William Bray

William Bray (1736–1832) was an English antiquary, best known as co-author of a county history of Surrey. Life Bray was the fourth and youngest son of Edward Bray of Shere in Surrey, who married Ann, daughter of Rev. George Duncomb. When ten years old he entered Rugby School. On leaving school he was placed with an attorney, Mr. Martyr, at Guildford, but not long afterwards obtained a position in the Board of Green Cloth, which he held for nearly fifty years and was then superannuated. On the death of his elder brother, the Rev. George Bray, on 1 March 1803, he inherited the family estates in Shere and Gomshall. His position in the county and his legal training caused him to be associated in many charitable and civil trusts in Surrey. He died at Shere 21 December 1832, aged 96, and a mural monument was erected to his memory in its church. Works Bray was elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1771, became the treasurer of the society in 1803, and contributed frequently to its journal, Archaeologia. His first publication was the "Sketch of a Tour into Derbyshire and Yorkshire". Originally published anonymously in 1777, the second edition appeared with the author's name in 1783, and it was subsequently frequently reprinted, and was included in John Pinkerton's Travels. His next work, which was printed privately, was Collections relating to Henry Smith, sometime Alderman of London.