Zachariah Ray Cemetery

MAP OF LOCATION OF ZACHARIAH RAY CEMETERY NEAR JESS RAY ROAD & HWY 563 (POOR RIDGE ROAD). JESS RAY ROAD AND HWY 563 BEGIN FROM HIGHWAY 39 RUNNING NORTH FROM LANCASTER, KY.

It has been reported that the cemetery has been destroyed. There was also a report of a pile of tombstones in the field possibly where the red dot is shown on the map.

I have contacted the person making the Find A Grave posting, asking if an on site survey was made. There has been no response. I added Polly Ray Reynolds to the site because a Reynolds, no information, was posted. I believe if there is a Reynolds Buried there it would be Polly. As will be noted she married Harden Reynolds in Lincoln Co. KY where she died. Her father, William Ray, son of Zachariah, would have lived on the farm until at least when he married in 1808 and probably until he moved to Linn Co. MO.

Bob Evans has posted a Zachariah Ray Biography online which is a must read for interested parties. The biography can be printed. It begins with Zachariah's probable birth in VA, living in NC where he met his wife Mary Benge, daughter of Thomas and Susannah Benge. Their first son Samuel was born 9 Oct. 1782 followed by William (see above), Catherine, Daniel and Michael.

Zachariah was in what is today Garrard Co. KY by 1793 (best guess of Bob). The children born in this area were David, Elizabeth, Jefferson, Polly and Hezekiah.

Zachariah started buying land in the Sugar Creek drainage area in 1799. This is the area where the cemetery is located. Zachariah served as Justice of Peace and Sheriff of Garrard Co. Mary died and Zachariah married Susan Anderson 30 Aug. 1830. David Ray was Bondsman.

I have posted two of the children of Zachariah and Mary on Find A Grave:

1. William - Buried in the Ray Cemetery, Linn Co. MO, Memorial #84891207.

2. Hezekiah - Cemetery Unknown - Memorial #84170653. It has been speculated that Hezekiah was buried on his land on Sugar Creek. His land joined that of his father and he could be buried in the Zachariah Ray Cemetery.

The other children of Zachariah were:

1. Samuel - Married Susy Teater 17 Dec. 1804 in Garrard Co. Bond was by Samuel Teater consent by Zachariah Ray, father of the groom.

2.Daniel Ray - Posted by another party on the Zachariah Ray Cemetery with wife Martha Patsy Davidson. This would be a second wife. He married first Jenny Scott in Garrard Co. 16 Apr. 1810. Bond was by James Terrill, consent by his father Zachariah and her mother Martha Scott.

3. Michael - Married Patsy Collier 28 Sept. 1812 in Garrard Co. KY. Bond was by Aaron Collier. They are buried in the Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery in Garrard Co. and posted on Find A Grave. Michael, age 83, married, farmer, died 20 July 1875 of an inflamation of the stomach. Born in Garrard Co. (Garrard Co. Vital Records).

4. Elizabeth (Betsy) - Married James Fitzgerald in Garrard Co. on 16 May 1810. Bond was by Daniel Ray, consent by Zachariah Ray, father of the bride.

5. Polly - Married William P. Collier 29 Oct. 1823 in Garrard Co. KY. Bond by Daniel Ray.

6. Jefferson - Bob Evans has Jefferson as a son of Zachariah. He married Betsy McQuerry in Garrard Co. 2 Aug. 1824. Bond was by Samuel Ray.