Braley Genealogy Report


The Braleys in England

In the Scutage of 1166 there is a Daniel de Brailegh* who was lord of the manors of Hellesdon and Brayley, the latter manor being in the parish of East Bucklord, Hundreds of South Molton, Devonshire, England, and who was required to furnish two men at arms, one for each manor. He is probably the son of William-filius-Rainald (or Fitz-Reynold) who being born about 1095 was in ward during his minority to his overlord Odo Fitz-Gomelin, a great Domesday tenant-in-chief in Devon. This William is referred to in the Furnell Family History as William de Brailia. Certainly he was lord of the manors of Brayley and Hellesdon. William married Hawise de Forneaux, daughter of Fulk de Forneaux of Kentinbere Devon, and halfsister of Allen de Forneaux, of Fenn-Attery Devon. William in turn was the son of Rainald (or Reynold) who in the Domesday Book of William the Conqueror held the two manors under Odo Fitz-Gomelin, and who died in the First Crusade (about 1097?)
In the Red Book of the Exchequer, there is an Adam de Brailegh who in 1292 was sued with his wife, Joan, by another man concerning some land in the manor of Baggebere in Devonshire.
In the Calendar of Close Rolls and others are many references to Richard de Brailegh who in 1337 to 1347 was dean of the Cathedral of Exeter, a greedy and hated man. The British Exchequer has a letter from Richard to the Pope concerning mortmain. In the Monasticon of Exeter, he is referred to as "Richard de Brailegh IX".
One branch of the Brailey family settled, it is believed, in Warwickshire and Worcestershire in the 12th Century, where they are often called Bruley. Most of the Braleys or Brayleys or Braileys in England today live in Devonshire. In 1910 the distrubution was still centered in a few parts of Devon between Exeter and Barnstaple (the latter being some 15 miles from the ancient manor of Brayley - known today as Brayley-Barton and owned by Earl Fortensure).

The Coat of Arms of Bruley (also referred to as Braylye and Brayley arms) are illustrated, and seems to have been used mostly by the Worcestershire branch. White area is Ermine (black tail marks on white).
*Medieval spelling
Note: This is the first page of a document that was originally sent to my father, Alson2 E. Braley, in 1943, that also included a handwritten manuscript of the male line of his descent. I have included the line of descent information in the GED pages on this site. This material was prepared by a Harold E. Brailey, Jr. in 1943. He was a genealogy buff who was a Chemistry student at Columbia University in New York City where my father was a Professor and Medical Doctor. He sent the material in a handwritten manuscript and I have the original documents. To see his original transmittal note



Descendants of William Brayley
Ten Generations to my Grandmother Harriet M. Cole

Generation No. 1

1.  WILLIAM1 BRAYLEY was born 1545 in Exeter, Devonshire, England.  He married MARGARET WILLOUGHBY 1575, daughter of JOHN WILLOUGHBY and ELIZABETH SPENCER.  She was born 1553 in Shobrock, Devonshire, England.
Child of WILLIAM BRAYLEY and MARGARET WILLOUGHBY is:
2.     i.     JOHN WILLOUGHBY2 BRALEY, b. 1577, England.


Generation No. 2

2.  JOHN WILLOUGHBY2 BRALEY (WILLIAM1 BRAYLEY) was born 1577 in England.  He married CICELY FLEMING April 1607 in Tiverton, Devonshire, England, daughter of MATTHEW FLEMING and JOAN TRACY.  
Children of JOHN BRALEY and CICELY FLEMING are:
3.     i.     ROGER3 BRAYLEY, b. 1610, Devonshire, England.
     ii.     WILLIAM BRAYLEY.
     iii.     MARGARET BRAYLEY.
     iv.     JOHN BRAYLEY.
     v.     ELIZABETH BRAYLEY.
     vi.     CICELY BRAYLEY.


Generation No. 3

3.  ROGER3 BRAYLEY (JOHN WILLOUGHBY2 BRALEY, WILLIAM1 BRAYLEY) was born 1610 in Devonshire, England.  He married HANNAH.  
Child of ROGER BRAYLEY and HANNAH is:
4.     i.     JAMES4 BRAYLEY, b. 1645.


Generation No. 4

4.  JAMES4 BRAYLEY (ROGER3, JOHN WILLOUGHBY2 BRALEY, WILLIAM1 BRAYLEY) was born 1645.  He married WIDOW RUSSELL.  
Child of JAMES BRAYLEY and WIDOW RUSSELL is:
5.     i.     ROGER5 BRALEY, b. Abt. 1672, Wales.


