Cumberland County, Maine - John Burnham Bray, M.D.
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Biography
John Burnham Bray, M.D.
Biographical Review
Cumberland County, Maine
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1896
Page 381-382


John Burnham Bray, M.D., a popular practicing physician of Bridgton, Me., was
born in this town, February 21, 1833, son of the Rev. Jacob Bray. He is of
English stock, his great-great-grandfather, William Bray, who was a barrister,
having emigrated from England in early Colonial times. He was accompanied by his
family; and he located on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where his children,
consisting of four sons and one daughter, were reared. His son, the Rev. William
Bray, removed from Cape Cod to that part of Massachusetts that is now included
in Androscoggin County, this State, being a pioneer settler. Of his children
Ebenezer was the next in line of descent.

Ebenezer Bray was born, it is supposed, in the town of Minot, Me., where he was
educated. He became a preacher in the Calvinistic Baptist church, holding
pastorates in the towns of Hartford, Bethel, Bridgton, Lancaster, N.H., and in
Middletown, N.Y., where he passed his last days, dying at the venerable age of
ninety-four years. His wife, Penelope Royal, of Yarmouth, died during their
residence in this village, aged seventy-five years. They reared ten children, as
follows: Ebenezer, Ansel, Eleanor, Washington, Jacob, Betsey, Olive, Eliza,
Elizabeth, and Mary A.

Jacob Bray was converted in the days of his youth, and, following in the
footsteps of his father and grandfather, became a minister of the Calvinistic
Baptist faith, and preached in the towns of Harrison, Bridgton, Leeds, Hartford,
and North and South Paris. He made his home in Bridgton for many years, owning a
fine farm in the western part of the town, where he carried on general farming
for some time, although his last years were spent in the village, where his
death occurred in 1882. The maiden name of his wife, mother of the Doctor, was
Harriet McClellan Lewis. She was a native of Gorham, Me. Her father, Major
George Lewis, was born near Hingham, Mass., and in 1806 settled in Gorham,
whence he removed to Bridgton in 1810, residing there until his decease in 1857,
at the good old age of eighty-two years. He served with distinction in the War
of 1812, being Major of his regiment. Major Lewis married Ruth Lincoln, who
lived to the age of seventy-five years. Three children were born to the Rev.
Jacob and Mrs. Bray; namely, John Burnham, Harriet E., and Ruth Lincoln.

John B. Bray acquired his early education in the district schools and at the
Fryeburg Academy. Having inherited great musical talent, he began when quite
young to teach music, continuing for sixty-seven terms, and having under his
instruction during this period nearly five thousand different pupils.
Relinquishing his first calling, he began the study of medicine with Dr. W. I.
Green, of Portland, and was afterward graduated from the medical department of
Bowdoin College. Dr. Bray at once began practice in Bridgton, where he has won a
good reputation for professional skill and integrity. He is quite prominent in
social circles, being a member of Cumberland Lodge, No. 30, Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, of Mount Pleasant Encampment, and of Oriental Lodge, No. 13, A. F.
& A. M. He is also a member of the Superintending School Committee, and
President of the Board of Health.

On September 24, 1861, Dr. Bray was united in marriage with Lydia Susan Pitman,
daughter of Esquire Hazen and Polly (Pendexter) Pitman. She was born in
Bartlett, N. H. Dr. and Mrs. Bray have one child, a daughter, Mary Almeda Bray,
who is a talented artist, an instructor of vocal and instrumental music, and a
teacher in the Bridgton public schools.