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My g.g.grandmother, went to Melbourne, Australia with husband William Beresford Wray and 7 children in 1860, William died April 1861, Elizabeth & children returned to England (Liverpool, I think) in late 1862. Can find no trace of her after that, so don't know if she died, remarried or what! Eldest daughter Elizabeth married in 1864 in Birkenhead and three of her young siblings were witnesses, seems odd, if mother Elizabeth was there, wouldn't she have been a witness?
Grateful for any help,
Georgina

What were the other children's names and DOBs?

This death is a possibility, in the same registration area as Elizabeth Junior's wedding:

Deaths Mar 1887 (>99%)
Wray Elizabeth 62 W. Derby 8b 433

1851 census with childrens' names:

1851 England Census
about Elizabeth Wray Name: Elizabeth Wray
[Elizabeth Bainbridge]
Age: 26
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1825
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: W B Wray
Mother's Name: E Bainbridge
Gender: F (Female)
Where born: Hoveringham, Nottinghamshire, England

Civil Parish: Birkenhead
Ecclesiastical parish: Holy Trinity
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability: View Image

Registration District: Wirral
Sub-registration District: Birkenhead
ED, institution, or vessel: 1i
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Schedule Number: 76
Piece: 2175
Folio: 261
Page Number: 24
Household Members: Name Age
W B Wray 24
Elizabeth Wray 26
Elizabeth Wray 5
Mary Wray 3
Walter Wray 2
E Bainbridge 61
William Bainbridge 21
Sarah Prescott 18

The Bainbridges are mother-in-law and btother-in-law, Sarah Prescott a servant.

Just for ref.:
1851 England Census
Elizabeth Wray [Elizabeth Bainbridge] Age: 26 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1825
Relation: Wife Spouse's Name: W B Wray
Mother's Name: E Bainbridge
Gender: F (Female) Where born: Hoveringham, Nottinghamshire, England
Civil Parish: Birkenhead Ecclesiastical parish: Holy Trinity
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England
Registration District: Wirral
Sub-registration District: Birkenhead
ED, institution, or vessel: 1i Household Schedule Number: 76 Piece: 2175 Folio: 261 Page Number: 24
W B Wray 24
Elizabeth Wray 26
Elizabeth Wray 5
Mary Wray 3
Walter Wray 2
E Bainbridge 61
William Bainbridge 21
Sarah Prescott 18
Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 2175; Folio: 261; Page: 24; GSU roll: 87168.

Sarah Ann(e), 1854, Walter William, 1848, Amy Edith, 1852, Cecelia Blanche, 1856.
First three born Liverpool, Cecelia born Torquay. Elizabeth born 1846, Everton, same year as parents married.

Have you found all her children in 1871 census?

Thank-you

Is this Walter in 1881?
1881 England Census
Walter Wray Age: 30 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1851
Relationship to Head: Head
Spouse: Annie Wray
Gender: Male Where born: Manchester, Lancashire, England
Civil Parish: Pendleton in Salford
County/Island: Lancashire Country: England
Street Address: 33 Harrison St
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Book Keeper
Registration District: Salford Sub-registration District: Pendleton
ED, institution, or vessel: 24 Piece: 3945 Folio: 6A Page Number: 7
Walter Wray 30
Annie Wray 30
Annie Wray 4
Helena Wray 3
Cecila Wray
Source Citation: Class: RG11; Piece: 3945; Folio: 6A; Page: 7; GSU roll: 1341942.

I haven't found any of the children except Elizabeth junior in 1871 census.
Not sure about the 1881 census record for Walter, this one was born in Manchester, and so far I haven't found any of the children after Elizabeth junior's marriage anywhere, except for Elizabeth herself.

Forgot to mention daughter Mary Agnes, born 1847, Everton, my great grandmother. I hoped to find g.g.grandmother Elizabeth perhaps living with one of her children, but so far nothing!

The death record for Elizabeth Wray in1887 is incorrect, I've already got the death certificate!

You say you haven't found any of the children after Elizabeth junior's marriage. Well, here is Cecelia and she is on all the census from 1881 with her husband but I can't find her on the 1871:


Marriages Mar 1879 (>99%)

BLORE James Henry Derby 7b 489 Scan available - click to view
Hubbard Ada Derby 7b 489 Scan available - click to view
WRAY Cecilia Blanche Derby 7b 489 Scan available - click to view
WRAY William Thomas Derby 7b 489

In 1881 she on the census as Blanche and is living in Sheffield with husband William and one year old son Claude. In the same house, but separate household, is Thomas Wray, 59, Tailor and Draper, b Alfreton, Derbyshire.

So where is Mary Agnes in 1871 or 1881?

I thought that 1881 might be Walter because one of his daughters is called Cecelia.

1881 England Census about Blanche Wray
Name: Blanche Wray
Age: 24
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1857
Relationship to Head: Wife
Spouse: William Wray
Gender: Female
Where born: Torqey, Devon, England

Civil Parish: Sheffield
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England

Street Address: 21 Kennyan St
Marital Status: Married
Education:

Employment status:

View Image

Registration District: Sheffield
Sub-registration District: North Sheffield
ED, institution, or vessel: 24
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 4647
Folio: 42
Page Number: 40
Household Members:
Name Age
William Wray 23
Blanche Wray 24
Claude Wray 1

Living in the same house is Thomas Wray with wife Agnes and sons John J and George B.