Generation No. 5

5.  ROGER5 BRALEY (JAMES4 BRAYLEY, ROGER3, JOHN WILLOUGHBY2 BRALEY, WILLIAM1 BRAYLEY) was born Abt. 1672 in Wales.  He married ALICE ABBOT July 6, 1696 in Portsmouth, MA.  She was born Abt. 1676.
Children of ROGER BRALEY and ALICE ABBOT are:
6.     i.     JOHN6 BRALEY, b. March 26, 1703, Portsmouth, RI; d. Abt. 1799, Rehoboth, MA.
     ii.     ROGER BRALEY.
     iii.     ELIZABETH BRALEY.
     iv.     ALICE BRALEY.
     v.     AMBROSE BRALEY.
     vi.     GRACE BRALEY.
     vii.     SARAH BRALEY.


Generation No. 6

6.  JOHN6 BRALEY (ROGER5, JAMES4 BRAYLEY, ROGER3, JOHN WILLOUGHBY2 BRALEY, WILLIAM1 BRAYLEY) was born March 26, 1703 in Portsmouth, RI, and died Abt. 1799 in Rehoboth, MA.  He married JOANNA ALGER Bef. 1747, daughter of JOHN ALGER and JOANNA KING.  She was born Abt. 1718 in Taunton, MA, and died in Rehoboth, MA.
Child of JOHN BRALEY and JOANNA ALGER is:
7.     i.     RACHEL7 BRALEY, b. Abt. 1747, Rehoboth, Bristol County,  MA; d. September 1831, Freetown, MA.


Generation No. 7

7.  RACHEL7 BRALEY (JOHN6, ROGER5, JAMES4 BRAYLEY, ROGER3, JOHN WILLOUGHBY2 BRALEY, WILLIAM1 BRAYLEY) was born Abt. 1747 in Rehoboth, Bristol County,  MA, and died September 1831 in Freetown, MA.  She married JOSEPH COLE March 5, 1776 in Rehoboth, MA, son of WILLIAM COLE and MOLLY GREENWOOD.  He was born May 28, 1750 in Rehoboth, Bristol County,  MA, and died January 25, 1835 in Freetown, MA.
Children of RACHEL BRALEY and JOSEPH COLE are:
     i.     RUSSELL8 COLE, b. May 2, 1776.
     ii.     JOHN COLE, b. September 18, 1777.
     iii.     MOLLY COLE, b. February 25, 1779.
8.     iv.     THOMAS COLE, b. July 16, 1781, Seekonk, Bristol County, MA; d. Bef. 1871.
9.     v.     JOSEPH COLE, JR., b. March 3, 1787, Seekonk, Bristol County,  MA; d. October 18, 1865, Seekonk, Bristol County,  MA.
     vi.     RACHEL COLE, b. April 14, 1788.
10.     vii.     AMEY COLE, b. March 16, 1792, Rehoboth ,Bristol County,  MA; d. August 3, 1826, Seekonk, Bristol County, MAA.


Generation No. 8

8.  THOMAS8 COLE (RACHEL7 BRALEY, JOHN6, ROGER5, JAMES4 BRAYLEY, ROGER3, JOHN WILLOUGHBY2 BRALEY, WILLIAM1 BRAYLEY) was born July 16, 1781 in Seekonk, Bristol County, MA, and died Bef. 1871.  He married HANNAH DAGGETT January 8, 1826 in Seekonk, Bristol County, MA, daughter of LEVI DAGGETT and KEZIAH PECK.  She was born January 19, 1796 in Rehoboth, Bristol County, MA with a twin sister Betsey, and died October 30, 1871 in Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island.
Children of THOMAS COLE and HANNAH DAGGETT are:
     i.     BENJAMIN9 COLE, b. Abt. 1834; d. July 17, 1879.
     ii.     HENRY F. COLE, b. Abt. 1835.
     iii.     LEVI COLE.
     iv.     BETSEY COLE.


