Correction: Attention Fray researchers!

I am pleased to correct information which appears on page 13 of “The DUTCHMEN” – brassmakers of Bristol, Warmley, Keynsham, Bath & District.

This reads:

“Joseph, born 1755, John and Jane’s second son married Mary Nichols at St James, Bristol 1785. He died in 1803. Mary his widow died in 1808 leaving her effects (under £100) to her son William Fray of St James Bath. This William was born in 1786 and in 1841 was living at Walcot with Anna Fray, 30 and a little girl, Frances aged three. Frances Susan Fray died the next year. Ann Love Fray, widow, married William Jordan at St James Bath in 1837 – though if she and Anna are the same, why did she not call herself Jordan? By 1851, William Fray, ‘aged 65, smith, unmarried’ was living in Newington, London. He died there later that year. Some people are destined to remain mysteries.”

The item dates from much earlier than that of the blog, written prior to “online” and the modern aids we take for granted. I was perplexed at the time with good reason; it entwines two distinct Fray lines. This information has come to light by an email received from Ms Jacqueline Burrows who is researching the life of Major Christopher Brickman/n and his wife Ann, previously Ann Fray, nee Stallard. I am happy to unravel them.

“Ann Fray was in fact married to a Lt Col William Fray, with whom she had twin daughters, one of whom survived until age 4. The surviving twin was baptised Frances Susan Fray at St Saviour’s Larkhall, where she was also buried. Lt Col William Fray died in 1843 and was buried in St Saviour’s Larkhall also, leaving his estate to his wife Ann.

“Ann went on to marry again, to Christopher Deake Brickman/n, who became an Alderman of Bath. She died in Bath in 1890.

“AI being the scraping monster that it is, this incorrect information now appears in online searches into the life of Ann and Lt Col William Fray.”

One of the first things I learned when I began researching my family tree 50 years ago was not to take anyone’s transcript as a true copy of the real thing. We all make mistakes. The golden rule is to go back, if possible, to the original source. This applies to all online information. Mistakes when copying will always occur. I used to say, “we are all human”. Now even this adage is no longer true, we have to be extra vigilant.

I am grateful to Ms Burrows for writing to me.

Picture credit:

Brass warming-pan, Europe, 1801-1900 Wellcome L0058290.jpg. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0

Filled with hot coals, this brass warming-pan was used to heat beds to make patients feel more comfortable. This was a common way of warming cold hospital beds before wards were adequately heated. The lid is hinged, to allow hot coals to be placed inside and has a floral and star pattern.