1881 England Census about Thomas Wray
Name: Thomas Wray
Age: 59
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1822
Relationship to Head: Head
Spouse: Agness Wray
Gender: Male
Where born: Alferton, Derbyshire, England

Civil Parish: Sheffield
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England

Street Address: 21 Kennyan St
Marital Status: Married
Education:

Employment status:

View Image
Occupation: Tailor & Draper

Registration District: Sheffield
Sub-registration District: North Sheffield
ED, institution, or vessel: 24
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 4647
Folio: 42
Page Number: 40
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas Wray 59
Agness Wray 54
John J. Wray 15
George B. Wray 11

???????


1901 England Census about Cecila B Wray
Name: Cecila B Wray
Age: 44
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1857
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: William Wray
Gender: Female
Where born: Ecclesfield, Yorkshire, England

Civil Parish: Brightside Bierlow
Ecclesiastical parish: Brightside St Thomas
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View Image

Registration District: Sheffield
Sub-registration District: West Brightside
ED, institution, or vessel: 34
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Schedule Number: 21
Piece: 4377
Folio: 70
Page Number: 4
Household Members:
Name Age
William Wray 43
Cecila B Wray 44
Agnes V Wray 13

Patchem, I did think it was a coincidence that 1881 Walter had a daughter called Cecelia as I should think that's not too common. Mary Agnes married W.Knowles 1869,Liverpool, he died 1873, she remarried 1876 my g.grandfather S.Abbott.
Everyone, thank you very much for all the info, esp.the census records, which I would have discounted because I wouldn't have expected her to marry someone with the same surname! Great!

Hello,
Repeating my enquiry of today about Walter William Wray, born 1848 in Everton, Liverpool. Appears in 1851 census, and eldest sister Elizabeth's marriage certificate in 1864. No further trace can I find. Have added this to a previous thread as requested, apologies for giving you unnecessary work.

Might he have emigrated again? or joined the military? those seem the obvious options :-)
Do you know where the family was when they were in Australia?

FMP shows a Walter Wray with unknown birth date in British Army Service Records
http://www.findmypast.co.uk/army-service-records-search.action
(I don't have a sub to check)


Presumably the Walter Wray in the 1881 census is this one

Births Mar 1851
Wray Walter Manchester 20 728

Do you have this?

WRAY FAMILY (“LITTLE NIGHTINGALES”)
Juvenile musicians, vocalists
Departed for England, November 1862

Summary: Wray arrived in Melbourne for the first time from Liverpool on the ship the Morning Light on 2 November 1857, and a week later Joseph Wilkie advertised publication of his The Morning Light Polka (“Composed on the Voyage to Melbourne”). He advertised as a teacher of music in December billing himself as “late Organist of the Blind Asylum, Liverpool, late Conductor of the Torquay Choral Society; Organist of the Sacred Harmonic Society, Liverpool, 700 performers,)”, and as otherwise open to engagement. Wray sailed again for England in April 1858, but returned to Melbourne in September 1860, on board the Champion of the Seas, likewise recording that voyage with his The Champion of the Seas Polka (“Composed expressly for &? respectfully dedicated to the owners of that magnificent vessel”) ([Melbourne]: [Joseph Wilkie], [?1860]). On his return, Wray brought his large family of young performers with him, the Wray Family, or “The Little Nightingales” (for their names, details, and concert repertoire, see Melbourne advertisement September 1860; also Bendigo review December 1860). One other musical work by him, published in England, is The Charm Schottisch (“companion to the Gem Polka”) (“Dedicated to the gentlemen of Birkenhead”) (Liverpool [UK]: W. P. Draper, [?1857]).

Obituary: We regret to have to announce the death, at 6 o’clock yesterday morning, of Mr. W. B. Wray, a gentleman well known to the musical world as an accomplished organist, and to the public generally as the father of “The Little Nightingales”. Mr. Wray was formerly organist at the Blind Asylum in Liverpool, but was compelled to resign his appointment by the state of his health, to ameliorate which he resided for some years at Torquay on the coast of Devonshire. The peculiar nature of his complaint, consumption, subsequently induced him to visit this colony nearly three years ago. Many will remember with pleasure his performances upon the organ during his short stay, and while he had the post of organist of Brighton Church. He returned to England for the sake of advancing the professional interests of his young family but was again compelled to emigrate, and once more chose Victoria as his home. On his arrival here he gave seven concerts, which met with a liberal share of public patronage, and was, to the gratification of his friends, reinstated in his old situation. He was to have commenced his duties on the very day on which his career was terminated by tho hand of death. On Thursday last the deceased gentleman was suddenly seized with a coughing fit while in the railway, and broke a blood-vessel. The accident terminated in his death. He has left a widow and seven children to deplore his loss.