Mary Jane (Ferguson) Gray (abt. 1818)

Ancestors

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Biography

Mary Jane Ferguson's date of birth has been recorded as either September 04, 1818^[1] or 1843^[2]. Currently, the only link to her Ferguson family is a photocopy of a family bible, allegedly written by Amanda Tumlinson Gray, the granddaughter of Joyce Ferguson and Russell Franklin Gray from their son Edward Moses Gray^[1].

The first record of Mary Jane Ferguson is her marriage to Russell Franklin Gray in Falls County, Texas on September 07, 1868. Here, she is listed as "Mary J Rodgers" but no age is provided, nor does the record state if there were previous marriages.^[3]

At the time of the 1880 Census, Mary Jane is with her husband, Russell Gray in Mason County, Texas, nearly 200 miles west of their marriage location. Mary Jane is at home taking care of the house and children while her husband works 'hauling freight'. Their children are Amanda, 10; George, 8; Mary E, 7; Laura, 4; and John Rodgers, 18 noted as Russell's stepson.^[2]

Children

Mary Jane is noted as having either five or six children, depending on the source. The 1880 Census lists five:

John Rodgers

Amanda Gray

George Gray

Mary E Gray

Laura Gray.^[2]

Another source, however, lists her children with Russell Gray as follows:

Amanda Jane

George T

Mary Elizabeth

Laura Bell

John Wesley.^[4]

Death

Mary Jane's date of death is noted as September 16, 1894, however, this date does not currently have a primary source.^[1]

While the cemetery plot in Llano City Cemetery in Llano, Texas with the wroght iron gate featuring "R.F. & M. J. Gray" is attributed to Mary Jane and her husband Russell Franklin, the City of Llano's cemetery records do not list any Gray entries matching these individuals.^[5]

Research Notes

Several issues arise with the timeline and sources.

First, the date of birth. If the early date of birth of 1818 is correct Mary Jane would be having children when she was in her mid to late 50s.
If the later birth date of 1843 is used, this would remove her mother, Patsy, as a possibility as she died in the 1830s. This could mean she is the child of Aaron Ferguson and his second wife, Delilah McGintly, however she does not appear on their 1850 Census with their other daughter Cemantha.^[6]

Second, there is no record of Mary Jane Ferguson marrying a Rodgers, nor is there any information on her son John Rodgers beyond the 1880 Census where he is listed as the stepson to Russell.

There is also the issue of her name as recorded on her children's death certificates. Laura Belle^[7] and Mary Elizabeth^[8] list her name as "Mary Brown", while George Thomas^[9] lists her name as "Mary Ferguson."

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Find A Grave Index
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} United States Census, 1880
3. ↑ Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965
4. ↑ DARTexas, Patriot Ancestor Album
5. ↑ City of Llano Cemetery Records
6. ↑ United States Census, 1850
7. ↑ Texas Deaths, 1890-1976: Laura Belle Forehand
8. ↑ Texas Deaths, 1890-1976: Mary Elizabeth Linebarger
9. ↑ Texas Deaths, 1890-1976: George Thomas Gray

• "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, (FamilySearch : 10 December 2017), R F Gray and Mary J Rodgers, 07 Sep 1868; citing Marriage, citing Falls, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 985,639.
• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, (FamilySearch : 15 July 2017), Mary Jane Gray in entry for Russell Gray, 1880; citing enumeration district ED 103, sheet 476B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d), roll 1319; FHL microfilm 1,255,319.
• "Find A Grave Index," database, (FamilySearch : 11 July 2016), Mary Jane Ferguson Gray, 1894; Burial, Llano, Llano, Texas, United States of America, Llano City Cemetery; Find A Grave: Memorial #57911680
• "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, (FamilySearch, FamilySearch : 13 March 2018), Mary Brown in entry for Laura Belle Forehand, 19 Jan 1943; citing certificate number , State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,137,248.
• "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, (FamilySearch : 13 March 2018), Mary Ferguson in entry for George Thomas Gray, 22 May 1946; citing certificate number 23625, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,218,376.
• "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, (FamilySearch : 13 March 2018), Mary Jane Brown in entry for Mary Elizabeth Linebarger, 29 Sep 1953; citing certificate number 46019, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,113,982.

See Also:

• "Russell Franklin Gray," Daughters of the Republic of Texas Patriot Ancestor Album, Volume 2, Paducah, Kentucky, Turner Publishing Company, 2001. pp. 57-58
• City of Llano, alphabetized listing of Cemetery records Online PDF
• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, (FamilySearch : 12 April 2016), Aaron E Furgerson, De Soto parish, De Soto, Louisiana, United States; citing family 515, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

Acknowledgements

Ferguson-4331 was created by Thomas Mclehaney through the import of McLehaney 2014-06-27.ged on Jun 27, 2014.