9.  JOSEPH8 COLE, JR. (RACHEL7 BRALEY, JOHN6, ROGER5, JAMES4 BRAYLEY, ROGER3, JOHN WILLOUGHBY2 BRALEY, WILLIAM1 BRAYLEY) was born March 3, 1787 in Seekonk, Bristol County,  MA, and died October 18, 1865 in Seekonk, Bristol County,  MA.  He married HANNAH DAGGETT September 7, 1818 in Attleborough, Bristol County, MA, daughter of LEVI DAGGETT and KEZIAH PECK.  She was born January 19, 1796 in Rehoboth, Bristol County, MA with a twin sister Betsey, and died October 30, 1871 in Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island.
Children of JOSEPH COLE and HANNAH DAGGETT are:
     i.     THOMAS9 COLE, b. October 6, 1817.
     ii.     RACHEL BRALEY COLE, b. March 18, 1819.
     iii.     ALLEN COLE, b. October 6, 1820.
11.     iv.     JOSEPH COLE, b. November 5, 1822, Seekonk,Bristol County, MA; d. March 23, 1878, East Providence, Providence County,  RI.


10.  AMEY8 COLE (RACHEL7 BRALEY, JOHN6, ROGER5, JAMES4 BRAYLEY, ROGER3, JOHN WILLOUGHBY2 BRALEY, WILLIAM1 BRAYLEY) was born March 16, 1792 in Rehoboth ,Bristol County,  MA, and died August 3, 1826 in Seekonk, Bristol County, MAA.  She married JOHN DAGGETT September 3, 1823 in Rehoboth, Bristol County,  MA by Bartlett Pearse, son of LEVI DAGGETT and KEZIAH PECK.  He was born April 20, 1792 in Rehoboth,Bristol County,  MA, and died December 11, 1858 in Seekonk, Bristol County, MA.
Child of AMEY COLE and JOHN DAGGETT is:
     i.     WILLIAM9 DAGGETT, b. June 19, 1824, Seekonk, Bristol County, MA.


Generation No. 9

11.  JOSEPH9 COLE (JOSEPH8, RACHEL7 BRALEY, JOHN6, ROGER5, JAMES4 BRAYLEY, ROGER3, JOHN WILLOUGHBY2 BRALEY, WILLIAM1 BRAYLEY) was born November 5, 1822 in Seekonk,Bristol County, MA, and died March 23, 1878 in East Providence, Providence County,  RI.  He married (1) ELIZA SMITH September 21, 1844 in Killingly, Windam County,  CT, daughter of HEZEKIAH SMITH and ADAH SALISBURY.  She was born Abt. 1824 in Cumberland, Providence County, RI, and died Bef. 1847.  He married (2) HARRIET ROACH July 2, 1847 in Killingly, CT, daughter of JOHN ROACH and BETSEY.  She was born 1820 in Jamestown, RI, and died September 3, 1884 in East Providence, RI.
Child of JOSEPH COLE and ELIZA SMITH is:
12.     i.     CHARLES WILLIAM10 COLE, b. September 6, 1845, Valley Falls, Providence County, Rhode Island; d. July 5, 1928, Bristol, Rhode Island.

Children of JOSEPH COLE and HARRIET ROACH are:
13.     ii.     JOSEPH AUGUSTUS10 COLE, b. September 3, 1848, Attleborough, MA; d. July 13, 1918, East Providence, RI.
14.     iii.     OLIVER WILLIAM COLE, b. November 19, 1850, Seekonk, Bristol County,  MA; d. December 25, 1929, East Providence, RI.
15.     iv.     ARNOLD FREDERICK COLE, b. July 18, 1855, Seekonk, MA; d. May 27, 1916, Cranston, RI.


Generation No. 10

12.  CHARLES WILLIAM10 COLE (JOSEPH9, JOSEPH8, RACHEL7 BRALEY, JOHN6, ROGER5, JAMES4 BRAYLEY, ROGER3, JOHN WILLOUGHBY2 BRALEY, WILLIAM1 BRAYLEY) was born September 6, 1845 in Valley Falls, Providence County, Rhode Island, and died July 5, 1928 in Bristol, Rhode Island.  He met JULIA ANN SULLIVAN, daughter of FLORENCE SULLIVAN and MARY SULLIVAN.  She was born November 1861 in Ireland, probably Co. Cork or Co Kerry, and died December 5, 1915 in East Providence, Providence County,  RI.
Child of CHARLES COLE and JULIA SULLIVAN is:
     i.     HARRIET MARGARETE11 COLE, b. October 27, 1882, East Providence, RI; d. June 27, 1963, East Providence, RI; m. THOMAS FRANCIS JOSEPH O'BRIEN, October 25, 1905, East Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island; b. June 5, 1881, Woonsocket, RI; d. November 4, 1960, Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island.


