Stan and I outside Peria, at the top of The Street, opposite the Royal Oak. This was the house Gabriel Bray  bought in 1817, when he and his wife, Mary retired to Charmouth.

Amongst the many memorials and grave stones in and around St. Andrews Church in Charmouth are those residents who made their mark at a national level. This was the case with Gabriel Bray, who left us with a unique view of everyday life below decks in the Royal Navy in Georgian times. The painting shown here is a self portrait of him at work filling his Album of watercolours on board HMS Pallas in 1774. It is this Album that was discovered in 1991 and later given to the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich that’s has revealed Gabriel as one of the  foremost artists of his times. 

If you visit the Museum today you will see a number of his watercolours  displayed in cabinets, some of which are shown here. The same images are continually being used in Naval reference books due to their importance and rarity. I have used these throughout the Talk and also additional paintings by him that have come to light since.
Gabriel was to lead a very eventful life travelling to distant corners of the known world at that time in the Royal Navy and  was to have a further 30 years in the Customs Service commanding vessels called Cutters, catching smugglers along the southern coast. Towards the end of his life, he retired with his wife Mary to Charmouth, where again he was to make his mark as we shall see.

We are fortunate in Charmouth in having a magnificent marble memorial above the Church entrance to the great man and his wife, Mary which are shown here. Their grave sadly is just a shadow of what it must have once been at the corner of the church yard. It would have been a Chest Tomb, with four sides which have since disappeared with the iron railings surrounding it. The inscription on the top of the tomb, which can still be seen, is the same as that as the memorial recording their deaths in 1823 and 1835,respectively. These memorials would have coincided with St. Andrew`s Church being rebuilt in 1836 and would have been commissioned by Joseph Wilson, the Church Warden, whose wife was Gabriel's niece.

Gabriel was the eldest of four children born to John and Margaret Bray in Deal in Kent. The maps above from the 18th century and today show Deal and Charmouth, where he was to retire.

This is one of two watercolours JMW Turner painted of Deal in Kent. It had no established harbour. Instead, boats would anchor off the coast and smaller boats, known as ‘Luggers’, would ferry their cargo to shore. One of these is shown in the foreground. The Bray family were to reside in the town from the 17th century.

Gabriel Bray was baptised on the 29th June 1749 at St. Leonard's Church in Upper Deal, which had formerly been the town`s only church until St. Georges was built at the beginning of the 18th century. It had been the family church from at least 1663 when a John  Bray was baptized there. The building has changed very little as can be seen by the comparable print above, except that it is now next to a busy crossroads. Gabriel`s mother, Margaret  Boughton had originated from the village of Sholden in East Kent and had married her husband in 1746. They had lost their first child, baptised as John Gabriel, within a year of his birth and were to go on to have four children – Gabriel born in 1749, Margaret in 1751, John Raven in 1753 , and Mary in1754

Deal was to be Gabriel Bray`s family home until his marriage in 1780 aged 30. A Will of 1757 by his father, John, details the family living at 20 Lower Street, which is now the High Street. This was to stay in the family until the death of his daughter Mary in 1850, aged 96.

Among the many portraits that Gabriel painted was this one of his father in 1774, when he would have been aged 48. The painting shows  the 'Princess Amelia’ on which he served, which was present at the Capture of Louisburg in North America in 1758.

This fascinating account of the naval life of John Bray ,gives us an insight into his rise through the ranks from Midshipman in 1735  to Rear Admiral.
An extract of this follows:
Captain John Bray entered into the service in the year 1735, was a lieutenant twenty two years, and in 1757, was made master and commander of the Adventure armed ship, which was attacked on the 1st of January, 1758, by the Mashault, Privateer, of Dunkirk, carrying 14 nine pounders, and 182 men, whereas the Adventure only had only 16 six pounders, and 98 men. After an action of one hour and twenty minutes( during which the French attempted boarding him three times and were as often repulsed, they were obliged to submit. Captain Bray had the happiness to find that he had only one man killed, and two wounded, whereas the French had sixty three killed and wounded.Such was the opinion entertained by Lord Anson, the Commander of the “Princess Amelia”, that John Bray went out in her to North America, under the command of Admiral Boscawen, and was at the Capture of Louisburg and Quebec.

John was to become a regulating captain, raising 6000 men of whom 5723 were seamen through “pressgangs”. He was to rise to the rank of rear-admiral at the time of his death at Deal, where he and his wife Margaret are buried. Naval war could be very profitable at this time for the crews serving aboard the ships of the Navy or Privateers. Captured enemy vessels were seen as prizes and once sold crews would receive a share of the ‘prize money’ depending on their rank. This could account for John being able to buy property in and around Deal and for paying for his two son’s education at Kings School in Canterbury.

Gabriel Bray`s father, John, was to spend his whole life, when not at sea, residing in Deal in Kent. Initially he had a house at 20 Lower Street in the center of the town. He was to do well with Prize Money from his Naval actions and in 1775 moved with his family to the impressive Manor House shown in this slide. It was the largest property in the nearby village of Great Mongeham. At the rear of the property was a Malthouse and Farm, still to be seen. This was later to be run by his son, John Raven Bray and then his granddaughter, Margaret, until her death in 1892, aged 95.

The Bray family house at Great Mongeham recently came up for sale and here are some of the photos from the brochure.

This early engraving is of Kings School in Canterbury, Kent, which according to the Guinness Book of Records is the oldest in the country. The School entry book still exists and show 10 year old Gabriel being admitted on the 23rd of November 1759. A later entry for 29th September 1761 is for his brother, John Raven Bray. Of the 20 boys admitted to King’s in 1759, it is astonishing that seven were from Deal and may well have been friends of Gabriel.

Gabriel would have been just 10 years of age when he entered Kings School and was to be educated there until his departure in 1764, aged 15. It was no doubt where his talent for painting was encouraged. Just ten years later he was to return to the City and record the view from St. Augustine's Abbey with the Cathedral in the distance, where his old school stood in the precincts. It is a fascinating painting as he has depicted himself and his brother, John Raven with his sketch pad in the foreground. The original painting is now kept in the British Museum.

Whilst going through the extensive series of documents relating to both Gabriel Bray and his father, John held in the Public Record Office at Kew, I was very exited to find this sheet towards the end of my visit. It is described as a “ Memorandum of the Services of Lieutenant Gabriel Bray”. Up until then I was finding it difficult to complete the various ships and dates of service for him. This was to be a revelation for me as it was actually written by him in 1817at Charmouth and supplied all I wanted to know. There were a few dates missing that I was able to fill in and the updated sheet can be seen on the right. The first entry for 1763, is as a Volunteer on “HMS Aquilon” under Captain Philip Perceval as it patrolled the English Channel. It must have been the equivalent of a Summer job as he was still at Kings School in Canterbury. He would have been just 14 in that year.

Again we have to look at his Memorandum to find his first posting after leaving school. This was to be as a sailor on HMS Launceston where he would hold the junior position of Midshipman. It is astonishing to think that at just 17 years of age he would be sailing to North America, where he would spend the next three years under the command of Captain John Gell, whose portrait and plans of the ship are shown in this slide.

