Martha Wray
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Born1739
Died1788 (aged 48–49)
Spouse(s)William Wray
(?-1766, his death)
(?-1766, his death)
RelativesRobert Turlington, uncle
Martha Wray | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1739 |
| Died | 1788 (aged 48–49) |
| Spouse(s) | William Wray (?-1766, his death) |
| Relatives | Robert Turlington, uncle |
Martha Wray (1739-1788), was an English businessperson.[1]
She was the niece of the weaver Robert Turlington (1697–1766), who invented and sold the then famous medicine Balsam of Life from 1744. Turlington was working with William Wray, Martha's husband, to export the medicine to the American colonies by 1750.[2]
Both men died in 1766, and Turlington left the business to his niece, Martha Wray, and his niece-in-law, Mary Sopp. Martha Wray invited her brother-in-law, Hilton Wray, to join the business in 1773. In 1774, Mary Sopp left the business to marry.[2]
Martha Wray died in 1788, but Hilton Wray continued to run the business until 1804, when he filed for bankruptcy.[3]