Charlotte B. Ray

Charlotte A. B. Ray (1813-1891) was a prominent suffragist and abolitionist. Charlotte was the wife Charles Bennett Ray a revered African-American journalist.

Charlotte Burroughs Ray
BornCirca. 1813
Died25 October 1891
New York City
NationalityAmerican
OccupationSuffragist, Abolitionist
Spouse(s)Charles Bennett Ray
ChildrenCharlotte E. Ray; Florence T. Ray; H. Cordelia Ray
Parent(s)Augustus Burroughs and Pacella

Early life

Charlotte Augusta Burroughs was born around 1813, in Chatham County, Georgia, to parents Augustus Burroughs and Pacella. Many details of Charlotte's childhood are unknown.[1][2]

Career and Marriage

Charlotte relocated to New York City, where in 1840 she married Charles Bennett Ray.[3][4] Together they had seven children. Four survived to adulthood:

  • Clarence F. Ray (1848-?).
  • Florence Theresa Ray (February 6, 1847 - June 15, 1920); no issue.
  • Charlotte E. Ray (January 13, 1850 – January 4, 1911); no issue.
  • Henrietta Cordelia Ray (August 30, 1852 – January 5, 1916); no issue.

All four of her children received a college education. Her daughter Charlotte F. was the first African-American woman to receive a law degree. Her eldest daughter Florence also became a attorney. Her youngest child Henrietta Cordelia became a famous poet.[5][6]

Charlotte was a pastor for the New York's Bethesda Congregational Church.[7] Her Christian faith fueled her activism to legalize women's right to vote, and protect African-American women who were predisposed to illness and disabilities resulting from slavery. Charlotte was also an active member in the American Equal Rights Association (AERA) and the American Anti-Slavery Society.[1]

Charlotte passed away on October 25, 1891, and was buried in Cypress Hills Cemetery.[8]

References
  1. Williams-Jones, Daniel (2018). "Biographical Sketch of Charlotte B. Ray". Alexander Street. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  2. "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2W69-VV6 : 2 June 2020), Charlotte A.b. Ray, 25 Oct 1891; citing Death, Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,322,828.
  3. Penn, Irvine Garland (1891). The Afro-American Press and Its Editors. Willey & Company.
  4. "Charles B. Ray (1807-1886) •". 2008-06-30. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  5. "Charlotte Ray". History of American Women. 2013-02-06. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  6. "Ray, Charles B.(1807–1886) - Abolitionist, editor, Chronology, Joins Anti-Slavery Movement, Works for The Colored American - York, Black, University, and Antislavery - JRank Articles". 2018-10-08. Archived from the original on 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  7. Aldermen, New York (N Y. ) Board of (1905). Ordinances Resolutions, Etc. Passed by the Board of Aldermen of the City of New York and Approved by the Mayor. The Board.
  8. "Charlotte A Burrough Ray (1813-1891) - Find a..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
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