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William Gray (abt. 1590 - bef. 1648)

William Gray aka Grey
Born about in Englandmap [uncertain]
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
[spouse(s) unknown]
Descendants descendants
Father of and
Died before before about age 58 in Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex, Englandmap
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Profile last modified | Created 19 Sep 2013
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Disputed Origins and Wife's Name

William Gray had been shown with parents Thomas Gray and Elizabeth Martyr but this seems doubtful based on their ages: Thomas is shown with a birth year of 1533, Elizabeth is listed with a birth year of 1527. They apparently married in 1554 per Thomas' profile. It is quite possible that one of Thomas and Elizabeth's sons was actually the father of William Gray.

In the profile for Thomas Gray, it shows his son marrying Mary Button in 1587, with a source of "Dionis backchurch parish records" (which hasn't been reviewed yet to confirm). A William Gray did marry Mary Button in 1587, and the marriage was recorded in the registers of the St. Mary's Church, Harrow-on-the-Hill, England, in 1587. Due to the birthdate of this William, the marriage record cannot be for him.[1] Mary Button has been detached as his spouse as there is no evidence to support it.

Biography

He was a yeoman. William married ______. William and his wife had four known children: William, John, Henry and Isaac.[1]

William's will was made January 27, 1647 and it was proved January 4, 1648.[2] In the will, he refers to his sons John, Henry and Isaac; to his daughter in law, Susanna Gray, who is son William's wife; to four of his son, William's, children; to his sister, Rose Wight; to his cousin, Thomas Ashwell and his wife, Mary; To Elizabeth Corda; and to William Peache. His son William Gray of London was named sole executor.[3]

William Gray, son of this William made his will in 1657, and it was proved November 18, 1663. In it, he leaves to two of his brothers "of New England", namely John and William, five pounds each, as an expression of his love. He also names his brother, Isaac in his will. This reinforces the children of this William.[3] [4]

"William Gray, yeoman, of Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex, England, was buried there 3 Feb 1647/48. His wife or wives are unknown. ... in his will dated 27 Jan 1647/48, he left 20 pounds to each of his sons John and Henry. Son Isaac to receive a freehold tenement. His son William Gray of London, sole executor..."[5] NOTE: The article referenced gives Gray information from England including several records, one of which is a marriage of a William Gray to Mary Button. Since that marriage occurred in 1587, before his birth, it is clear that the Mary Button marriage isn't his.

Children:

  1. William probably baptized 11 Aug 1611, marr Susanna-----
  2. John immigrated to New England, marr Elizabeth (Frost) the widow of Watson
  3. Henry immigrated to New England, married Lydia Frost (sister of Elizabeth)
  4. Isaac apparently remained in England

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Early Frost, Gray and Hobby Connections of England, Connecticut and Long Island" by Josephine W. Beers and Paul W. Prindle, in "The American Genealogist" vol 64, 1989, p 161-167, 208-213 in The American Genealogist 64:164, New Haven, CT: D. L. Jacobus, 1937-. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009 - .)
  2. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2013.) Reference Volume 47:403
  3. 3.0 3.1 May, Mary Sibyl Gray, Hoch, Grace Gray, and May, Richard Holman, compilers, A history of one branch of the Fairfield, Connecticut, Gray family, published 1953. Reference page 2-3
  4. "Genealogical Gleanings in England" The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1847-. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2013.) Reference 72:432
  5. "Early Frost, Gray and Hobby Connections of England, Connecticut and Long Island" by Josephine W. Beers and Paul W. Prindle, in "The American Genealogist" vol 64, 1989, p 161-167, 208-213




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