Gabriel’s memorandum records that his next destination was to return to North America, this time he was to spend two years off Newfoundland. Initially under Commodore john Byron, shown here, on HMS Antelope and the following year on HMS Panther under Captain George Gaston. He notes that he took on the position of Mate on the latter. It is in the year 1770, aged 21, that he passes his Lieutenant exams and awaits promotion.

This full length portrait is of Admiral Clark Gayton, whom Gabriel Bray served under in 1771 when it sailed to Newfoundland. In the background can be seen his ship “HMS Antelope'.

In the year 1773 there was to be a Royal Fleet Review at Spithead off the coast of Portsmouth. King George III was to be on board the Royal Yacht Augusta” whilst the Fleet sailed by. Gabriel Bray was very fortunate to be a member of the crew for this historic event on June 22nd of that year. He showed tremendous foresight to paint the fleet from his vantage point on board the ship which is shown here with the King standing by the flag.

The following day, his Captain was so impressed with the painting that he showed it to the King. A newspaper report shortly afterwards informs its readers that

“Mr. Bray of Deal, midshipman of the Augusta yacht, being ordered on duty at Portsmouth during the late review, made a draught of the whole fleet, with a prospect of the Isle of Wight. The Captain presented it to his Majesty, who ordered a copy of it to be drawn, with the Draughtsman’s name affixed to it, which being executed, Mr Bray, had the honour of being introduced to the Royal Presence, kissed his Majesty’s hand, and was made a Lieutenant of the Augusta”.

The original painting, which is shown here in two sections is 150cms x 50cms with the Isle of Wight in the background. It is still to be seen at Windsor Castle. Gabriel was to spend a further year on “HMS Princess Augusta”, under Sir Richard Bickerton where he records on his Memorandum that they “visited the Naval Arrivals”.

This slide shows a similar scene that Gabriel would have witnessed of  King George III  with his wife, Queen Charlotte presenting a gold chain to Admiral Sir Alexander Hood. The Prime Minister, William Pitt, stands on the extreme left, under the royal coat of arms.

After his time on board the Royal Yacht, Gabriel returned home in 1774 on half pay to Deal in Kent. This 18th century  map shows Deal and the villages around it that he would have known. It is helpful in placing the sites associated with the Brays. Gabriel’s mother, Margaret Boughton originated from the village of Sheldon, to the north of Mongeham where she was later to live. It was whilst there that he started a  dated series of watercolours which would culminate in an album of 75 paintings which have come down to us and are now preserved in the National Maritime Museum.

This is the first of his paintings, dated June of that year and is described as being “ a small cottage at Middle Deal in Kent”.

Gabriel`s father, John, bought up a number of properties and farms from the Prize money he received from the Navy. This scene may well depict a harvesting scene on his farm which is described by him as “Taking in New Hay and stacking in June 1774”. Alongside is another reminder of this with a characterful painting of a “Harvest Man” painted in August of that year. It shows the reaper with his sickle and a small keg, probably for ale as necessary refreshment in the hot and dusty work of summer harvesting. It is  signed 'AdVprGB’ (from life by Gabriel Bray) as are many in the Album showing his skill at depicting a scene as he saw it straight onto the page.

 I have grouped these three paintings together. The large one is described as “a view up a river with wooded banks painted in August 1774”. The other sketches  are of a riding horse and a long-horned cow resting by a bush was probably done near where he lived in Kent, 

This interesting painting is described as “A Close View in a Chalk Pit at Upper Deal in Kent”. Chalk was used not only to provide lime mortar for building but was also used on the land as a fertiliser. 

The area of coast from Dover to the Thames estuary was known as “The Downs”. Gabriel's  drawing here  shows a British naval two-decker of 64-guns, with a Cutter to the left firing a salute off the coast of Deal in June 1774. Cutters were to feature predominantly in Gabriels later life as they were mainly used by the Customs Service for catching Smugglers.

This is another of the drawings that Gabriel was to add to his sketch book whilst in Deal. It depicts a military figure , possibly a sentry leaning on a pile of bales, with a seaman carrying kegs in the background.

A drawing  showing two men working on a small boat in July 1774. Many of the Navy's boats were built at Deal in Kent, where it had a boatyard for the purpose and where Bray and his family lived.

This is an extremely detailed proposal, to a scale measuring 120 feet and with a lettered key, for a small tidal dockyard in Deal. The Town already had a small yard where the Navy built and repaired ships' boats.

A close up of the previous slide to show the proposed buildings as Gabriel envisaged them if they were ever built. The plan shows sloping slips to enable boats to be more easily brought in for repair and maintenance, store houses for sails and equipment, an area to dry sails, a seaward dock gate, as well as offices and the Superintendent’s House.

By October of 1774, Gabriel had received a commission  to sail on “HMS Pallas” and was to make his way from  Deal to London and then to Portsmouth. He has left us with a number of watercolours of what he saw enroute. The first of these is described as “'A Sticker-up of Bills on Tower Hill at the Rendezvous at the King's Arms’.  This  was the City naval rendezvous, most significantly for the local impress service, which included both voluntary recruitment and the 'press gang'.  The other painting is of a man having his shoes polished with the same date. An every day scene, which would have been so common that few would have bothered to paint it.

A caricature drawing of two men, the dandified one in the hat apparently of higher social status than the other with his tongue partly out to the side of his mouth.

Two further  every day sketches of London Street Life observed by Gabriel.

Two men walking past a woman asleep beside a wheelbarrow  of fruit, which is being stolen by two small boys in London in 1774.The woman is probably a street vendor. The two gentlemen strolling past on the left give the impression of being complicit in the urchins' pilfering of fruit from the barrow.

Gabriel appears to have arrived in Portsmouth in November of 1774 and has left us with some sketches of what he saw. This is a wonderfully well observed record of a greengrocer's shop on old Portsmouth. The owner sits inside the door. Fruit is stacked in baskets outside an open window to the left, with baskets of vegetables on a bench below

Gabriel would often paint characters he saw as he went along from life. Here are two paintings of Watermen that he saw in Portsmouth, before his departure.

The view appears to be along the Dockyard wall in Portsmouth, with one of the waterfront taverns on the left, stall-holders selling produce and two men playing knucklebones on the paved street surface in the foreground.

Gabriel wasted no time in adding more watercolours of life on board HMS Pallas to his Album. This is the first, whilst still in Portsmouth and described by him as “The Sailmaker ticketing the Hammocks on board the Pallas, November 1774”. The drawing also shows the working dress of a sailmaker who was required to keep all the sails in good repair. He was also expected to assist with hammocks as depicted here by Bray.

This is another scene painted in November before HMS Pallas sailed of four fully uniformed marines  enjoying a meal of Pease pudding.

This is a famous painting by Thomas Rowlandson of a similar view of the harbour  to that depicted by Bray. It shows an old clothes shop at left with a sign that reads, "Moses Levy Money Lent. People are bustling to depart in the foreground: baggage is carried, casks are rolled, sailors and women embrace or fight. The map on the right shows the route Gabriel's ship “HMS Pallas” was to take along the West Africa Coast before crossing the Atlantic to the West Indies.

