Author: Ray, James H.
Biography:
RAY, James H. (c.1777-c.1805)
The Rev. James H. Ray was pastor of a church in "Greenesborough" (now Greensboro) GA and Rector of the Academy there from at least 1799 to his death. The volume of his poems, most of them said to date from before 1793 when he left school with some added by the editor from among his papers, was published at the request of friends after his death. The first poem describes the year 1790-91 when the author experienced a call to Jesus, struggled with the Devil, and finally found spiritual peace. Nearly all this information is derived from the book itself, the title-page, and the notice "To the Reader" that is dated from Greenesborough, 19th July 1805. There might have been an earlier version printed closer to home but the only recorded imprint is Atlanta 1811. No other evidence about him has been discovered.