Born.1

Date calculated from age at death & burial

Mentioned in Will.2

Of William Ray - died 1768
Annotated as "my daughters ... Lydia ..."

Mentioned in Will.3

Of Rev'd. Charles Ray - died 1789
Annotated as "my sisters Catherine Smyth Lydia Ray Elizabeth Ray now living together at Norwich"

Wrote will.4,5

1) This is the last Will & Testament
2) of me Lydia Ray of the City of Norwich in the County of Norfolk spinster
3) who being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding
4) do give devise and bequeath to my sister Elizabeth Ray all my part share in
5) right and title to and in a messuage tenement or dwelling house with a
6) yard garden and ground adjoining on the north side thereof lying and
7) being in the parish of St Giles in the City of Norwich in a certain street
8) called St Giles' Street and now in the possession and occupation of me Lydia
9) Ray and Elizabeth Ray together with the rights members and appurtments thereto
10) belonging and appurtainces and the reversions and remainder and
11) remainders thereof to hold to her the same Elizabeth Ray her heirs and assignees
12) forever I give and bequeath to my brother Samuel Ray the sum of two hundred
13) and sixty pounds I give and bequeath to my sister Ann Clayton the sum of one
14) thousand pounds therefore three per centum per annum Consolidated Securities transferable
15) at the Bank of England I give and bequeath to my sister Susanna Parker the
16) sum of one hundred pounds I give and bequeath to Mary Ray the widow of my
17) late brother William Ray the sum of ten pounds I give and bequeath to Jemima
18) Ray the widow of my late brother Charles Ray the sum of ten pounds I give
19) and bequeath to my nephews Samuel Ray and William Ray the sum of fifty pounds
20) I give and bequeath to my niece Susanna Smyth the sum of fifty
21) pounds I give and bequeath to my nephews the Rev'd Peter Eade and the Rev'd Charles
22) Eade and Thomas Eade the sum of fifty pounds each I give and bequeath to my
23) nephew James Ray the sum of ten pounds to my niece Ann Ray ten pounds I give and bequeath
24) to my niece Ann Parker ten pounds I give and bequeath to my nieces Lydia
25) Ray Ann Clayton Rebecca Clayton Deborah Clayton  Catherine Clayton Margaret
26) Elizabeth Clayton Susanna Clayton ten pounds each I give and bequeath to my
27) nephew Samuel Clayton ten pounds to my nephew William Ray Clayton
28) ten pounds and all the rest residue and remainder of my Estate whatsoever
29) and wherever which shall remain after payment of my debts funeral
30) expenses and the proving of this my will I give and bequeath to unto my sister
31) Elizabeth Ray for her own use benefit and disposal making her my residuary
32) Legatee and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my sister Elizabeth
33) Ray sole Executrix of this my last will and testament requiring her to pay
34) and discharge all and severally the respective legacies herein given in eight calendar
35) months after my decease and I do hereby revoke all former wills by me herefore to
36) made and do publish and declare this to be my last will and testament  (?)
37) witness whereof I the said Lydia Ray the Testatrix have to this my last will
38) and testament contained in one sheet of paper in my own hand writing at and
39) subscribe my hand and seal this third day of October in the year of our Saviour
40) thousand eight hundred and five Lydia Ray Signed sealed published
41) and declared by the Testatrix as and for her last will and testament in the persons of
42) us who at her request and in her presence have subscribed our names as witnesses
43) hereunto Leonard Bacon Norwich - Jno Bolton - Eliza Shreeve

Mentioned in Will.6

Of Jemima Ray née Clayton - died 1817
Annotated as "Lydia Ray of Norwich"

Died in Norwich, St Giles.7,1

From the Norwich Chronicle :-
"Lately, in St Giles, Mrs. Ray, aged 80"

Buried in Norwich, Cathedral, North Cloister.8,1

From the Bishop's Transcript :-
"Lydia Ray / St Giles / Nov 20 / 80 / C I Smyth"

"Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Catherine Smyth Relict of Mr. John Smyth of Fakenham in this County and daughter of William Ray Gent Formerly of Tannington in the county of Suffolk. She died Feby 2d 800 Aged 55 years.
Also Lydia Ray daughter of the said William Ray who died Novr 15th 1818. Aged 80 years"

Photo taken by Linda Eccles 16th July 2016

Probate in Norwich, Archdeaconry.5

"The sole executor within named as duly sworn persuant to a Commission from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury before the Revd Chas Freeman Millar Clerk
Effects under GBP 400"

Probate in Prerogative Court of Canterbury.4

1) Proved at London the 19 December 1818 before the Judge by the oath of
2) Elizabeth Ray spinster the sister the sole Executrix to whom admon was granted
3) (?) having been first sworn by commission duly to administer