This Painting is of the forty four gun frigate “HMS Pallas” It was on board this ship that Gabriel Bray was to take up the position of second  Lieutenant under Admiral William Cornwallis for the next two years. He was to capture the ordinary and everyday moments of Royal Navy life during his time on board in a series of paintings. The voyage took him to Tenerife and a number of West African destinations - to support British commercial interests there, including the slave trade - before making for Barbados and finally Jamaica.

The first drawing is  of a steward   with a joint of Beef. The other painting is probably a seaman bringing his hammock up to air from below on the 'Pallas'. The hammock is clearly ticketed 'CD No. 4' referring to the man's place and number in the ship.

A drawing of a young man, possibly one of the 'Pallas's' midshipmen.

The scene is probably what the log of the 'Pallas' calls the Dutch fort of Anzer, one of at least three between Fort Appollonia and Cape Coast Castle - Like all such forts it would have been a trading and slaving station.

The Desertas are four small rocky islands in the Atlantic Ocean. This is a very rare view of these remote islets, taken as the 'Pallas' sailed south from Funchal, Madeira, for West Africa in December 1774

South-east of Madeira, as viewed by Bray from the 'Pallas', on a bearing of south by east and a half east. Today they are a restricted area of natural conservation interest.

 A drawing showing a British brig called 'Expedition' aground, with salvage in progress, on the western point of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Boats are in attendance and men on deck are apparently recovering cargo from the hold with a tackle rigged to the mainstay.

This is a still-life study aft on the 'Pallas, with Marines' drums and leather buckets hoisted up out of the way and a gun and a water cask secured for sea. The other watercolour  shows a view of the fountain in front of the fortress at Tenerife, taken when the 'Pallas' called there en route for Africa.

The drawing  shows the Peak of Tenerife, probably as the 'Pallas' was approaching the island.

A drawing of two marines on the Pallas gangway. One of the Marines, is apparently trying to take something out of the other's eye, probably while the 'Pallas' was at Tenerife. A Cutter is on the horizon to the left. The other watercolour shows a midshipman, apparently dozing in a slightly precarious position.

A fully uniformed Marine on sentry duty while the 'Pallas' probably at Tenerife from the date. A cutter is on the horizon to the left. The other view is of a sailor leaning against a cannon. The name 'Pallas' is carved or painted on the gun. 

The two drawings are of  a sailor fishing, possibly at anchor in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

The men are apparently sitting on the port anchor. There are in fact two anchors, a main bower with a smaller anchor on top of it, to which the buoy on which the seaman is sitting is probably attached.

A view taken in the harbour at Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The men are using a launch, the largest boat ships normally carried, to recover a ship's bower or stream anchor - both large and heavy. The view below is of the British fort at the mouth of the Senegal River was the first place of call specified in the ship's orders for the 'Pallas' voyage in 1775. Three small vessels are present on the right, On the left behind the fort is another brig.

The Krumen depicted here, today live mainly along the coast of Liberia and the Ivory Coast and have a strong seafaring tradition.

A drawing of Fort Apolonia. Having first called at the River Senegal and River Gambia, the 'Pallas' was instructed to call at Cape Appolonia where the Africa Company were constructing this fort, before continuing to Cape Coast Castle. The British fort is in the centre, flanked on either side by stockades enclosing African huts under the shade of palm trees. The view is from the ship, showing a  canoe  carrying the officer ashore.

The sitter is a lieutenant of the 'Pallas' in working uniform. The painting on the right is of James Cornwallis, a cousin of 'Pallas's' captain, the Hon. William Cornwallis. This drawing shows him looking at Bray's sketchbook, specifically at a drawing of a seaman carrying a hammock, which appears on an earlier slide, before watercolour was applied.

This watercolour shows a young seaman of the 'Pallas' doing his 'party trick’. The other drawing of a  slightly caricatured figure must be someone seen on his voyage.

These are two self-portraits in the Bray album using the same mirror. Both also show the long hair which men of the time would favour, usually tied back into a pigtail with ribbon. The one on the right is a good illustration of the equipment of a watercolourist of the period.

These fascinating watercolours depict African native heads from tribes that Gabriel Bray saw when the “Pallas” called at Senegal on the way down the African coast in March 1775

The ship on the left is believed to be Brays own vessel “The Pallas” . A naval longboat is shown  in the foreground.

The Africans are Krumen. Landing at points on the Africa coast could be dangerous because of the surf: an early attempt by the 'Pallas' to send a boat ashore resulted in the boat  sinking  and several men drowning. Local canoes such as this were more skilled and suited to the conditions.

This  watercolour was drawn on the 'Pallas’s voyage from Africa to Barbados. From his apparent headgear the seaman shown and the man seated on a sea chest with a tankard in his hand, far right, are probably Marines. The man in the centre is sewing an item of clothing.

This view of Seamen relaxing was sketched on the 'Pallas's' transatlantic passage from Africa to Barbados. The seamen on the left is sitting in a sea chest marked 'CDN 17', his number and place in the ship.

The scene is likely to be in the ship's cockpit - a lower-deck space, with little natural light, that was the home of midshipmen and master's mates. There they slept, ate and - as shown here - relaxed and studied by candlelight. These were the living conditions that 'young gentlemen' first met when they went to sea.

I thought I had seen all the wonderful watercolours that Gabriel Bray had produced on HMS Pallas, before I tracked down this additional picture, which is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. It is a superb informal scene below deck of the Officers enjoying a pot of tea. The young boys in the background appear in an earlier sketch by Gabriel. I feel quite confident, judging from his self-portraits, that he included himself sitting in the centre foreground.

These are three further  Drawings in the Victoria & Albert Museum Collection which are signed by Gabriel Bray They depict every day scenes that he would have seen on shore.

The National Maritime Museum also had a further oil painting described as “ A ship Hove Down and Burning off” by Gabriel Bray.  It  may be a scene in the West Indies, to which Bray made two voyages via the West African coast.

Alongside this painting of HMS Pallas are various reports of some of the actions she was involved with in the years 1775 and 1776 in which Gabriel Bray would have participated.

After Gabriel`s adventures in west Africa and the West Indies he returned home to Deal in 1778 and may well have stayed with his father at his magnificent new house in Great Mongeham which he had recently bought. The following year he received his next commission nearer home on HMS Sprightly patrolling the Downs for the Customs service in pursuit of smugglers.
We are fortunate again that Gabriel recorded first hand one of the many events he was witness. Two paintings by him came up for auction in 2018, described as “ G BRAY The Charlotte off Dunkirk & 'Le Prince de Habengen Taken by His Majesty's Cutter the Griffon...' A pair of naval action oils”  which went for just £400 as their descriptions meant nothing and Brays work was not recognised by the Auction House.
With some detective work I was able to tie the paintings in with two separate newspaper reports. The first painting shown here relates to an incident in May 1779, which Gabriel witnessed, on board his Cutter, The Sprightly.  It announces:

“Notice is hereby given to the Officers and Company of his Majesty’s Cutters, Sprightly, Gabriel Bray, Esq, Commander and  the Flying Fish, John McDougal, Esq, Commander, ( In Company with his Majesty’s ship, Amphitrite, and Fairy Sloop, and Griffin and Wells Cutter) who were actually on Board on the 24th My 1779, at taking the Dunkerque and Prince de Robecque, Two French Privateers with Eight Ransomers on board, that they will be paid their respective Shares of the Produce of the said Privateers, and head Money,, at Deal, on Saturday the 22nd of April instant, Albert Innes, Agent”.

