Ann was the daughter of William RAY and Anne (Maiden name unproven).

In 1759, in Prince George's Co., Md., Ann married her first husband, William BRASHEAR.

In the 1760's Ann moved with her husband and children from Maryland to Redstone Twp., Fayette County, Pa., with members of the Brashear and Brown families.

For a time in Pa., they settled on a farm among other Brashear family farms.

In 1779, Ann's family moved to Bullitt Co., Kentucky and settled near the mouth of Floyd's Creek on 400 acres.

Ann's husband, William built an early fort at mouth of Floyd's Fork near bank of Salt River.

Fort known as "Brashear's Station" was on the old "Wilderness Road" and was the first such station built between Falls of the Ohio (Louisville) and Harrodsburg.

William was killed by Indians in 1781. At the time of William's death, Bullit County was still a part of Jefferson County, KY. Inventory of his estate was filed August 18, 1789 in Jefferson Co., KY.

In 1782, Ann married Peter CUMMINS.

For a while Ann and Peter lived in Washington County, that part which became Marion County. Sometime after 1801, they moved to Breckenridege County, KY.

Ann and Peter had court battle over William Brashear's will after they were married. Ann kept will and property from previous marriage away from Peter until her death.

William and Anne (Ray) Brashear had eight children, the first four probably born in Maryland, the next three in Fayette Co, PA, and the last after they reached Brashear's Station in Jefferson County, KY (then Virginia).

Children of William and Anne (Ray) Brashear:

(re: Will of William Brashear, 18 May 1779; "Thomas Brown et al vs. Peter Cummins et al," Bullitt Co, KY, 1806)

1. Sarah "Sally" Brashear, b. c1761, d. 1849; m. Elijah Whitaker, b. 1766, d. 1840. Elijah was a Lieutenant of Militia and s/o John Whitaker, the Baptist Minister who performed so very many marriages in frontier Kentucky.

2. Nicholas Ray Brashear, b. ca. Oct 1762, murdered 1803 on the Natchez Trace, near Duck River, TN; m. 9 Aug 1787, Martha Simmons,

3. Anne Brashear, b. ?1764; d. between 1779 and 1782

4. Nancy Brashear, b. c1766/7 (17 or 18 years old in 1784, per Benjamin Ray's testimony); m.1. 26 Aug 1787, Housan Clifton, (Jefferson Co Marr. Reg. Book 1, p.6, "dau of Wm. Brashear, by John Whitaker, Minister"). Housan Clifton was killed by Indians, in 1793, and Nancy m.2. 7 Aug 1795, Robert Scott.

5. William Brashear Jr, b. c1768, (William Samuel Brashear is named as a white taxable over 21 in household of Nicholas Brashear, Jefferson Co Tax list, 1789, and he is on the lists as a head of household for 1792, 1794, 1795. He was in Bullitt County in 1806 when the Sheriff served a summons on him.)

6. Joseph Brashear, b. 26 Sep 1770, Brownsville, PA, d. 26 Jul 1856, Louisville, KY; m.1. 12 Apr 1796, Elizabeth Cummins, (Washington Co, KY Marr. Rec), d/o Peter Cummins; m.2. Charlotte Wheeler.

7. Elizabeth "Betsy" Brashear, m. 8 Sep 1792, (Nelson Co, KY Marr Bonds, p.92), Reason Howard, d. bef 11 Jul 1831

8. Jemima Brashear, b. 1779 (age 3, in 1782, when Peter Cummins m. Anne (Ray) Brashear, per Cummins's testimony; William's will, dated 18 May 1779, does not mention her; so she was apparently born after he signed it); m. 22 Nov 1802, Thomas Brown Jr., (Breckenridge Co Marriages, 1799-1891, by Baldwin Clifton; bondsmen: Thomas Brown and John Brown; license co-signed by Ephriam Cummins and John Brown, "with consent of Mrs. Cummins" i.e. Anne (Ray) Brashear-Cummins.)

(With the exception of Anne, who d. young, these children correspond to a list of Settlers at Brashear's Station in Filson Club Qty, v.30, #3, Jul 1956.) Daughters Anne and Nancy are both named in William's Will. There were six heirs in 1806, Nicholas and Anne having died.

Note:
Kentucky Historical marker (number 1944) identifies the site of William Brashear's early fort. Presented by Bullitt Co. Genealogical Society, located on KY 44E, Exit 117, East of Shepherdsville.