PULASKI CO, AR - SILAS T. TONCRAY - Bio

Submitted by: Meredith Gibson  [meg47@wwwtv.net]

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SILAS T. TONCRAY

Silas Tracy Toncray was my 2nd great-grandfather.  He was born in 1795
in MD.  He was son of Daniel and Huldah (Tracy ) Toncray.  His
grandfather Antoine (became Anthony) Toncray came from France, and
settled in upper Dutchess co in what was known as the Oblong area.  He
had 3 sons: Anthony Jr, Daniel and Nicholas and dau named Sarah.  All 3
sons served in American Rev. 

Daniel (b-1750 & d-Jan 1807 MD) married Huldah Tracy 27 Dec 1772 in
Congregrational Church in Litchfield co CT.  They had six sons and 4
daughters. Silas was last born.  After the death of Daniel Sr in 1807
most of siblings had moved to Shelby Co Ky. 

On 15th of Mar 1821 Silas was married to Orpha Hansbrough.  He was
ordained Baptist minister and silversmith (a trade was necessary -
ministers received little income).  In 1824 his sister Maria Toncray
Watkins begged him to come to Little Rock, Arkansas where, as she said,
there is no religion.  He & Orpha arrived in early 1824 and in July,
along with his bro-in-law (Isaac Watkins) they organized the the First
Baptist Church.  In 1829 he received word of his brother Daniel's death
in Memphis, TN  He moved his family and later built a church on Main
street where he preached to good-sized congregation (mostly black) and
carried on his trade of silversmith.  

He was an inventor & as hobby built ships in bottles.He was what was
spoken of as a hard-shell Baptist and inclined to punish with a strap. 
He and Orpha had 4 children: Daniel Enoch b-1824 & d-1834;   dau b- ca
1825/6 (further record nk); Isaac Anthony b-21 May 1829 & d-18 Feb l830
and Huldah Tracy b- 20 Feb 1834. Silas died 11 Feb 1847 and Orpha died
a year later on 11 Mar 1848.  They were buried in Memphis, but no
location of graves is known.  Huldah was sent to live with her aunt
Maria Tomcray Watkins Stevenson.  Huldah married my great-grandfather
James Allen Martin, son of Jared Carswell & Mary (Douglass) Martin.
Jared was son of John Martin Jr who died in MO in 1808.  John Martin Jr
fought in American Rev. from Georgia.  He and parents came to America,
from Antriam Co Ireland)  in 1753.  Perhaps I may do genealogy on John
Martin Sr and family later.  

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