WILLIAM RAY
MINUTES OF THE COUNTY COURT
JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Researcher - Mrs. John Vineyard, 1214 West 27th street, Independence, Missouri 64052, about 1965
*This is the first time William Ray's name has been found connected with affairs of the County.
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County Court Minutes, Book 6, page 589, Court Order 90053-
Chas. G. Brockman, Superintendent of Poor House, reports on amounts paid out: Voucher No. 11 - to William Ray, $2.00 January Court - 1848
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County Court Minutes, Book 8, page 86, Court Order 92923 January 7, 1850
Three commissioners appointed to view proposed road changes disagree. Road to go 3/4 mile east of North West corner of Thomas Clarkson and Judge Brooking....Then on a line between G.W. Rhoades and Brooking, cutting off 6 to 8 acres of the North West corner of Rhoade's land to the land of Reuben Mockbee and Rhoades, running south to the intersection of the SANTA FE ROAD AT RAY'S SHOP.
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Report made by Samuel M. Grant, S. Davenport, and James Moore. This new road is now declared a public highway.
County Court Minutes, Book 8, page 98, February Term A D 1850, Monday 1st Day
To the Honorable the County Court of Jackson County Mo.
The Undersigned your petitioners would respectfully represent that they as well as many other citizens are much grieved for the want of a county road leading from their neighborhood in the direction of Independence. They therefore pray your honors to view and lay out a county road from WILLIAM RAY'S SHOP ON THE SANTAFEE ROAD in a Southern direction, crossing Little Blue at the Rockford and intersecting the High Grove Road near William Chrisman and as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray etc.
William F Strode & 15 others
and said petitioners proved to the satisfaction of the Court here that they have advertised according to Law of their intentions.
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County Court Minutes, Book 8, page 149, No 93150, March Term A D 1850, Monday 1st day
To the Honorable The County Court of Jackson County
We the undersigned having been appointed by your honorable body to view and lay out a road for a highway, beginning at Ray's Shop on the Santafee Road running nearly an East Course in the line between the lands of George W Rhoads and Thomas G Clarkson on the North and of Missus Ray Robinson and Dehoney on the South beg leave to report. That We did on the 23rd day of February A D 1850 view and lay out the same beginning at RAYS SHOP and running on the line between Ray & Robinson & the South and George Rhoads on the North and find the same now a good road and in good repair. We then proceeded in the same Cause (?course) on the line between the lands of Thomas Dehoney on the South and Thomas G Clarkson on the North on this part of the road a soft and spongy piece of ground which will require ditching and raising on the middle to make it firm and dry. We are of the opinion that a good road can be made on the whole rout which is about one mile in length and that it will be of public (utility) benefit and that it does no injury to any person except that strip of land on which the road is located at being on a strait line between the lands of those above named present. We therefore recommend the establishment of the same as a public highway. We were duly sworn before be acted as Commissioners.
A Brooking )
James Mickleborough ) Com.
Which report is by the Court here received and approved and Ordered to be spread upon the record and that the road therein designated be and that the road hereby declared a public highway. And order that the same be opened 20 feet wide and said road District be numbered Road District No. 86.
No 93151 ROAD DISTRICT No 86-
Beginning at RAYS BLACKSMITH SHOP on the SANTAFE ROAD and running East on the line between Ray & Robinson & Dehoney on the South & Clarkson on the North until it intersects the County road from Independence to John Davis South of the Stone Church. The Court appoints James J Robinson Overseer of said Road District and Order that he put and keep the same in good repair as is by Law required 20 feet wide and that he be served with a copy of this order.
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County Court Minutes, Book 8, page 214, No 93373, April Term A D 1850, Tuesday 2nd day
Now at this day comes Butler Howell, Jesse Davis & Thomas G Clarkson Commissioners appointed upon the road petition of Stephen Davenport & others for a road from RAYS BLACKSMITH SHOP South by the Rock Ford on Little Blue to the High Grove, made report and it appearing from said report that all persons owning land had relinquished the right of way for said through his land for said Road, the Court doth further Order that the Clerk of this Court issue a Summons to said David W Vance returnable to the next May Term of this Court to show cause why said Road should not be opened in accordance with the report of the Commissioners herein, and the Cause is continued until the next May Term of this Court.
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98603
page 287, partial report..only the ending..thus located very practicable and suitable for a public highway. All of which respectfully submitted and as in duty bound &c
George W Rhoades )
Thomas Dehoney ) Com
Which said report is by the Court received and approved and ordered to be spread upon the record and that the road thence designated declared a public highway with the exception of that part which runs upon the lands of Nelson Scholl is so changed as to run the road entirely on the lands of Bowers and West, instead of upon the lands of Bowers & West & Scholl
County Court Minutes, Book 8, page 287, No 93604, July Term A D 1850, Monday 1st Day
The Court districts the new road leading from The SANTAFEE ROAD at the Southwest corner of the lands of Nelson Scholl as Road District No. 91.
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No 93606-
Stephen C Oldham & Thomas G Clarkson, Commissioners appointed by this Court to assess the damages that David W Vance will sustain by reason of a Road from RAYS SHOP to or near High Grove running through Vances land. Made the following report Towit:- To the Honorable County Court of Jackson County, the undersigned commissioners appointed by your Honors at the Last May Term of said Court to assess the damages that David W Vance may sustain by the county road running from RAYS SHOP to High Grove as reported by Butler Howell, Jesse Davis, and Thomas Colgin, would beg
leave to make the following report. After examining the premises we believe that said Vance would sustain damage by the opening of said road of Fifteen dollars, which is respectfully submitted to your Honors, having been duly sworn to perform said duty.
