WILLIAM BRAY was born about 1828 in Bradford, Devonshire, England. Bradford is located within Torridge local authority area. Historically it formed part of Black Torrington Hundred and it falls within Holsworthy Deanery for ecclesiastical purposes.

On 24 April 1850, William's marriage to ELIZABETH MAYNE was solemnised in the Parish of Bradford, in the County of Devon. William was aged 22; Elizabeth aged 17. Residence at the time of marriage is Bradford. Fathers' names: WILLIAM BRAY, carpenter; ELIAS MAYNE, carpenter. They were married in the Parish Church according to the rites and ceremonies of the United Church of England and Ireland.

William left for the goldfields in Buningyong, Victoria, Australia in about 1855. Buninyong was the first inland town in Victoria and the centre of the Ballarat district.

William could not write; he used his mark when acting as informant for births and deaths. Elizabeth and William's children are:

WALTER JOHN BRAY born 24 January 1851 in Bradford; died before 1854 (unsubstantiated)

JOHN BRAY born before 1854 in England; died aged 13 months before 1854 (unsubstantiated)

NORA GRACE BRAY born 5 October 1852 in Bannawell St, Tavistock, Devon. In 1857, she arrived in Australia with her mother aboard the 'Maldon'. It is likely she married WILLIAM H ROWE in 1876 in Albury, NSW, Australia; they had two children, JOSEPHINE M E ROWE in 1877 and ISAAC P M ROWE in 1879. Nora had an underactive thyroid, which caused her to lose her hair, so she wore a wig. She died in 1933 aged 81 years in Newington Asylum, Sydney, NSW, Australia. The asylum was set up for women who could not fend for themselves and did not have any family.

JOHN WALTER BRAY was born about 1854 in Plymouth, Devonshire, England. In 1857, he arrived in Australia with his mother aboard the 'Maldon'. He married AGNES THOMSON HIGGINS on 19 Jun 1893 in Georgetown, Etheridge, colony of Queensland, Australia. He and Agnes had 7 children. He died in Sunnyside Private Hospital, Murwillumbah, NSW, Australia on 23 April 1924.

WILLIAM BRAY was born 16 May 1858 in Black Lead, District of Buningyong, VIC, Australia; he died in 1859.

MARY ELIZABETH BRAY was born 27 August 1859 in Black Lead, District of Buningyong, VIC, Australia; died 1860

WILLIAM BRAY was born 16 November 1860 in Black Lead, District of Buningyong, VIC, Australia.

MARY ELIZABETH BRAY born 3 February 1862 in Black Lead, District of Buningyong, VIC, Australia; died 1862

ELIAS BRAY born 5 November 1863 in Black Lead, District of Buningyong, VIC, Australia; died 1864

THOMAS JAMES BRAY born 24 September 1865; he possibly married CATHERINE COOK in 1889 in Albury, NSW, Australia

ALFRED BRAY born 7 March 1870 Black Lead, District of Buningyong, VIC, Australia; died 9 April 1870 at age 4 weeks; cause of death was enteritis.

In 1850 Williams was a carpenter and he was still a carpenter in 1858. By 1860, his occupation is listed as miner. He is still a miner in 1870 when his last son, Alfred is born. On his son John Walter's 1893 marriage certificate, his profession is listed as licenced victualler. He was a publican for the George Hotel, Dean Street, Albury. The hotel name may have changed to 'Criterion' well after his death. On William's death certificate his occupation is listed as labourer.

William died at age 53 in 1881. The cause of death is noted as suffocation and an inquest was held. He is listed as having been 26 years in the colony. When he died, he left his hotel in Dean Street, Albury to his son, John Walter Bray. His father is listed as William BRAY, carpenter, and his mother as MARIA (formerly BRAY). In the 1851 England census there is a William and Maria Bray living at 88 Fore Street, Bradford. William Bray (senior) was born about 1794 in Poundstock, Cornwall and Maria about 1802 in Beaworthy, Devon.