Charles Ray

Born in Falmouth, Mass, Charles B. Ray moved to New York City in 1832. Although he was an ordained Methodist minister, Ray had many other occupations as well. He ran a boot and shoe store, and, In the late 1830s, took over the editorship of the city's black newspaper, the Colored American, for a short period of time. Ray was also actively engaged in many important political causes. He fought for the restitution of black male suffrage taken away by an amendment to the State constitution in 1822. He was a member of New York's Vigilance Committee and harbored many runaway slaves in in his home until they found safe passage to proceed North.