Obviously, the inscription on the back of the paintings needs correcting in that “Le Prince de Habengen” should have read “ Le Prince de Robecque” and Dunkirk was the name of the French Privateer “Dunkerque” If you look carefully, you can see name” Griffin” on the bow of nearest ship, which had previously been the captured French “Le Griffon”.

The companion to the earlier painting by Gabriel Bray is described as “The Charlotte off Dunkirk”.  Again a little research shows this to be the French Privateer “Le Charlotte” which was captured on the 15th September 1780 and later renamed “Royal Charlotte” and served in  the British Navy for another 3 years.  The “Scourge” is seen here commanded by  Captain Chichester Fortescue. Gabriel Bray must have witnessed this event on board “HMS Sprightly” at the time.  The report of the action appeared in the Newcastle Courant on the 23 September 1780. as follows:
Admiralty Office, September 18th 1780.

Captain Fortescue of his Majesty’s Sloop Scourge, in the Downs, in his letter to Mr. Stephens of the 16th instant, gives an account, that on the 15th, at ten in the morning, he discovered a sail bearing down upon him, that at four o’ clock, being within hail, and received no answer, he concluded her to be an enemy, therefore fired a broadside into her, when she hoisted French colours, and returned the fire. After an engagement of half and hour, she struck and proved to be the Charlotte privateer of Dunkirk, of 16 six pounders and 120 men, commanded by Monsieur Du Casso, who was dangerously wounded in the action. The First Lieutenant and ten men were also wounded and four killed. She is a new ship having been only three months off the stocks, and eighteen hours from Dunkirk, from whence she had sailed to intercept trade blind to Ostend and Flushing.
N.B. The Scourge carries 16 guns and 80 men. It does not appear she had any men killed or wounded.

Gabriel Bray commanded HMS Sprightly from 1779 until 1780. The letter in the middle is one of many  that was sent by him to the Commissioner of the Royal Navy whilst in Dover on the 8th October 1779.

In 1780 Gabriel Bray of the parish of Deal married Mary Cartwright of the parish of St. Andrews, Holborn in London, a record of which is shown here. Mary would have been just 18 and Gabriel 31 years of age. The Witnesses are Robert Perry and Albert Innes. The latter appears to have regularly acted as an Agent when the ’prize vessels’ were auctioned by the Admiralty. His address was Crutched Friars, the site of The Navy Office, which was where  the Governmentoffice was charged with responsibility for the day-to-day civil administration of the British Royal Navy until 1832.

The Sprightly was commissioned under Lieutenant Gabriel Bray  in September 1780.  It had 12 guns and 60 men  and was a typical rigged revenue cutter. The 18th and early 19th century were the heyday of smuggling. At sea the revenue cutter was the first line of defence. They were heavily armed, as they often encountered violent opposition from smugglers. The sale of the captured vessels could be very lucrative with the prize money being split between the crew. There follows one of many adverts relating to Gabriel Bray and his share of the Prize Money, nearly all of which are being paid out by Gabriel`s best man at his wedding, Albert Innes.London, January 8, 1781
Notice is hereby given to the Officers and Company of his Majesty’s Cutter the Sprightly, Gabriel Bray, Esq, Commander, who were actually on Board ( in Company with the Resolution Cutter and Union Tender) at the taking the Susanna Brig, on the 8th of April, 1780, that they will be paid their respective Shares of the said Capture, on Board the said Cutter at Deal, on Friday the 12th Instant. Albert Innes, Agent.

This painting shows the Sprightly on the left in action. On the right are recorded some of the many actions Gabriel would have been involved in. This one relates the capture of the Nordic Star.
London February 11,1783
Notice is hereby given to the Officers and Company of his Majesty’s Sloop Fortune, John Breton Esq, Commander, who were actually on Board at the taking of the Nordic Star, on the 25th December 1780, ( in Company with his Majesty’s Cutter Sprightly, Lieutenant Gabriel Bray, Commander) that they will be paid their respective Shares of the Hull and Cargo, on Board the Fortune, at Plymouth, James Sykes, Agent

The following contemporary  news item marks a low point in Gabriel Bray`s naval career.   It reads as follows:
April 17th 1781 London Gazette.
By authentic letters from Ostend, we learn, that a few days since, as the Sprightly Cutter, commanded by Lieutenant Bray, was sailing out of that harbour, one of the crew jumped overboard, with intention, as it was presumed, to desert, but he was immediately fired at by order of the commanding officer, shot through the body, and died in a few seconds. It is positively asserted, that on arrival of the above Cutter in the Downs, the Lords of the Admiralty sent orders to have the commander of the vessel, suspended, till the unfortunate matter is investigated. Lieutenant Swan, of the Advice Cutter, stationed at Lynn is appointed to the command of the Sprightly Cutter, in place of Lieutenant Bray.

It would seem that Gabriel`s  actions regarding the deserter on board HMS  Sprightly were fully accepted by the Admiralty and he was soon offered a new posting.  This was to be on HMS Nimble which was purchased by the Navy Board on Friday 6th July 1781, for service in the Royal Navy. She was armed with ten  4 pounder guns on her main deck and 12 half-pounder swivel guns. Gabriel Bray was appointed as her Lieutenant-in-Command and was sent to the Downs off Deal to patrol the English Channel to protect British shipping against attacks by Dutch and French privateers. She was manned by a crew of 55. He remained in command of HMS Nimble until she was paid off for her refit in 1786.

A Selection of the many letters from Gabriel Bray on HMS Nimble and Sprightly from 1781 until 1786 to the Admiralty. These and many others are to be seen at the Public Record Office at Kew in London.

This is a compilation of all the letters that I found from Gabriel to the Admiralty from 1778 until 1786. A number refer to payments for agents of the impress service, which were better known as Press Gangs. 

