Person:Izzard Bray (1)

Izzard Bray was baptised on 7th March 1798 at Stotfold in Bedfordshire, son of Sarah Bray. His baptism record does not name his father, although on one of Izzard's marriage certificates he reported that his father was a labourer called "Thomas Izzard Bray".

On Christmas Eve 1819, aged 21, Izzard married Ann Thompson at Norton in Hertfordshire, the parish immediately south of Stotfold. They went on to have five children baptised at Norton between 1822 and 1834. All the children's baptisms describe Izzard as a labourer and give the family's abode as Norton.

Ann died in 1837, being buried at Norton on 11th June that year. She was said to be 34 years old.

Just over a year later, Izzard married again. His second wife was a widow called Susan Cox, formerly Moles. Susan and her late husband had also lived at Norton through the 1830s so they had been living in the same small village for some years. However, Izzard and Susan did not marry at Norton but at Weston, a couple of miles to the south. It would appear that Izzard had moved there after Ann's death. Izzard's marriage to Susan lasted less than eight months; she was buried at Norton on 19th April 1839, aged 52.

The 1841 census finds Izzard living at Watsons Hill in Weston with his son John and stepdaughter Sarah Cox.

On 26th December 1845 Izzard married for a third time. His third wife was Ruth Emery, formerly Hemmings, whose first husband had died in 1843. They married in the local market town of Baldock, where they were both living by then; Izzard on High Street and Ruth at Pepper Alley.

The 1851 census finds Izzard, Ruth and Izzard's son John living in the Baldock End area, which was in the parish of Clothall but effectively a suburb of Baldock. In 1861 they were living at Park Street in Baldock, and Izzard was working as a carter, whilst Ruth was a laundress.

Ruth died in 1867, aged 69. Izzard survived her by just over a year. He was buried at Norton on 11th May 1868, aged 70.

1. ↑ Bedfordshire and Luton Archives and Records Service. Transcript of Stotfold Parish Registers.

   1798
   MR7 Izard natural s of Sar Bray

2. ↑ England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 437; Book 10; Folio 16; Page 9, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Watsons Hill, Weston, Hertfordshire
   Izard Bray, male, 40 [1796-1801], Ag[ricultural] Lab[ourer], born in county
   John Bray, male, 11 [1829/30], Ag[ricultural] Lab[ourer], born in county
   Sarrah Cox, female, 20 [1816-21], F[emale] S[ervant], born in county

3. ↑ England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 1709; Folio 49; Page 9, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Back Lane, Baldock End, Clothall, Hertfordshire
   Izzard Bray, head, married, male, 42 [1808/9], Ag[ricultural] Lab[ourer], b. Stotfold, Bedfordshire
   Ruth Bray, wife, married, female, 48 [1802/3], Labourers Wife, b. Baldock, Hertfordshire
   John Bray, son, unmarried, male, 19 [1831/2], Ag[ricultural] Lab[ourer], b. Baldock, Hertfordshire

4. ↑ England. 1861 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG9; Piece 816; Folio 24; Page 42, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: Park Street, Baldock, Hertfordshire
   Izzard Bray, head, married, male, 68 [1792/3], Local Carter, b. Stotfold, Bedfordshire
   Ruth Bray, wife, married, female, 61 [1799/1800], Laundress, b. Baldock, Hertfordshire

5.   Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   d. Izzard BRAY, June Quarter 1868, Hitchin Registration District, Volume 3a, page 162

6. ↑ Burials register, in Church of England. Norton Parish Registers.

   BURIALS in the Parish of Norton in the County of Hertford in the Year 1868
   No.	Name	Abode	When buried	Age	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   373	Izzard Bray	Norton	May 11	72y	G.J. Pierson