Finding Aid to the Martin D. Ray (ca. 1831-1910) Postal Records

JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
(434) 846-0501
MARTIN D. RAY (ca.1831-1910) POSTAL RECORDS
The collection includes Postmaster's account and record books, money order records,
and registered mail records for the post office at Pedlar Mills, Amherst County, Virginia,
where Martin D. RAY was Postmaster.
BOX 1

1-1
1-2
1-3
1-4
1-5
1-6
1-7
1-8
1-9

Account Record Book (1899-1902)
Account Record Book (1907-1910)
Account Record Book (1910-1913)
Account Record Book (1913-1916)
Cash Book (1908-1917)
Cash Book (1907-1910)
Cash Book (1910-1913)
Cash Book (1913-1916)
Window Registrations (1920-1922)

BOX 2

2-1 Account Record Book (1887-1892)
2-2 Account Record Book (1892-1895)
2-3 Registrations (1903-1908)
2-4 Registered Matter in Transit (1881-1897)
2-5 Registered Matter in Transit (1899-1908)
2-6 Window Registrations (1910-1911)
2-7 Window Registrations (1910)

MS1083

JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
(434) 846-0501
MARTIN D. RAY (ca.1831-1910)
Martin D. RAY, son of George W. and Clara RAY, was born September 1831 in
Amherst County, Virginia. He married 29 April 1857 Louisa A. CHILES, daughter of
Toulton and Eurania CHILES, of Bedford County. At the time of his marriage, he was a
miller. He was also a merchant at Pedlar Mills for a number of years. He was Postmaster
at Pedlar Mills from 1879 until 1901, succeeding Albert J. PADGETT. Later, in 1914,
his son, William Richard RAY, became Postmaster.
Martin D. RAY died 14 November 1910 and was buried in the St. Luke's Episcopal
Church cemetery at Pedlar Mills.
[Marriage Records, Amherst County, VA, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Department of Health, Virginia, Reel
No. 3, p. 13, Microfilmed records, Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg, VA; 1900 Census, Amherst
County, VA, National Archives and Records Service, T-623, Roll 1699, p. 137, Dwelling 513, Family 518;
Record of Appointment of Postmasters (VA) 1832-30 September 1971, National Archives and Records
Service, M-841, Roll 130, Target 10, Amherst County, Vol. 51 (ca.1877-1891), Vol. 80 (ca.1891-1930);
Mary Frances Boxley, Gravestone Inscriptions of Amherst County, Virginia (Amherst: Author, 1986), p.
52.]

WILLIAM RICHARD RAY (1858-1931)
William Richard RAY, son of Martin D. RAY and Louisa A. CHILES, was born July
1858, in Amherst County, Virginia. He married 19 June 1895, in Amherst County, Laura
Morton JONES, daughter of John and Jamsie JONES, of Botetourt County, Virginia. He
worked as a merchant at Pedlar Mills for a number of years, and was Postmaster from
1914 until his death in 1931. His wife succeeded him as Postmaster for a brief period.
William R. RAY was buried in the St. Luke's Episcopal Church cemetery at Pedlar Mills.
[Marriage Records, Amherst County, VA, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Department of Health, Virginia, Reel
No. 3, p. 26, Microfilmed records, Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg, VA; 1900 Census, Amherst
County, VA, National Archives and Records Service, T-623, Roll 1699, p. 137, Dwelling 514, Family 519;
Record of Appointment of Postmasters (VA) 1832-30 September 1971, National Archives and Records
Service, M-841, Roll 130, Target 10, Amherst County, Vol. 80 (ca.1891-1930); Mary Frances Boxley,
Gravestone Inscriptions of Amherst County, Virginia (Amherst: Author, 1986), p. 52.]

MS1083

PEDLAR MILLS, VIRGINIA, POST OFFICE
The post office at Pedlar Mills, Virginia, was first established in 1829 with George
FEAGANS as Postmaster. The office was discontinued in 1866 and reestablished in
1867. The office was again discontinued in 1868 and reestablished once again in 1873. It
was finally permanently discontinued in 1963, with consolidation of mail service being
transferred to Monroe, Virginia.
Postmasters - Pedlar Mills, Virginia
George FEAGANS 1829Richard J. PRYOR 1840-1851
George W. RAY 1851-1861
Albert J. PADGETT 1861-1866
Earnest OPPENHEIM 1867-1868
Walter G. WILKERSON 1873-1876
Albert J. PADGETT 1876-1879
Martin D. RAY 1879-1901
Lenna W. WATTS 1901-1907
Mannasseh D. SCHUBERT 1907-1910
Emma S. CANFIELD 1910-1914
William R. RAY 1914-1931
Mrs. W. R. RAY 1931-1932
John E. GLUNT 1932-1947
Silas D. OGDEN 1947
Edward P. SANDIDGE 1947-1963
[Record of Appointment of Postmasters (VA) 1832-30 September 1971, National Archives & Records
Service, M-841, Roll 130, Target 10, Amherst County, VA, Pedlar Mills Post Office, v.10 (ca.18321844), v.16 (ca.1844-1856), v.23 (ca.1857-1867), v.29 (ca.1858-1876), v.51 (ca.1877-1891), v.72 (19301971), v.80 (ca.1891-1930).]

MS1083