In the 18th century, the people of Deal were mainly reliant on the sea for their livelihoods. They were called upon to supply for the needs of the ships anchored in the Downs.  These give them opportunities to smuggle. By the 1780s the trade had reached such a proportion at Deal that it was decided by the government of the day to provide greater military and naval support to the revenue services in Deal more than anywhere else. According to Gabriel Bray,  commander of the Nimble, it was not infrequent for smugglers to fire upon the revenue boats.  The parliamentary report of 1783 investigating illicit activities highlighted Deal as an ”emporium “ of duty free goods, with the whole of its population, including the mayor, seemingly aiding smugglers with their work. There follows a Notice  published in the local paper by Gabriel Bray on the 27th September 1783 informing the Town that those involved in Smuggling would be severely punished in the future.
To the inhabitants of Deal
Whom it may concern
Lieutenant Gabriel Bray, Commander of his Majesty’s Cutter, the Nimble, being ordered on the Downs Station by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, to suppress the illicit Business of running in customer Goods into this kingdom, acquaints the Part of the Town to whom this is addressed, that, when he took the Galley with five chests of Tea, on the Evening of the 22nd past, observing a Number of Galleys, immediately launched by a Set of vain, unthinking people, whom he finds thought of rescuing the Galley and Goods again, he now thinks proper in this public manner to caution them against the like Proceedings, as he is determined in future not to let them go back again unmolested, if ever they a Second time attempt to impede him, or his Officers and Crew, when doing the Kings duty, and further more he most seriously recommends it to their consideration not to attempt ever firing on his Boats from the Town, as has been done to several Kings Boats very lately, as is such cases he shall not consider the Town but in a State of Rebellion, and will support his Officers and Men in his Majesty’s Boats under his Command, by instantly commencing a Cannonading on that Part of the Town from which his Boats are fired on, and that Threats or Bribes are equally despised by him.
Being therefore determined every to do his Duty, and support his Officers and Men, who have entered to serve under his command, he takes this Method of acquainting the Inhabitants of Deal, whom it may concern, with this particular Part of his Intentions, that they may not ignorantly run into danger, doubts not but some of the quiet Inhabitants of property will soon detect and bring to Punishment such Violators of the Laws of the Country, for the future Welfare and Peace of the Town.
Signed Gabriel Bray.

Thomas Brown, a local smuggler, assaulted the Deal Customs officers three times in the space of eighteen months, either resisting seizures or rescuing contraband. One of these  was Richard Baxter who was lucky to escape serious injury when Brown tried to kill him. The next year, when Baxter was shot dead in the course of a pursuit after a smuggling boat, Brown was named as the murderer and a £200 reward was offered for information leading to his capture. It was Gabriel Bray who finally caught Brown as reported by the Chelmsford Chronicle on 7th May 1784
“ A desperate contest took place on Friday evening past, between Captain Bray, of one of his majesty’s Cutters stationed here to watch the smugglers, and the noted Brown, who committed so many depredations during the last war and had been outlawed. He being a native of Deal, there was not one who would be bold enough to apprehend him. Since the war he had carried on the practice of smuggling, and on Friday morning last he sailed out of Dunkirk with a cargo of contraband goods, Captain Gabriel Bray had watched him very narrowly, and about ten o’. clock on Friday evening a terrible firing was heard in the Downs, which was occasioned by an attack made by Captain Bray in a row boat on Brown, who was also in a row boat. Captain Bray boarded him, and though Brown presented a blunderbuss, both of them not being half a yard distance from each other, the Captain was not daunted, one of his men seeing his brave master in this situation, with a cutlass, cut Brown’s cheek clean off, Bray seconded the stroke, and with his cutlass nearly severed his head from his body, and put a period to the existence of this pirate’s life. Bray lost one man, and had one wounded, Brown has, with himself, three killed, two wounded, and two taken prisoners. Too much praise cannot be given to Captain Bray for his spirited behaviour, not only on this, but every other occasion in his Majesty’s service, and were another Cutter or two stationed in the Downs, commanded by officers as spirited as himself, there is no doubt but the swarms of smugglers at Deal, would be soon extirpated.”

The painting by J.M.W. Turner depicts Deal in a fierce storm. On the right is a letter from Gabriel concerning a riot on the streets of Deal.
By the king.
A Proclamation for Discovering and apprehending any of the Persons who on the 16th July last, and on the 2nd of August were concerned in unlawfully opposing, resisting, and firing at the Officers employed in his Majesty’s Revenue, whilst in the execution of their Duty, at Deal, in the county of Kent. George R.
Whereas it has been represented to us, that on the 17th July last, a great number of disorderly persons, armed with firearms, assembled themselves in the North Road of Deal in our county of Kent, and being so assembled and armed, forcibly obstructed, resisted, and fired upon the Crews of the Boats acting under the Orders of Lieutenant Bray, in pursuit of a Galley rowed with 6 oars, contrary to the Statute in That case made and provided. Whereas it has also been represented to us, that on the 2nd August last, a great number of disorderly persons, armed with Fire arms, assembled themselves at Deal aforesaid, and forcibly obstructed the Officers and men of the Boats belonging to the Ship Scout, acting under the orders of Captain Lindsay, and endeavouring to seize a Lugger, suspected of carrying on illicit trade, and that William Russell, a seaman belonging to the Scout, was, by some person or persons shot in the execution of his duty.
We hereby promise and declare that if any person or persons concerned in tumultuously and forcibly resisting and obstructing the Officers and men acting under the orders of Lieutenant Bray, or Captain Lindsay on the 16th July or 2nd August shall be in custody for the same. For every person discovered, the Lord Commissioners of our treasury will pay the sum of £200. Given at the court at St. James 13th August 1784 God save the King.

There follows another amazing  contemporary report of an action that Bray was involved which ended up at the Old Bailey in London.
The London Magazine .Thursday 11th November 1784.
The session of Jail delivery for the High Court of Admiralty was held at the Old Bailey. Samuel Harris and John North, late belonging to the Juliet Lugger, were capitally convicted for the wilful murder of John McNier on the High Seas.
Samuel Haris and John North were indited, for that they in company with six other persons whose names are unknown, on the 30th of April last, on the high seas near Deal, fired into a boat belonging to his Majesty's Cutter the Nimble, under the command of Lieutenant Bray and killed John Mcnear, one of the seamen on board the said Cutter. Lieutenant Bray was the first witness examined. From his testimony it appeared, that on the 3oth of April last, about half past eight in the evening. (it being moon-light) they saw a vessel at some distance which appeared to be a Lugger, Mr. Bray immediately ordered all his people upon deck, and manned two boats, in order to discover what vessel she was, Upon coming near, Mr. Bray hailed her; the Lugger's people then enquired who he was, and what he wanted? And upon his telling them his name, and the vessel he belonged to, they swore at him in a violent manner, and immediately fired a volley of small shot  into the boat where Mr. Bray was, when a ball penetrating the right breast of John McNear, he instantly died. Mr. Bray returned the fire, and immediately with eight or nine men, boarded the Lugger. A violent skirmish ensued, in which all the Smugglers (except Harris and North) were either killed, or so much wounded as to survive but a short time. Two or three of them died while their wounds were dressing. Upon examining the prisoners, they pretended they were only passengers, but upon searching their pockets a quantity of musket balls, cartridges, etc. were found in the pockets of Harris; and North took an opportunity of jumping overboard, and swam towards the shore, He was however presently captured.
James Lanely, Thomas Grant confirmed the evidence of Lieutenant Bray. Mr. John Russell, Surgeon, spoke only as to the certainty of the wound being the cause of McNear`s death. Two other persons of the Nimble`s crew were slightly wounded. The Jury, after being out of Court for about 10 minutes, brought both the prisoners in Guilty. They immediately received sentence to be executed tomorrow.