13.  JOSEPH AUGUSTUS10 COLE (JOSEPH9, JOSEPH8, RACHEL7 BRALEY, JOHN6, ROGER5, JAMES4 BRAYLEY, ROGER3, JOHN WILLOUGHBY2 BRALEY, WILLIAM1 BRAYLEY) was born September 3, 1848 in Attleborough, MA, and died July 13, 1918 in East Providence, RI.  He married MARY ELIZABETH PIKE August 9, 1867 in Providence, Rhode Island, daughter of WILLIAM PIKE and ELIZABETH A..  She was born 1848 in Newport, RI, and died August 4, 1872 in East Providence, RI.
Children of JOSEPH COLE and MARY PIKE are:
     i.     ANNE11 COLE, b. 1868.
     ii.     LILLIE EVA COLE, b. February 7, 1870, East Providence, RI; d. July 19, 1934, Rhode Island; m. (1) HACKLEY; m. (2) FRANK LEANDER STACKPOLE, September 11, 1895, East Providence, RI; b. East Providence, RI; d. January 29, 1899, Rhode Island.
     iii.     IDA MAE COLE, b. February 1872, East Providence, RI; m. HARRY STUART HAZARD, March 25, 1896, East Providence, RI; b. 1872, Wickford, RI.
     iv.     HARRY ARNOLD COLE, b. 1871, Cumberland, RI; d. February 26, 1873, Cumberland, RI.


14.  OLIVER WILLIAM10 COLE (JOSEPH9, JOSEPH8, RACHEL7 BRALEY, JOHN6, ROGER5, JAMES4 BRAYLEY, ROGER3, JOHN WILLOUGHBY2 BRALEY, WILLIAM1 BRAYLEY) was born November 19, 1850 in Seekonk, Bristol County,  MA, and died December 25, 1929 in East Providence, RI.  He married JULIA THERESA FALVEY June 28, 1888 in Sacred Heart Church, Taunton Ave. East Providence, RI, daughter of JERIMIAH FALVEY and JOHANNA SULLIVAN.  She was born August 28, 1858 in Providence,  RI, and died Aft. 1929 in East Providence, RI.
Children of OLIVER COLE and JULIA FALVEY are:
     i.     HELEN C.11 COLE, b. July 3, 1894.
     ii.     LEROY B. COLE, b. 1898.
     iii.     LOUISE COLE, b. February 1900.
     iv.     MABEL H. COLE, b. February 1892.
     v.     JAMES OLIVER COLE, b. August 16, 1888.
     vi.     BERNARD L. COLE, b. February 1897.


15.  ARNOLD FREDERICK10 COLE (JOSEPH9, JOSEPH8, RACHEL7 BRALEY, JOHN6, ROGER5, JAMES4 BRAYLEY, ROGER3, JOHN WILLOUGHBY2 BRALEY, WILLIAM1 BRAYLEY) was born July 18, 1855 in Seekonk, MA, and died May 27, 1916 in Cranston, RI.  He married (1) ELLEN LEIGHTON in Providence, Rhode Island Book 11, Page 190.  She was born 1857 in England, and died August 23, 1878 in Providence, RI.  He married (2) JULIA ANN SULLIVAN January 23, 1881 in East Providence, RI, daughter of FLORENCE SULLIVAN and MARY SULLIVAN.  She was born November 1861 in Ireland, probably Co. Cork or Co Kerry, and died December 5, 1915 in East Providence, Providence County,  RI.
Child of ARNOLD COLE and ELLEN LEIGHTON is:
     i.     MARY ELLEN11 COLE, b. February 16, 1877; d. Four months old.

Children of ARNOLD COLE and JULIA SULLIVAN are:
     ii.     MARY ELIZABETH11 COLE, b. July 22, 1881, East Providence, Rhode Island; m. DANIEL MCLAUGHLIN, 1918, East Providence, RI; b. September 4, 1883, East Providence, Rhode Island; d. June 22, 1935.
     iii.     CHARLES F COLE, b. October 1, 1885, East Providence, RI; d. February 1976, Riverside, RI; m. GRACE DARLING TEFFT, 1912.
     iv.     ARNOLD JOSEPH COLE, b. October 20, 1887; d. As a child.
     v.     JOHN THOMAS COLE, b. April 12, 1892, East Providence, RI; d. December 18, 1965, East Greenwich, RI; m. ALICE VERONICA BANNON, 1922, East Providence, RI; b. August 11, 1904.
     vi.     UNKNOWN, b. Aft. 1891.