Marsha's BURKETT page
Marsha's FRANKLIN page (under construction)Related Articles and Transcriptions:
Inventory of Coleman Cemetery, Wildfork community, Monroe County, AlabamaRelated Census Records:
Miscellaneous BILBRAY Census Records - contains miscellaneous records of related BILBRAY families transcribed by Marsha; includes Wilcox County AL, Dallas County AL, Butler County AL and Monroe County ALAcknowledgements:
Special thanks go out to Marsha's first cousin twice removed, Betty COLEMAN MANNING, for her tireless research and notes on this family. Marsha also had quite a bit of help from other BILBRAY, BURKETT and FRANKLIN researchers.
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