I am seen here by the magnificent showcase which now houses the Silver Cup and many other items concerning both Gabriel Bray and Smuggling including his Cutlass and flint lock Pistol. This is part of  a permanent exhibition devoted to the Customs Service at the Naval Museum in Liverpool.This silver cup was presented to Commander Gabriel Bray, from the cutter 'Nimble' in 1784. It rewarded his efforts in protecting the revenue against smugglers. The inscription on the cup reads:
For Mr Gabriel Bray
Commander of the Nimble Admiralty Cutter. Presented by order of the Commissioners of his Majesty's Customs in testimony of their approbation of an important service rendered by him to the Revenue under their management on 25 December 1784."

 Gabriel Bray could be ruthless in his actions dealing with the rampant smuggling in Deal as is revealed in this contemporary newspaper article. London, Saturday, January 8th 1785.
Advice was sent to Mr. Pitt, the Prime Minister,  that the severity of the season had occasioned the Smugglers to lay up their craft, and that a fine opportunity offered for the destroying them, if sufficient force could be procured to intimidate the smugglers from attempting a rescue. Mr. Pitt sent to the War Office and required a regiment of soldiers to be at Deal a certain day. He was told it could not well be complied with. His answer was, it must, and a regiment was immediately marched. But the commanding officer found on his arrival, that the Mayor of the town having some intuition of the business, had advised the public and to pull down their signs, I order that the soldiers might have no quarters. They took the advice, and no quarters were to be had. A large barn at a small distance presented itself as an eligible place, and the quarter master rode off to the landlord, who refused to let it on any terms other than for two years certain. The officers took it marches the men in and then with much difficulty procured them some provisions.
The next day Lieutenant Bray received orders to prepare some Cutters to hover off the beach, and the soldiers were all drawn out. The inhabitants not imagining what was going to be done, thought the Cutters were to embark the soldiers in, but to their surprise, orders were given to the men to burn the boats, and the force being so great, the inhabitants were obliged to remain silent spectators, and dared not attempt a rescue.

On January 7th 1785  there was a  report  about Blanchard`s flight in a Balloon across the Channel to Dover. At the end there is a reference to a King`s Cutter being in the vicinity to witness it for the government. This must have been Gabriel Bray`s Cutter and ties in with the painting he later exhibited at the Royal Academy. Sadly this painting has not come down to us. To give us an idea of how it would have looked we show a similar painting by Edward Cocks.

After his successes at capturing smugglers from his base in Deal, Gabriel Bray was promoted and in 1789 transferred to Fowey in Cornwall patrolling the southern coast between Portland and St. Ives  endeavoring to catch them. Fowey was the frontline in the government’s fight back against Cornish smugglers. As war against Napoleon raged they were trading with the French on a huge scale. The Revenue sent their best man, Gabriel Bray to Fowey to wage war on them.

Back in 2013, Sir Tony Robinson during his TV series Walking Through History covered Smuggling in Cornwall. There follows an extract from the fascinating half hour programme, now on youtube, which covered Gabriel Brays adventures pursuing the Smugglers. Tony is seen here with Steve Butler, Curator of the Revenue Museum in Liverpool with the Silver cup which he won in 1785 and his Pistol and Cutlass.  

Gabriel Bray was to be made famous in the television series of Poldark as Captain Bray. Scenes from it are shown here played by Derek Frood.

It was not long before Gabriel Bray made his presence felt in Cornwall where the Revenue officials at Fowey were quick to enlist his help in putting an end to the trade so openly carried on by Smugglers. In the summer of 1789, he announced his appointment to command The Hind by placing a notice in the Sherborne Mercury for five successive weeks.
“Lieutenant Gabriel Bray, Commander of the Hind Revenue Schooner, in the service of his Majesty’s Customs, now repaired and ready for sea, takes this method of acquainting the public, that his station extends from Portland to St. Ives Bay, and that he is desirous for the good of the revenue, to enter into a correspondence with any person at persons, who will give him information of goods about to be illegally landed, or where sunk ready for landing, and will, if the said goods are taken by him, give to the person or persons who informed him thereof, one third of his share of seizure money, besides a present over and above out of his own pocket.
Likewise he promises to conceal all such persons who shall give information, and that they shall never appear in case of law suits in any court. The port he uses chiefly is Fowey, in Cornwall, and should any person residing near there, who cannot write, wish to give him regular information, Lieutenant Bray can shew such person a method of corresponding with him just as clear and intelligible as writing, if the person will only wait on Lieutenant Bray, at his house in Fowey, for a few minutes.
N.B. Correspondents are desired to pay the postage of all letters otherwise no attention will be paid them.
Hind Schooner, June 15th, 1789.

The Hind was one of the newest and largest Cutters in service, carrying a crew of 41 men, was stationed in the Channel Between Portland and Lands End. Like other Revenue cutters in service at the term, the Hind was a former smuggling Lugger seized off Plymouth in January 1789 and judged too useful to suffer the usual fate and broken up. Instead, she was converted into a Cutter and taken into service. There follows just a few of the many Actions that the Hind under the command of Bray was involved with.

Gabriel as commander of the Hind was involved in a  number of skirmishes with smugglers some of the reports are shown here.
The following appeared in the London Gazette :
Copy of a Letter from Sir Edward Pellew, Bart. Captain of HM Ship Indefatigable, to Mr. Nepean, dated Falmouth, 22 July 1797. Sir, you will be pleased to inform their Lordships, that the Duke of York Lugger returned last Night. She fell in with a French Lugger Privateer and chased her off the Land into the Hands of Lieutenant Bray, commanding the Hind Revenue Cutter, who also retook a Sloop, which the Privateer had before captured.

Here are some more of the many reports of Brays captures of Smugglers. The following is especially of interest.
Cowes, August 17 1797.
Arrived late last night the Hind Cutter, of Falmouth, Captain Bray, having chased a smuggling Cutter from Love Island. The chase continued fourteen hours, and Captain Bray having come up with her, so as to be able to send his second mate, and a boats crew on board to take possession of the prize, found himself to close in shore on the French coast of Cherbourg, and his prize being fired on by four frigates and a Lugger off there, to bring her to, and not being able to distinguish whether the frigates were French or English, thought it prudent to haul his wind, and have over the chase, after speaking the Telemachus Cutter, the Master of which told him he had made the private signal to the frigates, which they had not answered. We are anxiously expecting to hear the fate of the prize, which Captain Bray is again sailed in quest of. Two smuggling vessels laden with between five and six hundred casks of spirits, the one called the Henry and Jane the other the Three Brothers.