Stephen C Oldham )
Thomas G Clarkson, ) Com.
Which said report is by the Court here received and approved and ordered to be spread upon the record and that the county pay to said Vance so assessed as aforesaid.
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County Court Minutes, Book 8, page 288 July Court A D 1850
And thereupon the Court doth order that the report of Butler Howell, Jesse Davis and Thomas G Clarkson, commissioners, filed their at the April term of this Court 1850, be received and approved and spread upon the record which said report is in the words and figures following towit:
We the undersigned Commissioners having been appointed at the February Term to view and mark out a road as follows: Beginning at WILLIAM RAYS BLACKSMITH SHOP and running nearly a south course to the plantation of Butler Howell - thence with the same travel now in use to the North-west corner between said Howell and Jesse Bowers (Barnes) where T(B) Howell has thrown off some three or four acres of his land in order to get good ground for a road, thence South on a line between B Howell and L N Ross to a branch where there is a small (offset?) west in order to get a good crossing place - thence south-east some eighty steps to the line between I H Johnson and Stephen Davenport, thence said line to William Muirs East line, thence with said line to Alexander Chiles west line following the old travel to Lewis Jones East line, then with said line to Thomas Colgins East line with said line to the ford of Little Blue called Rock Ford thence on the West side of Mouse Creek to High Grove to intersect County Road.
Thomas G Colgin )
Butler Howell )
Jesse Davis ) Com
State of Missouri, County of Jackson ss
This is to certify that the above report which said Commissioners will make is a copy in substance of a report formerly made & certified, which report said Commissioners has lost or mislaid and that the above report was sworn and subscribed before me this 1st day of April 1850
Jesse Henry J P
Whereas Butler Howell, Jesse Davis and Thomas Colgin were commissioned by the Court at its February Term (1850) to view and mark out a road beginning at RAYS SHOP and ending at or near Abraham Chrismans, therefore we the undersigned whose lands join said road are all willing that said road shall be established where said commissioners have marked it to run. Given under our hands &c. I relinquish 10 or 15 feet on my east line.
Lewis James (Jones)
Wm. Muir L. Davenport J H Johnson John R Moberly
E C Rice William Ray I relinquish one-half of sufficiency
Which said report is by the Court here received and approved and ordered to be spread upon the record, and the road therein designated declared a public highway
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(This account of the Court's action is continued on next page of photostat. It will be noted that on the first day of Court- July 1850, William Ray's Blacksmith Shop is mentioned SIX TIMES as the focal point for road changes and road district...(Arva Lee Vineyard)
***THe Court districts that part of the NEW ROAD FROM RAYS BLACKSMITH SHOP to High Grove as laid out by Jesse Davis, Butler Howell and Thomas Colgin, Commissioners, from Rays Blacksmith Shop to the South end of William Muir's farm as Road District No 92
***The Court districts that part of the New road from WILLIAM RAYS blacksmith shop to High Grove as laid out by Jesse Davis, Butler Howell & Thomas Colgin, Commissioners, from the south end of William Muir's farm with its termination at or near the High Grove as Road District No 93
***Beginning at the BLACKSMITH SHOP OF WILLIAM RAY and thence South between Ray & Vance, Oldham & Rice, near Butler Howell's farm, thence to the line between Howell & Ross, Davenport & Johnson, as laid out by Howell, Davis & Colgin, Commissioners, to the South end of William Muirs farm
The Court appoints Stephen Davenport, Overseer, of said Road District, and order that he open and keep the same in good repair as is by Law required 20 feet wide and that he be served with a copy of this order. District No 92
*** Road District No 93 -Beginning at the south end of William Muirs farm and with review of Butler Howell, Jesse Davis & Thomas Colgin, Commissioners, by the Rock Ford on Little Blue to its termination at or near the High Grove.
The Court appoints Thomas Colgin, Overseer of said road district, and order that he open and keep the same in good repair as is by Law required 20 feet wide and that he be served with a copy of this order.
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County Court Minutes, Book 8, page 290 1/2, No 93618, July Court A D 1850
WILLIAM RAY vs. William Rice & Elihu Rice, administrators for Archibald Rice Estate, for $12.88. Court allows account.
(Archibald Rice died October 14, 1849)
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Book 162, p. 68 Jackson County, Missouri Court Records
Know all men by these presents we David W. Vance & Lucinda my wife of the County of Jackson and State of Missouri for an in consideration of the sum of Seventy two Dollars and Sixty two and a half cents to us in hand paid by William Ray of Jackson County & State aforesaid the receipt whereof acknowledged we hath given granted bargained and sold by these presents do give grant bargain and sell unto the said William Ray and his heirs and assigns forever the following tract or parcel of land towit being a part of the West half of Section Four Township Forty Eight Range Thirty Two commencing at the SouthWest corner of William Ray's Lot and then South to Rice's corner thence West to the beginning containing Seven acres and Ninety poles more or less) Together with all and singular the rights and priveleges here ( ) there unto belonging or in any wise apperataining unto him the said William Ray and to his heirs and assignes forever and we do further warrant and defend the right title claim or interest of in and every form or presence whatsoever.
In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names and affixed our seals this 16th day of October A. D. 1850
D. W. Vance (Seal)
Lucinda Vance (Seal)
....William Poe J.P. certfies transaction
Filed for record and duly recorded this 3rd day of June A. D. 1887 at 10 O'clock A.M. R.T. Hines Recorder
By E. T. Packard Deputy