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 'Archaeologia.' 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. {1} 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.
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