Possibly the most infamous smuggling incident ever in Cornwall happened on Boxing Day 1789, late in the evening a Customs preventative boat from Cassandra near Plymouth was on patrol near Penter Point, when  they sighted a large vessel in the process of landing goods on the beach. Getting to within hailing distance of the vessel shouted that he was a revenue officer. The reply from the smugglers was that the boat should keep away or else she would be fired on. Undeterred the revenue boat went closer, whereupon the smugglers opened fire and one of the boatman, Humphrey Glynn, was killed. The smuggling vessel slipped its cable and disappeared into the night.
The name of the vessel was known, the Lottery of Polperro, and a reward of £200 was offered for any information of the offenders. So determined were the Customs to find the culprits that members of the Lottery’s crew were forced to disappear, some out of the county and others to the Channel Islands.
In May the following year, the revenue cutter, Hind, under the command of the redoubtable Gabriel Bray sighted the Lottery off Start Point. The Hind gave chase which lasted through the night and the morning. The Hinde went into close quarters with the Lottery. Seeing all was lost the smugglers attempted to escape by boatand  all were caught and as an added bonus the vessel contained 716 ankers of brandy besides tea and tobacco.
All the crew were arraigned on smuggling charge except for one, Roger Toms, who in an attempt to obtain a pardon for himself, agreed to give evidence on the men responsible for Glynn’s murder. He named three men, two were already in custody and a third man, Tom Potter, who Toms claimed had fired the fatal shot, was still at large. Toms was allowed to go free whilst the Customs searches for Potter and although they attempted to keep their prize witness safe he was spirited away to Guernsey by a band of Polperro men. He was subsequently caught in his own home. Toms was recaptured just as he was being shipped on a vessel bound for America. The trial finally took place at the Old Bailey in December 1800, almost two years to the day of Glynn’s death. Only Potter was found guilty of the murder, the other two were released and Potter was sentenced to death.

For Gabriel Bray the capture of the Lottery was to be his ultimate success in his long campaign against the smugglers. Shortly after Potters trial and execution, Ill health compelled Bray to relinquish his command of the Hind after a career spanning nearly 30 years in the Kings Service at sea. Now aged 50 he continued to live in a house on the Esplanade at Fowey. Finally in the summer of 1807 his property was sold by auction.
Cornwall - Borough of Fowey.
To be sold by Private Contract and entered on immediately, All that highly finished and beautifully situate, Newly erected Dwelling House and Premises, with the Garden in front of the same situate a very small distance from the said borough of Fowey and about a quarter of a miles from the entrance of the beautiful little harbour of Fowey, comprising two parlours, a drawing room, four bedrooms, with a kitchen and other offices, and servants rooms in detached wings, and a garden in front now in the occupation of Gabriel Bray, Esq.
purchaser may be accommodated with all or any part of the Genteel Furniture now therein.

Gabriel Bray`s father, Admiral John Bray  died in 1795, aged 79 and his wife ten years after. They were to leave a substantial fortune to their four children. John Raven Cole would  continue to live in their fine manor house at Mongeham as a Brewer, Margaret received a considerable Dowry on her marriage to John Coles, a Malt Factor in London. Mary who remained a spinster received their old family house at 20 Middle Street. Gabriel was a beneficiary of the Wills and with his bequest bought a fine house at Kennington in London. On the right is the Memorial Slab over the Bray family Vault in the  churchyard of St. George`s at Deal which includes his parents, brother, John and Sister, Mary.

A Poll Book for Kent in 1812 has Gabriel at 10 Newington Place and his brother, John Raven Bray in Great Mongeham.The maps shown here are the Terrace known as Newington Place, where Gabriel lived with his wife, Mary from 1807 until 1814  at no. 10. two hundred years on it is now number 157 on the Busy Kennington Park Road, better known as the A3.

Gabriel Brays House can be seen today in the center of this photograph.

When the Album of 75 watercolours by Gabriel Bray was put up for auction in 1991 on the cover was the inscription “ Original sketches by G. Bray, RN 1775”. Their provenance, written in a modern hand on a loose sheet of paper, states that “This book was the property of J. G. Swainson Esq. Comptroller of Customs, Jamaica, in the early years of 1800 & father of Mrs Charles Gray. Gabriel Bray was Godfather to J.G. Swainson & had named him as his heir  and only the book and the name Gabriel came down to J.G. Swainson”.
This intrigued me and after some research I found a number of links to the Swainsons. It would seem that John Timothy Swainson was Secretary to the Board of Customs and must have been a good friend of Gabriel as their paths had crossed in the past. For John`s early career had been in the Deal area. There is also records of him visiting Gabriel whilst he was living in Fowey. As well as a career in the Customs, he was also a famous Naturalist. His eldest son, William was to become an even greater botanist and illustrator. His artistic skills may well have come from his association with Gabriel in his youth. John Timothy Swainson left Newington in 1806 and took on the important post of Collector of Customs In Liverpool. In 1794 Gabriel Bray was to be Godfather to their son, whom they were to name Isaac Gabriel in honour of him. He was christened at St. Anne’s Church in Soho in London. The family were living at that time at Dover Place in Newington, where the Brays were to move after leaving Fowey in Cornwall in 1807.

Another important link with the Swainson family was with John`s brother Isaac. He was to purchase the formula for a patent medicine called Velno`s Vegetable Syrup and make a fortune advertising in Newspapers of the time. He went on to build a Mansion shown here at Twickenham. Amongst his endorsements was that from Gabriel Bray writing from Fowey in 1794 about how it had changed his life for the better. It reads as follows:
SCORBUTIC SCURF, AND SCALES ON THE SKIN.
The Case of Captain Gabriel Bray, a gentleman well known in the Navy, and the son of the veteran Admiral Bray of Deal. To the public, a reference so respectable as the family and connections of Captain Bray, must be very satisfactory ; and to these who know the ability, honour, and general character of the patient himself, it will carry unquestionable authenticity and the warmest recommendation. I shall therefore beg to submit the case of Captain Bray to the consideration of the public in his own words.

When  any person has a simple truth to relate, I do not seem much necessity for circumlocution, and indeed it is not characteristic in a sailor. I therefore, without further prelude, desire you ill receive and publish a plain story, told in a plain way. Never was there a poor fellow so completely torn to pieces by Scurvy as I was. From following a sea life in all climates for 28 years unremittingly, it will not be considered that my constitution has been injured in many respects; not only by that distressing disease called Sea Scurvy, but by those general obstructions which I observe.
In the spring of 1793, a disease made its appearance on both my arms, not merely what they call a scorbutic eruption, for in fact l had scarcely a part of them that was not covered: it increased most rapidly, and took such full possession, as literally to cover almost every part of my body.In the course of three months, I had sores and white scales or scars as large as sixpences, by which the disorder seemed disposed to sheath me in armour. The faculty, who, I do assure you, in this remote part of the world rank among the most intelligent part of the inhabitants, gave me materials in almost every shape, and by those mercurials I was so much reduced, that I could scarcely move from my room without assistance, and I could not put a coat on. In fact, when I was advised.to undergo a regular course of your syrup, and to put myself under your immediate direction, I could not have undertaken the journey by land, but must have given up the chance of any relief, bad I not had the convenience of a passage upon what I call my own element - the sea.
It is scarcely possible to describe my situation on my arrival. You and the world must be satisfied with having it in a very few words. I was obliged, from the awkward disagreeable discharges of my ulcers or sores, for I can give them no other name, to be wrapped in old linen cloths or rags, I began a course of the Syrup in December, and I think it is impossible any amendment could be more rapid, which in the end proved so permanent. I felt its influence in ten days, and every day gave me additional strength and vigour. It cannot be imagined that a complaint so inveterate could be easily or speedily removed; and indeed, the season of the year and everything was much against me, and, in some degree, must have retarded the operation of the Medicine; yet l can with the utmost confidence affirm to you, that, however inveterate my disorder, a steady application to your medicine removed it, and wrought such a wonderful change in my whole system, that in the space of two months those persons who saw me on my first arrival in town scarcely knew me: il was, to my own feelings, complete regeneration. I have enjoyed my health remarkably well this summer; but as l cannot expect that a disorder so virulent as mine can be completely eradicated by one course of the Syrup, however effectual and however large, (for I firmly believe l have taken near thirty bottles,) I mean, conformably to your advice, to enter upon it again in the autumn, and, by continuing to take a few bottles in spring and autumn, to assure my own mind that I shall never again be troubled by so irritating and dreadful a complaint. I will not trespass on your time any longer than to add, that I literally look up to you as having preserved my life, and that the sincerest gratitude is the heartfelt tribute I shall ever pay for your uncommonly kind attention to,
Your obliged and sincere friend,
GABRIEL  BRAY
Fowey, Cornwall

