MR. BRAY was born at Shere, on the 15th of November, 1736. He was the
youngest of the three sons who survived their father Edward Bray, Esq.
George the eldest, who was in the Church, and the second son Edward, who
was in the Army, both died unmarried; and, on the death of George the
survivor, in 1803, Mr. Bray succeeded to the possession of the Manors of
Shere and Gumshall, which had belonged to his ancestors from the reign of
Henry the Eighth. When ten years old he was placed at Rugby, where he
remained until he was articled to Mr. Martyr, an Attorney of Guildford.
In 1761, he was appointed a Clerk of the Board of Green Cloth, at St.
James’s, through the patronage of Sir John Evelyn. His attendance at the
Board did not prevent his practising as an Attorney, and it introduced
him to many clients. In 1777, he published a ‘Tour in Derbyshire and
Yorkshire,’ and a second edition of it in 1783. In 1797, he was chosen
one of the Council, and a few years afterwards Treasurer, of the Society
of Antiquaries, many of his communications to which are printed in the
‘Archæologia.’ In 1801, on the death of the Revd. Mr. Manning, who had
been engaged for some years in compiling the ‘History of Surrey,’ Mr.
Bray undertook to complete the work. The first volume was published in
1804, the second in 1809, and the third in 1814. His next and last
literary undertaking was the editing of the ‘Evelyn Memoirs,’ which he
completed in 1817. {6} Although in his 80th year, he transcribed in his
own handwriting nearly the whole of Mr. Evelyn’s Journal.
He died from weakness, and without any disorder, on the 21st of December,
1832, having entered his 97th year on the 15th of the preceding month.
His habits before marriage did not promise either an industrious or a
very long life. He spent almost every night at cards, and many of his
mornings in other amusements. After his marriage he became more
attentive to his professional business; but he continued for many years
to live more like a bachelor than a married man, spending most of his
evenings in the society of his numerous friends, or at a coffee-house.
He was very hospitable both in bed and board, but in the plainest way.
His surplus income was laid out in purchases at Shere and in planting,
and he left no personal property except his life insurances. The family
estate devolved on his death to his grandson Edward, who lived at Shere,
and died in 1866, at the age of 72.