Gabriel and Mary Bray were to move to Charmouth in 1814. There may have been a family link for the move, although I have yet to find one. His brother, John  Raven Bray was  living with his family at Great Mongeham, near Deal in Kent where he had a fine house and farm. He also had an unmarried sister, Mary who still lived in the old family house in Lower Street, Deal. His other sister, Margaret was married to John Coles and were prospering in London. They initially rent the property we know today as The Stone House from John Paul, a builder who owned other houses in the village.

Just two years later the opportunity arose to buy the freehold of a fine house further down the Street when it comes up for auction in 1817 on the death of its owner, Major Channing, who had lived in the adjoining Luttrell House. At the time it was rented by Captain Abel Ferris who was to continue there until the Brays moved in.

The advert for the Auction in June 1817, describes the two properties and a meadow of land. Theirs is  a very desirable Dwelling House adjoining the other, consisting of four good bedrooms, dressing room, closet, parlour, drawing room, vestibule, kitchen, laundry, cellar, with convenient office attached, and a neat walled garden.

Gabriel Bray soon made his mark on the village and shortly afterwards  was given the position of Churchwarden. The building we see today was built in 1836 replacing a much earlier edifice. The congregation had swelled over the years and Gabriel designed and had built a gallery in 1817 to accommodate the increase. Sadly the building has gone, but a model was made just before its demolition and it that we can refer to for  how it may have once looked. Gabriel had adorned each panel with paintings of the disciples on either side of Christ as shown here.

In 1818 Gabriel Bray Designs a new Lifeboat  and won a Silver Cup for his invention of a boat filled with air- boxes under the seats and along the sides, from The Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce. The designs and a picture of two boats illustrated by Gabriel, fitted according to his plan, are shown here. On the right is a page from the Church Warden Accounts signed in 1817 by Gabriel Bray.

Gabriel Bray was to die in 1823 aged 74 and was buried in St. Andrews Churchyard. His Will shown on the right leaves his Estate including Peria to his wife as they had no children. It is interesting to read that his Solicitors were: Amory and Coles, 52 Lothbury, London, whose partner was his nephew, John Coles.  Mary continued to live at Peria for a further 12 years until her own death in 1835.

Mary Bray left the bulk of her Estate including proceeds from the sale of her house to Mary Sweeting and her family who are renting the Stone House, which was the Brays originally lived. Mary`s maiden name was Mary Wick Peyton. She was the daughter of William Peyton, Esq and was born in Devonport. She must have moved with the Brays to Charmouth as she is shown as a witness to Gabriel`s first Will here in 1817, when she would have been 22 years of age.  In due course she was to meet the village G.P. Dr. Robert Hallett Sweeting and eventually marry him in 1823. Their Wedding certificate is witnessed by Gabriel. They go on to have five children and in 1832 christen one of them Robert Bray Sweeting after their friends.

I was very fortunate in being contacted by Gill Marshall, who is a direct descendant of Gabriel’s sister, Margaret Coles. Although I had spent many years researching the family, I just assumed that there couldn’t be anybody who today after all these years would be related to them. I was wrong and later Gill supplied me with an accurate family tree. She is very enthusiastic about Gabriel and has a Memory Ring dating back to 1823 relating to the death of Gabriel’s sister and her husband, John Coles. She also has letters from her ancestor, Joseph Wilson during his time in Charmouth. It is this gentleman we have to thank for those magnificent Regency Villas, 1,2,3 Hillside opposite the Church.
It is only recently that I have been able to connect the two families thanks to Gill. I now know that Gabriel Bray’s niece, Mary Ann Coles was 34 when she married Joseph Wilson in London in 1824. The year before tragedy hit her family when both her parents died within days of each other. It was also the year when Gabriel and his brother John were also to die. Mary was to receive a considerable inheritance as a result. The young couple moved to Charmouth soon after their wedding so that Mary could assist her elderly Aunt after Gabriel’s death. There follows a fascinating story of how Joseph Wilson using his wife’s Dowry was able to build  three fine Villas set back from the Street. He instructed the Country’s greatest architect, Sir Jeffrey Wyatville to design them. They initially lived at no. 1 shown here and rented the others, which in due course were sold. They were to have a son, Joseph born in 1828 and a daughter, Mary born in 1833. Tragically, Gabriel`s niece, Maru Wilson was to die in 1849 aged only 59 and was to be buried in St. Andrews Church yard where her tomb can still be seen at the rear. Her son, Joseph was also to have a short life, dying in 1865, aged 37. It is the daughter, Mary that the line of descendants to this day springs from. Joseph Wilson senior after the death of his wife moved from the village and in 1853 remarried Mary Gavin and moved to London.

Joseph Wilson, then living in Lyme Regis  bought 3 ancient cottages in 1822, which two years later were demolished and  nos. 1,2,3, Hillside were built  on the site. He later was to sell no. 2 in 1842 and refers to Sir Jeffrey Wyatville as the designer. The remains of the tomb of Mary Ann Wilson, the niece of Gabriel Bray who died in 1849 can be seen at the rear of St. Andrew Church.

I have produced a Family Tree for all the records I could find to show descendants of the family. It would seem that Gabriel`s brother, John Raven was to have just one daughter, Margaret, who died a spinster in 1892. He had two sisters Mary, who again never married and Margaret who married John Coles and had four children. It is their daughter, Mary Ann who married Joseph Wilson and have two children from whom the present day descendants originate.
You can see that the year 1823 was to mark the end of the lives of not only Gabriel, but his sister, Margaret and her husband as well as his brother, John. The Memory ring shown here is still treasured by his descendant, Gill Marshall who also has a number of letters relating to Joseph Wilson who built 1,2,3 Hillside in the village.

After this talk I hope you will agree that Charmouth should be rightly proud that this great man should choose our village to retire to after such an active and rewarding life both as an artist and naval hero.